Goodbye 2021

 As we say goodbye to 2021, I look forward to what 2022 has to bring. 

Here's one last family selfie and we'll see you next year! 

Christmas 2021

I can't really believe we are on the other side of Christmas already. Seriously. December went so incredibly fast. 

We ventured to my parent's house on Christmas Adam. 

Husband hasn't been to their house since Christmas 2019, so it was really great to be there together. And both of my brothers were there. 

Christmas Eve has always been my family's big celebration. We had a great meal and then opened presents. Everyone loved all their things. 

Even Rocco the dog was over the moon with his new presents to eat and chew up. 

On Christmas Day we went to Mass. 

And got a few more presents. 

Then we went to my brother's house. He bought a house last year and he wanted to host a holiday. He really went all out and did such a nice job decorating and planning. 

We played our traditional Christmas dice game. Everyone loves it! 

We played many more games and then my brother planned a Spooky Christmas Mystery for the kids. It started with them watching Mickey's Christmas Carol and then every adult was given a station around the house with riddles, games, or activities for them to complete to earn the next clue and ultimately a little prize. It was so much fun for them! 

My parents went back to their house right as the kids were going to sleep then three siblings and the one spouse got to hang out together. We played another game and the annual Mario Party tradition continues. 

I won!!! That is NOT part of the tradition typically. But that was great. I cannot stress to you how much I enjoyed hanging out with my brothers. 

So my brother's new house is in a tiny little small town, and he lives no kidding, right across the street from a tiny old church. So Sunday we were able to walk to Mass which was novel. 

It's like the one-room schoolhouse of churches, it didn't even have bathrooms. You would have had to go outside and to the office building next door. After Mass we walked to the main drag (read: not far at all) for breakfast at the one restaurant in town. The kid's Mickey pancakes surprised us all when they came loaded up with m&ms. (The menu read: Kids Mickey Pancake... $3.00 so how would we have known?!) 

They were obviously a hit. The rest of Sunday was spent lounging, eating, playing more games, and hanging out. 

Monday we left for home again. It had snowed a bit overnight so the first bit was not the best drive but manageable, and wouldn't you know there was a rainbow?!

Okay, not the best pictures but it was there. And since I saw my first rainbow in June, I thought it was very neat the second time around too! 

We made it home safely and had family presents to open still. 

Then today I had to go back to work but it snowed here so the kids got a great day of playing with all their new things, most of which we wouldn't let them open in Minnesota and playing outside. 

They even made a snow Snoopy. 

All around, a great last few days. And in the spirit of the fact it's still Christmas... Merry Christmas friends! Ours was Merry and I hope yours was as well. 

A Wedding, A Wedding, Hooray!

 My wonderful friend Linda's daughter got married on Saturday! And she invited our little friend group to be guests. 

I took zero pictures during the ceremony, but the Mass was lovely. Actually, I took zero pictures of the bride and groom at all. How lame of me! 

Afterwards we snagged a group picture of all 7 of us because one of us wasn't going to be at the reception. 

Look at how gorgeous Linda is as the Mother of the Bride?! Oh so lovely. 

We killed time with some friends at their bar before the reception. And oh what fun we had at the reception. The room was gorgeous! 

This picture of all of us is my favorite of the whole night. I just love these people so much!! 

We had to text the babysitter to tell her we would be later than we anticipated because we couldn't be the party poopers and the first to leave. Our parish priest was still there for gosh sakes! Honestly, it was a super fun wedding and I am so thankful to have been invited. 

Scavenger Hunt

Sunday evening our parish hosted the second scavenger hunt. 

The pictures are cute. I think the kids had a pretty good time. But my heart was not in it. I really needed a night at home so driving all around wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. Nevertheless, even with my grumpy self, I am glad I spent time with my family no matter what. 

Someday, not to long for now, they may not want to go on the scavenger hunt as a family and would prefer to maybe go with their friends. Holding on to these guys when I can is the best though. 

Day Trip!

 My little Emmaus group took a day trip to Peoria for some fun. We started the day at reconciliation at our parish and then took off for our adventure. 

We stopped for lunch at Obed and Issacs, a brewery in an old church. It was delicious food, good drinks and super cool atmosphere. 

After lunch, I had booked an escape room. 2/4 of us had never done an escape room. Afterwards, we would all do it again. I actually think we did great!! We used only 2 hints and escaped with 15 minutes left. I picked a very not scary one, which was good. Creepy escape rooms are not my thing. 

But really, after a year of journeying together if we couldn't communicate and use team work who could?! 

Then we got some coffee and headed to the actual main event... Fulton Sheen. Oh my gosh, that church is so so gorgeous. Like for real, I want to unmarry Husband just to get remarried at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. 

We booked this day trip ages ago and didn't realize it was just two days after his unofficial (official) feast day.

And the relics!!! Holy moly the relics. It was incredible. And to go in with clean souls to ask for prayers for our petitions was so amazing. We spent two hours and could have spent even more. It was super cool. 

We drove "the most beautiful drive in America" and then did some shopping and had dinner before heading back. It was a great and wonderful day!! 

Rest of the Week

 So my other posts this week covered last weekend but now what about the happenings of this week? 

St. Nicholas came, as he does, with Christmas pajamas, books, and rosary poppits. 

Tuesday was the K-2 Christmas program, which was very cute!! 

Last night it was 3-5's turn.

Both of my kids did a very nice job with their lines!! And overall I thought everything was very nicely done. So nice to have programs again. 

Heading into the weekend with a lot of spirit and gusto. Hopefully, you are all excited for a great weekend too.