Oh my crazy teens

I was left with Koda and Kyle tonight to hand
out candy. They were tons of fun...they kept
changing costumes and having fun....making
me laugh! Koda was being tough - making kids
say Trick Or Treat to get candy! :-)


This is Kyle - Koda's friend-



Koda - he scared a few people with this one



Kyle - this one makes me giggle every time I see it




Steve II - scary





Koda again....he made a lot of little kids stare and
even some adults

Jake was off with friends - no pics this year.

And no pumpkins..... oh they grow so fast and time flies!!

Happy Halloween!!

What is your favorite Halloween memory from your childhood?
Favorite costume?

• Handmade costumes - I was a very lucky little girl - I grew up having a very crafty and creative mom that always sewed and made the BEST costumes!!
• My favorite is definitely when I was very young - I might guess kindergarten or first grade-I was an adorable bunny - complete with puff ball tail and tall ears, painted nose and whiskers.
• This particular year was a normal Michigan Halloween complete with drizzly rain and puddles. YEP, 'grace' aka Kandi bounced her little bunny tail right in a BIG MUD PUDDLE! I remember being so heart broken and upset! It was awful!!
• However, my elementary back in the sticks and many moons ago always had a after Trick Or Treat party for the students, costumes judging contests, and many fun treats and games.
• Well the MUDDY TAIL BUNNY won! ( which I did many years , thanks Mom!) The prize? a SILVER DOLLAR and if I didn't think that was the COOLEST thing EVER!

Wish I had a pic to share of the cutest MUDDY bunny to share - maybe someday Mom and I can go through those albums and start scanning some too!!

THANKS MOM! I know you are following along from TX - Miss you!! XXOO

Have a Happy and SAFE Halloween!!

Thursday with a perfect ending

A perfect ending to a stressful busy day at work...grab some pizzas, 4 guys and head to visit Gram! It had been awhile since we had been to visit Gram...she is doing very well and we had lots of fun visiting with her.
Gram was amazed at how big the guys are getting....and how much they have changed. Her baby girl had to miss the visit - Aunt Flo is visiting her.
While at Gram's my cousin joined us and mentioned that she has not had her male Yorkie 'fixed' yet - so we have to quickly decide if we want to try to breed her...anyone for a Yorkie puppy? We are trying hard to weigh this out.....they would be born just about Christmas...ready just before Valentine's Day! Hmm, marketing thoughts! :-)
Dad called and told us to bring the truck if we want an upright freezer, a friend of his offered it to him - U HAUL it's yours FREE. works fine, he is a single man with no need for that much space.
All is well....no school tomorrow, heading north right after work and I am heading to watch some tv and get some SLEEP! G'night!

Did you see.....

ORIONID METEOR WATCH: The annual Orionid meteor shower, caused by dusty debris from Halley's Comet. Little was expected of this year's display because a bright Moon is hanging in the pre-dawn sky, causing an interfering glare. Surprisingly, however, sky watchers on Oct. 20th witnessed 15 or more Orionids per hour, many of them brighter than first magnitude stars.

It was very cool....although I am never positive it was we acually saw..lol

Weekend Fun

Hunting is happening ....nice cool weather ...they are anxious to hunt every opportunity they get!

I have big plans of getting some baking and cleaning done while the boys play in the woods.
Mini Carmel Apples Carmel Apple Cheesecake Bars

These treats are on my list of possibilities....well the bars are dessert for tomorrow!! The mini carmel apples just sound FUN! and something I might bring into work....but speaking of work they sound like a lot of work...maybe something fun for the younger 2 to do with me while the hunters are out. ( Jake and Steve do not bow hunt YET!)

Tonight we have a birthday/ Halloween party to go to. They have a corn maze, scavenger hunt and more for the kids....should be fun. *note to self- remember the camera!!

What do you have planned for weekend fun?

Home

I am home today.....snuggled into my bed, then up and cleaning and back for a rest!! I was HIT by some sort of a bug- ick. Left at 430 yesterday as I knew it was coming on.....icky tummy all day long and around 1 then headache hit. After a busy night of getting my mileage in running back and forth.....I am exhausted and feel like I have been run over by a BIG BIG truck! :-)

Hoping to get some scrappy time in before the kids get home though *wink wink* scrappy therapy always makes me feel better!! :-)

Card Crazy

Had a blast last night. Went to a card party with a friend from work....from 630-1000. The hostess is a Stampin Up! consultant - and not pushy for sales what so ever. :-)

All of these cards for just $10 !! She has everything cut and ready - all the tools are there - Sizzix, Cuttlebug, tons of embellishments, everything- bring your own adhesive and a drink.

