Let it Snow....

Talk about a White Christmas!

We woke up on Christmas Eve morning to a ton of snow. It kept snowing most of the day but luckily we were able to get to mass.  We went to the 4:00 mass which is the Children's mass. Father Tim does such a great job with the kids. He calls them all up to the alter and explains the story of Jesus' birth while asking questions. Some of the answers the kids give are hysterical. Then he blesses all of the baby Jesus' that the kids brought from their nativity scenes at home. He brings out a cake and they sing Happy Birthday to Jesus!  The kids (3rd grade and up) are do all of the readings and perform in the choir...Peter opted out (I know that is a shock)! He doesn't like to sing let alone get up in front of people.

We came home and made cookies for Santa, opened our ONE Christmas Eve gift, ate dinner & off to bed. The kids were so EXCITED!!!!

Christmas Morning was AWESOME! The kids woke at 6:30 -Yikes.... We opened gifts, played with our gifts (Wii Fit & Tiger Woods golf were a hit). We went to see Marley & Me but it was sold out so we saw Bedtime Stories. It was GREAT!!!

We got home, went sledding and had our yummy traditional Christmas dinner of tenderloin (or the Best meat in the world - as Peter dubbed it when he was 4). 

All & all - who could ask for a better Christmas.  Hope your was great! 

Love to you all.

Christmas in Ohio

"MOM, I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE..." 

That was what I heard through tears the night before we had to leave Ohio. Peter was going to stay at Uncle Ryan & Aunt Lettie's but ended up coming home around midnight with a stomachache. I tucked him in and he cried the above phrase barely understandable through his tears.

It is so hard leaving family behind!

We had 4 FULL days of wonderfulness...is that a word?

We ended up leaving Iowa on Thursday night because a HUGE storm was approaching (good thing because the city was shut down on Friday). 

We had a great time with everyone!

Todd, Shelly & the kids came in on Saturday and all 8 "guys"  - Papa George, Frank, Ryan, Todd, Zack, Peter, Sam & Kurt went to the OSU basketball game.  Peter LOVED it!! Frank was even able to get Brutus to hold the Traveling Pig for Peter's 4th grade project.

Shelly, Shelley, Mom & Katie ran to Dick's and Easton to get some las minute items while Let took the girls to get their nails done. Bellie & Allie got red & green nails with snowflakes on them and Cassi went with a french manicure.

We had Christmas that night! Once again, Nonni went overboard but she loves doing it!

We had such a great time with family all being together.

Sunday morning, Katie & Kurt hosted a brunch for everyone.  We all ended up hula-hooping to Wii Fit (even Nonni) - it was a hoot!

Todd, Shell, Zack & Cassi hit the road. Zack had a fever & they needed to get home. 

Mom, Shelley, Lettie & Katie went to a movie and did some shopping. We saw Seven Pounds. Wow - what an intense movie.  Sooooo good. Let & I felt we needed to see it again to pick up on more details....

Sunday night we all hung out at Nonni & Papa George's. Peter was under the weather so we post-poned the sleep over to Monday night. 

Monday we went to Cosi - the kids had a BLAST & Peter was finally tall enough to do the suspended  high wire unicycle.   He said it was awesome! That night went took the kids to Glow Putt!

Our drive home on Tuesday morning was a nightmare as it took us 11 1/2 hours. We hit an ice storm west of Indy and drove about 2o mph for 2 hours.

We are now home safe & sound and can't wait for the next time we are all together. I sooooo badly wish we lived closer.   Love to you all until we see you soon.

Twas the week before Christmas!

Okay so time flies when you are having fun & 6 inches of snow!

It is hard to believe Christmas is right around the corner. We leave for Ohio in 2 days. Oh we can't wait. The kids asked if we could leave tonight! I wish - but still a lot to do before Friday morning (including an expected ice storm on Thursday). 

Today, every school in the area let out early except 3 (ours being one of them). We got a ton of snow starting around 11 am.  I had my bowling Christmas party this morning ad then a luncheon at my friend Karen's house. It was a lovely afternoon.  I was shocked because I called the school and then while at Karen's, we turned on the news. I was even more shocked after school to find out dance wasn't cancelled.  EVERYTHING in the Quad Cities was cancelled.  We got to dance and only 3 girls showed up.  

I guess with the weather, it proves how we need to be organized.  Good thing almost all of my Christmas shopping is done (I need to pick up a couple things in Ohio)!  

Enjoy the pictures of last night's Christmas Program at school.  It was so nice!

Behind on Everything

My goal this year was to be really "on top of it." Well...not sure what happened.  I tried to cut back on volunteering this year although I still find myself up at the school 2 to 3 days a week for various "duties." I have been working more this year with Frank but other than that, where has all of my time gone? 

I am really behind the 8 ball with Christmas and regular "stuff" this year. I am truly living day by day and figuring out what I have to do either the night before or the morning of that day. Today was very hectic as we are having people over tonight and I had to clean, shop, prepare food, as well as attend a baby shower and watch Allie in a mini performance before the PV High School Children's  play this afternoon. 

I was delayed in ordering Christmas cards so those just arrived & now I have to address them & get them out SOON!!

