2026

How to keep yourself and your family busy during the seemingly endless period between the new year and when the weather actually gets nice

I decided to go with a title for this entry to accurately describe how this time of year can feel....endless monotony. However, we vowed to make the best of a dreary time of year by making our own fun. Huxley got a new pair of rollerskates for Christmas, and learned how to skate at the same place I learned as a kid, the Rollerworld on Stadium Drive. Liesl inherited Huxley's old skates and was also making great progress. Knowles.....rode a toy horse around Hardings.

Dad won another pickleball tournement with Gorn, moving up to the 3.5 division this time around. This year also marked the 2nd annual Family Dance for 12th street elementary and Liesl's first time going. Huxley once again ran around with her friends, dancing, snacking and have a grand old time. Liesl mostly hung out with Dad and watched from afar, perhaps getting her bearings about her for some more active participation next year.

Huxley also turned 8! Well, she turned 8 on 12/28, but we had her party in late January, once again at Jungle Joe's. Mom and Dad think this might be a popular pick among the kids the last couple of years because of the birthday stuffie and the extra tickets given to the birthday child. Either way, Hux and her friends had a great time running around, bouncing, playing games, then refueling with pizza and sugar just in time to go home. 

Liesl's Birthdy and the Beginning of Spring

Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow this year? Who knows. All we know is there is ALWAYS 6 more weeks of winter in Michigan after that critter's special day.

Liel selected Airborne for her birthday celebration, making it the first time since her second birthay she had done so. Of special note, Liesl wanted Macaron's for her party intead of a traditional cake and it went over VERY well with both kids and adults. Turns out those colorful cookes are delicious and way less mess frosting and cake. This was also Knowles' first trip to a trampoline park and he had a blast jumping and running around trying to keep up with everyone. 

Spring break this year was mostly characterized by sticking around Kalamazoo enjoying the time off school and seeing friends. However, we did make it up to JJ Ranch with the Schurrs for some waterpark fun! This was our first time up to the JJ so we were unsure what to expect. Dad described it as a "Slightly shabbier version of Great Wolf Lodge...but certainly more homey, so that's nice". The kids seemed to enjoy it just as much as any other waterpark we have visited, going to water slides, running around the lazy river, and putt-putt golfing.

Easter was...Easter. The kids found lots of eggs and got waaaaay too much candy. Mom and Dad to throw out 10 pounds of Christmas and Valentine's candy make room for the additional 10 pounds of Easter candy. The Gornick's annual Easter party was a success and Knowles took the best photo of his life.