Happy New Year from the Comes Family!

I am leaving the bloggy world for the next several days as we will be traveling North to celebrate Christmas with the Comes'. I wanted to leave you with some of my favorite pictures of our family taken within the last month. I hope that you have a safe and joyous celebration of the New Year and that you take a few moments to remember what God blessed your family with in the previous year. Happy New Year from the Comes Family!

I'll spare you a picture

I am done nursing. Five years four kids, my chest is getting a well deserved break. It is hard to describe what it means to be done nursing a child. There is so much emotion tied up in the act. I don't believe that there is a more intimate connection with a child than to know that you are their complete source of well-being. They rely on you in every possible way. And while that is the most amazing responsibility and feeling that I've experienced in motherhood it is also a very demanding role to fill.

There were many perks to nursing that I am now discovering I miss. For example, early morning feedings didn't require much of me in the way of waking. I could just cuddle my babe close and stay asleep but not any more. I have to run out to the cold kitchen while the sun is still sleeping and warm up cow's milk. Also, nursing required me to sit down and be physically present to my child. Now I miss out on those moments as I hand the bottle to his dad or siblings to feed him while I continue cooking supper.

There is one other benefit that I took for granted until just last night. We had our weekly family time at the pool. My swimsuit didn't seem to fit exactly right. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I was tightening my straps, and was traumatized to see the shape of an adolescent girl staring back at me. I guess I am now in the market for a heavily padded swim-top. I won't even discuss the need I now have to bra shop!

While it is quite unfair to experience such a weight loss in the only place on my body not containing cellulite, I do not regret for even a second the decision to nurse my children. Besides all of the proven medical benefits that it provides, the lessons that it taught me about self-sacrifice are endless.

Anyone have a good on-line swimsuit store?

Ahoy mateys!

Does anyone remember me saying that I needed a day at the spa for Christmas this year? Well, instead I'm getting six nights and seven days in the Western Caribbean. Not exactly what I asked for...but I guess it will work.


My parents surprised us on Christmas day with an itinerary of a Cruise planned for January 2008! We, along with my parents and siblings (adults only) will be aboard this Carnival cruise liner called "Liberty" in just over a year. At first I thought that a year sounded like such a long time to wait. But I quickly discovered that a year is necessary to plan all of the details. Obviously the largest obstacle...where will the kids be?

To say that I am excited would be slightly understated. Chad and I had been hoping and attempting to save for a trip in 2008 for our 10th anniversary. Having missed out on a Honeymoon and then adding four babies in five years we made it marginally difficult to take a trip without them.

Right now I am excited...I am sure that when the reality hits that I will be leaving my babies home I might become a bit more muddled with anxiety. However, my dad knew this and that is yet another reason for the year advance notice.

I hope that you had your Christmas wishes answered in some form as well...Santa Latunski was pretty good to us this year!!

Comes Family Christmas Letter

We have hung the stockings, lit the trees, and wrapped the presents all in anticipation of the glorious day called Christmas. We anxiously await the coming of our Savior’s birthday! Is there any time of year more exhilarating? This year God has showered blessings upon us in ways that only He can. We have much to share and even more reasons to be thankful.

Chad continues to be a hands on dad, doing the things that he loves the most. Scrubbing up kids at bath time, nightly prayers and bible reading with the kids, tossing the football with Nic. Chad is quick to remind me that his job is just what he does…but being a husband and father are who he is. But I cannot fail to mention how blessed we are to have him working in a great job, and the City of Madison is blessed to have him as well. Chad has continued to be active in our church serving as a Eucharistic Minister and Confirmation teacher.

Nicholas (6) had a year of growth. Now he is a schoolboy and a young man that enjoys sports and learning. He started Kindergarten in the fall, all day, every day Kindergarten at St. Thomas School. Mom’s heart was broken by the thought of losing him for 7 hours every day but he made the adjustment like a champ! His favorite part of the day…LUNCH! We miss his helpful hands around the house. His love of the outdoors and everything “boyish” has continued to grow. He plays football with his dad and friends and he loves to walk along with daddy when out looking for pheasants.

