I'm looking back at my favorite moments of 2016 today - most will include time with my little family who I love more than anything and am grateful for us all having a great year - I hope 2017 brings the same
![Image result for 2016](http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/investing/T052-S003-26-best-stocks-for-2016/images/intro.jpg)
In January we took these cuties to volunteer for Feed My Starving Children - I plan to do this with Brayden again in the new year
In February we celebrated Valentine's Day with these cuties and also had a cousin bake off challenge
We had my Mom's 60th birthday celebration at our house in March
In April we celebrated Easter
In May, Brayden started baseball. It was so awesome to watch him grow in this sport
We also took some family pics that I will always cherish
May also brought Ella's first dance recital and it was just the cutest thing ever
We also went on a family/friends vacation to South Haven, MI
Brayden lost his first tooth in June!
And we took the kids to their first professional baseball game (on a 90+ degree day!)
July brought Book of Mormon with my family
And 4th of July
Brayden's birthday was celebrated in July with a superhero theme and we had the best time
Lots of July was spent at splash pads or my in laws pool
We also celebrated the hubby's birthday at the end of the month
August brought our annual family vacation with Rick's side. The kids had a blast fishing every day and we enjoyed being with one another
![Image may contain: 2 people, people sitting, sunglasses, outdoor, water and nature](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13934986_10207160406991834_780374759452116524_n.jpg?oh=27cbae00b4baff612eb25fd2c66842bf&oe=58EF75FC)
![Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, people standing, child, outdoor and nature](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13906717_10207160406591824_5950213762877520518_n.jpg?oh=e86770d57417c8087a5c9853f2b1d5a4&oe=58F28C44)
Avery's birthday happened on the vacation so we made sure to celebrate her!
![Image may contain: 2 people, people sitting, people eating, table, outdoor and food](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13912696_10207160412551973_250509809827713954_n.jpg?oh=fa7afcca867c9a336ce05ac867a0f723&oe=5920D3F6)
We threw the girls a joint birthday party in the middle of August
![Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, people standing and outdoor](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14100277_10207259145260229_2123673817168154552_n.jpg?oh=0ce0fed0b47098d4f02568cf0ddcc3cf&oe=58EE8BC3)
We enjoyed summer coming to an end
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and Brayden starting 1st Grade!
![Image may contain: 1 person, standing, outdoor and nature](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14051687_10207266328239799_4243617007510437754_n.jpg?oh=14048727107b5c4f308aa999ffeaaaaa&oe=58ECD6A9)
September brought the first day of preschool for Ella!!
![Image may contain: 1 person, grass, child and outdoor](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/s960x960/14138620_10207383501889067_1774276077987526598_o.jpg?oh=c716b6666ce98b1a3ca60fbb8fb0fa54&oe=58E7773E)
We went to our towns annual September Fest and had a blast
![Image may contain: 5 people, people smiling, outdoor](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14238098_10207377399576513_244194662846420673_n.jpg?oh=4fb506dcb7003bdc4239656d9fdeca99&oe=58D6AA4B)
And Ella started another year of dance class with her bestie!
![Image may contain: 2 people, people standing and child](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14330007_10207412595976401_7637588102218214840_n.jpg?oh=67f185ec648b01d8554f1b3df77622d1&oe=58F67E72)
Ella turned 4 on the 5th and we celebrated at home
![Image may contain: 1 person, sitting](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14232643_10207373181751070_2805927344078690495_n.jpg?oh=79fb1152b38a526b29b7e0803385dd59&oe=58E709FF)
We went apple picking
![Image may contain: 5 people, people smiling, people standing, outdoor and nature](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/l/t1.0-9/14316843_10207412752220307_4168220527819769991_n.jpg?oh=c5a6b4fc9e9591b548ea841f6bddab49&oe=59227E43)
and Brayden started Fall soccer. His improvement this year from last was dramatic and we were so proud!
![Image may contain: 1 person, outdoor and nature](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14222295_10207412596936425_1095164330531430846_n.jpg?oh=63ff295dbd01310f949b48b0ec5cea49&oe=58F68CC4)
October came and brought us to the pumpkin patch
![Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14720486_10207752304668906_1957148454442267618_n.jpg?oh=a7e35be10c194692824a0f4c95e364e5&oe=58F45FE8)
and to class parties :)
![Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, child and closeup](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14642521_10207784168145473_4864551853976555416_n.jpg?oh=7ef061d84b93b6a12cd9657d6badeac8&oe=58F342E3)
![Image may contain: 5 people, people smiling, people sitting and indoor](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14732138_10207820055722640_5377271385159878812_n.jpg?oh=66c14c77693c37ac199e92f12b8f8709&oe=591FC596)
We celebrated Halloween with Little Red Riding Hood, Goldie and Kylo Ren :)
![Image may contain: 2 people, people standing, child and outdoor](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14581481_10207810415121631_3518013298907017617_n.jpg?oh=2842bdaa83f1740d4b70dbe57cb2762a&oe=58DB89D1)
November brought gorgeous weather and my little cousin's wedding
![Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, people standing and wedding](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15073534_10207922515244064_4800603402328761904_n.jpg?oh=7a950b5e0fea10087434011ad5322227&oe=58E0A461)
We celebrated Thanksgiving
![Image may contain: 5 people, people smiling, people sitting, table, indoor and food](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15232088_10208007436487042_6858152906434679690_n.jpg?oh=36c5736e60463399266c1ed4d0cc1d11&oe=58DCA6AD)
And chopped down our Christmas tree!
![Image may contain: 4 people, people standing, sky, outdoor and nature](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15241768_10208016740439635_7764360159264412577_n.jpg?oh=6b7e7054fdc916817cd6cafd4dd9b91f&oe=58DBC70F)
We decked the halls
and saw our towns tree lighting
![Image may contain: 4 people, people smiling, child, night and closeup](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15202571_10208016738599589_7764911085690256508_n.jpg?oh=c507d7579c0d66f84145b969495007b8&oe=58E48CF1)
December brought more festive fun! We saw the zoo lights
![Image may contain: 4 people, people smiling, people standing, christmas tree, child, tree and outdoor](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15285012_10208082226796753_8387413980624501942_n.jpg?oh=3d0e329af0dbea62bf1722a9f47fa41a&oe=58DF042B)
![Image may contain: 4 people, people smiling, outdoor](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15350686_10208082226676750_7590490594771291064_n.jpg?oh=fe12b0871711cf6847d495dbda7d8162&oe=58EE4618)
We got dumped on with snow
![Image may contain: 3 people, snow, hat and outdoor](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15672817_10208255196160879_7195387638378302637_n.jpg?oh=f183191b8fffb21d7bd0d17ad700062e&oe=59227973)
![Image may contain: 5 people, people smiling, snow and outdoor](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15542365_10208224487153173_8952515098397051664_n.jpg?oh=d5bf99f6d43b22f9db60854eb980dcb2&oe=591F8D87)
We drove around and looked at lights
and of course the kids saw Santa!
We built a gingerbread house
and made cookies
Ella had her first school holiday performance and girlfriend rocked it!
We had our annual goodbye North Pole breakfast with our Elf, Twinkles
and celebrated Christmas
I love looking back at all these photos and seeing all the memories we made! I can't believe how much the kids have changed over the year.
Here's wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year!
*linking up with Momfessionals