Christmas Cookies

Since we cut our trees a little early this year, it meant we had some extra time to bake cookies after Thanksgiving. So Auntie Erin came with all of Ellyn's recipes and supplies and we spent the next two days after Thanksgiving running a cookie shop out of our kitchen.  HAHA!  Not quite, but close!

We made Peanut Butter Blossoms (my personal favorite), Pepperkakers (Ryan's favorite), Molasses cookies (more of my favorites) and of course, Ellyn's sought after sugar cookies.  Guys - we literally mixed, rolled, cut, frosted and sugared for two days straight!

It was fun to let the girls get in on the action and help with the cut out cookies and decorating.  They sifted, the measured, they read the recipes to us, helped roll the dough, cut out the shapes and helped us inventory what shapes we needed more of.

The first day we spent making all the dough and getting the sugar cookies rolled, cut and baked.  Day two was primarily decorating and then Erin spent another few hour rolling and baking the Pepperkakers while we went to a birthday party with the kids.  It was a full weekend affair and it certainly took all of us to make them happen!

But, guys, they are so pretty and so festive and so YUMMY!  So, get ready, if you're seeing us in the next few weeks, we'll probably have some cookies to share.  Get excited!  The holidays are almost here...it's the best time of the year!

Cookies - made possible by Christmas music and football.  Oh, and wine!  Of course there was wine.

Gingerbread houses

Tradition!  It's one thing we're really good at....and these Gingerbread houses with the kids after Thanksgiving is one of the many traditions we're still holding onto. 

This year was the first year we had all four kiddos doing them...last year we figured Lincoln was too little to care.  So, we needed all adults on deck to help with the frosting, unwrapping of candy and general management of the project.

They all tried to do their own frosting (see above) but their little hand are just not strong enough to squeeze the frosting out in any manageable way....but, maybe next year!  I think the bigger girls are getting pretty close to being able to do it alone.

Aren't my niece and nephew just the curtest dang things!  Lincoln is now sporting the cutest little glasses - new just the day before we took these pictures.

Christmas Tree Cutting

This year Thanksgiving was late (Feb 28) so it really felt like Thanksmas this year - a mix of both Thanksgiving and Christmas.  And, the fact that we were all together for the football game the weekend before Thanksgiving confused us all even more...then add in the fact that we cut our tree a week early and we were ALL confused about what holiday it was and what we were celebrating.  I've always been pretty strict about no Christmas music or decor before Thanksgiving (we have to give each holiday it's space and celebrate it for it's own!)...but not this year!

Since we were cutting on a weekend we don't typically go, I made DOUBLE sure to check our normal tree farm to be sure they were open.  I checked months ago!  Well, good thing someone suggested we check what time they open the next day because Saturday evening I found out that our tree farm wasn't even open that weekend...so, we had to come up with a plan B.  And it didn't disappoint! 

For the past 5 years or so we've cut our trees in Woodstock at Oney's tree farm.  But, in the last two years or so we've felt like there were less and less trees to chose from, and more and more people to content with.  I'm sure the fact that we went a week earlier than most played into our experience but we felt like Williams Tree Farm was HUGE and the tree selection was great.  I wish we could have found some fatter trees - next year we'll ask....but, we think we might have found our new tree farm for Christmas memories to come!

The kids held up pretty good with all the walking and tree hunting this year.  Especially given the day before we dragged them along to a football game for the majority of the day.  The weather was great, warmish and sunny.  The place wasn't crowded and we all found trees we loved.  Oh!  And my wreath!  I finally found a wreath that fills our giant chimney perfectly.  I love love love the way our fireplace and mantle looks this time of year (try to ignore the dog bog, kid blanket and Home Depot bucket)....and this wreath fits the space perfectly!

Up next, FULL ON Christmas prep in the McGrath household.  We have 22 days and counting!

Wisconsin/Perdue Football

A few weeks back we took the girls to their first football game.  Actually, it was a two-fer.  Their first football game and their first tailgating.  When we decided to pull the trigger on a mid-November game we knew the weather would have a lot of influence on the type of day we had.  Boy did we luck out!  You can see from the pictures that it was sunny and the temperatures were in the high 30's. 
 

The game was the last home game before the end of the regular season and since Wisconsin has been doing really well this year, the didn't release the game time until a week prior.  We were crossing our fingers that it would be early (the kids tolerance for a game would be a LOT less at 7pm at night).  We lucked out a second time and the game was set for 3 so we decided to try tailgating knowing it would give the kids a chance to run around, go in the car if they got cold, have some snacks and us adults could hang out and chat. 

The game was actually Sarah and Dan's idea and since they were playing Wisconsin in Madison I was pretty sure I could convince my parents to come out and join us.  The kids loved having Grandma and Papa around and the group got even better when Auntie and Grandpa also decided to join us. 

We had 8 people in our total group and then Sarah and Dan brought another set of friends so we topped out at 12 people and all in all we had a great day.  The kids were warm with their snow pants and winter clothes on.  In fact, Hazel was so warm and snuggly that she fell asleep on Erin's lap for nearly an hour during the game.

