Digging for gemstones

Paul got an excavation kit from Grandma and Grandpa that he and the others are enjoying tonight.

Park play

It is warm and sunny today...in the fifties. This called for a stop at the park on the way home from Hannah's first ortho visit.

Christmas Day

This year Elizabeth had a great idea when we said that "go time" down the stairs Christmas morning would be 7:30. She suggested wrapping each kid's door in wrapping paper and bursting out of it at 7:30 like the football players do. So of course we made that happen!

then it was time to open gifts

Christmas Eve

We walked around old town after mass to admire the beautifully lit trees. The we stopped in at the crown pub for, depending on your age, hot chocolates or hard cider.

Aunt Sara's visit

We had a great time with Aunt Sara. She was a real trooper riding all over town with us on Thurs and Fri.

Here we are dropping Hannah off at the gym.





Aunt Sara took the kids out two at a time so they could buy their gifts for each other at the Dollar Tree. Then we set up the gift wrapping station at home and everyone wrapped their gifts and put them under the tree. This has become one of the kids' favorite Christmas traditions.

Saturday night we just relaxed at home. Hannah got to do Aunt Sara's hair. Sara made a killer batch of mulled wine for the adults and it was cider for the kids. And then there was some Christmas caroling before bed with Aunt Sara showing us her musical talent. On Sunday she got to see the kids in the Christmas pageant at church. It was a great visit!

It is COLD!

As you all know we have been experiencing record low temps here. This was my odometer on the way to school on Friday.

Yep that says "-3"

Kate and I warming up after mass today

 Last week Elizabeth made a pillow out of some odds and ends around the house (two cloth napkins make up the outside) - it turned out very well! She is now adding some beads.

Decorating

This weekend the kids decorated some gingerbread houses and gingerbread men. They are getting ready to help with our 6th annual Cookie Baking on Saturday with my aunt, cousin and mom. Aunt Sara gets to join in the fun this year too!

And one of Kate making her Santa list - whoa!

Thanksgiving Day

We had a great day at Mom's house with some of their friends and then other aunts and uncles came for dessert. Aaron was at home sick so I did not get a lot of pictures; I was on kid duty. =)

School Pictures 2013-2014

5th grade

2nd grade

1st grade

Pre-Kindergarten

Long overdue update

This post is in response to some grief I have recently gotten from the long silence on this blog. (This person shall remain nameless.) So to recap:

This is Elizabeth. She is 10

This is Hannah with the pie from her 8th birthday

Paul is 6.5 and is now a Tiger Scout like his cousin BJC. Here he is after a map project he did at his den meeting.

And Roo. She's 4.5

 Here are a couple pics from the Boys Weekend to South Bend. They left at 5:30am for their flight. Check out that plaid!

Over that weekend the girls made me breakfast in bed. Not too shabby! That was after they ate pumpkin pie..for their breakfast while I slept. Who cares! Girls weekend!

Over my high school reunion weekend I saw my goddaughter Madison and took her for ice cream.

 Here is the lone shot from my reunion weekend =) It was a great time!

And some time with Grandma and Grandpa. I have no idea what Paul is doing. Maybe he can smell his own feet.

There were many Monopoly games throughout the stay. Grandma sure has interesting rules! =)

 And a shot of what is typical around here. Life has gotten quite busy here this school year. I am working at the office a few days a week and with kids activities and homework, it is a full week by Friday!

We will be at the ND/Air Force game this coming weekend with Brian Dominic (and family), Sean Hynes, Joe Villinski, and Brian Anderson this weekend. We'll leave Fri midday and return Sunday. Looking forward to the getaway. Will definitely post some of that craziness =)

Ready for...bed?