December 2008 - Christmas with Wiersemas and G&G Ohio

We packed up the mini-van and left San Antonio on December 20th for a 12 state multi destination tour. We traveled 3500 miles and spent time with Grandma and Grandpa Ohio, our fantastic ex-Michigan neighbors the Wiersemas (pictured below), and saw so many wonderful friends along the way. With 7 people in the car for such a long time we only had a few squabbles while discovering that two weeks of fast food fermenting in our bellies really gives the power windows a workout. Our five year old Daniel discovered that he too was just as adept at stinking up the cabin of the car. Of course he was the only one that would laughingly admit it. Amy made it fun by wrapping up tons of new DVD's and Gameboy games which the kids took turns opening.
A list of the major cities we traveled thru: Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Bowling Green, Louisville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, South Bend, Holland, Gary, Chicago, Springfield, Quincy, Carthage, Nauvoo, Kansas City, Wichita, Oklahoma City

In the Wiersema's home in the same pose that we used last year in front of Seaworld when they came to our house in San Antonio. (see the December 2007 blog post) This is one of the few photos with Amy (far left) as she was usually the one taking them. 'Shark Boy and Lava Girl' showing some Christmas presents. John, Tammie and little Brooke posing with new blankies. It's hard to tell, but Tammie is due in May with child#4. Wahoo! Sadie and I posing for mommy while waiting for food at "Hofbrauhaus" in downtown Cincinnati. After spending the day at the Newport Aquarium in Cincinnati we thought waiting for an hour with 8 starving kids for our food to be served at "Hofbrauhaus" would be fun. See how big my smile is? It was a loud environment where the kids could color on the table top and Bavarian accordian players in lederhosen could dazzle us with a polka. John looks like he's about ready for a Heineken...or a nap.Rachel is being mugged for food by an opportunistic parrot. Thomas (5' 6") pushes on the shark jaws with all his might and registers a 173lb-force rating. "Strongman" John (6'5") easily registers at 618lb-force rating with his eyes shut. Watching several men taking a "manly" shot at this, most could only hit a 350-400 which reminds me not to mess with John.With sharks and sharp teeth everywhere, Daniel was in heaven with all the fish and critters at the aquarium. Pictured with underwater Santa L-R: Ashley, Sadie, Rachel, Anna, Daniel, Jacob and Brooke, Thomas We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Grandma and Grandpa Ohio and the Wiersema's at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio.John Wiersema cruising around the lazy river.....or maybe he's stuck in the tube! Looks like "Dutchboy" has a trucker tan....the left arm always hanging out on the window sill.Anna Wiersema smiling with her squeaky clean face while mastering the tube in 2 feet of waterAmy caught me again with my smile on. I think I just woofed down some nachos with liquid cheese and jalapenos with an orange slurpee chaser. Lighting the fireplace in room that night was not allowed. Also, notice my eyebrows aren't turning grey yet. Sly John who appears to be up to something.Ashley loved the "guy" attention she got at the Great Wolf Lodge. Rachel pauses to eat some food and pose for her momma. Sadie looking tired but with a happy water-logged face. Nirvana! Slushees in hand and hanging out at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio. Yeah, what a ride! I think John and I rocked the boat so hard we almost flipped it. Maybe some of the bolts are now loose on the tube sections. Notice Ashley's wandering gaze....oh, to be 15 again :-) It was 17 deg. outside while we had a blast inside riding all the tube slides and playing in the many pools. Posing in front of the "storytime" cabin that would come to life each night at 8:00pm and entertain tons of kids in their pajamas.
Santa came to our lodge room and stuffed our stockings that were hung on the fireplace. He always knows how to find our kids. Rachel and Sadie are big fans of "Littlest Pet Shop" toys.
Daniel....the only 5 year old I know that likes getting clothes for Christmas.

Every year a new sportcoat! Thomas keeps growing out of these.Daniel is enjoying his chocolate "D" for breakfast. This is a dutch tradition which was shared with us by John and Tammie. Amy made a polar fleece blanket for Ashley so she could show her team spirit for East Central High School. "Dude, you gotta Dell!" Thomas and Ashley were totally SURPRISED for Christmas by Grandpa Ohio. Let the 'parental controls' begin!

YES!...and it comes in pink....how cool is that?If he's happy with a stuffed one then there is no need for the real thing. Wahoo! new doll's! Life is grand for Sadie and Rachel.

Just replacing a couple of damaged shingles from the last wind storm to blow thru Cincinnati. It wouldn't be right if we didn't help Grandpa with a few projects around the house. It's good for Thomas to learn so we can pass the "handy man" torch on to the next generation.

Thomas also had fun working the chain saw as the rest of us picked up all the fallen limbs in Grandpa's forest behind his house.Thomas is playing the percussion/timpanies/xylophones/ for his 8th grade Christmas concert. Unlce Norm and Aunt Kathy (Elder and Sister Storrer) finished their mission in San Antonio and this is a picture of their last Sunday with our family. It was such a joy to spend 18 months with them and we hope to see them again in the not too distant future. We love them dearly. Thomas goes full bore with any sport he plays. He's fast, strong, smart and his coaches love him.