Christmas 2011

Christmas started for us on Dec. 24th as usual when we celebrate wigilia with Brian's side of the family.  I love having such wonderful traditions to pass down to my kids!

the boys exchanging the blessed bread (it has a Polish name but I'm not going to attempt to spell it)

And a kiss!!!

Liam eating like a big boy!

After dinner it was time to open gifts!

Liam loved the paper!

Cameron was super excited!

Brady loved his new scooter from auntie Alyssa

Liam loved his new ball popper

After all the presents it was time for dessert and then we headed home.  True to our traditions we put out our reigndeer food!

Ready for santa

The boys decided that Santa needed chocolate milk this year with his cookies.

We said goodbye to Stewie.  See you next year!

We read The Night Before Christmas and then went to bed!

And the next morning the boys were ready to go downstairs to see if Santa came.

He DID!!

Liam went right for his new train

Cameron was very excited that he got Rock n' roll mickey

but they were most excited for their DS's

After gifts at home we headed over to Autnie Shanna's house where we had lunch and opened more gifts and had fun seeing Grammy and pappa.  After that we headed to Brian's Aunts house where more gifts were exchanged and after that it was time to head home and got to BED!  We were all exhauseted after a full day!  It was a wonderful Christmas!! Thank you to everyone who made it so special!

Tis the season

In the Stack house hold we start our christmas decorating right after Thanksgiving so true to form we did that again this year.

This is the tree in the boys room.

giving back

One of the most important things for me as a parents is to make sure that my children understand how fortunate we are and that there are other people in the world who are less fortunate.  Ocasios Karate school raises money through out the year to be able to out together 450 baskets of turkey dinners for those in need.  Tonight we went to the Haverhill Studio and helped to put together the baskets.  I was a very proud mommy, as you can see in the pictures the baskets we pretty heavy and Brady wanted to do it all by himself and he went through the line as many times as he could until all the baskets were put together.  Cameron although he couldn't carry them he pushed the tray through the assembly line and worked hard too.

Halloween 2011

Although we had a snow storm a few days before Halloween we managed to have a Trick-or-treat.  The weather actually wasn't too cold. Brady and Cameron went as Mario and Luigi (the Mario Brothers) and Liam was a pumpkin.  I figure I better get in all the cute costumes while I can because before I know it, Liam's going to want to choose his own costume.

Topsfield Fair

Brady and Grammy

In front of the giant pumpkin

Cameron and his crazy face

Brady going down the giant slide

Last weekend we went to Topsfield fair.  Although it was PACKED we still managed to see somethings and have a good time.  My parents came with us this year and it was nice to spend some time with them.  They even took Liam around for a little while while we watched the tiger show with Cameron and Brady.  It was fun spending some family time together.

Belt promotion

The 3 of us and sempia Munoz after graduation

Brady holding strong doing push ups!

time for our front kick!

Cameron holding strong!!!!

The little Dragon's class

A little congradulations after receiving my certificate

time for some meditation

This past weekend we had our belt graduation. I received my Orange belt, Brady got his green belt and Cameron got his purple/blue belt.  I am so glad that we are able to do this together.  We all enjoy karate so much and we all look forward to the day when we reach our black belt.

Cameron's first day

OK While it is a little late I still wanted to post pictures of Cameron's first day of preschool.  This year he goes 3 days a week and absolutely loves it.  His first day was different this year because I no longer walk him in, we pull the car up and the kids walk into school themsleves. Cameron did awsome!  He jumped out of the car said "bye Mom" and off he went.  He loves school his biggest complaint is that he wants to go every day!  Sooon enough little man, soon enough.

School Days

This Wednesday Brady became an official Kindergatener.  He was so excited and nervous.  Tuesday night we went to the open house at the school and he got to meet his teacher  and see his classroom.  He aslo got a Pollard Pride T-shirt to wear on his first day. (it make s it easier to spot the kindergarteners on their first day)

Wednesday morning Brady got up and got himself all ready and was ready to go on the bus.  Luckily we have quite a few daycare kids that get on the bus at our house so he had lots of friends to get on the bus with.  He looked so small on the bus I will admit I did get teary.  When I picked him up from his first day he was all smiles and couldn't wait to go back the next day.  Today was his second day and last day for the week, When I pulled up at car pick up his teacher came over to my car to tell me that she had done her base line assessments for him and that he is already where they would expect them to be by the end of kindergarten.  It was so nice to hear.  As parents we all think our own kids are smart, but it was nice to hear he is definately where he needs to be.

A trip to the Children's Museum