Bloggy friends turned real life friends

When I started blogging a few years back, I never imagined how much I would love it or how many awesome people I would meet through blogging. It's been such an awesome experience that I am still doing it and loving every minute :). I was fortunate to meet several ladies with whom I share so many similar interests and who also have kids that are the same ages as my kids.

Right after the holidays, we organized a get together playdate where we got to hang out and let our kids play. We are fortunate that our kids are similar ages and play well together. I am bummed that I didn't get any pictures of the ladies but I made up for it by taking loads of the kids playing together ;).

When we got there, Bean was sleeping so hubby chilled with him while I was mingling :)

Tman and Jbird made friends right away and started playing with toys

We moved the kids to the basement where there was even more toys and they were loving it

Then it was homemade pizza time :)

Don't mind Bean and hubby sleeping over here, I love taking sleepy pics of hubby with the kids

I did get a pic of the adult with the kids, check out J and J smiling away over there :)

My kids will nap everywhere I tell you. My mom was there too of course

The kids just had so much fun hanging out with each other

I am bummed that I didn't take any pictures of the adults but trust me, we had a ball. I love hanging out with my bloggy friends turned real life friends. We don't see each other often but now when I follow along on their blogs it so much fun because I actually know the people behind the blogs.

Hanging out with aunt Kate

Hubby's sister, aunt Kate, came to town during the holiday season and we had such an awesome time hanging out with her. She comes at least once a year but the last few years we've been lucky to have her twice. It's been awesome because the boys are getting bigger and are getting to know her more. Tman particularly is a huge fan of his aunt Kate, when we skype he recognizes her and remembers stories and things they've done in the past.

Check out these two hanging out

We had a present opening session when they were here

The boys in serious opening presents mode :)

Look at Bean, he is a man on a mission

The look of joy on my big boys face here is just priceless

 Playing cards with aunt Kate and uncle James

Tman didn't want to leave his aunt Kate's side

 Making silly faces :)

 Aunt Kate and Jbird hanging out

Bean got to hang out with aunt Kate too

Love the look on aunt Kate's face here, the boys are so loved

We had such a great time hanging out with aunt Kate. I need to take way more pictures next time. I am still getting through all my holiday pictures and there are just so many of them. I guess that's what happens when you have lots of fun and a paparazzi on your hands.

Happy New Year 2016

Our New Year celebrations this year was pretty awesome. Hubby's sister and her new husband came to town as they usually do and they she brought her in-laws along for the ride. Her in-laws are so fun to hang out with. We spent the week doing fun things and of course celebrated NYE together.

We decided to do an early dinner out in the town then come home and play cards until midnight that way we got some grown up time but also got a chance to celebrate with the kiddos. I used to love partying for NYE but now that I have kids, I just want to be at home with them to ring in the new year.

We had dinner at our favorite NYE place, we've been coming here for the last 4 years. They have the best crab pretzel and mussels :).

Ordering dinner

Hanging out with hubby's mom

The in-laws :)

 Hubby's parents

Our group :)

 Selfie time with Sue

 The boys hanging out outside the restaurant

My mom watched the boys while we were gone but she was still dressed up to celebrate :).

Bean was hilarious, he was pretending to bite everyone, especially Pete, with the dinosaur

 And he was totally cracking himself up and Tman totally joined in on the fun

Those two were hilarious

 Jbird was mostly chilling with grandma

 Bean is a riot I tell you

 Look at him jumping on pillows, my little daredevil

After the ball dropped and we toasted, I of course gathered everybody for a group picture :). You know I can't help myself. I loved ringing in the new year with this awesome crew. Happy New Year everyone!!!

I hope you had an amazing new year celebrations also. I am so excited for 2016 because it's the year we will welcome our 4th and last child who also happens to be our first daughter. AHHHHHHHHH.

Holiday gathering and fun times

The Christmas season is always really busy in our household. There is something so awesome about the holiday season and getting together with friends and family. Though it's tiring and seems never ending, I love to indulge in those awesome moments. Then comes January and all I want to do is sleep for days :). Our holidays were super busy with baby appointment and multiple gatherings but we sure closed 2015 with a bang :).

The day after Christmas is called Boxing day in England and it is really big over there. Apparently they spend the day feasting and watching lots of soccer ;). Hubby's parents invited my whole family over for some feasting, they made a traditional English roast dinner and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Chilling in the living room

 Then dinner was served, my brother J was on it :)

 Bean and his father are always hanging out together

 Dinner time with the family

 The kids weren't really interested in eating when we did, but they were there :)

 Bean fell asleep on his father as usual. These two are two peas in a pod

A few days later we met up with some of our friends as we do every Christmas. People have moved away but it's nice to be able to catch up during the holidays. What I love about these gatherings is that we keep growing in number thanks to all the babies :). It's also a great excuse to catch up on life and let our kids play together.

HJ was the life of the party, taking selfies here with the kiddos

 The house was full for sure with kids running around everywhere

 I love this pic of Jbird playing with his autie HJ, the smile on his face is just priceless

Everyone joined the table when they realized there was lots of fun happening here :)

 I tried to take a pic of the 5-year olds

 Then the 3-year olds

 Then the 1 year olds

Then play doh came out and they were entertained for a while

I just love that I am pregnant with my BFF HJ. She was one of the last one in the group to get married when she had that awesome wedding last July. Here we are carrying our 4th and 1st babies, I am due in July and she is due in May.

We attempted to get a picture of all the girls with their kiddos and we got this gem :). 9 kids between the 4 of us with 2 more on the way. Next Christmas is going to be insane :).

Our Holiday season was busy and you know we wouldn't have it any other way. I just love hanging out with my peeps. Hope you had a great holiday season too.