Tractor Pull for Kids

This is how she started out for the 3-4 age group tractor pull. She didn't have any added weight, just the trailer.

This is how she ended the tractor pull, too embarrassed to really go any further.

Five and Seven meant all business.

Five tied for first and had to go a second time.

First time he pulled 75 lbs.

Second time he pulled 150 lbs and won.

Seven pulled 350 lbs from the start and won.

We had proud boys leaving the tractor pull.

It was the second event we participated in at the Bologna Festival.

We sent pictures to G & G and the dad.

Our day started out rocky, but ended great.

We ate supper at the bologna tent with the fam.

The parade was great, but long.

We came home with a bucket of candy.

We left just in time to get out of town before it got crazy with people flooding the streets.
We were home right after N from work.

Now if I can get us all up and to church tomorrow, our weekend will be complete.

Keystone Cops

Hard to believe, but they do make the king wear the ring bologna on his head. Cousin Rthie informed me it is a volunteered position.



Today we attended the Yale Bologna Festival. Yale is the Michigan city N's grandparents lived in. His aunt and uncle still live there today and own the local hardware store. We have visited them on a number of occasions. Last year was our first Bologna Festival. I am thrilled we have begun to make this a ritual to our summer. There are many events throughout the weekend. The first we participated in was the Keystone Cops water fight. These cops are locals who created the Keystone group for Bologna Festival. I am not certain if there is more history behind them, but they do put on a good show. Seven and Five went out and got wet, but Three hid under a sale table in front of the store. She was afraid. There were sirens and water everywhere. She was intimidated and didn't participate. A Keystone Cop lady saw us on the side and handed her a icee halfway through the water fight. It was great fun on a hot day.

Moments with little girls

Is it a compliment when your daughter is thrilled to have on her robe and a towel on her head to be like you? Sweetness.

Having it together

You can plan and have everything ready to go. No matter how much you have figured out, in the end surprises can sneak up on you. N had the late shift last night. He was slightly fired up when he got home and was not ready to go to bed right away. I had waited up for him, but could not stay up any longer. My plan was to get up with the troops and take them to Yale, MI to the Bologna Festival. We went last year and had a great time. Nathans aunt, uncle and cousins live in Yale. It's where Great Grandma B used to live.

As tired as I was, I still was up before 8am. No one wanted cereal, eggs were on their mind. Made everyone an egg sandwich, cleaned up the kitchen, showered and we were ready to go. We would have been out the door by 9:15 am if it weren't for the car battery.

It is now 10:18. N is off to get us a new battery. The water gun fight doesn't start until 2:30, followed by the tractor pull at 4 and the parade at 6:30. We will see how this battery progress goes. I am not daring enough to go with the battery we have. Call me a wimp, but Flint makes me nervous. There are shady characters everywhere, but we've experienced some at a gas station along the way to the cousins. It seems its best to just stay on the freeway and not stop in the Flint area.

We will see what the rest of our day holds.

Claire Elizabeth -- first two weeks

Click here to view these pictures larger

Puppet Theater

We finally completed the puppet theater project. I may have to add a skirt to the bottom, but for now it is done. I was really happy with the results. We have so many puppets. The kids were hardly using them and we received more for Christmas. I wanted to put them to good use. Now, we have no excuses.

I have been suffering with migraines all week. Today was the first day of imporvement. The migraines result in my skipping the workout. I have missed three days. I was on a role to accomplish my goal of 5o miles. I will be short a few.

Tomorrow is Bologna Festival in Yale, MI. We plan to leave in the morning and spend the day. I only hope to get good sleep and feel well rested tomorrow. N has to work. We will be off on this adventure alone. The kids are excited to see their newest cousin. We will have great pictures to post after tomorrow. They close off the street in front of Aunt M and Uncle J's store and have the biggest water fight ever. The kids have so much fun. Everyone gets soaked and then they hand out Popsicles.

Migraines

I have had migraines for too many days now. I need to get my sleep schedule back on track. It can be so frustrating. I have brought Five to his reading class every day for the last two weeks. It was kind of nice to let N make both trips today, drop off and pick-up. He is so great.

Starting a list for our trip. Less than a week and we leave. Still feeling guilty about Five missing the last two days of his reading class.
A surprise visit from the FIL today, he should be here in less than an hour. He wants to take us out to eat. All you can eat walleye at the pub. We promised the kids Kung Fu Panda 2 this afternoon. Hopefully we can do both!

Mom movie night

A friend had moms over to her house last night. I wanted to try and host sometime this summer, but the days just disappeared. N got called in to work and I just decided to have it tonight!

Not sure moms are free, I know at least one will come. She still needs to pick a name for my blog. I was at her house last night. It was great. Nothing like visiting with other women to get you in a good mood. I hope some can make it tonight, if not, no big deal. Maybe we can try it in September with more notice.

