I'm a sleepy WING watcher

Woo hoo....I can finally get some sleep this week ! Last night I was so pumped after the win....I tossed and turned for quite some time and Monday I was up until after 1am!!

My boys are bringing down the house and bringing home the cup!!
WOO HOO - it was another rough game - RED WINGS ROCK !!

3-2 VICTORY and the cup is back in HOCKEYTOWN!

OH how I wish I could play hookey tomorrow and go to the parade!! The boys have one more day of school tomorrow is it. Koda actually has exams on the last day? I never remember doing anything on the last day? Infact, I remember many kids not coming the last half day? Anyone want to play hookey with me? OH how fun and OH the pictures I could have!!

woo hoo

School's almost out!! Koda has 2 more 1/2 days - exams , Jake and Steve 1 full day and a half day.
Tomorrow night is my baby's 6th grade graduation.....our last year of elementary is coming to a close. WOW!
More to come - pictures from tomorrow night a promise.

Change !!

This little fella was visiting Mr. Barton's garden- how cute is he?
This fella has not realized how big he's getting - can you see that there is NOT much slip n slide left when he lays down? LOL
Snuggle buddies - JT and Riley
She knocked a flower off the plant so her daddy put it on her to wear!!

Sorry for my lack of updates...life has been just a wee bit crazy here. More to come............

Stung!

That I was. Nope not by a bumblebee........

I was stung by a Blackman Township seatbelt enforcement sting!!

CLICK IT OR TICKET

I had it on when I left work, dropped by phone, slipped the belt off at a light, grabbed the phone, the light turned and off I went.
Those slick buggers have a orange road sign with saying seatbelt enforcement sitting in a yard with a cop car complete with flashing lights to get your attention- SAY CHEESE when you look....as you have just been busted!! Yep, just as I passed the sign - POOF there he was lights a going....I turned by blinker on and pulled over before he even got close to me. HELLO? I knew he had me....he even commented when he approached me and said he wished all motorists were as honest as I was. How can I fight it? I am sure he has heard them all...
So after 22 years of a spotless record....not one ticket...I have now tarnished my perfect license. Actually he told me that there were no points attached just a $65 fee. Excuse me....did you say JUST $65? LOL he mentioned that he need be cautious as he may be looking to me for help someday- had my badge on...however, he must have thought he would not be needing Hospice for a long time therefore he still gave me the ticket. LOL

Hmm, lesson learned! (never look at a cop car with flashing lights again?
ok, click it and leave it clicked!! LOL)

EYES

Grandma- LOOK we all have EYES!! All 4 of the kids got haircuts!! My handsome men and little lady is a QT !! :-) None of these 4 are any more anxious to head into a salon....they all drag their feet. Yes, I am a licensed beautician and occasionally cut their hair BUT no one knew what they wanted and all were hard to tackle and get in the chair when I wasn't on the go! One stop to Fantastic Sams and all three boys were done. Poof! Koda is trying some new styles....he loves the Fohawk - and actually he sports it rather well. :-)




I love this pic The boys playing Guitar Hero on XBox 360. Two are playing - the other is just practicing along. I wish we had more room.....they really want rock band. Hmm, where can we condense down and make room?

It was a nice weekend for a change. Saturday afternoon we took the boys to Steve's sister, Jody's to hang out while we went with Jody and Bryan on a date night!! We went to Mt Pleasant- did well a few times - cashed in 135.00 once - hit that with just 1.50 in a machine. Then we gave some back- all in all we spent about 80.00 for a full day out - no kids - no cooking - that included 2 meals and a beverage while in the casino. :-)
They boys had a riot.....they took their x box over - all together when we left they had 4 - X Box 360s and 4 tvs in her living room all playing against one another.....they had a blast!! Wish I had thought to get a pic of the gamers and gaming area. And they spent the night!! :-)

Steve and I both worked today!! Now dinner, laundry and some ZZZZZZZZZZs

They've grown

Unfortunately we've been faced with a couple of rough weeks. 2 losses in just 15 days.
But on the bright side....Steve has re-kindled relationships with his siblings.
His brother is missing from the photos- working in Mexico.

my crew
neices and nephews

Happy Mother's day, Happy 41st Birthday and more loss

Happy 41st Birthday to my hubby today!! We had a fairly nice day - played hooky - planned a few weeks ago.

