2015 wrap-up

I like to do an end of the year..."year-in-review"...kind of post.  But I think our Christmas card this year summed it up.  So I'll share that here!

Our Christmas card picture:

...and the letter that was included:

2015…The year of change

Our little family has seen some big changes during 2015.  The biggest and most significant being our move to a new house.  It was bittersweet to leave the only “home” that all of our children have ever known…the house that welcomed three of our children home from hospital and one child home from the other side of the world.  However, we were slowly but surely outgrowing the space that house that to offer, and as we began to look toward the future we knew we needed a different plan.  So we moved our “home” (because home is wherever your family is) just one mile away…to a house on a quiet cul-de-sac that has more space for our family and most importantly…allows our kids to remain in the same schools with the same friends.  We’ve been here for 5 months now and still have a lot of settling in to do!  Getting a house with a bit more space meant a trade off for finishing touches J   We are busy with remodeling and updating, but it’s worth it.  For now we are home, where our family is. 

Riley is 14 years old and his biggest change of the year (because for him any change is a big deal!) was starting high school. He is in 9^th grade and his transition from middle school to high school has been fabulous! He does very well in school and doesn’t complain about going…he only complains about homework. Going to high school meant he had to say good-bye to the amazing 1:1 aide who he has had since kindergarten.  Very hard, but he handled it well (better than mom at least). Other big changes for him include: outgrowing his favorite clothes (yes, he is technically taller than me now), trying mom’s baked chicken and actually liking it. Have I mentioned he’s not a fan of change?!

Riley’s favorite part of the new house:  his own bedroom with a gaming computer (thanks to Uncle Tim for the hand me down!)

Aidan is 11 years old and his biggest change of the year was getting his hair cut. Now this may not seem like a big change to most people but when you haven’t had your hair cut more than a tiny trim in all 11 years of your life…it is a big deal! The transformation was astounding. His hair was probably the longest it has ever been (past his shoulders!) when he decided one day in June to cut his hair. And I mean CUT it…buzzed sides with a little bit of spiked stuff on top. I could barely watch and I cried like it was my baby’s first haircut. (oh, wait…it was!)  It literally took me a few weeks to recognize him.  Besides a new ‘do Aidan’s other big change of the year was starting middle school.  He really enjoys school…let me rephrase that…he really enjoys going to school to socialize with his friends!

Aidan’s favorite part of the new house:  the mini hockey rink dad is building for him in the basement

Audra is 8 years old and her biggest change of the year was staying HEALTHY! After being diagnosed with an immunodeficiency last December she started receiving weekly immunoglobulin replacement infusions. This has meant only ONE hospital admission for illness in all of 2015, which is a huge improvement from 2014 and 2013.  She did have a second admission but that was a planned admission for testing so I don’t count that one :)  Her other big change was starting Kindergarten…which turned out to be a more difficult change for mommy than for her…made better only by the fact that Riley’s former 1:1 aide (remember, the one who went to school with him every day for 9 years!) is now Audra’s 1:1.  A blessing and an answered prayer!  Hope she doesn’t mind repeating kindergarten 9 years later J

Audra’s favorite part of the new house:  wherever her siblings are!  REALLY.  She loves to be right next to each of them, doing whatever they are doing.  Oh, and the kitchen, cause hey, that’s where the food is.

Maura is 7 {almost 8} years old and she really didn’t have a big change of her own this year.  She has been our consistent little one, keeping us grounded.  She still loves dance class, playing with her friends and cuddling up with a blanket and popcorn to watch a movie.  She is in second grade and is the only kiddo who didn’t go to a new school this year.  She did get her haircut quite a few inches but when you compare that to her big brothers haircut it doesn’t seem like such a big deal.  (How often can one say that?!)

Maura’s favorite part of the new house:  her big ‘ole playroom with a fancy chandelier (others might use this room as a formal dining room)…pink walls and fluffy white rug coming soon!

We hope 2015 was a year full of positive change for you and your family as well.

Wishing you a 2016 filled with happiness and health.

Sean, Shannon, Riley, Aidan, Maura and Audra

Celebrating Christmas

Our Christmas was quiet, peaceful and...warm!

We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house as we always do, our tradition.  We had a large crew this year, with just my brother, Steve, and his family missing.  Dinner was yummy and then all the children were spoiled with gifts.

With full bellies and a car packed with too many gifts we headed home to get ready for Christmas Day.  Maura went outside before bedtime to spread magical reindeer food on the lawn near the front door.  She was quite worried that Santa wouldn't be able to get in our new house since it doesn't have a Chimney.  We assured her that Santa has a magic key that opens the front door of every good little boy and girl's house!

Notice the flip-flops?!  It really was that warm on Christmas Eve!

And she had a spring-like tank sleeve dress on...I made her wear a little sweater because it just didn't seem right to have Christmas pictures in a tank and flip-flops!

