Thursday, December 31, 2015

West Side Market on Christmas Eve Eve

We took our traditional Christmas Eve Eve trip to the Westside Market. 

Kiera made a donation and got to ring the bell.
 First stop, seafood.


 Father Christmas, who owns an apiary.

 We're totally having these at Em's Bridal Shower!
 See Val and Ty up on the balcony? 






 After the Market, we tried Bon Bon for lunch. 
It was delicious! 

Christmas Break Fun

We didn't do our Family Cookie Baking, so Kiera and I made our own...
Oatmeal Raisin Cranberry Pecan White Chocolate Chip cookies.

Visiting Great Gram
Kate and I did a "Random Act of Greenery Kindness" and 
decorate the Village Project's planter without them knowing.
Their logo is an artichoke.
Chippy, our Elf on the Shelf, wrapped the toilet in
wrapping paper

 Just another warm, sixty degree December day...
Kiera and Brooke watching the day go by.


Santa

Kiera and Papa went to see Santa.
Kiera told Santa she wanted a Fitbit. 






Family Christmas Party

Family Party

-It was sixty degrees.
-Kiera is almost as tall as Aunt Sally.
-Last Christmas party, Michelle and Nick announced their
pregnancy and this year Baby Brooklyn was at the party!
-Our family donated to the Village Project.
-Jimmy said this is his last year to make his famous stuffed cabbage.
-Kiera won LRC! But she and Bay had a deal, and they split the winnings.
-We made decorative wreaths and raffled them off.
-Emmy and Paul were there in spirit, because Em had finals that week. 






Cousins
(Livi, AJ and Ava had to leave early because Ava had a basketball game)
Vase painting and card making for Village Project

Showing off some of the donations!

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Bockrath Family Party

The Bockrath Cousins at the Bockrath Family Christmas Party...

Addyson
Harrison
Owen
Trevor
Trey
Delaney
McKenna
Aiden
Lydia
Kiera




Thursday, December 24, 2015

Polar Express

All aboard the Polar Express! 
"The thing about trains...it doesn't matter where they're going. 
What matters is deciding to get on."
Does she look excited or what? "
Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."

Blowing Polar Express Bubbles
Doing the "Reindeer Hokey Pokey"
Cookie and monogrammed napkin, yes, please!
"It's so Christmassy and cozy and beautiful."
Kiera gave Mimi and extra long hug and Mimi's name tag
ended up in Kiera's hair. She left it there a long time because
she thought it was the funniest. thing. ever.
The conductor punching Kiera's ticket
The lights outside the train car window

Receiving her beautiful jingle bell from Santa 
"The bell is a wonderful symbol of the spirit of Christmas, as am I. 
Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart."


"It's a magic carpet on a rail
It never takes a rest
Flying through the mountains and the snow
You can ride for free and join the fun.
If you just say yes
Cause that's the way things happen on the Polar Express!
Whoo, whoo, the whistle blows
That's the sound of her singing
Ding, ding the bell will ring
Golly, look at her go!
When we get there
We'll scream, Yay!
We'll arrive with a bang, bang, bang
Laughing all the way!"