Good things come to those who wait

It's an old saying, we all use it. Who knows where the original source is, but it describes patience. I have been waiting to purchase some new bins for our house. They are so very over priced and I try to wait until I have a coupon. Some time ago, I got two brown bins. I really wanted red, but they did not have bins in red. I settled for two brown bins and came home. Just last week, I made a trip back to the store with Three. We came upon a red bin. A perfect bin. Large enough to fit many items, tall enough to use the entire space on the shelf, sturdy enough to be large, strong and not collapse. I was so thrilled with this red bin, but unhappy that I could only find one. We made another trip around the store and found another bin! This was great, but the price, not so much. $12.99 for one bin. Red was my original plan. They had some spots inside, nothing serious, could be wiped out and dusted. I asked at the counter if they had anymore. She said no, but she could give me an extra 10% off. That was fine with me. When she rang them up, turns out they were half off! In the end, I got the exact bins I wanted at half the price. I am convinced I need to stay patient and will get more bins again in the future. I would like to find two more red bins for the top of this shelf. I have two shelves in the living room where I can put four brown bins. Three got a new shelf in her room, we need three cube bins in there. I shall continue to have patience and wait for the right time to bring home the bins.

Bonus: I found this plate that day too. I wanted to bring more red in the kitchen. We can't paint any walls, leaving everything white. I try to bring out color one piece at a time. Love the new plate as well. It was a great shopping trip with Three.

Up before 6am, not my idea of a good time.

N has the early shift today meaning he is awake extra early. Thanks to him feeling the need to set 5 alarms, here am I, awake extra early.

I was dreaming about fish. Our trip to Rogers City a few weeks ago apparently left an impression on me. The water was so clear. The marina was like an aquarium. I wish we could swim with a snorkel. Then came the desire to be in FL or Hawaii. I am amazed at how many clear lakes there are in MI. If it weren't for the cooler temps, some beaches could pass for FL. MI is full of sand and limestone. The lakes with the limestone give off a blue/green appearance. I am finding myself wanting to explore more of MI. The Pictured Rocks state park intrigues me. It is on our way to MN. Who knows if we could stop there during our journey. This journey will be here before I know it. I have a week. I've started to gather things to bring. I have two garbage bags of baby things for my sister. I am still surprised at all the baby things I have. I thought we had parted with so much. Now it's safe to say we have. I think there are two totes with things no one else would want, or early stuff I decided to keep. First outfits and afghans.

I am back on my workout schedule. N and I discussed it. I was discouraged from not getting on the elliptical for so long. One talk with him and I back on track. 10 days until we leave, he said we should do 50 miles. I said, okay, I'll try. Got 5 in yesterday. Hope to stick with it.

Five has been participating in a reading program at school. At first, I wasn't sure it was the best idea. Lupcke shared this idea. Putting a kindergartner in a summer reading program might only frustrate him more. He can read just fine. The reading teacher was focused on speed. He does it, in his own time. No stutter, etc. In the end, I am thankful for him attending the program. I have to say, kindergarten did wonders for Five and his behavior. Well, the last two weeks were a challenge. He started to return to some of his old ways. Bad habits I rather he forget. Whining, screaming, etc. The reading class put him back in his place. He walked in the school, seeming to have stepped into his old school shoes. I saw a change in his behavior for the better. While he still doesn't want to go to the class, I think part of him realizes he is special in going. Seven asked why he can't go, some of his classmates are there too. I have tried to have exciting things on the agenda, but not until after the class time. Last week, we swam at R's pool, went to see Cars 2, and I can't even remember what else we did. This week, I had no plans. It all has come together though. Yesterday, we went to Daisy's and ran through their crazy sprinkler. Today, I will let them paint. They painted over the weekend and had a great time. Tomorrow, we are going to try the out door pool. We went once last year. During his class, Seven, Three and I went to the store and got items for a picnic. We'll take the cooler and eat at the park after swimming. Thursday we will go see Kung Fu Panda 2 at the cheap theater. They have all $2.50 seats on Thursday nights. Three is free!

More discouragement came yesterday when I learned Fives reading class goes into the following week. I thought it was over this week, making the program only two weeks long. It's three. We are supposed to leave for MN on Wed am or even Tues pm. If we drive straight through in one day, AM is best. PM means a hotel. The incentive to attend class every day is to have your name put in for a drawing. They will give away 4 I pads on the last day. You have to attend every class to qualify. I think most kids have been there every day. Five knows about this. He realizes he might not get one. The kids have used the I pads during class. How do I take away his chances in the end? It does sound silly though, to hold off on vacation due to the chance of winning. Five has worked hard at going and has even had some homework. I've worked hard at scheduling and getting him there. Motivation is hard to come by, talking him into things is even more difficult at times. If we stay, we could leave at 10:30 am on Thursday. This is not an early start. What if we stay and he doesn't win? Lame, late send off.