Update you all...Sat we went up to celebrate Mother's Day with mom and my Steves' birthdays! Loads of smiles and fun. Peek a a few pics we got below...

Sunday, Mother's Day - we planned to go to church - as we were getting ready I had Steve call his mom to see if she was still going - and learned that his grandpa (ex husband of the gram we lost 2 weeks ago) was doing very poorly and they were saying SOON.....we let the kids got back to chill out mode and he and I went to hospital. Steve was able to visit with family and see Grandpa before he passed. 2 weeks and one day later Steve lost both of his Grandparents. ugh My Mom

Koda, Jake, Mom (Gram) Alyssa, Steve II
Never too old for Peek A Boo (JT)

The Crew

How time flies!!

Happy Birthday - Steven!!

Is it over?

Thank you for all of the wonderful cards and offers to help us through this past week. It is awesome to know that we have such an awesome group of family and friends!!





Oh what a week

• visitations,- Tues, funeral- Wed, and family gatherings multiple times since. The boys were so excited to see their cousins....and Steve and I were most excited to see the neices and nephews again!! Oh how they've all grown.


• our cold water pipe (s) to the bathroom plugged up after they flushed the hydrants- yeah us!! Steve spent one bereavement day plumbing the bathroom!!


• last night the neighbor's grandkids were playing on the sidewalk in front of our house- skipping stones in the puddles and bouncing rocks....one tried to bounce a walnut and it hit the van!! the window on my driver's side sliding door....shattered !!


• Spent a couple hours cleaning up glass inside and out and taping cardboard and trash bags over it. The dad of the young man that threw the stone or walnut insists they will pay for the damage. They made him go withdraw from his own savings to pay for the damage- that killed me....he's just a little boy - I am raising 3 myself and I know what they are capable of....just lucky so far that none have damaged someone else's property. ugh


• spent all morning looking for somewhere that could repair the glass - as more rain is on it's way. NO luck....best we found was someone that could repair on Monday but offered to shelter it in the garage until Monday!!


• Jake is really taking the loss hard!! I got him to open up a bit to me....and he was very serious about us getting back to church. That's it. We've been talking for months about wanting to find a 'home church' that has the things we're looking for. Right now, one important factor for us is teen involvement. I would like to find a church that offers activities for the youth. A gal at work invited us to come to service this weekend and give it a try - she and her son love their church. More to come...... oh and I learned that some of Steve's family also go there? Could be fun for the kids.

I am hoping that we can find 'normal' again this week. Not that we were ever normal - but at least the Barton normal would be great!!

spring

Fun shots

Steve caught a glimpse of the fella up in the tree yesterday enjoying the neighbors left over Taco Bell nacho cheese.





















a card I whipped off tonight to show Mandy that she doesn't need stamps to make cards

Thanks Beth !! for the idea

















New bikes - Jake and Steve got new bikes








WOW - Jake needed new shoes -
SIZE 14 !
Guess I had better start looking for 14.5 or bigger football cleats.

Randomness

Saturday - YES! OH was this the longest week ever? I never thought the day would end. Actually I got to do the Joann's lunch run with my favorite lunch friend - and once we went back to work it went a little faster. Thanks friend. (OH and we went in to Maggie Moo's - ice cream shop- to pick up ice cream pies for Beth's office birthday celebrations.....and it smelled SOOOOOOOO yummy - and I never touched a thing. Temptation! LOL We have not ever been there before- maybe this summer we will visit - thinking about a birthday cake from there for Steve)




















I debated back and forth all week about making a run north this weekend - A. To see my mom B. To get dad's place ready for next weekend C. cuz I miss my mom !!
After a call from mom - I decided I could wait - she promised to make an appearance next weekend - come hang out and craft with us. :-)
ALSO the weather is not supposed to be nice - rain in the forecast - which would mean the boys would be inside without much to do at both mom's and dad's - dad's cable is off, no computer - oh what would they do? DRIVE ME NUTS! Was hoping I could take them to mom's and they could rake for her - darn mother nature. Now watch it won;t rain since I have moved on to new weekend plans.














