The Christmas Favorite things - from gingerbread, to candle light dinner to Santa Express.

Here is our effort in creating a few little traditions that can go a long way - The gingerbread house.  Simple (prepackaged) and fun to watch how many decorations get on the house versus home many the munchkins try to sneak into their little mouths.  

Once again, my favorite spot to decorate was around our dining room light.  The ornaments are Campbell soup balls that my Godmother Anne bought me through the years as a young girl.  I have 5 to this day ranging from 1980-1986.  Thanks Mom for keeping them safe over the years.

I am pretty sure Shane is trying to justify the consumption of another gummy - 

Handy with the scissors

Drew was my decorator in the Christmas Cookie cutout for this year.  We kept it simple only creating Stars and Trees (I used wheat flour too and honestly loved it!)

Candle light dinner was another favorite.

Now for the Grandpopa!  The Essex steam train does a Santa Express.  You gotta be on it with the Ticket purchasing and we manged to snag seats on the one 23 December - the final day of school!  We scooped the boys up just a bit early and drove down to Essex.

It was a chilly wintery day - but not too cold

We did see Heidi, Mike, Waylan and Madelyn as they were getting off the express right before we got on.  So cool to be able to give them some hugs before they headed to their Florida Christmas adventure visiting family and friends down there.

Shane, do you think Santa will be on the trains?  

All aboard!

Love this photo that Heidi took for us.  Makes the train look Old Timey and Shane's face pressed up against the window is just priceless.

Here we go

You think all these flannels actually go together?  For Christmas, yes.

Drew needed and wanted to be protected by either Goomba or Oma Sue (his sweater is seriously classic and I made him wear it almost the entire season!)

Here comes Mrs. Claus

And now - Jolly O' St. Nicholas!  What a super cheery and personal guy.

Drew doesn't seem to think so...

We sang carols on the way back and just enjoyed the ride

We explored Old Saybrooke and hit a fabulous dinner on the way home that included Lobster mac and Cheese.  Not possible to mess that up.  

Had we done the night time Polar express the boys would have been in these PJs - I thought they were all from Tate through the years.  I passed the photo along to Farrah and she couldn't confirm that - I will have to dig through their photos for verification as I love how Tate's clothes get so well used by this crew!

School Pageant - - My Wish

Incorporating new traditions this year and apparently Cherry Brooke School has a tradition for putting on a holiday pageant.  The kids all sing Holiday Carols - to include an awesome rendition of the 12 days of Christmas where a different groups of teachers festivally represents each of the 12 days.

But the crown favorite was this video - the song was 'my wish' and I think Jordan Sparks originally wrote it - but Mrs. Theriault's kindergarten class (yes - Shane's class) performed it.  Super Super sweet.

http://youtu.be/6dIWWMNvyWE

Love Watching Shane's little moth make the words

Drew and Oma Sue got to come to the performance as well

Another possible tradition in the making - a cookie swap.  I had never attended one of these either, but my new friend Dianna (who is also new to Canton as her family moved from FL) she had orchestrated one for the passed 4 years while she lived in FL.  This was her first time doing one here and I was happy to be included.  She had great games and her house was beautifully decorated.  A great chance to meet new ladies and grab some yummy treats too.

I would say Christmas is in full swing! 

Office Christmas Party Yoga pants included

Its Thursday December 18, I am FINALLY using my 5 passes to Be Yoga for a much needed mind vacation before the holidays begin and the togetherness ensues.  The Yoga was wonderful.  So I am running home to make the most of my final 3 hours before Drew gets home....  When I get a call from Chris - Your Dad had a great idea of heading over to First and Last for a C & H Sprinkler Christmas party.  Its really the last time we will get alone time until February as the kids will be here for the holidays and than they are headed to Sanibel for their yearly snowbird time.

My mind raced through a million things that I 'thought' I needed to do.  But what was more important - yes, the time with the C&H Sprinkler directors, staff and owners.  

I got there just as Chris and my dad were showing up.  My mom was at yoga class too (different gym) they left messages on her phone, in her car and even walked through the gym in hopes of finding her (hopefully not IN class) to tell her about the Christmas Party.....  So for New years we may want to look at planning.....  or not - because it totally worked.

Its December - we have been working together since June - and guess what - we all still love each other and admire each other - maybe even more than when we started.  And, we won a project AND we are a certified Veteran owned business (achieved NEW YEARS EVE DAY)  Biggest Kudos for my father and his eternally optimistic outlook and Chris's ability to dive in and take ownership.  Here we grow.

Santa in Canton

With our new digs in Canton we are starting to wonder if now is the time in our lives that we will actually start creating 'repeatable' traditions.  Here is one we just had to try.  Breakfast with Santa at the Canton Park and Rec.  Saturday morning (after the adult Champgna walk - which YES!  We will repeat)

Tasty?

Loved the high school kid participation =)

We had to snap a photo of Drew and Santa super quick as Chris and Drew were headed back home to link up with a furnace repair guy - it was so far the coldest weekend of the year and guess what stopped working last night (we noticed as the babysitter showed up and it was 57 in the house....) the 25 year old furnace....should be an easy fix... (we were also hosting a neighborhood Army Navy party at our home - another tradition we hope to continue - so no pressure!)

Santa sure was a friendly guy.

The amazing thing about the santa breakfast was Nick, Shane and I all won an item from the raffle!!  It was almost uncanny (or a reflection of how many folks were there...  I would say 50)  I won a parks and rec shirt, Nick a gift cetificate and chocolates and Shane nabbed a Despicable Me cozy blanket - success all around!  Here is the other 2 with the bearded man.

Now lets head home and get ready for some Army Football!

