The Nutcracker

Clara and I went to The Nutcracker on Thursday evening!  We love this tradition so much and it is for sure one of our favorite nights of the year.  She gets so excited and we both love every minute.  I just love to watch Clara watch the ballet.  It's a magical night.

Here we are at The Nutcracker last year!

All ready to go!

My sweet aunt Teresa gave the girls this beautiful shawl when Emma was born.  She got it in Clara's size and then Emma can grow into it.  Clara LOVED getting to wear it.

We met some of our favorite friends there!  Jessica and Amelia got tickets with us and it was extra fun to experience the night together!

Ready for the show to begin!

As the lights dimmed Clara very excitedly exclaimed, "it's starting, it's starting!" in her tiny sweet voice which made our neighbors all smile.  I absolutely love watching The Nutcracker, but I imagine it's even more magical to a child.

I had to snap a picture of one of my favorite dances.  So beautiful and stunning!  I feel like it just gets better and better as the show goes on.

at intermission having the best time

We ran into several friends including Katie and Celia!  Such a fun night!  We already can't wait for next year!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Clara and Davey love making little forts and cozy nooks for Emma. :)

just nibbling on a cucumber

This is pretty much how our whole family felt when Daddy fixed all the lights on our Christmas tree and we could decorate it!!!

Emma's turn. <3

Clara announced that since she put the star on top of the tree last year that it was Davey's turn. #sosweet

Love our tree!  I creates such a cozy atmosphere.  Now we just need a fireplace!!

This sweet baby waves all the time!  She starts waving on her own, she waves when we say hi to her, she waves when we wave at her...  It's pretty much the sweetest thing.

My JOY baby!  She literally smiles the second she wakes up in the morning.  How much better would our days start if we all did that? :)

Oh you know, just sitting all the way up in her baby swing.  Good thing she's buckled in!  Might be time to retire the swing.

Thanksgiving 2016

We headed 3 hours north to Grandpa and Grandma Ellingson's home for Thanksgiving!

Grandma had cookies all ready to decorate.

I had to keep my tradition going (inspired by my cousin Laura) of taking a picture of my babies by the turkey on their first Thanksgiving.  Emma is 7 months old.

Here's Davey at 2 months. <3

And here's Clara at 11 months. :)  She was a little concerned about the situation, ha!

sweet baby's first Thanksgiving

SO MUCH to be thankful for!

Poor little Emmy work up with a cold Thanksgiving morning, but she's a trooper.

Great-grandma Kann and Emma :)

Emma's 1st Thanksgiving meal = squash from aunt Leslie's garden

Michael took the kids out to play in the snow in the afternoon.  There's a perfect little hill right by the house.

I stole this picture from auntie Em.  So precious!  Such a great Thanksgiving!