Category: Family news/Updates

On Saturday Ajax was up bright and early so by extension I was up early as well.  I decided to take advantage of my early morning and went grocery shopping. Of course this close to Christmas everyone else had that idea and was also grocery shopping.  It was packed.

By the time I got home we had time to unload the car and then set off for Detroit (after dropping Husker at daycare and eating lunch at the slowest McDonalds).  We made good time downtown and arrived at the Fox Theater.  This was the kids first time there, as well as Daves, and they were impressed.  It’s been so long since I’d been there, I was just as excited.  We met my parents there and we saw A Charlie Brown Christmas.  It was pretty cute.  Both kids loved it. Noomi sat on my lap and kept leaning over saying, this is the happiest I have been in a long time.  Gesh kid.  The kids loved the old school cargo elevator which took us up to Balcony C, the official nosebleed seats.

Afterwards we met everyone at Mexican Village for a family dinner and gift exchange.   After dinner we headed home.  Neither kid slept as they both had a ton of pop with dinner and were pretty wired.

On Sunday, Noomi and I headed to my cousin’s house in South Lyon for a lunch/cookie exchange.  Dave and Ajax stayed home and Ajax had a friend over to play.  Ajax said he and his friend had a lot of fun playing Legos and Fortnight.   Noomi had fun decorating cookies, eating cookies, and generally running around with cousins.

Sunday night was easy, we ordered pizza and I found a silly show on Amazon that my family watched when I was little – Young Riders. It’s corny, the kids and I enjoyed it, Dave tolerated it.

This past weekend was busy and fun all rolled into one.

On Saturday morning we were up and had breakfast with Santa in town sponsored by the Williamston Schools Foundation.  We ate a lot of pancakes and had an overall good time.  Noomi brouht her notebook with a written list of her wish list items and went through each one with Santa.  Ajax grudgingly spoke with Santa (but really only to hedge his bets on this whole Santa thing).

After breakfast we took Husker to Pet Smart and he got to meet Santa as well.  I then did some shopping while Dave and the kids did some house work.   We also tried our hand at making homemade marshmallows, which were wonderful!

On Sunday, we were a lazy family and did very little.  We cooked and cleaned, did laundry, played video games, and took Husker for a walk in the woods.  We also wrapped presents and ate a bunch of junk.  It was a great Sunday.

Today after dinner the kids and I headed into Okemos to volunteer for a packing session for Many Hands, a local nonprofit. Both kids worked hard and did great.  Driving home we talked about what we did and why.  Noomi then launched into a story about how she played tooth or dare with her friend, Sophie. Noomi said she chose dare and Sophie dared her to eat one Goldfish cracker and one slice of a clementine at the same time and she did!  Ajax said, Noomi, it’s truth, not tooth!  Noomi argued with him a bit until I chimed in that it was in fact truth and not tooth.   Kids.

Busy weekend per usual.   I finally decided that I had to re-do the bathroom ceiling (as the paint was peeling and flaking and looking a mess).  It involved scrapping, sanding, patching, priming, caulking, and painting.  Way more work than I ever anticipating and beyond the scope of my home improvement skills, as I always stay way clear of anything related to drywall.  Now that it’s all finished, it ain’t pretty, but it looks better than it did!

On Saturday, we put up the tree and decorated for Christmas.  We were supposed to go to the Williamston Light Parade, however, Dave had a cold and it was pouring rain.  We stayed home, ate pizza, and watched a movie.   Earlier in the day, Noomi and I did venture out to the grocery store, but that was about it.  For some reason Noomi will hardly let me out of her sight and insists on going with me everywhere.

On Sunday, Ajax made the family waffles for breakfast (all by himself with only minimal input from me).  They turned out great and he was so proud!  We cleaned up the house, did some laundry, and then Grandma Mary and Grandpa Gordy came over to visit.  We went up to The Commons and donated some toys.  The kids also got to decorate gingerbread houses and see Santa.  Afterwards we all went out to dinner before heading home.

That night the kids were playing and I heard Noomi say (as she swooped a robot dinosaur/bird down over Ajax’s head) – “this is baby Jesus and I am the Queen of God!”  Ajax rolled his eyes.  We don’t know much about religion in this house.

Well Monday we were hit with our first snow storm!  We got about 4-6 inches in about 3 hours (from 2-5 am). Schools were closed, though Dave still made it to Dearborn.

We all slept in, made breakfast, and then headed out to clear the driveway.  Husker ran outside with the kids nonstop.  We then went for a hike behind the house and checked out the fort we’d made the week prior (when there was no snow!).  We then got warmed up and had lunch and then headed out for some holiday shopping.

When we got home Ajax got in some video game time, Noomi played on the fitness equipment like it was a jungle gym, and I got in a jog.  Overall a great first snow day.

Thanksgiving this year was spent in Allegan (or actually Dorr) with Aunt Theresa and her family, along with Grandma Dara and Papa and a whole bunch of dogs.  Noomi was a great helper in the kitchen – she cut up veggies and helped knead the dough for rolls.  Dinner was great and afterwards we went over to see the progress on Rod and Dara’s new home.  It is beautiful, simply lovely!  The kids can’t wait to explore the property this summer.  We drove home that same night and everyone got to bed just before midnight.

On Black Friday I went out and hit up Kohls and the grocery store, but that was the extent of my shopping.   On Friday night the neighbors had a bonfire so we all sat around the fire and talked about the future development coming in behind us.  No one is looking forward to it.

