July 2015 Flickr Upload

Hidy-Ho!  I have to say, it's kinda nice being able to stay on top of things, even when it's really not a terribly important thing... Here are my favorites from July, it was a busy month between finishing up school, taking a vacation, getting boys to camp, boys going to their dad's, and a wedding all thrown in there... :)

You can see the full upload here...

 014 Being goofy, which is rare.  Rarer still, is him letting me capture it....

 This one, on the other hand, is most often goofy.  He's checking out the animal displays at camp.

 Enjoying National Ice Cream Day at Kelly's, the local Ice Cream-aria.  I forgot to take pictures WITH said delight.  This was also right after they got their new specs.  They both love them so far.  Hope that continues; they are known for their love/hate relationship with their choice in eyewear.

 A group shot of the family from the wedding weekend.

 We took a stroll along Clearwater Beach on the one afternoon it was not raining.  I know it rains every day in Florida, however, it not only rained every day, but nearly all day as well.  There were several flood alerts out.  It downpoured soon after we got back.  I think we got more pictures together in that week than we have in our whole relationship!  It was wonderful!

 When we got back home to MI, it was beautiful weather.  We couldn't resist getting out on the bike.  It was my first time.  We went to the Blarney Stone, which is an old watering hole haunt of Gadget, and then right up the street was this little gem, the Glass Creek Winery.  It was pretty  nice.  The lady was very friendly.  They live on the property and grow their own grapes.  I am always amazed that MI has the right weather to make such yummy grapes and wine, but it does!

August 2014 Flickr Upload

As always, you can see the full stream here, and I've included a few of my favorites here...

 Crazy times with fun friends...

 Experimenting with how to make the engine stand...

 I love how these 2 talk to each other constantly.  About all kinds of stuff.  Especially when walking.  They are growing up way too fast...

 Our daycation in Fort Wayne, we had such a good time!

 First day of school.  6th grade and 8th grade.  Next year, no elementary and 1 in high school. Sheesh!  See the growing up comment above...

 First day of school for me too...

 Ice cream is always a treat, especially when it comes from Kelly's.  He's a treat too...

 45 Winery on the Leelanau Peninsula...

 Jr. High Dance.... What!?!?!?!  Yea.  Wow.  Can't believe it.

October 2013 Flickr Upload

Wow, I can't believe I'm now only a year behind in uploading!  But it is so much fun to see older pictures and remember the stories and see how everyone has changed.

You can see the entire upload here, and here a few of my favorites:

 Go-carting at Mom & Dad's house with my little brother....

 The little brother lighting candles at church.  I am so thankful that they always include him.

009 giving his uncle a ride.  I think he was scaring him a bit with some of his crazy moves!
 

 Turning 010!

 Birthday balloons!

Bower's Harbor - great winery on the Old Mission Peninsula of Michigan.
 

 My favorite guy at the Old Mission Lighthouse.  So sexy!

My two favorite smaller guys dressed up for Halloween.  One was a Jedi Padiwan, the other a hobo.  Sign says "Will work for food Candy".  It was raining that night, but we still went into town in a friend's neighborhood.  She was super sweet.

The Wheels on the Bus ...

... go 'round & 'round...

I know, now I have that song stuck in your head.  But how often life is just like that song, it just keeps going 'round.

Like I can't believe it has been since August since I have posted anything.  Wow, I'll see if I can remember the highlights...

September:
For Labor Day weekend, we went up north and spent the weekend at the cabin.  009 took a friend a long.  That was an interesting experience.  The boys all camped out in tents & loved it.  We went over to the lake and swam & had a picnic - super fun!

012 and I went up to Marshal for the Brooks Field Fly-In.  He had a great time catching flying pancakes.  We learned that regular coffee makes him too jittery.  He also got to drive Gadget's Willy's.  He did a great job, even with the clutch.  That was totally cool!

The boys had their TKD promotion to Jr. Orange Belt.  Very proud mama!

We did more work in the house in BTL, getting the bathroom closet & cabinets a minor overhaul.

Hooligans did the Special Olympics breakfast here in town, and then the Applefest Wings & Wheels show & parade up in Nappanee.  Gadget came down in the 172 and we ate some breakfast, then had to leave before the guys, so that we could make it there on time.  My boys went with us again this year.  They weren't as thrilled to spend the day hanging out at the airport as me.  However, I got to be in the parade this year with the guys in the Willy's & thanks to the lovely Sue for making sure they were OK.  It was a ton of fun!

At church we had a fun craft day at the local pottery studio.  I made a coffee cup for Gadget.

The boys continue to learn how to serve others by helping Grampa take care of the property.

We participated a bit in our community by going to SES's Family Fun Night and getting 009 his Jabba the Puppet & Jedi Academy books he's been dying for.

We took a late-season ride up to Hastings to eat at the Waldorff.  Yummy burgers!

I continued to do more work on the gardens, locating large rocks to line the drive with.

And scrapping, getting back into it again & trying to get stories told.
 

October:
More gardening, now over on the east side of the house, so the pine trees aren't so prickly when I mow.

Teaching the boys more cooking skills, it's actually starting to be a lot of fun, and 012 loves it!

Taking my brother Eric go-carting at Dad's.  It is so weird to see my kids taking care of him.

009's birthday to 010!!  Most exciting part of the month!  He is growing up way too fast!  We had it at Cannonball Lanes in town & he had a friend there.  His dad, stepmom & my dad made it too. AND chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles, as ordered!

Gadget and I took another trip up north over the weekend - getting really chilly now!  We decided to drive up the Leelanau Peninsula - that is the eastern peninsula of MI to check out some wineries.  We stopped at Two Lad's up on the tip, went up to the lighthouse and learned about how dredging has really caused water level issues for the lake.  Then we scooted down to another, that for the life of me I can't remember the name nor can I find it.  It was "something" Harbor.  Sigh.

We went to dinner at The Boathouse.  That was quite lovely, and expensive.  But it was the best Kobe Wagu beef!  Amazing!

More dryer woes & repairs - my goodness how we need good, cost-effective repair people!

Finally started getting our cubes at work.  Not a big hit.

012 had a Band Concert.  Can't believe I have a Jr. High Schooler.  Sheesh!  But, I am so proud of him, he loves playing the trumpet.

Halloween was fun, and we went into a girlfriend's neighborhood.  It rained, it was cold.

More scrapping - yea!

November:
I don't remember when, I can't find the pictures, but 010 did get his braces off!!!  That was totally cool!

012 is having to learn how to do homework again.  Being in advanced classes is just what he needed - challenged!

 Finally got the old tree cut down. It was dead.  It is a lot of wood.  One of the guys at work came & loaded up 2 truckloads of stuff that he could take home & split.  Dad took a truckload or 2.  There is still a ton on the ground, but it is too big to transport.

More clean up going on at the Ceresco dam.  That was an oil leak that won't soon be forgotten.  Now they are talking about removing the dam.

Furnace acting funny - more troubleshooting - yea!  They can't really seem to find anything wrong with it.

More work on the dryer - hopefully this will do it.  Getting tired of drying laundry all through the house, but it does help with the static!

Got a new coffee pot - the one from my dad went on the fritz.  Found a Krups model that also does cappuccino!!!  How awesome is that!

We started putting in the new furnace in the house in BTL.  Wow, this is going to be a project!!  I'm just glad he finally picked one (I think it has been at least a year that we've been talking about it!)

Worked on new product a lot this month - fun stuff!  Made some special for the kid's crafts project they are doing at church.

Helped with a Thankgiving Get-Together for Growing Grounds.  A small group of men & women transitioning out of jail & their kids.  They are trying really hard to make better choices & it is really amazing to see them grow, and see the connections they are making.  We made journals together.  Even the guys thought it was totally fun!

Dad came up with me for the Stauffer family Thanksgiving.  That was so wonderful!  We've not done the Poole one yet!

And we had a cookout at home after cleaning up the yard a bit.  Hot Dogs!  And then we sat out there for a bit drinking wine.  I really need to get some nice camping chairs.

And more scrapping!

December:
More work on the furnace, have the board all mapped out where the pumps and controls and everything are going to be.

Getting ready for Christmas!!!

Another belt promotion - Full Orange Belt!!  So.Very.Proud!  It is absolutely nerve-wracking to watch them do parts of it!  012 has trouble with the breaking ones.  During his Jr. promotion, he missed it 3 times & had to sit down.  I was sure he was going to fail.  It was so hard to watch.  Then Master called him back & he got another try.  And he made it.  I thought I was going to cry!  Luckily he did NOT do that to me again this time!

Christmas Band Concert - They just keep getting better.  Mr. Hickman is probably one of my favorite teachers - he is just amazing with the kids!

More weatherproofing the house - hope it makes a difference!  This has been one of the coldest years.  And just staying cold - little fluctuations!  And lots of snow (that part I like),  we even had some before Thanksgiving.

012 being in shop/woodworking and making stuff.  Totally digging that!

Going to Chicago to visit S before Christmas - tons of fun, and way too much Jamison!

