First sewing project

Kayla has been asking and wanting to learn how to sew, and after a horrible failed sewing project attempt during Christmas break, we attempted again with a new project - this mermaid tail sleeping bag blanket. We found our inspiration picture on Pinterest, and without any instructions we used it as our visual guide to create our own. I think it turned out great! She did it all by herself - picked out the material, did the cutting, pinning and sewing (and by sewing I mean push the sewing machine pedal). The most important thing is that Kayla is so happy with it! Whew, success! If she's happy, I'm happy!

Pinterest photo inspiration

The big 4-0!

Happy birthday Aaron - it's a big one! We had lots of fun celebrating over two weekends with friends, going to a hotel with our family, lots of birthday parties and lots of cake, and to be followed with a trip to Mexico!

Family party at home

Party with the Faust's

Party with friends, cake made by Karry

Christmastime

It's been awhile but I thought I would get caught up with sharing some photos... including pictures from last year! Here's a highlight of some of my favorite from the Christmas holiday, in order of festivities. It was fun to look back and remember all these fun memories, as Kristi and I called it "The Vacation of 15 Saturdays"! I would go back and do this all again!

 Our first trip to the Santa parade with friends in downtown Port Huron

 The 15-year tradition continued with Festivus with our closest dearest friends at the Toasted Oak Grill and Market in Novi - fabulous!

Khloe's preschool Christmas party was a fun day, except the meeting Santa part. She yelled "He's fake!" and wanted no part of him, but the day still ended with smiles, lots of singing, a nativity reenactment, pinata fun and a hug for Santa after all.

 Celebrating Christmas with Ms Melissa and Addison

 This year, we organized the inaugural Black Forest Estates neighborhood caroling event. It almost didn't happen because there were varying waves of sickness through various families throughout the week but we pulled it off, even with custom song books and elf hats. It was a fun night that started at a neighbor's home with an indoor caroling concert and then moved outdoors through the neighborhood on an unusually warm, foggy evening. I'm proud of how well the girls did - they loved it - we all did and can't wait until the second annual event next year!

 Christmas Eve felt more like Easter weather instead of Christmas weather - more fog and warmth - so we went exploring down by the river to check it out

 Fun with family

 

 Christmas Eve candleight church service

 Saying goodbye to Cherry on Christmas Eve

 Santa came!

 We celebrated our last hours of being alive in 2014 by going ice skating... and going out to eat as a family at Loxton's, a fun family tradition

Happy New Years and Hello 2015!