Tonight Koda and Steve Sr are going to a concert together. I won tickets on W 4 Country for Lynard Skynard Rowdy Frynds concert- with Hank Williams Jr - and they are both hoping like mad that Kid Rock will show too. (he is friends - frynds- with both of them and lives near by!)
The concert is at the Palace - they are both excited.

I am anxious for next weekend to come.....bought an album to scrapbook our spring break in!! I love it. 8x8. Can we fast forward?

Off to run errands and make some decisions with hubby - have a great weekend.

**these pics all from FL

friends + scrapbooking = FUN

10 more days until the scrapbook getaway in Spring Lake, MI. Are you coming? Have you replied? C'mon , lots of laughs guaranteed, SCRIBBS pizza for dinner - WAHOO!, table space and 2 bathrooms !! Close to Lake Michigan if we need to get out for a bit.....and rest and relaxation
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Thinking I might head north this weekend and see if I can get things ready - we'll see. I'd like to open things up, set the tables up, etc. But the thieves that are pricing gas are making it tougher for us to make the many many weekend runs 'home'.
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busy week happenings

• looked at a house - across the street - no closets? ugh nope. need to stash n store
• Steve II broke his glasses
• finally caught up on a few things at work that were behind from vacation
• Homework police have been busy getting boys back on track - seems that spring makes them want to be outdoors and forget homework
• Starting spring cleaning - making junk run plans for Sat !!
• Koda gets to go to the concert this weekend with his dad - Lynard Skynard and Hank Williams Jr - Rowdy Frynds Tour

Special day

To many of you today proves to be April 15th dreaded 'TAX DAY'. Ugh, well wishes to you - hope your results prove to be plentiful or at least you had a good time all year

To me.... it is a special day a day to remember my hero- it's my Grandma Spence's birthday!! Although we no longer have her her with us- her memory lives on!!

Oh how we all miss her. She was one amazing woman - so full of life and a giver. She made quilts for people all over - taught people to quilt - loved to travel - made friends everywhere she went - she started the family reunion that we've grown to love - Christmas in July!
Favorite things I remember about her - she wore rings on all of her fingers - some more than 2 on each and she clinked when she used her hands - as a kid, we knew she always had candy in her purse, circus peanuts, orange slices or burnt peanuts - she took the grandkids to walk to Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day every year - just G & G took all of us and sometimes we took friends too - she made quilts for every occasion in our lives, special quilts for each grandchild when they married including pillow shams to match, every baby born got a blanket and an inscribed silver baby cup - she loved Nascar - and rode in a car around MIS twice in her 80s - oh I could go on and on......my Grandma my hero.
I love you Gram !!

Have a Happy Tuesday !

A GOOD Sunday

My morning started by waking up and making the requested 'big breakfast'. I made: dippin eggs, sausage, hash browns, pancakes.....with all the extras. To which Jake came to the table and said "Wow Mom, it looks like we are sitting down to eat at The Waffle House." Then he said "but it tastes even better! " A smile that lasted all day came across my face.

Took Jake to the gym with me at 10am. We had a good time chatting and learning the new machines....laughing a bunch.

Took my photo album to Gram's today so she could see the pics and we could spend a little time with her. It was a nice visit.

Made a favorite dinner - nachos ....and we all ate while watching a movie together.

Now laundry time and getting ready for Monday.

We are looking at a house tomorrow night at 6pm - hope this one is IT and allows me to get out of this animal cracker box!!

