Christmas at Tammy and Scott's house...

All the kids...

 The Leal family knows how to get a laugh or two...

 Now for the serious pose...

 The Barth family lookin' good...

 The Mathson's...

 Scott knows a thing or two about entertaining...

 Grandma Mavis making the gravy...

 I can't believe these beautiful girls are almost 18!!!

 The boys!

Presents time...

 Always a gag gift or two...

 Ahh here's the other one.  I love this pic!  They always get us laughing hard!

 Jay's Uncle Dick, his Mom and Dad, and his Grandma Mavis...so dear to our hearts!

We had such a great Christmas being all together!  Thank you Tammy and Scott for opening your home once again!

Christmas at Jack and Nancy's...

My Aunt Diane, Uncle Rick, Cousin Dave's wife Sandra, and my cousin Mark (unfortunately Dave had to work this year)...

 My Mom and Dad...

 My cousin's daughter, Logan doing her dance routine for everyone!

 My cousin Stacy and her husband Taylor.  They are also expecting!

 My nephew Matt and my Grandpa Jim (don't you just love his style)! 

 My beautiful Grandma and Grandpa.  I love them dearly! 

 My Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jack...

 Cousins!

 Uncle Jay and his soon to be wife Kristie, and their kids...

 Cousin Mark and ET...closely bonded men!

 Jay, Nate, and Logan...

 ET and his soon to be new cousins Logan and Bailey...

 Grandpa told a few good stories again and played Christmas songs on his clarinet...

Me and my guys!  Merry Christmas!

MIA - Both my sisters and their families (except for Matt), and Dave. :(

2013 Christmas Break...

We did not start out our Christmas break on a very good note.  Friday, December 20th was supposed to be a date night for the daycare, but the kids were dropping like flies from random sicknesses so I felt the need to cancel.  That night Jay brought Nate into Urgency for what I thought was an ear infection, but was actually strep throat!  Bummer!

Saturday we dropped the boys off at Jay's parents and we headed to church and then Jay's company Christmas party.  It was at Tinucci's again.  We invited some friends over to our place afterwards.  We had a great time!

Sunday we picked up the kids at Jay's parents and then headed over to my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jack's house for our first Christmas celebration.  As always, we had great food and great company!

On Monday, Jay's sister Mary and her family flew in from Texas.  We headed over to his parents for a bit in the afternoon and then had dinner at Lucky's with all of them.

Tuesday was Christmas Eve.  We spent the day at Jay's sister Tammy's house.  The food was great, and the kids had a fun time playing together.  We ended up going to the 6:15 church service with our family on the way back home.  It was a little unexpected, but I am so glad we did.  The service was so great, and I was happy my boys could be with us this time.  ET was so excited to prepare Christmas cookies for Santa on this night.  We made Rudolph cookies again.

On Christmas Day, we opened gifts as a family.  ET helped me a lot in the kitchen!  We made homemade cinnamon rolls, and some pretzel Rolo treats.  I prepared for Jay's parents and Mary's family to come over around two o'clock for a Christmas dinner.  Jay's Mom already prepared and brought over a meatball dinner ahead of time, so I only needed to make a couple of sides.  It was such an enjoyable morning and afternoon!  The kids LOVED spending time with Katie and Elizabeth and playing with their presents.

Thursday morning we headed up to Bemidji to spend time with my parents, and my sister Becky and her family.  We arrived around dinner time.  My Mom had set out a bunch of snacks for us.  The kids played and we all relaxed and talked.   Becky and her family arrived late that night, so they were with us in the morning.

On Friday, we slowly got ready and then headed out to go sledding.  The weather was 32 degrees.  It felt like a heat wave compared to the below zero weather we had been having.  We all ate lunch at the Green Mill.  Afterwards, the ladies went out for a coffee and to do some shopping for a bit, and the men took the kids back to the house.  My Mom had prepared a chili dinner that was ready when we got back.  We ate and opened up presents.

