My Family Christmas!

We had a great time for Christmas this year!   It started with Mass at St. Peter's.  The kiddos were involved and I had a very handsome St. Gabriel and a sweet villager!

We came home and opened a few presents...

They were both so excited to see the gift that the purchased open!

On the menu was snacks....lots of high calorie goodness!!!   To top off the night was a family movie night watching The Polar Express! 

Momma had to sleep with Kendra so she didn't discover that Santa arrived in the middle of the night.  (She only woke up 3 times from 11-630!!!!)

She was sure to find these babies....hard to wrap a bike!

Christmas day was all about relaxing and enjoying family and a great bowl of Chicken Enchilada soup!

The kids (i.e. Brian) were dying to play in the snow and the day was perfect for it!  

I so loved this time spent with my family!   Made me appreciate it more without all the hustle and bustle.  I think the kids enjoyed it too!

Merry Christmas with New Traditions

As you all know, we decided to keep our holidays low key this year.  We have traveled and traveled and had chaotic Christmas celebrations for years.  This year we are staying home to start our own traditions!   

The best part is the traditions.   We had the grandparents come to visit to help us with these traditions.   We have had both sets of Wisconsin grandparents come down and will continue with the Iowa grandparents in January!  (over a month of Christmas celebration!  what kid wouldn't love that?)

What fun we have had!  Creating memories that will last a life time!

Here is wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.  

Changes

OH my....this is what I lived with for 3 years.   I had thought I could make it better by taking the wallpaper down and painting, but then realized I was in over my head and it needed a heck of a lot more than that!!!  See the water damage by the shower???   Pain can't fix that!

After having my contractor over for dinner and a discussion about stuff that I might want and or like....he went with it and this is what happened!!!  Oh what a mess!   The only shower in the house is gone!  We all got to know the bathtub (in the other bathroom, that needs work too!)

It's beautiful....take a look at the counter!  I am in love.  I have seriously thought about staying in there for awhile!  

The counter top is concrete, with a vessel sink.  A 1/2 round shower in the corner where the window was...a place for towels!   Yep, change is good!

61 days...

Yep....61 days.  2 months (or so)...that's all we have until Christmas.

The holiday has come up a lot for us in the last couple of days as we try to plan what we will do this holiday season.  We are 4-8 hours from family.  With kids in school and 2 full-time jobs for us parents, those distances translate into a LOT of travelling.   That being said, we made a decision...we will be staying home this holiday season.   That makes me relieved and sad at the same time.   Sad that I won't be spending Christmas back home in Wisconsin (or anytime close to Christmas) and sad that I won't get to enjoy all the family traditions.   The relief???  I don't have to travel.  I don't have to lose sleep about how Santa will come to see my kids while we're on the road.  We can make our own traditions here at home.For this I'm excited.



Now with all that being said.



WE ONLY HAVE 61 DAYS LEFT!!!!



I have gifts to buy, gifts to knit and shipping deadlines to meet.  Yep...LOVE the holiday season!

Sunday

Saturday

Fresh start

My new Galaxy S4 inspired me to start fresh.   I am always on the go and it is great to be able to have so much at my fingertips.   Especially my blog.    I want to do a little more here and this will help with being able to add pictures while on the go!