Christmas in CT

Look at this beautiful table!  With us headed to TX on Sunday we were thrilled the Charron's were able to come down on Saturday and enjoy a Christmas meal together.  Love that my folks wanted to host this entire crew!  

Cousin time and loving it.  

Kudos to my folks for putting out quite the spread and filling their home with all of us - just seeing that delicious prime rib makes me hungry again.  Perfectly done!

We finished the evening with some delicious grasshoppers.

As luck would have it, some of it found its way to the floor.  Stacie scooped it up and added it to a different bowl (that my father and I ate out of since we don't have a dirt thing....) 

As the kids were settled in giggling to Home Alone (a holiday FAVORITE)  who should ring the doorbell but - THIS GUY!

I adored seeing each different capture with the little ones.

Willling to go first

Laying out her list

Making sure he is aware of his request for a drone

Happy to see the festive guy

Childlike nervousness seeing this childhood celebrity

Our little skeptic

Love that Santa found them some pretty awesome USA scarves

Everyone wants a photo with Santa right?  

Believe in the Magic!

Sunday morning we woke up at our house and Santa made a pit stop with a few big gift for the boys knowing we would be traveling for the big day.  Loved their voices.

I didn't take many photos as I wanted to be 'there' so here is my only ones to share.

Nick is already wearing his new snow boarding boots.

Loved seeing these guys exchange their secret santa gifts.  I SO wish I had captured Jackson's excitement in telling Drew HE was his secret santa - ADORABLE

Thank you to my family for making it all possible.  We all truly relish in the time together and we so very fortunate that we can make it happen.   This is exactly what the holidays are meant o be like.  Love you all!

Christmas cookie success of failure

I have never been called Martha Stewart.  My ability to focus on baking is limited at best.  So trying sugar cookies really isn't my best idea.  I can combine the ingredients (well most of them if they are on hand)  for this recipe in particular I had everything.  However something about the oven, the time the temp just wasn't on my side.

A little self pity and a call to the expert baker farrah I decided to keep going.

Something tells me I may need a better cooling rack

I am thinking Christmas Crack is more our speed - added bonus, the kids can help!

Sprinkles and all!  Rather festive if I do say so myself!

I carried on with the sugar cookies keeping a more attentive eye on them.  They turned out and Drew kept telling me how much he loved them  Enjoy baby as this is the last batch.  Until I have forgotten what a pain they are again!

Even managed to keep some around until the neighborhood cookie swap on Monday - Treasured how 'sweet' this evening is!

Founders day fun

With a great early snow storm for VT - we figured it was the perfect year to take advantage of the Mount Snow Founders day!  $12 tickets for everyone.  $60 for the family to ski!

Yes please!

Conditions were amazing and we had a blast.  There were quite a few other folks with this great idea which made for a crowded parking lot and a bit of a hike.  But it was fun seeing quite a few canton families with the same school skipping idea!

C&H wrap up

C&H Christmas party complete with end of year wrap up from Chris and delicious lunch at The Cure -

funny how we managed to snap a photo in front of 9 Pond street.  Would sure be nice to put a BIG bow on a 'sold' sign there.

Some days you live every moment thinking you will remember it all - and than you look back each year realizing how different they all are.  Here's to another great year together!

Just say Yes,

 When some good buddies invite you to Six flag later night on a wintery day in December - bring a friend for Free!!  

We said YES

It was so well decorated and felt a bit like Disney.

Until I went on the Harlequin with some of the most intense amusement park riders ever.  Thankfully Shane and Nick knew what was good for them and bowed out.  Austin still came with us.  I thought I was going to lose my mind.  By far the scariest ride ever.

Next I wanted to hug this polar bear and never let him go!

We did the Riddler and Batman - but THIS was their favorite ride and they did it a few times!

We ended the night warming up at a SPECTACULAR circtsole show that AMAZED us, from inside ring balancing/dancing to 3 trampoline bouncing reindeer, we were amazed and impressed!

We made it home late and STARVING.  Thankfully Drew was in bed and Chris warmed up our weekend Army/Navy Pizza!  Yum yum.

