Blessed Christmas!

 "She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins."  
Matthew 1:21

Happy Birthday Jesus!  Thank you Jesus!  Your love is so great that you lowered yourself as a child to take on our sins.  Thank you for your love and forgiveness.  Thank you Mary for saying, "yes!"  

After the three of us enjoyed a morning at the movies seeing the new Star Wars film, Gracie and I made a birthday cake for Jesus. His love and forgiveness are the greatest gifts we will ever receive.  

Lily Grace actually made this gift wrap for my gift.  

Christmas Eve we enjoyed a late lunch before Christmas Eve mass. 

Christmas Eve brought a winter front and it snowed all day and into Christmas morning.  We had the perfect white Christmas with a high of 18.

Yep! Matt and I played a little joke on Gracie Christmas morning with this picture we took Christmas Eve.  We all got a good laugh.

All smiles as she makes her way downstairs Christmas morning

She was all smiles to find the BB8 droid waiting for her.  

She had Matt get right to work on the assembly and charging of BB8.

This girl still loves a good dress up dress.  She wasted no time changing.

Molly got to dig into her stocking so we could keep her occupied. 

I love my new bracelet.  It has two heart charms, one with L and one with M for the two loves of my life. (Oh! That would me Lily and Matt.  I love Molly but...)

Gracie and I surprised Matt with a new fishing net and lanyard.  

As that thing talked and rolled, Molly found a corner away from the action.

Gracie Cakes and I tried out her new lip balm making kit.

Matt and I took a nap and I woke to find Lily Grace trying out her new architect kit while sitting in the lid of the box.  Molly had fallen asleep right beside her. 

Christmas Card Out-Takes 2017

Acting crazy

Someone wasn't looking...

...and this time the other one wasn't.

Who even knows what got her so tickled?

Merry Christmas! 

Nutcracker Weekend!

We spent this past weekend in Chicago where we took in a new adaptation of the Nutcracker.  It was absolutely amazing!  The Joffrey Ballet is one of the best we have seen.  
We had a wonderful time!!!!

We had a beautiful view of Navy Pier and the lights of Michigan Ave.

Gracie and I would like to start every morning like this.  And yes, that latte was every bit as good as it looks!

Of course, Lily Grace liked all the gold in the hotel lobby.

Goofing around while waiting on Matt who had to go back up to the room for our tickets.  I kid you not, our family has quite the history with Nutcracker tickets and forgetting them.

Of course, Gracie had to take in the new Apple store before lunch and the show.  She took a turn with the new programable SPK ball. 

We also stopped by Millennium park and snapped a family selfie in the reflection of the bean.

The show was amazing and the props and costumes were beautiful!

Lily Grace started attending the Nutcracker when she was 3.  Each time she collects a new Nutcracker before the show.  We have them from TN, NY, IN and IL.  This year, she was on the watch for one with pink.  We haven't seen one before but..... this year, she found one.  

LG hit a growth spurt this year and she's now almost as tall as the big Lego sculptures in the Lego store...

...and her mama!

Holiday Recital

Lily Grace had her Holiday Recital last Thursday evening.  She did an amazing job!  Her playing was absolutely beautiful!  She did a special arrangement of We Three Kings and again, it was just beautiful!  
We are so proud of you Gracie Cakes!