The other dilemma I face is whether or not to spend the rest of our summer in MN. I am leaning towards yes. N has given his approval. We would be away from him for 16 days. He would not be with Five when he has his birthday. As selfish as it is, I think we will stay. We can't get quality time with the family in MN unless we do. There is not another time in the year where this is possible. We only get to see MN family at Christmas or if we are lucky, spring break. It's hard and seems unfair. We make the most of it, work with the time we are blessed with.

It can be difficult, squeezing in seeing everyone in a week. This will give us more time, but take up the rest of our summer. The kids are excited and ok with the idea. They love G & G's house.

When we get back, we will celebrate Five and Three's birthdays. I'll hold off on a party until then. G & G will bring us back to MI. It will be great and we are all very excited. We've even managed to get some extra beds set up. Two adults can sleep comfortably in Three's room. When G & G come, one sleeps in the boy room, one in the girl room. This was started and is important to Three. She really counts on sharing the girl room with my mom. She has been referring to G as "your mom." Just trying to figure it all out I guess. Well, I hear someone stirring. It's still early for them to be awake. Too early for me. It's movie night for moms at a friends house tonight. Might be late. Maybe I'll get a nap today. Yeah right, keep dreaming. I never get naps.

Who wants to be the dog?

When we were little, my siblings and I used to play with family friends. We would play house and K always wanted to be the dog. This was a joke among the adults. I did not learn about it until many years later. Today while working on a project, I observed my children playing house together. This was slightly different from the house of my childhood. The kids were using dolls to Three's doll house. I believe Thomas trains were also in the mix. Five begged to be the dog. They tried talking him into being a baby. He responded with "I am always the baby, can't I be the dog?" Seven "Then you can't talk." Five "Remember, you can put a talking collar on me!" They all agreed. Next, there was a squabble over the car. It's pink and belongs to Three. Five worked his little negotiation skills and got to drive her around. Later, she did take the car from him, but it was all peaceful in the end. No fighting, no crying, no whining. Just great play time together.

Getting ready for bed, Three came into the room to inform me "Mom, I have pants on." Approved night time wear, she then held her hands down on part of her shirt and pants and says "These go together." She is all ready for bedtime. Movie in and they will be to bed shortly after. Bonus, its a short movie too!

Texas memories

We had a great day, until we headed off to church. Five had trouble with the transition and his bad attitude carried over to mass. Three caused some trouble too. We didn't even make it through the homily. I know Fr. B said something about us as we walked out, but I could not hear due to the screaming child I was carrying. I don't know what got into them. We have not had a time like that in awhile. Alas, the troublesome children are in bed early. Seven is up playing Thomas on the computer.

Tonight, when I thought I wouldn't make it until bedtime, I came upon a mysterious tape. Here it was a video of when Five was a year old, Seven two years old. It was from a trip to MN, then on to visit the cousins. They had just moved into their Extreme Makeover house. Cousin Six was also a baby like Five. It made the rest of our night so pleasant. We watched the video for a half hour. They were mesmerized. We saw all of my family and each of the cousins. They loved to watch how they played. We also saw clips from our house in TX. Five learning to talk was a highlight. Seven had the sweetest little voice. I loved all his words. We watched them destroy a playroom in seconds. We walked around the block and saw our old neighborhood. Seven wants to move back there. Five said no because it doesn't snow.

It was all good until time for the troublesome two to go to bed. Five just came in trying to cause trouble. It's hard when one gets to stay up. He's playing the "I want daddy card." Better get him in his bed before Three is out too.

My dream puppet theater?

In the spirit of having nothing to do today, I put in a request to build a puppet theater. I am so lucky N puts up with my ideas. I wanted to work with the materials we had in the garage. By the time we got the project going, he only had 2 hrs until he had to be to work. Still, even without a shower or lunch, he built it for me. (He did have time for those things after.) I painted it purple and green. I plan to use other colors and put some details on it next. I will then search through my fabric for some curtains. It is a work in progress, hope to get it all finished by the end of the weekend.

My next project idea, trundles for under the bed for the legos!

Praying for friends

A family in TX lost a dear loved one this week. I never met him, nor did I get to know the mother until I had moved away. The grandmother, Amaryllis, was a big part of our life in TX. She was a great friend to me. Amaryllis rescued me many times. It is hot in TX. It is hot to be pregnant in the summer in TX. I would make it to the corner of our street and she'd take us in her cool, air conditioned house. Her daughters spent so much time with us. The boys loved them. her oldest daughter had already moved away and was a newlywed when I lived in the neighborhood. I wish I would have been able to spend more time with Aster, I think we would have been great friends. We are friends now, but all communication is online. She has experienced life unlike most with her first child. She inspired me in so many ways. Her strength was amazing. She is a true testimony to Gods work. I know Amaryllis is so proud of the mother Aster has become. Aster posted a picture on her blog of her, her husband and their sweet boy E. It was titled "God Speed My Little Man!" I can't imagine what their house has been like the past few weeks. My heart goes out to them. I hope you will read this and remember their family in your prayers tonight.

