Warning: This post is heavy on the pictures. We only took 807. So narrowing it down to 52 is pretty good...
We started out trip by winging our way out of the Phoenix, on our way to Grand Rapids, via a flight to Flint, with a layover in Cleveland.
Levi dutifully read the instructions for what to do in the event of a water "landing"
The Benadryl worked wonders, and the boys were out cold after watching some Looney Tunes.
Once in the Cleveland airport, we hung out in the terminal with this craaaazy little girl, while waiting for our flight to get canceled. Her poor mother was nasty sick with some sinus infection, and was totally overwhelmed. So we let the kid watch movies with us, and got her some frozen yogurt.
We got stuck in Cleveland due to freezing rain, and couldn't get on another flight until Christmas afternoon (2 days away.) My wonderful in-laws had driven to Flint to pick us up. When they found out we were stuck, they started heading back to Grand Rapids. Paige told her dad that if he didn't come to "rescue" us, we would be stuck in Cleveland. Well, if your little girl said you needed to rescue her, what would you do? They drove all night through freezing rain down to Cleveland to pick us up, and after attempting to sleep in the freezing van, joined us in the hotel room at about 4 AM. Ella had a huge smile when she woke up in the morning and saw that Grandpa and Grandma had come to rescue her (and they brought donuts!) So we loaded up into the 15 passenger van for an uneventful drive to GR.
Prior to opening presents that evening, we attempted a PJ picture with all the grandkids. Remember the commercial about herding cats?
Luke rolled himself under the Christmas tree.
Our kids wanted to spend every minute outside. Sub-zero temperatures didn't even phase them.
On Sunday, Erin and Julio had little Max baptized.
Monday, Paige and I left the kids behind and headed to the upper peninsula for a little getaway. Of course, the weather was just perfect for traveling...
We crossed the bridge in high winds, snow, ice, with warnings on the radio. Fun!
Once we got to the bed and breakfast, I crawled into the bed to try to warm back up, and watched Deadliest Catch on cable. Paige found this sight funny enough that she had to take a picture.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Grandpa took Levi and Noah out for a picnic in the woods.
Then Levi and Noah lead Grandpa on a walk through the woods. Maneuverability and low overhead occasionally have their advantages. Grandpa said they lead him right through the brush and thorns.
And Luke beat up on his cousin Max.
We headed out through some more lovely driving weather (thank goodness for 4WD...)
for a hike through the woods...
to see the fabled Taquamenon Falls. Paige has mentioned this since we were dating, that I should see it because I would like it. So I finally took her up to see them. I'm not sure she envisioned the dead of winter as the best time to visit. But they were very pretty in winter.
On the way back to the B&B, we stopped by a dairy and captured a rare cell phone pic of this elusive UP creature...
My college roommate Eric gave us a tour of his family's dairy operation, as well as a scenic driving tour of the sprawling metropolis of Rudyard, MI (population 1,315.) It was good to see the old goat again, and see where he grew up.
Then back to the B&B, where I snuck off to take some pictures of the bridge before dinner.
In the meantime, Grandpa was apparently fed up with Levi and Noah and was trying to lock them into a box...
while Luke attacked the camera.
After we returned, we busted out the kids monster Christmas present.
It comes with this warning.
Yeah, good luck with that...
I only made it out for one night to go deer hunting. Didn't see a thing...
We headed out one afternoon for sled rides behind the tractor...
Feeding Grandpa's horses...
A picnic in the cabin...
Roasting marshmallows...
Or in Levi's case, sneaking off with the entire bag and stuffing them four at a time into your mouth...
Again, not phased by the bitter cold...
We headed to a indoor playground, just so they could get out of the house and play somewhere that didn't involve numb fingers and toes...
Of course, they were not always on their best behavior, and Noah did not enjoy sitting in timeout...
Finally, after all the fun at Grandpa and Grandma's, we drove to Flint and loaded back onto a plane.
I had the best seat ever on a plane. Unlimited leg room!
Got them all cleaned up once we got home, and tucked into their own cozy beds...
And just for kicks and giggles... pictures of a poor rabbit hung in effigy by one of our disturbed children.