We stayed until the beginning of the 4th quarter so everyone could experience the Jump Around and then we left.  Overall the day went perfectly...I think the only thing Ryan would have changed was the fact that Purdue lost...wah wah.  The kids were troopers and stuck it out the entire time with us.  We stopped for dinner in Monroe and were home (and warm) by 8:30 pm! 

1 Family x 12 (November)

This past weekend we took the kids to a college football game and we got to check a few firsts off the kids lists.  First tailgating, first football game, and first stadium!  It was cool, but actually a beautiful day for being outside.  Temperatures in the low 40's and sun made for an overall great day for everyone.  The kids did better than expected and they really were good sports!  I'll do a full post on the day later, but for now, our family photo for November.

Halloween 2019 - otherwise known as that time it showed 6 inches on Halloween

Well guys, we did it!  We trick or treated, in family Halloween costumes in 25 degree weather and 6 inches of snow.  Last year when the kids begged Ryan and I to dress up for trick or treating we were the only dressed up adults.  So, we set down ground rules for 2019 that included mandatory family costumes for our group.

I wanted to be A League of Their Own...I mean, come on, we have three girls and one Tom Hanks...how cute would that be?  Turns out Ryan said the kids wouldn't understand the reference (he was right), the girls wanted to be witches...and, those costumes would have been horrible in the snow, so we landed as Hocus Pocus. 

Of course the kids were too small for the cute licensed costumes so we went with these cute light up numbers from Walmart.  Ryan was Binx the cat (tell me, why do guys always get the warm, comfortable costumes!?) and I was Bette Midler trying to pull our rag tag group costume together with a good wig and a "real" Sanderson Sister costume.  Well, at least the pictures turned out cute!!

Our group was ADORABLE walking down the street...albeit cold!  The Brackemyers went as the Wizard of Oz (yes, for anyone that recognized it...that IS an old Sally Ritterbusch original Jamie is wearing.  I was a scarecrow long ago and boy do some of those old costumes come in handy!).

The Rasmussen's were the characters from Up.  You can't quite see them in the picture, but Hattie was even carrying a cute little bundle of balloons.  That is until she promptly let them go about 3 houses in, JUST before we were able to snap this adorable group picture below.  Amazingly, she didn't shed a tear, just watched them disappear into the sky and moved on.  I think the candy helped!

All in all, I can't say trick or treating was a "success" this year.  I mean, it happened, which is a miracle, but it was cold, and wet and the power wheels didn't do well in the snow...the kids lasted for probably less than an hour and there were some tears...but, it is what it is.  Maybe next year will be our year?!?  Oh, and, get ready for it...Halloween 2020 is a whole group costume.  Now we just have to figure out what we can do with NINE total girls and 3 guys.  Any ideas!?!

Carving Pumpkins

The weekend before Halloween we had some of our favorite people over to carve pumpkins and start getting into the Halloween spirit.

The kids scooped their own goop (mostly) and carved their own pumpkins (mostly).

For some reason every year when we carve pumpkins its dark outside, and the lighting in the house is hard on the camera and my pictures ALWAYS come out a little fuzzy...but, they are what they are and I'm posting them, because there are memories in here that I will want to look back on someday.

BUT!  I did get smarter this year and a few days later I made the girls sit outside with their pumpkins so I could get a few good clear shots of what they carved.  I can hardly believe that Hazel isn't a tiny baby anymore and Abby is in SECOND grade.  It goes fast guys, real fast....

1 Family x 12 (October)

Last year when we all agreed to do family Halloween costumes I knew my October monthly family photo would be a hit....if only we'd have known we'd be wearing snow boots and snow pants.  I guess that's what makes the memories so great?

Annual Beer Tasting and "Practice Halloween"

My oh my, the times have changed.  It wasn't all that long ago that Annual Beer Tasting involved pictures of actually tasting beer....but, over the last 3 years we've had fewer and fewer of those and more of these adorable girls Trick or Treating!  And, you know what, I'm not mad about it!  These girls are way cuter than we adults are anyways.

Beer tasting was a success yet again.  This year we had a smaller crowd, but I'm so happy that Justin and Karen stuck around and didn't ditch us for hunting!  It was so fun to catch up with them and have them around to joke with.  This year Justin actually took home first prize with a growler of I can't remember what...and Ryan got second with his entry of Fantasy Factory from Karben4 brewing out of Madison.   He was lucky because he didn't decide on his entry until 2 nights before, and of course a trip to Binny's later I found out that they don't distribute outside of Wisconsin....good thing my Dad randomly had 6 in his fridge from a few weekends ago!

One of my favorite parts of beer tasting is that Jamie and I run the show meaning we do all the pouring and setting up the bracket/assigning numbers etc.  That means I know which beers are playing each round and who entered them. To everyone else it's a completely blind taste test.  But, being in the know is awesome because I get to listen to everyone's comments and know more than they do. 

