Sunday = Funday

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VOTE! VOTE! Which one do you like best?
We drove out to the Waterloo area yesterday and took these with my digital and the tripod. We had loads of fun and I think we got a few nice pics!! If you ask Jake he will tell you that we took about 500 - just a little exaggeration but we had FUN!
What do you think....share, please!

Jake's Marching Band Debut

What a busy week...Here is a video I did on my camera for all of you that missed Jake's first marching band performance. Can you find him?

(He is the last trombone player looking from L to R.)

I think he is finding that doing both football and marching band to be a bit much. He was very tired last night....he had been on the go since 545am! School, then football pratice until 430pm, home to shower-eat and get dressed, then to Withington Stadium at 6pm for practice before the game, we finally were home at 930pm.

BEWARE!

Completely chaotic week ahead!!
(actually a continuation of last week!)

• football
• orthodontist
• marching band
• choosing instruments for elementary band
• work!! working loads of XTRA hours
• meal planning for all the chaos

Had a great weekend- although our boys did not shoot a deer. :-( Jake never saw one...Koda saw a doe with 2 fawns and could not shoot her! He was with my cousin Marshall who eventually talked Koda into thinking about a shot....and just then they all took off. Run Momma , Run! :-) I was so proud to know that beneath the teenage hard surface there is still a tenderhearted young man that listens to his heart!!

Had a great visit with family! Sure do miss them all living so far away. Somedays I ask myself why I moved in here ... then I smile and see all my men!! But I sure do miss my family!!

Hope everyone has a great week.

JILL and KRISTIN - did you get the crop invite for Oct 6th? Had not heard from either of you.

First game of the season

and they fought hard in the end....however were defeated by Battle Creek Lakeview. :-(

Not the best pics....Steve did take a few though. I think I need a better camera from Santa....LOL hint hint

Jake DID get to play lat night - the last quarter he was in on two plays. He says a dude bigger than him knocked him on his 'toosh' the first time- THE NEXT time he went in he said he got a much better stance and knocked him down....he felt GOOD! It was great to hear him tell it....isn;t that the best part of youth sports? listening to them do the play by play!! Love it.

*Jake had been sick and the coach had told him that he would nto be allowed to play as he missed practice and school one day and another day he had a jammed locker with his football pants inside.

Happy Thursday everyone - lunch date with beth!! Now there is my fuel for the dreaded Thursday before heading north for yuouth hunt....my brain has been zooming all morning already making lists!!

many signs of fall

OH my the many signs of fall are appearing!!

• sick kids!! ALL 3 and the BIG ONE 2 w/ ear infections, 1 w/ sinisitis, 1 w/ a sinus headache


• vibrant red, yellow, orange leaves on the sidewalk and yard


• football is in full swing


• youth hunt weekend is this week - bag a buck boys! pleeeease


• weekend trips north have become fewer


• homework every night


• need sweatshirts for the bus in the morning


• Riley hesitates to go out to do her business in the morning - it's cold Yorkie's do not have an undercoat - so she has been burrowing under the blankets at night


• Mom is planning her winter getaway - dinner is Oct 14th

Other happenings in our life....my Dad's cancer counts are on the rise again even though he had the surgery. Which means he starts radiation soon.

I picked up my sexy specs today! Now I AM OLD! Dr. Buseth said I should wear them for reading, crafting and driving for now.

Please do not laugh TOO HARD!

Riley will soon be going to have her surgery- her friend FLO finally left! WOO HOO- now that was nothing I want to go through again!

Happy belated 31st Birthday, Jill. so sorry I missed the day!

just a few updates

The future Kid Rock - he thinks or Hank Jr!! He loves his new guitar from G & G - 15th bday! He also takes guitar class this year as an elective class.....and he is getting pretty darn good, if I say so myself!! LOL

a fish eye view of the girls from our weekend...we had a lot of fun!! The craft fair was fun too@




























Riley's Halloween Hat! She looks very sad here don't you think? She tolerates it long enough for us to snap a pic then it comes off!! LOL Jake found it among the costumes at Meijer when we were all grocery shopping yesterday and he thought it would be a cool way to get her to dress up- so now we are putting it on her daily trying to get her used to it! LOL




















Big busy week ahead! Jake's first football game this Wed in Battle Creek.
Youth hunt is this coming weekend....Jake and Koda are hunting up in Shelby- my old stomping grounds. they will hunt with Steve and my cousin, Stephanie's hubby, Marshall on their 15 acres!! Koda hunted the same spot last year- and it was warm out- they saw turkeys and squirrels. :-( Hoping they will get a shot this year. I think Marshall is more excited than my boys....he cannot wait! Steve II and I will go up also...but planning to stay Friday night with my dad then go to visit on Sat evening- back to my dad's Sunday for his bday dinner.
Should have my sexy new specs this week !! Interesting to see how different life is without the strain!! LOL

Have a happy week.

