Pre-Christmas at the Peacock

Keira is still friends with Emma, who she knew way back when they went to school together in McKinney.

Kassidy and Emma's sister Mika are also friends.

This weekend, the Peacock Theater was throwing a birthday party and they invited a bunch of kids from Gearbox to join in.

Of course this being the Peacock Theater, they flew in "Silly Billy", the top children's performer from NYC, to perform.

Both of the girls got pulled onto the stage to join in on the fun.

Keira had the slightly better luck :)

Post Birthday Perks

Chocolate cake for breakfast!

Christmas Concert

Iria's favorite time of the holiday season is our church's annual Christmas Concert, which is also a favorite for the family and community as well.

By the very end, the entire Von Doescher family are up on stage together (minus Dad) as the combined choirs sing "The First Noel". 

Happy Birthday, Lukas!

Lukas turned 13 today, our second child to reach that milestone.

We've seen none of that severe teenage angst yet- he is still a wonderful kid and we are loving watching him grow up (but are also a little saddened by it).

Lukas facts:

Loves video games, action figures, and Legos (such a kid)

Uses the expression "Lit!" to describe anything that he thinks is cool

Currently playing: Red Dead Redemption 2

Favorite school subject this past year: zoology

Least favorite: math

Currently listening to: The Hamilton soundtrack

Favorite video game characters: Link and John/Dutch/Arthur from Red Dead

Favorite food: Ramen noodles

Favorite desert: sherbet

What he wants to be when he grows up "no clue"

Least looking forward to now that he is a teenager: puberty

Most looking forward to: getting stronger

Dream vacation: The Caribbean

Favorite movie this past year: Mission Impossible 6

3 things he would bring with him to a deserted island: knife/fishing pole/jug of water

Who he thinks will die in the next Avengers movie: all of the original team

Favorite superhero: Deadpool

Favorite youtuber/streamer: jacksepticeye

Best goal from this past year: an indoor game where he scored the winning shot in the final second and then everyone dog piled on him

Currently reading: Akira and the Percy Jackson series

Best friends: Aiden / Gwen / Nathan

Favorite drink: water

Favorite number: 5

Birthday presents: fly fishing pole/Link action figure/SmashBros controller (Mom and Dad) lego set and xbox gift card (Grandma and Grandpa) $50 dollars in cash (Aunt Sue and Uncle Peter)

Birthday meal: takeout Chinese food

Nutcracker Pics

Keira was the lone Doescher Nutcracker dancer this season, playing as a mouse and also moving up to a clown role.

I got to see her perform the clown dance at a mall event around two weeks later, and she did great. 

I always loved that dance :)

CT'exas

Craig came for a whirlwind  48 hour visit, which he should be sleeping off back in Seattle right now.

Everybody had a great time, and we can't wait until he visits again.

Temporary Move

Only Keira would pack a bag to move to a new bed for two nights while Craig visits.

Fit for Framing

I really dug this picture that Keira drew of Teddy and Jo this morning. 

It is a scene from the "Little Men" book that we are reading. She was laboring over all of the small details that she was putting in, and her nose was almost touching the paper at times.

Tonight I went into Photoshop for 15 minutes and dropped a quick Picasso palette on it and gave it a fancy frame. 

I would hang that up in my house :)

In the Wings

Keira performed at the North Park Mall yesterday.

I recorded her actual performances, but snapped some shots of her when she was waiting to go on.

Up top, she is the third clown from the left.

Perfect Form

Sherman in begging mode.

Rain or Shine

Lennon had skills with Nipper today, who loves to practice in the rain.

This was more of a Northwestern' style mist than a Northeaster style downpour, so he didn't get too soaked.

St. Nicholas Day

The boots were placed by the front door with care,  

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;  

Late Night TV

I have been re-watching Game of Thrones with Katharine, as she goes through the series for the first time.

This is when having kids starts to pay off :)

License to Lego

Lukas has been playing way too much Red Dead Redemption 2 and is surrounded by way too many piles of Lego; but a good thing came out of it all when he designed and built this cool looking pistol that has a working bullet chamber that fires Lego bricks (errr, "bullets").

Impressed!

Daddy / Daughter Date

Kassidy and I had a rare night out together, while everyone else was at church choir and the Nutcracker.

Dinner was at the California Pizza Kitchen (a tortilla soup for me, mac and cheese for Kassidy) and then we walked over to Barnes and Noble and bought a new book for her.

I made a mistake and mentioned that the DFW area was under a tornado watch (Kassidy is really paranoid about tornadoes) but the bad weather passed east of us and we stayed dry.

Morning Routine

A bowl of Raisin Bran cereal (with extra raisins added) and the New York Tines on my computer.

And sometimes Pepper stops by for a little affection (and a lick of milk).

School Room (home-style)

Parting Shots

The Martels have gone home, but will be back in January again.

Here are a some parting shots of the boys: