Christmas! (Part II)

Our trip down to my Dad's was successful!  We had a lot of fun, but we are tired now.  I was glad to be back on Saturday so we could have a day (today) to catch up on sleep, laundry, relaxing, etc. 

We got down to Battle Creek around 4:30p on Wednesday, and we waited for my sister and her family to arrive (along with my brother).  We exchanged presents that night because Olivia and Izabella saw the gifts waiting in a magical pile in the corner and could not wait until New Years Eve morning to see what they got.

Nick, Bill, Ted and I watching the Little Ones open presents

Nick receiving Dramimine as a gift. (He's enter the Navy Seals in March)...get it?

Izabella with a gift.  Notice the tree in the tv...do not be fooled it is not a reflection. :) You can thank Kenny G and his Christmas scenes DVD for that....haha

Liv with a new coat.

New Years Eve was full of football, food (thanks Tami!!!!) and picture taking.  My sister Samantha works at the Sears Portrait Studio in Grand Rapids, so she has connections to the one in Battle Creek.  She had a great idea to get a family picture, since everyone was going to be together with my Dad.  There were 13 people in the photo: 10 adults and 3 kids.  It was kind of stressful (and hot) but the picture looks great and I am so grateful we did it.  Sam, Nick and I also got one together, just the three of us; and then my Dad hopped in and we got one with him too.  Oh, and I can't forget about Eloise.  Of course she had one by herself, she is staring into a mirror which makes her looking at the camera because of the angle.  It is hard to describe, but when I recieve them in the mail (in a couple weeks) I will scan them and post them here.  GOOD JOB and a big THANKS to my sis for the photos!!!

Chugga with her Aunt Samantha

At night on NYE we went to the casino that was just built about 3 miles from my Dad's.  We were only there for about an hour and a half, because we wanted to ring in the new year at home.  My Dad taught my sister and I to play Craps (the dice game) and Ted and Bill (my sis's one and only) watched over our shoulders.  We didn't win any money, but we didn't lose any either. :)

When we were home again, we hung out for a while (ate more food...does it ever end??) and shot off some fireworks right at midnight.  They were beautiful, and definitely illegal, but fun all the same.  Eloise was, of course, not up for the light display, but she celebrated the New Year in spirit.

New Year's Day we basically just watched football....

Tami's daughter Catheryn with Bella, Eloise, and Liv

On our way home the next day we stopped at my Grandpa's to have breakfast.  Eloise loves to smile at her Grandpa Grape (a nickname Olivia gave to their Great Grandpa), and my Mom was there too.  She was stopped by even though she is super busy packing up her house and moving on up to Elk Rapids. 

Ted and I stopped at a Babies R Us on the way home to return some bottles that Eloise will never use and we exchanged them for a JUMPER!!!  She loves it. I am going to take some pictures over this next week.  We don't think she grasps that she is controling her movements, because all of the sudden she will have a suprised look on her face when she bounces or turns in a different direction.  It is the most adorable thing ever (or close to it).

We hope everyone had a great New Year and we are looking forward to sharing how Eloise is changing and how she changes us over 2010.  (Watch out snowshoers, campers, beachgoers, hikers, and festival-goers because here come the Polleys!!)

Frankenmuth 2009!

Despite our Subaru overheating when we were 20 miles down the road and a couple of hotel mishaps, our annual trip to Frankenmuth was a success!

(C'mon it wouldn't be a real vacation if something didn't happen to our car...i.e. Florida)

It was the best trip yet because this year Eloise was along for the ride. We think she loved every minute of Little Bavaria!

..................

..Mom..Dad..Dan..Kelli..Anne..Nathan..Ted..Sarah..Eloise..

(We were all there except for Will, Julie, Maddie and Bailey...the girls had come down with the flu. We missed them a lot.)

..................

