Friendsmas!

We had our favorite neighbors over on Sunday to celebrate our annual 'Friendsmas'! I made a yummy dinner and we exchanged gifts and watched football. All of our favorite things!

Nana Pat and Papa Joe got Kate and Mikey a 'claw' game!!!! 

Nice hair daddy

Nana Pat hard at work

And then doing the dishes!

MERRY FRIENDSMAS EVERYONE!

Lunch with my boy

Monday, since I was off work but Kaitlyn still has school, I used the day to finish up some last minute Christmas errands but was able to go have lunch with Mikey at his school. Love his sweet face!

Holiday Field Trip Fun

I am so so lucky that I got to chaperone another field trip for Kate's class. This time the kindergarten classes got to go 'uptown' Charlotte to Imaginon Children's Library to watch a play: 'The Night Before'. I met the bus at the library and got to sit with Kaitlyn and her friends and we enjoyed her first 'off Broadway' performance!!

Gingerbread House Fun

I got to go Kaitlyn's school yesterday morning and make a gingerbread house with her. It was such a fun event and Kaitlyn loved using every kind of candy on our house. It was a great morning doing holiday activities! 

Kaitlyn and her teachers Mrs. Chapmand and Ms. Beaumont 

Kaitlyn's Gymnastics Show

Last night was Kaitlyn's turn at her gymnastics show. She has moved up to the 'Mighty Mites' team and got to do a special dance number. She did great and had a super fun night tipped off with purple (her team color) cupcakes from her coach! Good job sweetheart- we're very proud of you!

Gymnast Mikey

Mikey had his first Christmas show at gymnastics. He said his favorite part was going a flip on the bars but I think he liked flirting with all of the coaches! We're so proud of our boy.

Dancing with his coach

In More Exciting News Today..... Bike Riding!

Yesterday was so gorgeous outside (75 degrees and yes, it's December 13th!) that we took the kids to a parking lot to ride bikes. Mikey decided that it was the day to remove the training wheels! Here he goes:

The best part was this- right after he made his first run without the training wheels, Kaitlyn jumped off of her bike and did this:

Daddy took him back again today while Kaitlyn and I were having Mother/ Daughter day at the Nutcracker and this is the professional rider now:

 I am so so so proud of this boy. Put his mind to it and just did it. Look out world- here comes Mikey!!

Nutcracker

Kaitlyn and I started a new holiday tradition today: a performance of The Nutcracker by the Charlotte Ballet Company. It was amazing and is one of my new favorite traditions. I'm so glad Kate is old enough to now appreciate and enjoy the ballet and even more thankful that she told me: 'Mama, it's beautiful to watch, but I just want to do gymnastics'. Whew! Our bank account thanks you my dear! For now, we'll just be spectators in this sport!

Finished the afternoon with a favorite meal!

A Tale of Four Trees

Here our holiday trees this year. I have to say, our family tree is not only my favorite of them all because it showcases all of our 'family' ornaments we've acquired and made throughout the years, but this year, I love that we're able to have it in our newly finished sunroom done by my hard working husband. Good work honey- we love it! 

Family movie date

This morning the kids woke up to find that our family elves had left them some gifts- a new pair of pj's and tickets to go see a movie first thing! We put on the pajamas and hopped in the car and headed to the theatre. There we found hot chocolate and cookies waiting for us and..... Santa! The kids both enjoyed telling Santa about their lists: a gymnastics mat for Kaitlyn, something spiderman for Mikey as well as a 'parachute guy'. Kaitlyn even saw some neighborhood/ school friends there and while taking a picture with them, Santa sneaked up behind to 'photobomb' their picture! Then it was off to our seats where we watched Mikey's most favorite movie: The Polar Express. Such a fun morning!

Mountain Fun

We had an amazing time this past weekend. We took a trip to the Boone/ Blowing Rock area of NC with our neighbors and rented a cabin for a couple of nights. Normally we drive up this time of year to cut down our family Christmas tree but we've always just made it a day- trip. Mike had the wonderful idea of extending it to a whole weekend and it was wonderful. Our friends who live across the street were able to come too- the McIntyre family. They're have 2 children: Sophia is 3 and Louis who is 1 and they are adorable!

First, the cabin. I could kick myself as I don't have a picture of it but it was great. It had a rec room downstairs that had a pool table and off of the balcony in that room was an outdoor hot tub! Let's just say the kids LOVED these features. The kids had their own room with 2 twin beds and they had slumber parties every night. We spent Saturday walking around the quaint town of Blowing Rock which our family loves. The kids have some favorite playgrounds in the town that we explore and play in. Then we had a delicious lunch and headed back to the cabin. After a rest, we visited Mast General Store to stock up on our candy fix for the year (one of moms favorite stops!). The next morning the kids woke up and took a nice dip in the hot tub before breakfast.  Then, we went back to Mast and ran into Santa!! Kaitlyn was surprisingly shy for this visit but explained afterwards that she thought this Santa was a 'helper' and not the REAL Santa! Good girl. Then we went to the Christmas tree farm and 

Had a picnic of sandwiches on the back of daddy's truck before finding our perfect family tree. It was such a fun, festive family trip. I can't wait to make this a new holiday tradition!!!! 

Checking out the view from the living room

Swinging on the porch!

High Country Hideaway!

Hot cocoa 

Kaitlyn loves taking family photos 

Candy boy

Telling Santa his list (spiderman everything!)

Not sure about this 'Santa' ;)

Off to find our tree! Love hayrides!

Now on to finish decorating!!