Bugs Palace!

After the nice 15degree days at the beginning of the month, these -15-20 degree days/nights have really felt cold. Thankfully I haven’t had to spend too much time outdoors.

Got the winter tires mounted up on the Cooper. Now if/when the snow returns I should finally have some decent traction again. And while we’re on the Cooper, looks like I’m gonna need a new windshield. Not 3 weeks after getting it, a nice stone hit the windshield and a nice crack formed within hours. No chance to fill it. If memory serves me correctly, I am pretty sure the same thing happened right after I got my first MINI. Also, nearly finished the stereo install. Actually, it`s fully installed at this point, just needs some additional tuning (which requires pulling the seat back out) but otherwise it sounds pretty good. The old box from my Subaru fit nearly perfectly. A little beat up and should be rebuilt from scratch, but this will hold me over till warmer weather.

Still no updates on the bug other then it’s in the way 🙂 Really can’t wait to get the suspension on so I can move it closer to the wall during the winter months. I`m ignoring it for now. I will be emailing the shop Feb 1st to see whats up. As long as I get the parts before the end of February, which gives me 1-2 months to tweak and tinker to make it all work again, I will be happy.

Kids are doing awesome. Joe is talking more and more like an adult. My baby boy somehow has morphed into this little dude who can have actual conversations. Very, very strange. And Abby has really excelled in SK this year. So proud of her. Last week, she also lost her 2nd tooth. Tooth fairy is gonna go bankrupt at this rate 🙂

Brain is numb from the cold for now. Things on the horizon : Katie and Brian get their house in 2-3 weeks, 4 weeks till Spring training starts.. and eventually warm weather will be back long enough to ride the bike. A nice early mid-february spring like last year would be AWESOME.  Here`s hopin!

Christmas Eve, I took a deposit on the yellow beast. It had a good run, but I was ready to make a change. Days prior I spent several hours in the garage stripping down the stereo system. Everything came out easily except the RCA’s. They will need to be replaced 😉 Stereo out, it was all ready for its new home. January1st I delivered it to the new owner. Hopefully it treats him well.

ANNNd because the car wasn’t delivered till January 1st, I won the bet with Kevin that I COULD in fact keep a car for 2  years.. In fact, I technically kept it 2 years and 23 days. I know, nothing to brag about. Regardless, winning is winning.  Time to design some artwork for his back window of the truck.

Still waiting on the bug parts to come home. I suspect they will get done sometime this month. Then back into the Bug they go!

Another college crew Christmas dinner is in the books. That officially finishes off the Christmas updates by the way. Great time had by all. Sadly not everyone made it out. Getting harder and harder with families to get everyone out together. Still, glad it’s a tradition we are carrying on. Was especially nice to see Rob and Jeffy. Feel like i never get to see those two.

Finally, with the GTI gone, and some frustatingly agonizing shopping (a story for over drinks, not over the web), I bought a new-to-me car. A 2006 MINI Cooper JCW edition. I am in love with this thing. Its bright blue, loaded with all the John Cooper Works goodies, and a whole lotta fun to drive. Next couple weeks I will install the stereo system to get back my Sirius radio and bluetooth abilities. But otherwise it’s pretty awesome out of the box. A couple tweaks will be done over time, but nothing as extensive as my first Cooper. This one has alot of the stuff already done, so I am a huge step ahead. Can’t wait to get the 18’s on and enjoy some twisty roads.  And no bets this time, but I intend to keep this one at least 2.5-3 years. Here’s hoping that works out…. Pun intended.

Ho Ho Ho. What a crazy few weeks. This may be a long post, lots of moving parts, so if I foget something, please forgive me.

Christmas was a huge pile of awesome crazyness again this year.

December 16 – VanDalen Christmas. Aunt Jane hosted dinner this year in her new place in Cayuga. Firs time I have been there. Still seems strange not going to the old house, but times change, and people must as well. Not everyone was able to make it this year, but they were there in spirt. And if you didnt make it in person, know we were probably talking about you 😉  Seriously though, it was a very nice night. Got to catch up with cousins, aunts and uncles who I dont see as much as I should.

Christmas eve : I had some running around to do during the day while Shannon and the kids went to Hamilton to visit her Mom, Jordan+Stacie (who were in this year for a week). After that, she met me at home to pack some stuff up. Over to my parents to open jammies before heading up to the Christmas Eve party at the Shoups. This has long been one of my favorite parts of Christmas. Everyone hanging out, laughing, eating, drinking and just being together. The kids were crazy – in a good way. After the kids finally started slowing down we headed home to bed so Santa could come.

Very Very Quick Sleep.