Olivia (4) also started preschool. She attends three mornings a week and although she isn’t always thrilled about going she always has a smile on her face when I come to pick her up. Her favorite part of pre-school is doing the “chicken dance”. It’s so nice to see her pride in the things that she brings home and we are trying very hard to treasure the time with her, as she too will soon be off to school every day! She is mom’s helper. Anything domestic is right up her alley. She has said more than once that she wants to be a mom someday too.

Katharine (2) is capable of so many things that a two year old just shouldn’t be. If this is what a big girl is supposed to do…then she’ll do it! Her communication skills are like that of her older siblings, she expresses herself easily and clearly. Just the other day I startled her and she exclaimed, “Mom! You’re preakin’ (freakin’) me out!” I am thrilled that she is home with me and I can’t imagine my days without her but I know that she will have NO problem making the adjustment to that of a schoolgirl. Katharine is my smile. Every day she makes me smile and laugh at how simple and fun life really can be.

Andrew (1) is the baby…in every sense of the word. He has won the hearts of all of us and we take turns spoiling him. He started walking at 11 months and now toddles around behind me wherever I go. I often have to shake him off of my pant leg in order to get anything done. He loves to laugh and smile and even in the face of tears he can’t help but grin through them.

My days remain much the same except for the promotion I received in my position. I am now chief taxi cab driver in addition to my regular duties. I run out a minimum of twice daily to pick up or drop off kids. It took some getting used to and a bit of rearranging of nap schedules and household chores but we are managing well. I recently started a women’s prayer and devotion group and it has been a much-needed source of inspiration and spiritual growth for me. I also decided to use my “creative” skills to develop a blog site that I usually write on daily. I keep current pictures of our family on it and use it as a way to stay in touch with those whom we don’t see regularly.

It is our prayer that you find God’s love amidst the bustling of the holiday’s and take time to truly crown Him King of your heart and home this Christmas and New Year!

God Bless,
Chad, Heidi, Nicholas, Olivia, Katharine & Andrew

Tour de` la Comes

The Everyday Mom tagged her readers to give tours of their holiday decor. Here's to the simple life! Love a beautiful Poinsettia.


Greeting you at the door upon entrance to our home is our advent wreath. It is the center of the "pre-Christmas" season for us and we gather around it nightly for family prayer and reflection. Chad and I reflect...the children fight over who will light the candles, who will blow out the candles, who will open the Advent calendar doors, who will put the stickers on the Mouse House, who will sit with mommy, who will lead the prayer, who will pick the song....


I have noticed that the tree that I love so much does not photograph well. After my post about my four-year-old's reaction to the it, I was shocked at how "Charlie Brown-y" this tree actually appeared on camera. However, I must say that all who have seen the tree in person comment on how beautiful it actually is. Can I get a shout out from those of you who have witnessed it's beauty up close? I am a bit of a Snowman nut so this tree is of the Snowman Theme.


Continuing with my Snowman fetish, atop my television cabinet sits my collection of "larger" snowmen. It's actually a pretty silly design set-up as none of these are breakable and actually look like stuffed toys...the breakable snowmen are at children's level. Might have to re-think that one.

This is Blizzard Bob with his shining star. I love Blizzard Bob.

On our lower level is a more random assortment of decorations. This nativity scene my parents did in 1982! It's almost as old as me. It shows it's age if you look closely but I find it very beautiful in it's simplicity. It tucks away so nicely in my window nook.

The downstairs tree is dedicated to the truly meaningful ornaments. You know, like Scoobey Doo holding Scoobey Snacks. And of course, the Denver Bronco ornaments.

This is the tree that my daughter labeled as "beautiful". Oh to see life through the eyes of a child. Every branch is laden with baby's first Christmas ornaments, sometimes two and three for each child. My husband's grandmother always took the responsibility of having the kids' names etched on their first Christmas, however after 90 she couldn't remember if she'd already purchased one or not so she often delivered multiple ornaments for each child. In addition to those, are the many hand-crafted ornaments that I did as a child, "fun" ornaments that the kids have purchased or been given.

Ya know, in a fire...I would run to this tree first even though I claim to prefer mine. This is what life looks like, a hodge-podge of memories. Not a neatly organized and coordinating collection of the beautiful.

