Instagram

Time for another Instagram dump.  We've been busy in our house! :)

Carter building a gingerbread house with Dad:

This takes a lot of concentration - both on making the gingerbread house as well as keeping your brother from stealing all of the candy you need to decorate the house!

I received this note in Carter's folder at Adventures + (before school care).  It says "Carter has been very helpful during breakfast and before.  He has set a good example for others and today even helped staff with accountability and seating charts.  Great job, Carter!"  I was one proud Mom when I read this!

These two giggleboxes were playing in the snow while I was shoveling the driveway:

My OCD was much happier when I finally cleared off my dining room table and finished jewelry for the holidays.

Against my better judgment - Charlie "decorating" cookies:

Grandpa and Grandma surprised the boys by volunteering for their holiday parties at school and eating lunch with them.  Dad also made the trip up from the office for lunch with the boys:

Making sock snowmen at the holiday party:

The boys are so lucky to have such involved grandparents:

This isn't an Instagram photo, but instead a panoramic view of 600+ elementary school students in the cafeteria for the holiday sing-along:

Ryan's birthday party at Feed My Starving Children.  This was my group packing food:

Ryan and a neighbor girl and friend, Addison, both celebrated their birthdays at FMSC:

I can't think of a better spot to curl up and take a rest on a lazy afternoon:

Silent Night at Kroschel Church:

One of my Christmas gifts from my parents - an Origami Owl necklace with my boys' birthstones, an angel for Olivia, and a family charm.  What a thoughtful gift - I LOVE it! :)

Christmas afternoon for the guys.  The women and children had much more fun!

My boys in their happy place - Target's Pizza Hut Express while we were doing some after Christmas shopping:

Big surprise for the boys - we didn't tell them we were going to the Edge waterpark after Christmas:

This was about half of what I unloaded from my truck coming back from Mom and Dad's last night.  No wonder I was up until 3:00 a.m. putting everything away!!!!

Christmas Day

We had a great Christmas Day at my Uncle Rich and Aunt Bev's house.  One little mishap with the turkey (the oven was accidentally turned off and when the turkey should have been done, it was still uncooked).  We had tons of appetizers, drinks, and great conversation to keep us occupied.  I don't think anyone even noticed that we ate a couple of hours later than planned, waiting for the turkey to be done.  It was a fun day spent together.  The kids love time with their cousins!!! :)

Our family on Christmas Day:

Ryan celebrating his birthday with the family:

Another cake, this time Minnesota Vikings:

Fun with their cousins:

Christmas Eve

The boys, especially Carter, couldn't wait to open gifts this morning!  If I could bottle up that energy and excitement, I could power the house for a year!  I am always amazed that we spend months shopping for just the right gifts, hours wrapping all of them, and only a few minutes opening them.  The kids are happily playing with their new toys now while I work.  Christmas music is playing in the background, we are snacking on food that isn't the healthiest for us (but tastes so good), and all I can think is that life is perfect right now!  I have everything I need in life, within the 4 walls of our home.  Life is good!