And, Just like that, it is all over!

The Van Aukens just left and, like always, I feel bittersweet.

Sweet because it was such a wonderful Christmas.

Bitter because it took months to plan, buy, decorate, and get ready and just like that, it was over!

I wonder why these holidays have to go so fast, but I know that is just how it is.

When we used to go to my parents, grandparents, and John's folks homes for Christmas, I never really felt like this.

I was always kind of glad when it was over and we could head home with our little girls and just be a family of four.  I am guessing my mom, John's mom, and my grandmas felt just like I do now!  

Everything is relative, I guess.

We started our celebration  on Friday, Dec. 23 in Oshkosh.

We had gone to church before that at St. John's to see the kids' program which was awesome.

We took my mom there to see Courtney's tree.

We met them at Red Robin and enjoyed a fun lunch before heading oer to see their tree.

It was a short visit because the Hunters were arriving here that evening.

We got home and they were here waiting with Mallory.

We all went out to Rock river Pizza and then to Fire Cracker, it was a great way to start our holiday.

On Saturday we went over to Kev's about 4:30 and enjoyed a great dinner, followed by gift opening and then beers in the basement bar.

So many great laughs.

Kev was in rare form and we didn't even feel like we had to leave, stayed till midnight.

Here are a few photos from that night:

On Christmas Day, the Van Auken family arrived about 11:00.

Gifts to the girls were opened and enjoyed all day long.

We got Tiz a sewing machine for her item wanted and a clubhouse for Soli's wanted item.  

We got both of them a gym mat for their thing needed.

Those three items were very popular.

We all spent some time in the clubhouse with Soli and we all tried our hand at sewing.

There were countless routines on the mat, too.

My mom gave Soli a Barbie camper and accessories, another very popular gift.  Again, we all took turns playing with Barbie.

Gigi, my mom, gave Tiz a sewing basket with lots of sewing supplies which came in very handy, too.

Great gifts all around.

We enjoyed a dinner prepared by Nathan and Paul.

Nathan made the prime rib roast and Paul made the mashed potatoes.

It was a very yummy feast.

Then it was time for the couple's exchange which included a yard ornament for each couple.

It was fun as usual and included lots of beers.

 Courtney had my name and bought me this cute shirt and leg lamp earrings.

 I had Paul and bought him a t shirt and a book

 Paul bought Nathan a bottle of beer

 Nathan bought Courtney a gift certificate to a favorite store and

John bought Alissa some tasting glasses, a picture, and some coasters while Alissa bought John an Illinois Wesleyan hoodie.

Great gifts all around!

The Hunters left after lunch on Monday.

We did some more sewing and played games until today when the Van Aukens left.

So much fun, but still so bittersweet.

A weekend of snow and Christmas services

It started snowing on Friday at 2:00 just like my weatherman Charlie said it would.

My kids did their first Christmas service on Friday morning.  It went very well.  No one can tell the Christmas story as well as a preschoolers.

The way they belt out "Go Tell it on The Mountain," is matched by no one.

The snow continued through the night.

The temps plummeted on Saturday afternoon just as the second band of snow came in, again just like Charlie said it would.

John shoveled a few times.  He says his armstrong power shovel is no longer so much of a power shovel anymore, just more of an armstrong shovel that works slower than in years past.  

On Saturday night we had chili, I made a fire, and we watched movies.

On Sunday we woke to way below zero wind chills.

My Preschoolers performed their second service and again, it went beautifully.

The rest of the day was spent watching the Packers beat da Bears, wrapping some gifts, and finishing up some Christmas stuff.

I have three days of school this week and then Christmas break starts.

It's going to be a great Christmas!

A Taste of Shakespeare, Christmas Service, and Double Digits

We just got back from another fantastic weekend with Soliana and Tizita.

On Saturday, we drove down to Oshkosh and picked up the girls to take them to our annual play at First Stage in Milwaukee.

We have seen Rudolph and Charlie Brown there the past two Decembers.  The girls decided they didn't want to see Rudolph again, so I bought tickets for Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors.  I was really worried that the girls would not understand anything about the play.  I was pretty sure that I wouldn't get it either.  The suggested ages for the play was 12 -adult, oops, didn't read that very carefully, we were going with a 5 and almost 10 year old.  Oh, well, they are smart girls.  I was just hoping we would get through the 90 minute play without too much disappointment.

Well, who am I to worry.  The girls actually loved the play even if it was difficult to understand at times.

The story is actually pretty funny and after the play, the girls were able to talk to the actors which made the whole experience a positive one for them.

Success all around.

The predicted snow had started as we left the theater.

We arrived back in Oshkosh, met Courtney and Paul for pizza and beer at Cranky Pat's.

