Twenty Days

That’s how long it’s been since I’ve written a blog post — oops!

Forgive me?

Okay, good.

I won’t bore you and list out all of the reasons it’s been so long (you know, running a marathon, then a half 6 days later, work being insane, a sick kid, another kid out of school, birthday parties, weddings, family visiting, holiday parties).. okay, maybe I will.

Anyway, I have lots to write about but first I want to catch you up!  Lots of pictures and only a few words.. I know I scroll through posts like this and just look at the pictures, so I’ll save my breath and your time.  Plus, I really want to get to writing about the Disney Marathon (and a big PR!) and the ZOOMA half (amazing!!!) and the giveaway I’ve been planning for AGES and haven’t had a chance to do yet.  Hopefully later today!

Sooo here we go!

On Christmas Eve-Eve, we made blueberry pancakes that were bigger than our head.  We repeated this a few times over the next few weeks since they were SO delicious.

We also made some silly faces while we ate our pancakes.   I love having family breakfast time, such a nice change of pace compared to the normal morning chaos.

On Christmas Eve, Braden and Mackenzie made a gingerbread house.  They each got one side to decorate.  B left no space at all for anything else, his side was covered in candy.  Mackenzie stuck a few pieces on the house, then decided it was more fun to eat the candy.

We also made gingerbread cookies!

And decorated gingerbread cookies.

And left cookies out for Santa!  (there was a lot of cookie baking and eating going on)

Then it was Christmas morning!  Well, in between these two pictures, Mackenzie got sick.  Poor girl had a tummy bug and was up most of the night throwing up.  I didn’t take pictures of that, didn’t think anyone wanted to see it

Such a happy girl, even when she’s sick.  As in, just a few minutes after this was taken, she was sick again

Can’t keep her down for long though!  B got a new bike for Christmas and she chased him around as he rode it in the house.  Also, he never got out of his jammies.  I love jammie days

Quite possibly my favorite picture from the day.  I love my babies <3

The Smith Family!  Merry Christmas (you know, a month late!) from us to you!

We went to the movies with Grandma Levenia to see Frozen.  B was not a fan.  Once he realized it was about princesses, he declared it a girl movie and asked to leave.  He did like the popcorn though.

And we celebrated Christmas with some of our good friends — and a trip to their house is never complete without a dip in the heated pool and fireworks in the back yard!

The next morning, I volunteered at the Jacksonville Bank Marathon.  I loved it so, so much, even though I was soaking wet most of the time.  I’ll definitely be doing it again (and hopefully writing about the experience soon).

We made more cookies!  This time in the Easy Bake Oven that Aunt Kathy bought the kiddos for Christmas.

And my friend Danielle got married on New Years Eve!  I was battling a stomach bug but didn’t want to miss the wedding, so I hung in there ’til midnight then we walked next door to the host hotel and passed out.

And we celebrated Baby Katie’s 3rd birthday!  Perhaps I shouldn’t call her a baby anymore since she has a baby brother.. but she’ll always be Baby Katie (aka Mackenzie’s BFF) to me.

Seriously, we did not pose them for this.  They sat down and put their arms around each other.  How stinking cute are they?!

Braden and his buddies had a blast at the party too!

Oh and we survived the Polar Vortex!  I had to go to Target to buy hats and gloves because these Florida babies didn’t have any and the feels like temperature was 5.  Yes, 5.  In Florida.  Adam was in Denver for work and it was 20 degrees warmer there than it was here.  That’s insane.  We spent a lot of time cuddled up by the fire.

And Mackenzie is considering a career in cosmetology.  She has a new lipstick application technique.. what do you think?

So that’s what we were up to!  Now I’m off to write about the Disney Marathon!  Or maybe the giveaway.. hmm.. decisions, decisions!

What have you been up to?