We started the weekend off with a little shopping at Birch Run and dinner at The Frankenmuth Brewery on Friday. And, then Saturday is the whole Polleys clan got together for our yearly trip to Bronner's. Ted and I chose the cutest 1st ornament for Relly and we got it personalized.

After Bronner's, there were downtown strolls and naps in hotel rooms. Then, at 5pm we met at the Bavarian Inn for the Family Style Chicken Dinner. Eloise enjoyed some sweet potatoes.

We were serenaded by Linda the accordion player. She played some Christmas tunes and some Frank Sinatra. (She even played Happy Birthday for me!)

After dinner was served our ornaments (that each couple chose for the ornament contest) were judged, and congrats to Anne and Nathan who won this year! Ted and I have had a little dry spell, but we are coming back strong next year!! This was ours:

Every year there is a clue:
"Check the weather azure
driving to Frankenmuth,
to see if it is light enough"

Ted and I did not catch the play on words.

Check=Czech, as in Czechoslovakia. So you needed to buy an ornament that was made in that country.

..AND..

azure=blue. So it needed to have blue in it.
Plus, azure=as your, as in "Check the weather as your driving to Frankenmuth."
That got a little too cheesy for me!

Our ornament had blue in it, but it was made in Russia. We focused more on the "traveling" part.

Last, we got to eat a DELICIOUS peanut putter cheesecake that I picked out from the bakery across the street for my birthday. Yum-Yum!




We all ended the night with a brisk walk up and down Frankenmuth's main street (to help burn off some calories!) and to have lots and lots of conversation. Ted and I realized that we miss hanging out with Dan and Kelli, and we need to make an effort to see them more...especially since they only live 15 miles away!

can you spot Eloise??

Oh! and of course we didn't forget to take Eloise by the Cheese Haus!

Look at that face...I can only imagine what she is thinking!

There couldn't be a more perfect kick-off to the Christmas season. :D

Off We Go! (and an 8 week Birthday!)

To Chicago!!!

We are leaving tomorrow morning and returning on Thursday night. It is going to be an experience...for sure!

It is Eloise's first big trip, as well as for us as Mommy and Daddy.

We are actually going to Schaumburg, IL which is northwest of downtown Chicago and it is where Willow Creek is located. We have been to Willow Creek before for the SHIFT Conference which is for youth/youth group leadership. This time we are going to a conference called Reveal; it is for small groups (I believe). I am more going just for the fun of it because Willow Creek doesn't allow babies in their auditorium during conferences (they are ageists!...kidding). We were told there are TV's throughout the lobby for Eloise and I though.

I am just happy to do something a little out of the routine, and it will be good to see how Eloise travels. Since we have some other big trips coming up this fall.....FRANKENMUTH!!!, for example. :)

Also, another bonus to the trip: we get to go to Ikea. Ted and I have never been there..we are excited! We have absolutely no money to spend there, but excited all the same!

And, now...what you have all been waiting for...because I told you to check here for them!...pics of Eloise on her 8 week birthday! We took her down to Michigan Beach and let her experience the sand and wind for he first time. I think she loved it!! :)

We had so much fun!

Will Winter EVER End?

We have been home for a few days (and it has taken a few days to get readjusted to the cold temperature/dry air) and look what happens: A snowstorm! Well, it hasn't happened yet, but tonight we are supposed to get 5 to 8 inches of fresh, heavy, wet, snow along with some thunder. May I remind you that it is March 28th? Looks like we should have planned our little vacation for this week. :)

On the bright side, Tami donated her old television to us which is about 10 years newer than our current television and about 20 inches bigger. So, tonight I will be snuggling up to a movie (or a tv show because I finally gave in, to Ted's utmost delight, and we have cable!) with the blinds closed.

Another great thing today is that it is Olivia's Princess Birthday Party! She is turning 6 years old, and she has been planning/waiting for her party for months. Ted and I can't be there due to work/car issues, but I know she is going to have the most perfect time. We bought her a CUTE tote bag that she can use as a "purse" from Disney World, and one of those pencils that is shaped into a Mickey head at the end (she loves to write). Tami is going to be the deliverer of our presents today, I hope she takes lots of pics as well.

