Having a blast.................

Thursday Tracey called to inform us of yet another fun event.. Seymour hoe down! So with nothing to do, we went and had a fun time. We played games for candy, had a hayride, and enjoyed yummy doughnuts and cider. Very simple, simple is so good sometimes. Then Friday came and Mott had their 7th annual Halloween bash with 2 bounce houses, pizza and doughnuts, face painting, pumpkin painting, and story telling. It was so packed in there that without Jamie there it was very hard to manage both kids' running in different directions. I was glad we went, but it was very hectic. It rained really hard on Friday so I made the decision that Grace couldn't wear her pink poodle costume; I didn't want it to get ruined before her school party and Halloween night, so she was snow white (out of the dress up bin). The wig has seen better days so it was pretty hilarious, but it worked! Saturday we went to Horkey's Michigan game party and that was a nice relaxing time talking with friends and having yummy munchies and really not doing much else, which I always enjoy. I cleaned a rental that day that took me 7 hours so by the time I got there I was wupped. Jamie drove the kids' to Standish to see Grandma off to Florida for the winter. She gave us their upright deep freezer so I'm excited to hit the sales and stock up for the winter. Today (Sunday) we went to Chuck E. Cheese for Sophia's 5th birthday party. The kids ran ragged! They played and played, had great cake, oh it was so moist and good! We always have a great time when we go there. Although Jamie and I were done after about 2 hours; it gets loud. We came home got baths and the kiddies were down before 8pm. Thank God we survived another busy, fun week-end. Now I am anticipating getting my test score back in class tomorrow, which I never look forward to until I see a decent grade. I'm off to bed, it's late and I have an early morning. Thank you to our friends who keep us busy with fun (free for the most part) things to do. We enjoyed it all this week-end!

Scavenger Hunt - Linden

We were invited to partake in a scavenger hunt last Sat. We met in downtown Linden and were broken up into teams (4 to a car). We were intentionally paired with another couple that we didn't know and I was glad. The whole point for us was to meet new fun people and that is exactly what we did. Our partners were Keith and Kara and they have the same age kids' as us so we had alot to talk about, when we weren't trying to solve the puzzles and find really well hidden clues! It was such a great time! I love doing this kind of thing and this group of friends is really very special. My girlfriend Wendy, who has been my beloved friend for the past 26 years has been blessed to find a group of friends that are so fun, loyal to one another, caring and just all around supportive. The husbands are just as great as the girls' are and we always have a great time when we get the opportunity to get together with them. Marcia put this scavenger hunt together in less than two weeks for her friend Kim's birthday. She really out did herself! The clues were all about the 80's. She included a bag of snacks that if eaten you'd find a bonus question lingering in the canister of pringles or in my case the box of reeses's pieces. Kara and I were so excited to find those little pieces of paper and to get to the next spot. I found two clues which gets your heart pounding for more. We were in first place until we got stumped on the mushroom caps. We took an hour to find that one!! I found a dead possum and Jamie actually check it's butt for a clue lol! The one picture Jamie is feeding me slimy jello (while blindfolded) with a gummie eyeball in it. The first clue was at the bottom. That started the crazy reckless driving all over Fenton, Linden, Holly, all back country roads to end up back in Linden at Marcia and Dave's house. They then had the Snapper shuttle bus pick us up and drive us to Dinner: yummy apps, pizza, pop. They gave out prizes and Kim's team won!!! Wendy's team and ours tied. All this for the affordable price of $24 buck a roos! Cheap fun...PRICELESS!!! It was totally rad lol! We'd like to shout out to the Linden crew... Thanks for the great night!!!

Grandparents 68th Wedding Anniversary Dinner

Darn it!! I just realized that mimi and papa (my dad's parents') are not right (their picture that is). Oh well that really describes them.. I mean honestly the couple has been married for a gazillion years! We had a nice dinner at Italia Gardens in Davison and they were very sweet. They fed each other cake for crying out loud. They were all dressed up. Grandma even got her hair did. (as Jamie would say) The food was awesome and some of the older relatives shared stories growing up and visting my grandparents. They live on the lake and their place was happening growing up. I remember boating, picnics, bomb fires, ice skating, the tree house, reading every Dr. Suess book written (now the books are falling apart), every major holiday was spent there. They have a two sided fireplace that was so cozy to sit next to at Christmas time. When I sit next to mine, it reminds me of a simplier time when I was little. We spent alot of time at their house. Now there is another generation running the hallways and my kids' enjoy visiting too although we don't get out to Linden very often. Grace and Grandma Marcia (dad's wife) and Jamie and his Mom enjoying the afternoon. It was a nice time and everyone enjoyed themselves. I wish their wedding photo wasn't lopsided because it really is very beautiful.

Ligon Nature Center

We went to Ligon Nature Center in Clio through the SKIP program. We went with our friends Tracey, Gabrielle, and Gracie lou. The big deal of it all was for Tracey and I, it was a free event, but for Sullivan it was that he got to ride the school bus for the very first time. Needless to say, I thought he did well for a 3 year old who has never seen the inside of a bus before, but he couldn't sit still enough and got yelled at by the bus driver a couple times! In Sulls defense the bus driver was old and crabby (Tracey will vouch for that) It was an awesome day outside. We'd never been there and we'd go back when we have more time. There was face painting which Grace always have to have and Sulls is my great artist. There was so much paint on these pumpkins that they didn't dry for what seemed like a year! The last picture is of Kendall w/ the kids playing out in the camper. They had alot of fun that day too!

What a week-end..

