Monday, December 19, 2016

Weekend Recap - Eight Years Running Edition

Happy Monday, friends!!!  I'm OFFICIALLY on Christmas break and it is glorious!!!  I'm resting and relaxing and relishing in doing a whole lot of nothing :)

Friday morning I proctored my last couple of exams and was able to sneak away to listen to the boys perform at their Christmas chapel.  One of the best parts of working at the school where they attend is being able to be there for (almost) all of their school events and such.  Having someone cover my class for 15 minutes while I run up the hill to watch them perform is SUCH a blessing!!! 


Isn't the art around the stage PRECIOUS?!?! I though tit was such a sweet idea!


... and Luke's grade...



After a teacher luncheon and getting some last exam paperwork turned in I picked up all the kids and we got our "break" on :)

Which apparently meant digging into a box of Nerds while sitting on the table.



Dave ran home and I took Griffin to her Winter recital rehearsal.  


 She didn't hate the stage :)




After rehearsal we took advantage of the twirly dress and empty halls :)

 




And holy precious, batman!!!  




We got home just in time for silly string...


... bike riding...


... and Snowman hugging before dinner.


Saturday morning is one of our longest-standing Christmas traditions - Brunch with Santa at the country club.  It was our 8th year to sit on Santa's knee and then indulge in too many pancakes :)


I mean... that boy in the picture above??? This was him 8 years ago.  #holdme







And then there's this cutie!


And his first brunch in 2011 ;)


 He asked for Pokemon cards.... are those even a thing anymore?!?! HELP!!!


And this girl sitting pretty with Santa!



And sister doesn't have a solo pic from her first brunch.  #thirdchildproblems


She asked for a baby sister (ummmmm..... no), instruments (check!) and ballerina princess cards (which I think was in response to her brothers request for Pokemon cards).


SO FUN!!! We're hoping next year they get the memo that Santa probably shouldn't be in front of the window for pics :) 



After pictures we dove right into the delicious breakfast buffet.








Oh, sibling love :)



I ran to the grocery store and did a couple of errands and then it was time for Griffin's recital!  Her performance was to "Suzy Snowflake" and their little costumes were so cute!











With her sweet instructor...


heading backstage like a big girl!


CUTIES!!!






And look who came to watch her perform!!!  #teamannagrace ;)



Flowers from "her boys" ;)  (Luke dropped and then ran to check out the vending machine. #priorities)









 We tried playing outside Saturday afternoon, but the temperature was dropping CRAZY fast and the wind was NUTS!!!


 And by later afternoon we looked like this...







Sunday we had no plans (#allthepraisehands) and Dave was working so the kids and I had a really nice and quiet day at home.  My mom stopped by for tea in the afternoon and we played games and the kid painted some little Christmas trees I picked up a couple of weeks ago.




We had chili and cornbread (YES!), played more games, watched a movie and after the kids trees had dried I decided to tie some leftover ribbon to them to make ornaments.  The tree upstairs was pretty packed, so I decided to put them on the wreath on the game closet and look how cute!









And a Christmas movie after dinner took out 3/5 of our crew :)


It was a FANTASTIC weekend and the best part was knowing we had NO SCHOOL OR WORK the next day ;)  

Tomorrow is the last Show and Tell Tuesday of the year and we're going to be sharing Christmas traditions, recipes, etc.  I'm still working on the 2017 list (or maybe switching it up... I need time to think) ;)  I would love for you to link up and join in!

Happy Monday, friends!

47 comments :

  1. YES, Pokemon cards are still a thing!!! They were on my son's Christmas list too. I got some from Target on Black Friday & I also got some on Amazon. Good Luck!!!!!

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    1. Okay - officially on the hunt! Amazon is my first stop!

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  2. Yes! Pokemon cards are making a comeback...at least here in New England!. My oldest had them 15 years ago and now my 7 and 8 year olds collect them.

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    1. I remember them being a thing forever ago, but had no clue they were coming back!

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  3. Such fun weekend! And oh my goodness Pokemon, my boys are obsessed!

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  4. Where did you get those adorable trees they painted? SO cute! Also, on your boys' trees, where did you get the pom pom picks?

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    1. Actually both were from Joanns Fabric and Crafts! I got them a couple of weeks ago when all of their Christmas stuff was 60% off!

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    2. If you can't find them you can cut popsicle sticks and clue them together to make your own!

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  5. Merry Christmas, Andrea! We still have FOUR days of school this week! You are such lucky ducks!!! Where did you pick up those little wooden Christmas trees? wondering if i can get some in Minnesota! :-)
    love, michelle

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    1. WHAT?!?! That's crazy!!! Hang in there! The trees are from Joanns Fabric and Crafts

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  6. Those pictures of Griffin in her white snowflake outfit are seriously adorable! Merry Christmas!

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  7. Ugh, my kindergartener is asking for Pokémon cards too!! I don't get them!

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    1. Right?!?! I guess they just collect and trade them? Who knows :)

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  8. Ahhhhh!!! Griffin's first recital! So sweet!

