Hey, Hey, The Gang's All Here!

It has been a LONG time since we have all been together.  I'm talking like two years.  My three siblings and I have lived in four different cities and three different states for years.  Now we are three states and three cities. 

While we were home, we were ALL able to get together...

Her aunts fought over her.  She's one lucky girl.  She loves them so much!

Grandma Dee got lots of smiles and snuggles.

Aunt Clara's turn!

Clara and her girlfriend, Kat.

Dance party!

SIBLING LOVE

I am luck that I don't just have a brother and two sisters; I have lifelong friends in each of my siblings.  We love them so much and so do our kids!

GramMo's House & Festival of Trees

Cohan LOVES staying at GramMo's house. 

He loves breakfast, extra lovin', her toys and, of course, HER! 

The day after Thanksgiving at my mom's house, since we have been little, has always been spent decorating for Christmas.  This year was no different.

 

Watching Santa with Aunt Abby

Cohan and Tayler had Dayton, their friend from next door over for lunch.

After decorating all day, we went to The Festival of Trees.  Cohan liked it last year, so I knew he would LOVE the trains even more this year!  When we arrived, bag pipers were parading through.  MeMo, my mom and Cohan loved it! 

It wasn't long before Cohan saw the train.  Last year, I rode with him.  This year, I had Ireland in the Baby Bjorn, so GramMo was more than happy to go with him.  MeMo, Ireland and I waved as they passed.  He rode it twice.  Once he wanted the caboose and the other time he wanted in the middle.

He found a little train

No Festival of Trees would be complete without their homemade gingerbread cookies!

Thanks, GramMo, for such a good time at home, special memories and awesome traditions you have started with our babies!

Thanksgiving

We headed to Illinois on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving a little before lunch.  We stopped by McDonald's on the way.  Cohan couldn't even stay awake long enough to finish his cheeseburger!!  It was BY FAR the best car ride we have ever had.  Both kids slept the entire way!!!

Cohan was super excited to see Tayler... 

Aunt Sarah did not let her down!

The next morning, Thanksgiving morning, we headed to Lincoln.  Our first stop was to visit my 98 year old grandpa.  He just moved to a nursing home.  He was over the moon excited to see us all.   

We then headed to my dad and step mom's house.   

While at the farm, Ireland needed an outfit change!  My dad and Chris had gotten her camo.  It was only appropriate she wear it there.  We added the turkey bow my mom had made for her!

 

It was a beautiful day outside.  We played ball, looked at deer stands and just enjoyed each other.  Cohan fell and took a pretty hard hit to his forehead, but that didn't stop him! 

Grandma Chris had a couple of crafts for Cohan and Tayler... 

After Lincoln, we headed back to Springfield.  My mom was at my aunt and uncle's house, so we joined them.  For having no naps, Cohan and Ireland were more than perfect.    

Snuggles form MeMo

Uncle Pat and Aunt Rae Marie

We have LOTS to be thankful for!!!

Nile our Pet

Cohan and Ireland received their first Christmas gift in the mail.  My dad and step-mom, Chris, adopted a hippopotamus for them at the St. Louis Zoo.  Cohan is taking his role as a zoo parent very seriously.  The few times that Ireland has gotten to hold "Nile" she has been quickly scolded for biting her! 

 

 

Ireland snuck a snuggle from Nile while Cohan was in the bath!

Thanks Bucko and Grandma Chris for a cool gift.  We can't wait to go to the zoo and see Nile!