...playing catch-up...

...this seems to be the theme since Christmas...

...I never quite have everything done, I know that most other mommas don't either, but I usually don't feel quite so overwhelmed and I need a sense of order to keep me calm or as Donnie put it to me today, "Keep Calm and Chive On."  I am giving it my best shot! 

We had a nice Christmas with my family, but it just wasn't the same without Donnie.  I hope that we don't have to miss Christmas together as a family again, but I know that with the Army that isn't something that I should count on...I hate the thought of Donnie missing these little sleepy eyed faces on Christmas morning!


...or seeing how excited they are when

spending time with their cousins...

...or getting to do something special with Mimi& Poppy...

...missing rare moments like a white Christmas in Texas...

It was so nice to be home and be able to have a break from our routine.  We were all able to relax and have fun.  We spent most of our days at home, while the kids played.  I think this is truly what they enjoy the most, spending time together! 

We did take a day to go to the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas.  The kids loved it! There was so much for everyone to see and do!  I am so glad my parents got a membership so we can go back and see some of the exhibits we didn't get too!

 ...before we knew it was New Year's Eve and our 10 days in Texas were over, and we were on our way back to NY...

On our stop over in Chicago the kids convinced me that they NEEDED these Chicago Bears hats!  I thought it made a great Happy New Year picture for Donnie! 

Go Bears! 

 

Christmas & New Year's Eve was all rolled into one big night of fun and excitement for us!  We arrived home to a couple of feet of snow (we missed two storms while we were gone), and it hasn't stopped snowing! (I swear, we have snow flurries everyday!)

...and SANTA left some presents for us at home too...

...that had to be tested out immediately...

I wish I had a picture at midnight!  We rang in the new year with Donnie via skype! It was so nice to share the moment with him (at least I got to blow my love a kiss for the new year).  And the best part of this year is that he will be home in 2013!!!

 

I couldn't send the kids back to school without taking them sledding! So on our one day to "get things done" we did what HAD to be done and spent the rest of our time sledding!

...and warming up...

Let this new year be one, where all your dreams come true,

cherish each moment that 2013 holds!

...fall fun...

It is hard to put a weeks worth of fun into one blog post, but I'm going to try!  Donnie's parents came out to visit and to make sure we were all ready for this winter.  I am so thankful that they were able to make the drive out to see us!  The kids loved every minute they got to spend with Grandpa and Grandma!  We made the most of our time together.  For the kids that meant playing outside with Grandpa and Grandma even if it was a little colder than they would have liked on most days.

They loved having Grandma and Grandpa around to watch them at all of their weekly activties.  Luke showed off some of his best moves at gymnastics this week! 

The kids all had soccer games at the same time this weekend.   And since I can not be at two places at the same time, it was great to have the grandparents here so the kids could have someone cheering for them the entire game!  We won't be so lucky this weekend!

Grandpa and Grandma also treated us to some of our favorite activities while they were here.  Brunch at Tin Pan and a trip to Old McDonald's Farm! 

 The kids LOVE feeding all of the animals at the farm!

The boys playing with the antlers from the reindeer on the farm.  John was pretending his was an ax! I guess he was planning to chop down a Christmas tree!

 Reindeer Luke! Check out those antlers!  Too cute!

 The hayride to feed the pigs and the cows is always a highlight of the day!

 

This time of year you can also find a great pumpkin patch on the farm! But you have to make it through the corn maze first!

Katie searched through a lot of pumpkins to find the perfect one!  She wanted to get her pumpkin right out of the pumpkin patch!

The boys decided to get one that had already been picked! John picked out the biggest pumpkin he could find on the farm! It was so heavy that he had to roll it! 

Picking out the perfect pumpkin is hard work!  Luke could barely lift this pumpkin, but he was looking for one without any dirt on it! 

When you live so far from family, you celebrate when you are together, no matter what time of year! So we rolled Halloween and Christmas all together on this trip!  Grandpa and Grandma took them on their annual Christmas shopping trip!  Katie used her Christmas money (and a little bit of her own) to get an iPod touch!

The boys decided on electric scooters!  They LOVE them!  In fact, Luke just informed me today that his scooter was built for speed!

There is no such thing as down time, at least it sure seems that way!  They painted and carved pumpkins until their hands hurt!

John doesn't do pumpkin guts! (Me either, so GROSS!)

I love that we make the most of our time with family!  Thinking back over the week makes me smile!  We cuddled up and watched movies, played new games on the iPads, spent time outside, ate lots of good food and way too many sweet treats, we laughed and best of all just enjoyed being together!

 

...savoring the sweet memories of

Grandpa and Grandma's visit...

Skating Party!

The kids had a blast at Will's birthday party! 

The kids are going to miss the skating rink, unfortunately it is closing after this weekend.  They made sure to enjoy their last hurrah at the skating rink! 

Luke is becoming quite the skater! He can skate pretty good without his helper bar too! Of course, he has learned to do jumps and skate on one leg with his helper bar!

The boys took a little break from skating to play some pool!  I think John might need a lesson from his Dad on this one!

 No skating party is complete without a few races, skating games, and limbo!  How low can you go?

Happy Birthday Will!

Thank you for a fun day skating!