2017 Wrap Up- Long Post!

I love the hustle and bustle of December.  Sometimes it does get to be a little much- this year I found myself backing out of an overnight girl's shopping trip to Indy.  I was bummed to miss it but something had to give and unfortunately that's what made the most sense.  But that's not the point here now, is it?  The point is that December is full and busy and fun!

One Saturday this month we swapped babysitting with Danny's brother.  We took the day time date and went out to lunch and did some Christmas shopping.  It was the perfect ideal shopping date- complete with snowfall that lasted all day, dessert coffee drinks, and good moods all around!

The kids got their first real taste of playing in the snow.  Summer loved it and Sawyer couldn't move so he just sat there.  But he didn't seem to mind his hand me down purple coat.  Don't worry- he doesn't wear it everywhere:)

The tree and presents are just. so. hard. to. resist!  He became an old pro at shaking his finger at the tree while saying "no no no no no".

Christmas antlers!

Danny had some friends over one night and they got roped into a few rounds of Duck Duck Goose.  I'm not sure if it was more entertaining for Summer to play or for me to watch it all happen!

The 2017 overnighter!  Lots of kids, lots of food, lots of noise, lots of fun, lots of CHAOS!

Danny played with a nephew's toy helped a nephew out with his new toy.

One of our treasures from the adult grab was this giant Jenga game made by Cassie!

Two of Danny's siblings and ourselves have all been neighbors with this kind lady.  She has us over for supper each Christmas and gets our kids cozy jammies.  So sweet!

Christmas with my dad's side of the family

We played a whodunit Christmas game complete with props.  My two favorite things about this picture are my grandma's Mrs. Clause shawl and my mom's face.

We did gingerbread houses one day at my parent's while our kids were sleeping.  We had family members vote on their favorite and Danny won.

But in my defense, mine was delicate and simple and his roof fell off because he had so much stuff on it!  So he should have been disqualified.  But I'm not bitter at all... :)

Summer got her first haircut!  It really doesn't look much different, it was just time to trim it up and get off all the baby hair and split ends.  She did really good!

We had my family's celebration on Christmas day, came home the day after, and on the 27th finally did our little family Christmas.  We acted out the Christmas story with our Little People nativity.

However Sawyer was way more interested in the fire.  It was the first time he's really seen it.

We got the kids a trampoline and it's been a hit!

We, along with some of our friends, wrapped up the year with a taffy pull, games, and worship.

Fun times!

2017 was incredibly normal and uneventful.  And ya know what?  I think I'm okay with that!  I can do normal.  I don't mind some excitement here and there but normal typically means good.  That's something to be thankful for!  So here's to another normal year in 2018:)  Happy New Year!