“You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you don't trust enough.”
“There’s plenty of days when I’m like ‘Oh God, why?’ But that’s just life. It’s every job, not just mine. Every moment is not perfect. But it’s definitely more good times than bad.” —Beyoncé, singer/actress

ahhh refreshed

The girls weekend was a BLAST!

• Friday
• dinner at Applebees - my favorite
• craft lessons by the PRO - My momma
• cocktails in the room with crafts
• Saturday
• alarm woke us at 6am - then Mom and I had the giggles and woke up Barb!

loved the gigles with the girls!!

• breakfast in the hotel
• craft show in GR - 9am - 1pm (broke my flip flop at the craft show- had to go bare foot!! ewww until I found a booth that had the crochet flip flops. :-)
• lunch at bennigans - YUM
• Hobby Lobby - yeah baby - Steve is lucky Jackson does not have one!! $$
• Pappa Johns chicken alfredo pizza for dinner....
• swimming and hot tubbin
• crafting some more
• Sunday
• breakfast in the hotel - more fun watching all the weird people!!
• headed for home around 1130am

We had a great time.....love spending time with my mom and sis in law!!

pics to come- Blogger will not play nice tonight!!

WOO HOO

a short week. Love it and hate it too.

Love it as I need a break- hate it because Monday was a holiday, I took a 1/2 day on Tuesday, and now Friday off - and it is end of a py week- which means I have to work a couple hours on Sunday to complete payroll- UGH!
But on that note- I am going to make certain that I have an awesome weekend with my mom and sil. :-) Planning a crafters weekend- BIG craft show in GR tomorrow morning we are going to....Christmas ideas? Just spending time with the girls is always fun. Hoping this weekend we steer clear of the police, no running red lights, Mom- LOL We always have fun memories.

School is going well- Steve is struggling a bit with the morning routine. He gets on the bus himself at 811am and he does not like that. I leave at 735 for work so he spends a 1/2 hour alone and walks to the bus stop.....big deal for most- for the baby of my family which has always had a brother with him at every school- now I have three at three schools. OH well- he is being forced to adjust. Steve Sr offered to call Kyle and arrange to pay Bradley to get him on the bus as Brad is able to get himself and 2 siblings on the bus after his parents go to work- he did NOT think that would be cool.
Jake loves Parkside. and football. He got home after 6, ate dinner, did some homework and crashed OUT COLD before 9! LOL
Koda loves his classes this year but hates lunch as he does not know anyone this year on his lunch. He has chemistry, geometry, spanish and guitar class- those the favs :-)

Hoep everyone has a nice weekend. Back on Sunday.

Happy Labor Day

Happy School Starts Tomorrow Day -

to all of us parents that are so ready for the schedules!!

ME!

I am not a good person for an unscheduled - go as you please days. I feel ill when the day passes and nothing was accomplished. Am I ill? I think so, but I know others just like me...confess. LOL Although once in awhile I do enjoy a day of R & R but I usually plan those...LOL

What a week coming-
Tuesday -
Mom- going to work at 1pm - making sure everyone gets to the correct place- and using some comp hours up
Koda- school starts - hoping the Advil 600mg keep him comfy enough he can tolerate his desk seat! (he broke his tailbone- LOL)
Jake- school starts- he is nervous! After school he has his football physical.
Steve- school starts- riding the bus and learning the ropes as he will start his day long after all of us.

Wednesday-
first full day of school for all 3

Thursday-
hope everyone gets the hang of catching the bus, finding their classes and homework

Friday-
No work for mom. Get everyone off to school, eye appt for mom and then off to meet Mom and Barb for the fall girls getaway- craft weekend.

