December 2016

We finished the year strong with snow storms, no school, an extra long Christmas break and an AMAZING Christmas. 2016 was a challenging, but also amazing year for our little family. We can't wait to see what 2017 has in store for us!

Writing letters to Santa...David asked for a new baby:)

Kimmie came out of bed late one night and said she needed to dress up like a turkey with a briefcase the next day at school for a class skit they were doing.  This is what we came up with

 Winter Celebration at the kids school

 Just had to document that gas was $1.99!!!

 December 1st is when we put up decorations and open our Christmas jammies

 Kate fell asleep at church holding Seth's hand

 practicing going to Sunbeams. December marked the last time we have a child in nursery. Bitter sweat moment.

 The weather has been crazy here. Rain, hail, sleet, snow. 

 Swim lessons for the older kids

 A lunch date with Joshua & Cyndy, right before the snow storm hit

 coming home from lunch in the snow

 First snow storm of December. Kimmie went to play at her friend Mari's and the other 3 kids went to play at our neighbor Amber's. 

 just because I love these leggings I found for Kate for $2

 date night with Seth and we saw Conestoga built a new soccer field. It was a cold night!

 Kimmie and David played Christmas music at a local retirement home.

 Our kids are obsessed with eating Mountain Rise Granola!!!

 On December 14th we got another storm. Unfortunately the schools weren't quiet prepared as it came faster than expected. The buses were running really late, some were unable to even get around and traffic was at a standstill. The kids were all stuck at the school because the buses couldn't get to them. They watched movies in the gym, had snacks, played games and sang songs. The bus was finally able to get them at 5:30pm and they made it home at 6:30pm. What usually takes less than 15 minutes, took an hour to drive. The first thing Joshua said as he got off the bus was "this was the best day EVER!!!"

 School was canceled the next day and they spent most of their time playing in the backyard

 warming up after playing outside

 We were stuck at home so we did our nails. Cyndy got some press on nails that we put on the girls

 more snuggles to keep warm

 Look, I can put Kate's hair in a ponytail!

 Every year we help deliver Christmas meals to families in need. It is a great family tradition and a great way for the kids to help. 

 I took this picture right as Kate and David slipped on the ice!

 We were lucky enough to be invited to the airport to welcome home our dear friend Elder Henry Verdine. He spent 2 years serving as a missionary for our church in the Rochester New York Mission, he even served in Scott & Britany's ward for a bit!

 My picture Seth got me while in France. I framed and hung it right by my picture he got me from China.

 David trying to scare Seth

 More nails

 Went to Cyndy's work Christmas party and saw Rogue One

 Our 9th annual drive through the Winter Wonderland Christmas Lights

 The last snow storm cancelled school so Christmas break started early. We spent a lot of time at the library over break

 I've been sad since my last boots had to be thrown away, but I was happy to find these for $10!!!

 Joshua's Sunday School teacher made him this magnetic nativity. All the kids LOVED it!!

 David's letter to Grandma

 Christmas Eve opening their gifts to each other, Beanie Boo's

Seth and I continue our Christmas Eve tradition of watching our FAVORITE Christmas movie, 

Just Friends

 

 This year the kids asked Santa for 4 things: 

something you WANT

something you NEED

something to WEAR

something to READ

 Grandma also sent a huge package...she loves to spoil them!!

We did a family gift for the kids. I made them all HUGE fleece blankets and they got the Star Wars set and Just Dance 2017

 Christmas morning fun

 playing Just Dance

 Christmas upstairs with the rest of the family

 Kate's Christmas Day pigtails for church.

 Trying to get a good family picture before church

 More gifts from our sweet home teacher.

 Grandma got the kids aprons and they love helping make dinner

The boys had outgrown their small ikea dressers, so I got them new ones from Target and I am in LOVE!! They are huge and easy for the boys to get in and out of. The top drawer even has a built in divider for the underwear/socks. Best purchase of 2016!!! Took me about 3 hours total to put both together. The best part is we were able to give our old ones to a refugee family that moved into the area.

somehow still smiling after 3 hours of putting together dressers

 playing at the park while Joshua is at a friends

 more Just Dance

 NYE was spent at Cyndy's work having a private viewing of Sing with the extended Davenport family. Kimmie brought her friend Olivia and we had lunch after.

 That night Seth and I chaperoned a multi-stake youth dance.

 More fun pictures from the month....

activity days girls carpooling home

One of my wisemen was a casualty of football in the living room

 On the 27th out of nowhere my eye started swelling up. By the next day it was still swollen so I went to urgent care, apparently I had cellulitis of the eye, a bacterial infection. I started antibiotics and the next day it was pretty much back to normal. 

left: sitting at urgent care    right: 12 hours after starting antibiotics

 pictures from the ward Christmas party. We didn't go, but Seth and Kimmie helped set up.

Mari, Kimmie, Grace