Christmas Eve 2016

The best part about Christmas Eve this year was that Uncle Conor drove all the way from South Carolina to be with us! He's the best :) Christmas Eve Mass, cookies and carrots for Santa and the reindeer and sibling kisses before the children got nestled all snug in their beds...

Village PreSchool Christmas Party 2016

Cora was so happy and so proud to have her own school Christmas party this year. It is so cute to see her finding her own friends and becoming such a big girl. 

Three of Cora's favorite classmates... the "Gagne boys" - Marshall and Harrison and of course, Charlotte Young.

The morning after...

Maury's most joyful moments were definitely playing in the wrapping paper the day after the party, and Cora's were prancing around in her new sweater dress from Mary :) The two of them played with the train from Bri for an hour and a half. It was hilarious to see Cora try to get her "guys" to go for a ride while Maury tried to pull them off. Little brothers...

Maury Emmet turns 1

What a year! What a crazy, transitional, fun and beautiful year! And what a symbol of what one year looks like in this little blonde boy that stole our hearts and brings smiles wherever he goes. We decided to have our first big family party on Cemetery Road to toast all those who helped us survive a year with 3 kids, and a preemie who turned out to be one healthy, happy and strong little man.

How lucky to have four great grandparents!

What would we do without Mae Mae?

Bri and Chris brought a train set for Christmas- huge hit!

Kids table!

Emmet kept a cozy fire going the whole party- props Em.

And our newly painted and decorate dining room was put to good use. I was so happy.

Happy Birthday dear Maury, Happy Birthday to you.

hmmm...

Successful event! God bless you Maur Maur. And many more...

Danbury Railroad Santa

Third annual trip to the Danbury Railway Santa! Ran into the Heather and Marco, Carter and Sawyer on the train, and a nice Russian guy from Moscow :) Can't beat it. 

Deck the Halls!

CC's Wedding in Chicago

When we found out Emmet's cousin CC was getting married in Chicago, we knew we wouldn't miss it for the world. We tried to think of how we would arrange childcare for the three little ones and realized leaving the girls with my parents and taking Maury along would be easier on everyone. So the little guy got to have his first airplane ride and probably his first alone time with Mom and Dad since his hospital stay after he was born! 

Maury was really a hit with everyone on the airplane and the Delta staff. It was hilarious. Great flight out there, miserable flight back for a cranky and tired little guy, but we survived the adventure with great pics to spare.

Meeting Hadley was definitely the highlight of the trip, aside from seeing CC the radiant bride, and all the Mengels.

Also, meeting Ali, Conor's girlfriend!

 Mengel family photo :)

 Moms ready to party

Em and K take the kids so Bitz and I can eat German food and have a beer.

Had to go see the "bean"

And had to meet up with our old buddy Sean Sloan from Holy Cross!

Awesome trip all around! Congrats Cece!