Emma's Baptism Day

We have enjoyed celebrating our Baptism Days in the family. The 13th was Emma's special day. She and Michaela had well child checks that morning and then we enjoyed lunch at a friends house. That evening we decided to take them to McDonalds because they LOVE the play place and good do to on a rainy day. However, it ended up being super nuts because of course it was a McTakeover night. Oh well. We ate, played a little bit and headed home to make Ice Cream Sundaes and let her open her gifts. She is already enjoying and figuring out her Busy Bible, so cool!! St. Catherine of Siena, pray for her.

Our Epiphany Celebration

Well I had some fun plans for this year's Epiphany celebration, but because we all ended up getting sick and I was out of commission, it was very simple! I even bought store bought cupcakes (aahhh!) to have as treats for the girls and managed to sneak a quarter in them when they weren't looking! Luckily, I had done my shopping early with Christmas sales at Catholic Child and saved some stocking stuffers from Christmas for the Epiphany. We only do Christmas stockings for each other on Christmas and then each get three gifts on the Epiphany to remember the story of the wise men and the gifts baby Jesus received. The girls got a couple neat videos and books from Catholic Child and also some new animal puppets!! Hopefully next year we won't be sick and we can celebrate a little more! Always bittersweet when the Epiphany arrives because I know that the Christmas decorations and tree and nativity are all being put away until next year....

Michaela Marie's Baptism

On December 27th, we celebrated Michaela's Baptism. It was a special day to have it being the Feast of the Holy Family. We were blessed to have so many family and friends help us celebrate this special day when Michaela joined the Church family, was washed clean of original sin and as we joke "no more pagan baby"! It was also special because we had some water from the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River poured into the Baptismal Font!! So cool! There were several babies and young children being baptized and they all did really well!! I love the smell of the holy chrism so much that I try not to wash it off her forehead for a few days. Thank you to our friends John & Jenny for saying yes to being godparents and helping us always direct and support Michaela in her faith. We enjoyed a fun party back at my parents house and thank you to all who came by and also for Michaela's beautiful cards and gifts and prayers. We are truly blessed with wonderful friends and a wonderful Church family! St. Michael and Mary our Mother, pray for Michaela!

With Father Lappe

Godparents, John & Jenny

With Aunt Alli & Aunt Caitlin

With Marmee & Poppy

Finally....a fun get together

When I was growing up we lived here in Bremerton for about 5 years. We made some life long friends and stayed super close over all these years and it has been wonderful to live back here close to them. Every Christmas we would all get together to visit and all of kids would play. It has been several years since have done this but this year it actually happened!! It is so different to be together, except now "us kids" are grown up and talking jobs and mingling with each other's husbands and watching OUR kids play!! Amazing, surreal and such a blessing and gift. I have got to find a picture of Sarah and I when we were young to put next to the one I took of her daughter Abby and Angelica. We enjoyed the get together, the yummy food and Alli even serenaded us with a Christmas Carol concert....as well as she could with three little girls trying to "help" her play! Looking forward to doing this again next year!!

Our Little Marching Band

...at least they are enjoying their new toys and I am "blessed" with fun music!

Christmas Songs

Here is Emma TRYING to sing songs to Baby Jesus except big sister would like to help her out. I think it is sweet how Emma has her hands folded the whole time...

Angel singing Christmas Carols...until we both start coughing too much to continue

Emma singing some Christmas Carols too

Next Year's Gift

With all the new toys on Christmas morning...some how Angel thought it was more fun to pop every single bubble on the bubble wrap...guess a big roll of it would be a great gift for next year!!

Christmas Band

Ok, so we promise we will not take this on the road....but it was so funny. Angel was having a blast with her new instruments Christmas morning....she ended up giving everyone one to play. Then she decided to instruct and direct everyone...including the horse. So....mom asked for a song...and this is what we got!

Christmas 2009

Last year we started a new tradition while still keeping old ones. Now that we have little ones, it is much easier Christmas morning to stay at home. This way the kids can wake up, enjoy the fun Santa gift and stockings and not have to rush out of the house. We also have a family traditional breakfast of Spanish Omelet Sauce Eggs, Mimosas and Weinachtsbrot. So I have started hosting the family breakfast myself and really enjoyed it and so far the Weinachtsbrot has come out successfully every year. It was fun to have everyone at the house and watch the girls open their gifts from other family members. Mom got us all Christmas colored fleece shirts and we had fun taking some pictures. Emma got her horse from Santa (thank you Costco!) and Angel got a musical instrument set which she is THRILLED with (hoping my ears hold up!). It was fun this year to watch the girls get so excited about all the festivities!! Later in the day we head over to my parents house and enjoy time with family and then have a prime rib feast complete with Yorkshire Pudding for dinner. Hope you had a wonderful and Merry Christmas as well!!
Shocked and excited that Santa left gifts, they were frozen!

Emma was fascinated that the milk, cookies and carrots were GONE!!

Amazed that the stockings were all full!!

The traditional Weinachtsbrot

sleeping soundly in her Moses Basket