Christmas 2014

Boys were insistent that we leave out enough carrots to cover ALL participating reindeer.

Spent Christmas Eve with the Lacinas. Beautiful family picture taken at church.

Gift-opening joys

 

Christmas Morning!

 
Spending Christmas Day with the Konopacks

Jim's family gave us a dual kayak as a gift! We're so excited to use it this summer!

 

Post-Christmas visits with Alary & Averie!

Preparing for Christmas!

Always having a blast at the Livingston's Christmas Party. An early one this year. Darryl, Sue, Tom, Lynn, and Nicole and Rodney are great poker partners, too ;)

Took the kids to an awesome MU basketball game. Photobombed by the guy behind us.

Boy totally loving croutons. Go figure. 

One thing they always look forward to when decorating for any holiday is the collection of themed books that I'll bring out. Christmas produces the most, of course.

Decorating the tree.

Adorable sleeping child.

Making crafts with Grandma Lacina at her church's holiday celebration.

 

Both boys in the nativity play again this year. King Herod and a Shepard.

 

These pictures do no justice to just how EXCITED OLIVER WAS TO SEE SANTA! We love that he comes around each year on the fire truck ;)

Making gingerbread houses with Trenton in his class.

 

Adam the Elf causing mischief? Nope. He's generally just something the boys look forward to discovering each morning. Always hanging out in a new spot.

Oliver was the Clown Narrator in his kindergarten production of "The Little Engine That Could".

  

Trenton is absolutely loving basketball. His game gets better each week. Below, Harrison is about to throw him a pass.

Thanksgiving 2014

We had a really fun time with Alary, Nora, Cathy, and Zak staying with us temporarily for a week this month. Alary kept herself amused with the kitchen bowls, while Nora loved playing with the boys & their toys every day. They are now in their new house-- in NJ!-- and we look forward to seeing them more often!

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving at the Konopack's house! Below, the boys play 

Followed by Thanksgiving #2 at the Lacina's house!

A nice turnout, with lots of my cousins, and their kids, too ;)

Eataly & Radio City

 

So check this out!
Jim's violin teacher was playing in the orchestra during the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall this season. He surprised me with two tickets for the show... and I took him to Eataly beforehand to enjoy some fooooood!
Above, we split the meat and cheese platter, along with some divine fig and apricot spreads. I'm pointing to a sign that lists info about Il Duomo (which is the Cathedral that we visited in Milan).
Below, an awesome espresso machine.

 

Freakin' awesome gelato.

And below, you can see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree still in the scaffolding on the right.

Mike's on the left of the conductor. 

Rockettes ;)

OK, best part was BACKSTAGE TOUR!

That's the camel paraded thru at the end of the show. Below, markers on the stage where the dancers stand. The "silent bell". The angel's wings.