First snowflakes!

Thanksgiving

 My sister Cara generously hosted us for Thanksgiving this year.  We had a fabulous meal, pretty decorations, & nice company.  I was enjoying myself so much, I forgot to take many photos!

 Fr. Jon even gave her & me & our babies a special blessing.  So thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bookworms

I love that our kids love to read!

When we get home from a trip to the library, this is usually about how far we get inside.  They barely take off their coats before they dive in to the whole bag full of books.  Awesome!

(I think my favorite out of this bunch was "Dragons Love Tacos"... pretty funny!)

Blast Bow

It's amazing how motivating a NERF-like blast bow can be to a Cub Scout selling popcorn... Andrew is so pumped to have earned one!

Little Flowers

 We had our first Little Flowers Sashing Ceremony at our parish.  They were all so sweet!  Rebecca was adorable. 

 They are so excited to get started following the footsteps of Mary & St. Therese.  It's such a beautiful program!  I'm excited, too.

Caking

 Andrew & Darren baked this cake without assistance for the Cub Scout Father/Son Cake Contest.  It turned out pretty well!  I was a little concerned when Darren came to me & asked, "Do I need to scramble the eggs before we add them in?"  Luckily, he just meant "beat" them, not cook them first.  ;)

Their "Desserted Campsite" (clever, eh?) won most creative with it's graham cracker & licorice tent and pretzel/pistacio/sprinkles campfire.  Maybe I should get them in the kitchen more often...

Boot buddies

Elliot & Teresa

Actual Halloween

 For some reason this year, it felt like we were celebrating Halloween over & over & over!  Well, when the actual night hit we FINALLY took the opportunity to carve our pumpkins.

 Yes, that's Cinderella up top & a wolf howling at the moon below.

Here's Rebecca's cat under the moon & stars. 

We joined our neighborhood friends for trick or treating... almost everyone had a "twin" of sorts!  We really are quite the group.  :)  So much candy, so many laughs, so many kids, so much fun.

Family Photo Shoot

 My sister Chris took these great photos of our crew.  I love how *most* of them turned out.  Guess which one won't be our Christmas card?  ;)

Halloween at the skating rink

Crazy skaters... all three of them.  You never would have guessed that Teresa skipped her nap for the party  We had a blast!

Bible Study Reunion

 10 years

That's how long I've been a part of a young married women's Bible Study.  When we started, there was just one child among us.  Then more & more started to join & more & more children were added into the mix.  Now we can barely fit all of us gals in the same room, much less hubbies & kiddos!

 They have been such amazing friends to me.  I'm so grateful that I've had this group in my life.

 Some I've known since college.  Some I've only met recently.  Some joined after our group got so big we had to split... so I barely know them at all.  But I am confident in their support, advice, & love for our faith. 

 It is a gift to be surrounded with such wonderful women!

 So, to celebrate 10 years since our start, we had a night out together at a local restaurant.  We ate, chatted, played Bunco, chatted some more, & just generally enjoyed each other.

 It was awesome.  Think we gained a few new Bunco fans out of the deal, too.  ;)

So thankful for every one of you! 

You are a blessing to me, to our family, & to our Church.

Fall Excitement

 "The tallest tower EVER"

 Fun at the CKs for the Superbowl of the Saints

 St. Rafka, Mary with baby Jesus, & St. Andrew 

 with my old roomie Sr. Edith Marie!

Fun in the leaves with cousin Jonathan

Trunk or Treat 2012

 Cinderella

 Captain America turned Darth Vader at the last minute

Rainbow butterfly