Beth- thanks so much for sharing the link to http://www.picnik.com/

Before picnik

using picnik

Busch Gardens

More coming soon!

I'm back!!

From a very warm visit to Florida....and a very long ride home. Isn't it funny how the ride home seems so much longer than the one there?



On our last day there- Friday - here is the read out from the van on the way to the Gulf to swim. Now you see why no one wanted to leave Florida? (Ky;e was homesick and was ready to go by the last day for sure!!)





The trip was full of all kinds of excitement. We swam in 3 different areas of the Gulf, went to Busch Gardens- Tampa Bay, had temps above 80 every day we were there!, got to rush Jake to an emergency room in Port Richie, FL at 1030 pm, took a boat trip out to a casino boat that floats 4 miles into International waters- and we took home THEIR $, deep sea fishing followed by a fish fry, picking oranges and grapefruit, making juice, loofahs, oh so many things to show and tell!!






dolphins swimming just outside of the swim area while the boys were swimming - they were not more than 10-15 ft away from them! YES! there were 3 dolphins (no, NOT a shark) they were playing and jumping too!! So COOL.


Home again tomorrow...kids and Steve back to the norm tomorrow....I am home with Riley- who is stuck to me like glue - AND in heat again!! UGH, planning on a grocery run and laundry gallore.

See you on the 8th

We are off tonight at 10pm! Driving thru and hoping to arrive tomorrow evening in FL at Dad's.
No laptop so I will post pics when we get home. Steve is sleeping - hope he can get enough rest to make it through tonight or at least let me get a good nap before he turns it over to me. :-)
Planning a lot of beach time and sunshine....backyard cook outs....a sponge boat ride at sunset...a dolphin cruise and Busch Gardens. We will see if we squeeze it all in.
Every one of us has the sneezes, sniffles or congestion.....hoping the sunshine will fix us all up.
Have a great couple of weeks.....miss ya all

What I have to look forward to........

And the 'thinker' - would be my comical brother - with his lemons hanging low!! He is a NUT!!

what have we been up to?

• Heading to the gym almost daily - on an average missing just one day a week
• Gathering things for the trip - where do you find size 13.5 water shoes? ugh Believe it or not Meijer.
• making lists - and more lists
• debated trading the demon van in before the trip - decided having it paid off in one year sounds better than starting a new loan
• tried to find sandals to go with my capris- no luck- but had fun on a lunch run to Payless with Beth who did not come out empty handed - my shoe and hand bag addicted friend. lol
• we borrowed a cartop carrier from our friends, the Peek's. WOW does it add height to the van - infact so much that Steve has to drive the van until after vacation because I cannot fit in the underground parking structure I park in.
• Did you get the idea that now I am trying to park the bid ol truck in the parking garage now? Could be one of America's Funniest Videos. I go to work by 735 now so I have somewhere to park and no one waiting for me to adjust!! LOL I am getting used to it.
• My brother and neice are heading home today- just talked to them from the Detroit airport. They had fun enjoyed the sunshine. 80s
• We are FL bound without Riley. She gets car sick....and is most uncomfortable for us all when we take her. The vet said we could sedate her if we needed to travel- need? nope, Steve's dad will stay here and take care of her for the time we are gone. I am sad as we have never gone without her - and we will be gone OVER a week!
• Planning to go to Busch Gardens / Tampa

I will try to post some cool pics sometime soon!!

tag! by Jill

7 random things about me

1. I loved BLACK jelly beans. Anyone else? My ultimate favorite combo is pink n black.

2. I love road trips....cannot wait to drive to Florida. I love seeing all the sites as we drive- some of the sites are just breathtaking in the mountains. And all the family time we have together feels so good - and we learn so much about each other by playing games together- so many happy memories are made whether it is a 2 hr trip north or 18.5 hrs to FL!!

