Christmas Eve

We had our family Christmas Eve get together at Emily’s house this year. Eric came too—good to see him. Cooper loved his tool set we got him (he looked adorable in the hard hat and goggles asking for a piece of board and nails to “go to work”). Silas loved his latch board I had had him too. (super proud of that thing) We all ate and played before going home to get ready for Santa! When we got home we opened our gifts to each other as usual.

Polar Express--SUV Style!

We went looking at Christmas lights as a surprise for the girls. They were getting their PJ's on and I gathered up the "goodies" I had made the night before for snacking on...and we loaded up in the car. They were surprised! We saw several houses we liked this year, and I don't think we ever ended up choosing a "winner".

Trolley Ride

We went on the annual trolley ride right before Christmas this year. We got off and ate at Gusanno’s Pizza (YUM!). Silas was cracking me UP since Emily could not seem to get his pizza cut up and in his mouth fast enough! Then we walked to the Rivermarket for hot chocolate and watched the ice skaters at the ice rink there under the pavilion. Then we got on the trolley back to NLR. I am glad we do this even if it is only once a year.

Fun (and busy) weekend!

Christmastime is such a busy time (but I love it that way). We had been invited to go caroling with the Shipman’s and most of the people from our camping trip. How FUN! I have been wanting the girls to experience “real” caroling like we used to do in youth group. We all went (HUGE group of us: kids, babies, parents, and all) to the homes in their neighborhood and loved how happy we made people singing to them. I hope this is a yearly event! Then we went back to the Shipman’s and I set up my laptop outside with Santa Clause 3 for the kids, Oliver had a fire going for marshmallows, and the fun continued! Then we had Cooper come and spend the night the next week during Xmas break. He had never done this, and so it was something all the kids were excited about! I had planned to make Christmas Tree Pancakes for the kids (a HUGE hit—especially once I added sprinkles as ornaments) and then the kids worked on decorating gingerbread houses. Olivia did one herself while Bella and Cooper decorated theirs (otherwise known as slapping candy and icing on the roof and calling it done!).

Painting with a Twist

On December 15, I was scheduled to meet up with my photographer friends, Lizzy and Amy, at Painting with a Twist (a new paint studio in town where the artist guides you through the strokes to make a particular painting while you paint and enjoy snacks and drinks). Well, Lizzy’s little girl came down sick so she wasn’t able to make it. But Amy and I sat together and I met a few other photographer friends as well. I am sure this will come to no surprise to most of you that I had to change my painting and differ from the group. I did not like the little “balls” on my trees… Looked like Christmas lights or something too childish. In fact, I decided I liked my painting vertically rather than the proposed horizontal design. I came home, added a big wooden K to the front and hung it on my front door. A perfect winter alternative to a wreath in my mind!

Excited for Santa!

Bella is excited about Santa coming!

Sweet Sisters

Love this sweet note I found that Olivia had written to her sister. I want to keep this forever.

Remodel

We have wanted to remodel our main bathroom downstairs as long as we have lived in our house. There had been a leak behind the tub with the previous owner that had led to cracked tiles and such. Not pretty. So we finally got a plumber to check everything out and hired a company to come and resurface the tub. That project turned out MUCH larger than any of us had expected, but isn’t that how it always is? Then we had our vanity and sink replaced. It almost seems like a new bathroom now.