Christmas 2014

We celebrated Christmas at our house on Christmas Eve morning.  Once Kyle arrived, we had a cinnamon roll breakfast and started the gift opening.  Our boys were ready at the crack of dawn this morning, waiting was about to kill them!!!

Our boys and their stockings on Christmas morning:

Ryan with his stocking goodies:

Carter and his lures:

Kyle got a chip for his trail cam:

Chocolate covered blueberries for Grandpa:

Lures for his next fishing trip:

Santa brought earrings for Grandma:

A new fishing pole!  He can't wait to go fishing!

Excited to see...

a new goalie stick for lacrosse!

A new baseball bat and bag!  He's all set for baseball in the spring!

A lacrosse rebounder!

Grandpa looked shocked...we paid him for building our shed this past fall:

Disbelief quickly turned to happiness "this will pay for my next fishing trip!"

A new book for tying flies:

Bow release:

A new coffee mug and a few gift cards from Santa:

Hard cover case for his fishing rods:

Santa was good to me.  I got a few new kinds of tea, a Pandora gift card, Cold Stone gift card, and Visa gift card!

Evan and his annual calendars:

The boys were just a little excited to get traps for their Skylanders Trap Team!

Happy boys:

We were all done opening gifts and starting to clean up.  I ran upstairs to get "one last thing".  An xBox One - they've literally been asking for one for years!  Finally!

One happy camper!!!

Excited boys:

My handsome crew:

With Grandpa and Grandma:

Our family of 5:

And all 7 of us.  Merry Christmas to all and to all a GOOD NIGHT! :)

Wild Suite

We celebrated Ryan's birthday with his friends in the Target Suite at the Wild Game.  The boys were so excited.  A few of them had never been to a Wild game, or in a Suite.  It was so much fun to watch them enjoy the game together.  :)

Nathan, Ryan, Josh, Adam, and Lukas:

Griffin and Carter joined the group picture:

 

Me and my boys:

Grandma and Grandpa joined us in the suite as well:

Carter and Griffin:

Evan, Ryan, and Grandpa watching the game:

Boys enjoying their food and front row seats:

They never moved, other than to get food and drink refills:

Josh and Adam:

Ryan and Lukas:

Opening gifts at our house after the game:

"Jump on the couch" was taken loosely by these boys:

Playing Ryan's new football game:

Instagram

Amazing how fast a month goes by.  I've been slacking on blog updates.  We've been so darn busy, it's hard to carve out time!  Here is the past month in Instagram updates:

Our home, decorated for Christmas:

Grandpa and Grandma surprised the boys with a visit.  They spent a long time curled up on the couch playing Wii:

Carter and his buddy, Griffin, on a sleepover:

Thanksgiving morning, my Pinterest inspired turkey, made from meat and cheese:

Charlie is back, and waiting for the boys!

Carter went fishing with Grandpa on Thanksgiving weekend:

Charlie welcomed the Mackeys with a nice sign in our foyer:

After an unfortunate water-changing incident in the aquarium, I replaced a few koi that I lost with 2 new colorful koi and 3 black ones.  I can't decide if the bug eyed fish are cool or creepy.  The boys loved them!

Ryan decided to take my wine glass for a spin to see what would happen.  Unfortunately, the wine glass did not survive.  After over 10 years, they still sold the same wine glasses at Macy's and I was able to find a replacement on eBay for only $7.99.  I was thrilled I didn't have to order an entire new set!

My handsome boys dressed up for their Christmas program at church.  They had to wear button shirts, belts, and dress shoes.  Misery for them!  ;)  Thankfully, their programs went well and they could quickly change into much more comfortable Under Armour.  :)

After 1 1/2 years of difficulty sleeping due to a deviated septum (Ryan broke his nose at Cub Scout camp), I thought to put a Breathe Right strip on it.  So far, so good.  What a relief it must be for him to be able to breathe out of both nostrils at night!

Ryan and I on his class field trip to Mill City Museum:

My boys and I at the Wild hockey game:

Volunteering at Carter's Winter Party at school and pre-birthday lunch with Ryan:

We went to Feed My Starving Children for Ryan's 10th Birthday and following that, Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner and Nothing Bundt Cakes for dessert.  It was a day all about Ryan.  Happy Birthday, Buddy!!!!  XOXO