Christmas in Iowa

We made our Christmas trip to IA again this year for Christmas with the Zevenbergen side.  We always stay with my 'Dordt' family which everyone loves. We spent time with them on Friday evening and then on Saturday morning. Early in the afternoon we went to the mall to ride on the train and I saw my college classmate that works there.

riding the train in the mall

The afternoon and evening were spent with the Zevenbergen clan at the Dordt Alumni house.  It was a crazy bunch of characters, but lots of fun was had.  My kids look forward to being with their cousins, even if it is a short time.  We played games, we ate, we laughed.  I decided we've all raised a bunch of competitors.  They were making up their own game of who could land the plastic shaker egg on a pillow when thrown from the loft.  Seriously, we can't make this stuff up!

all 12 of them - who are these kids anyway!?

We spent 12 hours on the road on Friday and 12 more on Sunday.  We had safe travels, dry roads and plenty of technology to keep everyone busy.  Matt stayed home to take care of things here.  I loved listening to the books on CD we had gotten from the library.  To the point that if the kids wanted to talk to me,  I was rather annoyed!  I was listening to a  book for goodness sake!  But we made it home and then off to school and work again on Monday!  But the memories are forever!

Jessica's debut as guest conductor

We attended the local high school's Christmas concert at the Fraunthal Center.  Western Michigan Christian's Christmas Collage. Its a great concert every year.  Very well done, great musicians.
We commented on what a difference a year makes.  We attended this same concert last year.  Sat in much the same place.  Enjoyed it.  But this year was quite different.  Upon entering the balcony, our favorite place to sit, we recognized more than five families, sat across from our neighbors, behind our realtor, in front of a family from school, a classmate of Anika's sat with us, a classmate of Brandon's gave Brandon a look (4th graders!), and Matt spent all of intermission schmoozing all the people he knew in the balcony.  The first small ensemble contained Jessica and Maria's 'mom' from the musical they were in last spring.  The kids stayed awake for the whole concert.  We've made quite the progress in one year.
It was a wonderful concert again.  There is never a quiet moment.  One group finishes, and another group starts.  Its very entertaining.
At the beginning of the concert, we were reminded there would be a drawing for the guest conductor for the final song the band would play - 'Sleigh Ride'.  We didn't think much of it, but we did spend some time showing the kids what the conductor did, how she raised her arms and the instruments went up, how to conduct 4 beat time, etc.  At intermission, I was plotting who's name we could put in the hat.  Who did we know in the auditorium that I could put their name in, and they would get called up there! That would be so fun.  Matt looked at me and pointed at Jessica.  Jessica, our girl who shines on the stage.  I asked her if she would like to, and of course her answer was 'sure.'  So, Maria, Jessica and I went off to find the sign up hat. Brandon and Anika were far too embarrassed and Matt had to chat.  We found it, entered her name and headed back to our seats.
Intermission ended and the man came out with the hat, pulls the name and begins to read it.  At the same moment, Matt leans over to me, with Jessica in my lap, and starts to say Jessica's name to us.  As it turns out, the guy on the stage and Matt were saying the SAME NAME.  Jessica had been picked!  We headed back stage to receive her instructions.  They all looked at me and asked if I was Jessica, to which I pointed at her and said 'nope, she is!'  There eyes got bigger!  The high school students back stage thought it was great and we saw a few of the people from the musical which was fun.  Jessica was so nervous she headed to the bathroom three different times in between talking with the band director.  We got a box on stage so she could be seen and off she went.  The crowd audibly reacted when an 7 year old walked out there.  We have it on video and it is priceless.  She did a great job, the crowd loved her, the students kept playing, and the fake snow completely engulfed her at the end of the song.  It was a great memory!

On the way out Jessica informed me she no longer wanted to be in band.  I was quite surprised because I figured this would encourage band.  She told me she didn't want to play in band, she just wanted to be the conductor!

Crazy Christmas Season

We have been gone every night this month.  It was wonderful to have a few hours at home on Sunday afternoon!  We got the handprints painted on the tree skirt and some baking done!
Monday and Tuesday are swimming lessons.
Wednesday is church.  Last week we went caroling in an assisted living home.  This week is caroling outside while the kids attend GEMS and Cadets.
Anika had her school Christmas concert - both band and choir.  Her choir did a small musical called Snow Biz. It was cute.

Friday, Matt and I actually went out for supper - together.  We are trying our best to reinstate monthly date night now that the kids can stay home for a few hours without us.  They were even all in bed when we came home!  Not asleep, but in bed!
Saturday Anika had her basketball season ending tournament.  And her team won first place. She played really well - its always fun to watch!

After the game, we headed off to Grand Rapids for another adventure with Aunt Kathy.  We attended the Calvin College Wind Ensemble Christmas Concert which was very good.  Then took the kids to their first experience with the West Michigan restaurant - Russ'.  Finally we stopped off at a live nativity outdoor show which included indoor crafts and snacks. Good times!

Sunday morning was the kids' Christmas program.  Our church partners with another church for youth programs (youth group, GEMS, Cadets, etc) and we joined them for their Christmas program this year.
Sunday evening we went to a light show at a local strip mall after making several types of cookie.
And now, we start it all over again!

After GEMS and Cadets we went to another local light show - where the lights are computer synced to Christmas music.  Very fun to watch.

