Christmas 2017

This year the kids had almost three full weeks of winter break. They go back to school tomorrow and as I upload these pictures I realize how fast it all went. Overall, they did amazing. It was so cold here that we could not go outside to play (which is very unusual for us!) and so our cabin fever might have gotten the best of us on some days but we also had some really fun times. And yes, I know Matthias needs a hair cut but he hates them and its not worth the fight right now ;)

For one of the kids Christmas gifts, we got season passes to Carowinds and with those passes came a free night to go this year to their Winterfest. We bundled up and went with friends and had the best time! The lights were beautiful and the activities were so much fun. Now we are all really excited to go next season! 

Christmas cookie making! She wanted to do them all by herself so she did... I wont say how edible they were but she had fun and I love that she wants to be in the kitchen. 

Christmas Eve excitement! 

And Christmas Morning excitement!

We went to Discovery Place a few days after Christmas with the whole family and made a really great day out of it. John has not been there in a few years so it was really fun to have him with us. 

New Years Eve! We went to a friends house and rang in 2018! Heres to another year! 

Thanksgiving

We hosted Thanksgiving this year and it was so much fun! We are very blessed to have such wonderful friends.

Madeleine really wanted there to be Jello for dessert along with pumpkin pie and apple pie, so she made it all by herself (I just helped pour the boiling water)

And Matthias had to supervise

We had some friends over for the Michigan game and all the kids claimed the couch to watch too!

The Sunday after Thanksgiving we found our Christmas tree and this year it was James' turn to put the angel on the top

James really tried hard to have us keep this foster. This one was by far the most snuggly of all the ones we had this year. 

Our town had their Christmas festival the first weekend in December and the fires station had Santa! 

They also had these airbrushed tattoos that the kids loved

Madeleines first real Santa letter (where we can make out all the words!) 

Silly boys with our silly foster

We dug out Madeleine's old Santa slippers for Matthias and he loves them! He wont take them off, even for bed!