Christmas Crafting

Who says this wonderful gift from Barbara is going to make it til Christmas?  I love how she goes heavy on the chex!!

Time to make our own treats.  Shane ROCKED these and I loved watching him do it.

Simple methodical and according to him, best Christmas cookies out there.  I am not allowed to bring them to the neighborhood cookie swap!

This year our cookie of choice was chocolate chip!  HUGE crowd pleaser!!

Yet for the swap I made chocolate chip, oatmeal crasin - my favorite (I will admit to LOVING Sugar cutouts, but HATING the process) Thankful others could enjoy it as my family turned its nose up to it.  Look at all these beautiful women who made gathering a priority on a Sunday night!

A few more simple crafts for the family.  Loved when Drew and Shane came up with this one.  

Drew was so excited to bring part in for his teacher too!

Tried my stab at my own roping.  My mom score these beautiful wild berry from the road side.  Love that they pulled over to cut enough for her, Stacie and I.  The perfect holiday element.

Pot complete!!  Wreath is next

Concert time

Time to be impressed by the 7th grade concert night!  Thankful for this capture by my mom village!

The simple things in December

For one night a week, we don't have ANYTHING - no swim, no basketball, NOTHING.  Its family dinner and a little forced family fun.

Chris is a rock star at puzzles and the boys are just getting started.  I enjoy the calm feel, or simple mind working that happens.  It wasn't all Norman Rockwell, but it was together.

WE would sure like to make it look picture perfect =)  Picture perfectly us

Serene scenes from my favorite 2 hour delay

Kids shoveled, I had a quick work out.  Breakfast together, sledding and on the bus they went!

Some scenes really are worth capturing.

Christmas Carol

The Christmas Carol in Riverton - A show the Barbers has mentioned to us as the simple Christmas play to have you in just the write frame of mind.  They have been performing for over 20 years - some of the characters have remained the same over the years - getting spookier and scrougier, tiny Tim changed over the years.  It was a great winter night and we all packed into this classic New England church

Loved how the cast interacted with the audience during the play - dancing with Drew, getting us to sing along.

The end the actors lined the exit greeting everyone.  IT was one of those plays that you know the story, you know how it ends and every time, tears come to your eyes and your heart is warmed.  

We just had to continue the evening at the New Hartford diner - I called them to warn them a family of 12 was on the way.  They were happy to have us and dinner was full of eggs, to pancakes to salads - random right?  This is the season of gathering and time together.  We are kicking it off just right.

Nomads

I want to remember this guys excited count down to my company party at Nomads - a place of video games where he is about to have 4 hours of limitless usage!  But here we are at Shane's winter concert first -)

This is what our board looked like for DAYS - I often showed my boss as I wanted him to see how much this little guy appreciated the company party!  And to say that sometimes anticipation is so wonderful!

Spirit week and Nick was ALL IN for PJ day!

A capture from Nomads - while there were PLENTY of video games, it was beautiful to see the kids seek out other options.  Laser tag was EXHAUSTING - but awesome.  Bumper cars was pretty cool - but I must say the game with the most Leadbetter action was the basketball toss with the MOST worn out basketballs I have ever felt

Yes, today was the day and the all went to sleep oh so well!

Day after Thanksgiving FIRST SNOW

Its the day after Thanksgiving weekend - all the decorations are out, the tree is UP, still waiting on ornaments, but looking very festive.  Before we go to bed tonight - I think we need to crack this one open.

The boys sleds were in GREAT disrepair.  They were TOP on the Christmas list.  With a huge snow storm on the way, what is the first thing Simon was excited to bring??

At Ocean state we managed to grab these sleds AND lunch of Mac and Cheese - seltzers too - Ocean state for the win!

Love that these guys literally GO through sleds based on their activity level.  Exactly what this weather is calling for.  Enjoy it now!