Finally, our mantle. Yes there are 6 stockings hung there...you don't think that Santa is coming without something for mom and dad too do you? Any more children and we'll need two fire places!

Hope you enjoyed this Tour de` la Comes, please post pictures of your decorations to share with us!

My favorites

After December first only Christmas music is allowed on my CD changer, all of the candles in my home must be of holiday fragrance, and the only movies that we watch or rent are of Christmas theme. It is one of the ways that I really get into the Christmas mood. I am already a fanatic, by nature, about the whole holiday season. But doing little things that pull every one of my senses into the spirit is yet another way to get the most out of this time of year. If you don't already have your own collection of holiday movies may I suggest the above. I could (and do) watch these over and over.

One other item that I've found that takes me away sip by sip is Nestles' Coffee Mate Holiday selection. I am usually a "black" coffee drinker but I have found that these are simply wonderful! You can add a taste of Gingerbread, Eggnog, or Peppermint Mocha to your coffee and it becomes an experience to be savored!

These are just a few suggestions for adding something special to your upcoming Christmas weekend. Curl up with your family, a warm blanket and some delicious coffee and put in a holiday movie. Then let me know how it went!

Some days are just that way

Dare I even say it? Dare I even hope it? I think we are on the road to full recovery around here! I know that I haven't written anything to insinuate that we have been ill here in the Comes household...but ill we have been.

After fighting congestion that lead to coughing that lead to throwing up snot for the past month and a half we thought that we were clear and ready for the holiday's. We obviously thought to optimistically.

After the above sickness travelled through each one of our children, because of course it is not possible for them all to come down with it at once, it attached itself to me. I usually have the immune system of a finely trained athlete, out of necessity, but I had just wiped one too many noses and washed too much puked on bedding to avoid the virus from wrapping its tentacles around my throat.

Finally, we could see the end of it. I was recovering nicely, the kids had each had their two-three week bouts of it and we were coming into the home stretch.

Then the stomach virus hit us. First Nic. He complained one morning of a stomach ache at the breakfast table. We thought that he was pulling our leg since he was perfectly fine the night before. I told him he would lying down resting for the entire day if he chose to stay home...he didn't argue. He rested and varied his bathroom routine between emergency poops and pukes. Then he woke up the next day like new. Andrew battled it solely through his bowels. His cute little tushy paid the price as did my nose! Kate got hit next. She picked the Latunski family Christmas to spread her cheer through the air. After four outfit changes by her and grandpa, who bore the brunt of her sensitive stomach, she managed to ride it out. And then there were three.

Monday came in with a vengeance. Olivia woke at 4:30am running for the toilet, Chad came out to find me on the couch at 6:30am to say he was sick and staying home...I think my response was, "moooaannnn." Somehow I pulled myself together enough to drive Nicholas to school and come home to prepare breakfast for the little ones who were feeling good. I have to admit that I wasn't much of a mom that day though...lots of television and rest!

What a difference a day makes though! We prayed our way through it and took turns resting and caring for the healthy ones. We fell into bed hoping it would be as short lived as we'd seen it be in the kids and we awoke Tuesday feeling almost like new! So, if my creativity has been waning I will blame it on illness and here's hoping for a healthy New Year!

Dear Santa

(I was forwarded the following letter via email. I did not write it but relate completely!)

Dear Santa,

I have been a good mom all year. I have fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited their doctor’s office more than my own doctor’s, and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son’s red crayon, on the back of a receipt, in the laundry room between cycles, and who know’s when I’ll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:

I’d like a pair of legs that don’t ache (in any color, expcept purple, which I already have) and arms that don’t hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull a screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I’d also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you are hauling big ticket items this year, I’d like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn’t broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother", because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family. Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.

Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in to dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always, MOM

Loud-Mouth-Latunski Christmas

This wins "photo of the weekend" award.

Andrew saw me through the glass window and didn't know to stop...

I got the picture just at the time of impact!

Here's a little holiday cheer from the big guy Nicholas.

Jason had the great idea of starting our Saturday morning off with a little physical activity...
I think to burn off calories that would later be consumed in mass quantities and to power down the children to a level eight energy zone instead of the level ten they woke up at.
Here sits Steph, Jason, and Mike after a grueling game of basketball...funny that the champ isn't in the picture. I hear that Chad lit up the court. That's my man!