On Saturday, Noomi and I took Ajax into town for a haircut.  He’s looking quite polished now.  Inside the barber shop is an additional room made of glass where a tattoo artist works.  When we got there she was setting up her tools for an early appointment.  Both kids were fascinated and swore they would never get tattoos.  By the end of Ajax’s haircut, however, Noomi was fully invested that when she turned 18 she’d get a tattoo.

Noomi and I did some shopping in Williamston and then Papa came over so that Dave and I could go to my cousin Pete’s wedding in Utica.  The wedding was at the Packard Proving Grounds and it was a pretty awesome venue.  The wedding was lovely and I was very happy we got a hotel room and didn’t try to drive home.

On Sunday, we got home and Papa hit the road.  Noomi and I went and did a bit more holiday shopping.  Ajax and Dave stayed home and played video games, lol. Now we’re having a quiet Sunday getting ready for our week.  Though a major winter storm is supposed to hit us tonight.  The kids may get one more day home.

 

I’m playing catch up. We’ve been busy, but again everyone is busy so I guess that isn’t a surprise.  In the beginning of November we had elections and everyone is quite happy that is behind us.  I was a poll challenger for the Democratic party and found it to be very interesting.  That same day (Tuesday), Dave had the day home with the kids and after the polls, I headed to Fort Wayne with my dad.  We met up with my aunt and uncle for dinner and a Joe Bonamasa concert.  Front row seats, it was awesome and very loud.

We also had parent-teacher conferences and both kids received good reports.  Both are doing well in school academically and seem to be enjoying learning new things.  In fourth grade it seems Ajax is going on a ton of field trips – Impression 5, the capital and historic museum, and the Wharton Center (though in all fairness all kids go see a performance at the Wharton).

This past weekend, Noomi and I went to a pottery show and bought a few little pieces.  Afterwards, the whole family took Husker for a hike in the woods. We did about 3 miles.  At one point Ajax, Noomi, and I were standing next to the river and all of a sudden Noomi slipped and fell into the river.  Needless to say we hustled the rest of the way back to the car.  We went for dinner in Old Town and hit up Meat (a bbq place).  We also looked in some neat shops, including Preuss Pets.  It was a nice weekend.

 

Last week in town the local photography place did a quick free picture of the kids!  So, Chuck Norris, Princess Leia, and a Witch all walk into a bar …

Halloween 2018 in the books!  Today was the best Halloween weather we’ve had in a very long time!  It was in the 50s, clear sky, no rain or snow!  Dave and I went to the school for the kids parties.  For some reason Ajax refused to wear his costume for the parade, but proudly wore his soccer jersey.  Noomi loved wearing her costume, especially the wig.

We had a big pot of chili for dinner, grandma and grandpa Gordy came over, and we had an excellent night.  While the grandparents passed out candy, Dave and I took the kids through both neighborhoods with Husker.  This was the first year Noomi was up for both neighborhoods and she did great.  Husk also did great, though he did get concerned every time the kids went up to a house and he couldn’t see them.

Husker also graduated from his 2 week puppy school in Haslett!  We have one final family class on Saturday.  They said he was a very smart dog, loved to work, and was quick to pick things up!  We’re all very proud lol.

Backing up a bit, last weekend was also trick or treating in town and we had Aunt Theresa, Grandma Dara (newly retired!), and little Vivian over to stay the night on Friday.  We also hit up the PTSA Fall Festival Friday night at the kids school which also featured a book fair (win win).  On Saturday, for the actual trick/treating, Aunt Lisa and Doug also came over.  It was a great day!  Oh we also hit up the pumpkin patch.  This year, Ajax hollowed out both pumpkins on his own and each kid carved their own pumpkin!

Both kids have wrapped up soccer. Though of course I had the end dates all messed up.  I rushed home from work, rounded up Noomi and her soccer stuff, zipped her to the fields the whole time congratulating myself that we’d only be 7 minutes late to practice, only to find the fields completely empty. Apparently soccer had ended the week before. Parent fail!

On the home front, Dave and I completely re-did both kids’ bedrooms!  We painted, ordered/assembled new furniture, and even ordered artwork!  It involved two trips to Ikea and lots of swearing as Dave put things together.

We also recently learned that they are surveying the land behind us again and this time, really plan on breaking ground sometime next year. Looks like we’ll have new neighbors in the near future.

I should also throw in, that Ajax had a sleepover with two of his good friends. I think they got about 4 hours of sleep. We hit up the Firefighter’s breakfast in town afterwards. It was a great time.  Oh I was also able to take the day off and volunteer at the school for the Fun Run (the PTSA’s only fundraiser).

Well somehow time has again flown by and we have a month of school under our belts.  So far so good!  Ajax is doing excellent in school and really likes his teacher this year.  Noomi is also doing great and is still loving school.  Both kids are in soccer which means our weeks are pretty hectic.  Girl Scouts also started up and the PTSA, so yep things are a bit busy.

Our weekends have been filled with yard work, trying to get the deck stained, soccer games, birthday parties, and general weekend stuff.  We managed to narrow the kids down for Halloween costumes this year.  Ajax is going to be Chuck Noris and Noomi is going to be Princess Leia.  This is the earliest we have picked costumes and I am simply thrilled.

This past weekend Noomi and I went on a mother-daughter Girl Scout trip.  It was a complete secret and we didn’t know what we’d be doing.  We ended up heading to Kalamazoo for a hands on museum and then bowling and then a late night swim at a hotel in Battle Creek.  Noomi had a blast.  Dave and Ajax hung at home for a guys night which involved a lot of video games from what they told me.