Merry Christmas!!!

We had a great Christmas weekend with both sets of grandparents, Uncle Pat, Kelley and Kelly and the cousins.  We went to Mass on Christmas Eve, which was beautiful.  Here are few pictures...just a sampling of our fun times!

Conal and Aidan with some new Legos

Moira trying to make Seamus happy...

Now he's happy.  Must be the pink headband...

Molly Grace and Margaret

Conal and Aidan getting ready to open their gifts from Grandma and Grandpa M.

Grandma M outdid herself again with personalized pjs for the whole gang!

Colleen, Bridget and Teresa

Eileen

Moira

Molly Grace and Margaret

Owen and Emmett, waiting for their turn....

More great pjs...

Erin opening hers...

Colleen and Erin

The whole gang...TOP:  Seamus, Bridget, Moira, Erin, Owen, Emmett, Eileen, Colleen 

BOTTOM:  Aidan, Margaret, Teresa, Molly Grace, Conal

One of the goofy pictures...

Mother and Daughters

Teresa and Molly Grace got their hair cut this week.  Aren't they cute?  Teresa's was very long, so it's a big change for her.

Yesterday Moira spend way too long (a long story!) putting together our Christmas photo collage card (which we hope to mail before Christmas).  We wanted to have equal representation of the members of our family on this collage. This was not an easy task with ten family members and 8 photo spots to fill.  We discovered, with the oodles of arrangements we could come up with, that we were short a picture of Teresa, Molly Grace and myself.  So, onto the porch we went to get a photo. Here is our attempt to take a posed picture that is not supposed to look too posed. So, now you know the inside scoop.  And Moira is going to make an awesome events coordinator some day, as she is gaining all the experience she needs by being the oldest of eight children!  

Look Closely, It's a Christmas Tree!

We were just about to give up on the piece of junk cute little mini Christmas tree kit that Molly Grace got  for her birthday.  After watering it for about a month, setting it in the sun and checking it every day, I told Molly Grace that I was convinced it was just not going to grow a tree.  She kept asking to wait just a little bit longer before it ended up in the trash.  Finally, after forgetting about it for a week to our great surprise, we saw a little sprout growing!  It looks like Molly Grace will have her own mini Charlie Brown Christmas tree after all!

A Little Distraction...

So, we were all supposed to be doing school work when I walked into the room to see this little scene...

I know....it's almost Christmas break and we are distracted.  In fact, Teresa was taking her last math test before she found Seamus, a pair of sunglasses and a guitar to be much too tempting.  And of course I found my handy camera nearby to also be much too tempting :)

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!!

It snowed all day and all night for a total accumulation of 14 inches.  Yesterday morning we woke early to find the majority of snow had already fallen.  It was sooo beautiful!

Mike got busy trying to dig out so he could get to work.  The snowblower ran out of gas, so he didn't get too far.  He decided to take the Suburban to work (not like we needed it!) and finish the snowblowing later in the afternoon.

The kids were ready to play at about 7:30 am....Teresa, Aidan and Molly Grace were sleding on the neighbor's hill right after breakfast. 

Later in the day Erin went out to play.  She was just walking at this time last year, so it was a new experience for her.  She was amazed!  She got a workout walking in the snow.  You can see how deep it is on her in the pictures.  Obviously, it was too deep for her to get far, but she enjoyed walking on the driveway and being pulled in the sled.

And Mike arrived home safely to find our driveway already fully clear, thanks to our very generous neighbor!!!

Over the River and Through the Woods...

...to pick out the perfect Christmas tree!

Each year we go to a family owned Christmas tree farm to pick out our tree.  The owner is a client of Mike's and they really run a great business.  They have beautiful trees, and lots of them.  We often go with "The Cousins".  We found some winner trees.  Both were just a tad too tall for our houses, but a little branch clipper-action corrected that problem quickly.

Here's Teresa, getting ready to go.  Static electricity it lots of fun for her, especially when she is way over due for a haircut.

Molly Grace, riding in her new back-back seat (no she was not crying, she has a bad case of eczema around her eyes and the treatment looks a little greasy).

A few months ago we ordered this Little Passenger seat, so as to make room for Seamus in our Suburban.  It fits in the trunk area of a SUV, and gives us three extra seats.  Of course we loose our trunk space, but oh well, that's what car-top carriers are for.  Here's MG looking out the back.  She and Aidan usually sit in the way-back.

Seamus, ready to go, sporting his Santa hat...

Bridget and Colleen, looking for the perfect tree...

Same for Molly Grace and Margaret...

Eileen, Emmett, Bridget and Colleen

Teresa thinks she spotted our tree...

Well, we did find a great tree.  Pictures will be coming later.  This year's tree is named Robin (they name all trees at this farm).  I wanted to get all of these pictures on the blog before I start with the blizzard pictures.  Whenever we have a snow storm with a name (Allison), you know it's going to dump a lot of snow.  Yep, we already have about a foot, and it will snow all day today....We will have a white Christmas, for sure!

Is There Anything Cuter...

...than little boys dressed in plaid?  Older boys dressed in plaid are pretty cute too...

Poor Daffodils

It's December and yet it's been so mild the daffodils cannot decide what to do!  The 8-12 inches of snow that is predicted for tomorrow may help them decide. 

Seamus at Six Months

Wow oh wow, where did the months go!?!  Seamus will be six months old on Tuesday.  He is a joy!  He is dearly loved by all. 

It's a lot of fun for Mike and me to hear the older kids speak of his little personality that is developing.  They'll say, "Remember when Molly Grace did that?" Or, "When Seamus makes that expression it reminds me of Erin", etc...Often they remember little incidences that we forget (which is one of the very reasons why we do this blog...so we'll remember!).  In a big family it is easy for the memories to blend together from one child to another.  And let's face it, we've been having children for 17 years.  Ha!  There are so many memories, so many treasures to hang on to...but yes, we do forget at times.  Everyone has a different opinion about who Seamus looks like, but regardless, he is a real mix.  He has Bridget's big brown eyes (although they are a little lighter).  He shares a very distinct look with Eileen as well.  I see Molly Grace in him, but Mike does not at all.  He sees Aidan, yet I only see it a little.  Moira too had the big eyes, but hers are blue. 

Oh, but he has his own unique little personality, for sure.  He is the first baby who does NOT like a wet diaper (the others wouldn't even be bothered by the thought of it).  He likes to put himself to sleep by rolling his head from side to side (very funny!).  He is our quickest to smile (Mike claims this, but my theory is we say that about each one.  I think whomever is the youngest in our family gets that label.  I remember saying that about Erin too...).  Let's see...he has a high pitched squeal that can rival any of the girls.  It is a serious attention getting squeal, but of course that's the purpose of it.  Kid number eight has learned quickly how to get what he needs.  With nine other pairs of hands in the house, he doesn't usually have to wait long to get what he needs....or to be entertained. 

Now for the basics:  He is about 16 lbs, and tall (98% for height)!  Noggin size is average, but I forget what it measures.  He is very healthy, in fact he has not even had his first cold.  He eats and sleeps great.  He is rolling both ways but still not sitting on his own.  He seems very strong...he is our only kid who has flipped the bouncy seat over (thankfully he landed on carpet)!  He has not had solids yet; I think I need to get going on that.

Here are some pictures...

Snuggling with Moira...She sure loves her bro (and Godchild!)...

He flies through the air with the greatest of ease....

And he has the longest eyelashes...it's always the boys who get those!

He often still has the "surprised look", yes, even when he is not surprised...