Monster Jam

The last couple of years, in lieu of buying so many "gifts", we have purchased tickets to an event as part of Trent's Christmas present...2012 was no exception!

Friday night we able to take him to Monster Jam at the Van Andel Arena

Section 208 is "our section"... every time we have gone to event we get seats in the 208 section....its in the upper level but right on the edge and usually right at the finish line!

Trent

Some of the best parts of the show is the in between "show"....

this is a jet quad...as Steve would call it "a jet engine with 4 wheels attached to it".

....and let me tell you  you could feel that heat in section 208!

They stated that it goes 204 miles per hour..not in there of course...lol!

What boy wouldn't like that???

I wish would have gotten a picture of the transformers that had a "fight"....but I was getting treats!

and for the record they have a freestyle competition...they "claimed" Grave digger won but no way!  

I am no Monster Truck judge but even my eye could see that he didn't win! 

The hands down winner was Grinder, from the perspective of the people in Section 208!

spending an evening with your kids..Priceless!

HFG!

Our Home Fellowship Group has made a tradition out of  going out to dinner in 

February for Valentines Day.  This year was no exception! 

We decided to try out the Riverstop Cafe in Newaygo this year!

Here we are enjoying the food and fellowship....

Back at the Wilson's we were ready to play "Minute to Win it" games...as you might remember, last year we did "Dancing with the Stars"

Steve is unloading a box Kleenex....

Jerry trying to beat Steve's time

Aaron

Maria trying to win...her "date" Eddie is cheering her on!

Scott making the tissues fly....

Kelly

Kelly stacking apples

Daren blowing bubbles trying to get one to go through the hula hoop

Leslie trying to get a card to stay in the bowl

Aaron trying the card game

Eddie was all tuckered out 

Fun times, Good Memories!

Happy Anniversary!

On February 14th, Neil & Bonnie celebrated their 

50th Wedding Anniversary

....that's right 50!!

What and accomplishment!..especially in this day and age when ..."when the going gets tough, the tough get going" and "50% of marriages end in divorce!"  To make it 50 years together is something to celebrate!  Congrats Neil & Bonnie!

We celebrated, as a family, with dinner at Olive Garden on Saturday the 16th.

....and we were all able to attend....that's an amazing feat too!

Olive Garden was great and helped us have a great celebration!

We were even able to bring in a cake

the whole family..all 18 of us!

AND because we couldn't get enough of each other, we met up after church on Sunday to celebrate Nic's 15th birthday!  

Lets play a little game....can you pick out the 3 Buckner Boys?....

a fun week-end!

sorry it got posted sooo late!

Trent's Life!!!

On February 6..Trent turned a 11 years young!

We got him UNO attack, a Xbox game and a Nerf gun!

We had a bowling party for him the day after his real birthday....and lets just say it was blizzarding out...like really snowing!  Steve, the fearless 4x4 driver, said "snow wasn't going to be a problem!"  We got about 12"!

We went to Westgate and bowled 1 1/2 games!

Noah, Dolan, Trent, Abel, Carson & Brendan

we were all a bit "rusty"!!! 

Troy & G-pa were tied for a brief moment!

opening presents!

looking over his coin books!

Oh Trent!

Then we went to McDonalds for dinner!

The adults choose a booth away from the boys!

Then the last (tear tear) Valentines Day Party

passing out Valentines!

Then we were able to go on a field trip to the GR Symphony

& Ford Museum

Trent at the "Cabinet Table'

I was chaperoning a group of girls....

Delany, Elizabeth, Breeana & Nicole

viewing the Oval Office

Dolan & Trent getting ready for the Symphony to begin

They were lulling us to sleep...the girls were all starting to nod off...it was so relaxing!

fun experience!

Basketball....

Instead of doing the Upward Basketball program, Trent decided to play on a traveling KC team.

Here they are in action!

(side note...do you know how hard it is to get a GOOD picture of basketball players?....they keep running out of my picture ...lol!!)

THANK YOU Coach Derek and Coach Gus!

the team!

as of now, they are undefeated!

New Years Eve & Memories...

Moving right along....

Every year, during the holidays, we go to a hotel with Steve's immediate and extended family.

This year we went back to the faithful Ramada in Grayling!

We always incorporate FFF...Forced Family Fun night!

We played Take it All...it's a TV show with Howie Mandel hosting.

Here are the contestants.....

Wes opened a pair of Elf boxers

Jordan & Tyler

Florin & Trent

Uncle Jim & Craig

Darica & Alisha

Then there was the Euchre!

I think Jim & Wes liked their hand!!

....And Golf was fun

Look who won the Euchre Tourney!!

Joanne took Gold (peanut brittle..the only thing we could find "gold-ish")

Jim took Silver (cookie tin lid)

Tyler took Bronze and Jordan took last!

Watching the ball drop in Jim & Renee's room

We took over the restaurant the next morning

(sorry this is kind of blurry)

Starting out the New Year all together...

We have had lots of fun getting together each year . 

We have soooo many fun memories of these trips!

I looked back over some of the pictures ...Here's what I found!

during a talent show..guzzling water!

kids in the pool! 

a little friendly competition!

nothing says "I love you" like arm wrestling! 

and who wouldn't let the kids box? (maybe not the best idea) 

this is what you see the next morning after "boxing"

Grandparents & Grand kids spending time together!! 

Playing games together! 

...and cuteness!!!

Man circle 

FFF night!

playing in the pool! 

cards by the pool! 

We have had some fun years together!!! A personal thank you for all that have participated over the years and made such fond memories for me and my family!