Christmas has arrived!

We had four different countdowns this year until the big day.... and it finally arrived!

 

Here's how it all went down:

 

Christmas Eve Morning we awoke to a nice breakfast, then suited up in our warmest gear for the annual hockey game at Joe's grandparents.

 

 

Maria tested out her new ice skates for the first time, and LOVED them! She didn't want to go inside! After only about 20 minutes, she was skating all by herself.

 

 

Then we roasted hot dogs and visited with some extended family.

 

In the evening, we went to mass to celebrate the reason for the season, then headed to grandma and grandpa's house for a nice supper and playtime with the cousins. We were so excited to have our newest cousin, Jackson, join us for his first Christmas!

 

 

 The evening concluded with opening gifts, the highlight of the night for the youngsters!

 

 

Christmas day arrived...and so did Santa! The girls enjoyed opening their presents very much. Then we got ready and headed over to the other grandma and grandpa's house for a yummy lunch and more presents! (and lots of play time with auntie's kitty, Pandora)

 

It was an amazing Christmas, that of course went by way to fast. We are so blessed to have family so close to celebrate with (and enough room to store all the new toys! :)

 

Hope you all enjoyed your Christmas! Enjoy this Christmas season and Happy New Year!

 

 

It's beginning...

to look a lot like Christmas!

 

The snow storm sure helped it feel more wintery outside!

 

 

We had a busy fun-filled weekend to get us in the Christmas spirit:

 

Friday, Maria had her very first Christmas program at school. She knew all her songs and did an awesome job! We were so proud of her. She had lots of family cheering her on that night too!

 

 

Saturday, we celebrated the second week of the Advent season with two different masses at church followed by a Christmas Ugly Sweater Party. (Joe's sweater even had lights!)

 

 

Sunday, we awoke to a beautiful snow fall and tried to stay off the roads as much as possible. After picking up the girls from Grandma & Grandpa's house, we spent lots of time playing in the freshly fallen snow! Sledding, shoveling, snow angels, oh my! We were excited to end the weekend with a Christmas party for Joe's work, but because of the wintry weather, the party got cancelled.

 

 

That's ok.. I'm perfectly content cuddling up with my sweet girls in front of the fireplace and watching Christmas movies tonight instead.

 

Now we are just patiently waiting the arrival of our newest niece or nephew in the next few days!

 

Yay for December fun days!

Is it December already?

 

The cold has come, the ice is on the lake, the tree decorated, stockings hung...

 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! My favorite time of the year.

 

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But what have we been doing up until this point?

 

The past few months have been busy with all of the fall activities. Halloween was a success as we trick-or-treated at the county fair grounds. It was a perfect location, without driving from house to house for the girls to fill up their buckets with candy.

 

 

The girls and daddy have very much enjoyed feeding the deer outside our living room window and watching them eat every night.

 

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Daddy had a successful hunting season this year at his grandpa's land south of here, and Ems sure enjoyed seeing the deer up and close.

 

 

A perfect baby shower took place for my sister-in-law who is due in the next couple of weeks. It was a fun morning with a classic Winnie the Pooh themed shower and lots of family to visit with.

 

 

Thanksgiving was very enjoyable with two big meals. One at my parents and one at the in-laws. We are very thankful for our wonderful families that live close so we can enjoy both sides in one day!

 

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Emma got her first haircut ever in November! (well at least I tried to give her one... gramma Sue had to fix it!) Emma has also been busy playing with her several babies that she has to carry all over the house. She also enjoys dressing up in dresses and dancing (mostly in circles) to music. She seems so grown up already!
 

 

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Maria has been enjoying her first year of preschool very much. She goes three days a week and is currently preparing for her first Christmas program taking place next week. She has been learning lots of letters and having fun making letter sounds and telling us what everything starts with! She also enjoys playing princess and making "projects."
 

 

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The day after Thanksgiving, we took our annual trip to pick out our Christmas tree and cut it down. We had received a nice blanket of snow a few days before, so it was beautiful at the tree lot, even though the wind was not so comforting. We found the perfect tree...even after lots of distractions from a super crabby young lady! 

 

 

Decorating the house followed. We even put up lights on our house for the first time since moving in three years ago! Shopping is done...presents are wrapped. We are ready for Christmas!

Hope you all enjoy your December!