Merry Christmas!

 Kate got an iPad Mini for Christmas and she was glad to have a camera and a new platform for Minecraft, which I still don't understand.

A new alarm clock that features Frozen.  

 And Jack's favorite gift - a guitar from Grandma and Grandpa.  Lots of talent in this one!

Selfies with the cousins.

And an evening performance after our dinner which we hosted at our new house!  

 We have had a year of fun and stress, but it is over.  We love our new house and life, and we are again so blessed with the good and bad.

Christmas Break

Kate and I went with mom to Evansville for a shopping trip where Kate scored a new dress for the holidays.  She was so pleased with this new dress that we HAD to get it.  She looks so much older in it that we hate to let her wear it.  

 Jack got  a new sweater to wear for his baptism, which happened right before Jonathan left our church.  We had such a great baptism.

 After the service, we went to the club for the Christmas party and enjoyed seeing friends and family.

 And Wade.  Always Wade...

 Cookie time!  Hard to get pictures of them doing this as it is a chaotic time!  :-)

And then this happened...

We celebrated Kate's 7th birthday the day after the performance with our usual Sunday night dinner group.  Mom made a strawberry cake for her and we had Sloppy Old Joes at her request (and naming).  She got the American Girl doll of the year, Isabelle and new Uggs, along with clothes for her doll and a locking keepsake box from the Griffiths.  

Yep, Jack posed at the therapist's office with his faves.  

 And before nap time, he needed to take Drake for a walk because the weather was nice.  I agreed.

 For this one's 7th birthday, she looked like this.  Death.  Poor thing thought she had strep and two days later, it was the flu.  104 temp and chills.  Rough birthdays are part of Kate.  She was so sick that she laid around for days, which is NOT like her even when sick.

 At least she had this to comfort her.

 When she did improve, she was able to take her cake to the Masons' house to celebrate (because it was now time for Jack to have the flu and he and I stayed home).

 Sweet Frozen girl.

It's the Most Wonderful time...

Well, even though our house is a work in progress, and even though I debated getting all of the decorations out, I had to.  I love Christmas and it just didn't feel right to be without all of my favorite stuff - even if it would be for less time than usual. So, while Kate was at school, I did my best to make our house a festive place and then wait for her to get home and help decorate the tree.  

 We tried for some Christmas card pics in front of Martha's tree because ours was not up yet.  I did have good intentions for sending a Christmas card.  I didn't follow through.

 I received new holiday plates for Christmas (early) and I loved having lazy mornings with them by the fire with my favorite peeps and pups.

 Kate was in The Nutcracker as a magical gift this year.  She was perfection for her fifteen seconds on stage.  She rose, walked, turned, and chassez-ed so well that the dance teachers noticed her efforts.  My mom worked the school performances backstage, so Kate got to be part of the action (and mom was sooooo glad she volunteered).

 And the tree.  Happiness abounds.

Thanksgiving in all the right ways

 Keys.  To our new house.  We signed the Monday of Thanksgiving week, and we moved over the break.  YIKES!  We were able to get our stuff in and somewhat put together though we had to order a new bed for Kate and some other pieces for the house, but we are free and enjoying the new home.  So cozy, so easy, and IN TOWN! Lots of boxes, and lots to put away, but we have time.  So happy!  And did I mention we LOVE our family room?  Fireplace and bookshelves.  Yep, home.

 We helped Betsy ring in her new year of life at Martha's, and Kate was able to help with the candles. We are thankful for our friends and family and we are so blessed to have both.

Thanksgiving morning looked like this.  I love lazy mornings and I love that we are in our cozy house. Even Ezra likes the new digs and that he can been part of the fam in bed!

I had the job of making chocolate pecan pies for the big day.  YUMMERS!

 This is the dessert buffet at mom's for the big day.

 Serious overeating will be happening in a few minutes.  And Norman batted clean up, a positing Drake was sad to miss.

 The Friday after Thanksgiving, we were blessed again to have a friend/therapist who bought a train car on the Polar Express.  We surprised the kids and went for a fun ride.  Jack had found his frog boots again, so he wore those...because why wouldn't you with your Christmas jammies?

 What a fun event and we were again thankful that we could be a part of this magical trip.

 The cookies and hot cocoa were so excellent and it made us believe that this was right...and it was!

We can tell the new year is shaping up to be what the Mason family needs.  We are beyond lucky, beyond blessed by the support and love we have had.  We can never repay our debts, be we can be appreciative.  And we are.