New Years Eve

We spent NYE with some of dear friends again this year.

These sweet friends have brightened our year for sure!

We made s'mores in the fire pit.

The kids also wrote out their 2014 accomplishments and goals for the new year.  AG's was to read 110 books!

We have been very blessed in 2014 in so many ways.  Praying that 2015 will bring amazing blessings too.

Anna Grace's camera

Anna Grace got a really nice camera from my parents this year.  These are the pictures she snapped the first afternoon it was charged and ready to go.

It just happened to be Happy Hour.

Joe asked her why we all celebrate happy hour together and she quickly replied, "it's all about family time!"  Yes it is....

And given a couple of cocktails you can get your cousins to be really silly!

Christmas morning!

We always make the girls wait to come out to see the presents.  This year that was especially important because there are blow up mattresses all over mom's house!

Here is Morgan Leigh and her new backpack!

It was a morning filled with gifting and cinnamon rolls.  What a perfect day!  Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Christmas Eve

We finished our tenderloin dinner and posed for pictures.  Love these beautiful faces!

11 of my blessings in one house for one celebrations.

Our family shot.

The girls before the service started.  In dresses from Nonna and V.

Midnight mass is one of my favorite traditions.  Morgan Leigh made it partway through the gospel and zonked out.  She slept on me for the rest of the service.  The bishop noticed and worked it into his sermon.  He said that the prepping was done and now it was time to relax - or take a nap, like the girl on the front row.  He also came to talk to AG during the peace to say her sister was asleep before the sermon started - so it wasn't that he was boring.

Christmas Day 3

I told you she was most comfortable with an Ipad.  I LOVE this picture.

And this one....They are such great shots Joe!

Remember the shot of Andrew doing hand jives?  Between that and teaching the girls Solitaire - he has been super occupied.

Shockingly - that also means that today is Brad and Kim's anniversary.  (Mom and I both thought it was tomorrow!)  So we pulled out some new recipes and put the family to work on a Mediterranean feast. This picture is for my mother that LOVES pictures of food.  Here is our Mezze platter.

Selfie fun!  Only missing Brad....who was upstairs prepping for his toast.

 30 years!  Congrats Brad and Kim!

These anniversary dinners are some priceless memories.

Their kids have been working on letters and pictures from friends all over the country.  We gathered around the television to show them the finished product.

Christmas - Day 2

I told you AG would always pose for a picture.

And ML - well she is always most content on your iPad.  When there are 12 of us together - there are quite a few to choose from too.

We have a tradition in our home of leaving baby Jesus out of our displayed nativities until Christmas morning.  Morgan Leigh went through Nonna's house today and picked up all of her baby Jesus and placed them in a drawer.  I love that she is learning the significance of God's gift this season.

We always gather for games too.  We are highly competitive and games like Taboo get really loud!  It is probably Matt's least favorite part of get-togethers.

Christmas in San Antonio Day 1

This year we gathered in San Antonio with my family.  There were a few hours between we picked up Haleigh and Joe and when Brad and Kim arrived.  We used that time to sort through pictures for their anniversary present.  Joe snapped these gorgeous pictures for all of us.

I can't tell you how many hand jives Andrew did with AG this trip!

She will always pose for a picture....always!

Such fun sorting through these memories and watching the girls see pictures from when I was their age.

Class parties

AG's class won the game truck prize at the walkathon.  It was a drizzly day but they enjoyed every minute!










I was hesitant to be a room mom this fall.  It means that during the parties you can only be in one classroom.  But I had fun hosting ML's.  We did holiday bingo which is a little challenging with those that don't read yet :)

Then we decorated holiday cookies.  Nothing like red frosting to round out the school day!

Matt snuck upstairs to AG's room for a few minutes.  They had snacks and did a book exchange.  The girls both had a great time finishing out 2014 with their classmates!

AG with one of her favorite people!  Love these sweet girls together!

Christmas program

Anna Grace performed a choir concert tonight with her class.  She was so animated through the whole thing.

Fever "ish"

The rule is 24 hours fever free.  She's fine today - but with the flu running through school we are going to follow the rules.  So what do we do?  Go to In 'n Out burger of course!

Teacher luncheon

I am the room mom for ML's class.  I got to be in the classroom today while all of the staff gets to eat lunch together.

Oops!

My gingerbread was super soft this year....It's only fair that I post the failed attempt this year.  Sigh.  They can't all be masterpieces :) But the memories are all still priceless!

Gingerbread construction

The girls have big plans this year.  BIG!  We are making a two story house with a porch and a dormer window.  Stay tuned!

Santa pic

Gigi's neighborhood has donuts with Santa.  Morgan Leigh was excited because she hadn't decided what to ask for when we visited St. Nicholas.  She settled on a backpack and I love this picture of them enjoying their morning!

The star

It is Anna Grace's turn to top the tree.  It took us most of the week to get it decorated.

Field trip

ML's class took a trip to the Christmas Tree farm this year.  Such a fun day.  Matt and I met the bus there.

They did the maze and enjoyed the day!

It's always fun to see her with her sweet friends.