Xmas Recap in Pics

Yep, life has taken over....I've been MIA for months now living life.
As we end another year, here are some pictures from our holiday....

Happy New Year everyone!

Mother's Day

We had a nice Mother's Day yesterday.

For the past probably 6 years, we've done brunch at the local Hyatt hotel. It was always very nice and the kids always loved the kids area they had there. Last year, the buffet went downhill quite a bit from the years before so we really debated going back there this year. We decided to give them one more shot.  However, when my Father-in-Law called for reservations, he found out they were not having a brunch there this year!  So, we sort of scrambled to find a place to go!

We ended up at another hotel nearby called the Strathallen. Gabe and I did an overnight there back in February and it was very nice. The food at the restaurant was really good, so we hoped the buffet would be comparable.

And it was!

Before eating, we took a few photos...the Moms:

Me, my Mom, Aunt Pat, Camille, Molly, Ela

Gabe, Cassie, Avery and I

I took a few pics of the buffet, but didn't get the entire thing...

Desserts!

Seafood table

It was a pretty good spread. They had an omelet station and made on the spot eggs benedict. Also waffles, blueberry pancakes, bacon, sausage, pasta, vegetables, fried chicken. They had a carving station of salmon, ham, prime rib, pork. They had quite a seafood spread, which I didn't really look at. They also had a long table set up of bagels, croissants, pastries, yogurt, granola, and a salad bar. And of course, the crazy spread of desserts!  I think everyone really enjoyed it!

Group photo!

Once we got home, Cassie napped and we just lounged around most of the day. It rained out so it wasn't the nicest of days. It was nice to just spend time together and just chill. We don't get many of those days too often!

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

Our Easter

Our Easter was very nice-it's hard to believe it's here and gone already!

Avery woke up just before 8am all excited to go and check things out. We kept her in our room until Cassandra woke up, which was around 9am!

They had received a note from the Easter Bunny that there were 35 eggs hidden along with their baskets. Once we got downstairs, the hunting began!

This one was stuffing her face with everything she found. No asking-just opened the egg and ate the candy! Until we caught on that is! Kid cracks me up!

We just lounged most of the morning. I made some muffins for breakfast and we just relaxed. Everyone found their basket and we just enjoyed the morning.

Cassie went down for a nap and it never fails....when we have somewhere to go, she sleeps forever. Avery and Gabe ended up leaving here around 4pm (Cassie fell asleep around 1:40 and is usually good for 2hrs). I even cracked her door open at 4 hoping it would wake her...nope! I finally went up around 4:40 and made enough noise to wake her up.

Needless to say, we got there right as they were serving dinner. Oh well....

Gabe's Mom had some egg shaped brownies for the kids to decorate and Cassie really enjoyed that!

After dinner, we sang "Happy Birthday" to Gabe's Mom and to me! We both have/had birthdays this week! And Cassie had a cupcake with a candle in it, because that's what happens when you're 3!

After dessert, it was egg hunt time! Since it SNOWED on Easter, we did the hunt inside. We love doing it outside, but you do what you gotta do! Here are the girls all lined up ready to go!

Cassie, Avery, Bianca

And they're off!

They each had 25 eggs to find and then got their baskets and Christmas Easter gifts.

Unfortunately, Avery had school the next day so we couldn't stay over there super late. It was a really great day though and the kids really had fun!

Hope you all had a Happy Easter!

Spring Break!

The end of Avery's spring break is almost here. Tomorrow is Easter and she's back to school on Monday. 

We had a great week with her off though!

On Monday, Renee and Sabrina came from Buffalo to visit us for the afternoon. The kids had a ball playing with Sabrina, who is now running around with them! They had a lot of fun! And of course I'm kicking myself because I didn't get a single picture of them together!

I worked like usual on Tuesday and Wednesday.

We had a little scare on Wednesday afternoon though. Daycare called my work around 4pm saying that Cassandra fell and bumped her head and that we "might want to take her somewhere".  Gabe went and got her and texted me that they were headed to the doctor's office. I met them there after getting out of work. She ended up cutting the back of her head open, and thankfully it wasn't bad enough for stitches. I guess it bled a lot (by the looks of her clothes) and her hair was all matted to it so it was hard to tell just how bad it was until we got there. We all took a sigh of relief and grabbed some junk food (aka Wendy's) for dinner on the way home for the kids.

