We decided to make a quick trip to Michigan to at least see Branden's family near Christmas if we couldn't see them on Christmas this year. It worked out well that we could come to see the girls Orchestra concerts for school as well as a choir concert for Kaylee!
We went from Dec 10-15th. We got an airbnb so we'd have room for a few family activities. I brought ingredients and stuff to make gingerbread houses with them. This has been a tradition forever and it's fun to have it with the grandkids as well.
We arrived the day of the concerts and basically went straight from the airport to the school. The girls did great! Isabelle really enjoys orchestra but Kaylee is still unsure that it's her thing.
On the 11th we went with the girls to pick a Christmas Tree (Amber is in a boot from foot surgery so they hadn't been able to go yet). We picked the girls up from school and went right out tree shopping. It was FRIGID in Michigan and I tried to talk the girls into buying the first tree we saw but they wanted to walk around the tree farm first. BRRRR! In the end we came back and bought that first one. LOL
Since we had a rental van, Frank had no qualms just shoving the tree right inside. The girls thought that was hilarious.
We brought it home and decorated with the family (though I have no pictures of Branden or Amber!)
Isabelle did the oh-so-important job of putting the family moose at the top of the tree!
Oh there's Amber's boot! She was there, I promise.
On the 12th Isabelle wasn't feeling well so she spent the day in our Airbnb since Amber had to work. We mostly watched some nature documentaries together. Later that evening the family came over and we decorated gingerbread houses. I miscounted and so didn't have enough pieces so Branden had to build a house from random scrap pieces.
He did an amazing job and built a Grinch tower.
Finished products:
The 13th we took the girls to an indoor playground. I can't believe this is the only picture I got!
But we ran around and went down slides and crawled through tunnels. Frank did better than I did...my knees did not enjoy crawling!
But the girls seemed to have a good time.
I don't remember the days but we also took the family to two movies. We saw "The Best Christmas pageant ever" and "Moana 2"
Kaylee really wanted to see Moana and didn't care too much about the other one so she was sad we booked the Christmas movie first and Moana for Saturday morning. But we convinced her that two movies were better than one and she decided that was true.
After we saw the Christmas movie (which made us all cry) she said "That was the best movie I've ever seen in my life"
Moana was only so-so in all the adults' opinions.
December 14th was Kaylee's big concert. We didn't really know what it was but it turned out to be a local celebrity having a Christmas concert and she had kids try out for a choir to be her backup singers (and they sang a few songs of their own as well). It was impressive! The crowd definitely had lots of parents/grandparents/proud relatives so a couple of the choir numbers got more applause than the main event. LOL
Kaylee was really in her element and you could tell she loves choir WAY more than orchestra!
Kaylee had so much family there to support her! Cousins, aunts, uncles. two sets of grandparents and even a great grandma! And of course Mom, Dad and Isabelle
Getting an autograph and picture from the star (embarrassed to say I can't remember her name)
December 15th was basically just a flight home to Utah.
We sure are grateful we got to spend time with the Michigan Hills!
