Wednesday, December 30, 2009

our Christmas


First let me say that I love Christmas cards!! I was so excited when I was able to design and get out Christmas cards this year for quite the deal and it was so exciting when we got cards in the mail this year sent to us. It's fun to see pictures and read notes from people. Heck, I like getting anything besides bills in the mail any time of year- maybe this is part of the reason I like Netflix so much! We still need to devise a better way to display them and look at them all... a project for next year!


We had a quiet little Christmas this year and we did miss family but it's also sometimes fun to be able to do our own thing. Mikel didn't work Christmas eve or Christmas day (which the store was closed) but having 2 days off in a row is always a bonus. Christmas eve we went to Meijers Gardens and checked out the cool Christmas tree displays.


Christmas day we had grand plans of cooking and what not but we decided we would rather stay in our pajamas all day, watch movies and eat leftovers (they were really good leftovers). This isn't the depressing kind of pajama wearing, movie watching, leftover eating it's the gloriously simple and relaxed kind. We ended up doing more elaborate cooking other days but, as for Christmas day, we relaxed and enjoyed spending time together.



Mikel has been wanting some camo rain gear (mainly a jacket, although he said he wouldn't mind having pants too-- how convenient). I probably couldn't have looked more lost and out of place wandering around the store looking through all the camo clothing but I came out victorious. So this is the first rain gear that I bought Mikel-- obviously it was a little big...
 
Luckily, we could exchange it for another size and it was perfect!

I got a Cricket for Christmas from Mikel's parents. It's a cool machine that cuts out all sorts of letters and designs for scrapbooking, card making and all my other creative endeavors. I probably could have showered before this picture but this was when Mikel and I were playing with it. So much fun!!




We got some other wonderful things like passports, a fishing pool case and a Chipotle gift card (my favorite place to eat)! We also got this calendar from Mikel's parents that has birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates on it. So much fun!!


I am currently sitting on the floor in the Denver airport waiting for my flight and enjoying Panda Express. Flying in airplanes always reminds me of the importance of good hygiene habits (I'm not as concerned about mine as I am about other people that I am forced to sit next to...). Hopefully the next flight will be better than the first!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Ionia

I love the small little towns we drive through here. They may not be THAT small population-wise but they seem little old because they have cute little downtowns and cool old buildings...

This is where Mikel fishes in Ionia...

And these are some of the cool buildings and houses we saw..

This is their library...
And the courthouse...
Downtown...


We drove through Ionia when we were headed to Grand Rapids to go to the gardens. We may have to go back when it's not Christmas eve so some of these cute little shops are open and we can wander around town!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

christmas in Lansing

Tonight Mikel and I went to the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing to see the 'Wonderland of Lights'. They have the zoo all decorated in lights for Christmas time so we thought we'd check it out. It was 20 degrees outside so I was definitely in layers but it was fun to see. We haven't been to the zoo yet and after this trip-- we'll definitely go back (probably not when it's dark and snowing...).




We saw a bunch of the animals but some them weren't out because it was cold and nighttime. We did get to see a tiger, snow leopard, and lion...

After that, we drove by the capital building in Lansing to see the huge Christmas tree...

These were in the middle of a traffic circle right in front of the capital-- I love festive decorations!

We had a great Christmas-- more about that soon...

Friday, December 25, 2009

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Mikel and I headed to Grand Rapids to check out an exhibit at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. We didn't actually walk around the garden or sculpture park (it's snowing and cold and nothing's blooming) but there was a Christmas exhibit inside. There were 40 different Christmas trees decorated with international themes. Each tree was decorated with traditional ornaments from the country and there was a little plaque detailing the Christmas traditions of each country.

We also walked through some of the gardens that were inside. It was beautiful!!



Switzerland...
Brazil...
The Philippines...

hand carved nativity scene...


Mikel's favorite ornament on the Canada tree...
Lithuania...
Africa...
Japan...

The COOLEST ornament...


Greece...













Korea...
After the museum we stopped at a fish ladder where Mikel has been fishing some. A pretty view of downtown...





We have TONS of pictures but I had to stop somewhere...