Clyde Returns

After a long hiatus in the North Pole with Santa, our elf, Clyde has returned!  The kids were really happy that he was able to find out new house and could hardly wait to tell him all about what they wanted for Christmas and how good they have been.  Connor could hardly contain himself when he walked downstairs yesterday and Clyde was sitting in the tree.  Even more exciting was the train that he left for the kids only to play with after Thanksgiving through Christmas.  Today the kids dressed quickly and ran down the stairs to find Clyde on the shelf in the family room.  Too exciting!  We also started our advent calendar.  The kids look each day and find either a note, a treat, or a toy.  Today was a treat and tomorrow a note about something we will do Christmas related.  Tomorrow's note reads: Go to the library and pick out Christmas books.  In addition to the thrill of having Clyde back in the house and the advent calendar, the kids got their presents from my brother, sister in-law and kids who live in Texas.  We usually get gifts from them when my parents return from their visit there in late November and we let the kids open them early.  They seem to really enjoy getting an early Christmas present and they get a ton of stuff on Christmas day, so this is a nice way to space things out and truly appreciate the gifts that they are given.  We are having a lot of fun this year with the kids.  Some of the things we plan to do this Christmas season are:

1. Bake and decorate Christmas cookies

2. Go see Santa and get a picture with him (check)

3. Put of tree and decorate (check)

4. Make a gingerbread house

5. Wrap gifts together for our adopted family

6. Go to the library and get Christmas books

7. Drive around and see Christmas lights

8. Go to the Breton Mall and see the trains (check...already gone 4 times!)

9. Watch the Polar Express (I already bought each of the kids a silver bell to be placed outside their door on Christmas morning from Santa himself:)

Allison is thrilled with her new tap outfit for her American Girl from Uncle Chad, Aunt Kimberly and her cousins.

Ella loves the new train from Clyde our Elf

Connor shows off his new puzzle, Mac and lots of new Disney Cars from 

Uncle Chad and Aunt Kimberly

Clyde always starts off December by finding the Christmas tree

The new outfit is on

Connor LOVES his new cars

The kids make a pillow walk way

Having fun

Ella enjoying herself

Day 2: the family room shelf

Our advent calendar from last year with notes, treats, and little toys

The train brought to the kids by Clyde

Last night we read this book to kick off the Christmas Season

One more look at the new train

10. Make Christmas cards for the cousins presents

Thanksgiving Weekend

    We definitely have a lot to be thankful for this year.  We are so thankful to be closer to family, to have a new "old" home in EGR, for Craig to have a great job, for our health and happiness, and for Allison to be loving Kindergarten.   Although Craig was on call on Thanksgiving, he was done in the early afternoon and was able to travel to Grand Haven to Brad and Katie's house for Thanksgiving dinner.  He did have a few pages, but luckily non of them were urgent and we were able to stay the entire time.  On Friday morning I hit the sales and 4:00 am and got back by 7:30 for Craig to get to work.  We managed to make it to the tree lighting ceremony in EGR, but it was really cold so we didn't last long.  The kids were excited to see the reindeer and santa.   Needless to say, Friday night was an early one for me.  Saturday, Craig and I took turns working out and we met Brad, Katie, the girls, and Craig's parents at the GR Public Museum to see "Bodies Revealed".  It was amazing, but not a place for kids.  Craig and I spent most of our time keeping the kids away from the bodies, so we would like to return on our own one night.  Sunday was spent swimming with the kids, working out, running a few errands and cleaning up the lawn.  The winter holidays are my favorite time of year.  I just love all decorations, family traditions and fun that is involved with Thanksgiving and Christmas.  With Allison's birthday in just over two weeks, the next month is going to zoom by.  

