The Lasts...

warning: this post is a little long-winded, but it's my blog and I want to remember ALL the details!!

These last couple of months have been kind of hard for me. It's because I am realizing that all the fun holiday parties are the last ones we get to have with these people!

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas have traditionally been done with our close group of Overlook friends, most of which are dental students. This Christmas party was especially emotional for me. These friends are some of the BEST people I know and have become our family while we are out here. I don't know how I will handle leaving.

All the kids.

Jase, Logan, Maia, Gavin, Zachery, Kamdon, Kylie, Kinslee, Landon, Maycee

I love this picture even though both my kids refused to smile. I love these kids. They are the only friends Jase has ever known and it will be heartbreaking to take that away from him.

The girls!

I will cherish this picture forever! These ladies have been amazing friends. The countless times they have watched (or listened for) my kids, the comfort they have given, the playdates, the fun nights out, the yummy food, the laughter, the running buddies, the ones who teach my kids in church , the ones I serve my calling with, ALL whom I love and admire more than they know!!!

We played the White Elephant gift exchange with a little twist. We all had to bring a Christmas tree ornament that reminded us of our time in Boston. Seriously- I've said it before and I'll say it again, these people are SO fun and creative- the best people to have at your parties, I'm telling you- they make these celebrations hilarious and awesome!

Some of the ornaments included- a toothbrush and floss star:)

A jar full of sand & shells from the nearby beach.

THE pickle!

This was a cute idea to remember the costs of living while we've been here

This one made us laugh, because all the guys loved to get together on Saturday mornings for some Disc golf and it was a constant gripe between all the wives.

These were good too, because there is a fire station on the corner of our street and it's also where the bus stop is that the guys take everyday. But the fire alarm was hysterical because our buildings fire alarms used to go off ALL the time for no reason and they are loud and bright and obnoxious. Building 21 & 19 had it the worst. Oh the number of times our kids were woken up or we had to stand out in the living room holding a pillow up over the bright light and horrendous noise at 3 AM.

Then we played the kissing ornament game. Each couple had to move the ornament hanging on one line to another line across from it using only their mouths. Needless to say we were all rolling with laughter!

The competitiveness was fierce!

Nikki and Kacey might kill me for posting that last pic, but the suction they had on their ornament... ha ha!

Then of course we had a good time taking pictures with all the props!

Ryan & Mike looking like Sherlock & Holmes:)

My cutie pie kids

Crazy faces!

It was such a great party. I was laughing so much of it, but kept crying in between the laughter. I will miss this group! It better not be our last party together. I'm making them all commit to yearly reunions after we leave:)

Dear December

Did you really start today. Today!

Please time, please I beg of you to slow down.

For some reason this season seems infinitely busier then the last ones.

My wish this year is to just be able to enjoy each and every moment of the holiday season.

To savor the time with my family,

cherish the ever fleeting moments with our Boston friends,

and feel the Spirit prominent in our home.

I'm craving

twinkling lights,

smells of cookies, cinnamon, & pine,

hot cocoa,

Christmas movies,

leggings and over sized sweaters,

snowfall watching,

kid snuggling,

story reading,

fa la la music listening,

and lots and lots of family hugs!

SO much to enjoy right now, please let me be aware of it every single day!

Love, Meag

He did it! He turned 4!

Jase finally agreed to just turn 4,

and his little four year old heart desired a Mario theme party!

The boys (Gavin, Jase, Logan, Jack, Charlie. MIA- Kamdon)

Jase and his "girlfriend" Cate- she was the only Princess Peach in the crazy room full of Marios

Isn't that the cutest picture!

Playing games

Loved the intense looks caught on the boys faces as they tried to knock down Bowser with their "fireballs" and save the Princess.

Handing out the party favors- ? boxes filled with chocolate coins:)

Make a wish!

Present time

The party was yesterday (Saturday) and today was Jase's real birthday- he got a few more gifts, a special breakfast, and primary kids singing Happy Birthday to him;)

Happy Birthday Jase- we love our new 4 year old:)

I'm going to miss 3.

