Author: Greg VanStrien

So we survived the Mayan acapocalypse and enjoyed spending another wonderful Christmas together. We started on Christmas Eve with the Children’s Mass at Holy Family. This was James’ first year participating and he played a shepherd. He claims to have had the biggest staff! Later that evening we traveled to Grandma and Grandpa Coopers House where we had dinner and opened presents. James and Alex had a fun time playing together and Alanna had fun with all the girls. We spent Christmas morning at our house like normal. Amanda made some really good baked French Toast for breakfast. The kids enjoyed opening their presents. James received a lot of Star Wars toys and Alanna received a lot of Princess, Barbie and Pony toys. They were both surprised with the last present, a Wii U. James was a little more excited but Alanna will grow into it. Later today we will go to Grandma and Grandpa VanStrien’s house for the annual get together where I’m sure they kids will be spoiled nicely!

Another very busy week as we all got ready for James’ Birthday.  I was back to work and football practice and piano lessons kept us busy.  I had a football game on Friday night of James’ birthday but it was rained out so I did get to spend some time with him.   Saturday we had his family and friend birthday party.  It was a Star Wars party with lightsabers that Amanda designed and made for all the kids.  The kids loved the lightsabers and we had a lot of good Star Wars themed food as well.

 

The 2012 camping season is almost here, so I thought I would take a moment to look back on our camping experiences of 2011.

2011 was a busy and fun-filled camping summer.  We had the opportunity to spend quality family time together and spend time with good friends.  Here is a list (and review) of the campgrounds we visited during the 2011 season.

Hidden Ridge (Shelbyville, MI)  – This was our first trip of the year and was also Easter weekend.  Great weather for being so early and we had a lot of fun having Easter dinner at the campground with Amanda’s side of the family. I would definitely recommend this park.

Duke Creek (Cedar Springs, MI) – Amanda wanted to have Mothers Day weekend as a camping weekend.  We stayed very close to home with James’ T-ball game on Saturday.  A very average campground at best, we still had good family fun.

Salmon Run – Memorial Day weekend with the Huizen’s.  We will never go back due to the impossible hill to climb when leaving the campground.  If my F-250 can’t pull the trailer up the hill, then maybe it’s a poor place for a campground.   The campground was small and cramped  but we did have a lot of fun with the Huizen’s.

Vacation Station – FREE camping, courtesy if the RV Show.  The Huizen’s also joined us on this trip with free camping as well.  Very nice and clean campground.  Nice facilities, pool and playground.  I would definitely pay to go here as well, but as luck would have it, we have a free weekend for 2012 as well.

Betsie River (Frankfort, MI) – We spent the fourth of July in Frankfort with the Larsen’s.  It was an older campground but it was in a really nice area.  We went with the Larsen’s to fireworks at Crystal Mountain and had a great time.  The only thing I would change is the neighbor across the street which apparently had a problem with my truck and kids.  (I’m not sure what he was expecting – it IS a campground)

River Ridge – (Stanwood, MI)  A very nice and clean campground with great facilites and even underground sprinkling.  This is our annual trip with Bob and he was very generous in renting a pontoon boat for an afternoon to enjoy on the Muskegon River.  Bob was disappointed however when he realized he could not take it as far as Lake Michigan.

Woodchip – (Wyoming, MI)  We had a gift certificate for here which was a good thing because we wouldn’t have paid for it.  Very cramped and unlevel sites made things very tricky and uncomfortable.

Sharp Park – (Middleville, MI)  Amanda and I did camping trip for our anniversary.  It’s a good thing we didn’t spend much time at the campground.  It looks like it has been closed for years and was very run down.  The campground was pretty much abandoned except for a few seasonal campers who never leave.  We only slept there the rest of the time we spent visiting neighboring towns.  We had some good wine and made a stop to Bell’s as well.

KOA (Covert, MI) – We spent the weekend with the De Vos’   The campsite was a nice traditional KOA with activities and nice facilites.  It was a very fun weekend, but we ended up losing our awning in a storm.

Silver Creek RV Resort (Mears, MI) – Another free weekend of camping courtesy of the RV show!  This is a fantastic campground with great facilites.  I would definitely would return here.  We camped with the Huizen’s and had a lot of fun time on the sand dunes.