3. I have worked many many jobs in all sorts of areas.....scooped icecream at a summer icecream place, Michigan's Adventure, cocktail waitress, retail management, telemarketing, retail sales, chocolate dip/ maker/ sales counter (local store here in Jackson - Gramers, CENA (nurse's aide), and medical office. I probably left something out.....lol

4. I am a list maker....love my lists - cannot live without my lists. I make lists to remind me of other lists. LOL

5. I now am addicted to the treadmill. I love going to the gym- I feel so darn good afterwards- and I've been bringing the kids too who are now just as crazy about it!!

6. Love new recipes. We like to try at least 2 a month!! The latest new fav is the WW chicken quesidillas. Love them. 6 pts each but so filling. They ALL loved it.

7. My favorite color is green! Today being St. Patrick's Day I got to see all kinds of green!!

Happy St Patties Day!!

weekend recap

"You are not leaving WITHOUT ME! again, Mom !!"

Miss Riley jumped up on my bag and was not moving!! LOL

Had a great time this busy weekend. Attending a 12 hr crop in Brooklyn on Sat with friends, Beth, Dina and Mandy. It was a great crop. In fact a favorite so far, I must say. Although we missed our other cropping buddies - the prizes, space, cropping areas etc was all awesome. I would quickly sign up for another of her crops.

Beginning to think more seriously about vacation planning now. We are getting closer to departure date....need to start making lists and checking them twice. Yes, for those you of who know me well - I am a list maker just like my momma!!

Had a pizza party at Grandma's yesterday. I was chosen to bring the pizza - which lead to my horrifying ATM visit. I went to MY BANK to withdraw cash ( I never carry cash!!) only to have both my savings and checking deny me any cash and say that my balances were $0.00 in both!! ?? Umm, we have a problem- my vacation cash is in there somewhere?!! Hello? Only to learn today that there was some sort of a networking problem with local ATMs this weekend. I was relieved when I went to my ATM to check at lunch to find it allowed me to have MY MONEY! Thinking I need to dig a hole out back and busy it for safer keeping!! LOL

We had a nice dinner with Gram, my aunt and uncle, cousin and her hubby!! Followed by homemade apple crunch.YUM

My momma sent me a sweater she crocheted for me.....the box arrived today, Mom!! It is toasty warm and absolutely awesome. Love it. Thank you! Thank you! XXOO

Countdown to Sponge Docks and weekend jibber

It is 24 days, 6 hours, 41 minutes and 10 seconds until Thursday, March 27, 2008

Greek towns, cuisine, sponges in all shapes and sizes, and SUNSHINE! Anyone need a new sponge, loofa? I can bring them home with my oranges and pink grapefruit from dad's backyard!! OH I am SOOOOO Ready!!

Thanks Jill for my bday card!! It was super cute ! And yes, that last post is a digital photo keychain. I can load pics from my computer to the keychain. Rechargeable battery. You can turn it off and on , choose the #of seconds between pics, etc. Just a fun new toy!!

Went Friday night for a scrapbook road trip with Beth in her fancy fancy new van. It is awesome. It has everything except the kitchen sink and a chauffer !!

We went to Pages in Time in Lansing. Oh we had fun. I stocked up on some new boy stuff for the crop I am going to next weekend. Hoping to get loads done. Better go order some more pictures. :-)

and I got this .....from Beth! Thank you!! It is made by Doodlebug !! It is so cool. Cannot wait to tote it around in Florida. It is so stinkin cute- thinking I may not be able to wait.

Weekend happiness-

• talked to my mom - she is planning her next move (Love ya mom)
• talked to my dad - he is gearing up for company soon
• went to Pages in Time - road trip and laughs with Beth
• got my nails filled
• groceries bought and bottles returned
• started making trip lists
• Sunday down time to chill
• 2 kids gone sledding / 1 playing Halo
• laundry almost done
• all meals planned for week
• all appointments and schedules posted on the board

and no more sick kids....everyone seems to be feeling better and back to normal.

Have a happy week.