The D.R.

What a week!  And what a reason to celebrate!  Mary Lou and Phil, aka Mom and Dad or Bumpa and Grandma made it through 50 years of marriage!  They announced last year that they didn't want a big party, they just wanted to take all of us on a vacation.

My mom spent A LOT of time researching the best vacation for a family of 13, with kids ranging from 3-12 years old and people who like to do everything from veg out on the beach to exercise.  

Well, let's just say, my mom "nailed it".  We went to an all inclusive resort in Punta Cana, on the Northeast side of the Dominican Republic.  The kids were thrilled to be with their cousins.

The accommodations were devine.

We danced.

We ate really well.

We swam a lot.

The beach was beautiful.

 

And the pool was enormous.

There was even a swim up "Manitee Bar"

Some people did Zumba

We spent a day snorkling and dancing and swimming with 50 of our best friend.

We rang in the New Year with much pomp and ceremony.

And mostly, we relaxed and had fun.  The kids LOVED the Explorers Club and opted to spend a few hours each day and three dinners there because it was way more fun than sitting through long dinner with the family. I read a book.  John and I sea kayaked, went on long walks, and ate some more. We all agreed that it was the most relaxing vacation we had been on as a family.

We all felt refreshed and ready to tackle the new year...... or so we thought!?!?!?

I'm so proud to be the daughter of these two people.  They are gracious and fun and humble.  I'm so happy that I could share this week in the D.R. with both of my families.  It really was a treat.

Christmas Joy

 Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year!  We were lucky to host Nana and Grandpa this year.  They arrived just after we all got home from school on Tuesday the 23rd and stayed through the 26th.

Nana swooped in with books and hugs

Grandpa was ready to draw and goof around

The weather wasn't so great, so we spend some quality time hunkering by the fire and enjoying the warmth and company in our home.

The kids were so fired up for Santa to come and they loved so many of their gifts.

Nana's hand knit sweater

Scratch art

a lego farm!

a mug with Hazen's original art

We couldn't stay in all day, so we left Nana and Grandpa at home to take a nap between meals and got out for a fun walk with Zephy.

It was such a treat to have Art and Peg up here for Christmas.  It was the first time they had ventured up here to celebrate Christmas with us.  The kids love their new sweaters and we all appreciated their company.

Ski Freedom

We are getting there!  The kids are skiing independently and even riding lifts on their own!  It's been a long six years, but we are getting to the sweet spot.  Both kids LOVE to ski and are up for it almost any time.

Hazen had Owen, the class hippo, visiting again, so we decided to take him skiing, too.  It was great!  I don't think he fell once the whole time he had Owen in his jacket.

Hazen is getting wherever he needs to go and is learning how to do more french fries instead of pizza turns.

 

Cally is doing lots of parallel turns and is doing an after school ski program at Cochran's once a week.

The most exciting news is that they are riding lifts on their own!?!?!?!?  This is so exciting because it means I can take them skiing on my own when John has to work (which is a lot this winter).  

Whatever works, right?  They like to ski and we all have fun together.... even when the conditions go downhill (like they did right before Christmas)

Six!

Birthday's were a big deal when I was a kid.  But, I didn't have a birthday near any other major holidays, so it was sort of a good excuse to make a big deal about a child.  I'm committed to making birthdays a big deal for my kids.  Especially if one of my kids has a birthday three days before a major holiday.

 

This year, we decided to keep it small.  Cally invited five of her friends over (as well as her brother and a sibling on one of her friends).  They ranged from some of her oldest friends (Isaac, Piper, and Thompson) to a few of her Poker Hill friends from last year who go to Jericho Elementary School (Celine and Blake)

I offered to do the gingerbread house making thing again.  I did it when she was three and now she was turning six.  I figured it would be a lot of work upfront, but I wouldn't need to do much of anything once the kids arrived.

I was right about both of those assumptions.  I baked and assembled seven ginger bread houses (yes, the dog ate one of them the night before?!?!?).  It took an estimated five hours to make the dough, cut the dough, cook it, and assemble the houses.

But I'm not complaining because it was totally worth it!  Everyone had fun.  Even the three year olds who had to make their houses out of graham crackers.

Cally had a ball with her friends.

And since I was making gingerbread houses and then cupcakes the following day, I signed John up for baking the special birthday cake.  He made a fabulous buttermilk chocolate cake with vanilla icing infused with fresh strawberries!  And this is from a guy who almost NEVER bakes. 

 

John says I have working mother guilt and that is why I go overboard on Cally's birthday.  That's probably very true.  But it's also very true that my own mother set the bar pretty high with her honoring of her children on the anniversary of the day they entered the world.

Baking Olaf cupcakes, gingerbread houses and organizing all of that makes me happy. 

Because this girl makes me so happy!  She's one amazing six year old.  Full of curiosity, spunk, enthusiasm, humor, and thoughtfulness.  I love her to the moon and back.

While I'm not likely to repeat this cooking extravaganza every year, I'd do whatever it takes to make this girl feel as special as she really is on her birthday!  And look how far we've come!

Thanks to everyone who made Cally's birthday so special.  Especially, Uncle Scotty who came to hang out with a bunch of crazy kids for the afternoon.