Winter Break

The kids were excited about our mini vacation up north.  Here they are in these silly hats they gave us.

They made there way to the dress up bin.  

 Allison had a few days off last week for her Winter Break and Craig took two days off from work, so we tried to cram in a few activities for the kids.  On Wednesday morning Craig and I exercised and then decided we would make a day trip to Ann Arbor to have dinner and see Meg, Madeline, Tess and baby James.  We walked around our old stomping grounds, grabbed a coffee and then hung out with Meg and the kids at the downtown library.   It was a lot of fun to catch up and the kids were thrilled to see each other.  Watching Connor and Tess together really is a trip!  After the library our family went to our favorite hamburger joint in AA, Bagger Daves.  They have great veggie burgers and fries and the kids love the train that travels nonstop around the restaurant.  Very fun!  Thursday we hung out at home with the kids.  Ran a few errands and then went to Grand Haven after Ella's nap for pizza with both of our parents at Clover Bar.  Friday we exercised, took the kids swimming at MVP and then we were off to Shanty Creek Resorts near Traverse City.  Craig had a conference there and the docs bring their families each year, so we decided to make a family trip of it.  He was at the conference until 1:00 and then the rest of the day was free.  I took the kids swimming in the morning at one of the other lodges.  It was much older and pretty disgusting.  It is always a lot of work taking three kids to the pool and it didn't help that the dressing areas were built for a two year old and the floor was beyond disgusting.   Not to mention Connor, who is in the process of potty training, left a nice big surprise in his swim diaper for me.  He has had no problem with peeing in the potty, but with the constipation issues he has,  and the laxatives I have to give him, getting the poop in the potty has been a "challenge" shall we say .  Although it is getting much better, I have cut off and disposed of at least 4 pairs of underwear.  GROSS!  Oh, I didn't mention we had to take a 5-10 minute shuttle ride to the pool which was FREEZING.  We spent a good part of hour in the hot tub despite the fact that it said not for kids under 10.  It was just way too cold in the big pool.   Thank goodness I had Allison to help me out so I could get out of my bathing suit, throw on some clothes and then take Connor across the hall to use the bathroom.  We made it back to our room safely and then Craig took the older two tubing while Ella took a nap.  After that we went for a sleigh ride and then had a dinner reception with all the other families.  Very fun.  Sunday morning Craig had an hour meeting and then we all had breakfast together and took off.  This is a yearly tradition and we are hoping to bring Craig's parents along next year so that we can do some skiing too!  

Allison and Connor

A few pictures of our sweet.  It was really nice with a living area, kitchen

two bedrooms and two baths over looking the outdoor heated pool and ski hill.

Reading before bed

Living room looking at the door to the Master bedroom

Kids' bathroom

Master bath (Ella's bedroom) She didn't really like it:(

She preferred this bed

Breakfast while Craig was at his conference

Before the sleigh ride

Gearing up

On the sleigh

Bundled, but by the end Ella kept saying, "Cold"

With our horses, "Bill and Bob"

Enjoying the horses

Allison was happy to have Issac there.  

DSi time

Happy Girl

Connor and Tess checking out the fish

Allison and Madeline

Me, Ella, Meg and James

Craig and Allison at Bagger Daves

Ready for our food

Silly kids

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

I haven't blogged in a while as three out of the five of us were hit hard with the flu/colds/gunk and are finally on the road to recovery.  It all started a week ago Saturday while we were up north and Ella spiked a fever.  From then on, it just went down hill.  Sunday Ella started getting super stuffed up, coughing and the fever continued.  Connor followed with a fever and very stuffy, then the cough came as well.  Sunday night I didn't feel quite right and by Monday morning it began to hit me.  So all last week we spent trapped, except for taking Allison to dance class.  I literally carried Ella on my hip the entire week.  By Friday I saw little improvement in Ella and I took her in.  She had lost 1.5 lbs in the last 5 weeks, was having difficulty breathing, was coughing and conjested.  She was just plain miserable.  They tested her for a few things, worried about pneumonia, but when she responded well to the nebulizer, they sent me home with one and told me to take her in immediately if her fever continued through the weekend.  Luckily, it didn't.  Connor continued to have a runny nose, but seemed to be improving.  Me on the otherhand, I seemed to go downhill quickly.  Saturday I drove to Spring Lake to get some help from my parents.  I too had a cough and extreme conjestion.  Every day for a week I woke up with one HUGE headache.  Simply put, I felt like my head was about to explode!  Saturday night I had the worst chills ever.  I slept with my pjs, my fleece jacket, all the normal bedding plus three blankets.  By morning I was exhausted.  Luckily I had my parents.  My father in-law checked me out and put me on a Z-pack.  Of course I have been extremely nauseated from the medication.  I tend to either get a rash or have some reaction to every anti-biotic.  Anyway, I am on my to recovery, I hope.

Today I had fun with Allison going to her school and running the BINGO center. I had a babysitter today so I had a break for a couple of hours this afternoon.  Looking forward to everyone feeling better.

Connor at GG's house

Allison at GG's house

Time for a breathing treatment

Watching a show together

Connor and Craig at GG's

Valentine's day breakfast at home

Dressed as spiderman and ladybug for Valentine's day

February Fun

   The past week has been a busy one for us.  On Tuesday night we got 6.1 inches of snow and Wednesday 11.1.  Allison was off from school for two days and we had a lot of fun playing with friends.  Tuesday night Craig and Allison went to the daddy daughter dance.  Allison was super excited to get dressed up and go out to eat with Craig and a bunch of friends and dads.  That night, Connor, Ella and I headed over to a friend's house for dinner and play time.  It was fun for all.  Wednesday morning we woke up to a TON of snow.  We had fun playing at the Flermoens' house and then had two of Allison's friends over here to play in the afternoon.  Thursday the kids were off from school again since the sidewalks were not cleared.  So, the kids and I went swimming at the MVP pool with our friends.  Again, a fun way to spend the day.  Friday, Craig was off and after Allison finished school we headed up North.  We stayed at Craig's aunt and uncle's cottage.  It is actually a great house near Walloon Lake.  We met our friends up there and spend Friday and Sat night.  Friday we shopped around Petoskey and Sat we took the kids to Avalanche Bay water park.  They LOVED it!  Sunday we packed up and headed home.  We got a surprise visit from Grandma and Grandpa for dinner which was a great way to end the weekend.

Allison all dressed up and waiting for daddy

Craig and Allison before the daddy daughter dance

Allison and Ella at Walloon Lake

Craig and Connor

Avalanche Bay Water Park

The Purple slide

Craig and Ella

Connor LOVED the basketball hoop that was just the perfect size

All done swimming

Last day up north. Brushing teeth...who knew it was so much fun

Us with our friends, Keith and Sara

Walloon Lake

Allison before the daddy daughter dance