Retraction of sorts...

Okay so the day after my last post, my SIL sends me pictures from our weekend together.  Lo and behold (I can't believe I actually just typed that!) my brother did in fact capture the memory of Dave N Busters on camera:)  Granted they have their coats on because they were ready to leave when he remembered to take a picture!  But I thought the group shot outside was cute.  My dad was there as well, but he must have been the one taking the picture.

So sorry David:)  Guess now we are even since I am apparently being used in sermon stories without my permission.

PA plus MN equals CRAZY FUN

We said good bye to my brother and his family yesterday morning after spending the past 6 days together.  We had a fabulous time together.  We packed lots of activities into the weekend.  Instead of exchanging Christmas presents for the kids this year, we decided to have a girls day/guys day. So all the girls went to Sweet N Sassy, then shopping and lunch at the Promenade.

Pedicures!

Manicures!

The guys all went to Dave N Busters for an afternoon of gaming and food.  Here are some pics of them having a great time....

Wait for it....

Yeah, no pictures.  Guess we know who captures the memories in this house.  Oh well.  They all told me they had fun so that is what counts:)

We spent the rest of the weekend playing LOADS of games, watching movies, bowling, EPIC snowball fights, and eating!  The kids so look forward to time with their cousins.  If only we could eliminate OHIO so they wouldn't be so far away (because you know how much my husband loves ohio, hehe.).

Check out Makenna's face!  I think this was after Shiloh (my 3 yr old niece) got her third strike!  She was the bowling superstar.

Sarah and Shiloh waiting...

Owen was far more excited about the airblower.

Okay, I can't even believe I am posting the most embarrassing bowling score EVER.  Seriously, 84.  Barely beat my son, lost to my 3 yr. old niece, and yes... that was WITH bumpers.  Next time we are totally going rollerskating instead because I can still rock the limbo scene.

FUN in the SNOW... turned into a huge snow battle.  Grandpop kept throwing snow, then closing the glass door.  Thus the attack on my slider.

Off to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader!

Hurry, quick before the ball drops...

That's how I usually feel the last few days of December!  How to make the most of girls' vacation, make sure my husband feels special on his December birthday (no Christmas wrapping paper here!), and celebrate our wedding anniversary all before the clocks stikes 12 to mark the end of the year.

Hopefully some goals were met:)

My parents got the kids tickets to see Disney on Ice for Christmas.  The snow storm and 50 mph winds were threatening to cancel our day, but we managed to make it to the Wells Fargo Center.  And one little boy couldn't have been happier to see Buzz Lightyear.

 Waiting for the show to start.

Scott and I got to have two days to ourselves to celebrate his 40th birthday and our 17th wedding anniversary.  We had a very relaxing time and two great meals at restaurants without kids:)  I earned a free massage with my mobilefit points at the gym so I cashed that in as well!

We rang in the New Year with our friends the Jackson's.  All but one (Owen) managed to stay up until the ball dropped... the unsupervised dessert table probably contributed to the VERY awake children.

 Malena Jackson, Makenna, Ella and Avery Jackson

 Scott & Brock toasting the New Year

Us with Manale & Steve Jackson

Happy New Year!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Friends gathered to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Christmas quiche have been baked.

Christmas Eve Service at church was wonderful (and standing room only... Ella sat on my lap & Makenna shared a seat w/ a friend!)

The final Advent candle has been lit and the Christmas story read by Scott & Ella.

Traditional Christmas Eve PJ's have been opened.

Cookies & carrots have been set out for Santa and the reindeer.

Looking forward to continuing the celebration tomorrow!  All the kiddos in bed and presents under the tree.  Enjoying a quite moment.

The Ones that Didn't Make It

So this picture was a SERIOUS contender for the Christmas card this year... highlighting the differences in our children's personalities.

But Lindsey did such an awesome job this Fall of capturing our family, that I just had to use one of her pictures.  Here are few of the extra pictures.  Ironically, the day of these pictures Owen not only had a hernia, but also a double ear infection that we didn't know about yet. 

Snapshots of December

On your mark, get set, go.... and December is off!  With 6 family birthdays this month and our wedding anniversary, the holiday craze is elevated to a new level in our house.  So you know, why not schedule a double surgery for my son while we are at it!!  More on that later...

Here is the first week of December in photos.

Souderton Christmas Parade - a little cold, but a lot of fun.  Are we the only town that has a 1/2 mile of tractors in every parade?  It's like a John Deere commercial (which you shouldn't buy anyway because Kubotas rock :)  just a little plug for a friend)

Christmas Piano Recital

 Leah & Kimmy Mowery, Ella & Makenna all played a quartet on two pianos.  The girls did awesome... the mammas were quite nervous since the practice sessions involved a lot of giggling and tempo conflicts!

 Abbey with our two wonderful piano players.

Celebrating Mom's birthday a few weeks early.  She had a little help blowing out her candles.

A trip to the Crayola Factory with our friends, the Stoudts.  The girls had off school for an in-service day and the place was empty.

Ok, ready to start week two!