The TUNDRA Known As Home

We made it home to are back to the negative wind chills and "squeaky" snow. I guess we get so use to hearing that sound of really cold snow I forgot about it when we were in MI. Most of the snow had stayed and a fresh coating was waiting for us to shovel. Underneath the fresh snow was a nice sheet of ice on the driveway. Lovely trying to unload the car!

It took a bit longer to get home than planned. We had smooth sailing through ChicaGO and no TRAFFIC headaches (GERRIT IS PLAYING WITH the caps button, can YOU TELL?). We stopped to go to the bathroom and it took us 15 min extra to get back on because there wasn't an on ramp at our exit. (Note: if traveling to MN, don't stop at the Hillsdale exit- just beyond IKEA with the outlets - that's the exit that doesn't have an on-ramp right there!) After seeing much of the countryside around Hillsdale, we were back in business until Madison where we picked up snow. We knew we could encounter snow, we were just hoping it would stay north of us. Nope. LUCKILY FOR us, WI does know how to prepare their roads for snow etc. so it wasn't slick. The snow was coming down pretty hard and it was about dinner time so we stopped in the Dells and had a nice dinner at the Damon's by tHE KALAHARI. WE WERE ABLE to check out the new indoor theme park too. Anyone up for a road trip to the Dells? Looks like fun! We checked radar - again, got to love wireless - and noticed we would be driving in snow for a bit longer, but it would let up so we continued on. We saw numerous cars/trucks in the ditch and even one was sideways! Once we got to Tomah/La Crosse area it was much better and stopped snowing. The wind picked up but that was minor. We did notice the temps dropping as the car seemed to get colder the closer we got to MN.

It was 9:45 when we pulled into the driveway. We left at 11 (MN time, so not our quickest trip). Gerrit fell asleep at 7 MN time which was nice but made me think he was going to be up early which didn't sound nice to me at all. At least I didn't have to entertain him anymore. He slept well and woke up around 5 15 our time. I took him into bed like usual and we stayed there till 7:15. Very nice Gerrit! He seems be be happy we are home and back to familiar territory. All of his new toys are sitting in the living room and what does he go to? Yep - his balls and starts shooting hoops. Guess you can't blame the kid for wanting to play with a toy he hasn't seen in a week! If you are wondering, he still has the touch too. :)

Off to start our day. Gerrit returns to daycare to get back into the swing of things and I get to unpack and deal with Christmas stuff. We had a great time with family and friends but there is nothing like being home again.

Santa Visit

Gerrit did get a chance to see Santa. He came for a visit to our library the week before Christmas. I had a hair apt. so I met Adam there. Unfortunately for me, I missed most of the action. Adam forgot the camera but luckily Nikki had her's and took a few pictures for us.

I think it might be a while before Gerrit will warm up to Santa!

It was nice to have Santa right in town - no lines, nor did we have to pay for a photo and I knew he wasn't going to like the idea of sitting on a stranger's lap.

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!