Mini Clay Art

Ledger got a couple of crafting packs for Christmas this year. One of them was a kit for making cute little things out of clay. We were looking around for something to do one night and figured we could bust this thing out and give it a try! The kit itself had 8 or 10 little lumps of colored clay, a few tools, and instructions on how to make them last.

We set up shop at the kitchen table, and each grabbed a color or two. The kit itself was designed for making little trinkets for a bracelet, so we had to keep things very small. That was the best part of the project: how intricate could we make our creations while keeping them as small as possible! As expected, Diana was really good at it. She's got the steady hand and patience to really focus on the details. Ledge and I did our best at making silly creatures and make each other laugh with how strange they were. After they were done, we brushed them with the included gel and baked them in the oven. At the end of the night we had some great looking little figures and had a really fun time together!

(see the finished figures here)

Icy Fun

The snow has been coming down pretty good this week, covering the landscape in beautiful white. Unfortunately, the extreme cold comes with it! The past day or two it's started to warm up a little, which means there are a bunch of icicles coming off the house. After pointing it out to Ledger, he decided he wanted to check it out! He went outside, without a coat as only teen boys are foolish enough to do, and broke off a few of them and crashed them on the deck, throwing them up in the air for maximum impact. I tried my best to stop him from licking them, but again, he's a teenage boy, so all my attempts were in vain. 

We've been huddled inside trying to stay warm so long that it was great to see him brave the outdoors and play around for a while! I'm sure it'll be a long winter, but at least we can enjoy it.

Taller

We don't know exactly when it happened. Maybe we weren't paying close enough attention to it. Nonetheless, we realized it today: our son is taller than his mother! What?!? How did this happen? He's not old enough! Diana is far from short- he's not supposed to be taller than her, is he?

Well, it turns out that against or strong objections, Ledger continues to grow up. Our adorable little guy is no longer little (he's still adorable though!). He has shot up over the past few months, and his voice keeps getting deeper and deeper. Before we know it, he will be a full-grown man! Diana and I are going to have to do some real soul searching to make peace with this idea, that our little boy is growing up to be a great man. The old adage is true: the days are long, but the years are short!

Library Battle

When Ledger was little, the local library was a godsend! A public place with special events for kids where they could learn and play- exactly what we needed! Since then he goes less often, but they still have great activities. Most, as you would expect, are geared toward little kids, but our local library also does a bunch of events for the older kids. They have a 'teen room' filled with the latest tech, things like professional level computer drawing pads, VR headsets, and 3D printers that they can come and use. Ledge loves to go there from time to time and play in the teen room. They've also got some fun special events as well. One of the coolest events they have is a 'Nerf Night', the kids are invited after the library is closed, to come in with Nerf guns and go nuts! Ledge invited his friend Emmerson to join him and the two of them had a blast. He said they played a bunch of games including 'capture the flag' all around the library, shooting off their nerf darts at each other. At the end they even had cookies and juice. What an awesome event- I wish they had done cool stuff like this when I was a kid! 

Happy Anniversary

You know what's really shocking? Somehow, I've been writing this blog for 20 years! What?!? That's right, I've been doing this since 2005! I remember, lo those many years ago, thinking that I'd give this blogging thing a try, but like most fads, I'd get sick of it and move on to the next thing. Well, I guess I was wrong. It's become an online journal for me, keeping track of all the different things I've been up to and collecting my thoughts and experiences for posterity. 

It started off as just a lark, something fun to write silly thoughts and opinions on, but as time went on, it became a place for me to compile all the different events in my life and try to appreciate what I was going through. And I have gone through a lot! Reflecting on what life was like for me back in 2005 vs. my life now is pretty shocking. Back then I was starting my 4th year of teaching, my second year in Indiana. No prospects of much of a social life and no dating prospects in years. Now, all these years later, I've been happily married for 16 years, I've got a 13 year old son, an adorable dog, and I live in Michigan as a supervisor at a factory. What?!? Who could have seen all that coming?!? Certainly not me!

I feel like I've become everything I wanted back then, with a few curveballs as well. I'm much happier and more fulfilled in all areas of my life and genuinely enjoy this life I've build. And amazingly, I'm still writing on this silly blog! Though there have been times where I write a lot, and times I haven't written at all, I will continue to keep poking things with a stick for years to come. 

Here's to 20 more!

Cabin Time!