Its beginning to look at lot like Christmas

This is a random post of all the little improvements that have been going on in our home!

Matt recently painted most of the trim and hung up hooks for the outdoor Christmas lights.  Once we got it all set up and borrowed ladders from the neighbors, it was quick job getting everything hung up.  And I bought a timer at Menards so I don't have to go outside to turn anything on.  Super bonus!

This is what the house looked like before the trim was painted - I like it the new way!

We had heard about the local high school's Christmas concert. Its the largest Singing Christmas Tree in the US.  I guess they were even in the USA Today on Saturday.  And now we can say we've seen it! There are youtube videos if you are really curious. Mona Shores Singing Christmas Tree. Our neighbor is a senior in high school and she is about seven rows down on the right - I'm sure you can spot her!  It was a neat concert, but it was long.  After the concert we drove to the Jingle Bell Parade in Grand Haven. We were late and there were TONS of people so no candy or chicken soup or free handouts.  Somewhat of a bust in the kids' minds, but such is life.  Not every adventure can be a home run.

The Christmas tree is up as well as the mantle - made by Matt.  We all watched Polar Express together and  we watched Elf this week.

I bought three chairs for our counter from Craigslist.

I had this open space in the laundry room that I really didn't understand.  What was it for?  What was I supposed to put in this space?  Then, I saw a brilliant picture on someone's facebook page of something they had seen on Pinterest.  I can't stand Pinterest, but I love the ideas others find there that I can copy and now Matt has made lovely rungs for me to hang the laundry baskets.  So very cool and handy and yes I need to do the laundry - the baskets are full!

Our outdoor Christmas lights all lit up.

Spirit Week

The kids had spirit week at school last week:
Monday was hat day - they adorned themselves with elf and santa hats.  Except Jessica, she took Matt's Chicago Bears hat.  Her teacher is a Vikings fan (I love her) and the Bears had just beaten the Vikings so Jessica decided to rub it in a little.  Although if the Vikings win, the teacher gives each kid in class 5 extra tickets, so she does like it when the Vikings win.
Tuesday was pajama day.
Wednesday was favorite sports team day.  Maria wore MN Twins, all the other three wore Chicago Bears apparel.
Thursday was crazy hair day - this should say it all.

Friday was school colors day.  The mascot is the Spartans yet the colors are blue and gold. Its a confused MI school! =)

Bentleyville

I am able to add pictures - at least for now, so I added two pictures to my Thanksgiving post a few days from a few days back.

Now, for this post.

You should all know by now how much I love a good adventure.  We were able to fly to MN and back because of my job at the airport.  Our last hurrah.  The kids got to experience what it is like to fly above the clouds. It was cold and gray in Muskegon, but above the clouds was a beautiful sunny day.  They thought that was cool.  I couldn't get us into Minneapolis because the flights were full, but I could get us into Duluth.  So off to Duluth we flew.  Our good friends met us there and we packed 7 kids into the van and off we went.  Adventures awaited.  We decided to stop at the end of the pier at a park I remembered from two summers back.  I remembered this really cool pirate ship park.  We drove for a long time and finally found the park, which was much cooler in my memory than in real life, but it did provide a place to swing and climb for a bit. It was getting dark so we decided to head out and find some food.  Crossing back over the bridge we saw all these Christmas lights.  A few of the kids asked to drive by it, so why not, another adventure.  Turns out we happened upon Bentleyville.  What is Bentleyville?  Well, I'm glad you asked.  I had to ask the volunteers myself. You pay $5 to park and then you walk through this lighted town.  Its along the bay in Duluth, right by the aquarium, along the walking path.  They have set up little houses to stop at and everything is lights.  There are bridges and dinosaurs, and lawn ornaments and you name it, they built it and lit it up. The centerpiece is a tower shaped like a Christmas tree and the lights are computer connected to the music that is playing.  The first stop along the path is for cookies and hot chocolate.  The next hut has popcorn.  The third hut gives you marshmallows on a stick and has several outdoor camp fires to roast them on.  Then you can visit Santa in his house, then you can visit Mrs. Claus and she gives you a candy cane.  We stopped at all the huts, except Santa, and all the goodies were free! =)  It was a great adventure.  We were cold, but it was fun!  Thanks guys!

The centerpiece tree

The bridge in the back ground

rockin with Santa

car troubles

Our van has been possessed since we purchased it.  It has always wanted to pull to the right.  We would get it aligned, and it would still pull.  We got steering columns, rack and pinions, tie rods, you name it, we've changed it, and it still pulled.  I went to have the tires rotated and balanced and they wouldn't do it because the tires were so badly worn in one spot.  They suggested a place I go to, and get it looked at.  So, off I went.  And I explained my whole saga to them.  They assured me that they had the right equipment and the right people on staff - some more than 20 years - that could get my van running smoothly again.
I am pleased to announce that they accomplished their goal.  It wasn't cheap, but I can drive my van STRAIGHT again!  IA here we come for the family Christmas party!
We found out from someone at church later that we went to the most expensive place in town.  I don't even care, they fixed it!  But we know where to go now!  Matt got his breaks fixed at the place suggested by the guy from church and I am got some fluids flushed there. I also received a new radiator and a cellanoid, whatever the heck that is, so hopefully I'm good.  They say things break in threes, I wish I had been keeping count since we moved into this house.  I'd like to know which multiple of three we are on!
Never a dull day in MI!