Chad, Megs and cousins left at 10:30 pm on Christmas. We quickly cleaned and washed dishes. We packed during the day and threw the luggage in the car at night and went to bed. We woke up at 4 am, tucked the kiddos in the van and we were off for the UP by 5! The roads were slick and the snow was falling but the kids all slept until almost the bridge! We had crossed the bridge, into the UP, and ready for breakfast at the truck stop by 9:30 am! Ironically, once we were in the UP the roads were better and we arrived to Aunt Pam's in Houghton at 3:00 that afternoon!
We had so much fun being with Aunt Pam, Don, and all of the beautiful SNOW!!
Highlights of the trip include: playing board and card games, snow football in the backyard, hiking Michigan Tech's cross country fields, Keewanaw Brewing Co., hanging out with Aunt Pam and Don's buddies who just stop in, opening gifts, watching all the bowl games, betting on the bowl games, Aunt Pam's Cmas cookies and our favorite peanutbutter/chocolate balls, snow forts, BIG SNOW, playing ice hockey, and lots of goofiness and laughter in between.
Aunt Pam loves to cook for us and we love all of the homemade meals at every.single.meal,
Hot cocoa bombs!
Snow football in the backyard!
Building snow forts with tunnels!
Hiking on the Michigan Tech Univ. cross country trails!
Tech's baseball fields are at the base of the trails. To put the snow in perspective, those are the outfield fences around the field! That's how high the snow was.
Kinda like we have basketball courts in the middle of some neighborhoods, Houghton has neighborhood ice rinks!
Ben and I went for a few at Keewanaw Brewing Co.
Cheers Houghton! Till next time!
Off to our next adventure!! Florida with Elle and Drew! These 2 travelers did awesome. We didn't check any luggage so we each had a backpack and a carry-on, with a layover in Atlanta, and we had so much fun!
While we were on the plane, we celebrated New Years!! Happy 2023!!
Back at home, after dropping us off at Metro, these 2 celebrated too!
Hello SUNSHINE!!! We are here!
One of my favorite highlights from the trip: Mom had gotten Ellie little notecards and Elle spent a day writing a card to every single condo in Mom and Dad's unit. She hand delivered them to each door wishing them a Happy New Year's and it made peoples' day!! A lady we now call " Aunt Debbie" has become pen pals with Ellie and they write each other notes in the mail. Kindness is so important.
Getting close!
Back at home, after baseball, Luke and Ben went bowling!
Luke, we need to take you more often...
It was so nice to be with Mom and Dad over the Holidays. Out for icecream!
The next day, we met up with one of our favorite Rochester families, the Gibsons! They were down too visiting their Gma, so we drove to their place for the day and had so much fun!!
Back at home...
We headed over to The Seashell Factory for an afternoon!
Drew chose to do the motorboats!
Elle chose the zipline!
Our favorite times were at the pool being outside and of course being with Papa and Gma. 💓
Luke and Ben headed to Mexicantown one night in Detroit!
Then off to watch a Wings game! This was Luke's 1st Redwings game!
In FL, we had a cookout with Papa and Gma and their friends and played a lot of shuffleboard!
Ben ran into a buddy he used to play basketball with who had a suite for the game!
So off to the suite they went. Luke, not every Wings game will be like this!
At Rum Runners, in Cape Coral, for our last night!
We love you Papa and Gma!!!
These 2. What a great trip!
Last day in paradise!
Painting rocks with Gma...
Dad and I took our last 3 mile walk together. We woke up early (7ish am) to have that time before breakfast and our last swim.
Memories and moments mean everything. We are so grateful.💛🌴
Sad to leave and excited to see Ben and Luke!!
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