So, this is Christmas 2018!

First, though, my parents came for a visit over the weekend before Christmas and it was so nice to have them here! The kids got lots of Grandma and Grandpa time and our weather was fair enough to enjoy outside!

Can you hear the giggles?! I think they called this a crab fight!

Chutes and ladders while Dad wrote his diagnosis of Olivia’s orthodontia.


After taking a walk and having dinner Saturday, we went out to look at Christmas lights!


Sunday we played all day! Dad and I ran some errands in the morning, we had a turkey dinner in the afternoon, and then had a movie night. Fun for all! Thanks for coming! And thank you for the gifts!

Mom and Dad left absurdly early Christmas Eve morning, and made it back to their place in time for a nap and Christmas Eve mass. We baked Boston Seed cookies all day, watched White Christmas , and had Chinese on china in our traditional way!

After feeding the reindeer, the kids went to bed and we had a really great Christmas morning! It was lovely: the house was trashed, the kids were happy playing with their new toys, and we were lazy all day! We had caramel rolls and ham, and just hung out. Thanks to all our family for the abundance of gifts!

December 2018, part 1

We’ve been up to a lot, so I have hardly blogged! Here’s some catch up:

We went to the annual Breakfast with Santa fundraiser for Grow Our Kids, the non profit I work with to get food for kids in need at the elementary school Olivia and Leo attend. The kids had fun with the best Santa! And my friend Courtney who is my partner in Snack Pantry came with her family, too!

The kids tracked out December 6, and although we haven’t had so many adventures, we have had some. They LOVED the Apex skate park where they all rode their scooters over ramps and hills.

We made gingerbread houses at the library:

Then that weekend we took Daddy to the airport so he could help Mutti pack up and move to us!

It was crazy. Nicholas left at six o’clock on Friday and they made it back to us by 9:45 Saturday. So glad they made it back safely because the next day, we woke up to this!

Jane and Bug are settling into the guest suite and we are happy they are here. The kids are happy to have a dog some of the time—when it is cold or rainy or they are interested in other things, it reminds us all why we don’t have a dog. Nicholas is working on the ramp, and our realtor is working on finding Jane a condo. Winter isn’t the best time to be looking, but we’ll see what happens.

We made it to the Moscow Ballet’s version of the Nutcracker in Durham at the Carolina theatre on December 11. Olivia looked lovely in her new dress, though I didn’t get a great photo of it. We really enjoyed the show! Next year, Leo wants to go!

We went to the indoor pool for family swim one day...

We went to our friends for a pizza and pajama party one Friday...that’s a lot of boys!

Olivia ran her first 5K on December 15 in the Suggly Sweater race at Sugg farm with the run club from her school! We are thrilled with her perseverance! It was a muddy day, but she had a great time!

While we were there, Nicholas was at Leo’s last basketball game. Leo has had a great first experience with basketball and is getting out in our cul de sac to play on his own and with the neighbor boys.

Later that day, we went to the New Hope Santa Train. Despite the rain, we had a good time! 

We’ve had a lot of outside play time with the neighbors, cleaning inside, baking, and getting ready for Christmas!

 Bug got a haircut, and Jason thought it was awesome to have him ride in a car seat!

Sometimes the kids love each other!


Jason finished his preschool for the year Wednesday and had a small program in the afternoon.

The cardboard gingerbread house has been keeping everyone busy, too!

Our favorite fall photos!