So when 5:30 Monday morning rolled around and I looked up the sub situation for Simsbury High School - there was an opening for HS Math - 

So I said YES.  

and in I went.

I subbed on the 3rd floor which didn't exist when I was there.  So after working the day we walked around the rest of the school bringing back memory lane.

The entrance is now at the back of the school - office and all.  No bout LOTS has change.  But it felt great and fun to be in school.  The kids were kind (it was my first day after all)  I had a buddy in class (she is a regular body pumper!) so it was a great community feel.

Than I got home and got a call from the company I had interviewed with 2 weeks ago.  THEY said YES.  So I needed this moment of serenity the following day.

I called them back and said YES

Holy Moly - things are about to look a little different around here.

Getting our Tree

Beautiful Sunday afternoon and our new favorite (2nd Annual) Maple Sugar spot was a success!!

Chris coached Shane and Nick to cut it down and Drew shaved off the final piece.  I of course documented it - great roll for me.

Love being here -  great spot

Love the decorating icon of the Christmas tree in the truck - here is my beautiful family looking 100% the part!

Gotta admit - its home now and a bit small - noted for next year.  Not to judge by Chris's height!!

Thanksgiving traditions

All the prepping and excitement that goes into planning our holiday weekend.  I will never forget Drew actually noticing the cost of the groceries the Sunday before - $264 - do we have enough for that?  Hmmm  Honestly I am not sure.  Than going home unloading the groceries and wondering what is for dinner that night?!?!

Well its Wednesday and we had to make one more trip for Chips and Salsa right before my sister arrived.  Thrilled that her family made the drive on a Wednesday night.  Even more excited that there wasn't much traffic!  They even drove through a rather unexpected 60 minute snow squawl.  One that delivered almost 2 inches of snow on the ground.

Check out the video of them sledding!

https://youtu.be/12_b7m2_vuQ

Here we are sitting down for some soup after sledding.  Nothing I love more than this FULL table!

Thursday morning was FREEZING.  we had to close the coop door the night before - 7 degrees.  Lots of folks cancelled on the turkey trot.  We even left our kids home for fear it really was too cold.  Chris and I dressed right and headed over.  Immediately wishing we brought Nick!

Awesome town run that was started 7 years ago by a few guys that just wanted to put a 5K together!

When we came back, my sister Jackson and Maddie (along with Drew) were already at my folks helping out.  Riley and I set the table and started the feast here.  LOVE the table setting they brought over.

I got to curl her hair before dinner.  She was all prettied up

Love having time with this lady - Sister's relationships change through the years and thankful for exactly where its at right now.

How very fortunate we all get to make this happen so beautifully

My mom did the beautiful center piece.  We get to enjoy it now for a moment before the table fills up.  Nora spent a little time outside earlier today.  Chris had the oven temp turned up for the turkey and the smoke detectors made her anxious - imagine right?!  As if that is a bad thing.  Thankfully she finally came back in.

We will thankfully have enough food to eat =)!

Now we are ready!  Look at this beautiful table

My folks were excited to have the grandkids together for a photo chance using the adorable hats they gifted them from their recent travels in Switzerland.  

Take one!

Change is up a bit for take 2 - 

I might not be posting the winner =)!

Next we round out the evening with a carpet ball tournament.  We tried bringing the table inside as its VERY cold out - but it is just a bit too big (kinda a sign in my opinion.  Tournament bracket is posted.  Uncle Jay rocked the house - beginners luck maybe?  Nick was the only kiddo to advance to the net round (clearly the adults came to play!

https://youtu.be/KJMgnecBIoE

Friday morning was spin class at the Zoo - Adults all went while kiddos cuddled in for a movie and donuts with Oma Sue and Goomba.  WE got fired up for the evening football game that was equally as chilly but a great showing of friends and neighbors.  

Here are just a few more captures of our time together.

These are the sweet funny things and I am glad my sister caught this one.

Loved loved loved having us all together for the weekend

Exactly what we love and enjoy about Thanksgiving.  The time with family - and to know we actually all enjoy our time with family is such a wonderful blessing.  Happy Thanksgiving!