The best "unplanned" day.....

Today was the best!!!! My college friend called and wanted to know if we wanted to go skating in Boston. I said "no thanks" I wanted it to be a "home" day so she very nicely invited herself over. It couldn't have worked out better! We met at Barnes and Noble and then went out for lunch at Chipolte with the kids. After lunch the kids came back to our house and played outside for hours.....fun for them and fun for Shelly and I!!!!

We had so many laughs catching up, playing Scrabble (she always beats me) and watching the kids!

Thanks Shelly for being such a great friend over the last 2 1/2 decades!!!

Christmas Day

Pictures from our Christmas.....very sad but I was caught up in the craziness of Christmas and just wanted to enjoy the day with my family and some how I forgot all about my camera. I wish now that that I had taken more pictures...

Christmas Eve....Cookie making and dinner with our friends

Finally- we were all feeling better so it was time to make the cookies to bring over to our friend's house for dinner on Christmas Eve. Emma and Henry had a wonderful time making the pretzel cookies and then they tackled "cake pops."

After church, we went to our friend's house for Christmas Eve dinner. My friend Amy made an amazing meal and had so many fun activities planned for all us!!

An annual tradition- all the kids get new pajamas....so cute!

CAKE POPS- Made by Henry and Emma

A truly special evening!! A big thank you to the E Family!!!!

Welcome to the sick bay.....

Well, we successfully celebrated Emma's birthday before the plague hit our household. The unfortunate thing is that we all shared fondue so I am sure that this sickness is still not done making it's way through our house.

Henry was the first to get the stomach bug along with a high fever which was odd. Emma followed suit 24 hours later but she also has a cold. I guess I can look at that as a blessing because she didn't smell the throw-up or the other stuff.....those smells nearly took me out. I am famous for throwing up over the kid's heads as they are throwing up...not a pretty sight.

We went to the doctor's yesterday thinking that Henry might have to go to the ER to get hydrated as he could barley walk and he was telling us that he was dizzy. Dr. Garber did a strep test and it came back in seconds as positive. Antibiotics for him!!

So here we are on our second day home from school. The barf buckets have been put away and now I am just pushing liquids and lots of rest. I wonder what tomorrow will bring with only 4 days until Christmas. Who needs to get things done anyway??!!??

Cookie Swap..A Holiday Tradition

This past week, I hosted my annual cookie swap. It is always so much fun to get together with friends around the holidays and take a little time out to just breathe. The cookies were amazing again this year and everyone went home with a container full of scrumptious treats.

The mice came back again this year...a favorite every year! Thanks Sue P.

Happy 10th Birthday Emma!!

Happy Birthday Emma! I can't believe that it was 10 years ago today that I was at Mass General in labor waiting for you to arrive.

We are so blessed to have such a sweet, smart and pretty girl!!!

We love you!

Here are some photos to capture you on your birthday!

ICE ICE BABY

Here is our mailbox after a car smashed it to bits. The roads were covered with black ice. We have not heard from the driver yet. I am sure that their car has quite a bit of damage.

Atlantis......

ATLANTIS........what a vacation!!

We had no lost children on this trip!!!!