"Reclaiming my love for reading."

A MN friend, Gardenia, recently wrote a blog entry about "reclaiming my love for reading." It was a great piece where she shared her past and present, all based around books. Her faith and courage were strong and admirable.

I too have returned to reading. I never thought I had time for reading, especially an entire book. Daffodil gave me a book for Christmas. It took me until April to open it up. I started it on the way home from Aunt Sunflowers house one rainy afternoon. I finished the entire book that very same day. I was hooked. I still had birthday money that was a bust on treasures from the Walleye festival. I found myself at Target searching for more of the same inspirational authors books. In the end, I collected all five of her books. I have since passed along my collection to others. They too, did not think they had time to read. Daffodil has brought me large bags of books during my visits to MN. She's like my own personal library. Between her and her mother, I have read more books in the last year than I could have ever imagined! I also discovered goodread.com. It's a website where you can keep track of the books you've read. The beautiful thing about it is you can also see what your friends are reading. They post their ideas and comments about the book. It gives you an idea if you would maybe enjoy the book, with a personal twist due to receiving a direct opinion/guidance from your friend. You cal also read about the authors and see all their books which they have published. Some even have videos with the author discussing the book.

So many people are switching from reading books to reading pads or tablets. I am still unsure of this transition. While I am sure it is convenient and easy, I can't get past the price. Perhaps my views are different since I have Daffodil supplying me with reading material. Although, I have squired quite a collection of my own in the last year. I discovered how affordable books can be at Goodwill and Salvation Army. It's like a treasure hunt. I go and seek out authors I know or recognize. I most recently found a hard cover book I have been waiting for throughout the last year. There are three books to the series. I found the first two at SA for $.35. I just could not bring myself to pay full price for the third book brand new after finding the other two so cheaply. On Tuesday, I found the book. It was still more than I wanted to spend, but couldn't pass it up. I spend $3 on the hard cover version. I also have a large collection by another author whom I have enjoyed. Her books are very serious and dramatic. Sometimes I find it a little much. I discovered her books through Daffodil. I found 6 of them at the Walleye festival, all less than $1.

With the feel of searching for treasure, I fear it will be awhile before I switch over to a tablet to read. First you have the cost of the tablet, then to buy the books online seems high priced. It has to be compared to the way I am buying books. As long as I am able and continue to discover good finds, I think I'll stick with the paper copy.

Cars 2

Cars has been a big part of our children's growing up. Our first Cars cake was Seven's second birthday. When Three was born, we discovered the boys in the game room. All the McQueen cars were lined up and they each had a HEBuddy cracker in front of them. Everyone needed a snack.

Today we took them to see Cars 2. We were very eager and excited. While the backgrounds were really neat, I was surprised by all the guns and shooting. I was not expecting that. I think it took a little away from it. The kids loved it. The pictures were amazing. The boys want it for Christmas. Three was dancing to the music. There was only a couple in the back, otherwise we had the theater to ourselves. Love the matinee prices! It was a great summer day.

Lovies

Ok, we made too many lovies and need to get some off our hands. If you want one or five, let me know. They are $5 each or 3 for $12. We have many colors to choose from. They are all made with flannel, ribbons and love! They make great baby gifts and have been enjoyed by all who have received them.

"Will you let me be your servant?"

Brother, let me be your servant. Let me be as Christ to you. Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant too.

Words to live by. We struggle to serve others. Fr. B has inspired me in many ways in a short time. With mention of the Servant song in the beginning, and followed by a homily on weeds, the thoughts and ideas came forth.

We struggle to serve God and others. It's hard not to get caught up in life and forget where the foundation came from. I then realize this and take a step back to see what is before me. I when my focus shifts to the material things. I admit, this has happened lately. With receiving insurance money from our flood, we were in the stores buying new things. Carpets/rugs for the basement started the process off and wouldn't you know it, I was then searching for a new couch, etc. other things I've wanted for a long time. It seemed the desire for new things grew and grew. There isn't anything wrong with wanting new things, but sometimes I struggle with finding the patience needed for such large purchases. At times like this, I need to Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant to. Like I said, re-shift my focus and be content with the things I have. This is not necessarily what the song is about, but is the direction my thoughts have taken me.

We are pilgrims on a journey, we are brothers on the road. We are here to help each other, walk the mile and bear the load.

A friend and I were discussing raising children and how "it takes a village." I thought of the Servant song. How the pilgrims on the journey with me are the other parents I've gotten to know. Here we are, trying to raise these soon to be second, first graders and preschoolers. It is a period in our lives where we are walking along the same path. I am thrilled to share my faith with some of these families. Never before have I had this in common with so many new friends. Last night, N and I were supposed to go out alone, no children. These nights are rare, do not happen very often. I admit, I was greatly disappointed when he was too tired to go. I went alone. It was ok, nice to have some time, but I would have enjoyed it with him. I did receive a message from Daisy that made my night. She is such a sweet, caring person. I treasure our friendship. She reminds me of a friend from the past: strong, supportive, accommodating and encouraging.

