Best way to start Christmas Eve is by digging a few frosty holes.  (After a quick tutoring session, of course.)

Colie is here!  You know what that means...  Pack up the truck and head north for Rosey Christmas 2016.

 Grammy promised to follow the four gift rule, hmmmmm....

It's almost Winter Break - and that means our annual FRIENDSMAS with the usual suspects.  We had tacos, played games, exchanged gifts and talked about the new arrival.  Love these peeps, and the little human KT is making - almost as much as Bennett loves his birthday gift from Tbone.

 Meet Sheldon - the Venus Fly Trap.

 #bestiegiftever

My facebook memory for today made me smile, and get all teary (and not because I potentially have pink eye, either - although it doesn't help...)  The above sweet girl is five years older, and this morning I got kind of snippy with her.  Yet again, I awoke to her crawled up in my bed, under the covers in her PJs (ie: undies).  Her thumb in her mouth, her little feet pushing me out of bed.  I reluctantly got in the shower, and proceeded to get myself ready.  When I went to wake the princess, she whined saying "I need snuggles.  you know I need snuggles to wake up, mama..."  I was annoyed, and said "No.  Get up and get moving."

It's been five years, and she has needed snuggles to wake, and snuggles to nap, and snuggles to go to bed.  When this picture popped up on my feed, I realized that while it has been five years, it feels like a breath.  And soon, she won't need as many snuggles.  Let's face it, the girl will always need snuggles, but not this many and prob not always from me.   So, when I get home, she's gonna get some snuggles - but maybe from Bennett or Daddy - because if this really is pink eye, I don't want to snuggle too much...

Ricky asked if he could bring the kids sledding after school, to which I responded, "Yes!  Thank you!  Just please have them home by 3:30 because we have plans."  I know.  Not what you were predicting right?  It gets better.  Wait until I tell you our plans...  We had scheduled after school cookie baking fun with our new friends, AnneMarie and R & L!  (I know, I know!  Really not what you were predicting.  New friends, and baking and kid friendly fun on a school night??  I am growing up, I guess.)

The kiddos were home and snacking with hot coco when I arrived,

and we packed up our baking supplies and headed across the 'burb to AMK's.  We made 4 different kinds of cookies in under two hours, and the kids played and frosted and played some more.  Next time, B is bringing his skates for the backyard rink, H is bringing her new doll to show Regan and I am bringing wine.  Next time, let's skip the baking.

My new friend, AMK has two kids and many talents.  One of those talents includes baking, so when we discussed a baking/playing date, I of course did not pass the opportunity up.  We met after school, and while the kids played and baked in 3 minute intervals, AMK and I proceeded to solve all the problems of the world.

I definitely learned a thing or two that afternoon - and made 4 batches of cookies with AMK, in the time that I usually output one batch.

Prose Family Christmas 2016 - everyone was healthy, and hearts were full.  It's loud, it's messy, it's chaotic, and that's just the way we like it.