Great night with our neighbors (no time for photos are we were enjoying the company) it was a total last minute invitation and we had about 16 neighbors come by.  My folks even popped over.  Super great night!

One party done - The next weekend I had a bug to host a Friend Christmas.  Never had the moment to grab my camera but wanted to remember our house filled with our treasured friends that we have met and reconnected with over the years.  Mary and her family were supposed to come, but the flu bug kept them at home keeping the germs to themselves...  The Hribernik's came and the Weber as well.  Christmas Pasta - Maybe again next year!!

Shane's day

As the middle guy it is tough to get some solo time.  Either he is trying so hard to keep up with Nick, or he is getting into trouble with Drew.  So just having Shane is priceless.  So on Friday I took him to Jump Zone - just him.  We played hide and seek and jumped around together until he made a friend (and than I was out)

He is so very chatty and is still putting so much together in that large noggin.  He could still use a nap most days and on the way home from Jump Zone is TOTALLY zonked.  Thanks for playing with ME Shane

Love you,

Mom

Angela's Birthday celebration

Angela is turning the big 4-0 and the Air Force currently has them living in San Antonio - so what does she want to do?  fly to DC  - a memorable place that she treasures in her life.  She thought of the idea back in Sept and wrote Diane and I in hopes that we could celebrate with her.  Sure its the weekend after Thanksgiving - sure we are busy with kids, family and life - You wonder if taking the weekend to celebrate with a treasured friend is the right decision - than it all falls into place - the plane ticket is $130 and my travel companion is Diane and our destination is the McCulloughs and imagine how wonderful Angela will feel.  Yes, Yes - its meant to be - we get to celebrate with Angela.

Here we go.  I loved boarding the plane with Diane - and landing in DC meeting Farrah for lunch - what a posh set up.  As soon as we got on the plane I was excited to grab my book and enjoy some serenity - it was super cute how Diane had the idea of a 'free write' for farrah and other fun Diane tasks - if only the plane ride was longer....

So here we are at REAGAN airport.

Lets grab a bite to eat and than find the guest of honor.  I haven't seen Angela since we left Germany in 2011 - it was fun watching all the passengers walk to baggage claim playing - that's not Angela because.....  There she was!  DOES NOT LOOK 40.

Angela was staying in Old Town Alexandria in an area where her and Chad truly began their relationship.  She was successful in Radio Marketing and had several friends that still lived and worked in the area.  They were all meeting us for dinner.  Now as an added bonus and one of the reasons I love FB - was my friend from when we were LTs in Germany in 1999.  Janelle Price lives in the area and was able to tear away from her life for a glass of wine with me - she is a momma to 3 high spirited boys too - gotta stick together....So fortunate for the time to catch up.  

It was also a rainy yucky night so we were kinda thrilled when she offered to drive us to the restaurant.  No judging her mini van that normally carts around those 3 boys =)!  Needless to say she is prepared for anything!   Here we are tucked in the back seat.  I was sitting (but not strapped into) their car seat.  Way better than a wet walk!

Farrah grabbed a bottle of champgna at the bar to toast this wonderful night.  It really felt like old times just being around old friends - and I don't mean age.  We were so fortunate that those years in Germany we all really were family to each other.

After a wonderful dinner where we got to shower Angela with memories and thought for her many years ahead - it was wonderful just watching her soak it all in.  Being surrounded by a table fully of pals from all walks of your life that made the effort to be there for you on that night - she was full of the warmth.

Here is that German family

and the whole crew

That evening Diane Drive us back to the McCulloughs where Brian, Macy and Tate werent feeling 100%, 

so we tip toed in and headed to bed.  

The next morning Farrah was so sweet to let us go to Ikea as I was wanting some fabric to finish my drapes and they had it in stock!!  The kids hit the play place, Brian got to relax and we got to shop - win win.  I bought too much (carry on Sara, carry on)  Ikea only lets you keep the kids in the play place for 30 minutes - can you seriously make it through the store in 30 minutes?  We need to talk to thm about their business plan!!

Next was a pick up of some extra yummy pies for dessert tonight and a stop at a wonderful winery in occaquan.  I think Farrah and Brian can sniff out these little town gems with great wine so well and this was no exception.  Great beer too.  

Brian found the energy to cook us an AMAZING Brian McCullough dish that night even thought we offer to grab take out many times so he could rest (but we were SO thankful for a exceptional McCullough meal with fresh noodles too - he has a talent that guy!)

That night Amy Roberts was able to come over and Farrah had all the supplies to craft 3 different Christmas ornaments.

The great treasures of our time together. 

Now its Monday and time to head back home - but felt absolutely filled up with time together with wonderful friends.  Diane and I enjoyed the plane ride and opted to take a photo in front of the Christmas Tree at Bradley Airport.  Much smaller than the DC one - but equaly as magical.

Angela - this weekend was a wonderful tribute to the miles friends will travel to be surrounded by friends and how we all feel better for many reasons.

By the time I was home - Chris was already in Boston for some Tyco foam system training (amen to my folks being close by so that our double booking wasn't tremendously horrible - Oma Sue and Goomba got the kids on the bus!).  He was staying with my sister and her family.  So Tuesday morning , Nick was to work making eggs for breakfast

And here are those smiley dudes enjoying the remnants of our first snow fall.  nick when are those teeth going to come in?  

and here is one of the many reasons why I love Farrah - she sent Diane this photo just a few days after we were all together.  Oh how true.....

boys boys boys

Most of the times is LOUD, all the times is crazy.  That is a house with boys.  I try EVERYTHING to keep up with it all.  This photo really cracks me up - performers

I LOVE LOVE LOVE when this happens.  We really WORK for it.