Sunday, November 25, 2012

Thanksgiving break

Happy Thanksgiving!  Since the family dinner was scheduled for later in the day, our family enjoyed a Gorgeous day together being silly and just having fun.  After a nice little visit for coffee with Gramma and Bapa, we headed outside to enjoy a day that was almost 60 degrees and sunny!  We played hide and seek with the kids, a little tag, and just had fun on the swingset.  It was a perfect morning and afternoon that reminded us just how lucky and blessed we are.
The girls helped me prepare the sweet potato casserole and Tobin lent his artistic abilities with our turkey shaped veggie tray!  After getting all ready, we headed over for dinner.  The kids were so excited to hang out with Grayson and Chloe.  It was also nice to catch up with the rest of the gang (we haven't seen Evan since we took off for college).  We all had a wonderful meal, complete with great pies for dessert.  The kids played some games (turkey bowling with a pumpkin) and the adults just had fun hanging out and smiling at the kids enthusiasm.  What a truly blessed day!

 
 

 One of the things the kids have been SUPER excited about is having Daddy home for FOUR whole days...as the kids say, "4 days of Daddy, wooo hooo!" We started out Friday morning taking the kids to their gymnastics lessons.  It was awesome that Tobin could do the class with Gabi.  While waiting for the rest of the Sikora clan to meet again, we just relaxed at home.  Our "Elf on a Shelf" arrived at our home today as well.  The kids loved the story and named him Paco!
We then spent the afternoon with the Viers family for some good times.  The kids never cease to amuse and amaze us.  The girls all came up with pretty princess dresses and began dancing.  At one point we all joined in.  However, the highlight of the dances was Isa's beautiful dance with Liam... complete with a kiss of appreciation!  We were then surprised by a quick snowfall ... which all the kids ran out to play in!
 

 

Monday, November 19, 2012

Ice Skating Lessons

Will and Isa began ice skating lessons a few weeks ago with their friends Gina and Evan.  Since Gabi has to accompany my each week, one of the instructors allowed her join the little kids class (they normally have to be 3 to start).  Will is by far doing the best of our kids.  After his first class he came off the ice and said "Mommy, they said I was a little hockey player!"  He was so excited.  Isa is just having fun skating.

Today was Gabi's official first time on the ice alone!  She did amazing!  She was real shaky at first but listened well.  By the middle of the session she was standing back up on her own when she would fall.  By the end of the session, I was able to come in to join her for the "free skate" portion.  I was so proud of her!  Some of the other instructors even commented how impressed they were at how well she did given it was her 1st time on the ice!

 

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Trick-or-Treating 2012

 This year, Halloween was dragged all the way into November due to the superstorm and Hurricane Sandy.  Thankfully, trick-or-treating was rescheduled for Sunday the 4th.  Even though it was still real cold, the weather was much better than it was on the 31st! 
This year we had a little pre-trick-or-treating dinner complete with Boo Spaghetti, Mummy Dogs, cupcakes, and great company!  The kids all got into their costumes and took off to raid our neighborhood.  Little Chloe joined our gang this year, and Gabi couldn't have been happier!  It was actually real cute listening to these two look back at every home with countless "thank you", "thanks a lot", "goodbye" and "happy halloween!"

The neighborhood kids!
 
 buddies!
 
the set-up for passing out candy!
 
 
 

Even better, was that the kids were invited to also go trick-or-treating on Saturday with the Miller family!  Gabi came down with a 24 hour fever, so unfortunately she had to stay home.  However, my little Rapunzel and Question Man joined the Avengers in North Ridgeville! The kids ran around the neighborhood SO fast that their bags were real full before they were even close to getting back to the Miller's home!
running, running, running!