Sledding Christmas Day

This is the final post for the night. If you scroll down, you'll actually get the beginning of the events starting with our Progressive Evening.

Grandpa Bob had a lot of snow at his house. Adam took Gerrit snowing right outside the house. It took a while, but once the trail was broken in, they did go fairly fast!

Taking a break and Gerrit is actually standing:Gerrit now knowing how to move! Oh, how I would like to have that much snow in my house at times; I could get sooo much done.

Say cheese:

Ahhh, freedom, walking down Grandpa Bob's driveway:

The sledder:

Christmas Day at Grandpa Birr's

Gerrit got a cool MSU junior football for Christmas. The bummer was that the house was not set up for a rubber football. We had to hide the ball after a while!Sporting his new jersey too! He looked so cute wearing it over his sweater - looked like he had pads on.

Deep in thought - I think this is such a cute photo!

Playing blocks with Grandpa Bob:

Sporting our "Christmas Sweaters":
(no, I didn't knit either sweater, I bought mine and Gerrit's was once worn by cousin Max)

Stremler Family

We had Christmas Eve at my brothers house - a bit more room for the growing little ones. It worked out quite well. Here Gerrit is showing off his cool jeans and thinks he's pretty cute.Ella and Gerrit posing for a nice Christmas photo:

Gerrit and Opah playing with is new blocks. Gerrit had more fun dumping out the container and putting the blocks back in. By the end of our visit he was getting pretty good at stacking the blocks and making towers:
Gerrit and Mia each got a Curious George - Mia did a better job loving him, Gerrit thought it was another item he could throw (in time....):
My brother's family is trying to make a hockey player out of Gerrit (his whole family plays hockey - even Mia who's not quite 3 - well, she is learning how to skate.). They gave Gerrit a cute little hockey set that will work great in our living room and a hockey shirt. They can try, but hockey is during basketball...I would prefer to sit in a warm gym instead of a cold ice rink (I did plenty of that this vacation):
The family at the Griffins game - the minor league for the Red Wings - it was dollar hot dog and beer night...guess what we all had for dinner?
Sunday we hung out with the cousins again. We wanted Gerrit to get as much time with his cousins as possible. Mia wanted to sit next to Gerrit during dinner. Here they are waiting for the pizza:
Can you tell who ate more? Cousin Max even said Gerrit can be a pig at times based on the amount of food he eats compared to him and his sisters.

PBA All-Star

Gerrit bowled for the first time on Christmas Eve. The first frame he scored a 7. Not bad! He soon loved the idea of pushing a ball on the ground but was bummed he couldn't hold the ball - it was too heavy. He liked bowling so much he even started to chase the ball down the lane but soon found out just how slippery the lanes can be! He fell and actually hit his head on the bumper.

Choosing the right ball:

Took a step too far and slipping on the lane:

Getting help from dad:

Admiring the real pro - his dad (he got a turkey in his first game!)

Winter Wonderland

This is what we left in MN to head to balmy MI!

Progressive Evening

I'm finally posting pics from a few weeks ago! Sorry for the delay. Here are a few pictures from our fantastic evening. We had everything from squash soup, tamales, turkey and cranberry sandwiches, and an assortment of yummy desserts. The gift exchange was fun too. We ended up with a 'lovely' painting of some Native American with a bull. Adam will put it in his office as he gets comments that his office is bare! Should be quite a conversation piece!

Rita, John, Deb, Nikki around our dining room:

The living room: Anne, Dave, Pam, Dave, Matt, Adam
The boys kept busy playing hoops. Gerrit showed them how to play!

Shows you just how cold it was that night - what happens when you leave beverages out on the porch overnight!Dave sporting the Rockne treasure: yep, boob mugs (these have been passed around at least 4 white elephant parties!).

Relaxing during dessert at the Langley's:

In the Car - Again

Gerrit did not want to take a nap today but of course fell asleep on the way to my brother's house. So, just like on Christmas Eve, one of us is sitting in the truck while Gerrit is sleeping. Christmas Eve was Adam's turn and so today is mine. Luckily I was smart and packed the lap top and can get my brother's wireless signal. I was able to catch up on other blogs - glad to know I am not the only one neglecting to update it! With the computer being in the room where Gerrit sleeps, I have had little time to write what we've been up to. We had a great time Christmas Eve with my family, headed to Adam's dad's on Christmas day, had breakfast with friends, and went to a minor league hockey game in town with the family after hanging with my brothers' family in the afternoon. Sat. we were at the ice rink watching my niece and nephew play hockey and then went to see the Benjamin Button movie - very good. Adam saw Valkery or however you spell it, with my dad and I went with my sis. Grandma stayed and babysat. Today was church - well for the rest of the fam. Gerrit didn't want to be in nursery so I stayed with him so Adam could enjoy the service. Had lunch with the fam. and met a friend for coffee and now back at my bros for pizza and hanging out. My nephew has PS3 and Wii so Adam gets his gaming fix and Max loves playing with him and beating him! I think I will wake Gerrit up and head inside to socialize. We head to Adam's mom tomorrow and then home on Tues. I should be able to post pics tomorrow, don't feel like doing it in the car right now. Till next time...