Day 365 - Monday, December 31, 2010

Day 365 - Monday, December 31, 2010 – Ashton’s first New Year’s Eve was spent at the Petoskey’s. Those cheeks are irresistible!! Kevin’s are nice, too.

Day 364 - Monday, December 30, 2010

Day 364 - Monday, December 30, 2010 – An empty box and some yarn becomes a jet pack. To infinity, and beyond!

Day 363 - Monday, December 29, 2010

Day 363 - Monday, December 29, 2010 – Kevin’s brother, Pat, working on the plumbing in our soon to be finished basement. That blow torch looks like fun!

Day 362 - Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Day 362 - Tuesday, December 28, 2010 – As part of Jordyn’s Accutane acne treatment, she has to have bloodwork done every month before the doctor can give her the next month’s prescription (to monitor white blood cell counts and to ensure that she’s not pregnant). She was such a trooper! But she didn't want to look.

Day 361 - Monday, December 27, 2010

Day 361 - Monday, December 27, 2010 – Over the last month we used a website called Care.com to find a nanny and her first day was today. We love her already. Her name is Marie and she reminds us of my sweet Aunt Mary.

Day 360 - Sunday, December 26, 2010

Day 360 - Sunday, December 26, 2010 – Liam asked Santa for a FatHead this Christmas for the second year in a row and this year his wish was granted. Although he was hoping to get Cadillac Williams, Santa knows that Cadillac is a short time Buccaneer where as the QB, Josh Freeman, is a Buccaneer lifer and future hall-of-famer. Smart Santa.

Day 359 - Saturday, December 25, 2010

Day 359 - Saturday, December 25, 2010 – Christmas Day in Grand Rapids is always a treat. This year, though, we made it a day trip instead of spending the night. Santa made his annual visit and the kids were spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa as usual.

Day 358 - Friday, December 24, 2010

Day 358 - Friday, December 24, 2010 – Because my dad’s wakefulness has gotten less and less each day, we decided to have a Christmas Eve brunch together, which is during his most alert time of the day. What a blessing it is to have my dad still with us and to surround my parents with love and goofiness on this memorable Christmas Eve.

Day 357 - Thursday, December 23, 2010

Day 357 - Thursday, December 23, 2010 – Jordyn’s birthday celebration continues. She and I went to the Downtown Salon and had a spa day. Shelly gave her the 6-month Keratin straightening treatment and a cut. She got waxed. I had my hair and nails done. It was a fun day together getting pampered.

Day 356 - Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Day 356 - Wednesday, December 22, 2010 – I took Jordyn and Liam to the orthodontist for the first time today. I expected Liam to need immediate work done. But Dr. Freeland told us that his bite was perfect and his teeth might get more straight as more of his permanent teeth come in. So, while his teeth seem jacked up to me (and this is coming from someone whose teeth were SUPER jacked up as a kid), the ortho thinks he's just fine for now and put him on a one-year recall.

Day 355 - Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Day 355 - Tuesday, December 21, 2010 – Jordyn wanted to have a birthday dinner with Jacob at Canterbury Village. We arranged to meet Jacob and his mom at King’s Court Castle for dinner, but it was closed. So, we ended up at the Clansman Gaelic Pub. Afterwards we walked around. I gave them a little bit of space to enjoy some magic and romance in the frosty winter night.

Day 354 - Monday, December 20, 2010

Day 354 - Monday, December 20, 2010 – We celebrated FIFTEEN! with the family and Jordyn's boyfriend. We ate at Papa John's in Rochester and drove through the Rochester lights.

Day 353 - Sunday, December 19, 2010

Day 353 - Sunday, December 19, 2010 – I'm usually the one that wants to throw parties. But when the Tampa Bay Buccaneer schedule was issued in the summer, Kevin saw the Detroit Lions on the schedule and immediately said, "We're going to have a Bucs v Lions party!!" And that's exactly what we did. The Parsons, Scepkas, and Barrotts joined us for the embarrassment (the Lions won!) Aren't we sexy?!? For the record, I would NEVER wear this "outfit" out in public. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Kevin.

Day 352 - Saturday, December 18, 2010

Day 352 - Saturday, December 18, 2010 – Tonight we let the kids open an early Christmas present. Owen was whining and begging, and sometimes it's just nice to say yes. We hung out under the Christmas tree, opened Christmas cards, and just enjoyed each other's company. Liam and especially Owen had us in stitches as the jammed on their Paper Jamz guitars. Ashton is already looking up to his goofy older brothers. They truly are ROCKSTARS in his eyes.