Tonight when I put Jase to bed

I savored as many hugs as he would give me.

My last 3 year old hugs where hard to give away.

My first little baby isn't a baby at all anymore.

I almost can't take it.

The invites are out!

Dear Kids!

Jase and Maycee,

I want you to know that you guys have a STELLAR dad! Isn't he the best! I know you love your dad and you probably already think he is the greatest, but I wanted to give you a little bit of my perspective on him.

Your dad is a dad who loves his family more than himself.

Your dad is a dad who genuinely loves to hear me gush about ALL the things you kids do all day not matter how insignificant they may seem.

Your dad is a dad who wishes he was home more with you.

Your dad is one who laughs with your mom and makes her smile every single day.

Your dad gives me butterflies.

Your dad is THE hardest worker!

Your dad is so smart.

Your dad loves technology, but the hundreds of games and silly applications on his phone and tablet, proves he loves you more.

Your dad spends every extra moment he has with us.

Your dad is a dad that not only plays with you, but he really takes time to teach you new things daily.

Your dad love to take me on dates.

Your dad still surprises me.

Your dad is a hero.

Your dad loves the gospel.

Your dad is a dad who gives more than he takes.

Your dad is a dad who listens, hugs, and kisses.

Your dad is kind and sensitive.

I knew your dad would be the very best dad:). That's why I married him.

Love your smitten Mom

Ben & Jerry's...and Bill

Ryan was home on Friday- so I took advantage of him being able to stay with the kids and went.....

Grocery shopping!

I know right- it's like the most fun thing in the world to do;)

Since I was kid free- I decided to go to Market Basket- it's a little farther away and CRAZY busy. Basically a NIGHTMARE with kids. Actually, who are we kidding, it's a NIGHTMARE without kids too.

It took me like two hours just to get everything.

They have about 40 checkout isles- which were ALL open,

but I still had to wait behind about 4 or 5 people.

Anywho,

on with the story...

so I'm in line.

This 40's- something guy gets in line behind me.

I can tell he's kind of starring at me funny as I put my things on the belt.

He informs me that my milk looks like it might fall and then

out of no where says:

"By the way, I think you're just lovely."

"Oh thank you." I say smiling.

In my mind I'm thinking ok that was nice, but get me outta here.

But he doesn't stop there...OH NO....he doesn't.

Here's the conversation.

Stranger: Taken?

Me: yes, very much so! (Stranger Danger Alert!)

Stranger: OH man!!! that is just my luck, all the good ones always are. You know I could've gotten in that line over there (points to the much shorter 12 item express line...he only has like 5 things), but then I saw you so I came over here instead.

Me: oh ha ha, well thank you for the complement. ( I turn away and try to look SUPER busy putting my groceries up to buy)

Stranger: I hope you're husband really appreciates what he's got. Does he?

Me: Yeah, I'm pretty sure he does.

Stranger: Are you sure? Are you really happy?

Me: (What the !!!! Who is this guy?) Yes, he's an amazing guy, we have two kids and are very happy.

Stranger: Oh wow, good for you, well I hope everything works out for you.

Me: Thank you (once again turn away and hope the guys drops it)

Stranger: Yeah, I'm a really nice guy too. My friend just called me last night in tears cuz she can't find her husband. I have a lot of friends that are always calling me when their husbands leave them or you know cheat on them whatever, and I'm like why do they always call me and I realized cuz I'm the nice guy.

Me: oh well, good for you. (I think I may have rolled my eyes when I turned away yet again).

Stranger: So you know (pause) are you sure you're happy, everything's good?

Me: (Don't even look at him this time) yep for sure, SURE! Reallllly happy!

Stranger: well just in case, my name is Bill Pulowski, I'm in the phone book and I live in East Boston.

Me: (You're kidding me right now! Really?! Seriously!) Oh ok, well nice to meet you Bill.

He proceeds to ask me a few more times if everything is good and reminds me of his name like half a dozen times.

I'm almost done- ready to grab my receipt and RUN for the doors, when Bill says:

"Wait! Here take this (hands me his Ben & Jerry's ice cream) it's delicious you'll love it."