Lets start on Friday, my day off. Nothing to do... no school and no work. AHHH relaxation. The day started with me and my wonderful son hanging around the house watching Little Einsteins which he loves and I never get to curl up with him and just do nothing. Jamie was running errands and Grace was at school. We then went for a walk. It was so nice and sunny. I could see GOD in everything that afternoon. The sun on my face walking hand in hand with my beloved. Sulls is just chattering away about the leaves and the flowers (weeds) and all the nature..ants, bugs and birds. He grabs my hand as we are walking and says, "I love you Mumma" my heart melts and I love him more than when he went to bed last night. The walk was confirmation that I am to be at home with my children, just a little longer. The walk showed me today that I am a mother first. That I have to sacrifice for my wants for the moment. I might not get to go out with friends and do the "fun" things now, but someday I will. I also don't want to clean as much so I'm only keeping two jobs.

Then came Sat. We got up and decided that this was going to be a work day. Get stuff done around the house. Jac lugged all the wood out of our garage and set a pile out by our shed. Cleaned all the traces of the mouse house in the log pile with bleach, that felt good. We then cleaned out the clutter of the garage, hung things on the walls and got things put away that hadn't had a home in awhile. I can park in there now which is great! Then McDonalds and a movie, pulled the hide a bed out and had family time. So Awesome!!! I ended up doing math homework until midnight and then Jamie and I watched Grey's alone, no kids. Great day!

Sunday came and Jac let me sleep in until 9 30, the phone rang. My mother in law calling to let us know that my father in law was going to die today. We got to Grayling in a little over two hours, but we missed him. Mike died at 1:30pm and we got there at 2:oopm. We shouldn't have stopped at the rest area, I shouldn't have taken a shower or had a whole pot of coffee, we would've made it. I saw GOD in the moment that we just missed, like he was almost detaining us. So we didn't have to be there for the worst of it. The screaming and the crying and the misery. After hospice and the funeral director came and removed the body Sullivan asked to see papa. I told him he was gone. He said, "No Mumma he's just sleeping." I'm regretful. I thought they understood. They are too little. Grace may remember, but sulls most likely won't.

Today, Monday, I had my second math test. To tell you the truth I know I bombed it. I wanted to cry right in the middle of the test, I wanted to walk out of class, I wanted to tell everyone who'd listen that I am sad, that my family has suffered great loss. But I didn't. I did the best I could and said alot of prayers to keep me in my seat and to stay in class. It stunk! I wanted to leave so bad, I wanted to run out to my car and scream and cry. Then I got home and I saw the sweetest little faces and heard laughter so loud that it made me snap out of it. We had the honor of Kendall coming over after school today and boy it was great. The kids' had a blast. From playing in the camper, going for a walk, riding scooters, playing in the leaves, having lunch, playing littlest pet shop and letting Sulls tag along. Kendall is a sweet little girl and was a blessing to us today. Thank you Amy for allowing us to have your sweet daughter today. We would love to have her anytime!!! I mean it too.

What have I been doing???

Hey blog friends... I can not believe that I have not posted in a very long while. I merely have not had the time or the inclination to want to sit and write, but tonight I will...Therapy. No pictures just thoughts. I can promise you it won't be too exciting. I have been busy with everything and nothing really. As we speak my red neck husband has found a mouse in our garage and has stabbed it repeatedly with a screw driver!!! I'm very happy as I do not like mice at all and to realize that we have a family of them living in our wood pile close to the entry of our house is enough to send a chill up my spine. I hope they don't live in my camper either, but I am terrified to look, like standing on the chair screaming bloody murder scared yuck!! Jamie is all about getting them all, kinda like Bill Murray on Caddy Shack lol! Kristi, can we borrow Murray for a few???

I had my first test in this stinkin math course and let me tell you I am dieing a slow death already on the third week.... I got a 73% on my test. I am sad, I thought I only got like maybe two wrong..NO 8 wrong. Not good. It is only going to get harder. I saw my tutor yesterday, hopefully that will work out. Stress big time.

I missed book club last night and am very sad about it. I look forward to book club every month and am just really bummed that I decided not to go. probably won't do that again.

I have spent the last couple days staining our kids swing set ( will get picture soon) looks super fresh and new and inviting to play on. That's been on my "To do" list so it felt really good to cross that off.

Last Sat. sold alot of my babies things in a Mom to Mom sale. Feels good to get rid of clutter in my basement. Which leads me to say that I am very excited about our long awaited basement remodel, it is on it's way. It's framed and Jac is working on the electrical, hopefully we'll be able to start insulation this week-end yeah!!! I have my colors and know where everything is going! To excited! With that I'll end........end with good thoughts.

10 years of wedded bliss!

September 11th 1998 at 6pm on a balmy Friday evening in front of our dearest friends and family we became one. It is hard to believe that we've been married for 10 years. I can't really say that we've had our "ups and downs" and that we've "been through it all" because God has graced us literally. Thankfully, we've seen great times and have had alot of fun. Do we argue? yes, do we disagree? yes, Do we get on each other's last nerve? Of course! The things that I thought were adorable about him when we were dating seem to irritate me now. That's normal right; when you've been with someone for 12 years? Things have changed (physically mostly lol), but we've stayed true to ourselves and our marriage. 10 years ago I was blonde, tan and a size 2. Now I'm grey/brown, certainly not a size 2 and suffer from skin cancer lol! Yes things have changed. We laugh alot and we've got a nice life. We have two beautiful children that we are in love with. We are all healthy (for the most part) and we are grateful. Thank you to Jamie for loving me and Thanks be to GOD for sending this awesome man my way!