Christmas morning : Jeff &Cathy and Jordan& Stacie came out first thing. The kids were a bit dopey, but of course spoiled by Nana and Popa Jeff. They only brought a ‘couple’ presents. Trying to see everyone on Christmas is a challenge, thankfully Jeff and Cathy have been able to make the early morning trip out this year to see the kids. Despite the chaos, it works for us.  Thanks again for making the trip out. Next year,  you can sleep in, and dinner will be at your place. Not sure if thats less work for them or not, but either way, I look forward to it

Christmas early day: off to the Shoups! Santas pile has been thrown in the jeep and off to the Shoups we go ! There we met up with just about the whole gang. Everyone files into the basement (including Grandpa!) who walked down the stairs with only a little help… And then the crazy starts. They had a 6`tree which only had about 1-2 feet visble up top. And a 4-5 foot perimter of presents all the way around. No jokes. This is a pile of presents. After a couple hours of frenzied unwrapping, laughing and wrapping paper fights, we finally had everything open. The spoiling continues, for EVERYONE.  Unfortunately the huge amount of gifts ate into breakfast time, so sadly we missed the huge breakfast spread Uncle Shoupie had been prepping. Smelled great. mmm bacon.

Christmas MidDay : quick stop home to unload the jeep, and then onwards to Grandma MaryJane and Popa Dave`s place. J&S met us there as well. The presents continues… Will it ever end? Once again — spoiled. Sadly I had a touch of a headache by this point of the day. Lack of sleep was catching up with me. I know the kids and Shannon enjoyed themselves despite my foggy head. Thankfully we got a round 2 with Dave and MJ on the 27th. More on that later…

Christmas Evening: thats right. Still going…. BACK to the Shoups for a turkey dinner with everyone. Dinner was awesome, as always. Pretty sure I doubled my weight in turkey/stuffing/mashed potatoes. But sooo good. The fun continued on late into the evening. As much as Christmas used to be my less-the-favorite day, I can honestly say, as I get older, and the crazier Christmas day gets with our 3 family marthon, the better it gets. I no longer have just one family, I some how ended up with 3. How can that be a bad thing?

Home. Sleep.

Boxing Day : ROUND 3 😉 Piled up in the Jeep and off to Jeff and Cathys for an AWESOME boxing day dinner. Jeff, once again out did himself.  The food, the presents (ya, he wasnt kidding when he said they only brought a few Christmas morning).. Couple family friends joined us for dinner including Steve and Fallon who went on the wedding cruise last year with us. Was great seeing everyone. Once again, and awesome time was had by all. Pretty sure any weight loss I had since September is out the window. If you have ever had a roast with the Woodalls, you know the taste is worth the tight belt at the end of the night. MMmm mmoooo

As if the Christmas train felt like it should be long done, it carried on to the 27th. Jeff and Cathy bought the kids an extra surprise. Cathy took them, Shannon and Stacie to Disney on Ice. Two very, very excited kids. Really funny to hear the stories when they got home about the charectors falling down, and skating and doing tricks. Abby and Joey had so much fun, it is all I heard about for the next couple days.

27th part deux : Once they got home, and I finished work, we headed back to MJ and Daves for dinner. Was a nice quiet meal for once. Felt almost strange eating without 25-35 people around 🙂 Still was very nice. Been too long since we had a Christmas dinner with Shannons Mom and Dave. Seems like every year something comes up and things get cancelled. Thankfully not this year.

Annnnnd New Years 🙂 This year, the whole family headed to the Armstrongs for dinner. Been a bunch of years since we all went there for a party. It was just as fun and crazy as one would expect. Uncle Buddy and Aunt Kelly (with a lot of help from Erin) did an awesome job. Mmmm ham+potatoes. Not helping my figure much, but made for a great New Years. Sadly my kids were beyond tired, so we ended up heading home around 10:30 to put them to bed. Then Shannon and I spent some quiet time on the couch with the original Fast and Furious until 11:45. Switched onto the dish just in time to totally miss the ball dropping due to picking the wrong channel. *grr*. All in all, it was a great way to spend New Years Eve.

I have to say a huge thank you to everyone who was with me at any point over the holidays. Like I said on a facebook post a week or two ago, it is not the presents or hoopla which surrounds Christmas that is important. It’s the family, and being around those who you love. Thank you very much, and I love you all! And If I cut something short, or missed something, again please forgive me but this post is long and my mind is short. I will have another post next week, but I wanted to keep this one about the holidays..

New Years Resolution: I spent some time lately reading over this website. Its funny that despite it being my life, I had forgetten so many things which I posted up years ago. Because of this, I am going to try and make an extra effort this year to post at LEAST once a month. Hopefully twice. That way, years from now, it can act like a time capsule for the kids to go back and read through Dads crazy blogs about car, kids, life and everything in between. Hopefully they learn something about me they didnt know, or maybe just gets some insight as to how my mind works (or doesnt). Either way, Abby and Joey : Daddy loves you very much, and I cant wait to spend this year and every one after it with you and your Mommy.