Zinnia was able to join me later and we found some new ideas for our projects.

All these flowers are pilgrims in the village, on the journey to raise a happy, healthy family.

I will weep when you are weeping. When you laugh, I'll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow, till we've seen this journey through.

This part makes me think of my friends. We've been in so many locations. Each time I have made connections with people, all in different ways. Sometimes a new friend will remind me of an old friend. Many have cried with me, shared the good times and the bad. They all stick with me until we move, till we've seen this journey through. These people were my foundation, aiding me in so many monumental events. From the beginning of our marriage--putting on a wedding, to the birth of our children. We couldn't have gotten through some of those times without help. I think back to Isaac's birth. We didn't know what to do with Seven. He was only 16 months old. It was challenging to pick a delivery date and have relatives fly in to care for him. We were new to our neighborhood. Thankfully, by the time August arrived, we had developed wonderful relationships and found trustworthy neighbors to care for him while we brought his brother into the world. This also happened when it was time to have Three. By that time, the entire neighborhood came together to help us. They took shifts with the boys. It was a time I will never forget. I am not sure they realize the effect they had on me. I wish I was in touch with them more now. I wish they could see Three. She was only a few months old when we left there. They haven't been able to see her in person, in action. I tried to write about these people in the children's baby books. I want them to know how special these people were. We are here to help each other, walk the mile and bare the load.I will share your joy and sorrow, till we've seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony. Born of all we've known together, of Christs love and agony.

It's about togetherness, supporting each other in our faith. We need each other, not only for the schedule and daily tasks. We also serve as a reminder to each other that the Lord is here to see us through it all, regardless the task at hand. We can remind each other of Christs love and agony. All he did for us when he died on the cross.

Brother let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you. Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant too.

In the end, its about strength. Pray to serve each other and the Lord.

My time is up, moving on to the next thing. I hope you enjoyed this entry.

Montag

Monday, Monday. Most people dislike Monday. I have to say, I think it has grown on me.

Today I will get my haircut. I am still unsure how I will cut it. I have grown it out, it's been awhile since I saw Lavender. I have not had my hair this long since we were first married. That's ten years ago! What to do, get a short bob or keep the length and see where it takes me. We will see what kind of ideas Lavender has.

We have a play date with Ivy today. The kids are really excited. We haven't seen them since soccer. Someone is mowing a lawn outside. I should do that today.

Zinnia and I have been on top of our card making. I am so excited to make more, but she is going on vacation for 10 days. I thought about trying to make some myself while she is gone, but I know it won't turn out as well. There's just something about the rhythm once we get the creativity flowing. I am eager to post more card pictures. Hope to get a nice collection done before the MN trip.

All is well with the sweet new baby. My mother traveled there yesterday on her birthday. She gets to stay for a week. The next two weeks, I hope they go quickly. I can't wait to see our new niece. We will visit another new baby before that. The kids are thrilled to have a new cousin. His big brother shares his birthday with Five. He will be two this year and already a big brother. The kids can't wait to see him. MattMan! He's such a funny guy.

N and I are going shopping tonight. I am not sure what we will find. We get some things to turn into the insurance company. I think I want to exchange my new phone. It doesn't hold the charge. The battery is constantly missing a bar or two. It also wiggles slightly. Not sure I care for the slide out keyboard. Between a visit for the phone and a few groceries, I don't know how much time we will have. Oh well. We will take what we can get.

Blumen

Today, I watched Zinnia's kids, got a call from Daisy and will have a play date with Ivy tomorrow. Should be a busy week. The summer heat is definitely here. It was hot today and we managed to stay cool. I kept them busy and every meal was able to be served outside. I am so thankful for Mr. C's picnic table. I don't know what I would do without it. Clean up after meal time is much easier.

There are still so many stories I want to blog about, but just don't have the time.

Five is driving me crazy. He threw the biggest fit of all time. I have taken away the bike, Legos and Nerf guns. I have also discussed him losing swimming privileges upon our next trip to the pool. It is bedtime and he is causing trouble. I am losing my patience. He has been talking back and screaming too. I don't know what has gotten into him. It's just been the last two weeks. Too much fun possibly? Not enough sleep? They stay up later than normal and still manage to get up early. I am starting to think the beginning of school is looking better and better.

Blumen

Today, I watched Zinnia's kids, got a call from Daisy and will have a play date with Ivy tomorrow. There are still so many stories I want to blog about, but just don't have the time.

Five is driving me crazy. He threw the biggest fit of all time. I have taken away the bike, Legos and Nerf guns. I have also discussed him losing swimming privileges upon our next trip to the pool. It is bedtime and he is causing trouble. I am losing my patience.