It didn't take long to get right into the fun of the day. Here's a table of dice players that enthusiastically smile for the beautiful photographer! Nick, Shane, Steph, Terry, and Mike.

I asked for Tylenol and someone handed me this. It seemed to work just as well.

Uncle Jason gets a little snugglin' in with

the youngest member of the clan, baby Thomas.

Of course we threatened the children with NO PRESENT OPENING

if they did not cooperate by taking the token grandkid pictures.

These were the only three that could behave themselves.

Evie, Grandpa, and Andrew.

We were able to force the picture but we couldn't force the smiles. Sitting on Gradma's lap, Angel, Olivia, Evie Jo, Grandpa is holding Thomas, Andrew, Elaina, Jacob, Katharine & Nicholas.

Evie, Olivia, Elaina, and Kate are the wand waving fairies

that came to grant us our Christmas wishes.

The ladies of the family.

Steph, Me, Mom, Dawn, and Mara.

The babies sat down with the men for some manly discussion and a few giggles.

Thomas couldn't resist smiling at his silly cousin, Andrew.

Olivia and Evie Jo take a break from playing to smile for me. They manage to fill every second of their time together with shared secrets, giggles and love.

Grandma and Grandpa got the girls matching jammies.

Kate and Elaina are ready to try them out for the night by the time

the party ended.

The day was everything that it should be when a group of Pollack's gather and invite their well behaved spouses and friends! We had our fill of food, fun, and headaches. There were moments when I allowed my faulty nature to become frustrated or disappointed with the failure of expectations I had placed on the day. At one point, I was able to take a solo drive back to my parents house to pick up some needed items. On the short (5 block) drive I was letting my mind do a re-run of all of the things that I was frustrated with...I sat in my drivers seat thinking to myself that things were supposed to be the way I imagined them to be. Within seconds of that thought a song, that I have not heard in a long time, came into my head. Yes, it was a song...but it was the voice of my heavenly Father asking me to listen:

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

in the light of His glory and grace."

Immediately I repented for my selfish attitude and presumption that the day should somehow meet my expectations and desires instead of those of my Savior. He is, after all, the reason we were gathered.

Thank you family. Thank you for being the crazy, caring, flawed individuals that God created us to be. Thank you for sharing your day and hearts with me. Thank you for accepting and loving me despite my weaknesses. Thank you for gathering to honor the One who is above all. I love you!

Memorable Christmases

I was challenged by Just Mom to come up with a few memorable Christmas gifts that I had received over the years. I knew that it would take me some time to think of them but I had no idea that I would draw such a complete blank when it came to actually listing favorite gifts.

In the midst of the reminiscing I realized that I was having NO trouble thinking of favorite Christmas memories….I could come up with one after another. The gifts that we spend hours agonizing over, “Is this his type? Will she use it? Is it too extravagant?”, are all to quickly forgotten and the memory of the day is what lingers on for years to come. So here are a handful of some of my most memorable Christmases.

1. One Christmas my parents wanted to teach us the value of our money and how a little patience could make it go much further. So as part of this lesson we all picked out the things that we most wanted to give and receive on Christmas (keeping in mind our budgets). We made lists for each other and we really listened to one another’s desires. Then on Christmas we wrapped up slips of paper that told one another what we’d most like to get them (still functioning within our budgets). The week following Christmas we went shopping as a family and purchased the items that we had “given” to each other. It was not an easy way to learn a lesson, but it meant so much to know that we could give more if we didn’t allow ourselves to be caught up in the consumerism of the holiday and instead to be focused on the purpose that we give.

2. We were blessed to travel to California for more than one Christmas to visit my grandparents that lived there, however I remember one particular Christmas when my grandpa Joe robed himself as Santa and my brother, Jason, and I both dressed as festively as possible (Santa’s elves) and went with him to deliver toys to some of the Mexican children that lived in town. This was the softer side of my otherwise somewhat brash grandfather. It is a memory of my grandpa that I hold very dear.