Return on Sunday- have to work on Sunday after the long weekend...ugh. Payroll Monday comes quickly and everyone wants to be paid. LOL

Did you all get the invite to the all day crop in Jax? Oct 6 or something - anyone planning to come? let me know asap.

Learn any awesome lunch packing tricks, treats or ideas...pass them along.
I made BIG chocolate chip cookies for lunches yesterday morning- one per kid per lunch!!

big plans?

None here...keeping the last weekend of summer as simple as we can.

• making lunch packing goodies
• spending one whole day at the lake - farewell to summer
• getting groceries
• making menus - I will be gone all weekend starting Friday at 1 !
• washing up the school clothes
• creating my organized binder for schedules, bus routes, upcoming events notes
• planning the wake up plan.....how many showers can we get in before a 642 bus pick up time? how early do I wake these kids? ugh
• who still needs what for the first week?
• Riley needs a bath - FLO is still here! ICK!! I am tired of this already
• fireworks tonight at the Cascades - we have not gone in years. snuggle with my hubby in the bed of the truck is the plan and watch summer head out :-)
• now I am exhausted....we will see if I accomplish any...lol

Thanks Beth for the link to Gillian;s (is that right?) blog...love it. Any other to share?

:-)

We had a great week followed by a nice weekend! Yeah.
School clothes shopping are almost complete ! hooray. Amazing how much they can grow over a few months, isn't it? Shoe sizes were a great surprise....Koda (15 yr) - size 12, Jake (12yr) size 13, Steve II (11 yr) 9.5 Where will we shop next year? The lady told us we need to start surfing the net for sites that sell over size 13...lol. I need to search for football cleats now.....actually should have been a few months ago. (Jake is planning to play for Parkside.)

Steve and I made salsa this weekend....YUM. Steve and I thought a lot about what we wanted to do with all of our tomatoes.....and he thought of salsa. It was a nice way to use the peppers (banana and green) and tomatoes. We had what we thought was A LOT of tomatoes.....but we got 4 quarts and 2 pints of salsa out of all of it.

Crazy work week- payroll Monday 6am-3pm, Tues and Thurs Home Health Aide computer training, Wednesday right after work is Jake's school open house, Friday I am seeking some R & R!!

Have the girls weekend plans made. This year a little more low key....not as much personal time available for me this year after all the illnesses and surgeries. We have a Holiday Inn Express suite booked in GR. Planning a visit to Meijer Gardens, a chic flick and crafting!

Sent my $$ in for the Crazy Croppin Chics weekend in Novemeber over in Spring Lake again....oh I am so ready and need to scrapbook. Count me in.

Just needed to leave a little update and let you all know...we are all ok. Riley is feeling better but still hanging with FLO :-( poor baby. Grandma- she will graduate back home in 2 weeks if all goes well as planned. Dad is doing much better- his electric current therapyis helping things progress along. :-) Otherwise, all is well.

Update

The boys are back

Gram Meek is making great progress at Arbor Manor - just some more rehab and she will be back home in a couple weeks.

Koda now has an acoustic guitar - Happy Birthday from Gram and Gramps

Took a 1/2 day today....Koda needed to get his schedule - LOSER Mom that I am let him go to Gram's and miss his orientation/ schedule pick up day

Lost our rubber bands at Gram's for braces....picked up a couple of new bags

AUNT FLO visited Riley.....ewwww! Noticed she was PMSing this week ....LOL

Had to go buy her some undies....and she got denim ones...what can I do for a lap dog that lives in the house? I could not punish her and make her stay in her kennel.....so we went to Pet Supplies Plus and bought pants. :-) She was not sure what to think at first but now she prances around in them...lol HEY- We all love new clothes - great cure for the PMS blues!! LOL

Next HUGE adventure....tackling the school clothes adventure.....and SHOES!

