16 Months + 5 Years Old!

Technically, I am a month behind on this post, but it's the holidays, so everyone can cut me some slack I hope :) We've had a crazy busy month and a half with a ton of highlights. Among them:
- Max was named head coach of Northview's Football team!
- We traveled to Ithaca for Thanksgiving, where we got to meet our new nephew, Trevor
- The kids performed in their annual Christmas program
- Elise moved from walker to runner
- Court flew in a very very very small plane to Chicago and lived
- Ryan turned 5
- Max's baby-brother Brian got engaged to his love, Mallorie
- We're 100% ready for Christmas!

Thus, why we are a bit behind on our normal updates. Promise more to come over the holidays! We hope each of you have a blessed holiday full of special time with your families, friends and loved ones.

Elise loves to vaccuum whenever we do (see Max behind Elise). We're learning that many traditional gender roles are hard wired.

The kids are getting closer and closer. They love playing chase and running back and forth across the kitchen floor with the noisy WOW trucks.

Ryan's spending lots of time writing his letters (here he is on his Boogie board practicing his spelling.)

My current favorite outfit on little Ms.

Looking up to big brother as we head out into the winter weather, she loves wearing that hat....everywhere.

Needless to say, Elise is moving beyond mobile and into the acrobat zone.

Thanksgiving in Ithaca was amazingly fun. Here's our annual "Kerry Men" photo that seems to keep growing every year!

Baby Trevor with Max's dad.

Ryan enjoying every bite of Grandma's Thanksgiving meal.

The kids sitting together to watch Toy Story as a special Thanksgiving treat.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Nana too! It was a full holiday.

Ryan and his "go-go-gadget" reach as he helps decorate the tree.

Rosie cheeked boy after a snow day play-date with Daddy.

A rare, quiet moment as both kids read to themselves.

Ryan shocked and excited over his 5th birthday card.

Our animal loving Ryan wanted a long Northview snake more than anything for his birthday.

This year we had a family celebration for Ryan and Uncle E (Eric) since they're birthdays are so close together. They even shred their Tank themed birthday cake...at a party where we had Mexican food...it was a strange combo, but both boys walked away with toys off the cake. (Yes, Ryan made sure to share with Uncle E.)

Ryan showing Elise how to play Legos.

One of Ryan's favorite toys was a crayon maker. He loved the magic and science of it all.

Elise jingling her bells during the Christmas program.

Ryan rocking out to Rocking Around the Christmas Tree. He had the most amazing hip action. We got lots of questions on where he got his rhythm from!

Ryan had a second birthday party with just his friends at Jester's Court, an inflatable paradise for kids to jump their energy out.

Ryan's second cake that was John Deere themed. You'd think we live on a farm!

Ryan had thirteen friends to his party (though we lost a few to the attractions for the photo). Ryan loved the inflatable chair where he opened his gifts.

Ryan riding at the Grand Rapids museum right after we visited the Dinosaur exhibition.

Clearly the mechanical dinosaurs were a big scream!

Ryan sporting his soon to be his watch...And trying to show his guns.

Ryan celebrating Nami's birthday.