Christmas Lights & Christmas Dancing!

 On Friday we decided to do another one of my favorite Christmas traditions (who am I kidding, ALL of our Christmas traditions are my favorite!) and go check out some Christmas lights!  We started the night at Friendly's for some dinner and delicious ice cream!

 Then we headed out to our favorite house to check out the lights!  Every year we go a house in Lancaster where this family puts on quite the show!  

Even though the kids are getting so big, they still love it!  Or they just humor me and pretend to love it, either way I will take it!

It is really an amazing little show!

Then on Saturday, the kids had their dancing Christmas show!  They both did a great job!  I love watching them dance!

After the show Nana, Papa, Grandma, and Grandpa came back to our house for our usual soup and sandwich lunch.  

Last week Claire also had her Violin and Chorus Christmas concert.  She did an amazing job!  I can't believe this was her last concert before she goes to middle school (I will be saying that a lot this year).

Claire and her bestie Kathleen. I told the girls that I want to get the exact picture in the exact same spot when they are in high school!

And finally on December 1st, Cozy came back!

So she has been up to her usual shananigans!

Just causing trouble...

All over my house!

The other day I didn't have to be at work until noon for conferences so I got to see Oliver get on the bus.  I love these two guys!!!

Polar Express Train Ride

Yesterday was my favorite Christmas tradition, the train ride to see Santa!  This was our 7th year and I couldn't have loved it more!!!

 The girls ready to go!

 The kids has so much fun hanging out together!

 My Momma is her Tops sweater!

 My special girl!  I can still remember her first train ride when she was 3!  I can't believe that she is so grown up (and wearing my Christmas sweatshirt)!

 The VIP section!

 Emma, Claire, and Giada hanging on the train!

 Love this guy!

 What would a train ride be without these jokesters!

 Me and my holiday girl!!!!

 Besties!

 Waiting in line for Santa!  This year the line went MUCH faster!

 They even gave us a little time to take some pictures on the sleigh!

 My favorite people in one of my favorite places!

 LOVE THIS!

 My babies with Santa!

 Family shot with Santa!  

 The reindeer!

 I absolutely love seeing the reindeer!!!!

Uncle Johnny came this year with his fiance Tiffany to join the fun!

 The kids could make reindeer food to put out on Christmas Eve!

 Oliver can't wait to sprinkle it on the lawn on Christmas Eve!

 Komo girls!

 After the train ride we all headed to our favorite post Train Ride restaruant, THEO'S! 

 They always spoil us rotten at Theo's!

 Nick couldn't wait for the pot roast!

 Popp table!

Komo table!

Yet another amazing year in my favorite Christmas spot.  I am so grateful that we get this time together every year.  Also, this event marks the beginning of the Christmas season!  Let the fun begin!!!!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Well another Halloween came and went!  Even though I am still sick (stupid pneumonia) we had a great Halloween.

Claire worked really hard to carve her pumpkin this year!

Oliver and Daddy worked hard on his pumpkin!

And I think they came out pretty great!

The kids' costumes were awesome this year!  Mostly because they could layer up underneath them and not have to cover up their costumes.  And this year they needed it!  It was FREEZING and wet.  I actually snowed quite a bit throughout the day but stopped before the kids went out to trick or treat.

The Cappellis joined us for our usual Halloween fun!

I did not join the gang to trick or treat (stupid pneumonia) but they suited up and had a blast!

Then of course there was the sorting of the candy!

Me and my Halloween buddy!

The girls couldn't wait to sort out their candy!

And Oliver just wanted to eat it all!

Finally it was time for bed!  Oliver wore his "Halloween Jammies".  He has been wearing these for the last few years.  He absolutely loves them (because they glow in the dark) and I think he is so adorable in them.  I always sing "The Ghost Of John" when he puts them on and tickle him like crazy (if you want to hear our silly little song, click  HERE), it is our little "thing" and I realized that this may be the last year for these jammies.  And once these jammies don't fit him anymore we probably won't sing our little song anymore!  So I had to get a picture of my little man in our favorite jammies!

Even if I didn't get to trick or treat it was another great Halloween!!  Now we move on to Thanksgiving!!!!

Halloween Bash

So I have been sick, really sick.  I have pneumonia!!!  Which is so crazy!  But it has really been a big pain because I feel like I am missing so much while I am lying in bed trying to feel better.  One thing that I could not skip was the kids' Halloween Bash at their school.  Not only because I love going to this kind of stuff but also because this is Claire's LAST Halloween party before she heads off to middle school!  This year Claire dressed up as a big blue thing and Oliver dressed up as Eichel from the Sabres.

Claire's buddy Halle also dressed up as a big blow up thing!

Claire even got to meet Lorenzo Alexander from the Bills.  Poor guy was just trying to enjoy a night with his kids and all the kids were all over him.  He was so nice though! He took a picture with every kid who asked for it and he could not have been sweeter about it!!!

I am so glad that I sucked it up and went to the party.  Even though I felt pretty crummy by the end of it because I loved seeing my kids have so much fun with their friends!

Especially Claire since next year she will be a big middle schooler!!!!

And a huge thank you to Grandma for coming with me and helping me find Oliver every 20 minutes!

Bus

One of my favorite things in the world is getting the kids on the bus!!! I love our conversations while we wait for the bus! And I know that one day they won't be taking a bus anymore because they will be driving with friends or they will be all grown up and driving to college. Until then, I will cherish the days that I can get them on the bus and hear about how excited they are for 5th and 2nd grade!