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! 

Halloween

Its been a crazy few months, but when it is not crazy around here! I'm hoping after all the holidays we can take a breath and just relax a little.

This kid loves to eat! 

James loved taking after school naps outside with our then foster Dez. I think taking in foster dogs for the GCSPCA has been a huge influence on the kids but especially James. He has really stepped up and helped with them and really understands that we need to give back where we can. 

Madeline was Princess Elena for Halloween

James decided he was too old to go trick or treating so he passed out candy with John

Madeleine dressed Dash up as her dragon

Matthias wore a superhero shirt, that's about as dressed up as he would allow.

John and James had a good set up with Duke and our foster, Khaleesi. It was really warm out so they didn't need the fire pit but it was still fun! 

James' soccer team came in first place in their league! This was at their trophy presentation

Mathias and I take a toddler class and his favorite activity there is by far the ball pit. He spends as much time as he can in there. 

He only sleeps on the couch when hes sick, but it also means I get more snuggles.

For Thanksgiving, I bought a huge roaster for my turkey and Matthias got a huge box to play in for a few days.

We had a big scare with Duke, his diabetes got really crazy and we couldn't regulate his sugar glucose levels for several days. But after two trips to the emergency vet he is back to himself. And Dash hasn't left his side ever since he came home. 

Fall

School has gotten the best of all of us - we are still struggling to adjust to being on a schedule and having two kids in school full time. Every day Madeleine complains about getting up to early for school because she just did it the day before and James is starting to complain about homework and how hard school is getting and Matthias is always complaining that he is being left behind by the other two when they leave him... oh the joys of being back to school!

James and his toothless smile! 

This kid is growing up way too fast 

Our handsome Dash

Introducing Mr. Banks! He was one of our fosters and I immediately fell in love - thankfully my mom also fell in love with him and has adopted him. He is a 15lb schnoodle mix and the sweetest boy youll ever meet!

He is at such a busy age that the only time he might sit still is when he is eating something 

John got an award from his company and we got a very nice night out at the Ritz for the awards ceremony! When I came downstairs with makeup on for the first time in forever, James asked what was wrong with my face... I think that means it has been too long since we got a night out ;) 

John doesn't let dogs on the furniture... except when he thinks no one is looking 

Madeleine had her friend Addie sleep over and the two were in princess heaven

James and 4 of his friends went to Carowinds with his friends very brave parents. James loves rollercoasters and basically everything that is at an amusement park - it is his favorite place in the world right now, as he tells me all the time when hes trying to drop hints that he wants to go back. 

Matthias is officially at the stage of climbing anything and everything. Especially if there is food at the top. 

My mom and brother came down to visit and like the other two, Matthias loved Ross' wheelchair and claimed it for his own whenever Ross wasn't in it 

James is in a competitive soccer league thus fall and its exhausting but he has learned so much and grown so much that it was worth it. Soccer is his sport and he loves being on the field. 

All decked out for an OSU football game!

Madeleine is also playing soccer (again with her friend Addie) and is really enjoying it. I think its great for her to be on a team and learn sportsmanship.