Allison and Ella playing dress up on Thanksgiving day

Goof balls

Allison and Connor at the Thomas the Train exhibit

Connor was "IN LOVE" and didn't want to leave

My three little elves

I had to put this picture in....notice Connor's face.  It is VERY difficult to replicate

Connor with daddy

Big buds these days

The girls trying to stay warm

Checking out the reindeer

Allison enjoyed petting the reindeer

Genevieve and Connor at the Grand Rapids Public Museum

Preparing for the Holidays

The last week or so has been a lot of fun gearing up for the Holidays.  We kicked off the Holiday Season by going to the Santa Parade downtown Grand Rapids.  It was a VERY cold morning, but a fun way to begin celebrating the season.  This week we took down the fall decorations and put up all the Christmas decorations.  I have found that the decorations I had for the condo are a bit scarce in the new house, but we will add something new each year.  This is by far my favorite time of the year!  I LOVE decorating the tree and enjoy it even more now that I can do it with Allison and Connor (Ella took a nap).

                         Allison is getting the weather report from the TV 8 weather man.

                                                          Allison enjoying the parade!

                       Ella having a snack at the parade.  This was before her hands were frozen solid

Craig and Connor liked the "dragon".  I thought it was a dinosaur from far away and Craig thought a gingerbread man.  I thought my guess was a bit better, but Craig disagreed.

Having a sucker and trying to stay warm.  

Santa's little helpers.  Connor and Allison help decorate the tree

My little elves

The stockings are hung and the Nativity collection is up. 

The tree is completed!

The kids have two sets of stockings and I thought this was the perfect place for them.

Halloween 2010

Spiderman getting ready to go to Allison's party

Allison's class

My little Bee

Spiderman and Cleopatra ready for the zoo

Allison at the zoo. They had face painting too!

Spiderman, Bumblebee and Cleopatra

Craig and Allison

Craig dressed as his mother, Mary Kay

Elmo, Belle and Spiderman

Allison and Aden

My little bumblebee helping me hand out candy

With Halloween falling on a Sunday, our weekend was jammed with festivities. The kids had a great time, but they had WAAAYYY too much candy and so did I! We kicked off the beginning of Halloween by heading up to Allison's school for her party. Unfortunately, we missed the parade (I thought it was at 10:30, but it was 10:00). We managed to see all the kids dressed in their costumes and get a class photo. Allison didn't even mention the fact that we weren't there. After her party we had lunch at Panera and then headed to Boo at the Zoo. The kids had a great time getting some fun treats and books at the zoo as well as seeing some animals. Then we were off to Allison's swim team practice. She is becoming quite the little swimmer and can definitely keep up with all the first and second graders. Saturday we went to Grand Haven to watch the Spartans get creamed and went trick or treating with Allison's cousins. She had a great time and got a ton of candy. Ella fell asleep in the high chair so she stayed back with grandma and grandpa and handed out candy. We stopped by and saw my grandparents and my aunt and uncle, which was fun for the kids since we are typically not in Grand Haven for Halloween. Sunday we went to our friends' house for a Halloween party and then back to our house to see all the neighbors and hand out candy. Craig took the kids around our neighborhood and I stayed back with Ella to hand out candy.

Craig turns 34!

Ella, me, Court and Ryan at the game

Craig, Todd and Amanda

Ryan and Connor at the East vs. Northview game

Craig on his birthday.....studying for boards

Uncle Craig with all the girls and Connor

Last Friday Craig turned 34 and much of the weekend was spent celebrating this milestone. After 12 days straight of work, Craig finally had a day off. He started it off with studying for several hours for his board exams and then picking up Allison from school. Friday night we took Allison to swim lessons and then we all headed to the EGR vs Northville football game. We met Courtney as well as Todd and Amanda. Connor had a great time playing with Ryan and we enjoyed the company of our friends. Saturday we went to Allison's final soccer game of the season and then on to Grand Haven. We watched the MSU football and thrilled to see them come back and win against Northwestern. Saturday afternoon Craig's parents had a fun party for him and then we dropped the kiddos off to my parents for the night!!! Craig and I went to the movie Inception and then we went to Rose's for dinner. Sunday morning we slept in, exercised and then headed to Spring Lake to pick up the kids. It was a wonderful weekend.