Once a year I get my own little retreat. A night with the boys up north at the cabin! It's been an annual tradition so long that none of us can actually remember when it started. It's been more than 20 years, we know that, but as with most things at the cabin, the rest of it is a bit hazy...

The Friday after Christmas we met at our usual location: Aaron's driveway. We were definitely pumped for the trip and pumped to see each other! Some of us hadn't seen each other since the last time we went last year. We may not spend as much time together as we used to, but the moment we are together it's like no time has passed at all. We filled up the vehicle and we were off! Chatting and laughing the whole way up, we stopped, as is our custom, in Big Rapids for lunch, and then eventually found our way, after a little jog in the road, to the good ol' cabin!

Settling in, getting the fire started, freezing for the first hour or two. All part of the joy of being there! We decided to do something different for dinner this year, opting to skip out of Sporties, we drove north of town until we found a restaurant that was open. Now here's the thing with trying someplace new: it's not always a success... Was the food good? no. But was the atmosphere good? Also no. But at least the service was good? Also no. I don't think we will be going there again, if I'm being honest...

Returning to the cabin, it was now time for the main event: game time! We gathered around the table, put on an Aaron original mix of music, and got busy playing dumb games and making each other belly laugh for the rest of the night! Eventually we got to the chatting part of the night, except Jon, he called it quits pretty early. Sleep came a callin' and finally we all tucked in for the night.

The morning, as always, it mostly about waiting for everyone to wake up so we can make a run to the gas station and use the bathroom or get coffee. With everyone up, we cleaned up and gathered our things. Another successful cabin trip is in the books!

(more pics: 1, 2) 

South Bend Christmas

A bit unusual to be down in South Bend on Christmas morning, but it's been an unusual season. We did Christmas with my family and our Christmas a bit early this year because we wanted to make sure we had as much time as possible with Diana's family. David's daughter Alanna and her son Tavish were visiting for the week from Boston, so we wanted to make the most of it. We drove down the afternoon before Christmas to see everyone. Staying in Mom and David's place along with Alanna and Tavish made for a really packed house, but that's part of the fun!

Ledger and Tavish get along really well together and were both pumped to see each other! They have been best buddies ever since they were toddlers, and this visit was no exception. Minute one, and they are already laughing, smiling, and talking a mile a minute! We took it a bit easy that first night, getting everyone settled in and catching up. By Christmas afternoon Barbara, James, and Dad all stopped over for the gift giving festivities. We, as always, had a great time giving and receiving gifts, filling our tummies with delicious food, and then chatting the afternoon away. After all the guests left, everyone found a little cozy spot to take a short nap. When we woke up, it was time for ice cream and pie- perfect! We were able to stay another day and a half, which was a lot of relaxing fun!

(more pics)

Night Before Christmas

We decided to throw tradition out the window this year! Usually, we have our family gift giving on Christmas morning after eating cinnamon rolls. But with our plans to go to South Bend to be with Diana's family, we are not going to be at home on Christmas morning. So, we had some options: either bring all the gifts with us or wait until we got back. Neither of those sounded very good, so instead we made the decision to have a Christmas night!

This was a little weird for Ledger, opening all his gifts before Christmas- and at night! But for me, this was pretty normal. Growing up we never opened gifts on Christmas day, and usually we would do it in the evening. After a little bit of adjusting our plans, we began our night of prizes! Fortunately, I had been on top of it this year and already had all the gifts wrapped. Normally I do that on Christmas Eve but got lucky this time. We popped some Christmas cookies in the oven, turned on the fireplace channel on the TV, and gathered around for a special evening!

As always, almost all the gifts were for Ledger, but I did manage to get a few goodies for Diana, and she got me some as well. Ledge was quite pleased with the little gifts and toys we got for him, but of course he didn't make it easy on us. He never actually gives us a Christmas list, he just says we can just get him 'whatever'. Ugh. That makes it much more challenging to find things that he will actually like! I think we did pretty good, there were some big winners and a few 'meh' gifts, but overall, he was very pleased. Diana loved her prizes and so did I! Finally, the last gift to open was the biggie: this year we got Ledger a new queen-sized bed! He had been complaining for months that his twin bed was too small, and his feet were hanging off the end, so we fixed that with a huge queen-sized foam mattress and frame. At first, he was a little disappointed because he just saw the box, but once we opened it up and the foam started to expand, he saw how huge and comfy it was going to be and then he was all on board! We had to let it sit overnight to firm up, but he was filled with excitement about getting it set up in his room.

