Thanksgiving 2013

with thanksgiving around the corner, i thought i'd better post some pics of last year.
we hosted at our house (think it was the 4th year we've done it)-
i always have all the kids help set the table,  they enjoy making it look festive.

here's the crew straight out of bed, nice and cozy on the couch watching the parade on tv.
it's always so fun to watch it together - and so nostalgic for me...
reminiscing about the year that i was in it when i was in high school.

we have taken a family picture on thanksgiving the last few years...

little baby d was only 2 months old - can't believe a whole year has gone by!

ella made these adorable place cards years ago.

and chris has sure gotten good at carving the turkey...

our cute little turkey baby- oh, how we love this little baby boy...

the kindergarteners always do a thanksgiving feast before break.
my sweet little boy and his classmates...

we look forward to this holiday so much-
the wonderful meal, all of us squeezing at the same table (my side of the family).
it was a wonderful thanksgiving and the kids are so excited for it again this year!

Halloween 2014

it was a great year in the hood, and oh how nice it was on a friday!

wish it was on a weekend every year - no early morning school the next day.
here we have my little pumpkin, peter parker, and a hipster.
and in the next photo add in my little ninja turtle, leonardo.

those two 7th graders above met up with a bunch of friends in the neighborhood.
and ella had a sweet group of 5th grade girls go round together- they had a ball.

christopher had a bunch of high schoolers over, friends from grade school.
so fun for them to all hang out again, they did eventually go trick-or-treating.
then to julianna's for awhile then back to our house.

my two darling pumpkins,
and my three youngest...

 a little role reversal here-
and d's new friend (tessa's daughter), they were adorable together...

the boys got to hang out with their cousins for a bit at grandma's.
they have their mouths full of pretzels (not candy!) in these shots...

christopher and his friends showed upat g&g's while we were there.
had to get a pic of jack and darrel - jack was so into d, so sweet-
darrel wasn't too sure about his wig tho!

it was a wonderful halloween-

just love all the memories the kids will have of this neighborhood with so many good friends.

a big thank you to nani - comes over to hand out candy so we can take the kids out.

and now that we have teenagers-

it so important to have someone here while they come and go and hang out at the house.

taylor swift concert a year ago may

lori and i gave our little best friend daughters tickets for christmas last year.
these two are the sweetest girls and how lucky are they to live down the street from each other now!

they decided right after school to make a poster real quick before we headed out.
they are sure fast, efficient and creative 10 year old girls.

we decided to get out to the venue really early and just eat dinner out there.
elise's older sister, and her friend and mom came too.
as did nani, she did not want to miss out on her granddaughter's first concert :)

i was 5 months pregnant with little d - seems like so long ago!

and it's amazing how much younger they look, just a little over a year ago.

after we ate we stumbled upon some of the pre-concert hoopla outside the venue.

ella got chosen to go up on the stage of the radio disney channel.

the girls all decided to write taylor's favorite # on their hands.
then we took some more fun pics outside and headed into our seats nice and early.

we waited and waited and waited and the excitement grew.

and then finally it started.
and oh, my it was amazing.

it was so much more than a concert.

it was an outright production.

with all sorts of different dancers, and sets, and unbelievable entertainment.

she is truly talented, and so natural in front of a huge crowd and was awesome live.
i have told my boys since that if she comes in concert again, i am taking all of them.
she was that good - one of the best performances i have ever seen.

 

it was such a fun night and was i ever blown away by the talent that we saw.

so fun to experience something so amazing with your child.

and for her to share that experience with her bff too!

8th grade graduation

yes, i officially have a high schooler - my, oh my where has the time gone?
it has been so nostalgic for me this year, looking back on all those wonderful years.
and all the fabulous kids who have been together since kinder are growing up.

the 8th grade mass and ceremony was so beautiful, it brought me to tears several times.

christopher was chosen by the principal to bring up the gifts,

along with his good friend, reagan and some sweet girls.

here he is receiving his diploma and some special awards - we are sure proud of him.

and our pastor giving our amazing principal a bouquet of flowers -
we have been so blessed to have her in our children's lives and to know them so well.

here is our graduate on his way out of the ceremony.
and many of his friends: jack, ben h., chad, ben p., matt (stoops), reagan.

both of christopher's godparents were there: uncle greg and auntie jenny -
my bf from college, she flew in from texas with her two children for the occasion.

and much of our family were able to make it -
so happy they could be there and share this special evening with us.

i was able to get some pics of christopher and his friends afterwards:
with reagan, matt (blurry), chad and hieu before they headed over to their dance.

and we were able to chat with our wonderful pastor before heading over to the hall...

the parents get to go into the dance for a special mother/son or father/daughter dance.

the rest of the evening is just for the graduates to celebrate their last time together.

it was sure fun seeing everyone in there together - andrew took this great pic of us :)

i got this one of these sweet girls as we were headed out.
chris took this last one of ben and chris when he went back to pick him up at 11:00.

it was sure a wonderful evening and an amazing 9 years in an incredible school.
outstanding principal, teachers, nuns, priests, families, friends and community -
words truly cannot describe what a truly unique and marvelous place ssj is.
and thank goodness for that because we will be there for a looong time :)