Christmas in Michigan

The day after Christmas we packed up our little car and headed up to Michigan to celebrate Christmas with Matt's side of the family. I was dreading the car ride, becuase Savannah hates her car seat and typically screams with rides longer than 20 minutes or so. This time we decided to try using a portable DVD player, and it worked like a charm! Thank goodness! I also sat back there with her to keep her calm and entertained.



Taking a break from watching her DVD to smile at the camera.

 The only bad part of our drive up there was the fact that Savannah did not nap at all. She HATES sleeping in the car and will fight it with everything she has. So when we arrived at Matt's dad's house around 3 p.m. Michigan time, I prepared myeslf for a meltdown. However, the distraction of a new house, new Christmas tree, and doting family members kept her going through the afternoon. After dinner we went back to Matt's granparents's house (where we stay) and settled in for the night. Savannah had a rough night. She didn't get to bed until 9 MI time and then was up between 2 and 5 a.m., upset and wanting to cuddle, but not wanting to sleep.

The next day in MI we were all tired, but happy to all be together. This trip was particularly special because all of Matt's siblings were able to be together. With Matt and I in Chicago and Matt's brother, a Marine, living in California with his wife, this doesn't happen often. In fact, the last time all the siblings were together was a year and a half ago when Matt's mom passed away. So being able to sit around the tree together and exchange gifts was really special. This was also the first time we had a baby in our midst! Once again, there were tons of gifts to go around!

She enjoyed checking out Grandpa's tree and stealing ornaments.

This present just made her day - she loves this tea set!

She also loved her new ride-on pony!

The second full day we were in MI, Matt's brother Adam and Elaine left early in the morning to head up to her family's Christmas celebration in Canada. The rest of us spent time hanging around and went out to eat at Fazoli's, a rare treat since we don't have those here in Chicago! We had planned to visit Matt's Grandma Keim that afternoon in the nursing home that she recently moved into - she's going to be 92 in February! Unfortunately, just before we arrived Grandma began not feeling well, and the nurses suspected she had a small stroke. When we arrived she was waiting for the ambulance to take her to the hospital. We were able to see her quickly, but she was so dissapointed that she couldn't visit and play with Savannah. We later found out that all tests came back normal and it appears that she did not have a stroke. She is still in the hospital and they are running more tests.

While Savannah's visit with her Great Grandma Keim was brief, she did get to spend lots of time with her Great Grandma and Grandpa Kooienga. They always graciously allow us to stay in their home when we visit, which we are thankful for! Savannah especially enjoyed playing with a basket of wax apples that they had out and playing the piano with her Great Grandma.

After our third night in Michigan, we woke up and packed the car up to head home. Savannah received so many gifts that we almost didn't have enough room in the car for all of them!! On the ride home, Savannah was exhausted but was once again fighting sleep. Every time she would nod off she would startle, throw her arms and legs in the air, and then scream. Finally I had to phsycially hold down her arms and legs each time she would startle, and she eventually fell alseep. The only problem was her 45 minute nap occured during the stretch where we normally stop off halfway through. By the time Savannah did wake up, there weren't really any good, safe places to stop and eat at. Of course, about 45 minutes before we planned to exit the highway she started signing for milk! I managed to distract her with a Veggie Tales movie, a singing teapot, and her Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Puppy!

Since arriving home we have been unpacking, putting away toys and gifts, doing laundry, and sleeping as much as possible! It was a very blessed Christmas, but we are glad to be home now and enjoying what is left of Matt's school break.