Stauffer Christmas - lots of fun!  And punctuated with an ice storm & loss of power.  Luckily everyone we knew was taken care of - either staying with others, or running on generators.

Baking cookies & going flying.  It was so beautiful, and it was good to get her out & going.

Spending time with friends, going to the Arcadia & the Cricket Club.

And more scrapping!

January:
We spent New Year's here with the boys.  It was  a work day for me, so I really struggled with staying awake.  I lost.  Gadget was sweet & woke me up a few minutes before the ball.  The boys giggled at me.  We then watched the Rockin' New Years' Eve show.  Horrible.  Dick Clark must be spinning!

The boys got to learn how to split wood, the old-fashioned way!  They've used the splitter before, and like it.  The maul gave them a new appreciation for it!

I went up to BTL the next weekend, and then the blizzard hit.  I ended up having to stay at Charley Creek.  I made it all the way to my road but could not make it down it.  I was so frustrated after 6 hours of driving.  I should have just stayed there!  The boys were with their dad & enjoyed 3 extra days.  The hotel was nice, however, I did not have a stitch of clean clothing, a phone charger or a book.  I did find a crossword book in my suitcase & I had 1 magazine.

Getting the driveway plowed out was an experience.  The guy I don't think wanted to come over & do it.  Then I found half my driveway - in my yard!  He had pushed all the gravel 6 feet into the grass.  I was not pleased.  Ernie from work had someone come over to pull it all back into the driveway and my neighbor waved them off saying he was going to do it.  I really don't need help like this!  Gadget plans on bringing the tractor down to do it.  So that has kicked off getting the trailer & the tractor ready for the road - he wondered what his next project was going to be after getting the furnace done!  That really needs to be getting all the wood split!

And more scrapping!!!

August 2012 Flickr Upload

As always, you can see the whole she-bang August 2012 Flickr Photostream but my faves are here.  It was really hard to choose! August was a great month! My 25 year reunion for school and our family vacation!

 I thought we had pretty good turnout on who all showed up.  It was so good to see everyone and make new friends.  I was really excited that Gadget went with me, it was such an honor!

 I think this was only the second time we had ever danced.  We did at Charley Creek Inn one night.  So much fun!

 The next day, we went on our family vacation, and 017 went with us.  We set up Tent City for the boys, they each had their own!

 We went to Sleeping Bear Dunes one day and buried 011 in the sand.  The adventures of Mummy Boy!

 So pretty!  We stayed at the lake to watch the sunset.  The boys were less than thrilled, it was "boring" but I'm glad we made them stay.

 Driving in the big truck!  Views from my seat...

 We made Hobo Dinners, 011 taught us how they did it at camp.  They were soooo yummy!

 We went up to Mackinac Island one day.  That was quite the haul!  It was a great time, even if it was "boring"!  We drove for about 3 hours, then took the ferry & of course walked all over the island.  Watched them make fudge, then we ate it, and as we were leaving saw the most beautiful rainbow!

And check out 011, I could still put my chin on the top of his head.  Now it comes up to my eyes!  He's growing like a weed!

 Later in the month we took a bike ride down to Muncie to see the Tonne Winery & Scotty's Brewhouse.  It was such a wonderful trip.  I love seeing this!

 They had a beautiful place to sit out back.  I had a super delicious cherry wine.  Probably a couple more than what I should have.  But it was sooo yummy!

 I also love seeing this.  I don't know how he rides like that for so long, but I love it.

 And I gave another sermon.  Not the best picture of me, but I'm thankful Katie took it.

 Something else I see a lot!  This was just leaving home.

 And 008 Getting his braces taken care of...

 Something my brothers used to do a lot of....

 Family Reunions, I love them.  I also love how there were sooo many of us there that day.

And oh how I miss these days.  The best tractor rides ever, since 1969!  Love you Gramps, you surely know how to show kids a good time!

August 2011 Flickr Upload

As always, you can see the full stream here… http://www.flickr.com/photos/81154606@N00/
And for my favorites….
Camp Day at Church… they both had to talk about their experiences there.  So did I.  It was hard for me to remember back that far!

New Pedi… don’t you love the 2 colors?  Perfect for when you can’t decide!

Fall open house… 007 starting 4^th Grade!

Ducati Toes!

Whyte Horse Winery in Monticello, IN.  Wonderful place, beautiful people, yummy wines!

It is in an old farmhouse

I always see him from the back, but even then, he’s so sexy! I love how you can also see just a peek of me in the mirror.

And since T&J were with us, it was so wonderful to get some shots of us TOGETHER!

See the full gallery on Posterous