Finishing out 2013...a busy end to a very fun year!

What a great year 2013 was and what a busy month December was. We definitely went out in true Rahn style with lots happening....

The first snow of the season was a great surprise and provided us with that "automatic stop" that we all needed - which included 2 snow days!! Lots of fun for everyone!

 

 

 

 The dogs loved the snow - and being outside while it was falling...

 

 

It was a perfect time to venture out and cut down our Christmas tree...

 

 

 

 Then the girls got some true sledding in the Winter Wonderland across the street from our house...first time sledding in about 3 years!

 

 

We actually made it to the mall to see Santa this year - and the girls were as excited as they were when they were little. I'm so happy they still "believe" and enjoy all of the holiday fun!

 

 

We also snuck in a holiday trip to the Kennedy Center in Washington DC to see Elf, The Musical - we are big fans of the movie, and couldn't wait to see the musical on stage!! It was a great start to Rahnukkah and all of the holiday vacation fun!

 

 

As Christmas Eve arrived, so did our annual Rahn Rituals. Rocky and Rina join us each year on Christmas Eve and after dinner we have the C and K show. This show has evolved from silly little dance routines with costumes to piano concerts accompanied by singing. This year we even had a printed program with night's events listed.

 

 

 

Christmas Eve wouldn't be complete without the annual reading of Twas The Night Before Christmas!

After a fun filled Christmas day with all of the West/Bernardo and NoVa Rahns, we packed up and headed to Pennsylvania to celebrate with the rest of the Erie relatives!!

The Christmas 2013 Erie Group

Prior to the family party in Erie, Don found a few hours to escape to the Peninsula in Erie and explore the winter beach.  The girls had fun skipping rocks in the partially frozen Lake Erie waters.

Then on to the family party and catching up with relatives that we hadn't seen in a year, or more.

Carleigh's hair with her second cousin, Izzy.

 

They got along REALLY well!!

The highlight of the Erie family party was that Carleigh got to participate in the Pie Eating contest at the end of the night - she watched last year, and chose to "dive in" this year. She was up against second cousins Ryan and Abby (our flower girl and ring bearer from many years ago) and her Aunt Chrissy.

 

She lost, but the smile says it all...she had a blast, and was one of the "big kids."

2013 was a great year and we are blessed with all of the opportunities that we have been given, and all of the love that surrounds us!

I can only hope that 2014 will be just as exciting....We are off to a good start with our upcoming Rahn fun!

Stay tuned for:

• Laura preparing and planning for the Microsoft Global Forum in Barcelona, Spain - all four Rahns will travel to Spain for the week of March 9-16!

•  Carleigh and Katie madly rehearsing for their school musical, The Little Mermaid (an original version with all new songs and characters). And...their final (closing) performance will be on Sunday, March 9th! Yep...they finish their final matinee and change clothes, remove stage makeup and we drive to the airport to fly to Spain!! SELDOM A DULL MOMENT!!

•  And who knows what else will pop up during the first few weeks of 2014! 

As always it is Seldom a Dull Moment with the Rahns!!

Happy New Year!!