HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We spent New Year's Eve 2013 at my good friend Becky's house (who has now become our good friend).  The kiddos came with.  It was low key, just us, Becky & her fiance Greg, and another couple, Angie & Steve. 

We played games and the kids got to play with us too.  We attempted to put them down around 9:30 in front of the TV upstairs in their sleeping bags...but they knew something big was going on apparently...because they kept coming down to be with us. 

Before we knew it, it was approaching midnight and our kids were STILL UP!  CRAZINESS.

Sooooo, both Addy and Blake experienced their first real New Year's Eve - staying up 'til midnight and everything!  We figured we'd get a nice payback the next day...but they were actually really good.  Slept in late and took naps!

Here are some pics from Aaron's phone to document the evening....(not the best quality!)



Playing games with the big kids!  Addy and Blake got this game from my aunt Nancy for Christmas (THANK YOU!!!) and they decided to bring it with for us to play!

Addy discovered the "blower" early in the night :)



HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!! (we had just done the countdown)

New Year's kisses!

First family photo of 2013....Addy still blowing the dang thing! LOL

Miss Addy & Daddy Learn to Skate!

I mentioned in an earlier post that Addalyn got skates from her papa Lowell for Christmas...she was a natural right away on the ice!  My parents (dad) floods an ice rink in their backyard each winter, so we had a nice quiet --- unintimidating place --- for Addy to learn!

 

 

When I was little, my parents taught me and my sisters how to skate the same way we did Addy --- in our yard, pushing around the same bear chair!!  My dad made these chairs when my sister was born, and we've all learned how to skate by pushing them around!

 

Aaron decided to use some of his Christmas money to buy himself a pair of skates also!  So, he was learning the same time Addy was (apparently it had been since he was like 10 or 12 since he had last skated!)


Daddy pushing a chair around to learn also :)

They caught on quickly....and before we knew it, Addy was ready to let go of the chair and try skating on her own!

My brave girl, ready to skate! 

 I was soooooo excited at how well she did!  Not going to lie, I had tears.  Skating is definitely a part  of my childhood winters...so I hope that I will get to continue and have it be the same for my kiddos. 

Skating to mama!

The new skaters of the fam :)

Skating Pros -- doing a little pose for the camera!

"People don't notice whether it is winter or summer when they are happy."

Best Snow Day Ever!

Early December, we had an awesome Sunday snow that put me right into the Christmas mood...I wanted to do all of the Christmas posts, so this one is a little out of order, but still one I had to blog about it.

I am pretty sure I was (and Aaron) - but forsurely I was extremely excited to play out in the snow, more-so than our kiddos...but Addy was pretty excited too.  She had a BLAST!  Blake did too, but he was a bit more hesitant.  Since we barely had any snow last winter...this was really his first experience in the snow.  The winter before he was too little :)

It was warm out, so the snow was wet and perfect for playing in....BEST DAY EVER!  I'll let the pics speak for themselves!

Making our first snowman of the day!

Going down the slide...not only a summer thing!

Finished product!

On to sledding!  Blake was not too into this...he still isn't but Addy LOVES to sled!  Another blog coming on our sledding excursion in Michigan :)

Out later in the day...I love thi pic because of the trees behidn it!  It was SUCH a beautiful snow fall!

Making more snow man...grandma and Addy rolling some balls on one end, daddy on the other!

Addy got bored with snowmen making...on to Angel making!

Laying in the snow!

 We decided to dazzle up our original snow'lady' and make a partner :)  My mom was hoping to get a family picture around these the following weekend at our family Christmas- but they didn't last that long :(  However, we did get to enjoy them for several nights and I'm pretty proud of Mr. and Mrs. Snowman!

Could the snow get any more beautiful?!!! 

I definitely love the days of summer...and enjoy them when I'm able to be at the lake, or playing outside, swimming, etc.  However, I definitely love the winter weather too.  Addy is enjoying it this winter too so that is fun!! 

More blogs to come with some winter fun -- skating and an awesome Michigan sledding day!

Bertucci Christmas

Just a brief blog on the Bertucci Christmas...it is always done in mid January to accomodate 7 kids' and their extended family.  We truly appreciate that, so we are able to have Christmas with all of our wonderful families and not having to choose! 

 

There is always an ellaborate Bertucci home-cooked meal (think lasagna, raviolis, etc made from scratch!), gift opening, and typically we end up watching football because play-offs have begun.  This year the Packer's were on, but it was the game that did not go to their favor. :(

 

This year Aaron's step-sis Renee traveled home from NYC for it, and both of his sister's made it from Michigan, which is wonderful.  With crazy schedules, it doesn't happen that all 7 of Jean and Paul's kids are there!!   It was great to see everyone.

