#9 See Macy's Christmas Exhibit, Santaland!

This was not on my original 25 Things list I made on my 25th birthday (almost a year ago), BUT, due to situations and other big events we have been blessed with as a family I've had to change a few.

I'm glad I added Santaland to my list. It was so much fun to see! Even Christian said he had a great time!

Here are the pictures!

The elves are waking up!

Even elves go to school, I guess.

Hanging their stockings to dry? ;)

Christmas tree choir!

The animals do the Christmas tree decorating.

Jackson was very interested in everything that moved!

Someone has to clean the reindeer stable.

Santa Claus Square

Mail Station

Then we got to see Santa's Workshop.

Making treats!

Sorting the mail.

More sweets!

Toy building!

 Gift wrapping!

Jackson sat on Santa's lap! He was a little nervous about it, but he didn't cry! We told Santa he wanted anything with wheels to spin on it.

Christmas Tradition maybe?

#25 Finish my Compiled Booklist

I found a booklist on Pinterest that I really liked. It had prompts for you to choose your own books, but would still help you get a little diversity in the types of books. There were 50 prompts, but being as busy as I am that was not possible. I picked 10 of them at random and filled in the books I wanted to read. I tried to pick from books that I had in my collection first, but hadn't read yet. I did still have to borrow and buy a few of them. 

1. A book you've started but never finished...The High King's Tomb by Kristen Britain

2. A book your mom loves...Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

3 A book by a female author...Life and Death by Stephenie Meyer

4. A book a friend recommended...A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

5. A book by an author you like but haven't read yet...Mirror Sight by Kristen Britain

6. A non-fiction book...Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

7. A book from my childhood...Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

8. A book with a number in the title...20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

9. A book with more than 500 pages...Blackveil by Kristen Britain

10. A book set during Christmas...A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Most of them I liked. Some of them I didn't. (Honestly, the Jules Verne book was my least favorite, but I read it because Christian said it was one of his favorites.)

This next year I'll pick 10 more!

#19 Give Jackson his first Haircut

Ok, I've been stalling on this one. His hair was getting into his eyes and he almost had a mullet. So he's needed a haircut, but for some reason I didn't WANT to. He looked so cute with his long hair and little curls in the back!

BEFORE- Grandma had to hold him. He was so wiggly!!

And the back...(had to use a picture from the day before)

My mom did most of the cutting in the front since I had to hold him in place most of the time. Then we switched and I got the hair in the back.

AFTER- He wouldn't let me get a good picture, but here is the handsome boy after his first haircut!

#14 Do something with my FLUTE

This could have been anything. I made this goal because I love playing my flute, but sometimes life gets in the way and I forget about it. Since I didn't get to continue with flute at school I wanted to do something to help me remember how much I love it.

So...brief story. In middle school and high school I remember the All-District Band Concerts, where different bands from different schools/age groups in the district would play a few songs (at least that's how I remember it). And in between each band there was an adult band, called Wind Jammers, that would play a song or two. I'll be honest, I made fun of them and I ignored them. Why were these old people coming to play at a school concert?

Then, jump ahead many years (to this past summer). I saw my 5th grade band director, Mr. Ziemann, on a float in a parade in Prior Lake. He recognized me! And waved at me to come follow his float and talk to him. I went. He pulled out a little Wind Jammers info sheet and asked me to join their community band. He happens to be the director of that band. 

HA! Well I am an adult now, so I suppose I would fit in with this band now. 

I told him I "sure would!"

And now, I've had four practices and played in one concert already. We have two more Christmas concerts on Sunday, and then one more concert on Tuesday.

I'm sorry I ever made fun of Wind Jammers. It's a blast!

#15 Sing Karaoke (in Public)

I have ALWAYS wanted to be brave enough to sing karaoke in a public setting. I've been in plays and musicals where I get on stage and perform, but those are always very well-practiced and usually you have a few other people to share the stage with. Not scary.

Karaoke is scary because it's not rehearsed. Or what if you pick a stupid song? Or maybe you get up there and realize you don't know the song as well as you thought. 

Well, I did it! And I've got to say...it is NOT SCARY! Something to note is that there is usually someone there who is very drunk, and sings way worse than you. Or there will be someone who will, at least, sing equally as bad.

My first song was "Summer Nights" from the movie Grease (as a duet with a friend of mine from Charlotte's Web) and the second song was my all-time favorite, "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles (which I did all by myself).

Christian didn't get any pictures of me up on stage, so I will just use one of the pictures I got of him. I'm sure he won't mind. ;) He sang an AC/DC song, I think?

#2 Be Involved in a Play

(This is really just a copy of a post on my McCall Clan blog, but it was also one of my 25 Things...so here it is again!)

We had our closing night for Charlotte's Web on Saturday 10/24! It has been so much fun being a part of this production. I made some wonderful friends! 

My mom and I got to do the show together. The last time we were in a show together was The Sound of Music in 2007! 

Here are a few pictures from Charlotte's Web... (All of the pictures on this post were taken by Juris Ozols who donates his time and photography skills to the Prior Lake Players for all their shows! He even got some stage time in this show as the "photographer" in Act I.)

Fern saving Wilbur from becoming bacon.

Wilbur and Fern

Mrs. Arable and Wilbur

The animals of Zuckerman's Farm!

At the Fair!

Wilbur wins a medal!