Settling in to our new normal

We had a nice long holiday break with the move - the kids were out of school for three weeks so were actually pretty happy to go back and jump into their new routine at St. Mary's Springs! 

New school - full days - five days a week - AND uniforms?!? 

Big changes all around - but these two took it all in stride! 

We got a tour before they went back and it was great to see everything so they felt a little more prepared when the school was filled with kids. 

This is the springs of St. Mary outside the main elementary school doors. 

School chapel 

Jimmy's desk - each kid has a water bottle and a bottle of hand sanitizer on their desk. 

Isaac's classroom 

Hanging in the gym

All smiles after his first day and showing off his new chrome book. 

In other news - I got my first vaccine! 

We got a fire table to enjoy time outside with friends and just cause it's fun! 

And I took my first trip to Baker cheese for fresh cheese --- so delicious! 

I think we are gonna do just fine here :) 

New Years at Pearl Lake

 We celebrated Christmas and New Years with the Swensons and Rubles this year. Not a ton of pictures - guess we were having too much fun to snap the photos! 

Lots of snow and cold to allow some lake time antics including the old pull snowmobile! 

Smooth ice under the snow for skating and penguin sliding. 

We took a walk around the lake and Isaac was goofing around enough to manage to get his feet over his head and land face first on the ice... Blood and some tears caused us to turn around and head into the cottage. The other two littles were happy to come in as well and quickly realized his pain was their gain. Ice Cream sandwiches before dinner with a movie in the kid cave! 

New Year's eve fireworks courtesy of the Rhyan Family! 

Anna was happy to give out hugs and snuggles, especially to TJ. 

Jammie photo! 

(these kids are getting so big we don't need 25 takes to get one good picture anymore!) 

Tea Party with Aunt Lisa :) 

And in case you were wondering - that kiss with the ice popped that tooth out the very next day. 

Christmas!

 We had a wonderful Christmas with lots of down time and thankfully some family time too! 

We started Christmas Eve with a present for the boys - the starter kit for Lego Mario. 

They were thrilled! 

We had a wonderful day with the Ellestad Family. The original plan was to be outside as much as possible, but it was COLD --- so inside with masks as much as possible became the new plan. 

The kids were honestly better at that rule than the adults :) 

Isaac and his Mario shirt from Aunt Amy --- such a happy dude! 

Bellies up to the sweet island --- best seat in the house during the holidays! 

We had an unexpected green theme this year! 

Christmas morning came early --- it looks dark outside but it was morning, I swear! 

One of my favorite pictures - the boys got each other Mario/ Luigi stuffies and this one just screams joy from the giver and the receiver! 

Christmas morning kids 

Reading Pete the Cat - Groovy Buttons with my gal :) 

The gifts are unwrapped - now its time to assemble! 

Now those are some happy boys right there! 

Apparently Jesus had a few extra visitors in the Manger this year --- you know, from 1985! 

Two new and very special ornaments on the tree this year to commemorate our move. So grateful they did not break in the tree debacle! 

We might not be able to have huge parties this year - so Anna was kind enough to invite Elmo and the Super Mario Brothers and their racecar buddies to the castle for a grand ol' time.

Charcuterie Board snack lunch 

Christmas Day "us-ie" 

Our sweet littles - first Christmas in Fond du Lac. 

Testing out their driving range from Anna in the back yard - a beautiful sunset! 

Grammy made an adorable bed for Anna and her doll Mandy 

Isn't this the sweetest picture?!? 

Reading her books with her doll in front of the tree. 

Building Legos with Buppa 

Not quite what the bed was meant for --- but oh well! 

A memorable and wonderful Christmas from every angle :)