Christmas holiday!

Hold onto your hats because HERE WE GO!

Merry Christmas!!  The most exciting day of the year for these boys because they really don't know what Santa stashed for them and the love the relaxed time with family - 

Nick was the first one up and bounding off the walls.  The boys were amazed by the train around the tree and it all went from there.  My folks could barely get here in time.

can you see him smiling under there??

My mom thinks of everyone - to include Pauli - now SHE is definitely smiling - thank you Oma Sue!

Love all the activity in this photo.  Our intention is to go one gift at a time, one kiddos at a time and it usually works out somewhere around there.

Once the kiddos enjoyed their gift opening and we had breakfast- we literally switched gears into clean up the home as the Leadbetters were driving and Liz, Seb and Winslow had just boarded a plane to heard our way.  Every had a mission - vacuum, bathroom - you name it!

So excited to prep for family!

Now the moments I remembered to grab my camera I am thankful - here is one of them - Monday we had Christmas dinner all together and the kiddos made cookies!

We had our first legit Kids table!

We even had little ones drinking form crystal!

Filled up every inch of the table!

This is Christmas!! - loved the full house with so many helping hands - so grateful for our family.

Now some of the highlights - Chris and Liz joined me at Body Pump Tuesday morning and than came home to the global move of C&H Fire Sprinkler - Loved the team effort here!

Monday we hiked a rather steep hill at roaring brooke and Wednesday we headed out to explore Riverton.

Someone wants to join the action inside.

Thursday was our day on the slopes

love seeing these 2 on the lift in front of us.

Ladies only!

Apparently this guy is done.....

and they found our skis - can you believe we left them there at the end of the season last year - over the moon that they held onto them!!

Saturday morning we took the neighborhood stroll to get the kids some fresh air before the travel day ahead.

These were the moments I grabbed my camera - we all spent time just enjoying each other - wether it was the epic dart gun battle for the boys, the Taboo playing for Winslow and all the missions in-between, we really just loved being all together.  Thank you Liz for making the time and taking the effort to be out here with us.  Glad there was a bit of snow for you on the slopes

Travel safe back to Texas!

Luminaries and Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve day started TREMENDOUSLY rainy - gross really.  perfect morning to wrap and get prepped for family!

By 2pm, the cloud literally parted and the sun started to show!!  Just in time for the Luminary assembly - first time for Chris's truck to be used as transport!

By far my favorite neighborhood activity - everyone has a job and we all kinds meld around into doing them, bag folding, sand filling, candles, donut eating....  

the roads are so beautiful - love seeing everyone walking that evening and all the folks that drive in to check them out - this is us coming back from Christmas Eve service (that we were noticeably late too....  I know I know - new Years resolutions here we come...)

Love how beautiful it makes our neighborhood look - the snow adds a great touch =)

So very thankful to have my folks join us for a simple Christmas Eve lobster bisque dinner

Love all these faces together. - Even Drew's someday he will give us a smile.

Ah sure, he smiles with Curtesy bear.  Sure makes for a sweet photo!

My one request for a family photo.  With so much activity sometimes it really takes a serious effort to sit down and take a photo - sure I get growing from the kiddos, but I keep telling them, someday they will be thankful for it.

After this photo we scooted out to our buddies the Tangerones - just for a few drinks and to say Merry Christmas - well guess who popped in while we were gone?!

Favorite holiday photo!

Or maybe this one - stillness and all.

First day of 'winter' work

Basement project almost done, Christmas presents yet to wrap and guess what, Ski Sundown opens.  Yes, I love skiing and my winter job, but the LAST thing I needed to be doing on Friday morning was skiing for opening day - we didn't get lessons so we all got to ski - pretty sure we all needed to be somewhere else.  I know, first world problems....  I digress.

Once the kids got off the bus, it was time to suit them up for the slopes - and apparently Curtesy bear too - Drew was SO excited to have him over the holidays - (thank you mrs. theriault....)

As we were suiting everyone up, we realized we were missing a pair of skis - yikes!!  Thankfully we bought a snowboard and boots - and I have the most adaptive 10 year old ever..... he went out there and tried his best with the board.  Shane and Drew did more complaining than he did.  Love this guy!

Cookie Decorating 'on a timeline'!

There are days when I am thankful parts of my once levels of perfections are gone... 

This was our Wednesday night experiment.

 I do love Christmas cut outs,  they are BY far my favorite cookie and I can eat them by the dozens...

Loved having the help - even if only for a portion of it.

Shane can be very mission focused - interesting technique

There was a point when they lost interests and to be honest, that was a good thing - because although I am not a perfectionist...  I had a timeline and the cookie swap starts at 7:30!  This isn't going to cut it!

Shane's classroom party

The day i get to volunteer for Shane's recess it snows!!  LOVE!!  absolutely love seeing all these kiddos line up for sledding - the best!

Also got to help out with the craft - shane did some rock star painting - now for the glitter - 

Great job buddy!!

This is my wish.....

Cherry Brook puts on a holiday sign along each year and there is a kindergarten class that gets to perform - Mrs. Theriault's class is the winner!!  They are singing 'My Wish' by Jordan Sparks.  Beautiful song and I have enjoyed practicing with Drew.  Now for the big day and he WANTS to wear a tie - YES PLEASE - 

Crazy thing is, he wants to wear it OUTSIDE his sweater vest. - still cute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VnIxAZono0 

Loved attending this with my mom - gets us both to stop and enjoy the beautiful things about the holidays.

Why I love Cherry Brook Primary School and its Teachers - 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxvj_sXfQI

Its not your eyes, my camera clearly lost the ability to focus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JfabbZVB7Y

Classic!

I brought the video directly home to Dan Rinkus (our intern - yes, can you believe it, Chris has an intern!!) as its him mom ringing the bells and being a 'Pear tree'!  

We loved it when Mrs. Rinkus emailed us around thanksgiving seeing if Chris would be interested in an intern over the holidays.  Her son is a Lacrosse player and studying fire protection.  He thought he wanted to be a fire fighter but changing his mind - what a great experience to see another side of fire protection and for Chris to spend a little time mentoring.  Win win!

Yes, Dan loved the video =)!  And the blue berry muffin I brought in for him - sometimes I can be such a mom....

Who said we were on a timeline?!?

Nothing says progress like a timeline....  Monday night and Tuesday night were rather late nights for us,  Chris was working the trim with Linas.....

And I was crossing my fingers that the electric lines I ran through the rooms would translate into power -

So far as good!!

Next, the furniture!

Snowy morning

Show!! Finally and LOTS of it!!  Saturday morning was the PERFECT snow day - we didn't have to go anywhere.  

Except sledding, we have to go sledding - thankfully the neighbors offered up their hill

The kiddos loved it - sledding is the BEST! backyard sport!

Just in case you were wondering what the chickens do on a snowy morning...

Or if you were curious how excited Pauli is about the snow....