Day 351 - Friday, December 17, 2010

Day 351 - Friday, December 17, 2010 – A few weeks ago Kev and I had purchased a pair of Pistons tickets at a fundraiser for our late friend, Matt Weber. We splurged on the tickets knowing that the money was going to a good cause and with the justification that it would be to celebrate both of our birthdays. The tickets came with a parking pass and access to the Ameriprise Financial Club which offered free food and drinks all night long (scha-wing!) The seats were mid court directly behind the press tables. It was such an interesting perspective. We were close enough to throw popcorn on Eli Zarrett and Rick Mahorn. And as humorous as that would have been, we refrained. What a fun night!

Day 350 - Thursday, December 16, 2010

Day 350 - Thursday, December 16, 2010 – Jordyn's Concert Choir hosted a fabulous Christmas Concert, "The Many Moods of Christmas". Jordyn was the server for our table where she brought us water, punch, and coffee. Bailey, Bella, and Grandma joined me and the boys in the audience. We were all delighted with the desserts and The Little Drummer Boy & Carol of the Bells, among many other well-sung songs.

Day 349 - Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Day 349 - Wednesday, December 15, 2010 – Owen passed out during Despicable Me. No blanket. No pillow. This is what he might look like after a frat party during his Freshman year of college...minus the fire engine slippers, hopefully.

Day 348 - Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Day 348 - Tuesday, December 14, 2010 – Kev enjoys a glass of red as he joins the family in our daily reading of the nativity story. In true Hillary fashion, jokester Dad read his book with enormous flair and a heavy, theatrical lithp. Thuch a thilly guy.

Day 347 - Monday, December 13, 2010

Day 347 - Monday, December 13, 2010 – Happy Birthday to me! Jordyn made me a cake. Liam made me a Lego creation. And Owen made me a card out of pink construction paper and stickers. I am so loved!

Day 346 - Sunday, December 12, 2010

Day 346 - Sunday, December 12, 2010 – Mugs of piping hot chocolate for some ice cold sledders. Just look at those flushed faces!!

Day 345 - Saturday, December 11, 2010

Day 345 - Saturday, December 11, 2010 – The lake was frozen on both sides of the lake but not the middle! Enough for some swans to take a swim.

Day 344 - Friday, December 10, 2010

Day 344 - Friday, December 10, 2010 – Jordyn at Academic Dermatology right before we learned that her type of acne (nodular) can not be treated with things like Proactiv or even antibiotics. She has to get a prescription for something called Accutane. But, because she is of child-bearing potential, she can't begin the medication for at least one month. The doctors have to verify that she isn't pregnant. Apparently the drug can cause VERY serious birth defects so you have to PLEDGE to take two forms of birth control, unless you are abstinent. Which, as the nurse said, I assume she is. I responded that SHE BETTER BE, because she hasn't come to me yet to discuss birth control options or what the physical and emotional impacts of having sex will be. Something I truly hope she comes to me with when she decides she’s ready. But I digress. Other serious side effects include suicidal depression, swelling in the brain, even death. But all Jordyn wanted to know was whether or not it would make her gain weight. No. You might die, but you want gain any LBs. Nice.

Day 343 - Thursday, December 9, 2010

Day 343 - Thursday, December 9, 2010 – Lunching with my ladies to celebrate Christmas and the December birthdays of the two old hens in the group (Andrea and me....Andrea is older, btw!!) We were all showered with gifts. What a fun afternoon!

Day 342 - Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Day 342 - Wednesday, December 8, 2010 – Christmas Around the World...at DA.

Day 341 - Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Day 341 - Tuesday, December 7, 2010 – It's always more fun to play the Wii while wearing your shirt backwards. Everybody knows that. Well, at least Owen knows that.

Day 340 - Monday, December 6, 2010

Day 340 - Monday, December 6, 2010 – Kevin was snowed in and couldn't make it to Indiana today. What better way to spend it than for him to make homemade chicken pot pie?? Delish!

Day 339 - Sunday, December 5, 2010

Day 339 - Sunday, December 5, 2010 – Lowell Duals Wrestling Tournament. This team format is so much fun. There's so much more wrestling to watch in a given day. It's a long day, but a fun day. Grandma Carol and Grandpa Don came to watch, but Grandma couldn't stand to stay for more than a half hour. Mckenna and Carson, Uncle Pat, Aunt Maria, Allison and Rachel along with Dad's cousin Kurt all stopped by at some point. It was fun to have so many fans.

Day 338 - Saturday, December 4, 2010

Day 338 - Saturday, December 4, 2010 – Christmas tradition number 465, Santa Breakfast at DA.

Day 337 - Friday, December 3, 2010

Day 337 - Friday, December 3, 2010 – Jordyn had her first week of driver's training, so Kevin took her out for some practice in the Trailblazer. Oh, Lord!

Day 336 - Thursday, December 2, 2010

Day 336 - Thursday, December 2, 2010 – Is it any wonder that we have too many ornaments on our tree? Every year I put together school photo ornaments like these. Santa puts one in everyone's stocking, and Grandma and Grandpa Hillary buys each child an ornament every year. Then Owen reminded me, "That's what makes the tree pretty."

