Christmas Season 2013

It's hard to summarize so many memories and events into something that satisfactorily depicts what it is like - the excitement of the season and all the wonderful and hectic and fast and short moments.

Mostly, it was a wonderful season because we are blessed with good health. There is nothing else that makes life so easy. Everything else is cherries on top. Those cherries included progressive dinners with friends, sledding, tubing at Mt. Holiday, movies on a weekday afternoon, carpet picnics watching The Grinch and A Christmas Story, decorating the tree together, ice skating, making graham cracker houses with friends, baking cookies, Christmas Shows at Grand Traverse Resort, time with family and all around happiness. Thank the Lord for all we have.

Some events that stand out are: this past weekend we saw a movie, went skating, then went tubing at Mt. Holiday. It was simply a great day being together and enjoying each other. The kids topped it off with their first 'camp-out' in the big closet in Drew's room.

Another couple good memories...

Sledding with Daddy on our own personal track.

"Snow-Eater"

Bowling with our friends, the Bylands.

Christmas Show, Drew Kindergarten and Belle Pre-K

Christmas Party in Class

Graham Cracker Houses with Bylands

Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve

Drew spontaneously made books for his family about the things he likes to do. He wrote and illustrated the books. He loves to write and practice sounding out words. Annabelle met a goal of sleeping in her bed for 7 nights in a row and won a Bubble Guppies bedspread as a result. She is currently working on another 7 nights in bed, after which she will earn her "big girl mattress". I am sure she will have no problem.

Most recently, we taped a ''track" to our basement carpet and the kids have been running 'laps'. They LOVE it and so do Mom and Dad :) This is a great idea for any parents like us who live in snow laden areas. When stuck inside, just make a tape track and let the kids run out the sillies!

Grandma and Grandpa David come to town for a month late tonight. We will spend another Christmas with them.

Frankenmuth 2013

Second year making the trek to Frankenmuth to kick off the holiday season. After we checked in last night, and walked outside Annabelle says "it smells so good out here. It smells like hot dogs and princesses and pizza!"

Later, after we settled in we almost had a severed tongue. Fortunately, it ended up just being a few puncture wounds as a result of jumping off the bathroom counter. Yeah, I don't get it either. 

We have enjoyed the sausage and cheese and cold pool. It's a charming, kitschy place to come at this time. People are certain friendly and definitely in the Christmas spirit. 

Of course, the pinnacle of the whole trip is to see Santa. This time we saw him not once or twice, but 3 times! He visited us at breakfast at Oma's, then at Bronners  and finally at the Bavarian Inn dinner. He better have "the order" right by now. 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving day for this family began at the Turkey Trot. We all walked 3 miles through town to work up a good appetite for some yummy food. We had just had snow for two days so it was a bit more chilly than we expected when we signed up, but it was fun and satisfying nonetheless.

 Bille and Jean are visiting with us and helped prepare our lovely meal. Karen, mike and Bob came over to celebrate with us later in the day. 

 We are very blessed with good health, warm beds and loving family and friends.

Little birdies testing their wings

I always drive the kids to school in the morning. We park. Then together we get out and walk in and head down a long hallway to the classroom (they are in the Montessori program, so in the same class).

Today, while still in the car, Annabelle suggested that they walk down the hall at school by themselves "like big kids". Drew says, "Remember what I said, mom? Not until I'm in 2nd grade." I suggested that we compromise. Some days we will walk together down the hall and some not. So, today, after hugs and anticipatory giggles and smiles, they walked off together down the hall without me. 

Wow! It's been almost 2 years...this all seems like such a blur, but what a blessing to have the memories recorded since they quickly fade from the mommy brain. So, today is our 10th Wedding Anniversary. What a fitting day to restart the telling of our family's story.

To bring us up to speed, Drew is almost 5. He has a tae kwon do party planned for end of the month. Wild Kratts, Jake and the Neverland Pirates and (when allowed) Oscar's Oasis have replaced Diego.
Legos have replaced Thomas the Train, but the cars are still everpresent....and now his little sister is a great playmate. He actually just brought out the first matchbox car garage he got when he was 10 months old and is playing with it again. Drew is learning to read and is excited to sound out words and recognize sight words. I love watching them absorb and learn! And he loves to listen to music too, and wants to hear the Gummibar song over and over and over....

Belle is 3.5 with a big, very feminine personality. She started school this year with Drew, and loves to play pretend school at home now. Pretend is a very large part of her play, setting up her animals for parties and picnics, pretending friends are here, etc.


As mentioned, she also plays cars with Drew, and keeps up with the boys while playing driveway hockey. She also does Tae Kwon Do and is very excited to go each time. She is also a little gymnast, and looooves to move to the music. Fresh Beat Band is a favorite musical pastime.

Andrew is doing well in his job, now as territory manager. Busy. Very busy. We have moved to a new, beautiful town and are getting comfortable and making lots of new friends. I am no longer doing freelance as being involved in the kids Montessori class at school, volunteering at Scrap TC, and friends and family keep me so busy!

So far, it has been up and down, fast and slow, crazy and boring, wonderful and not-so-much. But each day, we smile when watching our little ones learn and bring forth new and funny thoughts and actions.

What will the next 10 years hold?