It's Cookie Time in our house Again

Boy, it seems that the money raising programs for scouts never ends around here. All thru the school year there is one program after another, first nuts for Girl Scouts, then wreaths for Boy Scouts, now we are onto cookies for Girl Scouts.

The weather here is never predictable, so one day you can be sitting inside a store as above, or you can be outside in the cold.

This weekend we will be outside again and they are calling for another 4-5inches of snow for Friday. But sunshine is on the forecast for Saturday and Sunday, so again it will be time for the hand and foot warmers again.

Home from the Holidays

We finally got home at 2:30am this morning. It was decided that I was taking the kids and driving cross country to visit my mother-in-law. Since she was not going to be there until after Christmas, we spent Christmas Day at Disneyland. I had always heard that it was not very busy on Christmas day and so it was the best time to go and get on all the rides. Well Murphy's Law had other ideas. According to news reports, this Christmas was the busiest that Disney has had. We went into the park at 8:15am and left at 10:30pm (due to rain). I heard on the news that people that were coming in after 10am were being sent next store to California Adventure or given vouchers for another day. They also had this problem on the following two days afterwards too.

We did get to spend time with my MIL and that was good for the kids. It has been 4 years since they had seen her and she is getting older and we are not sure if she will have much longer to be with us. But, I do not think I will be making that drive again. It is very long (4days) when the weather is good. Unfortunately we ran into snowstorms on the way back, so at times we were detoured 4oo miles out of our way and in some states the roads were so bad that we were driving 20 miles an hour in a 75 mile zone.

It is always good to come home to your own bed.

The End of One Long Weekend

We have had a very long weekend.

First on Friday, Lizzy turned 17,

Then she had OAA League Finals for Swim,

After Meet Dinner at a local restaurant,

Bowling on Saturday and Nut Booths for Evie and Lizzy,

Bowling Tournament for Lizzy, Evie and Allard on Sunday,

In which Lizzy came in 5th place in the 12 to 19 age group of Girls.

Evie came in 11th in the 11 and under,

Allard came in 40th in the 12 to 19 Boys.

One Busy Weekend

Friday, Oct. 8th Fun Run

Here is Evie on her sixth lap. After, they all enjoyed Popsicles and pictures.

Homecoming Parade

Senior Year and the last parade she will attend. Seniors always ride in the boat.

Saturday, Oct. 10th Homecoming Dance

Dress, Hair and Nails=One Expensive Child

Of course when we went to have Lizzy's nails done, Evie had the same service as her big sister.
Oh and she used Dad's car to drive herself to the dance and home again.

First Last Days

First Last Day of High School

( Of course any self respecting senior can not be seen on the bus on the first day of school)

First Last Day of Middle School

(Mom you can not come with me to the bus stop for pictures)

First Last day of Elementary

(When did she have permission to grow up)

This has been a very busy week getting everyone off to their new year. Swim (Lizzy) has been going on since August, but football (Allard) also started this week. So Mom and Dad are back to being a taxi cab for the next two months. And this coming week Evie starts swim club.

It seems like only yesterday.....

This little one was opening her eyes for the first time.

And look at her now....

little miss 10 year old.

What do you do for this, but have a big party.

So you gather 12 of her friends and classmates...

(and she lets her older siblings attend)

And party until you are all tired out...

Signs of a good party?

The bigger the mess the more fun was had by all.

Happy July 4th

We spent our weekend at my brother's farm in Port Hope Michigan, which is just shy of the very tip of the thumb area. Every year they have a tractor pull, flea market, fireworks and craft show. I haven't been up in awhile, but decided to take the kids and make a weekend of it.

So, we packed up the car with all the camping gear and the big tent, 10 five week old baby chickens, 2 ducks, Evie, Allard, Lizzy and myself, and of we went. The weather was great during the day, and chilly over night. Friday night we set up camp, and visited with the neighboring farm that was having a memorial/family reunion. Saturday we shot the Beebe gun and went to the tractor pull. Evie and Allard both bought new hats, we had ice cream and got a little sun.

Today after we packed up the car, we went to the public beach in Harbor Beach, and sat by the Lake. We got home in time for dinner, baths, and a general vegetating state began.

Let the new week begin.