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.