Later today, or tomorrow, I am going to post pics of Eloise's bedding, because it FINALLY came in the mail. It is so cute and now I am working on what color to paint the walls, well Ted will be doing most the painting..but you know what I mean. :) If anyone has any suggestions let me know. I am thinking about three white walls and one dark purple accent wall, or all four walls of really light purple, or three really light purple walls and one dark purple wall. Or maybe not even purple at all, because it might be too much purple in the end....as you can see I have lots to ponder these days. :)

Vaca Update #3

The last couple of days have been perfect! On Friday night we went to Clearwater Beach to hang out and watch the sunset. Then we went to dinner at a mexican place which was AMAZING! On Saturday Ted and I went into downtown Tampa. we went to a baby store which is one of the best ones I have ever been in, called Seedlings. Then we went to the Florida Aquarium. :) Fun times!

Eloise's first visit to an aquarium

Jellyfish

Rocky the Penguin, from South Africa

In the Aquarium

A cute owl

Sunset @ Clearwater Beach

Ted @ the beach

Vaca Update #2

Here are the latest pics: Wednesday = Caladesi Island, Thursday = Epcot


We have been having lots of fun, and we have also been avoiding severe sunburn, which is good. One of the best parts of Disney was that when Ted left the car lights on all day in the parking lot, Disney Security was more than ready and more than willing to give us a jump, free of charge! That kind of service makes you want to come back!

parents @the condo, before we head out for the day

Out on our patio @ the condo

On the ferry to Caladesi Island

Me and a random lady out in the Gulf @ the Island

beautiful beach

Epcot @ night

Ted after stocking up on our Disney goods

In Italy

In France

Norway

Minnie at her Butterfly Garden

Simba, of course

and we can't forget Dori and Marlin

Us w/ Mickey (in the Fantasia movie)

Vaca Update #1

Hi! Here is the picture for why we wanted to leave soooooo bad!

We made it safely to Florida. Never mind the fact that our car broke down in Reed City on the drive to Grand Rapids and that the #1 sister in the world had to drive an hour and a half to come get us, then drop us off at our hotel on 28th St. and then drive an hour more home. Bless her! If it wasn't for Samantha (and if it wasn't for my brilliant idea to come down to GR the night before our flight) we would have missed our plane.

Our flight on Alliegant Air was one that Ted and I will never forget. Let's just say we have never seen a 50/50 raffle go on mid flight because time needed to be killed. :)

So, we got to Orlando around 4pm on Monday and we drove to The Villages, about a two hour drive. But our rental car is super nice and fun to drive so we had fun. We got to have dinner with my dad, Tami, my uncle Jim, and my grandma. The next morning my grandma

took Ted and I on an hour and a half car tour of The Villages. 70,000 people live there and they have everything like a normal town and a lot more. It was a sight to see.

Ted in our Mazda 3

Pros= drive a golf cart wherever you want, no riff raff or tacky decorating allowed

Cons=everyone is 55 or older, you have to watch out for 50 million golf carts that have their own lanes on the roads

My Uncle Jim, Ted, Me, My Grandma, Tami, and My Dad @ The Villages

My Dad and Tami w/ a Magnolia Leaf

Yesterday afternoon we drove over to where we are now, Dunedin. Ted's parents are here. We have a really nice condo to share that is right on a canal with dolphins that swim in it. We have to drive a mile to get to the Honeymoon Island State Park (where you can then take a ferry to Caladesi Island), and we have to drive about 4 miles to get to downtown Dunedin which we are told has a lot of cute shops and stuff.

Right now, Ted and his dad are out for a early morning run (it's 7:45am) and when they get back we are going to go downtown and get coffee and shop around. And, that's the only plan for today so far, which is awesome.

Views from our Condo