Norah sick

Sweet Norah is sick :(  She had a low grade fever on Christmas but you could tell she wasn't feeling well because she would snug in, not want to play and just fall asleep in your arms.  The next day she had a fever of over 101 which meant I wasn't going to my BeethovenFest rehearsal.  I know that she is cutting teeth, but I also know that this just isn't tooth related.  If she gets fevers like I get fevers I feel for her... sweet girl.  You can tell that she just wants to sleep but is so uncomfortable that she wakes up.  I'm not going to rehearsal tonight either which means I won't be participating in BeethovenFest this year... which is a bit of a relief honestly.  I may try it again another year, but this was just getting to be to busy.






I hope that sweet Norah gets better soon and is back to her regular smiley, happy, content and getting into everything self soon.

JVG

Christmas

This was the first Christmas in a long time that felt like a good family Christmas.  On Christmas Eve my  Mom made and decorated enough Christmas cookies to feed a small nation while Gaetan, my sister, myself and my Dad played Cranium.  I'm not gonna lie, at the beginning of the game Dad and I were getting killed... we hadn't gotten to the first brain (there are four before the end) before Holly and Gaetan had gotten to the inner circle... it wasn't looking good for us!  but, we somehow ended up tying them in the end... it was good and lots of laughs were had.  We also watched White Christmas, which is a tradition I would be good with starting ;)

Christmas Day was low key and not so bad.  Everybody got to open their stockings before breakfast which occupied them until breakfast was ready.  Then, they got to open their big presents which continued to keep them busy for the vast majority of the morning. Sweet Norah was struggling so I went up and tried to put her to sleep, but ended up taking a nap with her.  She was all snuggly and sweet... I should've known then that she was beginning to not feel well.  Not the being sweet part, but when she wants to sleep she just wants to sleep and doesn't want to snug.  It was nice for me because it gave me a little time to myself while snugging a sweet girl.















Then, we went sledding and had lunch.  I know it doesn't seem like a lot but that pretty much took up the entire day.  I caught up with the neighbor boy for a little bit, which was good!  It always amazes me how much things change and how much we have all grown up :)

Holly and I are twinners... but we decided you couldn't tell in this picture... also, we just wanted to show off our hot runner legs haha

Her oldest was taking pictures and I thought that this outtake was funny because we were doing the exact same thing after the 'real' picture was taken

It was a good Christmas and we were happy to make it home safely.  It had started snowing again, which made for a peaceful end of the night and unpacking of the car.  Merry Christmas!

JVG

Sledding

On Christmas the kids finally got a chance to sled down Grandma and Don's hill.  They were thrilled!  It was nice because for a little bit the cousins had to stay in so it was just us, Don and the hill.  Last year we bought this ridiculously large sled, which in hindsight, turned out to be a fabulous purchase.  Norah was down for a nap so that meant that I was able to come out and play in the snow for a little bit too!  Fun commenced.





































JVG

Winter wonderland

This winter has been much more snow filled and ice filled than the past few years... it is extremely beautiful but a bit treacherous.  I love seeing all the different trees with the snow sparkling off them and soaking in the silence of a winter day.








JVG

Christmas Eve with the Ullreys

It's starting to become a thing now that we see the Ullrey's on Christmas Eve.  We joke that they are the adoptive Grandparents on Gaetan's side, so that means we don't have to talk about Ingrid haha.  Anyhoo, we went over there in the afternoon and did our little gift exchange.  :)  I made Nancy a yellow flower cowl and Rick a red tie, and Gracie and Levi caramel corn and mint fudge.  The kids got these life sized dinos, presidential and dinosaur cards and Norah got a classical music CD... all along with gold dollar coins.  :)  It was pretty low key and we just hung out which was nice.  These are the types of memories and traditions I am all about.  Hanging out with good people, eating food and being silly... :)  I made a snickers trifle for dessert which was good but REALLY rich.  I'm glad that we are able to start this fun little tradition... looking forward to more to come.

They got a parascope as well... Ned from Dinosaur train!

It's funny to look in the rearview and see a dino looking back haha

JVG

Capo, food and friends

We haven't been going to capo very regularly since the school year started and I always like going to weekend rodas because there is more variety in people to play!  And, to me, when I started capo it was almost as much about the social aspect as the actual martial art... so I like to see all the peeps I used to see a lot more of!  (You know, when I was toting 3 kids around too haha)

We went to Lansing for their 'end of the year' roda.  I have to admit that I'm not a huge fan of the CDO group's organization (or lack thereof) but they are passionate about it!  When we got there they were having an actual class, not just a roda, which was a little weird, but they started the roda pretty quickly. It was fun and we played a lot of good games.

Norah admiring Dude

Goose admiring Dude haha

Yup, we built a little barrier out of steps so that Norah couldn't escape as easily

I love my kids... they all look alike haha

OK... let's be honest... I wasn't thinking about going to this roda until I found out that Gato and Ratinha were going... so I was more excited to see them than to play but the playing part was good too.  :)  After the roda we went out to lunch with Gato (Ratty wasn't feeling well, so she stayed home) Tally and Fantasma!  It was so good to catch up with those guys.  And it's so nice that they are good with the older crazies.  Norah went to TOWN on the mashed potatoes that we ordered her... she pretty much just liked to feel it between her fingers, but she ate the majority of them (what wasn't on her face).  It was a really nice afternoon of fun, exercise and catching up.  :)




JVG

Crazy snow means snow forts!

The weather finally warmed up enough for the kids to go out and play.  It was killing them that there was so much snow on the ground but it was to cold to be able to enjoy it... so Gaetan took them out for a little bit while Norah slept.  After our crazy neighbor Margo moved out she left one of her cats here... :(  It had been crying for a few days at her used to be door and when she was confronted about taking her cat with her to her new place she said that she couldn't and left it here!  So, when the kids were playing the cat came over and they decided that it would be nice to make it a house.  They even put a snowball inside so that they cat had something to 'eat.'  I thought that this was probably the kindest gesture that poor cat had received...





The kids ended up making a snow fort and having a snow ball fight and then making a mini-snowman out front.  They sure do love playing in the snow and I was glad that we were able to get them some boots as well!  I can't wait for more playing in the snow... because as much as they love it, we secretly (or maybe not so secretly) love it too.

JVG