Kilbane Happenings

Last night, the St. Paul masses gathered to celebrate the fall sports athletes. Kaitlyn's team received their medals from their coaches. She just finished her first session of indoor soccer and starts her second session this Saturday. She is really enjoying it and is learning more and more with every game.

  Oh wow...what a whirlwind! Because of the impending weather, we left St. Louis a day early to avoid snow on our journey to Cleveland to celebrate Christmas with the Kilbanes. We arrived late on Christmas day and braced ourselves for the "blizzard" that they were predicting. We got snow and wind, and COLD temperatures. The kids loved it. It was our first snow since last year (February)! We weren't out long due to the wind and sub-freezing temperatures. Kaitlyn was very upset that it wasn't "snowman making" snow...but they still found a way to throw it at us!  Time to go inside for "Hot Cocoa" Time to open presents! The kids were beyond excited to open the presents under the tree! Brady was covered in a mountain of gifts! He sifted through them quickly though...Kaitlyn was quite excited with her first "Lego Friends" kit as well as her Dorothy dress and Toto (in his basket) from the Wizard of Oz. SLED RI...

So the kids were more than excited to come to grandma and grandpa K's house for Christmas-mostly because we told them there would be snow! And the weather didn't disappoint! We got snow and snow and more snow. The kids were disappointed that it wasn't "snowman making" snow, but they got to play in, helped shovel and even got a sled ride from grandma!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope Santa was as good to you all as he was to us! The kids were so fun this, year opening their gifts and sharing in each other's excitement. They both got what they asked for from Santa (Kaitlyn - the Brave dress up; Brady the hot wheels looping mayhem double track). Along with some other surprises - they each got a Nook Color tablet! While we were really spoiled this year, let us remember that isn't the size of the gifts under the tree or how many you get to unwrap, but about the blessings that we have and often take for granted. I squeezed my little ones extra right last night and this morning thinking of the families in CT who woke up this morning still mourning the loss of 20 children and 6 adults. Peace to everyone! Merry Christmas

Ok, so I'm combining my last two days into one post. The ideas and projects I have pinned on Pinterest are endless. Recipes, tips, crafts, printables, educational activites.....the list goes on and on. I decided to do this blog challenge to see how many thing in Pinterest I would actually do and I found that I had already done quite a few. Tonight we complete our Christmas bucket list by having a "movie and popcorn night". Here are two Pinterest items that I completed before the holidays and was able to enjoy them during the holidays. The "HO HO HO" sign was made by applying scrapbook paper to 5x7 canvas and I made the words using vinyl. Hang with a red ribbon and DONE! My yarn wrapped wreath was made with a foam wreath mold, leftover white yard and a felt poinsettia. So simple.... I hope you have enjoyed these posts and I hope it has inspired you to do a little pinning of your own.

This elf....he sure has been getting into mischief since he's been at our house. This week, he's made into Kaitlyn's stocking (face first) looking for treats, I guess, in the pantry eating the kids' fruit snacks and now this......TPing the Christmas tree complete with a note reminding the kids how many days are left until Christmas! What will he get into next??

Day 9: 12/20/12 Making Reindeer food! Today we are making Reindeer food. This is something we do (I did get an alternative recipe on Pinterest) every year. We make a magical mixture for Santa's Reindeer to nibble on while Santa is having cookies and milk and leaving gifts under the tree. Dasher and Dancer get hungry too! Here is our recipe...remember this isn't actually for eating (just had to throw that out there). You can really use anything you want. The secret is in the "Magic" ingredient. 1 cup Oats (any kind/brand will work) 2 TBSP sugar 2 TBSP "magic"  sprinkles (This is what helps the reindeer fly!) I used Christmas cookie sprinkles that I have on hand - I let the kids pick which ones they want to put in their reindeer food. Place in a ziplock baggie and shake all ingredients. On Christmas eve, before you go to bed, sprinkle the Reindeer food on the lawn. The reindeer will thank you for the snack!