Bring on 2015

I'm Happy New Year! Woobie and Racoon are dressed for the night festivities. 

Nic and Kate are too!

Any bets on when they will pass out tonight?  We shall see, but first....fireworks!

The cops drove by to make sure we weren't shooting guns and wished us a Happy New Year and to have safe fireworks!

Kids just had hot chocolate and marshmallows. They have informed us that they aren't tired and have no intention of going to bed...it's 9pm. Let's see if mommy or kids pass out first. 

Karaoke time!!

And we all made it to East Coast New Year. 

Happy New Year. Here is to looking forward to a wonderful 2015. 

Ice skating

The kids loved iced skating outside at Discovery Green!  The kids practiced on the kid rink and quickly graduated to the BIG ICE. They skated all by themselves and had fun passing all the people. Speed skaters, that's what I have, speed skaters. Next year...Rockerfeller Center!!!

Homemade Poptarts

With this warm rainy winter weekend, we have been spending our time in the kitchen. Yesterday we made strawberry cream cheese poptarts. I'm very proud of the kids, the tarts had to freeze over night and the kids were great with the wait. 

The dough...what can I say except anything that requires 2 sticks of butter and only yields 8 tarts (1/4 sticks each) better be good!

Fully decorated with royal icing and sprinkles. 

Yes, it was worth the wait!!! Wow these were good. 

Merry Texas Christmas Y'all

Merry Texas Christmas Y'all. We are dressed in our finest, direct from Santa himself...

As we play outside...

And enjoy our Texas Christmas Dinner of: ham, creamy Mac and cheese, green beans cooked with bacon, and corn bread. Mmmmm. What has Texas done to this Italian girl???

Night Before Christmas

The cookies, reindeer carrots, milk in a Nicholas mug (so St. Nicholas knows it's for him) are out.

Santa must be near...Justin just left the house. 

We will miss you too Justin. We had fun this year!

Reindeer cookies

Happy reindeer cookie baking day!

I got candy eyes this time.  I think some look a little wall eyed :)

Gentleman in training

Nic had yesterday's Advent Calendar candy taken away for being fresh with me. 

So in the lessons of "you must go above and beyond" to get out of (pick your punishment or reward)...he made me coffee this morning. When I say made coffee: he ground the beans himself, put the filter in, added the water, and all before I got out of bed!! 

**needless to say, he got his candy** ‪

Kids can cook

The kids are growing up way too fast!  They can now make their own lunch from start to finish. Their favorite thing to make...homemade lunchables.

The plastic lettuce knives are perfect for beginners. 

And their finished lunch. Ham, cheese, salami, strawberries. Mmmm 

2 bikers

So Kate has mastered the bike in just a couple if weeks. Once she practices staring by herself we are in trouble!

And here's Nic being silly. 

Gingerbread kids

Nic took making a gingerbread man real seriously. Look closely at the shorts...yep you are seeing what he yelled out to the table, that his gingerbread man has balls. We were at my wonderful neighbors house (she has 5 kids). She died laughing  along with me and said, "I think it's great that he uses the real words." 

Katherine made an Elsa gingerbread girl.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!  Here is my favorite picture of the kids...just being themselves