Sunday

Deadlines and lists seem to fill my days. The lists are driving me crazy because they are all in my head, not on paper. I have to write these things down to clear my mind. Today, I will deliver a letter for a friend. I will watch children for a friend. I will entertain 6 kids. I will feed my husband before he goes to work. I will pick up the chaos as it comes and sweep out the negative. Today, I will enjoy.

It's my mothers birthday. I wish we could be together. Since we are not, I hope to fill my day with distraction. 6 kids should be enough distraction, right? It should be a great day, but I need to get moving.

Testing 1 2 3

My other posts weren't going through. Here is a test post.

Another fine weekend in MI

Last night we returned from a weekend up north in MI. We were invited to camp at the Canada Creek Ranch. It's a private lake where Uncle P's parents live. We had a great camp site, right next to the playground. It was close enough to watch them play, but not too close to be bothered by noise. Our first night we enjoyed a great meal at Mr. J and Miss D's house. We were settled into our campsite and had a fire. The next day we ventured to the waterfall we visited last year. It was closed for repairs. We made the best of it and headed to Rogers City, MI. The town is right on Lake Huron. We love Lake Huron. So far, it's my favorite great lake. We had a picnic lunch and the kids played. There was a nice marina with really clear water. N caught a pike. Everyone was excited. You could see fish swimming around. There were many no fishing zones. That seemed to be where all the fish were. We enjoyed an ice cream cone and headed back for more adventures.

Uncle P took us to a spot on the river where it was real shallow. The river flowed with a pretty good current, but not too fast for the kids. We swam at that location for a few hours. Everyone was happy. It was hot, but not too hot.

Uncle P blew up these giant rafts the next day. He rowed us out into the middle of the lake. We sat on the rafts, jumped off and swam in the water. We did this for the entire afternoon. The kids did great. The rafts had a net area in the middle that had water in it. They could sit in there, still be in the water and yet, still be on the raft. They all wore their lifejackets. We had a kids raft and adult raft to start out. The water was like bath water. It was really nice.

We came home that night. It was a long day. I have the laundry almost done. N went back to work. No plans for the evening, just stay home and recover. Great times, so thankful for such wonderful people.

Birthday Dates

My sister just had a baby yesterday. We shared phone calls and pictures celebrating the birth of her little girl. This was done when each of my children were born too. She has a friend that we both swam with in high school. KN and I share the same first name. She was always a good friend to J.

When Seven was born, he just so happened to share his birthday with KN. Funny thing happened when Five came around, he was born on her mothers birthday. We all joked when I was pregnant with Three. KN has a brother, but his birthday was two months before my due date. There was no way to make that day. Same thing with my sister, she wouldn't make it on KN's brothers birthday. Yesterday, when my sister talked to KN, it was discovered that J's baby was born on KN's dads birthday! Crazy. Our families seem to be connected somehow. We will see, maybe KN will have a baby on one of our family members birthdays.

Another camping adventure

Tomorrow after work we are off to another camping adventure. This time will will join Aunt Lilac and Uncle PJ. His parents live up north and there is a camp ground in their housing development. We will stay at the campground. It's only $10 a night. The kids are super excited. Uncle PJ talked about going tubing! They also have 12 ft rafts that they row out and anchor in the middle of the lake, then jump off. I have my Oriental Coleslaw ready! We just need a few things from the store to get us out the door. I made a lasagna to bring and have at his parents house. We will stay for three days. The development in on a lake and near the water fall we went to last year. We plan to go back to the water fall. The kids are really excited about that too. Should be a great getaway. I'll have lots to post when we return. I still have posts to catch up on from the cousins visit. I wrote down some of their comments. They were too cute. I love listening to the advice Seven and Five share with Cousin Five and Cousin Six. HILARIOUS!

Carpet

Have to mention N came to the rescue with carpet before the cousins arrival. We decided to get rugs instead of a carpet remnant. This way we can roll them up when the rain comes. We can take them with us when we move. The kids were thrilled. They have not been able to play in the basement since the 21st of June.

Menards had a great price, but wouldn't you know we wound up with the lightest colored carpet they have. There weren't three pieces of darker colors. I wanted to try to get them to match. It actually brightened up the basement with such a light color on the floor. They do not eat down there and also do not wear shoes. I think they will stay clean for the most part. I'll just have to haul the vacuum down more than before.

A heavy heart

I have a relationship in which the past nine months has had a dramatic change. It went from communication every day, to nothing, total cut off. The problem is I have no clue how or why it happened. When the distance began, I inquired if there was something I did to cause this change. I was given an answer "no, geez, no." I didn't think anything was wrong after that, but more and more distance was there. I prayed and prayed. I've never had a relationship that I care about turn downhill like this. It left me hanging and hurt. Worse yet, the kids were affected too. They were confused why we couldn't play and spend time together. To this day, I am still not sure what happened. I will continue to pray for this person. Perhaps I did not put my whole heart into it, my prayers for guidance were too weak. I need strength to rise and truly get my heart in the right place. I thought I was there, but with no answers, maybe I am not. I wish all the best for them and just wanted to be a good friend. Relationships can leave you in disbelief.

