'Tis the Season!

Halfway through the month and just 8 days away from Christmas!  I'll be honest - this is not the peaceful, relaxing holiday season with the new baby that I was hoping for, but I certainly am trying to make the best of it.  The past week has been non stop every day and night of practices, music programs, parties and our first gymnastics meet.  The girls have done so much and I do think they have truly enjoyed it all!   On top of the normal stuff & holiday chaos, when you throw in different workers at my house every day, it starts getting really stressful.  I had high hopes of being at the gym every day with B during preschool the last month, (I am determined to lose this baby weight! ) but I have yet to have one preschool day where I don't have to be home waiting for a contractor, worker or technician.  I'm hopeful that there is a chance everything will be finished before 2017. 

 We are all SO excited for tomorrow- our first relaxing day that we are planning on staying in our PJs all day, baking cookies, watching Christmas movies and being together at home as a family.  I kept telling myself if I can make it to the 18th, things will slow down a bit.

One particular busy evening while I was trying to prepare dinner, I looked over and saw Cora laying by the fire reading a Christmas book.

Hey Pizza & Baby Jesus!

Bless Cora's heart.  She spent hours building this snowman and this is as big as he got.  She told me she worked super hard and wanted me to take a picture of Frosty.  Sonoma said she learned how to roll big snow balls at school and wants to build a snowman with Cora over Christmas break ( if the weather ever gets above 0 so we can safely go back outside!)

My Christmas card helpers

A  note Sonoma left Pizza before we left for Indiana.  I was very impressed with her spelling and use of the apostrophe! 

The dry wall is DONE!  

One positive out of this whole mess:  I got my laundry room painted a fun coral color!

All ready for "warm and fuzzy pj day" at her last day of preschool before Christmas break

Christmas coloring with Claire

I've been behind on laundry ( and life! ) and Cora said she wanted to help me by folding all of Blakesley's baby clothes and putting them all away.  She did it all by herself and it was soooo helpful.

Sonoma's 1st ever practice gymnastics meet!  Wow, what a day it was!  We were SO extremely proud of Sonoma.  She and her team did an excellent job.

Blakesley taking in her first sporting event with Daddy

Marcus had the State Farm Chicago Legends Basketball Tournament tonight at the United Center.  Can you believe the Cubs' World Series trophy was there?  I am so jealous!  What a great picture!