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  9. In my first dance recital, I stepped out of line during the contagion and yelled "Robert, BOW"!!!!! The one boy in my class had a bit of stage fright and forgot he had to start the bowing! Clearly, I should have been the one starting it. ;)

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    1. DYING!!! And yes... CLEARLY you should have been first. Duh. :)

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  10. Oh those Santa pics are so cute! But yes, next year he should not be in front of the window LOL. GG at her performance looked beautiful!! And those painted trees are so cute, my kids would love those, where did you find?

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    1. Right?!?! We got a good chuckle out of everyone trying to get a picture :) And thank you! She had a great time at dance this semester so it was a great way to end. And the trees are from Joanns Fabric and Crafts a few weeks ago.

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  11. Such a fun filled weekend! I love the pic of Gibi with Luke, it just speaks volumes to this Mimi's heart;). I know you will make the most out of the next two weeks, enjoy! Merry Monday, Andrea!

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  12. Every first grade boy in Central FL has Pokémon cards. My 6 year old is an early adopter bc of his older brother (who in 2nd grade is not as into them as last year), and asked for nothing else for Christmas!

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    1. Girl!!! Tell me your secrets!!! Amazon?? Target? Where???

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  13. The twirly dress pictures are the best! She is your mini me in the outfit with all the layers! Loved the pic of Luke ditching the flowers and running toward the vending machine. I can see my son doing that!

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    1. Thank you!!! I figure that I better get them in now before she starts forming her own opinions about what she wants to wear :) And yes.... he totally dropped them and ran .

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  14. Griffin looked precious in her costume!!! And, what a perfect, festive weekend!!!

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  15. Those pics of Griffin make me want to put on a twirly dress and twirl in the hallways!!

    http://www.lettinginthelightblog.com

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    1. Right?!?! I say often while watching my kids that I want to be 8 or 5 or 3 again :)

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  16. Target has Pokémon cards! Usually by checkout! ;)

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  17. I was wondering, does Griffin take a nap almost everyday? If so what time and what time does she fall asleep at night? If my almost 3 year old naps hes up all night (11pm). If he doesn't nap he's still up until about 10pm and not a happy camper the next day. I'm at lost. Thanks

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    1. When she's at Miss Lisa's house I believe it's 12:30 - 2:00 every day and then on school nights (the same nights she's had a nap) bedtime is 7:30 (and she's asleep by about 7:45). On the weekends I don't push naps and on days when she makes it through without one it's typically before 7:00 that she falls asleep and if she takes a nap on her own (typically later in the afternoon) on those days I let her stay up until 9:00 or so.

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  18. Pokemon is getting big with my 6 year old son. He has only 1 new pack of cards that we bought him from Walmart. He also has only played the Pokemon Go game on my sister's phone a couple of times but he loved it. We are big scrooges and won't put it on our phones plus we limit screen time play anyways. He plays it with his imagination and he loves to look up all the names of the Pokemon on Google. He trades the cards on his bus ride home from school sometimes. I don't know why it's so popular again.

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  19. This looks like such a fun weekend! I teach 6th grade in DE and we are in school until the 23rd! It's craziness! Enjoy these two weeks with your family :)

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  20. Super cute idea with the trees going on the ornaments. Target or Walmart for the cards : )

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  21. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a blessed 2017. I love, love your blog- the encouragement and great ideas rock!! Thanks again, Becca

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  22. Pokémon is huge here with my kiddos. They are near the games at Target and up by the cash registers near where the other trading cards are located. I think Target (or Walmart) has them cheaper than Amazon. Just wait until they want to play Pokémon Go!!! My husband always asks who the game is for, me or the kids since I'm known to be more obsessed than them!

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  23. I just wanted to "thank" you for being such an inspiration. Not sure you get a lot of mothers so hands-on with a full time job anymore. You are so creative and have the most precious little family. x

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  24. I LOL'd when I saw the way Mason's head is wedged into the sofa cushions in the last photo. :)

    Lucky you being on break. We have to go until a 1/2 day on Friday. If today is any indication it's going to be a LONG week!

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  25. Walmart has Pokémon and all the accessories that go with it. My 7 year old son is obsessed with all things Pokémon.

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  26. Our boys love them too! We buy new ones at Target. But if you have a comic book store in town (shudder) ours has them for 10 cents a piece in boxes and boxes. Sometimes for a reward I let them go pick out 20-30 cards. It's like they won the lottery. ;) they're ridiculous. But hope that helps!

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  27. I was going to say Target for the Pokémon cards too. My three love them! And if you buy a starter set, it actually walks you through how to play the game. (It's not just collecting and trading.) My husband enjoys playing with the kids - and everyone is getting some for Christmas!

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  28. Hey! I was going to email you but thought you may see this first. There is a spelling error under your first picture ;) Rhymes with bit! Thought you'd want to edit it!

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  29. Show and tell idea:
    Show your engagement ring and tell about how you were proposed to!

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