Christmas in Michigan!

We were so excited to have the chance to go to Michigan to spend Christmas with Matt's family. This year was extra special because we all headed to Minnesota a few days after Christmas to see some extended family on the Schleicher side. (Those pics will be a separate post!)

We've pared down our 1,500-some pictures to these wonderful memories ...

Matt's mom had done some secret investigation (talking to Matt & Kim's sister, Amy) to discover that Kim loves Italian food and German chocolate cake. Mom S. made Kim a birthday feast to enjoy our first night in Michigan. What a thoughtful, yummy gesture! Ian was thrilled to help with blowing out the candle.

After dinner, Ian helped Grandma stir up a "happy birthday, Jesus" cake to share at church the next day.

We were thrilled to have the chance to see our favorite twins again! Jaden and Cody keep getting cuter and cuter! We were amazingly impressed by how well they are walking with help. One of our favorite activities to do with them was have "twin races" to see which boy could make it to the end of the room and back. :)

Here, Kim helps one boy (Cody, I think?? Pictures seem more confusing than real life!) train for the next race.

Aunt Beth and Ian work together as coaches in this picture!

Uncle Jason & Aunt Beth, too facilitate some fun cousin time!

Our boys got plenty of attention, too. Here, Aunt Amy reads Ian a book ...

... while Uncle Andy loves on Ryan. :)

With all of the babies everywhere, Ian seemed VERY grateful that Uncle Jon & Aunt Chelsea brought their new dog, Ace, along! Ian spent lots and lots of time with Ace, feeding him, hugging him, playing with him, and learning that it's not nice to start to play fetch but then choose to keep the object you were throwing. Ace was very patient with Ian, and the two were best buds! We were wondering if Ian would start to ask for a dog when we got home, but he hasn't! The 3.5-year-old mind is nice -- appreciating what you have when you have it ... but moving on when you don't!

Before dinner one day, Chelsea and Kim played a round of Thomas Go Fish with Ian.

After bath time, Grandma spends some quality time with our boys!

The littlest ones model cute, matching PJs from Grandpa and Grandma. Ian also got some adorable snowman PJs that you can see in the picture above this one.

Matt and Kim were anxious to hold and play with their nephews any chance we could get!

Aunt Amy always knew JUST how to make Ryan laugh and giggle! (She must be a mother of baby boys or something. :))

In Schleicher family tradition, we opened (most of) our Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve. Ian and Ryan were very excited about the thoughtful gifts they received from everyone. Here, Ian is showing off his new remote control Thomas train. It even blows smoke! Very cool.

On Christmas Day, we had the privilege of going to church to celebrate Jesus coming as a baby to save us from our sins. It was wonderful to get to hear Grandpa preach a few times while we were in Michigan.

We took some various family pictures while we were dressed up at church. Grandma and Ryan got a cute pic together ...

... and here's one of our little family -- our first Christmas as a family of four!

What a blessing it was to all be together on Christmas!

We attempted to get some cute cousin and brother pics, though this was about the best we could do ... (Thanks for the cute Christmas outfit for Ryan, Aliceson & Kyle. I'm sure seeing the outfit brings back great memories for you of when Caleb was that tiny!)

Ryan models a cute monkey hat that a lady from Grandpa & Grandma's church made him. (The other three boys got one, too!)

After church on Christmas, we just enjoyed some time together.

Uncle Andy showed Ian one of the photo calendars he put together. (You should see the amazing landscape pictures Uncle Andy can take! We're grateful Beth & Andy travel so much and then share all of the beautiful pictures with us!)

Don't you love the cute flannel shirt Uncle Jon & Aunt Chelsea picked out for Ryan?

We enjoyed a yummy Christmas dinner all together. (Thanks for snapping the picture, Amy!) Thanks for ALL of the yummy meals you made for us, Mom S! You didn't always get as much help in the kitchen with so many of us taking care of babies. Thank you for all of your work!

After lunch, Ian and Uncle Jon enjoyed playing a kids' version of Sequence. Ian thought it was super fun!

Then, Mom and Dad S. had planned a fun activity for all of us ... Deal or No Deal? Here, Beth ponders if she should take the antique mugs or see what was in the second "briefcase."

Ian was thrilled to say "Deal!" to ANYTHING that was offered to him, including a warm hat and rainbow socks.

Ryan said, "DEAL!" to kisses from Grandpa. :)

Happy first Christmas, Ryan!

Ryan was excited to have Aunt Beth show him how some new toys worked.

We spent many of our evenings together munching on an array of yummy goodies that Mom S. set out for us and playing some games. Here, Chelsea and Kim celebrate first place victories in the two Stone Age games that were played.

Here, we couples enjoyed learning a new game called Samurai. It was a lot of fun!

Family friend, Beth, drove from Chicago to spend some time with all of us after Christmas. It's always a treat to catch up with her ... AND to enjoy her yummy baked goods. Ian asked for "lemon poppy cake" (lemon poppyseed bread) almost every day we were in Michigan! Thanks for being part of the family, Beth!

It was nice to be together to celebrate Mom & Dad S's 42nd wedding anniversary, too! We kids treated them to a Chinese lunch, but they did the hard work of making all of US a turkey dinner in the evening. Here, Ian helps Grandpa carve the turkey.

Ryan loved cuddle time with Aunt Chelsea, who always seemed to know just how to help with holding a baby, preparing a meal, or filling ANY need!

The morning that we left to go to Minnesota, we woke up to snow on the ground!! Ian couldn't have been happier! Daddy, Ace, and Ian had a great time playing together!

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for being such wonderful hosts to all of us. You made us feel right at home and worked hard to meet all of our needs. We enjoyed our time in your home and your church! What a fun Christmas in Michigan!

Stay tuned for part 2 of our Christmas break travels ... :)