Christmas cookies and gingerbread houses 2018

The kids just LOVE making special Christmas cookies for Santa every year.  We got a little lazy last Christmas and just did round cookies that I sliced, but the kids really wanted to use cookie cutters and do shapes.

So I ordered a set of cookie cutters and we got to work.

We made 4 small gingerbread houses this year instead of 1 big one, so each kiddo could decorate their own.

We constructed the houses on Friday night and waited to do all the decorating the next day.

We had all sorts of goodies set out to decorate with and the kids did a fantastic job of being creative!

So much fun!

Some finished products!

And finished gingerbread houses

This was how we left the cookies while we went to put the kids to bed...

but returned to find the entire left hand side of the tray missing cookies.  MOOSE decided to enjoy some cookies (which all happened to be done by Colin and a special one ear-marked for Santa)

But we got over it and found a different cookie for Santa!

Hit Pizza shoppe for dinner after mass one night

Took a minute to say hello to Santa at the hostess stand

Coco Key and Santa 2018

The family went to Coco Key the week before Christmas to cash in on our passes we got from Santa the previous year.  It was super fun and we stayed a few hours splishing and splashing away!

Boom - our Coco Key passes!

Then the next day we came straight from Colin's soccer game to Crown Center to visit Santa.  We had never gone on a weekend before and it was SUPER busy!  Good thing we got there an hour before it opened because they let us go in early since the line was super long!

Everyone did a great job talking to Santa and letting him know what was on our list for presents this year.  

Such a nice Santa - he said we all made it on the 'nice list' this year!

Then we played on the trains for a bit and ordered Jack Stack to-go for some yummy lunch at home!

Another fun trip to Crown Center to visit Santa!

Fun with friends

Just a few pictures from our lives lately - 

Colin with his buddy Caleb after an indoor soccer game

Colin got invited to a bday party at Main Event - it was a quick party right after school on a Monday and he had so much fun!

Noah, Jack, Evan, and Colin

Then Colin had his 3rd grade musical - he's in the back row next to the kid in the orange shirt.

He sang his heart out and did a great job!

Colin with his friend, Collin (CP)

Our daycare provider Kristin lets us bring siblings over for an evening of free babysitting near Christmas.  We took advantage of a few hours and dropped the kids off while we grabbed a bite to eat at Bonefish grill and then got a beer in downtown Parkville.  The kids had a blast painting ornaments and making gingerbread houses!

Silly faces!

Michael's 'choose the wrench' fundraiser

Our sweet brother-in-law Michael was recently diagnosed in October 2018 with stage 4 esophageal cancer.  Immediately, a group of fellow parishioners and friends came together to organize a fundraiser for the Wells family to help with the adding costs of medical bills, transportation, insurance costs, etc.

The fundraiser was held on December 8th and it was a HUGE success!

There were tons of businesses that donated food/beer/wine, and many others that donated auction items to the fundraiser.  All in all, that night raised a over $125 thousand dollars for the Wells family.  Michael even felt good enough to stop by for a quick appearance before heading home.

The Wells family

A blurry but fun picture of Caitlin, Dave and I

There was a custom made fire helmet auctioned off that was then given to Michael!

It was a very emotional night for everyone!

The Teson family

(poor Suzanne was back in Texas as she had just given birth to her 7th kiddo!)

There was a live band at the end which had the gymnasium rockin!

And the group of Teson kids ended up winning the auction for Cirque de Solei tickets for Marvin and Kathy for a Christmas present.  The package came with some circus peanuts and red noses, so Dave and I wore them as a victory prize!

Such a fun night for such an amazing guy!

We're with you all the way, Michael!!! :)

Ordinary days - seeing Santa, EEG's and St. Nicholas visits

Brian and the kids were running some errands and met up with Santa one afternoon...

Meanwhile - Tiff was with Shiara (her friend from Colorado) - that came into town for Tiff's 40th birthday - and we met up for coffee!

Mom got discharged from the outpatient rehab facility and is staying at Tiff and Chad's for the moment until she can get stronger and get back home

St. Nicholas came and left us all goodies in our shoes!

Colin made a neat poster for school

Colin had a repeat EEG to determine if he is still having his seizures - and it came back normal!!!

So, we weaned him off his meds and are on watch for the next 6 months to see if the seizures return.

Colin is so excited to not have to take meds anymore!