Christmas 2021

Christmas 2021 was wonderful!  The kids are all at such fun ages, and I treasure all the sweet moments and hypotheses about Santa throughout the season.

Merry Christmas!
Snazzy in our PJs from Grandma and Grandpa

We took our annual trip to Frankenmuth before Christmas Eve, and did our usual visits to Bavarian's pools and arcade, along with a car-ride tour of Christmas lights (where we got lost in the outskirts of Frankenmuth a few times!), and we opted to get the "chicken dinner" takeout in our room.  We tried to avoid the big crowds and thankfully got some time in the top-secret pool that most people overlook!  The next day we went to Bronner's and got some fun ornaments before heading home!

Still no Santa at Bronner's because of COVID, so here's
another lame photo with a statue.  Ben is unimpressed.

Annual throne photo

Acrobatics in the hotel room

Ben and Evie fighting over who gets to "drive"

Ride or die - don't mess

Roller-coaster simulation, they really enjoyed it!

Sometimes you gotta kill some space aliens

Attempting to take on Daddy in air hockey...

Top secret pool for the win!

We all prefer the hot tub!

On Christmas Eve we did church and spaghetti, got out goodies ready for Santa, and took showers before the big day!

Carrots and cookies and eggnog for Santa!

Getting ready for bed

Maggie's note for Santa

Christmas morning was just perfect!  The kids were so tired that they "slept in" until 7:30 - this is big, they normally start stirring at 6am!  We opened lots of great presents downstairs and hung out.  My parents came over later in the morning for a yummy brunch and some more presents - I really loved getting to see them on Christmas!  Christmas morning in the new house was definitely a success, and felt "like home."

Action shot

We got Ben a gardening set with his own wheelbarrow
and watering can - he'll have fun this summer!

Annual Christmas ornament from Jamie
(AP Bio, if you know, you know)

My ornament for Jamie - note the amazing hand-made bow!
(Squid Game - this is a coffin.  I went dark this year).

Maggie's gift for Jamie - an artist dinosaur

One of Ben's favorite toys - his own vacuum!

Love that my parents came in PJs too!

Aww, love these two!

In the afternoon we went to the Donoghues for presents and family time.  The cousins are so happy playing together, everyone was in pajamas, and it was just a really relaxing day. Everything was great, and I think my favorite part was holding my new niece Jane (more on that below)!

Look at all these beautiful grandkids!

The family

Ben always feels the need to cuddle with me
if I'm holding baby Jane

Family selfie!

Other news that I'm late in posting!  Amy and Rex welcomed beautiful Jane Noelle earlier in December and she is just an adorable little peanut of smooshy love!  The kids were super excited to hold her (for like a minute)!

Evie got to be the first one to hold her,
because she "never gets to be first!"

Wisely wary

Not impressed with Maggie's stories

Ben "holding" Jane, he was very loving and gentle

Some others:

Jamie designed this ornament for all Royal Oak residents and got a lot
of laughs on Facebook... Caracals and garbage cans. Not going to try to explain further.

Making hamburger cookies for Jamie's co-workers

These two

Finished a pretty complicated Lego set!
(so far no one has "blipped", seems we are safe)

Grammer watched the girls for a couple days during their break
when we had to work - even made and decorated cookies!

A date with my girls!

Bobby is old!

Mixie Magic fun

Dump truck, stacking all that garbage

Working on painting the Avengers canvas with Daddy

Looking good, Maggie!

This stud knows how to ring in the new year
(peacefully asleep!)

Got some good snow this weekend!

Ugh, Christmas is over, so much to clean!