New Year's Eve

Last night we got home in time for Doug to put one more coat of paint on the bathroom walls.  Today while he was working on the bedroom I pulled all of the tape off the bathroom walls, touched up any areas that we missed and thoroughly cleaned the bath.  We had bought a new gray shower curtain, rug and towels yesterday on our shopping trip that I put up as well.  By the time we got done, the bathroom looked fantastic.  I would have never thought of gray/silver as an accent for purple but they looked fantastic together.  Doug spent the morning putting the second coat on the bedroom.  We both thought that it looked very nice.  I can't wait to see how it goes with the new carpet.

We spent part of the afternoon playing games with Cam and Brett.  HM came over to hang out with Cal, and Meg went to lunch with Aaron.  Later in the evening Doug made meatballs, queso dip and several other appetizers for dinner.  Cam had a little bit to eat before Doug took him to his friend, Breece's (Chip) in Goshen.  Chip had invited all of the 7th grade over for a New Year's Eve party.  At first Cam wasn't going to go as we said we'd have to pick him up early since Doug hates being on the roads late on New Year's Eve.  Chip's parents invited Cam to spend the night so we agreed that he could go.  Meg had invited Jackie and Gabby over for the evening.  Doug and Meg picked up Jackie after they dropped Cam off.  By the time they got back Gabby had just arrived and the girls were ready for a night of Vines, Just Dance 2018, the snow challenge and sparkling apple cider.

Cal and HM played games with us until 9:30 or so.  She wasn't feeling too well, so she decided to go home early.  Cal met up with some of his high school friends which left Brett, Doug and I at home to play games and watch the Twilight Zone marathon.  We had a lot of fun especially when the girls came down to do the snow challenge.  A slippery floor and a missed video made for the most hilarious moment of the evening and a great way to ring in 2018.  

A Break From Painting

We had planned on going to Grand Rapids today to take the Heinisch children to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and to stop at Holland, Michigan on the way home.  Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate.  The lake effect snow showers had hit that area hard and we didn't feel safe driving two and a half hours into it.  At first we were going to cancel our day out altogether, but after looking at the weather forecast we decided that driving east would work out alright.

We left around 10:30 and stopped a bistro that Doug wanted to try.  The food was very good and everyone ordered something different.  I'd like to go back another time to try their brunch with the endless mimosa.  Once we left we toured the area and saw several other restaurants that we might want to eat at another time.  We then spent the afternoon shopping at various stores.  The Heinisch children still had Christmas money to spend although none of them bought too much.  We had fun together just the same and were glad for some time off from painting and cleaning.  

A Day of Cleaning and Painting

I was glad that Meg and Cam had friends over today.  That kept them entertained while Doug painted our bathroom and bedroom.  I helped by cleaning as much as possible for him, feeding everyone and getting supplies for him when needed.  He started in the bathroom.  With all of the trim it took him close to five hours.  We had picked out a light purple and we both really liked it when it was finished.

The morning was consumed with painting the bathroom.  The afternoon was taken up by a first coat of paint in the bedroom.  We picked a dark gray that was labeled cement.  Once Doug painted the first wall we realized that it would be more blue than we thought, but we both really liked it.  It took Doug all afternoon to complete the bedroom, but it looked fantastic once he got done.  He will need to put a second coat on later this weekend, but round one was done in time for dinner.

The Little Mermaid

We had matinee tickets for The Little Mermaid at Amish Acres this afternoon.  Since we had renewed our season passes and bought ones for Grandma Jane and Grandpa Cutes, we had five free tickets to use.  Brett definitely wanted one as did my parents.  I offered two to Cal and HM, but they weren't as interested.  Therefore, I let Meg and Cam invite a friend.  Cam decided to ask Evan since he wouldn't be able to go to his house for New Year's Eve this year.  Meg invited Preston with the declaration that they had talked everything out and were never going to fight again.  (Even Preston laughed at that one.)  

I believe that each of us thought that it would be hard to bring a show that takes place in the ocean to the stage.  There were parts that were a little awkward, but overall we all enjoyed it.  It followed the Disney version and added a few more songs as well.  Everyone's favorite performance was by the actress playing Ursula.  She did a fantastic job and the best part was that we could give Meg a hard time about being afraid of the "scary octopus."  

