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!

Gingerbread Remodel

This afternoon with our first snow on the ground and a high of 32 it seemed the perfect afternoon to decorate our gingerbread house.  Now I'm not sure if it's the cold weather, or maybe we were just off our game, but our house ended up looking like it needs a remodel.  We couldn't seem to get things to stick and after we had Matt outline the window swags it went downhill. And guess what?  It was one of the best times we've had decorating a gingerbread house.  We laughed so hard!!!!  And yes, we are displaying that thing with pride, frosted windows and all.  (Who doesn't like a little privacy? ha! ha!) 
Thank you God for this wonderful second Sunday of Advent.  Thank you for family and memories made. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon together as we await your coming.  God is good!  

So Proud!

Lily Grace is really enjoying middle school.  She stays quite busy and involved.  She is excelling and continues to receive straight A's.  Last month, she was honored at a breakfast for receiving High Honors in academics.  We are so proud of her.  
However, nothing could make us more proud and thankful than the email we received this past week.  Lily's principal emailed us to say that she had been recognized for another achievement and attached the following photo.  
One of her teachers recommended her for this award and her certificate reads, "She is a wonderful example of what it's like to be Christ to others.  She is always trying to do nice things for others to help brighten their day."  
Matt and I told Gracie that while we are always proud of her academic achievements, there is no other achievement greater than sharing Christ with others and being the best version of yourself.  We are so very proud of her and thankful for the blessing of a religious education.  Thanks be to God!

Bob is Back!

Bob, our elf, has been visiting us since LG was about 3 and even though Gracie is getting older, we all still have so much fun having Bob visit us.  (And Bob doesn't stress nearly as much now if he forgets to move.) We find it to be a fun way to pass the days until Christmas.  I'm guessing Bob will be around for some time and will perhaps one day journey on to Gracie's house to visit her kids. I know that she and Bob will make a great team. Until then, we all get a good laugh here and there and just enjoy the fun.  

Bob came in on a hot air balloon this year.  

Gracie woke to a balloon tied to her bed and few more down the hall as well as few spelling out Bob.  

He brought Gracie a hot chocolate set she's had her eye on as well as a scavenger hunt to a couple other surprises.  

She had to locate QR labels all around the house, scan them with her phone and follow the clue.  And no, she doesn't have a data plan or phone number of her own.  It's an old iPhone she uses to listen to music and take photos.  She's 11, Bob hasn't completely lost his mind. ha!

Along the way she found a package that included some adorable Family PJ's. 

Another clue lead us to a family silly string fight and boy was that a mess.  Fun but messy...took Matt mere seconds after we finished to whip out a broom and start cleaning. ha!

Gracie Cake's idea of cleaning was a little different.  

After scanning and following clues all over the house, the last clue finally led her to The Ultimate Puzzle.  She has been eagerly trying to solve this thing in math class and wanted one of her own. 

I don't know what it is about the top of the stairs landing and balloons, but Matt and Lily Grace can't help but make up crazy games with throwing balloons and laugh at one another.

Father Augustine

Father Augustine is from Uganda and has been assigned to our parish for two years.  This is actually his first U.S. assignment.  He has about a year left and we are so enjoying having him.  He is very kind and humble. Lily Grace really thinks a lot of him.  So much so, that when given the opportunity to write an article for the school newspaper, she elected to interview and write about Father Augustine.  
I took her to the interview and it was fascinating to hear about life back in Uganda as opposed to here.  We are so very blessed!!!!
Thank you God for the people you send into our lives.