Thursday, we took the girls to their first movie. Well....Avery has been to one with my Father-in-Law before, but this was the first time we took her. The girls really wanted to see the new "Cinderella", so that's what we saw. Avery was great. Cassandra did pretty well, but did get antsy at times. I think since it wasn't animated it was harder to keep her attention. Overall they did really well though and the movie was amazing if you haven't seen it yet!

Friday was our  neighborhood egg hunt held at a neighbor's house. It was the perfect day for it-about 60 and sunny out! They spread out about 525 eggs and each kid starts with 10. Then once everyone has 10, it's a free for all!

getting lined up

Go!

Cassie and Avery

Avery

The kids had a ball as usual!

After dinner, we still had to dye eggs. The girls always love doing it!

Today we went to Buffalo to visit my Mom and Aunt. Megan and her kids stopped by as well. Tomorrow is Easter then back to the usual grind on Monday!! 

What a fun and busy week!

Xmas Recap

Here we are...the last night of winter break. Tomorrow we get back into our routine of being up early every day and Avery heading back to school.

It's been 2 full weeks of family, friends, parties, and just soaking up our time together. That's what it's all about right?!

So, here's a recap of our holiday break!

Of course there was cookie making! I made 3 kinds this year. The kids love doing the cut out cookies. Both girls helped me roll and cut them and Avery helped me frost and decorate one day while Cassie napped.

A quick shot of our mantle:

I took vacation days on Dec. 23rd and 24th (I'm amazed we were even open on Christmas Eve). The girls went to daycare on the 23rd and I had a day to get things done. I went to the gym in the morning, ran a few errands and did all of the wrapping we had-took me a good 3 hours to finish it all!

The weather here was very atypical for this time of year. Christmas Eve day it was in the upper 50s! It's very strange having a Christmas without snow! It's the one day a year I don't mind it and we didn't have any this year!

On Christmas Eve we were all up and ready to hit the road. We always spend Christmas Eve at my Mom's in Buffalo. Before we hit the road, the girls had to put out their cookies for Santa and the reindeer food since we usually get home very late.

Then we drove to my Mom's!

Mom's tree

We took a few photos before people started coming over.....

Mom and the girls

....and we ended up doing gifts with each other right away. We had family coming for dinner and we had no idea who else was stopping by, so we decided to get it out of the way. The girls were all about the gifts!

First present!!

My friend Renee and her little one, Sabrina stopped over to visit!

Sabrina

The girls just love her and can't get enough of her!

Cassie, Sabrina, Avery

My Aunt and Uncle also stopped by for a short visit. Then our cousins came over for dinner.

Cassie and Eddie

After dinner (while we digested), it was more presents with the cousins!

Taylor and Avery

Cassie and Eddie

And a few more photos before they left!

Taylor, Eddie, Rachel, Eddie

Cassie, Rachel, Me, Mom, Aunt Pat, Avery, Taylor

We left my Mom's around 8 or so to drive home. The kids were so wound up that they didn't fall asleep. We finally got them to bed and went to bed shortly after.

Then, it was Christmas Day!

Santa came!!

Avery let us sleep until around 8:30 and we waited upstairs for Cassie to get up around 9. Then of course we had to open presents right away! They went for their stockings first!

Avery

Cassie-no idea what that face is!

My little cuties

After opening, we had breakfast and then just relaxed and played with all of their new stuff. After Cassie's nap, it was time to head to the in-laws' house for dinner!

Ready to eat!

We had to wake Cassie from her nap and she was downright miserable. She refused to get into her dress and was quite a pill for awhile. She finally warmed up a bit.

Avery and Cassie

We had a very good dinner and then opened presents.

Cassie with her Anna hat

Bianca and Owen

Cassie

Friday was a pretty lazy day. We all had off and just hung out at home playing with all of the new toys!

On Saturday, my Dad and Colleen came out for our Christmas dinner. We had a really nice visit with them!

Dad, Colleen and the girls

Sunday was another family party for the extended family at Gabe's parents' house. Then Monday was Gabe's birthday!  Gabe and I worked pretty much a normal week so we had a little bit of a routine last week. I'm ready for us to be back on a schedule though. We all enjoyed staying up late and sleeping in late, but we're ready to get back to normal too. It definitely was a nice break and a very nice holiday. It's amazing how fast it goes though. I think the anticipation is almost better than the day itself!  Avery was pretty bummed that it was all over too. We took down the tree and decorations on New Years Day so it feels a lot less cluttered in here. Now I just need a food detox! Hahaha! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday! Here's to a great 2015!!