Mason's 1st time Skating

Reid took all 4 kiddos ice skating at our Rec Center.  Mom went for a run and met them there.  Sally upgraded to Mom's skates and don't mind Mason's pink skates.  He has 3 older sisters and they'll fit him for two days before he's on to the next pair :)

Slow and steady wins the race! [VIDEO]

WhoaHoo Craigy is a rockstar!

 "I want a picture with Mom"

 We got a new shelf for Mason's room to keep up with the organizing of all of his trucks and cars and army guys and dinosaurs.  I love it! It was a tight squeeze to bring it home.  Some day soon, Mason will upgrade to a Big Boy bed.  Mama's just got to build up the courage to take down the crib after it has been up for 11 years!!! To be fair, this is the longest a C-Mile Sib has been in a crib, we've always been prepping or welcoming another baby at this point....Bittersweet

 We've been enjoying this new game, I'm sure many of you have heard of it or already have it KANOODLE

 I got to sneak away for a quick bit yesterday to cash in an Anniversary gift.  An hour Facial.  It was AMAZING!! Thank you Craigy! I left with plenty of time to spare as earlier in the day the roads were glare ice.  Luckily by the time I left they were just wet.  It allowed me time to sit in the peaceful Lobby reading up on my new Saint for this year. Saint Michael the Archangel.  Do you pick a Saint for each year? This is my 3rd year and I love it.  I also pray about a word for the year.  This year God is giving me two, HARMONY and DELIGHT.

To Select your Saint for the year, click HERE

To Select your Word for the year, click HERE

Happy almost New Year!! Whoop Whoop for an EVEN year 2020!! and a leap year!

Christmas 2019

Craigy (Reid) got me a new Chromebook for Christmas.  Here's to hoping this will inspire me to keep up with the blog!

Here goes nothing....

Craigmile Crew Christmas 2019

Best Buy puts on a great event each year where the kids get to sit on Santa's lap!

We headed up to Grandma and George's for a few days.  Dinner time, awaiting the Moran Fam to arrive the next day

The Cousins prepared a Nativity Play for us.  Grandma found old Christmas cards and programs we had made when I was little.  Here are a few of mine

 [VIDEO]

Duck Duck Grey Duck on the ice!

 Seesters

 Living the good life

 Ready to cheer on the Vikings...wish the outcome would have been better...

Cousins

 Thank you Emily for snapping this

 So excited about a journal

 Rub a dub dub cousins in the tub! We love bath time with Ava!

 Watching Uncle Joe Joe shave off his stash

 Round 2 of the play and Ava got to play baby Jesus!

 All 9 of the cousins!

Christmas Eve we headed home.  Tradition of reading T'was the Night Before Christmas

 When you have zero cookies...

Loved this reflection!

 Christmas morning!

 [Video]

[VIDEO]

Then we hit of 10am Christmas Mass.  What a treat, not overcrowded!!

 What may become a new tradition, we head to Perkins! A stranger stopped over with tears in his eyes to compliment the beauty of a big family all the kiddos behaving well. Hard work paying off...we still have our moments.  We made sure to tip our Waitress well as it was such a treat to have Perkins open on Christmas Day!

 Love this guy!

 and then we changed back in to our jammies and opened presents from each other

 Little did the kids know, but we had a BIG surprise up our sleeve.  We got creative in how we were giving it to them and whipped up this video in 20 minutes...unscripted...
[VIDEO]

Each kid got a swimsuit...matching!

 Elizabeth wasn't too interested in trying her suit on

 Rocking her new shoes from Santa and swimsuit from Mom and Dad!

 Because most don't love cake in this family, we celebrated Jesus' birthday with ice cream.  Each kiddo got to blow out a candle after we sang Him happy Birthday

 Happy Birthday Jesus! Cheers!

 Craigmile Crew Christmas 2019, another one for the memory books! The year Jamesie knocked over mommy's full cup of coffee and it shattered, but also the Christmas we surprised the kids with our first ever flying family trip!!

 Happy Birthday Jesus!

 Upgrading from #ThankfulandGrateful to #JoyfulGratitude

LOVED this Blessed is She reflection SO much!  Have you signed up for their daily emails? You won't regret it!

 Two runs OUTSIDE #JoyfulGratitude!

Here's to hoping I'll be back again soon!

Merry Christmas to you all! God's Blessings on your year ahead!

Elizabeth is 8!!!

Elizabeth is 8 Today! Gosh I love this girl. Her joy for life and Jesus is contagious to all those she encounters. You can see it in her smile. She is SO excited for this year, to attend her 1st Reconciliation and receive her 1st Holy Communion.

Take a look at her 8th year in pictures, Enjoy!

Happy Happy 8th Birthday Elizabeth Josephine! We love you so very much sweet girl!!