All things considered... a great Christmas vacation!
We started out trip by winging our way out of the Phoenix, on our way to Grand Rapids, via a flight to Flint, with a layover in Cleveland.
Levi dutifully read the instructions for what to do in the event of a water "landing"
The Benadryl worked wonders, and the boys were out cold after watching some Looney Tunes.
Once in the Cleveland airport, we hung out in the terminal with this craaaazy little girl, while waiting for our flight to get canceled. Her poor mother was nasty sick with some sinus infection, and was totally overwhelmed. So we let the kid watch movies with us, and got her some frozen yogurt.
We got stuck in Cleveland due to freezing rain, and couldn't get on another flight until Christmas afternoon (2 days away.) My wonderful in-laws had driven to Flint to pick us up. When they found out we were stuck, they started heading back to Grand Rapids. Paige told her dad that if he didn't come to "rescue" us, we would be stuck in Cleveland. Well, if your little girl said you needed to rescue her, what would you do? They drove all night through freezing rain down to Cleveland to pick us up, and after attempting to sleep in the freezing van, joined us in the hotel room at about 4 AM. Ella had a huge smile when she woke up in the morning and saw that Grandpa and Grandma had come to rescue her (and they brought donuts!) So we loaded up into the 15 passenger van for an uneventful drive to GR.
Prior to opening presents that evening, we attempted a PJ picture with all the grandkids. Remember the commercial about herding cats?
Luke rolled himself under the Christmas tree.
Our kids wanted to spend every minute outside. Sub-zero temperatures didn't even phase them.
On Sunday, Erin and Julio had little Max baptized.
Monday, Paige and I left the kids behind and headed to the upper peninsula for a little getaway. Of course, the weather was just perfect for traveling...
We crossed the bridge in high winds, snow, ice, with warnings on the radio. Fun!
Once we got to the bed and breakfast, I crawled into the bed to try to warm back up, and watched Deadliest Catch on cable. Paige found this sight funny enough that she had to take a picture.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Grandpa took Levi and Noah out for a picnic in the woods.
Then Levi and Noah lead Grandpa on a walk through the woods. Maneuverability and low overhead occasionally have their advantages. Grandpa said they lead him right through the brush and thorns.
And Luke beat up on his cousin Max.
We headed out through some more lovely driving weather (thank goodness for 4WD...)
for a hike through the woods...
to see the fabled Taquamenon Falls. Paige has mentioned this since we were dating, that I should see it because I would like it. So I finally took her up to see them. I'm not sure she envisioned the dead of winter as the best time to visit. But they were very pretty in winter.
On the way back to the B&B, we stopped by a dairy and captured a rare cell phone pic of this elusive UP creature...
My college roommate Eric gave us a tour of his family's dairy operation, as well as a scenic driving tour of the sprawling metropolis of Rudyard, MI (population 1,315.) It was good to see the old goat again, and see where he grew up.
Then back to the B&B, where I snuck off to take some pictures of the bridge before dinner.
In the meantime, Grandpa was apparently fed up with Levi and Noah and was trying to lock them into a box...
while Luke attacked the camera.
After we returned, we busted out the kids monster Christmas present.
It comes with this warning.
Yeah, good luck with that...
I only made it out for one night to go deer hunting. Didn't see a thing...
We headed out one afternoon for sled rides behind the tractor...
Feeding Grandpa's horses...
A picnic in the cabin...
Roasting marshmallows...
Or in Levi's case, sneaking off with the entire bag and stuffing them four at a time into your mouth...
Again, not phased by the bitter cold...
We headed to a indoor playground, just so they could get out of the house and play somewhere that didn't involve numb fingers and toes...
Of course, they were not always on their best behavior, and Noah did not enjoy sitting in timeout...
Finally, after all the fun at Grandpa and Grandma's, we drove to Flint and loaded back onto a plane.
I had the best seat ever on a plane. Unlimited leg room!
Got them all cleaned up once we got home, and tucked into their own cozy beds...
And just for kicks and giggles... pictures of a poor rabbit hung in effigy by one of our disturbed children.
All things considered... a great Christmas vacation!
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