Friday night Nate's coughing had developed into something a little more serious.  Jay and I were concerned he had an allergy to something.  We all shared a room at my parents place, and we did not get much sleep at all that night.  By six in the morning, Nate was crying and not sleeping anymore at all.  We quickly packed up our belongings and hit the road.  I stopped giving Nate his strep throat anitbiotic (thinking that was what he was allergic to).  We got back home around noon, and by the next day Nate was completely back to normal.  I went out by myself for a bit to get a haircut and pick up a few things.  That night we were all in bed by 8:30 because we were so exhausted from the last two nights.

On Sunday, we went to church and then headed back home to watch the Packer's win! Yay!

Monday, we went out to get the boys new haircuts.  Afterwards, we stopped at Lookout Ridge, and then had soup, salad, and breadsticks at Olive Garden.  We came home and all of us took a nap.  It was such a blissful day!

The next day was New Year's Eve.  We spent the evening at Steve and Andra's house.  The kids had a blast making a BIG toy mess! :)  The adults ate great food, talked, and played games.  It was a great way to end the year.

On Wednesday, I stayed in my jammies all day!  I soaked up every bit of relaxing that I could.  Jay went out to lunch and a movie with some of his friends and I made a big meatball and mashed potatoes dinner.  ET cried when I put him to bed.  He said, "This is the saddest day of my life."  He really did not like the idea of going back to school again.  This made me feel so sad and so happy at the same time.  I love that he enjoys being at home with us!  It is fun knowing how many special memories we are making as the years go by.

Now I sit here on Thursday morning.  We are all going back to work and school today.  Back to the swing of things, but at least it is a very short week! Happy New Year!  Pictures to come...

ET's idea of cleaning up...

ET came up to me last week to tell me that he and Nate had accidently broke open their Angry Bird stuffed animal (the one with little white Styrofoam beads inside it)....

Nate: "Mommy, there is white stuff everywhere!"
ET: "Don't worry though; I took care of it."
Mom: "What did you do?"
ET: "I swept it all under the bookshelf."

I seriously don't know where he learned that from! :)

My little guy...

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I haven't given a lot of thought to Nate's birthday next month.  After reflecting about it this weekend, I cannot believe he will be 4 years old!!!  WOW!  He is still my little guy, and he still LOVES his cars...

What a sweetie pie!

1st Grade Christmas Celebration...

Jay and I both happily took off of work for ET's school Christmas celebration.  The families were invited to come and build a gingerbread house for an hour with their kid.  It was so much fun!!!

 Check out the rainbow fruit roll-up driveway, the car, and the sled!

After it was over I needed to drop Jay back off at work, but ET begged for me to stay to have lunch with him.  I ended up coming back.  It was the sweetest day!!!!  I am so thankful I could have the day off to participate!

It's official - We are one of THOSE families!

I never wanted to adopt an Elf on the Shelf.  I honestly felt like it would be too much work.  I ended up being suckered into it one day when ET wished, begged, and pleaded his little heart out.  To make a long story short, we have a "cuddle" elf.  In case you don't know (which many of you don't because I made it up), a cuddle elf is one that you can hold and sleep with.  When the kids are away for the day, that is when the elf reports to Santa. 
ET has professed his love for his Elf.  He truly treats "Ryan" like a real human being.  He goes everywhere with him, and he even told me "Mom, I love him like a son, so now I know how much you love me!"
Nate doesn't seem as in love.  He cares, just not as much as ET.  His elf's name is "Jack." (I am not sure where he thought of that one.)  He giggles when he finds him in different spots throughout the house, but he doesn't carry him around with him all day.

 I told you....They are inseparable! 

On Friday, ET's elf left a note that read..."You made your bed very neat.  Now check the fridge for a special treat!"  The elf left egg nog and Santa cups!  We enjoyed our special treat together while also enjoying homemade gingerbread cookies!  The boys were so excited!