Sunday, December 31, 2017

December 2017 (and Calvin's 10th bday)


We went to a Newsboys concert with our friends Phil and Kim Erisman

Violet's Christmas band concert

the boys, just cuz!

Christmas lights!

OH SNAP

snapchat sillies

Uncle Jay sillies!


Violet and Ivy sang a song before the BBC Kids Christmas program


our family took a last minute trip to the Chicago area right after Christmas - this is Novi's Beef, one of Dave's favorites

we crammed into Martha's living room!

Garrett's popcorn is MAJORLY CHEESY


ice skating downtown near "the bean"





took a break to watch the Zamboni machine clean the ice....Eli was more confident after this machine went over the ice

lunch at Mr. Submarine - they had the most enormous pickles, which delighted Vanessa!



Villa Nova pizza

back at home - Christmas!







Calvin's 10th birthday




a "friends party" with a swimming at the Sportsplex, pizza, and ping pong

Ty, Corbin, and Cade could join in on the fun



annual year-end celebration with the Thompsons.  


Thursday, November 30, 2017

November 2017



"Mom look! I'm making the letter E with my body!" - Eli

Vanessa learned how to french bread

Eli learning to read has been a highlight of the year for everyone

all looking so perfectly happy and in the aftermath of "LET ME SEE THE PICTURE" was a ton of fighting

card games with Mama Row before she went to AZ for the winter

gotta teach this boy to cook an egg!

Thanksgiving smoked turkey

Violet and Stella



reading what everyone is thankful for about all around the table

went for a walk and it was "too hot" for Eli

power went out at BBC and it turned into a beautiful candle lit baptism morning - memorable!

choosing the Christmas tree at Kris Kringles with Erismans






Christmas Legos