Slick City

We were bored and decided to try out a slide place we haven't been to before. Similar to the trampoline parks, but with slides! It's called Slick City and in North Aurora, so about 30 minutes from us. We took Maddie with us. The place was packed, as expected. The kids had fun and it was something different for a change!

They even had a swing and trapeze bar that you could swing off of and land on a big pillow!

Turtle-sitting

While the Wilkens were out of town, I got to turtle-sit for Fries. I never knew how social turtles could be! He gets so excited when we come over and follows us back and forth in the aquarium. His little arms flap so much! :)

When I showed up today, he was just sunning himself on the rock!

Another time I went, I dragged Morgan along with me. She decided to use the "tiny hands" and play with Fries - ha! And yes, his water was cleaned out as soon as they got home! Erin says when she cleans out his tank, she lets him run around the house and he has a blast!

Exhausted Pup

Milo was so exhausted the day after Christmas... and super happy to have his spot on the couch back!

Christmas

We had an awesome Christmas day with family! 

The girls were up around 6:45 to see what Santa brought!

Avery got a new bike! Her old bike was so tiny, so she definitely needed an upgrade. She also got some skincare products, hoodies, dance clothes, a new basketball (Caitlyn Clark), a Taylor Swift book, LED lights for her room, water bottles and some winter accessories. And some candy, of course!

Morgan got an electric scooter, which she has been begging for forever! She also got some skincare products, hoodies, earrings, clothes, a Taylor Swift book, LED lights for her room, water bottles and some winter accessories. And like Avery, some candy, of course!

Milo loves wrapping paper!

It was hard to keep him away from it!

The girls were super excited to give Dad his gifts. They love Sephora and skin care products, so they got Dad something from Sephora (stuff for his beard!) We also got him a new frying pan and some Bombas socks (his favorite!)

We opened the gifts Grandma Marcia and Grandpa Richard sent. They gave the girls some LED light up dry erase boards, some books and a game.

Avery showing off some of her new skincare items!

Matt made us Bloody Mary's to kick off the day!

Avery tried our her new light up LED dry erase board.

Milo (aka "Max the Dog") in his Grinch costume!

Morgan wanted to try out her new electric scooter and Avery wanted to try out her new bike, so they made a few laps around the block. Avery had to get used to the hand brakes!

Some cute pics in our Christmas pajamas!

Grandma Ruth came over for brunch and to exchange presents.

After a power nap, we got everything ready for our Christmas with my family. My mom makes cookies with everyone's names on them and always brings the best goodies!

My brother's family got a new puppy for Christmas and brought her with them to our house. The kids loved her! They had named her Ruby.

Milo was definitely feeling a little left out with all the attention little Ruby was getting! Here he is with his Max the Dog antler on! He was a little hyper around her, so we kept them separated by the gates. I think he scared her!

We all got some fun gifts from each other! Matt got this Viking get up from my brother! :)

Avery got this Merry Christmas Bruh shirt from Aunt Sandi!

Morgan's shirt from Aunt Sandi says "Rizz the Season". Sandi makes shirts for the kids all the time and they are always so fun and cute!

Such a crazy mess with all the gifts and wrapping paper flying around!

Morgan testing out her new sign from Grandma and Grandpa! They got the girls these neon light up signs for their rooms (goes great with the new LED lights they got from Santa).

We ended the party with a wonderful dinner of lasagna, salad and garlic bread!

It's always such a whirlwind day with family coming and going and present opening and crazy excited kids running around! And of course, delicious food, cookies and candies!

Christmas Card 2024

 

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at Erin's house again this year. 

We all dressed up in fun holiday gear for the night. Matt wore his Christmas slippers with the bells on them. Milo kept attacking his feet!

We are ready for Grinchmas! The hats have the grinch on them and say Naughty on the green ones and Nice on the red ones.

So much yummy food at Erin's house! Morgan loved the shrimp cocktail!

The kids had "wine" and "Cheers"'d to Christmas!

When we came home, our neighborhood was lit up by all the luminaries! It's always so pretty to see this each year!

Trying to stay up late

The girls had the great idea to have a sleepover together in Avery's room and stay up super late the night before Christmas Eve because they thought it would help them fall asleep faster on Christmas Eve! They stayed up until almost midnight!

Hot chocolate and Christmas Lights

We like to drive around and look at all the decorations on houses during the holidays. We picked up some hot chocolate from Starbucks and cozied up in the car. We saw some amazing displays on our drive! Inspiration for next year for our house - ha!

Lightscape at the Botanic Garden

We went to the Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden again this year. It's a little over a mile path through all kinds of fun lights.