New Year's Eve

This year, we tried to pick back up on some traditions.  Long ago, we said New Year's eve we would make a kielke or verinky and it hasn't happened since 2011!  I made kielke this year and it was extra special because my mom shipped us sausage.  I meant to make pickles, but forgot, so store bought had to suffice for this year.

Colin loves helping, almost as much as he loves bike riding.  He can't get enough bike riding these days.  He came inside to get a drink and when he saw me cooking, he had to jump in on the mixing action.

Alison requested Great Aunt Irene's peanut butter pie, so I taught her how to make it.

 

Dinner was so good, it made me feel like I was back at grandma's table, with pigtails in my hair, sitting on the white stool that all the grandkids fought over.  The kids loved it too, which made me really happy.

My favorite picture of the night; Ben finishing off the food...that's how good it was :). Maya was even waiting for a bite.

Then we made s'mores on the firepit and did some sparklers.

Fireworks on New Year's here is almost comparable to the war zone feel Michigan had on Fourth of July.  It was so loud until around 2 am that none of slept very well that night.  It wasn't exactly how we wanted to ring in the new year, but we are looking forward to many great adventures in 2018!

Christmas Day

The kids came running in our room with their stockings at 6:30.  They may remember this as the Christmas Mommy woke up with no voice.  I tried to say "Merry Christmas!" when they came in, but just some scratchy noises came out (it didn't fully return for 4 days!).

 Alison had a little surprise waiting for her by the tree...

And then Santa started handing out the presents.

Maya could not handle all of the excitement and wanted to be a part of everything, even daddy trying to take a picture of Colin.

This Christmas was also historic because I actually surprised Ben!  Our friend, Brian, is the shooting instructor for the border patrol and has lots of connections...he helped me buy Ben a gun, without him knowing a thing.  They have taken all the boys out shooting targets and Ben wanted one for our family.

Opening my present from Alison; a cotton decoration that I have been wanting for a long time.  She was so sweet to get it for me.

Ben surprised me with a new phone!  He put a new case in my stocking and pulled off a good lie that it was to "upgrade" my current, falling apart phone.  I was so excited to open this, I sprang from the couch to give him a hug...this is the action shot:

We had tea pastries when we were all done opening presents.

Alison's lot:

Eli's lot:

Some of Colin's (he likes to quickly hide valuables under his bed) and our family gifts:

My sister also sent us a real wreath and fake snow.  I loved her idea of helping it feel a little more like winter.

My lot:

Ben's lot:

The kids all loved their new drawing pads!

Eli learning how to use his new bow and arrow:

Hours of the afternoon were spent here:



We Skyped with some family throughout the day.  My sister called and somehow Alison and Katherine got the phone and talked about all the shopkins they got.



Ben took the kids out for a bike ride, so Alison could test out her new wheels.  I LOVE seeing them ride together!




For dinner, we had prime rib, Yorkshire pudding, roasted carrots and mashed potatoes.

As I tucked Colin in bed that night, he whispered to me, "You and me sure did get spoiled this Christmas, Momma."  I think spoiled would be an understatement for this Christmas.  So many thoughtful gifts and surprises and just being all together made this the best Christmas ever.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Eve

We went to church Christmas Eve morning, came home and made zwiebach and the White's joined us for an early dinner before heading back to church.

 

We also made bruschetta with fresh pesto and tomatoes from our garden.

The cutest bunch of kids I've ever seen.

Brian's mom was also able to join us and we had perfecto pork, Nonny's mashed potatoes, applesauce, peas and zwiebach.  

Friends who become family is such a sweet thing.  Laurel brought the most thoughtful gift over that night; a fifth setting to our Christmas china.  I was so blown away...she noticed our china one time when they were over and I told her that Ben's dad got that for us when Alison was just a baby and at the time were not even sure if we would ever use it.  Now we use it more than we ever thought we would, but have more people in our family than we also thought we would and someone has to use a mismatch plate.  I don't even know how she found the exact pattern! 

{Standing on a step for the picture because Laurel hates always being the tall one}

After Christmas Eve service, we let the kids open their new Christmas pj's.