The girls went to bed to rest up for their Christmas service today.

Courtney and I enjoyed a few more beers and some nice conversation late into the night.

Today we went to the girls Christmas service at their church.

I love Children's Christmas services and this one was fantastic.

Soliana was a sweet angel.

Both girls sang beautifully.

After church we went over to the Roxy for some delicious breakfast foods.

The snow was still falling.

We ended the perfect weekend with a celebration of Tizita who is turning double digits on Dec. 19.

She was so excited to get her Cheer jacket, a double digits T shirt, and her first goody box.

It was a great way to celebrate a great lady

We left around 12:30, still snowing, but the roads were in good shape.

John shoveled, I unpacked, and now we are hoping the Packers can  pull out a win!

That would be the perfect end to our weekend.

Live Nativity, Gingerbread houses, and the Lights

We just had another great weekend with the girls.

John brought them home on Friday night.

After they arrived, we headed over to the live nativity at St. Lukes.

This a a yearly tradition and we all enjoy it.

After watching the 20 minute play which is outside and includes live animals and wonderful Christmas carols, we headed into the school for hot chocolate, cookies and some fun kid activities.

Tiz really enjoyed playing dreidle so I ordered her one for Christmas.

We finished up with dinner at Culver's and then some TV watching.

the 

On Saturday, we stayed in our PJ's until 3:30 while we worked on graham cracker creations.

This year, I found a recipe on Pinterest for some cement frosting which really held the crackers together and eliminated a lot of frustration.

We also made ornaments.

By 4:00 we headed out to Candy Cane Lane to see the pretty lights, followed by pizza at Marty's, and then on to the lights at Country Springs which has become another annual event.

The highlight of these lights was that Soliana did the driving on John's lap and Tizita rode with her head out of our sunroof.

Lots of fun doing that.

After the drive through the lights, we go to watch the model trains and have hot chocolate and cookies.

We always sing to the CD, "Grandma got run over by a Reindeer,"  This year we sang it in parts which was so much fun.

Today it snowed for the first time.

After church, Soli and Gigi played school, Tiz and I played cards, and John watched the Packers win.

We took them home after the game.

We made many happy memories this weekend.

Here are a few photos from the fun:

Until next time.

Thanksgiving and Christmas prep

Another Thanksgiving is in the history books.

It was a good one.

Quiet, relaxing time spent in Bloomington at Alissa and Nathan's.

Darrel, Jen and Jason were there, too.

Lots of great food, and lots of beer tasting.

It was nice to just be able to sit back and let someone else prepare and clean up everything.

We only stayed one night and headed home on Friday.

Trees were decorated and up by Friday night.

Today (Saturday) John and I walked to St. Vinney's and Bethesda's Christmas shop.

It was in the high 50's, almost unreal for November 26.

I am contemplating jumping on the Lions band wagon since they are now in first place in the division.

The Packers are playing very poorly.

Tim Budreau invited me on board for the Lions.

We will see how the Pack does on Monday.

Time for bed after three lifetime movies.

Till next time.

Wow, how time flies whether you are having fun or not

Time is flying.

November is almost gone.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

We made Christmas trees in Preschool today.  I told the kids Thanksgiving was over for us and we had to start on Christmas decor for our room.

We had our family parties today at school.  The AM three year old party was a bit of a disaster.  The PM party was a huge success.

Oh, the difference a year makes in a child.

We go to Alissa's for Thanksgiving this year.

Courtney and family head to Iowa.

Alissa dislikes Thanksgiving very much.  She is actually in Nashville on business so Nathan will be doing the prep.  She says we may only have meat, beer, and the desserts that I bring.  That would be fine with me.

I had the girls here last Friday.  They had the day off and spent the day in my classroom.  I was exhausted and fully understand why people have their children when they are young.

We took them  home on Saturday and had fun at Courtney's Homemade for the Holidays show.

We took my mom and we all enjoyed a great lunch at Becket's.

I have almost all my Christmas shopping done.

Decided to buy Tiz a sewing machine, I think she is going to love it and I think she will create some great things.  

Christmas trees and decor go up this weekend.

I am excited to get that done.

We bought one of those star shower light shows for outside.

Jury is out as to how we will like it, so far the dancing red and green lights look pretty good on our house.

I tore the passenger side mirror off the rendezvous last week pulling into the garage.

It was long overdue.  I usually pull one off every few years and hadn't done that for quite awhile.

I have also driven through two garage doors, luckily I have not repeated that act in years!

Hope I did not just jinx myself.

I think that about brings you all up to date on my life.

One more day of school and I am off for five days.

Blessed Thanksgiving to all!