Newest family member

Today we welcome the newest member of our family, a precious baby girl. I am so proud of my little sis and Uncle T. We can't wait to meet her. I really wish I was there. It all comes back to being stuck here, away from family. Looking forward to August. We get to travel to MN and meet her then. We received word last night. My parents were able to get in the car and be there. Three was thrilled they were going. She asked when we can go. Of all the names they were thinking of, this was Three's favorite. Can't wait for August to get here!

This is the poem I used on her baby shower invitations. It is a favorite of mine. Here's to sweet baby Claire.

Baby Feet

by Edgar A Guest

Tell me, what is half so sweet

As a baby’s tiny feet,

Pink and dainty as can be,

Like a coral from the sea?

Talk of jewels strung in rows,

Gaze upon those little toes,

Fairer than a diadem,

With the mother kissing them!

It is morning and she lies

Uttering her happy cries,

While her little hands reach out

For the feet that fly about.

Then I go to her and blow

Laughter out of every toe;

Hold her high and let her place

Tiny footprints on my face.

Little feet that do not know

Where the winding roadways go,

Little feet that never tire,

Feel the stones or trudge the mire,

Still too pink and still too small

To do anything but crawl,

Thinking all their wanderings fair,

Filled with wonders everywhere.

Little feet, so rich with charm,

May you never come to harm.

As I bed and proudly blow

Laughter out of every toe,

This I pray, that God above

Shall protect you with His love,

And shall guide those little feet

Safely down life’s broader street

Fun filled days

Wow! What a weekend we have had in Freeland. The cousins arrived on Friday afternoon. We took them to the pool and tired everyone out. Hard to believe I found places for everyone to sleep. It was great. We made some wonderful memories. I am exhausted though, ready for a nap. Will post some pictures soon, along with other BIG news.

Weekend ahead

Well, we are nearly ready for the great weekend! The cousins are coming to visit! They are spending the entire weekend with us, minus attendance time for a wedding. We are so excited. We have beds ready and the house is clean. I wish we had carpet in the basement, but oh well. Maybe we will be outside the entire time! We plan to head to the pool tonight. Other than that, just a fun weekend with them.

The insurance took our claim from the flood. We are ever so thankful. Next is to save our receipts and replace some items.

The morning is flying by. I still have a bathroom to clean and laundry to fold. My trusty sidekick Zinnia is coming to help me with some food preparation. N is finishing the shelves in the basement. Once I get them loaded, the basement will be looking pretty good. I got the entire floor washed with bleach water. It took me 8 + trips up and down with clean water. I may throw the mop out. It's pretty gross. Things are going our way. When you're up, you're up!

Job Interview Results

Well, the job I interviewed for had some changes after our meeting. Turns out they received a new classification from the state. Great for the preschool! They will now be able to accept families who qualify for head start and state programs. On the down side, you have to have your certification to teach the classes. Alas, I do not qualify. I will sub there though, and perhaps enter the program to get my certification next year. I can't commit to the time until Three goes to Kindergarten.

Guess my year will focus on spending time with her and enjoying her before she starts school. I am thankful they thought of me and asked me to interview. Plus, I got to have coffee and get out of the house for a couple hours!

I was so worried about making great memories on our anniversary. We did, stress free, having a great time as a family. It really was a fantastic day.

10 Years Today

It was our anniversary today. 10 years ago I married my best friend, the love of my life. I am so blessed to have met N. He is everything I hoped for in a husband.

Our day started out pretty good. I made him a fantastic breakfast burrito. Eggs, cheese, spinach, onion, ham, along with some salsa and sour cream; it was delicious!

Today we spent the afternoon at the beach. We went to Higgins Lake. It was a perfect day for the beach. The kids had a great time. We got a new raft, they kept calling it a boat. They took it out on the water with N. They went in the "deep" water with their life jackets and he tossed them overboard. Fun was had by all. My only disappointment, the $12 book I bought is turning out to not be a favorite. Other than that, can't complain about our day. Tomorrow we get to eat lunch without any kids. That will be followed by a trip to the pool. In the evening, Five has a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. We get to pick up groceries during that time and be ready for the cousins arrival on Friday!

I plan to write about the night we met in the future. It's a great story I want to share, but don't have the energy tonight. Thanks to my family for a wonderful day! Loved all the phone calls too!

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July 2011!

Days are dwindling

We are down to the last few days of N's vacation. What to do; what to do. He wants to take a trip to Ludington, MI. Calculating the cost, just not feasible at this time. I wanted to take our bikes to Mackinac Island, also not feasible at this time due to cost. It's $90 for us to take the ferry with the kids and our bikes. I wasn't expecting it to be that high.

