finishing out the year

We had a great week as a family. It was a little (ok, a lot) chaotic when we got back with exploding suitcases, piles of laundry, small pieces to lots of different toys, the Christmas tree . . . So, on Wednesday night around 11pm we finally took down the tree. I just packed up the last box of Christmas stuff. Big fat sigh of relief. My house is back to normal.


Sophie helped me clean. Who doesn't love to vacuum with their best sunglasses and purse?

We put together Ted's playmobil school during the bowl game. Thankfully that was something to take our attention off of that mess.


Ted played with all the inside stuff while we assembled the outside.


Putting on the finishing touches.


The finished product. The gym on the right is what he got for his birthday but it goes with the school. Playmobil is the COOLEST!

We had dinner with some friends that have kids the same ages as ours. It was so fun. We played a lot. One morning we went to IHOP for breakfast (giftcard!). We came back home, put our pj's on and played games all morning. Including but not limited to . . .


mario kart


sorry sliders


and 52 pick up. They like it. And they pick up the cards. I'm good with it!

Then we took a little road trip to Wheeling to see the lights at Oglebay. We stopped at Cabella's which is a whole experience in and of itself. If you haven't been, you need to go. It's a total experience.





Sophie LOVED the deer section. She always wants to see "Uncle Charlie's deers" at my Mom's. You see, my brother still has deer hanging in his old room at my parent's house. He won't take them. My mom won't take them down. So, they are Sophie's trophy room. Not important really. She keeps asking to go back to see deers. I think they made an impression.

In the deer section, there's a fake guy in front of a cabin that does a little talking. Ted was very confused about why that man was there and if someone "shooted" him. I guess b/c someone had to shoot all the deer that was around him!

We went to some friend's on New Year's Eve. Got home around 10pm. We let Ted stay up to ring in the New Year. He did great! And still got up at 7 this morning!!!




Happy New Years, Sophie.

Today, Amanda and I went to the outlets in Washington, PA for a few hours of "no kid time". It wasn't as productive as I had hoped. But a great time none-the-less. In the afternoon, most of our friends from the party ended up at our house. Ben hooked up our two tv's and a projector. Football heaven.


The projector image is on the wall to the right.


The men in the living room. The women and children everywhere else. I'm not really sure how this day happened. But it was fun!

These are fun weeks to stay up late, sleep in until the kids get up and just go with the flow. Makes me wish no one ever had to work. I don't suppose that will happen anytime soon now will it?!

Happy New Year!