Nana and Grandpa came down to celebrate Christmas and take in some Craigmile Crew Activities!
Sally had a band concert. She was recently asked to join Jazz band as well and was given a solo. Love watching her discover new talents!
Elizabeth had basketball practice and Emma had swimming lessons. We all met at the band concert to cheer on Sally. With out Nana and Grandpa's help we wouldn't have been able to be at 3 places at once!
New snuggly blanket
Daddy's old football gear!
Journal writing! Thanks for also teaching us Mexican Train Dominoes!
more journal writing
Imaginations at work
Then they watched the C-Mile Sibs while Reid and I attended the Chesterton Catholic High School Gala. Thank you Brent and Tiffany for inviting us. It was so great to be surrounded by such a beautiful Catholic Community. Also a treat for us to get away and even spend the night downtown!
Holding back from bidding on his favorite Viking Player, Harrison Smith's, super fan items
Another one of my favorites! Miss Tanya and I...9 kids between the two of our families rocking front row at 8:30am Sunday morning Mass!
My Babens!
Jackie's signature pose
Pretty view from our room
It was a quick turnaround. We met the Grandparents and C-Mile Sibs back at the gym by 8:45am for Sally's basketball game and then off to Elizabeth's 1st Reconciliation!
We've been enjoying the mild temps. Although it was the "gloomiest" January on record, we were still able to find some JOY. Glad the sun has been back a bit!
Embracing the elements
Sending Mason down! He loved it, even if he had a few big wipe outs!
C-Mile Sisters, always being creative with something
Mom and Dad's turn...of course we set the record!
Reid is on the Exodus 90 journey! It's quite the adventure, you'll have to look it up. We're proud of him and his leadership and witness to our faith! On Sundays he can have something special. This was his first Sunday celebration, ice cream!
Friends over for MLK Jr. Day off of school
Mason's favorite Saint's Feast day...Saint Agnes!
Pray for us!
When your friends love your children like their own...
My days are getting limited when my afternoons will look like this...bittersweet
"Mom, can we take a picture?"
Nell the managing editor for Blessed Is She came to speak at our church GROW (God Renewing Our Women) event. She was as delightful in person as you would imagine, and then some!
Laura and I are fan girls!
Sisterhood is SO important and vital in my life! Love my crazy church ladies!
Mason has been in Spidey Grundies (underwear) for a solid two weeks now. He's rocking it!
He also got promoted to a big boy bed and is also rocking that! Bittersweet moment for mom and dad!
One of our awesome sitter got Mason this Goalie stick, he's obsessed! They later brought a net and extra sticks so the sisters could play too. It's been a BIG hit. Thank you Elizabeth and Mary!
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A beautiful moment at one of the School Masses, 1, 2 and 4 bringing up Food to donate to the local food shelf! Emma will be in a jumper next year!! Just got the confirmation that she made the cut for Kindergarten :) Mason is also registered for Pre-School in the Fall! Big year for mom :(
My sweet friend Ashley painted us our Saint Dolls! Isn't she talented?! Saint Joseph, Saint Margaret Mary, Saint Mary, Saint Faustina, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and Saint James the Greater. Since then we've also added a baby Jesus and Saint Jerome (Reid's Saint this year)
We had a blast celebrating Mason's buddy, Troy, turning 3! Thank you Dooling Family for an awesome Friday pizza party!
How cute are they?!
So grateful for this friendship!!
My fortune before the Vikings game ;) Loyal, always loyal!
SKOL!
My people! We all showed up to Sunday Mass with a black dress! Caption is: stompin on the Devil since our Baptisms, as we were celebrating Jesus' Baptism that day at Mass :) We're in the middle of an awesome Prayer Pledge for the month of January with Blessed is She.
Mason's last picture in his crib
For almost 11 years, this has been up, cannot believe it's time to take it down. Time just keeps on flying by!
TaDa! The transition has been going very smoothly, hopefully it continues to be a non-issue
Our sweet neighbor knew how much we loved our trip to AZ last year, so he brought us home a little piece of AZ!
Elizabeth started her basketball season, she's rocking it! Cashed this shot!
Sally making a basket at her last game! Thank you Steph for recording
Emma loves Mason's bed almost as much as he does!
Bedtime stories
Dress up...boy style!
Today was a snowday, Mason wanted to wear shorts, but I guess he never got around to those, so he just rocked his Grundies all day. Have no idea how he wasn't cold
Little Dance party before nap
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Hoping this "Snowmagedon 2020" is all that they're making it up to be. I love a good snowstorm! Stay Warm!
We enjoyed a mellow last few days of break. I know that the Christmas season is not yet over, but we had to take our Christmas Tree down. It was a fire hazard...this might be the real Christmas tree that broke me in to getting a fake one. A few images of the piled of needles left behind.
I'm sure I'll still be finding needles in July
My favorite ornament this year. Thanks Nana!
Pizza party and game night with some of our favorites!
Added bonus, Anne knows how to do fancy braids with ribbons
Friends that are like family!
Elizabeth got to switch her earrings!
100% Boy...creating guns out of everything
Sally working ahead on some homework, so precious!
A quiet Saturday morning while Daddy was at Patriarchs and then an information session before he starts Exodus 90. Pray for him!
Seeeesters giving us a Halftime show during the Vikings game
Yeah buddy, SKOL Vikes. What a game! We've been together 18 years cheering on the Vikings!! Grateful to have been with my Craigy for over half my life!
We ended Christmas break with a beautiful family Rosary! Mom even got teary-eyed during her decade of the Rosary. Happy tears. Overwhelmed with gratitude for this life I get to live and these precious souls God has given me to Love. The family that prays together, stays together!
and then Monday came and the Bigs headed off to school and the house got cleaned and organized. Laundry was washed, folded and put away. And the neighborhood was extra quiet from some outside playtime. Break is so very good, but it is so refreshing to get back in to a routine.
