Our 2014 In Review

Is it just me, or do these years seem to be flying by?!  As the last few hours of 2014 tick away I wanted to look back at the last year before we begin another.

 

JANUARY

The big kids got brand new airbrushed hats thanks to Bubba's cousins.

 

 

FEBRUARY

Adeline went in for her Kindergarten screening.  In early January we'll go sign her up for Kindergarten.  My baby is starting school in 2015!

 

MARCH

APRIL

We took a fun trip to Ft Myers Beach.

 MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

School began earlier than usual in 2014 but that means that they'll be out in May and will get to enjoy a little longer Summer vacation.

SEPTEMBER

Pat and I took a wonderful trip to Dallas to celebrate our anniversary and to watch the Gopher football team.  I sure hope they play better tomorrow than they did in Texas!

OCTOBER

The kids posed in front of the brilliantly colored Bubba Tree for their Christmas photo.

NOVEMBER

Hockey is back in full swing, so much of our time is spent at the local rink.  Careline also keeps us running with her participation in basketball, indoor soccer, and just about every after school activity that is offered.

DECEMBER



Thank You For The Holiday Cheer

Thank You to our dear friends and family who have sent us more than 70 holiday greetings throughout the past month.  We've truly enjoyed reading your annual letter, or getting a picture of yourself and your family, or even simply receiving a card signed by you.  We loved them all!

Merry Christmas

 

We awoke this morning to find that Santa had eaten the two nutter butters we left for him last night (although he's a messier eater than our kids, if that's even possible).  He also left packages for each of the kids and one for the entire family.  They were all smiles when they opened the family gift to find that Santa is sending us to the Wisconsin Dells in February.  That Santa..he knows that we've been very good this year and that The Dells is one of our favorite places on Earth!

  

 

Christmas celebrations began at Grandma Ginger's house on Christmas Eve.  The kids favorite part of the festivities is always the dice game.  Who needs to buy big expensive presents when rolling doubles and getting your pick of a $1 wrapped gift puts smile like these on their faces...

 

Grandma Ginger and her 5 Grandchildren

Getting In Their Last Minute Wishes

In The Nets For The Irish...Daniel Kay

We cheered cousin Daniel and his Rosemount teammates on to a victory this afternoon over Woodbury. 

Adeline's Christmas Concert

Adeline looked so pretty last night on stage at her Christmas concert.  The last two years she's just stood there and refused to sing a single note but in her third and final Maple Tree Christmas Concert she sang her little heart out.  So cute.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Day At Work

New On Our Tree This Year

Again with the help of my pals at Shutterfly, I created this awesome ornament of the kids to adorn our tree this year.  Cute little holiday keepsake, right?

Why So Blue?

I've heard of a Blue Christmas....but a Blue Santa???

 

3rd Place

Congratulations to the SSP Squirts C team for bringing home the 3rd place trophy in this weekends SSP Squirt Tournament. 

Buddy should be extra proud of himself for his performance over the weekend.  Throughout the three games he scored 7 goals and had 3 assists.  Way to go Packers!

Entertained By The Elf

This Christmas season we have been entertained by the places our Elf On The Shelf has plopped down for the day.  She's hung out in the Christmas tree, in the Wii room, and up high atop the cupboards just to name a few places.  It's been a lot of fun to see who will find her first each morning and just where that hiding spot will be.

 

Yesterday's spot was rather amusing.  I guess she wanted to keep tabs on us as we went about our business (if you know what I mean).

 

Emily The Teenager

Happy Birthday to Emily who turned 13 and became a teenager today!  Here she is showing off the woven blanket I made for her with the help of Shutterfly.  It's actually her silhouette dancing in the Florida sunset.  I love Shutterfly...they help me create so many awesome unique gifts.  (You're welcome Shutterfly for that free plug)!

Also celebrating birthdays today are William and Madelyn.  They turn 4.  Happy Birthday. 

Hard To Believe That Christmas Is Just 2 Weeks Away

A Visit From St Nick

We left our shoes out overnight and awoke this morning to find them filled with treats. 

Christmas Tree Card Holder

I found this cute Christmas tree card holder to display the Christmas cards this year.  So far only a handful of cards have trickled in, but I'm looking forward to checking the mailbox every day between now and Christmas and filling the tree up.  Address those cards, put a stamp on it, and get it in the mail...our tree's waiting! 

Cutie Patootie

The Elf On The Shelf

This holiday season we employed the assistance of The Elf On The Shelf to remind the kids that they need to be on their best behavior because Christmas is coming. 

Over the weekend the elf named Joy by Buddy (which I found to be a very appropriate Christmas-y name) mysteriously appeared.  She sits and takes notes of the kids behavior all day long and at night when they are sleeping she magically flies off to the North Pole to report to Santa.  By the next morning she has returned to our house to a new spot. 

She must be keeping tabs on us adults too, as her perch Sunday had her facing Pat's recliner as he watched football.

Tis The Season

*

 

Tis the Season

 

to dress the children up

 

in silly looking holiday accessories

 

and make them pose for a photo or two

 

purely for the purpose of entertaining myself

 

||||

 

 

Thinking Of Grandpa Jerry

Two years ago today Grandpa Jerry left this Earth for his new home in Heaven.  We miss him and think of him often.

This Fall we had a tree planted in the backyard in memory of him.  The Jerry Tree is an Autumn Blaze Maple, the same variety as The Bubba Tree.

More Thanksgiving Artwork By Addy

Pat found great satisfaction in the fact that he made the list of things that Adeline is thankful for but I got beat out by her Elsa Doll, coloring, and riding her scooter (which I'm certain was purely an oversight on her behalf). 

I found more humor in the creation she came home with the following day.  At school they gave the kids a Cub Foods ad and told them to glue everything they needed for their Thanksgiving feast on to the plate.   She's got flowers, jello, meat, peas, cauliflower, ornamental trees to decorate the table, yogurt, oranges for Mommy, and can you make out what she has for Daddy near the top of the plate?  Continue to scroll down for a close up view.

Here's what she  glued on just for Daddy (somebody must have already scored the Coors Light!)  I can just about imagine what they think of us over at her school!

Making The Most Of The "Heat Wave"

Two days above freezing...what a treat!  Adeline hit the slopes this afternoon (outside our house) and I tell you what...she's pretty good on the snowboard but even when she wipes out she still has a smile on her face.

Addy's Colorful Turkey

 

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just over a week away...but the Turkey artwork is a sure sign that the holiday is near.

Scoring Machines

Braden and Careline each had a game this afternoon in West St Paul.  Being the true competitors they are, each scored the first score of the game.  Braden also scored the last goal of the game, but his team lost the scrimmage by the score of 7-6.  Careline got the assist on the winning goal and her team won 2-1. 

 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Cookies

I spent the afternoon baking cookies for an upcoming charity fundraiser at work.  When the kids saw how much fun I was having they wanted to have some fun of their own.