Day 335 - Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Day 335 - Wednesday, December 1, 2010 – And the first Christmas card of the year award goes to my Aunt Dee...who has Alzheimer's. Irony that makes me smile.

Day 334 - Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Day 334 - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 – Today was the first meeting for the Duals Wrestling Team. This should be fun. Trevor, Austin, Liam, Jack, Hunter....all Freshman Blue buddies.

Day 333 - Monday, November 29, 2010

Day 333 - Monday, November 29, 2010 – Oh, Christmas Tree! Oh, Christmas Tree! It takes eight hours to build you. With all the lights and garland, too. Without the bulbs, what would we do? Oh, Christmas Tree! Oh, Christmas Tree! It takes eight hours to build you.

Day 332 - Sunday, November 28, 2010

Day 332 - Sunday, November 28, 2010 – The very first Christmas decoration that Owen insisted we put up this year was Grandma Carol's Christmas village. Let's just hope he doesn't break any more porcelain people on the tile kitchen floor this year. (PS - Happy Birthday Kevin!)

Day 331 - Saturday, November 27, 2010

Day 331 - Saturday, November 27, 2010 – And the Christmas parties begin. Owen is in LOVE with his Mario and Luigi shirt.

Day 330 - Friday, November 26, 2010

Day 330 - Friday, November 26, 2010 – If you've ever played Farkle then you can understand how coming from behind by 3,000 points to surpass the person who has already reached 10,000 points and win the game would create this type of a reaction. Liam was elated!!

Day 329 - Thursday, November 25, 2010

Day 329 - Thursday, November 25, 2010 – Ashton's first Thanksgiving. And his first tryptophan-enduced nap courtesy of Gerber’s first foods, Turkey Dinner. Kev's coma is courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa Hillary.

Day 328 - Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Day 328 - Wednesday, November 24, 2010 – The West side wives and I pose by the fireplace after dinner on the biggest bar night of the year. Tricia Schetz, Nikki Wesorick, and Maura Lamoreaux.

Day 327 - Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Day 327 - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 – My new toy. Happy early Birthday and Merry early Christmas to me!! I struggled with whether or not to get this or a digital SLR and ultimately decided that the digital SLR would be too much camera for me, so why spend that much coin on it?

Day 326 - Monday, November 22, 2010

Day 326 - Monday, November 22, 2010 – Now that Owen has joined the wrestling club, this kind of behavior is a daily occurrence.

Day 325 - Sunday, November 21, 2010

Day 325 - Sunday, November 21, 2010 – Jordyn and Kayla hang out in the wilderness -er, lobby -of the GWL.

Day 324 - Saturday, November 20, 2010

Day 324 - Saturday, November 20, 2010 – Catie and Owen were two of the biggest fish at Great Wolf Lodge.

Day 323 - Friday, November 19, 2010

Day 323 - Friday, November 19, 2010 – Kevin and I went out to a very nice (kid free) dinner at Red Ginger in downtown Traverse City with the Parsons and Brian and Tara while Jordyn and Kayla babysat all of the kids back at the hotel. Now THIS is a vacation!

Day 322 - Thursday, November 18, 2010

Day 322 - Thursday, November 18, 2010 – Bailey was phenomenal as Leisl in Ann Arbor's Young People's Theater production of The Sound of Music at Mendelssohn Theater on the campus of the University of Michigan. She'll be famous one day.

Day 321 - Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Day 321 - Wednesday, November 17, 2010 – Visiting Poppa always includes lots of hugs and kisses. If love could heal, dad would be cured by now.

Day 320 - Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Day 320 - Tuesday, November 16, 2010 – Awwwwww yeah, baby, first day of wrestling practice in the new season. Time to unleash the PWM (psycho wrestling mom).

Day 319 - Monday, November 15, 2010

Day 319 - Monday, November 15, 2010 – Grandpa's little allstars.

Day 318 - Sunday, November 14, 2010

Day 318 - Sunday, November 14, 2010 – Is there anything more precious than a sleeping baby? Maybe one that sleeps through the night....consistently.

Day 317 - Saturday, November 13, 2010

Day 317 - Saturday, November 13, 2010 – One superbowl celebration was not enough for our football family. The Raisches hosted another wonderful bonfire tonight to celebrate the undefeated season and the terrific bond the families made with each other this year. And Jordyn got to bring her bf to the party since it was their 7 month "anniversary"!!

Day 316 - Friday, November 12, 2010

Day 316 - Friday, November 12, 2010 – Kevin and I attended the Matt Weber bowling fundraiser in Troy tonight. It reminded us of how much fun bowling can be, and I even broke a hundred each game! I see another bowling league at some point in our future.