My two favorite moments of the tasting were:
1. When Bill tasted his own beer, made a horrible face and said "whoever entered this one isn't allowed to play next year"
2.  When my Dad inadvertently entered skunky Bell's Two Hearted (recently touted to be the best craft beer in America).  No wonder everyone made a bad face at that tasting too!

And, of course the kids just loved getting together and spending time with their friends.  The "practice Trick or Treating" didn't hurt either!  The little campground near the Ware's house does and early trick or treating and the last few years we've planed beer tasting around it so that the kids have something fun to look forward to too.  Believe it or not, beer tasting isn't that exciting for them - but...they really are good sports about it all!

Staley

Sunday was a sad day in our house.  We lost a friend.  Someone how has been by our sides, through three moves, two babies, a wedding, 4 campers, countless weekend trips and all of the life that fits in between nine, almost 10, years. 

Ryan and I got Staley as an 8 week old puppy.  She was a rescue and was in foster care just a few days after being born.  Her original name was Trinity and even though we lived in a townhouse, without a big yard, and already had Lily, my Golden, Ryan and I decided we wanted to try an adventure together.  Staley was born in early January and a friend of a friend was a foster home for German Sheppard.  I'd never owned a dog other than a Golden and I wasn't sure what we were getting ourselves into, but, now, looking back, I know that all we got ourselves into was a great dog.  A smart dog. 

Staley always had the softest ears, even until her last breath, you couldn't help but pet her soft ears.  And, even though she had the bark of a Sheppard it was the only thing "Sheppard" about her.  She had the heart of Golden and I think that has a lot to do with growing up right next to Lily. 

Ryan picked the name Staley, as in the Chicago Staley's, in homage to his beloved Chicago Bears.  It was a little bit about the Bears and a little bit about flying in the face of my love for the Packers.  But, Staley was Ryan's first pet and he got to pick her name.  Unless of course you count Slippy, a tiny frog that came to him in the mail for Christmas one year and somehow lived over 20 years.  Staley was our first dog together.  Of course, I already had Lily when I met Ryan, but Staley was our first joint dog.  Our test before kids.  Our first addition to making a family.

She was FAST!  Playing catch was one of her favorite games and should could beat just about any other dog.  I remember standing in the big open grass area outside of the townhouse and throwing the ball back and forth across the huge field, pitching it as far as we could just to try and get some energy out of her.  Both Lily and Copper had to figure out how to play catch when Staley was around.  Lily went with the tried and true method of just refusing to give the ball back if she ever got her jaws on it.  Staley would then bite at Lily's legs until she got annoyed and finally gave up the ball so we could throw it again.  With Copper, Staley went for the "barrel him over" philosophy that meant that Copper wouldn't even TRY to get the ball if Staley was anywhere close to him.  So, you'd often find us throwing the ball in one direction for Staley and then quickly chucking a second ball the other way so the other dog could get a chance. 

When Staley was about 2 years old she started losing a ton of weight and we were at a loss on what we should do for her.  The vet couldn't figure it out and we were really worried we were going to have to put her down.  Within less than 5 minutes of eating any kind of food she'd immediately need to go outside and go to the bathroom.  She lost a lot of weight and was down to only around 40 lbs.  For a large breed like a Sheppard a normal weight would be 75-100 lbs on a healthy dog.  Then one day my friend Kristina was talking to a co-worker about Staley and the co-worker said "I think I know what she has....I'll bring you some medicine".  Turns out the co-worker was right and she probably saved Staley's life!  She gave Kristina some medicine to treat something called EPI.  It's somewhat common it Sheppard's and it amounts to her pancreas not being able to digest food - which explained why she was losing so much weight and why she was needing to go to the bathroom so quickly.  The medicine is a powder that we had to sprinkle on her food and let sit for a few minutes before she'd eat.  The medicine would begin to digest the food so that when Staley ate it was able to be absorbed into her body instead of passing right through. 

After we sorted that all out Staley did begin to gain weight and she was doing much better but I think Ryan and I both knew that we might not have the normal 10-15 years with her.  But, we were lucky, the medicine did the trick and we got 8ish more years with her.

Like I said, she saw us through a lot of change in this family, two babies, three moves and lots and lots of road trips.  She really didn't like riding in the car but she put up with us anyways.  She'd start pacing the house as soon as she saw me packing back and was panting and losing hair as soon as we put her in the car.  But, she was a GOOD dog.  A good girl and a great "big sister" to Abby and Hazel.  I didn't worry about her with the kids for one second.  She might have looked like a Sheppard but she had the heart of a Golden and that and her soft ears will be the two things I will ALWAYS remember about her.

Staley didn't suffer for long in these last few days.  And she passed away here at home with us.  We all got a chance to give her a few hugs and kisses and pets and the girls got to say good bye.  The final moments were really rough and we are all working through the sadness of losing her.  I'll miss those brown eyes and soft ears.  I hope you are chasing balls with Lily up there in Heaven.  Hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma and Bubby and Lily and all the other people and pets we miss here on Earth every day.  You were a good dog and we'll never forget you sweet girl.