Annual Date Night

Every year over Christmas break we have a family date night. We go to dinner and a movie! We have been doing it for the last few years and this year was no exception! 

We had a delicious dinner at PF Chang’s!

Followed by the Greatest Showman (even though I keep calling it The Greatest Showman On Earth to annoy the kids).

We all LOVED the movie!!! 

It was yet another fun Christmas tradition! I love Christmas break! It is so fun to all be off together and do all this fun stuff together!!!

Christmas Day!!!

 HE CAME!  HE CAME!! Santa came!!!!

 The kids were PUMPED to see that Santa came!

 Claire and Daddy ready to open some gifts.  Claire likes to pile up all of her gifts and then slowly open them and play with each one before moving on to the next gift.

 She loved her stuffed unicorn!

 This guy just rips through every gift and then goes back to play with each one!

 His hockey and football cards were a hit this year!

 The kids and I got Daddy coal for his stocking this year!!

After we opened all of our gifts Nana and Papa came over for breakfast.  Oliver loved showing Papa all of his hockey and football cards.

I didn't get a lot of pictures of Christmas day because we were very busy playing with all of our new toys but it was a perfect day!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Christmas Eve!!!!!

We started off our Christmas Eve with lunch with the Cappellis and then we had a special visitor!!!

 Oliver loved seeing Santa!

 Claire looks so grown up on Santa's lap!!!

 Santa read a great story for the kids!

 And the kids sang "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer".

 Santa even brought them each a gift!

 Look at the smile!

 Even Jessica and I got to sit on Santa's lap!

 My favorite people on my favorite night!!!

 Oliver and Grandma!

 I love listening to everyone visit and catch up.

 Mark made another delicious Christmas dinner!

 Oliver and Nana tracking Santa!

 This guy, always making me take his picture!

 The cousins!!!

 Time to sprinkle the Reindeer Dust!

This year Oliver wanted Mark to read "The Night Before Christmas" to the whole family instead of just us before bed.  So the whole family gathered in the living room and Mark read us our favorite Christmas story.

Time for bed so  Santa can come!!!!

Festival Of Lights

 We kicked off the break with our annual couples dinner!  We had a delicious dinner at Tempo!  It was a great night full of laughs.

 The next night we headed to one of my favs, The Festival Of Lights!

 I just love all of the lights and this year I was THRILLED that there was tons of snow!

 We even got a family shot!

 Our annual Festival Of Lights family selfie!

 This year while going through the lights I asked the kids if they were going to see Santa and they both said NO!  Then I started to cry and Claire quickly said, "It's ok Mom, we will go Santa if you want us to!" and Oliver agreed.  So for me, they waited in the 45 minute line and went to see Santa.  I love my kids! Oliver even posed with Spiderman.

 And Claire let me take a picture with Cinderella.

 Oh the love!!!

 They are getting awfully big for Santa's lap!

 My babies!

 Then we wrapped up the evening with a delicious dinner at Claire's favorite place, Mighty Taco!  I think it is hilarious that she loves this place because when I was pregnant with her I used to eat Mighty Packs like it was my job!

Also on Saturday my little hockey player had a game.  He played on the B line AND the C line!  And he scored FIVE goals ANNNNDDD got the game puck!  I am so proud of my little hockey player!

SPARTAN!!!

On October 14th, it became official. I finally became a SPARTAN!!!!!

Amy, Mark, and I headed out Friday to Ohio for our big race.  We stopped at the Plummer's Tavern and had a delicious pre race meal!

The morning of the race was super foggy but we were ready to go!

Supporting the Cause while we raced. Although when asked, "Are you guys racing for breast cancer?!"  we all weirdly responded, "NO!!"  and we are still not really sure why!!

The course map!!!!  It was at this point that my heart stopped a little!

Pre-race shot!

Starting line!

Rocking it through the mud!!!

Sandbag carry!  I ditched the ladies bag and carried the men's bag!!!

I finally made it to the end!  At the end you have to jump the fire and get a super cool finisher pick.  You really can't tell from this shot but the fire was REALLY big!  All I wanted was a cool finisher pic.  As you can see that didn't happen lol!!!

Almost over!!!

I should have looked up!!!!!!  But whatever, I made it over!!!!!

And I got my medal!!!!  My first ever medal!!!!

A little dance celebration!  

The finish line is the greatest place in the world!  They blast amazing music and everyone is so happy!  I wish that I could bottle up that finish line feeling and take it everywhere with me!

I loved racing with these two! 

Our medals are so pretty!

I had so much fun training and racing with Amy!  

And I thank God for this guy every day!  He always pushes me to be the best version of myself and to do things I would never have the guts to do on my own!

I can't wait to do another one!!!!!