Overall, another successful family Christmas!

(more pics: 1, 2)

Brinkmas '24

For the past several years we have had Christmas with my family on Christmas day itself, but this year we bumped it up a bit and got together several days earlier. We still had all the usual fun- games, gifts, and fantastic food!

Chad and his family came down early and stayed with Mema and Papa for a week or two. The rest of us arrived late afternoon. Once everyone was there, the festivities began. We start with a little gift game for the kids. My mom always comes up with something different each year. One year it involved a ball of saran wrap and mittens, another year it was a dice game. She always finds something creative and silly! This year there were a bunch of upside-down bowls that the kids had to pick. As always, everyone had a blast with lots of laughs and lots of candy and gift cards by the end!

Now with that out of the way, we all headed downstairs, each taking a bowl or plate filled to the brim with tasty food. Everyone filled up their plates and drinks, found a seat to settle into, and chowed down and chatted. After we each got a second (or third) helping, it was time for the main event: presents! The kids are always thrilled with all the amazing prizes from ol' Mema and Papa, and we get to spoil the nieces and nephews as well.

About an hour or so later, all the boxes have been unwrapped, and all the adults are exhausted while the kids try out their newest toys. There is, of course, the required wadding up of the wrapping paper and throwing it at each other, as well as helping the youngest ones assemble their colorful loot. After another visit or two to the table full of sweets, we clean up, pack away our newest acquisitions, say our thank you's and goodbyes.

Another successful Brinkmas in the books!

(more pics)

Oh, Christmas Tree

Winter is here, and so are our Christmas decorations! We've been a bit delinquent lately with decorating, waiting until mid-December to finally put them up... Better late than never, huh? I pulled out the dusty old boxes from the garage and basement and we opened them up and went about transforming our humble abode into a lovely winter wonderland!

First, in order to get the house in the right mood, we baked up some Christmas cookies- get that delicious smell wafting through the house. Next, we fire up the soundtrack to the Muppet Christmas Carol, and then we get to work! The tree goes first, then the lights, tinsel, and ornaments. Ledge, as always, has to hop into the Christmas tree box. Something he's been doing since he was 1 year old! It's still cute, but in a 5'10'' way... 

As we sing along with the Muppets, we get the place looking good! With a few well-placed seasonal knick knacks, we finish up the transformation. Now we are ready for Christmas!

(more pics)

A Super Dog Movie

One of my favorite things to do is hop on YouTube from time to time and catch up on all the latest movie previews. Often times I'll see that a new big movie dropped a trailer, so I check it out and watch five or ten more trailers for movies I've never heard of. Well, I had heard that the first Superman trailer was just released, so I turned on the TV to check it out. I knew that it was going to feature Krypto, Superman's dog, so I figured ol' Wiggins would want to watch it as well! I scooped him up and pressed play. The preview itself was pretty great, lots of great dog stuff. Surprisingly, Wiggins wasn't very interested, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it!

(I didn't realize it at the time, but my wife was watching me and laughing at me the whole time- even had time to take a picture! Rude...)

A Song in His Heart

Fa la la! It's time for the annual Christmas concert with the ol' middle school. When first entering sixth grade, Ledger wanted to be in band. After trying out a couple instruments and realizing the amount of practice he would have to commit to, he quickly changed his mind and settled on Choir instead. We have been very happy with that decision ever since. For us it means we don't have to suffer through him practicing an instrument either, and also it means that our house is often filled with singing from a beautiful little boy's voice! Though he may not exactly like all the songs his Choir teacher picks, he is still using his voice and getting very good too! I was never a very good singer, once puberty hit anyway, but Ledge has continued to use and develop his voice- and it shows! Diana and I always look at each other with delight when we hear him singing any old random song from the other room- we just love to hear him!

As usual, we invited Mema and Papa to join us in listening to the middle school choir concert. It was surprisingly good- in fact, the choir teacher herself talked about how this has been one of the best classes she has ever had! The nice thing about that is she challenged them with some of the more interesting Christmas music. So we got to hear quite a few unusual and impressive songs during the show! Though our boy didn't have a solo, Diana swears that there were a few times that she could hear him individually. Afterward, all four of us got to heap praises on him, which he liked of course,

(more pics)