Have a great week

Babbles from the Barton's

• busy week
• Gram is in the hospital. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall!! 10 stitches in her elbow and lots of black n blue. Lucky no borken bones.
• Spent all day Sat babysitting Gram at Foote. She is very confused and stumping the drs. Looks like she will be heading to a nursing home for some rehad tomorrow. She is PO'd but she will have to deal and be encouraged daily to play along!!
• Kids heading North to Gram's for the week on Tuesday afternoon.
• My training officially starts tomorrow- after an early morning start for payroll. working 5a- 5p tomorrow.
• tried Netflix again....tired of running to get movies...lol Watched Firehouse Dog today..cute movie.
• Fighting hard to get back some organization in this house...everything has been chaotic all summer. Bedtimes, chore lists, meal time (kids during the day)
• This mom needs organizaton.....any hints would be appreciated.....
• Hoping the week without them will do it
• need to get school stuff soon.....thinking shoes, backpacks and a few shirts will be a great start!! They grow too fast now to buy ahead..... shoes- Koda 12 D, Jake 12.5, Steve 9. Where do I buy shoes after 13? Beth, can you advise?
• Another yummy garden meal...BBQ chicken, fresh green beans, Corn on the cob from our garden!!
• Have a great week.

garden grub

YUMMY, nothing says summer better than a dinner with garden goodies

Tonight's menu:
Stuffed green peppers (peppers from my garden)
Corn on the Cob (from my garden)
Deviled Eggs

Happy Birthday to my friend, Kathy and my FIL, Bob.

FUN

a challenging start

Oh my!! did our Pleasant Lake Camping trip start out with a HOOPLA!

Everyone was ahead of schedule
We checked in early
Started hooking up
Neither of us had the right plug for 50 amp service? OH brother.
Called camper sales- NOPE not one
Called the office at the campground- she giggled and said we could borrow 2 for the week! :-)
Sent the kids up on bikes to retrieve - only one came back!
One crashed, one was standing by.
I start to head to the crash site....and here come two on bikes....one skinned up and bearing miles of road rash. (Steve II)
I started examining the damage- thinking a little Neosporin and bandaids will do after some scrubbing up- and then he pops off his baseball hat! and says- "UM Mom- my head is bleeding too!" SURE WAS - with a 3 inch gaping split!!
VROOOM off to Express care for staples and glue!!

*note= Steve Sr had just tried to get RXs filled after his ENT appt on Friday to learn that when I changed positions/ entities within Foote, they cancelled by insurance and forgot to reactivate under my new cost center!! So I battled with them all afternoon and they told me we would get it settled on Monday! I said to the gal in HR- I have 3 boys and we are going camping- WHAT IF? WOW- a preminition, I guess.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

:>)

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

:-)

Just a happy little post. Things seem a little normal again. (is that possible?)

Dad decided to go with frequent blood tests to check his PSA levels for now. If a change in the #s occurs- he will decide then on radiation. :-)

Christmas in July this weekend. Camping this weekend at my all time favorite aunt and uncle's. They have a farm and we all park in a circle in a big lot....and have a blast. Cousins I see a couple times a year (maybe) that grew up across the street from me. Loads of laughs. I am bringing Vodka Slush....YUM

Tonight is Big Brother a new favorite show of mine. SICK*O addicted to reality TV. LOL

Starting to get someone trained to do my job so I can move on. Got news my new pay and salary are now in effect. No more punching a clock. :-0 I will be done in my intake job on Aug 11. Only one more weekend and then only when others are off on vacation or in a pinch. One more week of vacation added.

Jake is done with band camp....no more lunch hour taxi runs. Until Aug 1st-driver's training starts.

Just wanted to let all my friend know I am back and feeling a little more like - ME!

Did you ever read this book to your kids ? We have had to purchase 3 or more copies of this book for Koda - as we wore the other copies out! If you add loads of emotion to the words and really play up the part....the kids would roar! we read this every night to Koda, then Jake and then Steve...they all loved it. (we acyaully ended up with 5 copies in all - I saved the first and the last!! )Oh the sweet memories this book brings to us all!! oh those days are gone all too fast!!

NOW- if you should ever run across this book when out shopping in the Little Golden Books section....would you PLEASE buy three copies as I would love to have one for each of them as graduation gifts!! :-) Planning to go search on line now.

WHEW!

Great news.

Dad 's got his results back last night.....his lymph nodes were negative. No cancer.
Now he has to make the decison whether or not he will choose to have the radiation. He follows up with the dr on Monday and they will go over all the options then. My oldest brother will join him at the appt.

He was so relieved and sounded so light hearted when he called last night!
Thank you to all of you -MY FRIENDS for all your thoughts, prayers and words of wisdom that helped us through one of the toughest times.

"Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life."

what a blur

*revised*

yep- blog slacker and RAK slacker.

been a little stressed and busy lately. I was north with my dad- they found more cancer which meant a BIG surgery. It was supposed to be a 1.5-3 hr surgery and he wound up in for 7.75 hrs! That is just plain nerve wracking sitting alone (although lots of people offered to join me for the wait, I declined all and just offered to make calls when we got news- hated to see anyone else sit in there all day and WAIT! ) Thank you - all of you for reminding me that you would have joined me had I allowed you to :-) Guess I was just expressing the scary feeling sitting there with NO NEWS and watching the room clear, hoping every call was for you with an update. in a waiting room watching people come and go - then my brother came and sat with me around 11am....at last someone to chat with to take my mind off from the wait. (I did get 3 chapter of Bungalow 2- new Danielle Steele cook read) It was a very long day! We had to be there at 530am- surgery started at 8am. He came home in less than 24 hrs...not sure it was a good idea but e is a MAN and let them know he was ready! ugh
No big results yet.....but they did take the lymph nodes for dissection too. Will keep you all posted.

Barton boys....the mad dash is still happening daily. Band camp run on my lunch hour....Steve and Koda ride bikes or walk for Steve's and soon will be driver's training too.

Otherwise- not much happening. Still in my old job-

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and prayers....keep them coming as he is far from out of the woods. Now comes the determining if chemo and or radiation is the next step.

summer swim lessons

and she passed!! she loved it!! then she stole my raft...

this all happened yesterday!

today the summer storm took out my power. It was out from 430pm- till 830 tonight. Luckily we have a gas stove- so Steve could finish dinnner and then we basically enjoyed the outdoors until we got the power back. Our porch was a neighborhood hangout....kinda fun.

ugh- another week

who's your tiger? Steve decided Riley need to be the UN- official bat girl for the Tigers tonight while we were watching. After many attempsts she finally let me snap a pic. We took it for my dad....sending it his way! My Dad is a HUGE Tigers fan!!

(Don't look too close - her helmet is from the West Michigan White Caps game, not TIGERS )

Dad got his results back from his latest biopsy - NOT good. He goes on Friday for a meeting with the dr to talk about options. My brother is going to accompany him. I am going to patiently wait to hear from them from here.....hate the miles I have between myself and my family, especially in times like these. The talk is surgery and chemo with more tests to check to see if it has spread. Keep us in your prayers.

But on another Tigers note - those scratch off tix....if you have losers...send them in for the drawing! I talked my dad into it and he WON! FOR REAL, Beth :-) He won Tiger gear- very cool.

Here is the QUEEN !! She loves to be outdoors. A few nights this past week I have had to go out in my pjs to get her- she loves to crawl up in the lawn chair and go to sleep. I called and called her Thursday night and she would lift her head, loko at me, then lay back down and go to sleep. STINKER! Just like a kid!!

Nothing else too exciting going on.... The pool and the grill are getting used a lot. The garden isdoing GREAT! green beans, green peppers, tomatoes, banana peppers, corn and watermelon!

bummer

We bid, but were overbid by someone who offered FULL price on the house we were interested in. Oh well, there is a reason for it and somwhere is a new house for me. :-)

My lunch hour now consists of MOM'S TAXI. I drive home at 1015 grab Jake , pick up another kid, run to Parkside, drop them off for summer band camp and back to work. Today however, I tossed them out at Parkside and dashed to Target before going back....uhhhh HELLO...June 19th? The new Janet E book is released today and so was Bon Jovi's cd...yep- a quick $30 BUT well worth every cent. Love the cd and book BOTH!

Steve starts his band camp in just a couple weeks and Koda starts Driver's Training! The wheels will be smoking at lunch time for TAXI MOM!! (Thinking about checking the city bus schedule for the driver training kid? we'll see.)

AND I will start my new job. Effective 7-1-07 my new position, and pay scale will go in effect!! :-) Still in the same place, same people, I will just be working for Hospice instead of Home Health and no more speaking with every referral source! Don't get me wrong, I love my current job too, but the new one is working more indepentently. If you did not know....I am not keen on someone always over my shoulder watching me. LOL and one nurse in particular was a biggie ....I even caught her on my computer reading my email once. UGH.

Stay cool and enjoy summer.

happy father's day

What a weekend - in a flash!!
On our way home today a church on I 96 had an awesome quote.