With both ideas out, we are left with uncertain plans. Our plans have been uncertain all week. This really frustrates me. We still have jobs to finish around the house too. Guess we will get our work done and try to find somewhere close to play tomorrow. Thursday Five has a birthday party at 6. Friday the cousins come for the weekend. Have to get our house ready for them. Cousins 8 and 9 like to take things apart and write on walls. We haven't had to worry about things like that for awhile in this house. Then there is the plan of what to feed such a group.

The kids are thrilled with whatever we decide. Five really wanted to bike at the island. They are also happy with the pool or local beach. The local beach has a nice spray park for the kids, right next to the beach. Three doesn't care for the weeds though. She expressed this when we mentioned the beach. Our plans remain in limbo. We will see where the day takes us.

Independence Day

Today is the 4th of July. My best summer memories are from parades near my grandparents. We would travel to their small town and enter in potato sack races. We would run into a family from our town with girls our age. We paired up with those girls for the races. There would always be great food and happy people. A highlight would be the parade. We loved the parade and got to be in it once. As I grew, our plans sometime would change. Regardless, I still have those memories of early 4th of July celebrations.

Today, N will go to work. We've been invited to a BBQ. No parades, but maybe we can make our own races. : ) Happy Independence Day America!

P-R-O-D-U-C-T-I-V-E!

The word of the day is productive. I was very productive today. First, we made it to church on time. Our new priest starts on time. Second, I got a lot accomplished today. I was able to get half the basement washed. It was a big job. Tomorrow I hope to finish. We really need carpet down there. I am so sad about that. It took forever to get a free piece. I don't know if I have the patience. We looked at remnants at Menards. I don't think he will go for it. We will see. I am anxious to get it back together. The kids need the area to play. They won't be as comfortable without something other than concrete.

We set up the loft bed we acquired in the Boy Room. The boys were thrilled. It turned out to be more of a project than N bargained for, but we have happy boys in the end. Happy boys is all that counts, right?

I varnished a shelf for the kitchen and a twin bed for Three's room. N made new boards for the sides. We will have room for two guests in her room now. It will remain that way through the summer. She is so thrilled to have another bed for Grandma.

Other accomplishments recently, cleaned the fridge and freezer! I love going in there now. It's so nice and clean. The laundry from camping is nearly complete. Just have sleeping bags left.

We got some organizing in the garage done today. That was a BIG job. Thanks to the neighbors parting with a shelf, we finally organized his tools. I have been waiting all summer to get that job done.

Hopefully tomorrow we can set up the bed and maybe finish the shelves in the basement. We will be looking pretty good with all that accomplished!

"Freeland, my home." "Here we go."

We welcomed the new priest to our church today. Second week in a row to have cake after mass, the kids were thrilled. He was full of energy and jokes, getting everyone awake in their seats. The things he shared today hit home with me. Not only did we get to sing the Servant Song, but he talked about moving and change. Boy, do I know a thing or two about that. He was fun and inspirational, leaving me looking forward to next Sunday.

I was able to catch up with a couple people after mass. I have not seen them for awhile. Great people whom I wish I saw more frequently. Summer has everyone going their own directions.

Fr. B ended his mass with the title of this entry. I wish I would have had that positive attitude when I made Freeland my home. Granted, Fr. B only came from the next city away, but still change is forever difficult. I am making peace with my move to MI. It's only taken me more than two years, but the peace is coming. My heart still breaks that we are not closer to my family. That feeling, I am afraid, will never go away. After moving here, I wanted it to be only temporary. I saved all my moving boxes and was ready to load another truck, just say the word. Two years later, I feel selfish thinking like that. It would be selfish of me to want to pick up and move again. What would it do to my kids? Seven has lived in seven different homes in his seven years of life. Is it right to move children around that much? Maybe you can get away with it when they are young. The older they get, the more challenging that becomes. It's not just the kids themselves, but the relationships we all have established. This thought came to me when someone mentioned spending the night at a friends house. While I am no where near ready for that chapter to begin, there is something to be said about the relationships I am establishing now and learning who I would let my kids spend the night with in the future.

Ok, on to the tasks I need to accomplish this week. I have so many projects and jobs hanging there, I need to get moving and get some done. Execute, execute, execute has to be the theme for the day!

Tawas State Park

Every summer since we moved here, we have made a camping trip to Tawas State Park. It is my favorite spot so far in MI. The water is clear, but cold. Five is our polar bear. He once again took the plunge regardless of temperature. We had a great time. I have some quotes I will post later. The way their minds work always fascinates me. Each year I have tried to get a great picture to top the first summer at Tawas. I came close last year. This year, not so much. I'll add the pictures to this post. The first was the best. Maybe I'll get another shot this year.

Great trip, but good to be home.

They go as follows: top--this years picture. Middle--first year picture. Bottom--last years picture. Sure do love that beach. As you can see, the water was very high this year compared to the last two. Notice the white beach house to compare.