Candy Cane cookies

I can remember making these Christmas cookies with my kindergarten BFF for years in elementary school, and even into high school. I had to email her a couple weeks ago to get the recipe so the kids and I could try them. Just as yummy as I remembered!

Tradition

This afternoon was our annual Christmas cookie exchange and Santa party at our good friends Fran and Trisha's house. The kids love making crafts and decorating cookies. If there is ever a shortage of glitter glue, you can be sure Lauren had something to do with it!

The kids decorating their own cookies

Finally, a year where no one cried!!

Her first ballet

Lauren and I were invited by some friends to join them at a local production of The Nutcracker today. We were excited to have some girl time! The girls enjoyed themselves, but of course were hungry for snacks the minute the lights went down and the show started. I think the last time I saw The Nutcracker I was in 6th grade. I liked watching Lauren's face as all the different dancers came on stage. He favorite was the Candy Cane dance.

Lauren and Paloma with the nutcrackers

Lauren & I, Roxana & Paloma

A reason to celebrate

We went to a luncheon today for my great aunt and uncle - they were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary! Isn't that amazing? Gives us all something to strive for!

Aunt Tillie and Uncle Ray

Mom and Dad

Talia & Chad and Adam & Ali

The immediate fam - just some of us

Me and my mama!

It's not just the days that are getting shorter...

From this:

To this:

Just kidding! How about this:

Crazy, eh? I woke up on Monday and decided it was time for a change. Literally a couple hours later this was the result. I had dinner that night with some girlfriends and neither one of them recognized me, no joke.

I had to wait a few days to post this because I wanted to see my family faces in person on Thanksgiving.

In a nutshell...

this is what I'm thankful for:

Hannibal Lecter

Naps are, unfortunately, a thing of the past for our kids at this point. But today, since they both have mild colds, I sent them to their rooms after lunch for a nap. I just went in to check on them and to tuck them in and found Owen laying in bed with his baseball glove over his face, talking to himself. Funny boy!

Too much Elmer Fudd?

At the grocery store today when I put our Thanksgiving turkey in the shopping cart Lauren wondered out loud who shot Tom Turkey. Owen looked at me with big eyes and asked, "Is that a BODY?"

National Prematurity Awareness Day

Even though we were blessed to have each of our kids born at 41+ weeks, there are so many others who are aren't as lucky. We're continually inspired by our awesome friends the McNulty Quads, who were born at 31 weeks. If you want to learn more about the March of Dimes, head on over to their blog and read about their own experience. Go support this wonderful organization and help #fight4preemies!!!

M.ario K.art W.ii (a whole new meaning)

This is what I saw when I got out of the shower this morning:

(By the way, I broke up the title with those periods so that no one searching the Internet for that game would find themselves here!!)

Technicolor dreams

When I noticed that The Wizard of Oz was on tonight, I told Lauren she could stay up late to watch it. (Besides, it's her half birthday today!) I went to put Owen to bed and when I came back out to the living room ten minutes later she said, "Um, could you turn on the colored movie just like this? I don't like this brown one." I didn't realize she'd seen parts of it before!

Funderland

Last Friday after school we met up with friends for an afternoon of fun. We bought the kids each an unlimited ride wristband and let them run wild. Even the occasional rain sprinkles didn't ruin their fun. Finally, almost three hours in, the chilly weather got the better of us and we called it a day.

Our railroad gang

Kove and Lauren must've gone around four

times in a row, just kicking back and catching up.

Sierra and Owen

Lauren and Kove on the log ride.

Owen and Sierra on a leisurely drive.

Flash forward 11 years - scary!

Why didn't they think of this sooner??