Friday, December 31, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011


have a wonderful new year!!!!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Christmas day!

Christmas morning... the moment the children have been dreaming of for days, weeks and even months.  Once the kids started stirring up in their rooms we called Gramma and Bapa to come over.  Then, joined by Abuelita, we all read the "Very First Christmas" in Will's room, followed by the kids leading us in their favorite song of the season "Away in a Manger".  Will was the first one down the stairs to check to see if Santa had arrived... and indeed he had!  The rest is history.  The kids were in heaven opening all the lil treasures that awaited them.  Will got his Paleontologist brush, a Spinosaurus, a triceratops sled, and some jammies from Santa.  Isa got a princess doll set, jammies, polar bear sled and her own snuggle bear from Santa.  Santa gave Gabi a shape sorter box, teethers, and jammies.

 Later that afternoon it was family reunion for us, when Monika, Arnold, Aidan and Andrew joined us!  We had a great family Christmas dinner followed by our gift exchange, and the volume of our household increasing dramatically as the kids ran around together and just had a wonderful bonding.  It's amazing to me how easily they pick up just where they left off... as if they had just been together yesterday!
kids exchanging gifts!
 Andrew LOVES trucks (especially the Toy Story 3 garbage truck!)
 Isa got a Jessie doll, and couldn't be happier, and Aidan loved his Leapster!
 Will got a camera, coloring stuff, and LOTS of paper to color on! Gabi got sensory balls!
 we so are so happy to have our family here visiting and staying with us.  The full house has been filled with lots of giggles, kids chasing each other around, and time catching up while relaxing.  we are so lucky!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Christmas Eve

ok... so time to catch up.  It has been a whirlwind of fun and craziness the last couple of days, but I will start with Christmas Eve.
the kids and I spent most of the morning decorating A LOT of cookies to share with all.  Will and Isa did a fantastic job, and I am pretty sure I am going to have great helpers for years to come!

We all attended mass at 4pm at St Peter.  The church and the gym were packed... but we were lucky enough to get seats and it was great.  The kids behaved, and the whole gang was there.  Awesome!  We followed mass be heading to the Sikora's traditional Christmas Eve dinner destination....McDonalds (you will have to ask me about this tradition at another time) =).  After LOTS of food (to include two 50 piece nuggets packs), the gang was full and it was off to Gramma and Bapa's house!
We drove around a little to see some lights, and then started the evening with the Christmas story.  Mary, Justin and Jenny were honored to read "The Very First Christmas" and the story was followed by everyone joining in to sing Silent Night.  The rest of the evening was outstanding.... laughter, lots of gifts, cookies, loudness, being silly, the shake weight, Grayson being mistaken for Baby Jesus by Isa, Will playing with the new train, special mugs for grandparents, the muddy marsh kit, St Ed t-shirts and sharing in Gabi, Chloe, and Grayson's 1st Christmas made the evening perfectly memorable!
 the T-rex he always wanted...
 Isa's new baby doll!
 Gabi loving her new toy!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS

this is our 1st Christmas as our complete family and we have so much to be thankful for.  despite the hardships and tribulations in our lives, there are so many countless blessings that make life all worth it.
we wish you all a wonderful Christmas week and want to thank you all for sharing in our lives (near and far). enjoy this Christmas and know that you are in our hearts every day!


Link to Santa's message to Will
Link to Santa's message to Isa

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Christmas, Christmas time is near...

Time for toys and time for cheer
We've been good but we can't last
Hurry Christmas, hurry fast
Today we celebrated the beginning of our Christmas week!  We got together with our playgroup... incredible to think this is our 5th Christmas as a group!  There are 13 kids now and needless to say, Audra's house was loud, and full of laughter!  The kids had a blast, and the girls had fun catching up.  I feel blessed to have such good friends!
2010
 2009

 2008
2007
2006

The evening ended with us starting to FINALLY decorate our Christmas tree, followed by another movie night "The Polar Express."  We love sharing all these fun memories!  This is going to be a GREAT week! 

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas is in the air


It took long enough, but we finally got our Christmas tree yesterday afternoon.  Will picked out a great one again.  The kids attempted to sit with Santa, but Will and Isa got stage fright and only Gabi was left on his lap... oh well.  Will came home to tell us that Santa could hear his wishes from home and went off to draw him a card.   All in all, they Believe and that is what matters.  All 3 of them are enjoying the lights on the homes, all the Christmas songs, and counting down to baby Jesus birthday.

Here are some of the kids favorite songs... including Will's invented "snowflake" song!




Wednesday, December 1, 2010

bit of nostalgia

December 1st... can it be already?  At the beginning of this year, we were a family of 4, with one on the way.  I can't believe that this year is almost over.  Today it hit me.  As Gabi experienced her first snowfall, laughing and hitting the sliding door glass, thinking she could catch a snowflake, I smiled.  The sounds, smells, and look of Christmas is in the air, and it also signifies the end of another year.  Gabi is now 9 months old, moving around everywhere, exploring everything.  Will and Isa have already started singing Christmas carols, and you can overhear them singing over and over "It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas".  They are excited.  
I love these memories, and the little things that warm your heart.