That Monday night - more snow and probably the scariest drive home I have ever done.  White knuckle, snow falling.  I had Nick and Jazzy coming home from swim.  I almost pulled over SEVERAL times, but thought - than what??  Thought I would get stuck in Jazzy's neighborhood (and pretty much did)  Chris's calm voice and Nicks confidence lead us home that night.  WE literally got stuck in the driveway - Chris had to pull it in (and than the next morning i crack the mirror pulling it out....)  Aside from that all - I LOVE how our home looks with snow AND Christmas lights.

The early morning serenity of our back yard is another favorite

Thanksgiving

All together everyone!  

Stacie hosted and found us a Turkey trot.  My folks got up their early to help prep and we descended right in time for dinner!  Delicious Mediterranean fish!  Have to note the healthy option - where is my winking emoji when I need it. 

10 signed up for the Turkey trot and we have to give this crew HUGE props and the weather STUNK.  Can you say rainy and cold?

Everyone got in there bundled and ready.

Loved watching them run together - or well, sort of together.  Chris tackled Nick, I tried to stay with these 3, Jason had Maddie who we reunited with and Jason's motivation brought us home (and almost killed Jason and I)  Stacie tackled Jackson who even sat down during a portion - however CROSSED the finish line!  Yes, you can have hot chocolate!

Time to warm up and fire up THAT contraption.  Mom bought it from her neighbor Vi's shopping party - circa 1982.  Not sure if its a good thing that my folks save stuff like this.  We did use it.  It did cook the turkey while the oven cooked other things.

There is so much to love about this photo.  The boys go into nice clothes RIGHT before dinner.

This is Riley's signature smile right?

You all know how much I love the full table photo right?!?!

When you ask Drew to take a photo you get a few 'out takes'  Can you find Maddie?  Or a singing pilgrim?

Camera reversed - missing a tooth?

There we go!

Dinner was fab and the laughing at old photos and videos via apple TV is a memory for sure.  We need to submit the Goomba beach chair to AFV!

Friday we orchestrated a trip into Boston as our friends from Germany had put together a tour of NYC and Boston.  They live in Florida and having them this close meant there has to be a way to close the gap.

So we headed into Boston and lined up our ducklings for a photo op.

A nice chilly afternoon for a stroll of Boston and to catch up with old pals.  I loved the time connecting with Natalie knowing we could tour Europe all over again together.  Bit of a different dynamic with teens but we were still the same moms - I mean friends.  Thankful to connect after all the directions life takes us.  Natalie is getting BACK into the Air force just as Steve leaves.  

They stayed in the old jail house converted into a hotel.  Love how Natalie researches this stuff and finds all the oddly cool aspects.

This motley crew well capture and time well enjoyed.

As we walk back to our car on the streets of Boston, we came by a street market.  I instantly had a 'What would the McCulloughs do?' kind of moment.  

Well, they would buy dinner at this fair.  Broccoli, sweet potatoes and Tuna later - dinner is on its way!

Please take a moment to enjoy these smiles and also oogle this beautiful island that Jason built for Stacie JUST in time for Thanksgiving.  Its amazing.  We spend so much time pretty, drinking, snacking and just being together over and around this island.  He is such a craftsman and I love this act of love!

While we were in Boston, my sister decorated for Christmas.  So we left that night just to wake up and start the season of Christmas ourselves.  Starting with a BEAUTIFUL Saturday where EVERYONE was in line to buy a tree and Maple Farm.

Chris had to stay in the truck while the boys and I ran in.  Found our tree in LESS than 10 second.  We sawed it down (drew tried for 5 seconds and than handed it over to me)  I was actually surprised I could do it - credit the saw they supplied me with.  The boys HAD to get hot chocolate which added to the commotion.  However we were ready and by the corner in time for Chris to pick us up.

The perfect tree trip!

The day was a mission as we were picking up lights, subs, snacks and prepping for the annual Thanksgiving Football game.  Another rushed success for the family!  Kids and parents played!

How did the weekend end?!?!  With a Sunday snow storm of course?  When you have 3 days off, whats 2 more?