Ft. Leavenworth

We will be headed to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas this summer. We are so excited to be coming back to the states and to be close to family and friends. We will be there for one year for Shane to attend ILE. His school starts in Aug. so we should be headed that way in June sometime. I have set a ticker at the top of my blog--it is set for 30 June. I will update it when we get orders--for now, it's approximate--And ONLY 5 months away!!!!!!!!!!!

Our trip

We took a 3 day trip to Pisa, Lucca, and Genoa. Here's some photos. Enjoy!

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A Little Pick Me Up

Disappointments

Well, my mom is stuck in Minneapolis now. This really stinks. She was supposed to be here on the 23rd and now won't make it in until Christmas late in the day. The kids are really going to be disappointed when they wake up and I tell them. More rearranging schedules--I don't want her to miss out on all the fun. We are supposed to head to Pisa on the 26th--I hope she won't be too jet lagged, it's the only little trip we are taking while she is here since most everything will be closed most of the time she is here due to the holidays.

Ok so here is to all of us making the best of a not great situation and trying really hard to remember that all that matters is that she gets here safely and we all get to enjoy each others' company.

Changes in Plans

My mom was supposed to be flying in this afternoon. The kids are so excited to see Grandma. Then this morning we woke to an email saying the middle leg of her flight had been cancelled so she won't be in until tomorrow. We are still glad she is coming, but now we are quickly rearranging schedules. She comes right in the middle of Christmas Eve Mass:( So, I think what will happen is that I will take the kids to Mass and Shane will head to the airport. We would just go to Midnight Mass instead, but I think Grandma will be tired--as will the kids--and Brendan is already signed up to serve at the Children's Mass.

Anyway, our Christmas Eve is being rearranged, but the most important elements will still be present--Jesus--and family.

I guess the message is--don't sweat the small stuff.

Remember the reason for the season and enjoy your Christmas!

Christmas Pictures

Well we got family pictures taken and ended up only buying Christmas cards and one copy of the picture of the kids cuz they just were not very good. In the states we will be getting family photos done properly--can't wait.

Anyway, here is what we got.

Meghan-age 5, Dillan- age 2, Brendan-age 10, and Kathryn- age 8

Boy does the copy look discolored.... eww.

Christmas Markets

If it is one thing I miss from Germany it is the Christmas Markets. They were one of our favorite things to do there. We have tried a few here in Italy, but they just don't compare. We went to one today, in Padova, and we had a good time just being together as a family. We ate some treats and bought some fun hats and mittens for the girls, but other than that it wasn't all that exciting. Oh well. At least it was nice family time.

Jingle Bell Run

Another 5K completed for this family of 6! We really enjoy getting out and running these together. Even when we don't stay together....
Brendan finished first, then me, then Katie, and finally Meghan, Shane and Dillan (in the stroller) took up the rear. We finished in a span of 20 minutes....
It's a great way to start a morning though....

Edited to add: Yes we did wear jingle bells on our shoes and Santa Hats. (All 6 of us:))

Better....

Things are going better, but I'm not quite there yet. Just checking in to let you all know we are still alive n' kicking. Still working on those priorities, but it's amazing what I have discovered during the past week. Definitely something to continue working through....
Hope you are all enjoying the Christmas season.

Priorities

Today I got a swift kick in the rear reminding me of my priorities. Lately, things have just been really out of whack around here. With the adjustment of having Shane home, all the kids activities, homeschooling Brendan, being a Brownie leader, on the pack committee, etc.... things have just not been the way I have wanted them to be around here. I have no real excuses just that I lost sight of what was important. I am going to be working really hard, beginning right now, to get things back the way they are intended to be. So, if I'm not around much... that's why. Priorities--I just need to get them straight.

Santa Pictures

Well, we went and saw Santa during our tree lighting ceremony here on post. The kids had come straight from school-so not the best pictures, but we got them anyway. Dillan was so excited about Santa!!! He was running up to him and saying immediately--I want a Screaming Banshee--that's from Cars-Mater and the GhostLight in case you want to know--and yes they do really have them--Santa should comply....:)

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