Winter or spring?

It's so fun to check the clearance section after Christmas for any of the leftover bulbs.  No amaryllis this time, so we tried paperwhites.  Amid all the cold & snow, they just make me smile!

Catholic Schools Week

Look at these crazies on CrAzY dAy!

Teresa even had Pajama Day at Friends Preschool.

Preschool must have been fun today, because she fell asleep on the way home.  When I woke her up enough to come inside, she fell asleep on the couch like this for another 10, then moved to the floor for the final 10!

Why not?

Rebecca:  I know what to get Sarah for Christmas next year... a binky pit! Then she can jump in & suck all over the place!

The Elephant Princess

Light eating

We made these sunshine cupcakes for Friends Preschool last week... delicious & super cute!

6 months

Sarah LOVES Mum Mums.  They are easily her favorite treat.  She starts flapping her hands when she even hears a wrapper!  She likes fruit & orange veggies... not a fan of the green ones.

Under the jumperoo is one of her special places to hang out.  I often will find her having crawled or wiggled under there.  The big kids throw a blanket over the top & call it her "fort".

Her playmat has become more of a jungle gym as of late.  She likes to hook her leg around one of the supports & see how far she can wiggle it across the room.

Super Seniors

Can't believe these guys are Seniors already!

New Years

 Fancy supper with the kiddos!  Even lemonade is fancy in a wine glass.  

 Auntie Katie & cousin Alivia on New Year's Day at Green Grandpa's

 Hey, cutie

 We surprised Grandpa with birthday hats & cake

 Happy birthday!

Just a couple more

Photo credit to my sister Chris  :)

My baby is trying to crawl!

Slow down, sweetie!  You're only 6 months... plenty of time for all that jazz. 

Christmas Day

 After a much more restful night (ironically), we awoke Christmas morning to happy smiles.  After ever-so-quickly getting dressed for Mass & grabbing some quick breakfast, the kids sprinted up the stairs to see what Santa had left under the tree. 

 Rebecca's reading has really taken off this year & she is determined to read chapter books.  I think that "The Puppy Place" series may be one of her new faves!

 Sarah received this fun twisty rattle.

 The girls both received new scooters!

 My sister Cara & her family joined us on Christmas Eve as well.  It was fun to watch how alike & yet how different Cecilia & Sarah are at this point!

 We made it on time to Mass at St. Francis.  Always beautiful.  Always fun to see some familiar faces.

 Maria & Rebecca went to work figuring out their Rainbow Looms.

 Love my sisters

 "Let's get a picture of the babies together!"

 About half of the grandkids

We had such a good time & enjoyed seeing everyone!  A whole new crowd filtered in as we headed out to continue the fun at the farm.  We stopped at Darren's parents on the way back home for another big celebration.  His Grandma & great aunt were even able to join us which made it more special.  There is not a single photo, however, because I fell ill (likely with Teresa's help) shortly after arrival & spent the majority of the day in the guest bedroom.  But it sure sounded like they had a fabulous time!

Christmas Eve

 I love Christmas & I especially love Christmas at my parents' farm because it is so full of wonderful memories.  Every year I feel so blest that we get to celebrate there & let our kids make their own memories, too.  This year my sister Chris showed up a little early as well & our kiddos spent all three days being totally goofy having some serious fun together.

 After a fun & sugar-packed Monday, Teresa was hit with a stomach bug that night.  She was a good sport but ended up spending most of Christmas Eve day on the couch.  Between her illness, Sarah''s wakefulness, & the general challenge of sleeping somewhere than our own house, we didn't get much sleep that night!  Oh how I wish we could magically transport ourselves back home just to sleep!

 I usually like to bring along something fun for the cousins to create while we are together.  This year we tried our hand at graham cracker Nativities.  They had a riot creating them & they turned out pretty cute!

 After a lovely Christmas Eve dinner & mounds of dishes, we headed upstairs to the tree.  My nephew John had played Linus in his school's production of a Charlie Brown Christmas, so he recited that version of the Christmas story for us.  He did great.  :)  After we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus & put him in the stable, it was time for presents!  The cousins did a little exchange & then we opened up gifts from each other.  Andrew received this watch & basketball; Darren has this new jacket & The Hobbit DVD.

 Inside her new zebra backpack from Grandpa & Grandma, Teresa had a "Hello Kitty Cosmetics Set".  Oh.my.goodness.  She has been wearing new lip gloss & applying new nail polish ever since!

So glad that Teresa perked up in time to enjoy our Christmas Eve traditions.  It was such a nice evening!