Maura was sad to say good-bye to our friend "Elfie".  She had so much fun with him this year!  He was a bit naughtier than he had been in previous years...I hope it's not the start of a trend!  He had on his warm winter coat for the long trip home and he packed his elf suitcase with all the fun t-shirts he acquired during his visit with us this year.  

Off to bed...

I think the boys were already in bed and practically asleep.  I've never seen them go to bed so easily or quickly...they must have wanted morning to come soon!

Santa came!!!

Ready for church...

The rest of Christmas day was spent quietly at home...

opening boxes of new toys,

putting together toys with lots of pieces,

picking up remnants of wrapping paper,

and celebrating Daddy's 40th birthday!

I had a crockpot marathon of food going throughout the day as family stopped by to see the kids with all their new gifts and joined us in celebrating Sean's birthday.

My girls and Charlotte...

next year there will be one more pretty little smiling face,

Tim and Dawn's sweet little Whitney will be home!

Read their story and support their efforts to bring her home:

https://www.gofundme.com/bringwhitneyhome

A weekend full of Christmas fun

Saturday:  Nutcracker, Santa, Shopping and Gingerbread houses

Every other year Maura's dance studio performs "A Variation of the Nutcracker".  I love that it is short and simple with all of the classic characters and dances.  A narrator reads the first half of the story including the Party scene and the Fight scene with a few children acting out the story.  Then the dancing begins and includes the most beloved and most familiar parts of the story...The Land of Snow and The Land of Sweets.

This year Maura was a petite sugar plum fairy. 

Maura and BFF Tori before going to dress rehearsal on Friday night...

Posing on the stage at dress rehearsal...

Before the big show on Saturday morning...

After the show all the kids could have their picture taken with the Nutcracker "princesses"...

the Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen and Dew Drop

After the show Maura got changed and we went to see Santa and Mrs. Claus at their "tiny house" in the center of town.  And by tiny house...I mean tiny shed-like thing.  She insisted on keeping her hair up and make-up on though :)

My pretty girls...
one ready for Santa, and one not-so-much!

Because the weather was so mild I was expecting to see a line down the street,
 but there was not a person in sight, besides Santa and the Mrs., when we arrived just after opening.

Maura made sure her letter to Santa {with her Christmas wish list} was securely placed in his mailbox.

After our Santa visit we squeezed in a little bit of shopping...
which is a good thing since Christmas is only...

13 days away!!

Maura has the spirit of giving in her this year.  So I gave her $5 each to spend on her favorite people...
Daddy, Riley, Aidan, Audra, and cousins Tatum & Teagan

After Maura's shopping spree we went to Aunt Kristy's house to make gingerbread houses with Tatum!

Sunday:
We went to the Christmas tree display at our local small-town museum

Audra should have worn this adorable gingerbread man sweater and jean set the day before when we made our gingerbread houses!

Lots of local businesses and groups decorated themed tress for the display.  And visitors voted for their favorites by dropping coins into the buckets below the trees.

These three sweet girls drained my wallet of every single coin...

every tree was their "favorite" and they just had to vote for each and every one!

Charlotte and Audra with the Americana Tree...

Not the best pic {Maura has her eyes closed} but these two loved the Turkey Tree...

Too bad this is blurry, it's a great picture of Audra and the Fireman Tree...

To our surprise Santa and Mrs. Claus were there!

They were so sweet and patient,
they really took time to talk with each child,
and tried so hard to win over Audra,
who has yet to ever give Santa the time of day.
But today she did take a candy cane from his hand.
Next year maybe she'll sit on his lap.

Carousel & Cookies

On this first weekend in December we got ourselves jump-started in the holiday spirit.

Yesterday the girls got dressed up in their holiday/winter wear, and although there was a hint of a chill in the air...it is not beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here!
{it has been so unseasonably warm}

We headed to a favorite destination, THE CAROUSEL, for one last ride this year.  Rides were free, hot chocolate and beverages were free and Santa & Mrs. Claus were there giving out candy canes to all the kids.  So fun!

Audra is finally starting to enjoy the carousel.

Maura has always been a fan!

Tatum joined us...but she wasn't so sure about it.

  

Maura's sweet friend Tori came along too.

What a crew of 4 little girls...

and they are sitting youngest to oldest is this pic--just noticed that as I was typing!

Today was a sweet day.
The girls and I made our first batch of Christmas treats,
including my favorite...cut out cookies:

Super messy but also super cute and super yummy :)

Because Maura is much more of a cake girl...she insisted on making a "Christmas Cake".

New tradition...maybe?!

Showing off her sweet masterpieces...

And enjoying them...

Christmas Tree:

We also managed to put our tree up this weekend!  And I have been power wrapping all the gifts that I have bought so far...which means I no longer have to stress out about hiding them from sneaky little people!