You won’t hear a Kladder complain about winter. Between our love of skiing, Jeff working in the snow removal industry, and the kids constantly wishing for snow days, we’re all in—“Bring on the snowflakes!”
We’ve made the most of the season with a few fantastic family ski trips. Over New Year’s, we took a big adventure out west to Steamboat, Colorado, and back here in Michigan, we've enjoyed weekend getaways to both Crystal Mountain and Caberfae Peaks with friends.
What you don’t see in the ski photos—and what’s probably the biggest news in the Kladder household this winter—is Natalie’s baby blue, sparkly cast on her left arm. Just after we returned from our Colorado trip, she fell while playing during recess at school. It was the third time (yes, third!) she’s broken her left arm, each time in a different spot. Her cast came off this week, on Valentine’s Day—“The best gift!” she said.
With Natalie’s broken arm, she had to put a pause on her usual activities, including piano lessons, and unfortunately missed her entire basketball season. However, we were grateful that, despite the setback, she was still able to maintain her mostly normal routine on the ski hill. On the other hand, Thomas has been non-stop, balancing his first season playing basketball with his need for speed down the slopes. It’s actually a bit ironic that the one in our family who keeps breaking bones isn’t the one pushing the limits the most.
We’ve spent a lot of time outdoors, but we've also made room for some indoor fun. In January, Broadway's Moulin Rouge! made its way to Grand Rapids, and we had a blast. It was our first time seeing the show, and we were truly impressed by the talented cast and the energetic dancing. But what really took us by surprise was the music selection! The show is packed with iconic hits from the past few decades, and it was such a treat to hear songs from artists like OutKast, Madonna, Katy Perry, FUN, Elton John, Elvis, and so many more brought to life on stage. We absolutely loved it! Broadway GR celebrated the production all month, including in a fun cocktail party at I Don’t Care, the speakeasy at the Amway Grand Plaza.
Jeff and I had the privilege of attending an intimate event featuring Matt Taibbi, the American author, journalist, and podcaster. He shared insights into his career highlights and his experiences covering—and uncovering—political stories, spanning from the past to the present, and even offering a glimpse of what he predicts for the future. While I was already familiar with Matt through a few podcast interviews, both Jeff and I were captivated by his perspective. His talk was incredibly thought-provoking, though, I’ll admit, some parts flew right over my head. It’s easy to get stuck in the echo chambers of our own content consumption, which is exactly why we value hearing from experts who are not only deeply knowledgeable but also candid and open in sharing their insights.
Last weekend the gymnasium at Grand Rapids Christian Iroquois Elementary was transformed into a hub for energetic K-4th graders ready to boogie! It was a labor of love to plan our kids school Sweetheart Dance alongside my partner in crime Senika Walcott, and provide a night filled with dancing, cotton candy, balloon animals, swag, and treats! Natalie attended the dance with her Dad and I had a blast cruising the grounds making magic happen.
Love was definitely in the air this week with Valentine’s Day celebrations. Both kids handed out candy treats to their classmates during class parties, and even I got in on the fun with a couple of Galentine’s Day events. One of the highlights was Sipping & Shopping at Kathryn Chaplow Collect—my favorite! What’s better than sipping bubbles while browsing beautiful home décor?
The kids are on winter break for an extended weekend, and Jeff and I are already enjoying some quiet time at home with no plans to rush off to. In the weeks ahead, we’re looking forward to more skiing here in Michigan and the trips we’ve already started planning to chase warmer weather this spring. Stay cozy, everyone!