I still have some more Christmas shopping to do (although luckily not much).  Thank goodness for SCRIP (school fundraiser) because I could buy all of my gift card gifts through that. 

I can't WAIT to go to Ohio this weekend! We get a couple of extra days than usual so it will be GREAT!  I guess as the year winds down, I just need to figure out how to say NO in 2009!

Wishing for a Snow Day!

Oh how I love Snow Days!  I loved them as a kid and I love them as an adult.  It is snowing now but my kiddos are at school.  I am praying that they call school early today and I can go get them.

There is nothing better than a full snow day:  waking up in the morning and realizing you can go back to bed & let the kids sleep in.  Since Frank works with schools, then usually that means a snow day for everyone.  

We usually pop in a movie and watch it, go sledding (unless it is sub-zero) and have hot chocolate.  There are no errands to run, no activities to attend...I love it!  I would say I am praying for a snow day tomorrow HOWEVER - Frank is in Vail and will be flying into the QCA tomorrow.  If there is a snow day - then it is likely that his flight will be delayed. SO.....No snow day for tomorrow but Thursday sure sounds good!

Cheetah Fun

I am not sure who was more excited to see the Cheetah Girls last night: Allie or Me????

They were fantastic.  There were 8 of us who went together (moms & daughters) and we had a great time.  Frank is out of town in Vail skiing so Pete (can't figure out why he wouldn't want to spend the evening with a thousand screaming girls) went to a friends house.  They have 4 boys so my friend Steph said "what's one more." 

We woke up this morning and I noticed Allie was wheezing. Being an asthmatic myself, I sort of freaked out. We went to the Convenient Care clinic and they put her on an antibiotic as well as an inhaler.  Allie was so excited because there is something fascinating about an inhaler. The kids always ask if they can try mine. Of course, I say no so now she gets her very own (temporarily - luckily).

Peter was thrilled the Detroit Lions were on TV (only because they played Minnesota).  Usually Frank & Peter (and sometimes all of us) go to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the game.  Allie usually plays the video games on the table or brings a book/magazine.  So, we were able to stay home and watch it.  Pete was working on his National Park diorama and would sneak a peek every so often.  He was so excited they were actually WINNING!  We knew it was too good to be true because they ended up blowing it.  Poor Lions - has a team ever been completely DEFEATED in a season??? 

The MOST wonderful time of the year

Ahhhhhh....Christmas.  I Absolutely LOVE it!

I love everything about it from the hustle & bustle of the stores to the smells of peppermint and evergreen to the decorations.  Speaking of decorating - It has been a longer than usual process this year.  We were gone over Thanksgiving (which is not unusual) but I usually have at least the outside lights & tree up by Thanksgiving so we are geared up when we get back.  Well, this year I didn't have it together. I was literally so busy & living one day at a time  - I didn't have the time to do the lights or tree.  We returned home Sunday night from Michigan and the kids asked if we could do the tree Monday. Well...Allie had an extended art class because the art teacher is having surgery next week. Tuesday Allie had dance -So...Wednesday after Brownies (only once a month but happened to be this week), we put up the tree.  We decorated 1/2 Wed. night & the other 1/2 last night.  Frank always puts the angel on top & he had to do it Wed. night because he had a school board meeting last night & left for Vail this morning before any of the rest of us opened our eyes. Needless to say, it is a bit more drawn out than usual but still loving every minute of it.  Oh & I forgot...the outside lights went up in the middle of the snow storm the other day. Frank came out & asked if I was feeling okay & if I knew it was a blizzard.  I simply said (with a very determined look) "I promised the kids."

So - now it is just the odds & ends.  We are expecting more snow tonight so I am glad all of the outside stuff is done.  

We try to always stick to our 8:00 in bed / 8:30 lights out rule - as the kids get older and their activities become more frequent and last longer, it is hard to fit it all in before baths, books & bed. 

So now, I will hunt for the stockings.......

Thankfulness at its Best

Well, we survived another Thanksgiving road trip to Michigan!  We drove through a winter storm the whole way home, I lost my credit card and Frank's car was broken into last night.

Despite all of the craziness, we really have a lot to be thankful for. Thanksgiving proved to me how much I cherish family & relationships.  I come from a very close family on my side and we have a very close relationship with Frank's parents.   

The love of family:

While we were in Michigan, Frank's dad made DVD's from some old 8mm tapes. We sat and watched those movies. Peter was especially moved because much of the film was of him. Grandma used to take him once a week and they would have "outings" together. Much of this time was captured. Peter was in tears that night wishing we lived closer to Grandma & Papa and Nonni & Papa George. It is hard being so far away. We love to spend time together with our out-of-town family so much.  Be grateful for family - cherish them!

Things we did in Michigan:

• Hung out with the Hodges and their 2 HUGE newfoundlands
• The kids played with their cousins
• The kids played with the kids next door (on their trampoline) and they did a skit.
• Ate at coney island with the Hodges
• watched family movies
• tried to go ice skating (there was a hockey tournament)
• did some shopping (lost my credit card)
• Went to the Parade Display
• Had a great time!