3. I had/have a horrible weakness in the area of surprises. My grandma Bernie had such a knack for knowing exactly what present would most light up my eyes at Christmas. She was the BEST gift giver because she really paid attention to what I was interested in and then did her best to capture that in a present. She was not the best gift hider however. I remember it being very near to Christmas and she had not yet placed presents under her tree, that had to mean that they were hidden somewhere in her closet. I hated myself for doing it, but the temptation was too much for me to resist. I snuck off down the hall when the adults were preoccupied and scavenged through her closet until I found the most wonderful Bomber Jacket ever made, I had been eyeing it in Vanity for weeks! It was all that I could have asked for and then some. My giddy excitement quickly turned to remorse and regret as I realized that I had ruined such a spectacular surprise.

4. One year, as adult "children" we had the great opportunity to fly to Arizona and have Christmas with all of my dad’s family there. It is such a great memory for me because we all were able to go. So often now, we can’t all gather at one place and we’re only separated by a few hundred miles…yet we all took the time to gather in Arizona and spend a great holiday with my grandparents and uncles.

5. The first Christmas that we were married we were living in Onida, SD because Chad had just left his job in Bismarck and taken a position with the DOT in South Dakota. Because of the quickness of the move we were unable to find housing in Pierre and had to settle in the barren lands 30 miles east. We were renting a hideous trailer house that at the time seemed like a mansion due to the film of love clouding my eyes. We knew that the heat system was less than desirable when our sheets started freezing to the wall but it wasn’t until it completely shut down that we knew we had a problem. We began heating our house with our stove, which our landlord saw great danger in and potential lawsuits, so he put us in a hotel for a few days. Because of all of this I decided not to decorate for Christmas. It didn’t feel like home anyway. When I told my boss she not only insisted that I take home one of the small, already decorated trees from the shop, but she also told us of a great house they had for rent that we could move into on New Year’s Day! It turned out to be a very merry Christmas!

Your turn!

Inflatable Christmas

Headline News! We have a victim shot down in a gang related drive-by. No wait a minute...I think it's Santa Claus.

The only thing worse than an inflatable Santa is a deflated Santa. Have you seen this? People who fill their yards with floatation devices serving as lawn ornamentation? The worst part is that they don’t leave their ‘Puffy’ the snowman inflated because their electrical bill is ticking overtime, so they deflate him at night or when they are not around. You have no idea how disturbing it is to see Santa shot down in someone’s yard with a white chalk line drawn around him!

I know that I sound like a decoration Scrooge and I’ll admit that I am. This should not imply that I have the decorating under control in my own home, no sir. I just like to comment on the mistakes that I see others making, it's a great distraction from all of mine.

There are the few that manage to make it look festive, a neighbor and friend have a great display of Santa riding on a John Deere tractor, my kids LOVE that someone has a tractor in town...I might add that they leave Santa inflated at all times! But they seem to be the exception.

As I drove around town with my kids yesterday I couldn't believe the plethora of inflated decorations. It seemed as though some people are in competition as to how much hot air they can display in their front yard! I was tempted to take pictures of each but I thought that might not go over to well. I was amazed at the selection, inflatable nativity (Mary definitely appears to be retaining water), inflatable Rudolph, inflatable Elmo, and of course the ever popular snow globe. (if you are in the market for any of those just click on them and you'll be at a Inflatable Online Superstore...or if you just don't believe they actually exist)

I know that it is all done in an attempt for holiday cheer but I have to tell you that inflatables don't really make me very cheerful. But that could be the scrooge in me talking. My kids on the other hand seem to find them very amusing. Recently at the store they saw the snow globes and ran over yelling, "mommy can we buy this?" I played dumb and assured them that it is the store's decoration for Christmas...it is not for sale.

Tuesday Tradition

We’ve made it a tradition ever since moving to Madison to take our kids swimming at the Community Center every Tuesday evening, and usually follow it up with a night out to Pizza Ranch. We haven’t always managed to squeeze it in but we usually end up there more Tuesday’s than not.

