Holiday Parties Galore

Three holiday parties, plus two school holiday programs, all in one week really put us into the Christmas spirit!

Handsome 6 year old ready for his first elementary school holiday program.  We know he is growing up when we no longer have to have a war to get him to wear his fancy clothes occasionally.

So adorable - Kindergarteners

Combined songs with the 2nd graders

Cutie number 2!  Loving her  sparkly Christmas dress from G&G Mackus.

Saying her memorized line, she did great.

G&G B came to both programs:)

Chili cook off and White Elephant at the McCarney's - Katie, me, Christine

4 couples, 4 types of chili, who will win??!

Taste testing

Chris tallying the anonymous votes - and the Hartman's win!!  It was really close, they all were really great.  Except ours, ours was just okay, I have to admit.

White Elephant - farting animals adult coloring book was a hit

Christine for the steal!

Nobody was stealing that dog collar

Urinal shot glasses came home with me!

Duck Hunt gun and broken flask

Party #3 of the weekend at Valerie and Scott's new house

So fun that Luis and his kids were in town from Rio again this year.

Love our little former swim group!

Polar Express Party

We hosted a holiday party with our group of preschool family friends, with gingerbread house making and a screening of Polar Express in the basement on the big screen.  It was chaotic and messy and full of holiday fun!

Also, Happy 40th Birthday to Auntie Kristin this week!  We love you!

Becca brought the whole meal - a ham and veggies and potatoes

Polar Express front row seating

Red top buddies

Luke's Christmas list to Santa.  

In the mornings I have been trying to work out at home.  Claire wakes up and joins me in the office/workout room begging to watch shows usually, but sometimes just being good company.

First Snow!

We couldn't wait for the first snow, and it didn't disappoint.  Loving the outdoor fun.

"Open your mouth, I'm trying to clean your teeth!" in her silliest voice

New shirt from G&G Mackus' trip

Picking out our Christmas tree at Grandpa Baranko's Knights of Columbus lot

Spot the kid!

There she is, our tree.

Decorating the tree- one of my favorite days of the year.  Claire helped a bit, then played with the ornaments as toys again, but Luke was a pretty big help throughout the whole day.

We went to "Opera Night" at the local Italian restaurant.  Tickets are hard to come by, believe it or not, and it exceeded expectations.  The opera singers that come by after your meal were absolutely amazing, and at the end there was a sing along with Christmas carols.  

Becca's festive hat

Our table was "2 turtle doves"

Post dinner shenanigans with our friends.  Geoff, we learned, was a first rate trombone player back in the day.  Good thing Matt owns a trombone!

BB gun range got some action too.

SNOW!!  Nice wet, thick packing snow, too.

Making an igloo with our cube molds

Snow puppy warming up

All tuckered out

Seeing what St. Nick brought

Luke has been obsessed with the Farm Game 

Look at Claire's thumbs up sign at swimming lessons.  Doing great!

My team did this fun Family Feud game at work - these are the points redemption thresholds for our Balance Rewards program.