christmastime

I know it was forever ago, but I figured it's better late than never to post our Christmas pictures :) 

The girls loved helping decorate! The bottom of our tree was extra trimmed this year ;)

Emily writing her letter to Santa

On the way to Grant's work party

fun at our church Christmas party

we love having friends visit!

our elf made breakfast for Addie again!

We were able to go to our neighborhood center again this year to see Santa. It's my favorite because the Santa there is so sweet and tender, and we don't have to pay anything to make our kids cry!! Emily actually did really well this year. She was cautious, but willing to go through it. Addie was terrified :( Beforehand, Emily was nervous and I asked her how Santa would know what to get her if she didn't go and she said, "I'll just let Santa get me whatever he thinks would be good." Such a sweetie!

at least there was a fun bounce house afterward!

^we could only find one pair of gloves, so the girls shared and put a sock on their other hand

On Christmas Eve, my family came to our house for donuts, hot chocolate, and Christmas carols. This year we added a talent show as well. It was a lot of fun!

my parents did a hilarious rendition of feliz navidad!

Shianne sang a beautiful solo, with Stevie accompanying

Grant and I played a violin/piano duet

Christmas day:

Addie was too excited to sit on the stairs with Emily

but she was also too tired to open her own gifts (at first)!

After church we went to Nana and Papa's house for Parker family Christmas

the men helped put together place settings before dinner

a gift for the uncles was this pony saddle. All of the littles love it!

Lastly, we had a fun New Year's Eve celebration, complete with fondue, bubbly, and fireworks! Emily was actually brave enough to watch them from outside this year! She had an internal struggle when it came time to do sparklers, though... she wanted to do them so badly, but she was so terrified! When she finally mustered up the courage to do it, she was laughing through tears!

Addie couldn't turn away from the fondue to take a picture ;)

Addie even got to hold her own sparkler

And here's our family on the first day of 2017. It was hard to accept that Emily is not a sunbeam anymore! These girls are just growing up so fast!! We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is on their way to a fantastic 2017!! 

Ohio!

The week before Christmas, we had the chance to visit some of Grant's family in Ohio. His sister, Amanda, and her family were kind enough to host and it was wonderful! Some of his other family members were able to come out as well, so we were happy to get to spend some time with the Zinns!

Emily got lots of quality Grandma Barb time in :)

The grandkids got to open some presents a week early!

And the girls got this adorable Matilda Jane tea set from Grandma Barb^

movie picnic

all dressed up for church!

Emily loves her cousin Emma!

we went to a fun children's museum

Addie was hoarding all the money!

Grant and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary while we were there. We were lucky to go out for a date to BJ's and to see Rogue One. Thanks to everyone who helped babysit!

gingerbread houses!!

Aunt Marnie and Addie have their birthdays close together, so we did a little joint party for them.

unlike her sister at that age, Addie had no fear blowing out the candles

No trip with Aunt Irene is complete without a mani/pedi!

while we didn't get to see much snow (some little flurries), it was still fun to be in extra cold weather. It was so cute seeing the girls all bundled up and they wanted to be outside as much as possible!

Emily loved the American girl store!

ice skating!!

my heart^

We had such a great time! Thanks again to the Goates for hosting! We can't wait until the next time we get to spend with the Zinns!