Catholic Schools Week and More Birthday Fun!

Monday - The start of Catholic Schools Week!

The twins got a dress down day... it was even so beautiful that we got to play and ride bikes outside! After we put the twins to bed, I got to meet up with Miss Lisa.  We haven't had a chance to sit and catch up for awile... so we caught up and laughed and solved the worlds problems. Maybe. LOL! We stayed at the restaurant and gabbed for almost 3 hours.  I actually got home around 11:00.  We had such a nice time!  I just love my sweet family and wonderful friends! And to have a Lisa on your side... is just the best!

Here is one of my kiddos from Monday... He just puts a smile on my face... so I had to share this smile with you!

Tuesday - The twins had another wonderful day at school... At night, we went to the Pancake Man at the Holy Cross Cafeteria. I saw 4 of my old school teachers.  2 just celebrated 40 years of teaching... kinda crazy that this is my 16th year of teaching.  I feel like it was yesterday sometimes that I was a 4th grader at HC... time flies!

So persistent! Mallory always wants to practice her sounds and sight words!

Daddy plays goalie while William is a hockey star on the ice/carpet!

Wednesday - I turned the big 41! My family (and friends) spoiled me! I was sent this beautiful bouquet of flowers from Mallory, William, and Mike. They got me a cake, gift cards, and sweet notes, and took me out to my favorite restaurant... Malara's.  I got treats from co-workers/friends all day long, texts, messages, and lots of cards and hugs.  My day couldn't have been sweeter! 

Another blessed day... another blessed year full of adventure and special times! Thanks to my AMAZING husband for making sure I had a permanent smile on my face for the whole day... and week... and always!!!

 Thursday - The twins got to dress up like what they want to be when they grow up... Yes, you guessed it... they want to be baseball players when they grow up.  Although Mallory tells me she wants to be a teacher, a swim teacher, a dance teacher, and a mom.  William also tells us he wants to play hockey and baseball when he is big!

After school, my student teacher, who is now graduated... came over to eat dinner with us and made Valentine's with us... We stayed up talking and giggling and having a super fun time! I love her to pieces and miss seeing her daily! 

Look what we made!!!!

On Saturday, Kelly and the fam had us all over to her house for more birthday fun with all of our families and our moms!  What another FUN, FUN, FUN night!

Pac Man Fever FOREVER!!!!

Thanks to Kelly, Dave and fam for a beautiful night with beautiful people! We continue to count our blessings!

Celebration Weekend!

This week-end was full of celebrations and togetherness... Friday was the 100th day of school for me. Such fun times! I then went to a late night movie with 2 of my sorority/college friends, Staci and Shelly.  We saw, American Sniper.  Awesome movie!  A definite 5 star kinda movie! Then, we had the Lawler family over Saturday night because Kelly and I will also be celebrating our 41st birthday this week! 41 and having fun! Kelly brought over this totally tubular cake! Kenny Rogers is the coolest and bestest!  Kelly will never let me live it down that I took Karla Wilwerding to the Kenny concert in 1985.  I totally owe her!  Kelly continues to be such a marvelous life long best friend to me! 

Here I am cooking 100 pancakes on the 100th day of school.  I made 100 pancakes in 30 minutes... it's not my record time (I once made 100 in 22 minutes!) but I'll take it... I am going to be 41 after all! LOL! 

William also started the runny nose congested thing this weekend... we are not celebrating that... but I feel so lucky that it's just a cold and not anything worse.  Mike, Mallory, and William are seriously my whole world!  Here's to a beautiful week!

Oh... I had to post this picture below. After William returned his George Brett book to the Holy Cross library... Mallory checked it out! I wonder if we will be checking and rechecking this book out at the library for a while?  We are now on chapter 3! I love that they love baseball and learning about the sport!

Outdoors in January!

For some reason... it is 60 degrees in January... so I took the twins to "visit" Gpa Bill for the first time. William liked that he and Grandpa have the same name.  Mallory asked if I missed my dad? Yes!  Then, William asked where Jesus' stone is?  Gosh... I love 5 year old questions.  I, of course, cried... I really wish my Dad was here to help take care of my mom... meet my hubby... and meet our sweet, silly, and sometimes sassy twins!  I know he is present... I just get a little weepy at times...

After going to the cemetery, we took Beautiful Aunt Debbie (Gpa Bill's awesome sister!) and Uncle Jim's Christmas gift card to the toy store.  Mallory really wanted a new helmet... she got a little Lego set, too!  THANK YOU, BAD and Uncle Jimmy!

William picked out a knight costume... which he would barely take off for bed!  

THANKS AGAIN... we have such sweet and kind family that are so good to us!  We love you!!!!!

Goodbye, Hochstein Family!

So the day came... the Hochstein family had to embark on their journey to Arizona! Nicole and Matt had a really nice goodbye party at a family friend's house.  It was super nice... I just couldn't find myself to leave.  Even seeing our kids hug and Mike saying good bye to Matt made me sob! Nicole, Matt, Dalan, Jayen, and Brilyn are some of the friends that you don't find just anywhere. I feel like I've known Nicole my whole life... we just get each other... and we just fit!  Seriously... I thought being a decade older that I could maybe share my so-called "wisdom" with her... but that's why she's special... she taught me so much! Nicole is self-less... caring... thoughtful... and the list grows and grows.  It's funny... can you look up to someone that is younger than you?  Well... I am.  We feel so blessed to have known this beautiful family! I know it's not "goodbye"... it's see you later... but it's so much tougher and heart-breaking than I thought! I can't wait to be with one of my best friends and her family again... I'm currently searching airplane tickets!

Oh... I had to sneak to their house last night... to have one more snuggles with the kiddos.  Brilyn fell asleep on my shoulders.  I'll take it!  LOVE YOU, Hochstein family!!!!  Safe travels to Arizona! God Bless!

Lancer Game FUN!

Friday night watching the Lancers with family = fun, fun, fun!!!! So glad to share and have these smiley faces around me!

Goodbye to Austin!

My diminishing class had to say good bye to Austin today... there were many tears... and I can tell you this... I'm not looking forward to going to class on Tuesday without seeing Austin's cute face around. Ms. Snodgrass graduated... Darian had to move to Mexico... and now Austin to Alabama.  I'm terrible at good byes.  It seems to be the theme this week and week-end... (Feeling blue!)

Mallory LOST Her 2nd Tooth!

Mallory lost her 2nd tooth at school... at recess... at the end of the day.  Her teacher was so sweet... she put it in a little baggie for Mallory and gave her a certificate... see below!  Mallory is one happy girl... and William was happy for her, too! Whew!

LOVE our twinners!!!!  See... so happy for his sister!

 Can't forget to add a few pictures of our buddy, William!  He's still trying to convince us that he has a wiggly top tooth... we tell him, "Sure"... but it's not close... yet. What a cutie!