Holiday Season 2012

 

So after a crazy few months of grad school- I think I needed to just let my mind rest and decompress. Oh that and I got a new computer with Windows 8 that I needed to figure out- so I just sort of stopped blogging. Anyway- we have been having a great time this holiday season. Here are some highlights:

 

 

 

 

We saw Santa (a couple times actually) and Bridget would NOT let me put her down- so I am also in the photos as well.

Sarah and Sam came over for a visit!

We hosted a Christmas playdate where we decorated cupcakes and made gingerbread ornaments.

Bridget really loved the cupcakes!

And then the babers wanted to run around nako with diapers only- so who is to deny that!

I mean- for serious!?!

We celebrated a 12 day advent with a special calendar.

We had some fun a Union Station.

Once again saw Santa.

Enjoyed some fun times with Avery, Jenni and Jordan

Bean Pod struck a pose.

 

Happy face train!

The Miller Bunch!

Heather visited from the North pole and got into some funny situations- including creating her own snowman like Bean Pod.

Bridgey ate chocolate

Nora had her first school performance in preschool- absolutely the cutestest!

KK and Das Fut came to visit for Xmas and everyone (especially Bean Pod) was thrilled!

We had a fantastic Christmas Eve of church and family fun.

The boys loved their Pajamas.

We had a holly jolly time!



The reindeer were fed with special reindeer food.

 

The girls on Christmas Eve rockin the PJs.

Christmas Morning

The magic of Christmas morning

 

KK and Bean bonding continued

Bridgey loved her wagon- but forgot it was for the dolls and not her...

We had a fun time with friends Christmas night

And Bridgey had fun with her friends too!

And me and KK had a blast- we all did. Merry Christmas to all- and we all had a great night(s) together!!! Christmas in Kansas was a blast- we loved it.

Big Savings Day!

Alright- i have to brag. This is one of the best coupon trips i've had. I did have some pretty awesome coupons- for eggs, $10 off a $100 purchase, fruit, etc. But between strategic meal planning and the q's, here is my total grocery, household AND a little people castle that i decided to splurge on and buy for bridget for xmas (unnecessary but tis the season) sooo if you took out the castle, the other stuff total is pretty sweet- check it- total for the week $110.46.




What did i buy? Well- food for a week to feed a fam of four- stuff like Aluminum foil, paper towels, cake mix, sugar and frosting to get my cookie and cake baking on (don't judge my not everything from scratchness please) my fav water, organic yogurt, organic lunch meat, fruit, veggies, oatmeal, kashi...Its me people. I'm still eating super healthy. Im just pointing out that we are not eat frozen tostinos 24-7 cuz they are 5 cents.

Here is a little sample of the items:

Anyway- i know couponing isnt everyones bag, but it sure is pretty awesome saving $60 on grocery and household AND splurging on an xmas gift for under what i would spend on just the food for a week alone! Wanna know how? Ask me :)

 

It's True

I may need a goldfish intervention...

These little suckers are majorly addicting! Ahhhhh

Sweet memories

one day at the dinner table listening to music, the song 'ho hey' came on (i belong to you, you belong to me...) anyway- p was working late so it was just us three girls. So i grabbed both of their hands and we swayed and sang.

Flash forward a week, and the song came on in the car. Bridgey yelled 'hand, hand' for nora to hold her hand, but i didnt think much of it since she wanta nora to hold her hand all the time in the car.

But then we came home and the song came on again in the kitchen and she said it again. That's when i remembered the night a week ago at dinner, and knew she did too! So once again we stopped and held hands and swayed in the kitchen.

These are the moments that make this time with my kids at home so precious. These are the moments i will keep in my heart forever.

Thanksgiving Update

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelll- Thanksgiving week in Chicago did not go as planned. As my sissy, Meghan said, "Did you hear that? It was God laughing. Because you made plans!"

Like I mentioned earlier, the kids got way sick, we had to cancel all of our fun plans, and our 'vacation' was more work than, well, work. 

Through it all though, we did have a good time. We were Wisconsin lazy most of the time (which means we stay in our comfy cozies and eat a lot of cheese) my fav thing to do when going up North, der. After we fled to Green Bay early on a quest to spread out and get our kids healthy, the trip drama actually subsided. We were afraid we were going to miss the Big Thanksgiving celebration with the whole extended fam- (like 50 people) but after 4 days of antibiotics and less mucus pouring from my kids, we felt like it was safe to make an appearance. I'm glad we did since everyone chose Thanksgiving as the holiday of choice for all the married with kids cousins who now alternate holidays with in-laws (us included) we will try to match up every year since it's so fun when everyone is together. 

So, while things did not go as planned-  for the time we spent together, for the people we did see, and for the memories made, I am thankful. 

Anyway- some highlight of our trip:

KK's friend took our pics in the city! If my kids were feeling better their expressions would probably be better- but oh wells.

Not feeling goods...

Super Aunt KK- her and Das Fut were troopers for putting up with us and our sickness for 2 days.

Rescue mission at Grandma Mary's house

Noah and Brian!

Super Cousin Kellyn and Bridge

Trying to get everyone to look and smile is quite the task.

All the kids of the cousins!

My little dress up queen got a Lion costume from Aunt Molly- she roared and loved it!

Mary's grandkids (with Joslyn sitting in, too)

Once the girls all warmed up with each other again, it was nothing but giggles and sillies. Love it. 

Dylan and Kellyn and I about to get Black Fridaying. I decided to have a great Thanksgiving and just go later- so we left around 11pm. I missed some of the doorbuster deals (a DVD player mainly) but it was worth it to stay and hang with the fam. Oh well to black friday if it will start earlier every year. 

More KK hugs- the best kind.

We did make it back down to Chicago to see Grandma and Grandpa, or 'Bampa, Bampa" as Nora calls them

I look like it's been a long week- it was! But I was so happy to see my G-ma and G-pa

Plus my Aunt Cathy, Uncle Bruce and cousin Suzanna stopped in!