Me: Huh?

Bill: Yeah, here- the cashier already scanned it, I'll pay for it- it's really good.

At this point I just wanted out so,

I took his ice cream and BOOKED it to the car.

7

Jase and his buddy Logan are the most competitive kids ever. They bicker all the time about who is, bigger, better, faster or has more...etc. They are in constant competition with one another about everything. Logan is about half a year older than Jase and I guess this has been brought to his attention, which is why the following conversation came up.

J: Mom how old will I be on my birthday?

Me: you're going to be 4!

J: But Logan is already four.

Me: yes he is- his birthday is in the summer.

J: But then can I have a birthday again before Logan?

Me: no buddy you only have one birthday a year.

J: (getting a little upset) But then Logan will be 5 and he will be older than me again.

Me: yep Logan will always be a little older- that's just how it works.

Jase is quiet for a minute then...

J: Mom... I can turn 7 at my birthday?

Me: (laughs) it doesn't work that way Jase- you will only be 4, plus I don't want you to be 7 yet, you're already growing up too fast.

J: Please mom then I can always be older than Logan.

Me: Jase I can't make you older than you really are.

J: Yes you can! Just put 7 candles on my cake then I will be 7.

Ha ha- This kid kills me:)

We had this conversation awhile ago and I thought he might just forget about it, but then again last night when I asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday he just simply said

"I want to turn 7."

I may just put 7 candles on his cake- it'll be a funny story to tell him when he's older:)

Trick-or Treat

Beacon Hill Trick-or Treating is AN EVENT!

It is the nicest neighborhood in downtown Boston- we got full size candy bars-yo!

Yahoo! named Boston #2 place to trick-or-treat in the nation with Beacon Hill being the #1 neighborhood in Boston, so we had to try it out on our last yer here.

Cute cobblestone roads and it's prime for trick-or-treating because all the houses are close together with the door right up to the side walk and everyone just sits out on their porch with candy in handy

Beacon Hill is right above Boston Commons, which is like a mini Central Park and while walking back to the subway- we saw that little raccoon guy making his way up a tree:)

The Masquerade Ball- A Murder Mystery Night

This year for our annual Halloween party we decided to do a murder mystery night and chose a Masquerade Ball as our setting for the event. It was SO much fun. But I seriously think that the party turn out has little to do with us and almost everything to do with our friends who got SO into their parts and made it such a hilarious, fun evening.

It was formal wear so I asked my mom if she would send me one of my old dance dresses from High School, I had little hope that it would fit, but thought I'd give it a shot anyway...and what do you know almost 12 years later and I still fit into my very first formal dance dress:).

I saw this mask on Pinterest and was dying to have it for the party, but I wasn't going to pay $40 for it, so my amazing friend Alicia free-handed the design for me on to some material that we cut out and sprayed with glitter:) I think it turned out awesome!

Me= Ms. Elizabeth Abby: host of the ball and owner of Abby Manor , Ryan= Cheque Penne: french banker

Mike= Sherlock Tracy: homicide detective, Cher= Roxy Rich: heiress socialite

Amber= Mag Niffie: a rude optometrist, Ryan= Tele N. Ewe: a reporter

Abby= Blondie Fawn: a Hollywood has been, Kyler= Jackey T. Pressen: owner of the local dry cleaner.

Laura= Jamie Bond: secret agent, Ethan= Hal Hammy: Jamie's partner

Melanie= Pepper Keegrip: , Kent= Mike Robes: a neurotic biochemist

Aimee= Yena Verz: a astronaut who is a former genius, Dane= Luke Food: comedian and food inspector

Dustin= Bill Shananagan: an obnoxious football coach, Alicia= Pawnie McQueen: professional chess player

Nikki= Dolly Dee Seiner: a doll maker, Kacey= Bryan Seafoam: radio disc jokey

Richard= Bameril Lacrosse: chef and restarant owner, Charisse= Cha Cha Merengue: professional ballroom dancer

The Whole Gang!

Victim ended up being Sherlock Tracy who came back as a ghost:)

Murderer was Bameril Lacrosse- dirty rat:)