Don't let your yesterday waste your today!!

loved it!! Sums it up completely. Hey Mom, a new quote we can use for our half empty friends! :-)

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

i love weekends like this

WOW! We have had a great weekend- we went back to house shopping - and oh my- I think we may have landed THE ONE !! guess what color the kitchen is? ahhh I will elaborate when we get closer. No more cursing my dream- and to those of you interested- it is in JPS district!! Not the neighbor to Beth - but still close enough for the kids to play / hang out!


kitchenfamily room in the basementliving roomlooking from the living room in to the kitchen- staitway to basement

I have tried some new recipes this weekend....and my family has been happy with fluffy full bellies all weekend. This one below is a new recipe I located online....I will share. And to be honest, cooking with beer scared me a wee bit ? but just like cooking with wine- the alcohol burns off during cooking so no big deal. Today I just put round steak (trimmed all the fat off) in the slow cooker on high with a bottle of BBQ sauce - as it cooked down and got tender I tore it apart with a fork and we had Beef BBQs. All 4 boys have been in awe this weekend...lol They even got a chocolate cream pie tonight for dessert- last night I made a weight watchers cream pie and they ate it but were not tickled by it. lol Of course no one passed either




My Kid's Favorite Pork Chops

Original recipe yield:6 servings

PREP TIME
20 Min

COOK TIME
1 Hr

READY IN
1 Hr 20 Min

6 pork chops ( I did 10 and used the same amt of beer and BBQ sauce) plenty
2 tablespoons steak seasoning
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
1 (18 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce
2 onions, sliced
DIRECTIONS
Sprinkle pork chops with steak seasoning. Brown both sides in skillet. After the pork chops have been browned, remove them from the pan.
Pour into skillet one can of beer. Stir around the beer until all the particles on the sides have been incorporated. Pour in barbecue sauce and place the pork chops back into the pan. Add onions and cover. Simmer on low for 1 to 2 hours.


Now back to the work week. No school - no activities. Jake will have band camp start Tues- Steve starts in July. Koda will take driver's training in July too, I think.

Hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weekend.

YEAH Schools out!

What a week- nope not lost- just busy and not bloggin.
My bloggin usually happens in the evenings- and this past week so nice outside- just no time to blog! :-)
Week recap- lots of field trips, high school EXAMS, work is crazy!
I accepted a new position within the company.
I recently received 2 RAKS - a good summer bookand a photo envelope , and a goodie envelope full of fun scrapbook accessories, keychain photo album, note cards- SWEET, thanks ladies.
Now, to get the summer plans rolling- off to summer boarding school for boys!!
(ok, so just wishin that on some days)

Jakob- summer band camp - M-F 11-12 June 12- July 19
Steve - summer band camp M-Th 10-3 July
Dakoda- driver's training July - $400 (it was free 100 yrs ago when I took it)

Making plans for the girls getaway with Mom and my sis in law, Barb! ( maybe Bill's new friend too??) Shipshewana or BUST

what a weekend

Started with a day off from work! ahh!! Beth and I both took a day off...and we went to breakfast followed an awesome - totally relaxing pedicure. You sit in a chair that massages your back (kneading!) while they are massaging your piggies. I think I have a new addiction!!

Steve took Friday off too- so when the kids got home from school- we headed NORTH!!

Friday night we took the kids swimming IN Lake Michigan. Sunset pic of he and I

Frozen Steve

Friday - Sunset in Grand Haven

Sat- More swimming with friends. Spent the afternoon with Michelle and her family.

King Steve

King Jake

Saturday we went to Michelle and Nelson's for a few hours- the kids had fun in the pool and we caught up on the latest and greatest!! :-) We decided to all to to the horse race track, Great Lakes Downs. They say it will close after this season so we wanted to check it out! It was great fun. Yes, I won some and lost some. and the kids loved to watch BUT they started to get CRAZY chasing me to the bid counter pushing $ at me asking me to bid on a # for them....I created MONSTERS! LOL Truly, it was under control but seemed a little creepy with a 14, 12 and 11 year old arguing over horses, jockeys and winnings...lol

This pic was so cute. I was packing my bag to get ready to head for home today- and Riley hopped in when I went to gather my stuff from the bathroom....Momma was not going to leave her behind!

Hope everyone had a great weekend

say cheese

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Is there really a puppy tooth fairy ?

