Some Christmas pics

 Big D and Dori came down a few days before Christmas to celebrate when they were down seeing his family. The light sabers were a big hit! 

 Christmas Eve we went to Couchman's for dinner and to exchange gifts....always lots of fun with the new toys and lots of boys! 

 Can you tell Grandpa is just taking it all in?

 Cousins--Tyler and Hunter

 Christmas morning opening a few things before getting ready for church and going to Nana's. 

 Set up at Nana's....she always says she's cutting back, but can't control herself. 

New tablets for the kids--no more fighting?

Winter pics with Dayna :)

Wow....it's been a long time since I've blogged and I really want to keep on top of this, so here comes a lot of catch up posts!! 

 I had these bottom two made into canvases and they turned out great for the house!

Holiday House pictures :)

  We had about 180 people at our house for a fundraiser on December 6th this year, so my house looked awesome...thanks mom!! 

 I love my tree!! 

 Sunroom--bar set up there and there are lights hanging over windows, but a little hard to see...

 My kitchen after the volunteers started bringing stuff in

 Kitchen light

 Dining room table

 Dining room

 Fundraiser sign...

 Our names at the bottom

 Entry way...registration table

 Tv set up for raffle--Nick's dad ended up winning it! 

 Family room

 Mantel and Tree

 My mom was up on a tall ladder hanging greens and bulbs from my chandelier. It looks amazing...and the staircases--so pretty!! 

 Basement for raffle items

 Basement--lots of open space for people

 More raffle space

 

Bar in the basement...

Gigi--March 16, 1929--December 5, 2013

My grandma was a wonderful lady. She was 84 and in July 2013 she had a massive stroke. It really changed everything (below is her in June and she was doing well). She never recovered and things went downhill, especially in November. She died on Thursday, December 5th--one week after Thanksgiving. She did not suffer too long and I'm so grateful that I was able to say goodbye many times. I spent a lot of time in the hospital for the 10 days prior to her dying. I took both kids to visit her and have so many good memories with her with my kids over the last 6 years. I don't have any regrets which gives me peace. We included her and she was always so happy to tag along out to the boat, Hunter's football games, and anything else she was able to make it to. My kids knew her and knew her well...and I'm so glad. I remember a few years ago she told me she wanted to live so that they would remember her and I'm certain they will. 

I miss her a lot already! 

Hunter came to the funeral and although we weren't sure if he should come, Gigi had her hand in things and he was a wonderful boy all day long. He sat through mass, helped as a pallbearer, went to the cemetery, handed out these seeds, sat through the luncheon, and was so sweet the whole day. They showed a video and I could tell he was happy to see himself with Gigi. She loved Hunter (and Jack) so much....Hunter had a special place in her heart though. He could do no wrong, even when he was naughty! 

 Handsome little man!! 

 This is his first time wearing a shirt and tie and he looks super cute!! 

Thanksgiving--and turkey trot

This Thanksgiving was different in many ways. We took the kids downtown A2 for the Turkey Trot...they had a kids run and then a 5k for the family. The problem was that it was snowing and FREEZING. Hunter loved the "tot trot". The 5k did not go well with the kids and stroller. Jack was crying hysterically saying his feet were frozen, so we actually couldn't even finish. I'd like to do it next year again if it's not so cold! Then Gigi was super sick in the hospital, so at the last minute it got moved to my house...it was fine, but the mood was sad knowing Gigi was up at the hospital and not doing well :( We missed her! 

 This picture above was on the Ann Arbor MLive website and Hunter was in the picture in the very front right. He took off like a crazy kid determined to win--he even passed the police escort! He would have won the entire thing, but the dumb volunteer told him to turn down the wrong block...so in his mind he still tells everyone he did :)

 The kids got a medal for doing the tot trot...I should have gotten a medal too b/c I carried Jack part of the way! This is how he felt about it...

My table for Thanksgiving!