We made it home just as the snow started.  It has definitely been a cold, snowy week.  I appreciated even more that we went to Chicago on the 23rd.  Ever since that day the weather has been miserable and the predictions have been for extremely cold temperatures and more snow.  

After Christmas Shopping

Meg had open gym this morning.  She wasn't quite ready to get up and get back in the swing of practice, but she made it.  They had to go to the Goshen College Rec Center as they boys had the Bethany gym and the middle school was being updated.  Meg said that it went well.  Only seven girls came, but it was a productive time as they learned a new offense.

Brett, Cam and I picked her up afterward.  We had made plans to do some after Christmas shopping at the UP Mall.  Everyone had Christmas money to spend and were ready to get out of the house for awhile.  We stopped first at Noodles & Company where the majority of us got lunch.  Brett preferred Chick-Fil-A in the food court, so he just enjoyed an orange drink while we ate.

The mall was surprisingly packed.  South Bend was under a lake effect advisory which I thought would keep the shoppers away.  It definitely did not.  Meg was happy to learn that Jacki's family also decided to do some after Christmas shopping.  She met up with her and they were able to visit several stores together.  Brett and Cam focused mostly on Hot Topic, Game Stop and Barnes & Noble.  I followed them around and was even able to talk Brett into buying some new shirts and jeans at American Eagle.  Our last stop of the day was Yankee Candle where I used my 6 for $60.  Our home will smell awesome these next few months.

We made it home in time to go to trivia night at Chubbie's.  Cal and HM joined us as well.  Meg decided to sit out and catch up on her reading.  The bowling alley was packed which made it difficult to find a table for nine.  We did finally come up with a place to sit.  The questions were challenging tonight and unfortunately we finished in the dreaded fourth place position.  It was fun, however, spending time together even if we did lose.

Christmas Take Down

I told the Heinisch children last night that we would have to take down the Christmas today as we had plans to paint our bedroom over the weekend in order to get new carpet on January 2nd.  Each one of them looked at me and said, "Good try Mom.  It wouldn't matter if we were getting new carpet or not.  You always take the Christmas down on the 26th."  I couldn't argue with them.  I definitely like to take it down as soon as Christmas ends.  In the same manner I love to put it up the day after Thanksgiving.  That way the decorations were up for a month and everyone got a chance to enjoy them before the holiday.

Just as in years past the taking down went faster than the putting up did.  We did leave two tubs out.  One was for the extra items including the movies that we still wanted.  The second was for the outside decorations.  Winter had definitely hit hard and from looking at the forecast we knew that we wouldn't get the outside items put away for quite some time.  I also set out all of the snowmen.  They seemed especially appropriate this year with the amount of snow and cold that we have had.

We were able to take a break today and go to see the movie Jumanji.  It was a remake from the Robin Williams one that came out in the 1980s.  It was completely different, but just as entertaining.  The Rock and Jack Black were the main stars and the movie was extremely funny.  It was also packed.  In fact I was afraid that we weren't going to get a seat.  Everyone else must have had the same idea that we did.  Even with a full theater it was a great way to spend Boxing Day.  

Christmas Day

What a wonderful Christmas morning we had at the Heinisch home.  For the first time ever all of the Heinisch children agreed to open gifts at 10 a.m.  Thus, everyone had a chance to sleep in if they wanted to.  Doug used his extra time to exercise and get started on Christmas dinner.  Once everyone was ready we opened the Christmas stockings first.  There was plenty of candy to be had by all along with Buffalo Wild wings sauce to share.

After the stockings were opened we moved on to the gifts.  Cameron played elf the most and everyone was happy with the amount of and the presents that they received.  Brett was happy with the books and video games that he opened.  Cal also received several gifts that he wanted including an iPhone and a few surprises including an Oladipo shirt.  Meg also received an iPhone from Santa as well as a robe and pajamas.  Cam's Santa gift was a BB-8 Lego.  He also received the game Cantan and several video games that he had been wanting.  Doug thought that he was opening a weed eater, but instead found himself the proud owner of an IU tailgate tent.  I loved my gifts and had a lot of fun setting up the Google Home Mini.

My parents arrived close to 1 p.m.  We opened gifts first and my parents enjoyed all that they received including a gift from each of their grandchildren and 2018 season tickets to Amish Acres.  Doug made a delicious ham dinner for everyone.  After the clean up we played games the rest of the afternoon including Meg's new favorite - "Speak Out."  It was a great way to end a wonderful Christmas day.