Christmas 2010

We're eventually enjoying some relaxation time after a hectic few days, so it's time to dig out the laptop and share a few of our Christmas highlights with you.

For most of December we have had lots of snow, which kind of took away the anticipation of a white Christmas, but it was nonetheless very pretty and didn't cause too much disruption. With the snowy weather, we have had some spectacular sunrises, the best of which was Christmas morning. Strangely, I couldn't drag the kids away from their pressies to look out of the window with me!


Christmas Eve is one of my favourite days of the holiday, and we spent the morning dashing around the shops before heading over to Charlotte's sister, Laura's house for the afternoon. This made a lovely change, and it was lovely spending time with this crazy family! All of the stresses of Christmas preparations seemed to be left at the door and we had a smashing afternoon. After an evening of wrapping and general busyness I went to Midnight Mass with Mam and Grandma, which was really lovely. There's something special about spending the first hour of Christmas morning with both of them. I then spent the next 3 hours finishing the wrapping and sorting the kids' pressies ready for them getting up. A lovely chat with my brother just before I headed off to bed started my Christmas just perfectly.
The kids were up 3 hours later, and that was one lie-in I didn't miss - I was as excited as they were. For the first time since they were small there were big boxes for them to unwrap with a keyboard and TV the 'big pressies' for the girls. The kids spoiled me rotten and there were tears when they gave me a lovely handbag, with a ticket for Take That inside!! We had a lovely morning opening presents and having a stream of visitors, with the obligatory Mars Bar sandwich for breakfast! Mam arrived to help with Christmas lunch, and it all went very smoothly. I'll never forget James' face, totally creased up as Grandma joined us in a Christmas toast, raising her glass of....prawn cocktail!! Prawn toast!! haha!!

I think the best part of Christmas Day was our Skype link to Barry in Minnesota, just after lunch. Still in pyjamas, being just after 9am, it was lovely to watch the boys open the presents we had sent for them, and seeing them all almost felt like they were close by, and Grandma was over the moon, though she has no idea how it happened. We even pulled Christmas crackers with them!! He showed us the garden, with the chairs we had lounged on in the summer, buried under the snow!!

Tea at Grandma's and then home to feast on Cadbury's roses and Bailey's rounded off a lovely day. Stevie, the girls and I played with new wii games until the early hours, then collapsed into bed, knowing we had an early start and a busy Boxing Day ahead. James and his football team did the Boxing Day Dip, which was fab fun, despite the freezing cold! A great atmosphere, hundreds turned out, and nice to have some fresh air to start the day!
We then headed off to St James' Park for the match, Stevie's first and around two years since I had been to the footy with James. I was in my element watching the team I love, with James and Stevie either side of me in the stand. We lost, but it was a great game, and brilliant atmosphere.
All in all, a fantastic Christmas so far with family all around, even those who are miles away being a part of it all.
I hope you all had a lovely Christmas too and I wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Much love from Michelle xxx

My favourite place in all the world

My blog feels like it should be shouting 'Hey Hey, over here' like it's a forgotten toy in a child's playroom. I'm reading my brother's blog, on an almost daily basis, and the link to Michmash is on the right hand side, neglected and unloved. I'm sorry blog, it's been too long,it won't happen again!
Well many things have moved me to write lately, but I think I really want to start blogging again with something positive, something that I know makes others happy, something that needs sharing...although it is probably the best kept secret in the USA. When I decided to write about this place, and the fact that it is my favourite place, I felt a little guilty. Shouldn't I be enthusing about somewhere on Tyneside? How can I overlook Penshaw Monument? What about Trow Rocks in South Shields or St James' Park? They are special places indeed, all holding wonderful memories, but somewhere else stole my heart around 14 months ago...Madeline Island, Wisconsin.
I spent four fantastic days there last year, when Barry, Anna and the boys took me as part of my 40th Birthday celebrations, and we had an amazing time. We were joined by their friends, and although the weather wasn't the best, we had lots of fun and stayed in a fabulous hunting lodge, which we shared with many deer heads!
So what is it about Madeline Island that makes it so special? It is an incredibly pretty island, the largest of the Apostle Islands, off the Wisconsin shore of Lake Superior. This year we rented two houses on Chebomnicon Bay, with our own private beach, and a beautiful creek to the side, frequented by visiting deer. We were so lucky with the weather, with hot sunny days allowing us to see the best of this beautiful island. We spent a day cycling around Big Bay State Park, and another kayaking on Lake Superior to visit sea caves. Our evenings were spent outdoors, eating dinner and then roasting marshmallows in our camp fire, for the best s'mores ever!
I dare say there are many locations as stunning as Madeline Island, but with so many brilliant memories from only 6 days spent here over two visits, then it will be tricky to find somewhere else as special. I'd have to begin with the deer. One More Lodge, where we stayed last year, had deer heads on every wall,and after a few drinks, mischief got the better of us, and we rearranged the decorations of the entire cabin until we were happy with the feng shui. During the same visit, Barry, Patrick and I had a close encounter with two young deer at Big Bay, and then this year our house was visited one evening by a deer, to the delight of the kids watching. Our favourite haunts would have to be the very cosy and welcoming Mission Hill Cafe, where we sampled hot cider (with a dash of rum...shhh, don't tell), and the unforgettable Tom's Burned Down Cafe, the liveliest, strangest and most fantastic bar you will ever visit. After a delicious meal at the sophisticated Inn on the Island, we spent a few crazy hours mixing with the locals, with a little dancing for me, thanks to a gentle 'shove' in the right direction from Barry and Anna!!
The contrasts of each visit are staggering. The first time saw us cycling along the trail to the thunderous sounds of the waves of the ice-cold lake hitting the rocks, creating fierce cocktails back at our woodland lodge before settling for a snooze in front of the log fire. On our second trip we swam in the lake,soaked up the sun and sipped wine by the camp fire, watching the moon rise over the bay. Both trips to Madeline Island were filled with fun and laughter,the kids had a ball, and the grown ups enjoyed every magical moment.
I fell in love with the United States within hours of arriving in Minnesota last August, and very quickly assembled a list of places, country-wide, that I wanted to see. I have to say though, that Madeline Island will always have that pull, and I'll always want to go back. We did question a return visit when planning this year's road trip...would it be as good as the first time? Well it was, it was different, and I guess every visit to MadIsland, as we now call it, will be. I would love to see it in the Fall, and to cross the Ice Road to see it during winter. For a first trip abroad for Stevie and I, I couldn't wish for a more romantic location,I'm so glad he finally saw what I had spent the last year raving about. I think what makes me happiest is that we took Devon and Robyn with us, and they too loved the place, and it's not easy to impress 12 and 15 year olds! The island has since inspired Robyn's writing in English and I dare say will feature in Devon's art work at some point.
So there you have it, a description from me of my favourite place in all the world - Madeline Island. I don't think mere words could do it justice. Photographs help, but a smile at a Madeline memory is all it takes to remind me of just how special this beautiful island will always be.