 

Always a good time...thanks Jean and Paul for hosting a wonderful family gathering!

 

Waiting SOOOOOO patiently to open gifts.  Side note - uncle Scott had left to the store for a quick run, and we had all forgotten so started handing out gifts...then had to make the kids wait until he returned :)  They were SOOOO well-behaved!  Here they are waiting.  (Blake, Oliver, Serafina, Addy, and Mira)

My sweet man ;)

All smiles!

Christmas in Michigan

We were lucky enough to get to spend an entire week in Michigan this Christmas.  It was the first time we had been there for that long since 2006 - when Aaron proposed to me in MI we had been on a weeks' vacation.  :)  I LOOOOOVED being up there long enough to relax, not think about the ride home, and spend some quality time with the wonderful Anderson family :)

 

To get ready for the trip, I had the best little elves helping wrap presents this year!

 

Ummmm...guys....there's tape stuck to my finger that I can't get off :)

 The trip to Michigan was pretty good.  Addy got sick as usual - craziness because we weren't even 40 minutes into the 8+ hour drive...but, we got this down to a science so we were back on the road in no time. 

Also - we were JAM PACKED!  Aaron could not see out the back --- and I couldn't stretch out my feet.  I'm thinking that sometime in the UNFORTUNATE near future, I'm going to be the proud owner of a mini-van.  Ha ha......we'll see how long we can hold that off!


Think there is anything else we can fit in there????

The kiddos also had a wonderful time in Michigan.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE how well they are with everyone and how loved they are.  When we don't get to travel there as often as I wish we could, it always feel good to have the kids be so comfortable and happy!

Hiding in Papa's cupboard!

I love this picture!  The girls got along SO well and they do not get to see each other often at all.  The last time we saw Rylee and Sadie was Christmas 2011 and these girls were giggling, laughing, being super silly and loud within a few minutes.  So cute and so fun.  (Sadie and Addy are only a week apart in age).  We totally wish we could see the Spindler's more often!

Posing by the Christmas tree at grandma Barb's on Christmas Eve.  We had gone to mass that night and then to grandma Barb's.  The kids did very well during church - Addy loves the songs at Children's mass, and she is starting to pick up bits and pieces of the readings and pay attention.  It's fun to see her interest.

Home to Papa Lowell's and getting ready for Santa

Santa brough Blake a spiderman dress up (so he had other options other than princess dresses!)



Auntie Tina & Blake...love this pic

The kiddos got sleeping bags from Aaron and I that they got to open the first day we got there.  We got them the full size ones so they could grow with them...it was too cute to see them laying there, not even taking up 1/4 of the sleeping bag!

 During that week, we went sledding and bowling.  I have pics from both but there are lots, so I'm planning on doing them later - at least the snow ones! 

After we drove home we got to celebrate Christmas with our family of 4.  Santa had brought the majority of his gifts to our house in Pine Island since we had to travel so far, and the gifts that we had gotten for the kids, other than I think 2 of them, had stayed home. 

We are home from a long drive and Santa came, and, .... whoo hooo!

"Don't mind me, I'm just using my new screwdriver on EVERYTHING.  Presents?  I have other ones to open?? ....yeah later, I'm using my new 'power tool'."  What a MAN!  :)

Another successful Christmas in the books :) 

Christmas with the Tarara Fam

The same day that we saw Santa, we had our family Christmas with my parents, my sisters and their families in the afternoon and into the evening.  I have a TON of pictures from every Christmas (as usual), but just pulled a few out. 

 

Look out all these crazy presents!!! ....and this skinny minny girl in front of them. What a goof.

My favorite present of the season right here :)

My parents got the kids these fun big pillows along with some books and jammies.  Aaron helped my mom line these up downstairs at their house for the kids.  It was pretty cute to see them head down the stairs in age order from littlest to biggest to see them.

He cracks me up!!!  As soon as Blake sat by his new pillow, this is the position he took, LOL.  Laying there, one leg on the other!

A fav of miss Addy.  My aunt Nan had given Aaron this piggy bank as a joke, knowing he is a Packers fan.  Addy was happy to take it because she only has a 'little' piggy bank...and of course because it is PURPLE (one of her fav colors).  We asked her to give us her football face and this is what we got :)

 The day involved just being with family - opening presents, eating lots of unnecessary food, playing with cousins, games, movies, etc :)  Good times with wonderfule peeps!