A Rare Night

It is one of those rare nights when we are all home...the kids are asleep...and I am actually sitting in the living room. We have had our new furniture for almost a year and I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have sat and actually relaxed on the furniture. I just never seem to sit down because when I do I fall asleep.

Dan and Emily went to their fifth Daddy/Daughter date night last week. Emily plans for that one night the entire year. Dan got her flowers which she pinned to the purse she was taking. She had shopped for a special tie to match her dress. They had dinner by the fireplace at Mt. Town then headed off to dance the night away...at least for two hours! The hits of the night were the chocolate fountain and the "cootie" catcher craft that she is still using on us every day.

Darrin had yet another incredible report card. He is doing great job in school and doesn't seem to working that hard at it. He decided to take a time out from sports which has been such a welcome relief. It seems even without practice and games there is precious little time to just play. He LOVES the surf machine at Avalanche Bay. Others watch while he throws the board, splashes the crowd and makes it look so easy! Dan tries to keep up but usually seems to end the day with a new injury.

Dan and Lisa are counting the days until their long weekend in Cancun. Dan has earned a trip through work which includes four days of absolutely nothing to do but sit in the sun. With temps rarely reaching 10 degrees above zero in Michigan our bodies may just go into shock. We have been going to the tanner but if the weather is good we still hope to come home with wonderful sunburns. We also have been working out in the hopes that we can eat ourselves back into our holiday bodies in four short days! It's good to have goals.

Well, I have reached my limit for sitting still...maybe I will get the pics off the camera before the seasons change. Another good goal...think warm thoughts...we need them!

An Update Has Been Requested

The holidays are over and I had good intentions of updating this blog...realizing as I started that all my holiday pics are still on the camera. Words will need to paint the pictures. Our holiday break began early with a huge snow storm. It was one of those days that the kids were actually upset to have a snow day...they missed their school parties. We made the most of it with sledding at Deerfield Park. Four wheel drive can take you anywhere! We celebrated our friend Dawn's 40th birthday with a surprise party at Mt. Town. Saturday we went to see our favorite singer, Mye Rise, in Ovid. Sunday we got together with all the families from our former church. Our holidays were off to a quick, food filled start.

We celebrated Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Cavalieri on the Monday before Christmas. It seems so much more relaxed when we celebrate holidays on any other day than the actual holiday. They had wonderful treats and a room full of presents for the kids. Darrin got a red Hummer H2, even if it was remote control.

We celebrated on Christmas Eve with Grandma and Grandpa Bergman. Another snow storm kept us inside for a day long Wii tournament. Emily sang Hannah Montana all day while Darrin played pro football.

Christmas morning was full of excitement. The four of us were home, alone, together. Everyone was healthy! Dan made pancakes on his new griddle. Emily loved her ice skates and snowboard. Darrin immediately made his bed with his new Michigan bedding. Later in the day we hosted grandparents and Uncle Nate for dinner. Christmas night again found us home alone, together.

We headed up north a few days later for a week in Boyne City. Dan, Darrin and Emily hit the water park almost every day. We went sledding with friends Maggie and Abby. Lisa had made the promise of no projects the entire week and did a pretty good job keeping her word. New Years Eve was a blast for the kids. We went to a progressive house party with lots of kids similar in age. Everyone made it until midnight, but by 12:01 we were heading home.

Both Darrin and Emily are blessed to have incredible teachers this year. They were excited to get home to Mt. Pleasant, get back to school and see their teachers and friends. Emily is reading and writing like a pro. Darrin is very much into his buddies and ESPN...just like his dad.

We have started making summer camping and boating reservations. We always say that we survive our Michigan winters by planning our upcoming summer. Next weekend will find us in Chicago for the boat show...Dan needs to be able to dream. And before we know it the snow will be melting and we will be putting the first coats of wax on the boat.