2016 HERE WE COME!

What a marvelous year of discovery, learning, laughter, love and change.  

We celebrated the arrival of the new year with one of our favorite traditions and some of our very best friends!  Can't wait to see what's around the corner in 2016 for the Hanratty clan.

A treat like no other

This hasn't happened in years.  Enjoying every second.

Thinking back

And reflecting on this holiday season, I can't help but smile and feel blessed as I scroll through the many blog posts... traditions, smiles, experiences and joy that we experienced with each girl alone, and as a family!  WOW, are we blessed! Again, I am so grateful to experience the magic through my amazing daughters eyes.  

As for the week after Christmas, nothing beats having the girls home, cuddling in our bed in the morning, with nowhere to be.  Slowing down after the holidays and spending hours quietly playing with new toys and games is just as much of a Christmas highlight as all of the flash and flare!

Joy fills my heart.

xo,

mama

p.s. i think my very favorite christmas moment was showing the girls Home Alone for the first time.  I will never forget hearing them laugh in unison as sweet Kevin beat up on the robbers.  Then they watched it again with Grandma and Grandpa the NEXT day.  A new tradition is born :)

I mean...

Dad time

Warms my heart to see this awesome Daddy spending this QT with his girls... 

and the girls eating up every minute of it!

And the sun shining like this in December.

AMEN!

Sleepover time!

Looks who is excited to host her first official sleepover!

Christmas at Nana and Papa's

Right to the gifts!!!!

Yahoo.  So much fun loot and excitement.

 All of the kids sat at the grown up table with us this year, and they were wonderful.  They participated in the art of conversation, and surprised us with incredible spontaneous performances at the end of the meal!

Cheers to a successful 2015 Christmas season.  It was SO special with all of our family, all of our memories, and most of all, the four of us celebrating together, crunched into our rental house.  It was a holiday season that I will truly never forget.  Mama is grateful!

Christmas Morning!!

OH WHAT FUN!

The girls walked out to lots of goodies from Santa, and tons of fun things to open from their fam. 

They had so much fun diving right into barbies and legos, then we all jumped in the car to go check out the big kahuna...

 And the big gift...  A NEW PLAYHOUSE!  I can't wait to see what fun these ladies can have in here in the new backyard!

Nothing like the excitement of kiddos face on Christmas morn, waiting in our room to go see what Santa delivered!  Pure Joy!  One of the best days of the year for sure.  Thanks for sharing the magic and excitement with us pretty girls.

Merry Christmas Eve

Christmas is finally here!

We have had the most amazing month celebrating and leading up to the big day.  

And the celebrations didn't stop.

Our little rental house was the location of the big party with the Parks and Siegers, and the lobster tradition continued.  The biggest difference was the 75 degree weather that allowed the festivities to be in the backyard.  Highlights were the girls dance party on the back patio, the piano duets and singalongs and capping it off with a reading of The Night Before Christmas to all four grandkids.  We also got some HUGE smiles from opening presents.

Merry Merry everyone!

Cookies are out for santa, the girls are tucked in and we cannot wait to see what tomorrow morning brings.

And to all a goodnight!

CARRIAGE RIDING

The tradition continues, and gets more fun every year.  

The girls couldn't contain their excitement as we turned around each block to see what surprises were in store behind "Blue" and "Bell", our lovely horses.

Truly magical!

Even without the hot cocoa this year... it was 75 degrees :)

Tea Time with Mollie...

and her buddies!  A wonderful tradition was started this year with an ornament exchange, Tea Time at the Zodiac Room and laughs on Santa's Lap.  It was so special to get this time with Mollie and her friends during this crazy season and there were some serious laughs to be had!

And extra special because it was extra fancy :)

THE NUTCRACKER

Another amazing tradition continues.

The girls had been counting down days for one of their favorite traditions of the year, and this year they were the perfect ages to really, REALLY appreciate every detail and ounce of magic of this gorgeous show.  Thanks to Nana for keeping this special day going!

 Excited ladies...

Baller

Who knew first grade basketball would be our favorite sport ever!?! 

Mollie is SO excited about it, and it was so fun to watch her first basket, and her team win 48 - 22.

GO LADY SPARTANS!

Sleepover

Part of the fun of Grandma and Grandpa having their own place here is the chance to sleepover!  The girls set off early for their adventures with G&G at Klyde Warren park with the biggest snow cones ever! Then continued on to the Stupot with Christmas boxes for the homeless and a special private tour of the inner workings of the facility.  Then they finished the awesome day with story time and movies downtown at Grandma and Grandpas.  Perfection!

Thanks, mom and dad, for hosting the fun!

Adventures the girls will never forget!