Finding my Luck

I had to work on New Years Eve.

Usually it's Ben who misses out on the festivities.

Gretchen invited us over to ring in the new year with some rowdy rounds of 31.

I had high hopes of getting out of work and over to her house well before midnight.  But, in reality, I ended up on her doorstep with only three minutes to spare before the calendar flipped over.  

It was kind of depressing, but I'm counting myself extra lucky since it was such a close call! 

After whooping it up outside , they finished up the round of cards they were playing--Luke won--while I shoveled in some goodies!

We played another round, and guess who won?  Me!!

This year is off to a good start!

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My focus for this year is "Keep it Simple and the Expectations Low".  

I get overwhelmed, and little crazy, when I feel like I have too much piled on me.  Generally I bring it on myself.  This year, though, I'm lowering the bar!  

I think it's going to make the smallest accomplishments feel amazing, plus if I can't even get the basics done, then, and only then, am I fully justified in losing my mind!   


Happy New Year!

The Year We Did That Puzzle

We spent Christmas Eve and the day before, hanging out at Gigi's with Amy, Dave and the kids.

It was the best time!

The kids got spoiled like crazy--actually they all ended up with a nice mix of practical things and fun things, but all stuff that they truly needed and wanted. 

Ollie got a puppy puzzle--1,000 pieces of only three colors, brown, cream, and green.  It was really, really hard and a bit of a ridiculous present for a 6 year old, but he REALLY wanted it, so that was our annual Christmas puzzle to work on.

It took two solid days, not kidding, with lots of people working on it--everyone who came over helped work on it as we visited--before we finally got it finished.  It was super, super hard.  

Guess who didn't help us at all with it?  Josh Oliver.  Gigi has now forbidden him from picking out puzzles based solely on how cute they are!  It was actually pretty fun, but next year we are back to are usual type of puzzle!

He didn't help, but he did grace us with his presence at the table!

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The boys, well Henry and Josh, were up by 3:30 on Christmas morning.  They were anxious for us to get up, so we nicely obliged and told them if they could get Luke up we would let them unwrap one present each before we went back to bed.

Luke is apparently too old, or just too tired, to care enough to drag himself out of bed at such a ridiculous hour, so we let them unwrap the presents that they got for each other and back to bed we went.

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This was the first year that we went to Mass on Christmas morning, instead of the night before.  We were less than excited about it, but really I think it may be my new favorite Christmas Mass.  It was nice to have most of our holiday to-do list behind us and just be able to enjoy the Mass, plus it's not nearly as crowded as the other ones!  

I'm going to push for that one next year!

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We rounded out Christmas at Gretchen's house.  

My biggest downfall there is that all of her food is always DELICIOUS!  I always leave stuffed fuller than full.  This time was no exception!

The kids ran around like crazies--normal--but they were having fun, and we were too busy visiting to notice.

We also do a Dirty Santa at her house.  Fun!  I did quite well and ended up with dinner and a movie!  That's a win for Ben and I both!  He picked the lottery tickets that he brought--always bring something you want--and was not so lucky!

By the time we got home we were pooped.  It was such a great, laid back holiday, but it's always nice to get things back to normal and really get to enjoy the boys being out of school!

I don't know why I never straightened that angel!?

Oh How They've Grown

I decided it was about time that I switched up my header.

Last time I switched it was over 2 years ago, so.......the boys have changed a bit!

Down the Hill We Go

It snowed a couple of days before Christmas--and then stuck around long enough to last through the Holiday!

We made our rounds shoveling driveways and treated ourselves to a bit of sledding at the Indian Center.

It's always a good time!

--Henry only managed to make it out the door with one glove.  (I didn't realize until I was going through pictures that he never found a second one.)  I don't know how he managed to not complain...it was so cold!