In lieu of the yearly Christmas letter, I give you, The Brag Post...

I am entitled, am I not?  Plus, we have grandparents that we don't live near.  That alone should justify.  I just sent out Christmas cards but just couldn't bring myself to include the letter.  I tried, I just couldn't.  But seeing as how I included our blog address on the card, I figure I might as well put something Christmas card worthy on the blog...after all, people might think that the link to my family blog means they are going to read all about what our family does and how amazing the kids all are...instead they are going to find snarky, sarcastic humor about real life.  Oops, enjoy, nonetheless.
For the first time in our little family life, we jumped into extracurricular activities with a flurry this fall.  I have avoided it for years because besides the cost and time spent running people around, I haven't felt overly compelled to involve us in a million different things.  My kids are pretty great on their own.  But we gave in and decided to give it a go...to see what life would be like if we let everyone try something they really wanted to do (except Hazel of course who is much to young to appreciate an activity that costs her parents money...she is content to support everyone else, I'm sure of it.  She is down to asking to do soccer only 38.3 times a week.)

HALEY

Haley has been taking piano for several years now.  She really has an ear for music.  She loves listening to anything with Clark and loves guessing who sings what.  She picked up piano quickly and we were amazed when she started violin last year how quickly she took to it as well.  She squeeks, don't get me wrong, but the girl gets it.  She came home from her first day in class, opened a music book we had at home and figured it all out.  In addition to piano and violin she started gymnastics.  The girl does 500 million handstands a day and it has been fun to see her improve over the last couple of cycles of classes.  Plus, to see her skinny legs that go on forever in a leotard is priceless.

ABBY

Abigail started piano this year too.  I love their teacher - we are sad to be taking a little break for their teacher to have twins but excited for them to resume next month because it means we all get to hold babies at least once a week.  Abby likes piano and is happy when she practices and gets a song down.  Her activity of choice this fall was tennis.  She is about to finish her second cycle and loves it.  It is hilarious to watch because even though she misses about 50% of the serves, she is grinning from ear to ear the entire time.  Abby's major talent is joy and enthusiasm.  She is a light.  And I have to say, her form in this video makes me think that maybe we should put her in golf.  Lovely, isn't it? (She is the one in the middle in black pants...and I apologize for the quality, it was taken on my phone.)

MIA

Mia was thrilled that we finally deemed her old enough to appreciate something.  She is taking a dance class with her best friend and they are adorable.  I hate that the door gets closed and we don't get to watch but last week was parent's week so we got to come gush for a bit.  I am excited for her recital in June.

HAZEL

Not to be left out, Hazel is cute.  But you already knew that because I gush about her all the time and how good and sweet she is.  She has gotten old enough to bicker and disobey quite to the extent that the older ones have perfected.  Plus, for the time being she is baby of the family so its just appropriate to talk about her more, right?

CLARK

You didn't think I was going to leave him out, did you?  The other night after our movie was over we got on the topic of "the worm".  I'm not really sure, but what happened after that was pure joy and entertainment.  The girls laid on the floor and tried to do the worm for a good ten minutes until incessant chanting finally got Clark himself on the floor to "show us how its done".  People, I was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my face.  Not only was I crying, but I actually threw up a little.  I was laughing that hard.  (Remember?  pregnant stomach and constitution? It could've been worse than throw up, I assure you.)  Watching him try to figure out how to move to get it done was priceless.  When he actually figured it out, it was less funny, and more impressive.  Clark is not a tiny guy but he got his body across the room.  And even though he swears at the beginning of the video that it will never be shown to anyone but our own posterity, after seeing his moves with his own eyes, he gave the go ahead.  Oh my goodness, my husband doing the worm.
PS Don't you think things like people being able to do the worm should always be included in Christmas letters?  I do.

EMILY

And that leaves me.  I am growing a human being.  That counts for being talented, doesn't it?  I hope so because its about all I am doing right now.

And that's that.  The Scharman family Christmas brag.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

**I realize that two of the videos are not coming up.  I will have to try again later because its just not working right now.  Believe, me, be disappointed that you are not watching Clark do the worm right now.  Your day is much less more exciting because of that.