Gratitude!

Every morning the kids get to open the next window in their Advent Calendars that Grandma gave them and eat a little piece of chocolate with breakfast!  It's the highlight of everyone's morning.  

We walk to this awesome house so Ollie can see "Big Olaf and Baby Olaf" every single day.  It was actually in the Grand Rapids newspaper as a house to make sure you drive by to see this Christmas!  

This came home with Evie one day.  Love it.  

Pizza and smores outside, like every weekend, to keep us socially distant and safe but still enjoying the company of friends and family!  This is a pandemic activity that will definitely stick.  

Our new Rudolph!

My two favorite traditions at Christmas, making gingerbread houses and making and decorating cut out cookies!  

Grandma brought some ornaments for the kids to make too!

Ollie helping us with the firewood.  He is one good helper!

Movie night popcorn!

Puppy hugs, all day long, whenever he needs one.  Evie does the same thing.  Dogs are so good for that!  

In November I wrote about how we purchased books, toys, and gift cards for Nicky's hospital floor and we asked our friends and family to donate as well.  Even up to the morning Patrick was leaving for Ann Arbor, we had neighbors stopping by to give more!  My Mom brought several books and Maeve got to go shopping and pick out her favorites to send along too, even my college besties chipped in with money and purchases...and with everyone chipping in, we ended up doubling what is pictured above!  Mary, from the hospital, took this photo of the cart that she took it all in with.  We had about 100 new books and so many toys we couldn't even count.  Mary has already contacted Laney to tell her that the nurses loved her card and the Starbucks gifts.  We are so  moved with the generosity of others.  It's amazing the powerful and loving things we can accomplish with kindness and a little selflessness.  We have so much gratitude for the people in our life.  Thank you for helping us with this family project this Christmas!  Now, if only we could channel all that energy and kindness into curing cancer!  

We wanted to send a special gift for our Nicky with our donation.  Laney made him probably 20 cards and and bracelets to go with his "Blue".  We love you so much Nicky!  Love seeing that smile bud!