Whispering Pines (Mancelona, MI) – We went camping with Kevin, Holly and Rosalyn and Lily.  VERY COLD and Rainy weekend.  It would have been a great campground if not for the weather.

Jellystone Park – (Mears, MI) Very nice campground with a ton of things for the kids to do.  This was the halloween weekend and everyone did trick or treating between the campsites.

Saginaw Chippewa Campground – (Mt. Pleasant, MI) Mancamping for a CMU football game.  Words can not or should not describe the weekend.  Tyler can never eat blazing wings again and Bob should never manpout again.

Today was Alanna’s 4th Birthday.  It was a school and work day for Mommy and Daddy but we had a lot of fun celebrating with her when we got home.  Mommy is taking tomorrow off work to go to special person day with her at preschool.  Afterwards they plan on seeing Beauty and Beast which is back in the theaters.  Saturday will be her big party with family and friends.  She is have a craft party where all the kids will paint on canvas and make picture frames.  There will also be one large canvas where all the kids, family and friend can put their hand print on it so she can hang it in her room.

Merry Christmas!  Our family began the celebration yesterday at Grandma and Grandpa Cooper’s house.  James and Alanna had a great time playing with their cousins and opening presents.  James was very excited about his remote controlled helicopter and Alanna is enjoying her Strawberry Shortcake and sparkle shoes.  We spent Christmas morning at home as a family and enjoyed presents and a great french toast bake breakfast.  James is enjoying his new legos and “Just Dance” game (not sure how I feel about that yet)  Alanna is enjoying her ponies and her new toy puppy.  Later we’ll head to Grandma and Grandpa VanStrien’s house for dinner and Christmas celebrations.

James celebrated his birthday week with a party at home on Wednesday and a family and friends party on Saturday.  This was also the first week of school so things were very busy!  On Wednesday, James celebrated with Mommy, Daddy and Alanna and had a spaghetti dinner (his request).  Later that evening Sam and Audrey came over to play and watch James open his presents.   Saturday was the big party day!  Friends and Family were all invited to our house and we rented a large water bounce slide.  Luckily we had really good weather for it, minus the cold hose water.   The kids didn’t seem to mind and had a great time.  James enjoyed his many gifts and enjoyed great food from Mommy and both Grandmas.

2011 marks the first year where both James and Alanna are both going to school. James is starting transitional 1st grade and Alanna is beginning 3’s Pre-school. Both kids adjusted to the first day nicely. Alanna was ready to go and was very “helpful” in her first few days of preschool. James is also adjusting well except for the bussing incident where he was dropped of quite late and at the wrong place. After being very brave, Mommy and Daddy found him and treated both kids to a nice dinner.

Alanna turned three years old today. Much like her birth there was a snowstorm that helped celebrate her birthday. Because of the storm we stayed in and made breakfast/dinner with eggs, sausage and pancakes – Alanna’s favorite. Alanna is very interested in Princesses now and got her “priss-press” castle for her birthday. Sam and Audrey came over for cake and helped her play with her new toys. Alanna’s birthday party with friends and family will be on the weekend with a princess themed party in Grandville.

Christmas 2010 has been a lot of fun.  We’ve already had several Christmas parties including a party with friends and the Feuerstein Christmas on Christmas Eve.  We went to the 5:30 Mass in Belding and the kids behaved very well.  They must have knew Santa was watching.

We opened presents as a family on Christmas Day.  James and Alanna were very happy to see they made the good list as Santa left them full stockings and a couple big presents.  James was most excited about his BatCave and Alanna has been enjoying her princesses toys.  Alanna had a couple of meltdowns when she got a different present than what she thought was in the box.  After a long talk she came around as was ready to open the rest of her presents.

Later this afternoon we’ll be heading to Grandma and Grandpa VanStrien’s for the VanStrien Christmas where I’m sure they be spoiled with more toys!

Merry Christmas!

James celebrated his fifth birthday today with the start of Kindergarten.  It was a very busy day for James with his first day, presents and flag football practice.  James is really into Transformers this year, he was very excited with his presents.  We are all looking forward to his birthday party with family and friends on Saturday.