grand rapids children's museum

Our last day in Grand Rapids we headed to the children's museum. It was great place for the kids to run around for a few hours with Aidan & Brennan. The Miedema clan was also there...such fun!

Firefighter someday?

Playing in the pit of balls

Papa trying to help Ben put the balls in the openings

Brennan showing Benjamin how it's done!

Being goofy - yes, those kids are mine...and yes they are licking the window. That's how we roll these days!

Cowboy someday?

Saying goodbyes are never fun. We miss you already, Aidan!

more cousin time

We were able to see Brad, Suzanne, Alexis & Jake one evening while in Grand Rapids. It was great for the cousins to be able to play together - even if for a short time!

I caught Jaelyn reading a book to Lexi - cute moment together.

They did this all evening - taking turns being pushed on the train and pushing the train.

Miedema/Post Party

The whole clan was here this year! What fun. It's ALWAYS super fun to hang out with the Miedema's...never enough time!

We played "minute to win it" games at the Miedema's house one night...and the object of this game was to get the ornament hanging on the string in 60 seconds! Hmmmm...a bit too close for comfort?! On their second attempt they were successful!

fun cousin time

Watching Toy Story before bed

My Mom would have LOVED to hear her piano being played by her grand kids! Jaelyn really wants to get this piano to our house & I do too! Hopefully that will happen sooner than later! I'd love for her to take lessons on the same piano I did!

And...I couldn't resist posting this little video clip of the kids singing/playing on the piano! What "beautiful" music!!

great wolf lodge

The troops headed up to Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City after we finished opening up presents on Sunday. What a fun little get-away! It is designed with little kids in mind - we all had loads of fun splashing in the water, going down water slides, & kicking back and relaxing together!

It's so neat to watch them play together - great cousins!!

Ben was a bit apprehensive on the first day of swimming (never letting go of either Marcus or myself) but the 2nd day he was more adventurous and really had lots of fun!

Couldn't resist this photo op of Ben!

Great Wolf Lodge Ears - the "gift" they give you after you've ordered a kids meal (or in other words - you pay for it with the kids meal!)

"Uncle Fred" was super fun to play with the whole vacation!

Waiting for story time to begin - they even had snow fall at the end too!

And you can't go up to TC without a stop at Cherry Republic! Yummy chocolate covered cherries! The bin that Jaelyn is standing in is full of cherry pits.

post christmas celebration

Sunday morning we did our post Christmas party. We ate a yummy breakfast of coffee cake (thanks to Brian & Heather via Corner Bakery!) & fruit, oj, & coffee. We stayed in our pj's for the morning and opened up gifts!! It was a great morning!

This was the best picture I captured of the cousins! Ha!
Ben, Jaelyn, Jack, Brennan, & Aidan

Best Buds!

Jaelyn LOVES puzzles - this one is great because it is more difficult to put together & teaches her geography/names of states.

Tearing through the paper!

Helping Jack unwrap his gift!

Loves, loves, loves unwrapping gifts!

christmas day

We flew into Grand Rapids on Christmas Eve - getting there pretty late in the evening. We played a bit with Papa and then went off to sleep in hopes that Santa would be able to find us at his house!

And to our amazement he had come! Our stockings were filled with gifts!! What fun! :)

How did Santa know that I LOVE sticker books?!

After a leisurely morning & hang out time with Uncle Dan, Auntie Kim & baby Jack we all headed over to Sharon's house for the Holwerda Christmas party! It was so great to see everybody again & play with all the cousins!! I didn't take a whole lot of pictures because I was too busy gabbing with everyone but...here are a few:

This year all the little peeps had a gift to unwrap thanks to their great uncles & aunts! Here the kids are waiting to receive their gift from Great-Aunt Judy.

Jaelyn & Aidan were Great-Grandma's helpers...handing out the envelopes stuffed with...

CASH! 10 crisp $1.00 bills!

A BIG hug to say thank-you for the money! On a side note: whenever folks asked Jaelyn what she was going to do for Christmas she always answered that she was going to see her Great-Grandma who spilled wine on her pants! Ha! Oh, the things kids remember!

our family christmas

We had a fun little Christmas celebration as a family on Dec. 22 before we headed out to Michigan. While the kids were napping, I put their gifts under the tree. When they woke up and saw the wrapped gifts under the tree - they were excited!! Jaelyn kept saying, "I have no idea what it is!" The plan was to have dinner first (taco lasagna) and then open gifts, but the kids couldn't wait - and I didn't want to pull a papa post ritual!

A quick photo op before the gifts...

Unwrapping her gift as fast as she could....

Ben meticulously unwrapping his present to find....

...a Strider Bike!

Jaelyn was VERY excited to have received a pink strider bike too! She immediately jumped on the bike and rode through the house (even up and down the step into the living room!)

Ben showing off his new helmet too!

Candy Cane Lane

We had a little get together with friends last night which included a stop at candy cane lane! What a fun & festive little activity for the kids to enjoy (& parents too)! The kids ran up and down the lane checking out all the lights, candy canes, characters, etc.

Elisabeth, Celia, Kora, & Jaelyn

Candy canes for everybody in the mailbox!

Checking out Santa & the lights. The house also had a countdown to Christmas....5 days, 4 hours, 40 minutes!

Good thing mommy has been nice this year - had to take a picture of it!