2018

Started a touch snowy....

So we went skiing.

We explored Chicago.

 

Stopped by the Pioneer Woman's place.

 

Decided to, found a place, and moved in a two week period.

 

Graduated from Elementary School!

 

Learned to water ski.

 

Dropped by Kansas with our bleached hair.

 

Received our first iPhones.

 

Hung out at the Beach.

 

Hung out in Canada on a canoe for a few days.

 

Found some stables for lessons.

 

Ran a lot.

 

Relaxed a lot.

 

Acquired teenagers.

 

Saw the Blackhawks, and the Bears, and the Bulls.

Baseball for 2019

And we always wound up back here.

Which is where we will usher in 2019.

Perfect.

Merry Christmas!

The shoes she wanted!

 

The headset he wanted!

The hoverboard Elaine wanted...

The Christmas Morning Rolls I wanted!

 

Dinner and Family that everyone cherishes.

 

A perfect reindeer cake.

 

Made better when made by the ladies.

 

The hoverboard that it turns out everyone wanted.

Remembering the Reason

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services

 

Where I don't think they actually ate the candles and we didn't drip wax everywhere!

Preparing for Christmas

The Kristkindle Market

 

Half a door decoration for school

 

Cookie decorating

 

Gingerbread House building

 

Eating the cookies watching Christmas movies.

 

The Candy Cane bread

 

And a dance party.

It's Beginning

to look a lot like Christmas,

 

everywhere you look.

Outtakes

This did not make the Christmas card.

 

Nor this.

 

Not that.

Still. 

Easier than clamping the kids down as we needed to in the early years.

After a Week of Thanksgiving Vacation, a Snow Day

Because we hadn't had enough snow up to the day of leaving for Thanksgiving, the Monday after we were dumped on.

 

But the girls took advantage of the snow day to make me a birthday treat!

Happy Birthday Boys!

Perhaps  today, we'll get you to put those down and smile together for us.

We officially have teenagers!