Happy New Year

Happy New Year!  We have a pizza party at home on New Years Eve.  The pizza kit, which was a Christmas gift, was really fun!  Plus, the dough was delicious!  We rang in the new year at 10pm with girls.  We had a little count down, confetti poppers and sparklers.  Will and I actually managed to see (I should say stay awake) to see the ball drop at midnight.  Starting off the new year with my husband by my side is the best place to be.  2013 was a year full of family, love and travel.  Though we endured our own private struggles as all people do, we still found the silver lining. The good always outweighs the bad and our lives are full of love.  For that I am extremely grateful. 

Christmas Continued

To top off our Christmas celebration, we headed up to Maryland.  It is always a nice feeling to catch up with family.  The girls enjoy their bedrooms at Grandmere & Poppys.  Plus, Isabella was excited to spend the night in Aunt Meredith's(old)room.  We were also able to visit my grandmother and family in the nursing home. I was able to get a photo of 4 generations which is pretty neat!

The girls love Uncle Sean

Grandmere & the girls

Pap, Gram, Mom/Grammie & the girls

4 generation photo!!!!

Christmas Town 2013

Christmas does not have to end on 12/25 especially when there is Christmas Town at Busch Gardens.  Thank you to PopPop and Grandmom for a fun filled day in Williamsburg.  Making memories is the best gift of all! 

PopPop, Sophia, myself and Bella

Happy girls with G-mom & PopPop

The girls spot Santa through the window

A Chilly Train Ride

Brave Bella and PopPop

Isabella wanted to go again....

Ready to take flight

Polar Bear Cuties

Home for Christmas

Christmas morning started before the sun came up.  Isabella, was up at 5:45am ready to head downstairs.  Per Schaefer tradition, we snapped a photo of 2 very excited girls at the top of the stairs.  The girls loved opening gifts and were surprised with all the presents around the tree. They had only asked Santa for one present each.  Isabella wanted a moving robotic kitty and Sophia wanted a 3 foot Rapunzel doll.  Well, once the girls opened those gifts from Santa they did not want to do any more presents.  So we enjoyed a nice breakfast followed by a delightful nap. We later resumed gifts and spent our afternoon enjoying family time by the fire.  It was a nice relaxing Christmas at home.

Waiting at the top of the stairs

Sophia's first glimpse of the goods!

Checking out all the presents!

Happy little girls on Christmas morning

The girls with their favorite toys

Bella and her other kitty

Sophia loving her big Rapunzel

Kitty Claus

My 3 girls under the tree

Bella's moving kitty from Santa

Enjoying our warm fire

Sophia is rockin' the stash.

Enjoying playing with the new toys

Thankful for our special Christmas Dinner

Who loves Christmas...we do!

The Night Before Christmas

The night before Christmas was full of excitement.  Isabella wanted to be a helpful Elf and requested that I call her Elf  Gingersnap and Sophia Elf Buttercup.  The girls, I means Elves, made chocolate chip cookies for Santa, cleaned windows to get on the good list (it was their idea!) , finished their fun advent calendar, went to mass at church, feed the reindeer and then listened to the Night Before Christmas Story.  As excited as they were for Santa to arrive, the girls were asleep by 7:30pm!

Making cookies for Santa

Yum, chocolate chip!

Elves cleaning the windows

Feeding the reindeer 

Awesome Advent Calendar

Yes, Ruby Slippers match Sophia's pj's.

Sisters snuggle on xmas eve

Story time "The Night Before Christmas"

December Fun!

It is the time of year to celebrate!  The girls had a few festivities at their school.  Isabella had a reindeer themed winter enrichment, a jingle bell run and school wide Christmas carols.  Sophia had a cute Christmas Program at preschool and was a shinning star on stage.  Sophie was the first from the school to walk in the church to perform and came in with a sweet smile.

 As a child I always thought Christmas was exciting and now as a parent it is even more fun!  I have loved seeing the delight of the Christmas season in my daughters eyes.

Bella & I at the Kindergarten Winter Enrichment

December Class Photo

Sophia's Christmas Program at Preschool

Sophia is happy to start winter break

Jingle Bell Run!

Bella stops for a hug break

Christmas Carols at Gayton Elementary

Its Christmas Eve today, yet feels like December has just begun!  Our elves Lacey & Dorothy will be heading back to the North Pole tonight to help Santa load up the sleigh.  We are all going to miss our silly Elves.  We have delivered cookies and carols to our neighbors and will be heading to mass soon.   The girls are excited to see what Santa brings them and we are thrilled to be able to spend the holiday in our home.  May the joy and love of the Christmas season warm your heart and sole.  Merry Christmas!