2016

Everyone keeps talking about how terrible 2016 was... but for us it was a great year!

We had a lazy and calm winter

Nate turned eight.

He finished his first year of hockey. 

We went on spring break to Arizona

Watched the NASCAR Race.

Went to the Grand Canyon.

We went to Colorado so Dave could have eye surgery.

We explored the Air Force Academy where the surgery was done.

Took in some museums.

Met up with family and friends.

Went hiking. 

We had Grandma and Grandpa McMath visit.

We finished second grade.

Nate and I drove to Michigan to meet William.

We had lots of cousin time.

Dave joined us in the mitten for some fun.

We took in a Tigers game.

 Enjoyed lots of family time.

Made a fairy garden.

Hung around with friends.

Made new friends.

 The guys worked on their golf game.

Took the dogs on lots of walks.

Enjoyed a visit from the Maddisons.

And a week with cousin Evan.

Bought a boat.

Went on lots of hikes.

 Redid the flooring downstairs, got a shed, and added a boat parking spot.

 Started third grade.

Completed our Marvel watching goal.

Started hockey again.

Added to our family.

 And sadly, said good-bye to part of our family.

We don't have lots planned for 2017 yet.  Just a trip in March for spring break, possibly Nate will be on traveling hockey next fall.  We are just going to take life as it comes!

But we are having pork and sauerkraut today for good luck!

 Best wishes for a happy new year!

Christmas 2016

Our family had travel plans for Christmas this year.  This nearly never happens!  But since Dave's two sisters and mom were spending the holiday in Denver, we wanted to join in.  We knew the weather would decide for us.  And it did.  We had a blizzard on Christmas Day, and since we were supposed to drive home the next morning, we knew we shouldn't chance the terrible roads.  

So we ended up staying home.  

We went to the movies on Christmas Eve to see Moana.  

Then we ordered pizza, and after dinner went to Church.

Santa came and brought Nate the Hot Wheels track he had been hoping for.

He ws spoiled with lots of great toys and books!

We had a quiet morning.

After breakfast and gifts I got to work making dinner.

I made a ham (the 11 lb ham I had bought to take to Denver for 10 people), luckily our neighbors came over for dinner.

It was quite a blizzard!

Monday we shoveled ourselves out.  

Of course Gary helped a lot with his snowblower!

I'm pretty sure we are the only people in the hood without one!

We had a great weekend!

White Christmas

Our family has been getting used to our new normal.  

The love from these two definitely helps with the heartache of getting used to life without Anna.

We got some snow last weekend.

It was nearly negative twenty, so I passed on playing outside.  

These crazies played long enough for LuLu to nearly freeze to death.  I had to wrap her up and sit in front of a space heater! She was covered in snowballs and shivering like crazy!

Indoors it feels warm and cozy.

We have a big tin of homemade Chex Mix, and dishes of Christmas cookies!

All of the gifts are under the tree, and we are very excited about Santa's visit tomorrow night!

Heartache

We said good-bye to our sweet Anna this week.

It has been brutal on our hearts.

This Year's Ornament

This kid is so sweet.

Nate's 2016 ornament. 

Each year we pick out an ornament to remember  what Nate has been into that year.  

This year's choice was obvious.

A Slow Down

This weekend Nate was in the Christmas pageant at church.  

He played the wiseman Balthazar.  

He was so cute.

Our neighbors Gary and Linda attended the play this year.  

It meant so much to Nate to having someone there.

Next year will probably be his last year in the Christmas program.

The rehearsals for the program had us runnin' 'round like crazy people since the day after Halloween!

Each week an hour practice on Tuesdays, and on Sundays practice for an hour and a half.  

Add in hockey games on Saturdays and practices on Wednesdays, things have been hectic!

So now that the program is over Sunday dinners can resume!  I made pot roast last night!

We also finally had time for putting up our tree.

We just put up our smaller tree this year. 

We will be away from home on the weekend of Christmas and we are trying to simplify this year, so the small tree will work just fine.  

I want to make a tree skirt this year and replace this velvet skirt which grabs dog hair!

I might have time to make the skirt, but maybe not the motivation.  I haven't sewn in weeks.

Festive

It's that time of year again..... 

...when trying to make a 'perfect' Christmas for our family means feelings of suffocation for me.   

 This year I am trying to keep things simple.  

Thanksgiving is usually the opener for my season of panic attacks, but this year that wasn't the case.  

We had a relaxed dinner with the pretty dishes, and I was able to enjoy it.  

Normally for us the day after Thanksgiving our house is- **BOOM**CHRISTMAS**.

Not this year.

I've gradually put the festive flannel sheets on our beds, and have the Christmas quilts out.  

Olive is adorable on Christmas quilts by the way.

See!

 But besides the beds and our Advent wreath, the house looks normal.

And we've doing normal life stuff.... like celebrating Bonnie's 5th birthday.

And completing our series 16 mini-figures.

Watching rabbits and birds in the yard. 

Hockey

But.... isn't this so precious!?