Kids slept until 8! 

  
This is the face that says, “I am on to you.” He opened a XBox controller and we told him we got it so he could take it to friends’ houses to play. Then he opens this, a Minecraft game, and we use the same explanation. He than proceeds to search because we have presents to take with us to Iowa and he finds one that doesn’t have a name on it. Well, he figured it out quickly. This is technically a family gift but Cooper loves his Minecraft and we are excited to be able to play along with him.  When Cooper gets excited about something he can’t stop talking, he has been talking all morning. 

  
Yes, John and I decided it was time to purchase an American Girl doll. Bella has taken care of Ginger, her practice doll from Gramy and Gramps. Note- there isn’t a doll that looks exactly like her with Hazel eyes. So now she has Ginger with green eyes and Bells with blue.

Cooper is a great gift giver. He picked out a shirt making kit for American Girl dolls- he had NO idea she was getting one. He also got her a white tshirt so she could match her dolls. This tradition started last year. John and I take the kids out to buy something for each other and something for us to help them understand giving and how to pick out gifts. I am amazed at how excited they are to give. Cooper gave Bella his  present to her right away and Bella did the same. 

 Can you tell what everyone has been up to all day? Bella has been exploring every gift. The boys are glued to the TV. Me? I am just enjoying putting things away, watching the joy and playing with Cooper’s toy.

Christmas Eve 2016 in MI this year for the four of us. We baked cookies, played games and in the snow, ate a Christmas meal, went to Christmas Eve Mass, sang Christmas songs and got ready for Santa. 

   
    
    
    
We received Speak Up in the mail from a secret Santa today- the game is hilarious!   
  One present to open on Christmas Eve- games to play together!  
  I have such fond memories playing Guess Who after school at Latchkey. The kids love it too!!  
  Bella was very good at Disney Apples to Apples and she was able to read a majority of the directions!   
    
    
  Cooper felt good in his festive outfit- I love when he feels confident and proud!
  Bella was upset she didn’t get to get her picture taken first… She recovered quickly 

 
Bella participates by singing at church, she even adds dance moves.  
  They are sad to say goodbye to our Elf, Jack. He spent his last day with is playing Texas Hold’em with friends.
Thanks for the Christmas Jams, Gramy!  
  Cooper is a pro at Guess Who, we feel he has the ability to read minds. There could be 5 up and he will randomly guess correctly!  

  Merry Christmas Eve!! 

 Bella loves drawing and writing notes. Her favorite thing to write is “I Love You.” Unfortunately, I can’t keep them all but I want to place it here so I never forget.   

   
   
Bella’s Girl Scout Troop delivered candy canes to our local Veteran Center. She was very shy but got the hang of greeting veterans as they entered the building.   
So much about this picture makes me smile; her smile, quietly playing in her room, her beautiful long hair, etc.

 
So proud of her gift from her Girl Scout leaders; Jenni, Tricia and Mommy. 

Let me start off by saying, I did not take as many pictures as I would have liked to. This is the problem when you are a home room parent plus you have two kids in the same school with parties at the same time. Fortunately, John was able to come so both kids had a parent present. 

Cooper’s party had a hot chocolate bar, candy cane drop, jingle bell toss. Chopstick marshmallow, a mad lib riddle and a snowman craft. 

The theme in Bella’s classroom was Rudolph. They made Rudolph Rice Krispie treats, decorated Rudolph hot cocoa, played a Rudolph antler toss, and a Rudolph dice game.    

School is officially done for 2016!! 

Grand Rapids Ballet presents the Nutcracker. My little ballerina was dancing in her chair and afterwards.   

   
Not sure why Bella is frowning. We were making pancakes and of course Mickey Mouse appears, Disney lives on with us.

Bella has been blessed with an AMAZING teacher for kindergarten. She gave each child super reader capes because they have learned reading strategies and she calls them reading powers. 💗

    

John insisted on keeping the tradition alive. Star Wars in opening day!

  
But Bella has another movie on her brain  

Play date with a school friend.

    
 
My present helper. She helped attach bows and write To and From on each package. She also carried down the presents when they were done. See the picture below for her placement- I laughed out loud. So glad she loves to help me! 

While Bella and I wrapped presents John and Cooper were outside building a mega fort in a large snow pile (I heard it is epic…I will take their work for it).
   
