Happy Independence Day 2026

We had a fun July 4th watching fireworks and grilling out. On the 3rd our town did a big festival with music and vendors before the fireworks, so I took the boys and enjoyed the live music while they ran around. They shared a funnel cake and snow cones, then we all watched the show before heading back home.

On the 4th we headed out to Lyndonville along a country road to watch their big show from outside town. The boys entertained themselves on some hay bales until the show started. Another fun holiday in the bag! It has rained all day but cleared up in time for the evening.

Jacob Turns 11

Yesterday my sweet boy Jacob turned 11 years old! We had a small family party at the house with his favorite cake (lime jello cake) and ice cream (cookie dough). He requested homemade butter chicken and naan for dinner, so that's what I made! I also made everyone a big brunch for the afternoon.

He opened his presents in the morning because why not? His dad built him a fancy new gamer computer with all sorts of flashy lights, so he loved that and immediately had to set it up. After brunch we did cake and ice cream, with more after dinner that evening! He had a fun day of relaxing.

His uncle Eric sent him a Minecraft Lego set as well. No word from any grandparents.....

Once the weather warms up a bit, he'll have a party with friends for more fun!

Check back soon for an updated post on Bradley's college journey ....

Catching up and Christmas

These last couple of months have been filled with school activities and prepping for the holiday season! Bradley is in many clubs at school for his senior year, and at their "Senior Tea" he had an art display with a few of his projects. He received a certificate noting his accomplishment!

For one of his classes he had to turn in an essay, so of course he brought out his typewriter for some vintage style.

We all enjoyed a breakfast with Santa at a small place in a nearby town. You're never too old for Christmas cheer!

The house has been very festive with the traditional village on the mantel and our tree in the window.

With the Student Council Brad assisted with a blood drive, then donated blood as well for the first time!

Jacob received perfect attendance for the first semester!

The boys enjoyed their annual trip to the school's holiday craft night. They didn't make any crafts this year haha, however they did enjoy hot cocoa and decorating cookies that they promptly ate.

Brad let the little kids throw rings at his antlers. He's still a little kid at heart.

As we were leaving we caught the gingerbread man coming in!

Jacob also got 3rd place in his Geography Bowl competition.

For Christmas Eve after dinner we packed up and headed out to a charming light display in a neighboring town. Unfortunately we had no snow on the ground for Christmas! But the lights were very nice.

Christmas morning with my boys was fun! First they got to open their stockings to see all of their treats.

Next we had homemade buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy for breakfast.

After breakfast we headed into the living room to organize the gifts then tear into them!

Even Cuddles got some gifts! He got a new food dish, some treats, and a couple of sweaters to keep warm on the chilly nights.

Now we're just relaxing while the kids are home on break before getting back into normal life next week.

As far as Brad's college update....unfortunately he was waitlisted for MIT and won't find out the final decision until March. He still has a pending application with RIT and expects to get into their Honors Program there--we will find out in late Jan. He has also decided to put in a last minute application for Stanford that is due next week. They also have a very competitive process and low acceptance rate, but we know whatever is meant to be will happen for him!

Halloween Fun 2025

Another holiday come and give, and probably our last with Brad as a trick or treating boy. Next year he'll be off at a university somewhere probably at a party with friends! We started off by carving pumpkins a couple of days before Halloween...

The weather on Halloween evening was cold and rainy so we bundled up and I followed the boys on our usual route with my umbrella as they visited each house. We looped back to our house where Jacob wanted to stop, but Brad continued on to a different neighborhood by himself for more candy 

Afterwards they ate way too much candy and watched tv before enjoying a lazy weekend!

Easter at Home

This Easter we had a couple of friends over for a nice dinner and enjoyed our holiday traditions with the boys. The weather was nice and sunny so they got to have their egg hunt outside!

We started off the morning in our pjs with their treat baskets! Full of special snacks, chocolate, and candy of course.

I got started on our big ham dinner and our friends arrived around 11:30am. We enjoyed their company and ate some delicious food, then played a card game while we waited for our stomachs to have some room for dessert. After dessert they headed home and Nick and I snuck outside to hide the eggs for the hunt!

We hid 68 eggs around the front of our backyard, and I think they found *most* of them!

Then they got to open each one up and enjoy some treats.

Look at these spring beauties that have popped up!!

We relaxed the rest of the day, and the boys actually had the next Monday off school as well so they had lots of time to enjoy their treats! It was back to school after that. Hope your Easter was nice as well!