• The tooth fairy is coming to the Barton's frequently this week. (Riley is the lucky girl)
• Dancing with the Stars - my favorite choreographer won! Julianne and Apolo (cute couple)
• American Idol - Jordin Sparks won- a young 17 yr old with a very powerful voice.
• I worked 48 hours so far this week- and I am sleepy tired
• Interviewing for two new positions within the company next week
• No firewarks tonight- postponed til tomorrow
• Thursday night Steve took our boys and Coutney to see Pirates #3. They loved it.
• I have the desire to create.

do what?

My trombone player- the future Parkside band member.

Jakob just had his first concert Thursday and he did a great job. He played the trombone all year and was hesitant to rejoin for 7th grade- but since the concert he has decided to continue on.

what's new?

Not a whole lot to report.....

Steve got off to camp on Monday- must have survived last night's storm- no calls.

Jake went back to school- still pretty tired- off to bed everynight waaay before bedtime.

Koda started his bands for braces- they started with just the back bands. Back on the 30th to get the rest? things are so different since when I had braces. (no, they were not made of slate as my kids asked!)

Steve Sr survived his 40th birthday.

Riley OH MY- I think she is going through the terrible twos. If there is something to get into she finds it....a royal stinker!! Tonight she got in my purse when I was in the kitchen and stole a CHECK! one I had voided, thankfully- BUT STILL. She loves the blowdryer...she runs when she hears it turn on and stands nearby on her hind feet- she loves it when you blow dry her belly.....ahhh warm! She has been sneaking out of the gate- so now she has to be a prisoner of a cable tie out! We tried to block every hole we could see and she still gets out- so the cable it is. Howver, now she sneaks out with the cable on and then is STUCK! Ugh, I cannot imagine starting over with kids at my age...she drives me nuts!!

ME I am looking forward to my weekend. A scrapbook day at Beth's- sounds so relaxing and fun. Love hanging out with you girls.....be inspired by all the craftiness.

Off to do some laundry- anxious to catch AI tonight- beth I do think 'your girl' will take it away- but last night I did vote- a couple times.....first time I actually voted...lol have you?

Happy day

Happy Mother's Day- my friends.
Hope everyone was able to enjoy a little R & R or even better- some royal treatment.

Had to share a couple cute shots I took today.

Busy Monday ahead of us .....

Koda get his braces on.
Jake goes back to school after his week off.
Steve heads off to camp in Battle Creek for one week.

Oh what a relaxing shot of Koda. Hammock, sunshine and jammin to his ipod w/ earbuds in.

I ran wild all day today getting everyone ready for the new week. Packing for Steve being away for a week.

Steve's 40th bday was cool. He said thank you to all for the wishes :-)

We spent the day running and shopping. Had pizza here with the kids, then went to the 740pm movie to see Delta Farce. It was ok, funny but not hilarious. We were home by 10 and then had his cake and ice cream. :-)

she has my eyes........

What a beautiful baby girl.















LOL my baby went to the groomer today. She has beautiful bows and a new haircut. Too cute.

Update about Jake- doing much better today. However, we still have low grade fevers. He will get a whole week off school- and we will not be going north for Steve's 40th bday nor Mother's Day! but that's ok and everyone appreciates us keeping our cooties at home. lol

Like Beth, I too kept just the complimentary 8x10 from our glamour shots photoshoot. Have to say, it was fun to do BUT the pics are waaaay tooo rich for my budget. Let me see about getting it on here.

Returned to work today- ICK!!! and I stayed until 530 to try to catch up....and I am going to work Sat 8am - noon. ICK again.

Then it will be Steve's day! Not sure what he has decided to go do yet....

they're back

The darn fevers returned last night! 103.8 and they have gone all the way down to 100.2 this morning. 4th day of fevers. Yep, and day three I am home and we are calling the dr this morning. UGH.
The poor kid was felling so much better yesterday then BAM! the fevers returned and wiped him out!

Our anniversary was nice. 14 yrs. Steve brought me flowers and a sweet card after work. He grilled steaks and helped me lay some of that flower stuff out in front of the porch- it is a butterfly mix. Let's hope it blooms- it says 1-3 weeks.

Raining today- inside projects for the stay at home mom. Unless, we are running all over or the worst fear comes true- an admission.

Big plans for the BIG 4-0 man. Turns 40 on Sat and we are supposed to go north and bet on the ponies. :-) The track up north will close after this year so Steve wants to go give it a try!! Then dinner with Mom on Sunday!!

