Christmas in Michigan Part I

For Christmas this year we traveled to Michigan for 10 days.  We drove to Mason on Wednesday, December 21st.  We spent Thursday in Mason at my parents' house and then on Friday we traveled up to the UP to my Grandma Planck's house.  We stayed there until Wednesday, December 28th.

Drew has to read his paper!  I think Emmy is going to be a paper reader like her daddy!  She sat and looked at the Toys'R'Us ad for awhile!

On Saturday, Christmas Eve, Keelin and Emmy opened their new Christmas dresses from their great grandma so they could wear them to Christmas Eve Mass.  My grandma always does such a great job picking them out BEAUTIFUL dresses!  She loves to do it!

SNOW!  The girls love to play in the snow!

We don't get much down in Indiana.

Keelin was throwing snowballs at everyone!

fun with daddy!

snow angels!

Ready for Christmas Eve Mass. 

We had a spaghetti dinner at my Aunt Margaret and Uncle Jeff's house after Mass.

Emmy is trying to wake her sister up on Christmas morning!

They found a huge castle from Santa, along with coloring items and a hopscotch game.

At the Perry Christmas, Keelin was introduced to "Angry Birds". She played on Tara's phone and Jen's phone. 

At the Planck Christmas, Emmy enjoyed Tracey's new Tiger pillow pet!  She even got a tiger Cabbage Patch doll from her! 

And our annual Christmas run!  We look so festive this year!  We ran 3 miles.  (Drew is missing from this picture because he ran earlier that morning on his own...3 miles was not enough for him!)

Santa at Daycare!

Friday, December 16th

Santa Claus came to visit Emmy's daycare!  Keelin and I had to rush out of school on Friday to get there just in time!  All the kids but Emmy had a chance to sit on his lap... Keelin jumped right up on his lap and tried to get Emmy to join her.   Emmy wanted no part in getting near Santa this year!

Drew trying to talk Emmy into sitting with Keelin.

 Emmy watching Santa from afar!

 Santa told the kids all about his keys and how he can get presents to them!

 Time for Santa to leave.

Dressed for Christmas!

Field Trip to Eastland Mall

Friday, December 9th

Keelin's preschool took a field trip to Eastland Mall to visit Santa!  Keelin got to sit on his lap and tell him what she wanted for Christmas!  She also got to ride the train around the whole mall!  I did not go on her field trip but thanks to my friend Patti I have these three wonderful pictures!

 Keelin with her best bud's Hannah and Maddie.

Keelin and Santa!

Santa sharing a story with the preschool group. (Keelin is the one with the half french braids)

Keelin's Christmas Program

Tuesday, December 6th was Keelin's Christmas Program for Preschool.  She has been practicing her two songs for awhile!

 Getting ready to leave! Emmy was excited to watch her sister sing!

 Keelin with her teacher, Mrs. Peak.

 Getting ready to sing in church.

 Keelin walking out after she sang!  I took video of their songs, but the files are too big to upload here.

Emmy's New Bed

On Friday, December 2 we took the front off Emmy's crib!  She has been in this toddler bed for over two weeks now and today was the first day she got out of bed on her own and came downstairs from her nap.  She has done a great job of staying in bed and not getting out.  We do have a guard on her bed (that is not in the picture) so she won't roll out onto the floor!
We took Emmy's pacifier away on Friday, November 18th.  We cut the end off of it and told her it was broken.  Through that weekend she kept saying, "broken", but that was it...so easy!  It was gone!

Keelin's 5th Birthday!

Thursday, December 1:  Keelin's 5th Birthday!

The birthday girl in the morning before leaving for school.

When we pulled up to the tavern for dinner...this is what we saw!  Keelin was so shocked!

 Mamaw helped Keelin read her birthday cards!

 Her birthday cupcakes.

Emmy got a present too!  An Elmo movie!

 When we left the tavern we drove down to Ritzy's Fantasy of Lights!  The girls sat up front with us and enjoyed all the beautiful Christmas lights! 

Nutcracker

Tuesday, November 29:  The Great Russian Nutcracker Ballet

Keelin chose going to the Nutcracker ballet over having a birthday party this year. 

 Keelin and I ready to go!

 My friend Jamie and her daughter, Hannah, went to the ballet with us!  Keelin was so excited to go to the ballet with her good friend!

 We couldn't take pictures during the performance so here is a view from our seats before the show started.

Keelin and Hannah during the intermission!  They both got popcorn and water to eat during the rest of the ballet.  Both girls stayed awake for the whole ballet (it ended at 9:45pm).  They both loved it!

Keelin's Birthday in Florida

Wednesday, November 23:  We celebrated Keelin's birthday in Florida with my parents.

They got her a Barbie cake!

 Keelin checking out everything in her birthday bag from grandma and grandpa!

 A stack of clothes and a Barbie doll and movie!

Emmy got some pop up people!