 
This is a huge accomplishment for me- presents are wrapped and organized!!!

Integrity Dance Benefit Concert- Bella danced to Winter Wonderland

Gingerbread house decorating!

My Grandma Wood told me many years ago, that John will never be overweight. This comment was while watching him play with a frisbee all by himself at a picnic. He is such a kid at heart and the neighborhood boys seem to love every minute of it. 

John

• Director of Wealth Management at Principal Financial Group
• First trip to the Rose Bowl
• Played softball league for church
• Led church league in homeruns
• Played softball in coed Ed league
• High ankle sprain sliding into third base, sad realization he’s not young anymore

Audra

• Crandell Family President
• First trip to the Rose Bowl and California
• Wine trip to Traverse City with friends
• Finished 2 year term on MAPS board
• 1st grade Catechist at St. Sebastian
• Girl Scout Troop 4663 Daisy Leader
• Volunteer (kindergarten and 3rd grade, Hand2hand, Reading Counts)

Cooper

• Resident Noise Engineer
• Played Upward basketball
• Eye surgery at Helen DeVos
• Lost his FIRST (and second) tooth
• Received his First Eucharist
• Turned 8!
• Played AYSO soccer
• Played Coach pitch minor for Byron Township
• Ran a mile for Dynamite Dawgs
• Started piano lessons (Has been practicing Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger and We Wish You a Merry Christmas)
• A summer of sleepovers
• Started 3rd grade
• Loves math!
• Saw the ocean for the 1st time

Bella

• Director of Coloring
• Turned 5!
• Read 1,000 books before Kindergarten
• Saw her first ballet, Snow White
• Peppa Pig Live!
• Performed on stage at her dance recital without any tears
• Became a Girl Scout Daisy
• Played T-ball
• Got ears pierced
• Jumped off the diving board
• Started kindergarten
• Learning to read
• Saw the ocean for the 1st time!!

Family

• First trip to Science and Industry Museum in Chicago
• Camp Fort Hill trip
• Strawberry picking
• Blueberry picking
• Honey Creek Resort in Lake Rathbun, IA
• Adventureland
• Tons of swimming at the Thornton’s pool
• Whitecaps game
• Fredrick Miejer Garden
• Discovery center
• Jester’s Court
• Hiking
• Beach days
• Bike rides
• Boulder Ridge Zoo
• Started the Harry Potter series
• Enjoyed the Summer Olympics
• Disney World
• Disney cruise to Bahamas and Castaway Cay
• 5+ trips to Iowa to visit our family

Looking forward to the adventures that await us in 2017!!

*Side note- I wrote this when we were Disney over a month ago and it never got published. Better late than never!

Eating breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table might just be the best thing at Disney! You arrive at the park early to beat the crowds in but most importantly, you get to meet Cinderella and many of her friends. Bella twirled in her dress for Cinderella and got her autograph of course.

   
 
The pastries and food were fantastic, but that was not the focus. The castle is breathtaking. 

   
    
    
    
    
    
 
Aurora had Cooper giggling and hiding under his chair- he will remember this breakfast for sure. 

Character meet and greets at Magic Kingdom. Bella had three different outfit changes throughout the day, she would have brought every princess dress she owned but we limited it to two (Mom or Dad had to carry the oversized backpack all day). 

John was unimpressed with the character meet and greets but this little one- LOVED THEM!!! 

Elsa and Anna are only at Epcot 😔

   
    
   
What happens when you wear princess costumes at Disney? Disney employees will tell you as they are walking by, “Hi, princess!” The BEST was when we were at Disney Springs and a garbage man stopped his cart, and bowed to Bella. He said, “your majesty.” Then Bella curtsied, she will never forget it. Disney knows excellent costumer service! I am secretly wishing I could work here 😉

  
Bella’s reaction to seeing the castle for the first time. 💗 

Family and friends- if you haven’t gone to Disney yet and have been wanting to- BOOK IT NOW!!  John and I booked this trip 13 months ago because we knew it would be something that we would continue to say, we need to go. Yes, it is expensive but book early and make a payment plan. These looks, smiles, head on your shoulder at the end of the night on the bus ride home because you are so exhausted moments are ones that will never be forgotten. 😢