Keep us in our prayers....we need that fever to go away for good. Have a great Wednesday.

YEAH

Jake's fever broke this morning. 6am it was 103.2 and at 8am it was at 97.9. Let's hope it stays there today!! maybe the meds are finally working. he also mentioned food for the first time - a hunger pain!! that's a great sign.

Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday.

Manic Monday Part Deux

Oh my- here's the update-----

1030am appt with the dr- paid 15.00 copay to hear the dreaded " I really feel this is just a virus, if any more symptoms appear please bring him back." left with him still burning a 101+ temp with Advil and Tylenol in him.

1200 pm- the triage nurse called to check on the fevers - took it while I was on the phone with her- 105.2- she said "Let me call you right back, I am going to consult with the dr." Called back and said "I know you won't like this much but with those fevers he needs to go to the ER and have another dr check him over."

Spent a few hours there with an IV, lab draws, eye drops and an xray. Grand finale- PNEMONIA and PINK EYE!

7pm- temp is 103.9 with drugs and taking antibiotics and eye drops.

Hoping for some sleep soon.

Just another Manic Monday

First a weekend update- then the manic Monday-

Happy Birthday to Steve II- 11 yrs old on 5.5.07

We had a great trip up north- the kids had a lot of fun. We watched the West Michigan Whitecaps play Sat night- brr, it was chilly- but they won. The kids got autographs from Chris Cody who was a draft pick (8the round, I think) for the Tigers. Did you know that Brandon Inge played for the Whitecaps before he became a Tiger? YEP! Cool game, loads of fun.

Steve got his DS Lite he had been longing for. This past year he has been really enjoying video games more than ever before....so for the past 4-5 mos that is all we heard about how he would love to have a DS so he could play too. LOL and now he has enough $$ to buy a game or accessory too. My sil, Barb, loves to have fun with the kids- here is a pic of what she spent her time doing the other day....

$$ FOOTBALLS !!

All in all a great weekend.

Manic Monday- actually started with a crazy Sunday night. Jakob started running a wild temp about an hour after we got home. Acting totally crazy- he fell asleep then woke up talking about a GIANT CHEETO and kept asking who is here, and his skin and the whites of his eyes were bright RED !! Took his temp - 104.2. Yep that's my Jake....the high temp kid. When he was younger he used to have the seizures from high fevers. So I started the Tylenol/ Motrin alternating schedule last night and my mommy instincts woke me about every 2 hrs like clockwork and I checked him- ALAS this morning he just broke the fever and is / or was at 98.9. Through the night we ranged from 102.9- 104.9. I believe it is a sinus infection.....Mom is home today with the fevering kid and off for a 1030am appt with the pediatrician. Did you know that Meijer does free antibiotics? hmm, I love free. lol

Sorry Beth, I am really hoping nothing that we could have passed on....the boys are wanting to come back soon....Brad wanted to come here for a couple hours before I took them home, so we promised maybe in 2 weeks they can both come stay overnight.

So besides a sick kid and an appt...I plan to make some huge dents in laundry and housecleaning that is all way overdue. I cleaned out dressers last night until bed time and have been packing up the winter clothes, sorting out what we will not need....sounds like we need to have a yard sale. the boys have really been wanting to have one...maybe we will let them host it and then we can work out a deal for the $$ earned. hmm- sounds like more work...LOL

Hope everyone has a great Monday.

busy busy

Still focused on losing the fluff....have been so busy only made it to the gym 2x this week- for this I am bummed but....start again with next week.

Off for the birtday weekend....taking off tomorrow morning with Brad and Cory coming with us. Love adding these two- they are so darn good and they keep all of mine from fighting and truly are both a lot of fun to have along....and my family just loves them!! Dad could not get over Cory's manners when he came up the first time....and Cory thanked him and gave him a hug before we left alongside my boys. melted Grandpa's heart.
West Michigan Whitecaps game tomorrow at 630 - cookout at 3 at my dad's - Lake Michigan in the morning before we come home. Thinking I would love to walk the beach and take some pics. We are way over due for some fun snapshots!!

My total BIG treat for this week....before the baseball game...lol

2 Dove dark chocolates...... and I love the little quotes inside.

"there's no excuse not to dream" and "Naughty can be nice."

better scoot and get off to work.