Stacy, Brad, Leva and Geert stayed overnight so we had lots of time to play. Leva loved putting the M & Ms on the gingerbread men. Geert had a cold but still kept people happy with his big smile. Helen and Leva had to have a horse race before the Fischers headed back to Columbus!
Helen’s Christmas brunch was excellent! Heather, Peter and I walked the dogs while the kids slept and then Heather and Stacy challenged Peter and me to a game of euchre. Chad and Liz arrived at three and impressed everyone with their engagement ring. Presents were then opened followed by an outstanding prime rib dinner.
It’s Christmas Eve and Chad popped the question this evening to Liz Maloney – see the picture of the IPod he gave her for Christmas. They then joined Kate, Helen and me for Cheese Fondue and strip steak in front of the fireplace. Afterward, we all went to 10pm mass at St Raphael church.
Helen and I were in the lounge at 7:30am, Peter and Heather joined us shortly and then we waited about a half hour for Kate to hike down and see Lake James and then take Trail 3 out through the Nature Preserve to Hell’s Point and back (about 2.5 miles). We called Stacy and Chad at 9am (woke them up!) and they then joined us for the buffet brunch – with Santa!
It was a 3.5 hour drive to northeast Indiana and Pokagon State Park. Helen, Chad and I arrived first and immediately rented a toboggan and did the quarter mile refrigerated run. Peter and Heather were at the bottom to meet us. We hiked back up and I did a video of the four of them flying down the track. Stacy and Kate arrived shortly thereafter and we rented a second toboggan and continued doing the slide. The four guys hit the top speed of 38 mph. It was in the low 30s and snowing when we arrived but by the time we returned the sleds it was starting to drizzle and getting slushy.
Stacy, Kate and Chad were in a cabin while Peter & Heather and Helen & I had rooms in the Potawatomi Inn (Lodge). Our room served as the hospitality suite for drinks and then we had a delicious buffet dinner in the dining room. Afterward, we all played Texas Hold Em in the lounge (fireplace and decorated for Christmas) until Stacy, Heather, Kate and Chad lost all their chips. Yahtzee games followed until we went to bed at 11:30.
The Martin's Blog 