The School Family: December festivities: Weekend 1

Phew! We are exhausted from this weekend! On Saturday we celebrated princess style at a friend's birthday party. They were the quietest and nicest group of girls (and parents) ever! I was impressed at how patient they were with each other. It was nice to meet the girls Julia raves about from school and the girls were all so precious in their beautiful gowns. Jujube was Sleeping Beauty--a special thank you to our cousin Alexis who handed down the costume! Immediately after the party we picked up our friend Julie and headed over the mountain to the School/Stracuzzi Cookie Bake. Usually the cookie bake is held in NY, but this year the Italians descended down 81 to Fishersville where Mike's parents built their retirement home. Julia had fun pounding the crusts for the pecan tassies, but making jewelry with Great-aunt Lisa was more her speed as well as running around with cousins Talia and Jeremy. Between watching football, decorating the tree, baking or just catching up with family, there were many activities to choose from. The special part of the night happened when Grandpa's cousin John proposed to his girlfriend Theresa during the family dinner. (Sorry no photos--I couldn't locate my camera by the time I realized what was happening.)

Happy Anticipation on the 2nd Sunday of Advent! Now that Mike is working for the diocese, it has been great having Mike around more often. After 5 years of marriage I now have a taste of what "normal" life is like. Dinner as a family most nights of the week and weekends together. Today we went to church early, shopped for a crib mattress, my man cooked french toast, cleaned up the house a little, and then attended a festive holiday party at Whitehall to round off the evening. The food was incredible and I wanted to take all of the beef tenderloin and buttery chocolate covered macaroons home with me! And it gets better--Aunt Lisa is visiting with us for the week and already has been a huge help with the kids. Great weekend and good times with family and friends!