I don’t always feel like getting into my swimsuit, and I don’t always feel like bundling up against the cold, and I don’t always feel like having dry skin for the next 3 days, but then I think about how much my kids enjoy it. It isn’t about my white legs or the cold or the dry skin or even the swimming. It’s about the time spent doing something just for them. To a parent doing the same thing week after week without variation can seem mundane but to a child it means security. Nothing makes kids feel safer than when they are wrapped in familiarity and tradition. Their eyes light up when we announce that it’s family swim night. Yes, they love to swim but they love the uninterrupted time spent with mom and dad even more. We share laughs, we splash daddy, we play games…it is a truly great time together as a family and we cherish the memories very much.

Christmas cheer from ear to ear

It's official. Christmas has gone to the dog.

Brie, Bluemoon & Bonding

I am always astounded by the high level of intellectual conversation generated when a group of women gather to socialize. Funding education, renewable sources of energy, peace in the Middle East, lowering taxes, childhood obesity, global warming….the list is endless. But we’ll leave that to the politicians, right ladies?

Instead we focus on those real life daily struggles of being a mother and wife. Scooping baby poop out of the bathtub before it’s used as finger paint, threatening our children with coal if they reveal the “secrets of Santa” to their siblings, matching ads at Pamida to save $1.00, riding ostriches through the prairie, swallowing our own children…these are the truly important issues of life.

Okay, so if I lost you somewhere in there then I guess you need to attend one of the local “Girls Night Out” gatherings to understand where the conversation goes, although I was there and I’m still not sure if I followed the conversation correctly. But I am sure that if you have ever hung out with a group of women who wear the hats of mother, wife, butcher, baker, and candle stick maker (we had a knitter, stamper, and a soap maker at our gathering), than you have had your own experiences of conversation that seem to lead us all back to the one thing that we have run from our homes swearing we will try to forget for the next two hours…our families!!

Why is that…? I guess it is truly the thing that connects us. We understand that in the end it isn’t about what brand of shoes we are wearing, what new scent we’ve discovered, or even how successful we’ve been in the office, it’s about being women. And it is so comforting and an enormous boost of morale when you gather with other ladies who represent all walks of life and prosperity only to discover that a two year old can pitch a fit, a husband can miss the boat, a dog can chew the lawn decorations in any social class or income level. All of a sudden the big, big world of motherhood and womanhood becomes smaller. The grand disasters and mediocre accomplishments are shared and you find that you are not alone in it all.

Here’s to being a woman! The men can attempt to solve the critical issues initially mentioned…it keeps them busy and makes them feel important. Leaving us to enjoy the Brie, Bluemoon and bonding.

Disney on Ice

Teresa and Brylie sit anxiously waiting for the show to begin. Behind them Holly and Kennedy look on. After hitting the souvenir stand the moms had to retire their checkbooks.



Excitement was in the air as the girls waited for the show to begin. You could see the twinkling in their eyes, the wonderment of what was to come.





Olivia started out sitting by her cousin Erin, but quickly agreed to sit on mommy's lap. What a special time of reliving Disney magic. We sang along with all of the memorable characters from over 100 years of Disney.





This was part two of our 22 people group. Due to our size we weren't all together but 10 sat here and 12 in another section of the arena. In the back row is Holly & Kennedy, Lisa & Morgan, Fiona & Jill. The front row was Teresa & Brylie, and Carrie & Maci.





This was one of the first performances, Aladdin and the genie. There were actually about 25 genies out for this number.




This is all of the Disney princesses. Obviously the favorite of the many little girls.





Even though they are hard to see this was the toy soldiers from Toy Story. They were really neat, all of the costumes were amazing and the fact that the talented skaters could actually do jumps and flips in them was more astounding.





One of the more beautiful segments was this "It's a Small World" scene. Mickey is floating above in the lighted hot air balloon.





The dragon is a part of the Mulan performance.





This is the finale when everyone returned to the ice. There were fireworks shooting from the turrets on the castle.





At the end all were tired out from the late hour and excitement. Olivia was having a post endorphin high crash. Don't know what that is? After a really exciting time we often have at least one kid crash down in spirits at the thought of it all ending.





This is part of the group bundling up and heading for home. Michelle, Aspen, Kate, Me, Arica, Mikalea, Lois, and Lois' mom.


It was a very magical night for both the daughters and moms. So many of the shows relate back to our own childhood memories of Disney. It was a great way to spend some time being little girls at heart and remembering to pause and enjoy those memories and make new ones with our daughters and granddaughters.