Sunday, December 28, 2014

So this is Christmas.....

 Christmas 2014 is going down in the records books as award-winningly lame.... But more about that later! We did have some fun getting into the holiday mood with another masterpiece of a party with friends....
 Muscle Fitness cut out was a white elephant gift item compliments of the married duo who work in the "industry." So proud of Jeremy, he worked hard for that cover....And he worked hard for that sweater too I'm sure....
 I let the party people borrow my Britney Spears headset. God, I love white elephant gift exchanges! I just have to figure out how to get Noah's new MJ shirt...
 It's all business while wearing the headset.
 This is just a random picture, but I love these two...

 Sunday after Christmas party shenanigans, we loaded up the car in search of a Christmas tree... We hit the wilderness along with the rest of Boise. Seriously, the mountains were packed with people and good trees were scarce!
But we preserved!

 There were a lot of random actions with sticks on this endeavor. Sword fighting, hole making, stick chopping, you name it.
 Morgan was a little more focused on the task at hand...
 If you look super duper hard, you can see "the one." It only took a little jaunt through a ravine to get there, but so worth it!
 And no trip is complete without a creepy Sarah selfie. Channeling my inner "Blair Witch."
 Mountain Men!
 Turns out daddy needs a new saw. Merry Christmas!
 Edible 10 year old cheeks.
 Aidan wrote in the snow, "Aidan and Mommy." We are meant to be...

 Look at that beaut!
 Morgan's indoor soccer game, hours before the Dolly had a little ride in the ambulance and became wheelchair bound. Rats!
 Ryan and I are winning at White Elephant Gift exchanges. This little treat was from my office party. Ryan worked hard to get this and is appropriately displaying it.
 I got into the baking mood and whipped up this treat. Cheesecake anyone? #winning
 Despite wheelchair madness, the girls still managed to take in the Nutcracker and loved it.
 Oh look how happy we are! This is hours before the flu to end all freaking flus ravaged our home...
 My parents got into town on Monday, right around when then the flu also came. All four of us were so sick, my parents left Tuesday night.
 I know it was a hard decision for them, but in reality, considering that it took us 7 DAYS to feel even somewhat better, they made the right decision! 7 DAYS people!
 Before they left the kids opened their gifts from Papa and Grandma.
 I sure hope those gifts come with an insurance policy, unicycle for Morgan and roller-blades for Aidan!



 Poor girl never gets sick and yep, 7 days of misery!
 Christmas eve consisted of us eating left over pizza and going to bed at 7. But not before the kids distributed reindeer food...
 Snow! It was a white Christmas!
 But does that little face look like she cared?
 How could Santa not come when lured by these treats?
 They might be super sick, but are so, so sweet...
 Christmas morning!


 My little brother has picked up where I have left off in getting the nieces/nephews gifts that will drive their parents bonkers. Well played, Ty, well played.
 Still sick but look at that impish grin...
 On Christmas Eve, both Ryan and I had to take naps before we fell over. Seriously, who knew the flu was so miserable? There is no way I have ever had the flu before, this was insane. But while we napped, Morgan and Aidan made this sign. Love-bugs.


The absolute worst part of being sick on Christmas was that Grandma Dolly was all alone. We couldn't risk her getting sick, so we had to wait until we had been fever free to see her.  I felt terrible knowing that she was by herself on such a special holiday.

I think the kids were happy to get their present when they visited Grandma.... A TRIP TO MAUI IN APRIL! I think that more than makes up for being sick on Christmas, right?

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

2014....How great you were!

 Final post of 2014 before the blog book is given to the printers.... Fitting that we finish with probably more family pictures than really anyone would ever want to see....
 One of Aidan's friend's moms is a talented photographer and snapped some pictures of the Kearney/McFadden gaggle. Amazing things happen when we shower...
 Our boy, Byron, turned an ever so young 13 this year. 13 years?!?!? It was a blink ago that Ryan bribed me into saying "yes" with this sweet puppy. Kidding, no bribing needed...


 Great-Grandma and her kids. Oh please, please, please God, let me have this woman's genes! I promise I'll be good.


And Grandma and her girls. All these years later and she still spoils me rotten....
 My three most favorite guys on this planet.


 TK5. Which means "Team Kearney 5." We are a team and a pretty rad one.
Love these little faces.
 I'm not okay with this. Not one bit. Too old, too cute and too sweet.
 And my heart just exploded and splattered all over my computer screen. No wait, that was wine. We're okay.
 And again.
 And again.


 Winner winner, chicken dinner of the luckiest mom in the world award. Except for when they are fighting with each other. Then I'm the fastest runner in the world to get out of earshot. It's called a coping strategy people.










 No photo montage is complete with a "jump sequence." Am I right?



 Or a "throwing leaves in the air" sequence. It's like it's mandatory.





What a year 2014 has been.... Ryan has gone through work changes with a merger, the kids had their first trip to Hawaii, Ryan and I snuck off to Marco Island with xpedx (because Ryan is a ROCK STAR and won another award trip), lots of skiing (snow and water), camping, soccer, gymnastics, lacrosse, job promotion for me, new kitchen and adventures galore...  We live a wonderful life. Don't confuse that with perfect, or neat, or easy... just wonderful. Here's to what I hope is another wonderful year in 2015. If you were a part of our 2014... Thank you for the wonderful memories. If you weren't a part of our 2014, but have been a part of previous years, well.... You actually were in our hearts for 2014, so it's kind of the same thing. Love, The Kearneys