Happy New Year!!

What a wonderful year 2014 was - with many blessings, happy surprises and exciting adventures! Not sure how 2015 will compare but I cannot wait to see what God has planned!!  Happy New Year to all our dear friends and family - 

we are so blessed to have you all in our lives!

 

Winter Break . . .

After traveling prior to Christmas - we are now enjoying these lazy snuggly days of Winter Break!!  Lots of costume-wearing, game-playing, coloring, fort-building, hot cocoa making days . . .here are a few snapshots of our fun!

Kansas Winter Rainbows!

Just a couple views on our drives to visit family this holiday week! The girls thought I was nuts - as I of course to pull over and get out of the car to take it all in!!! 

Gorgeous beauty - God is Good!

Christmas Morning Children's Mass

The girls were so excited to be asked to be "angels" in the Annual Christmas Morning Children's Mass at Cure' of Ars this year! I thought just Molly would want to do it - but Kate does everything her big sister does - so when we got to church she wanted to stay "I stay with Molly, Mama". Molly's "Pirate Fairy" wings came in handy and I quickly made a little halo out of a hanger and some tinsel Grandma Pat gave me in Omaha . . .

Molly with her friends, Monica & Vivian

Kate too!

We missed the "practice" they had on Saturday as we were in Omaha celebrating Christmas with the McGinnis Clan - so Molly was listening intently to the instructions before Mass started . . . 

Do you see the "Inn" on the Alter?

Angels are up!

My baby angel . . .

Merry Christmas!!   

SANTA Came!!!

Santa found our new house!!!

The girls were squealing with excitement!!!  It was so fun to see what Santa brought each of them!!

Kate got a new BABY DOLL!!  It has blonde hair and blue eyes that open and shut!

Molly got the Elsa costume she had wanted - with gloves to match and special light-up Elsa shoes!!

And Band-aids!!!!

Molly made Mike and I a gift at Pre-school . . .

We LOVE it!

Kate made one for us too!!!  Not quite what she told me the day she made it at school - 2 weeks ago. "I made you a present, Mama. It's two bears sitting on the potty, holding tea with two hands - that's your present Mama!!"

Love watching the girls give each other the presents they picked out for each other . . .

We had our traditional Christmas Morning Monkey Bread after opening gifts! The smell of the dough rising on Christmas Eve will always remind me of Christmas!

Christmas Eve . . .

Something so special about being HOME, just US, on Christmas Eve . . . I feel so incredibly blessed this year to be in our new home with our two healthy children, married to his awesome father and husband - God is good, life is good and I'm so excited to be living it!

Daddy made a "special" mixture of Reindeer Food for Santa's Reindeer on Christmas Eve - with special glitter "to make them fly." The girls had so much fun sprinkling it on our lawn!

I made a traditional Christmas Even Dinner - garlic mashed potatoes, honey glazed carrots, and an herb-roasted turkey!  The house smelled AMAZING!

So thankful for these guys -my most favorite Christmas gifts . . .

After baths, setting out snacks for Santa and Rudolph!

Kate was really into it this year - SO MUCH FUN!

Santa left behind a bell from his sleigh a few years ago and Molly wanted to return it to him - so she made this box with picture and note for him - 

"Dear Santa - You left this bell at our house a long time ago - We are giving it back this year winter. I need the box back.  Molly & Kate"

Daddy reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" before bed . . .