Next class Nov 6 - 6pm! There is a Christmas special class - 20 cards for $25.00 Dec 6th

Poopy pics - but you get the idea. OH! and the little extras at the bottom....a dressed up Halloween treat - covering a Peppermint Patty - and a punch art Santa....been a long time since I have done punch art - it was FUN!!

Great weekend fun !

Jake, Steve and I made set out in search of our friends in Lakeview! It was a beautiful day and the ride was nice. Although we found that Saturday in Edmore, ( small town you go through on your way) is a good day to move your John Deere equipment......at a pace I refer to as 'mosey-ing along'. Then we knew we were very close when we spotted an Amish horse and buggy....which of course made Jake comment 'Hey look they have pony and buggy rides here." :-) I think he knew the difference? ? I hope. ? City boys!

It was a typical Hamlin football Saturday so we met them at the high school field. We caught most of Cory's game - Sweet TOUCHDOWN, Cory!

..........and all of Brad's - and yet another HAMLIN TOUCHDOWN! Way to go Birthday Boy, Brad!! Awesome players ! We missed Zach's game as we did sleep a bit longer than planned and ran a little later that we wanted to.....but he told me he had a great game!! :-)

Miss Mads was busy socializing! :-)

The boys had a blast meeting the new friends that Cory and Brad have in Lakeview...infact Steve asked if we could move too. :-) It is a very homey feeling small town, especially to me. I loved it and am so happy they have all adjusted and love the new place!!

Even though it is a small town- they carry silly string in 2 of the 3 stores in town. Well, they did until Beth bought them all out! :-) The kids had a lot of fun - 13 kids armed with silly string!! Woo Hoo!!

We had a great visit...and we all agree time flies when you are spending it with GREAT friends.

Thanks again for sharing your busy Saturday with us - and letting us come visit.

(and for sharing your scrapbooks with us ! Loads of fun looking at old pics of those cuties and giggling at the beginner styles and how we have changed!!- yet we have matching papers and layout styles!!)

I am alive

Just a quick post - I am alive and well...just oh so busy and exhausted every night when I get home. I have been trying to spend more time with the boys and homework ( grades and attitudes were beginning to show signs that needed momma's attention!! )- therefore much less time for me to blog!
Hope everyone is having a great week.....hope to post again soon!

Taking a break

What a wild couple of weeks....I am taking a personal day today to try to catch up at home - ok and a little work too.

Had a great time Tuesday night - girls night. I think I loved the movie but so hated the ending. Hope we can do the evening fun nights with Beth a couple more times before she is done working in Jackson.

Heading north this weekend for my mom's farewell - she will be heading towards Texas soon!! Making my ultimate favorite apple snack cake and baked beans for our little dinner get together.

*Please add my sister in law and brother and their families in your prayers. My sister in law lost her mother Wednesday night. She had been fighting Alzheimer's for years and was overcome by an infection that she just could no longer fight. I will be attending the visitations this weekend as well on Sunday.

I took this pic yesterday morning from my office window....the sunrise / colors / the skyline it was worth a picture.

Hope everyone has a great week end!

**Updated**Hunting update and more updates to come

Stephanie my niece that is 5 weeks older than Koda landed a 130# doe last night !! GIRLS RULE !! ( oh and I have to add .....she is not bow hunting lol)
WOW !! The pressure is ON! Now we need bigger or buck!!





Koda saw three this morning - took a shot a doe - MISSED . .................................................AND then a BUCK came in....he took a shot- YES!! ......
he waited and we went looking ( yes he and I ) and this what we found.....







We walked and followed a blood trail......and then the other guys came back ( they were hunting a few miles away!) and they are tracking it now. Looks as if he went down to the swamp.
Cross your fingers for Koda!!

After 2 hours of searching ( a whole group of hunters) and covering over a mile of land.....staying on a trail of blood....they lost him at a creek!! Koda is so bummed!!

They are back out tonight trying again.....C'mon Mamma wants to fill a freezer with venison!!

Caught in the Act !!

Someone had been stealing gum and leaving wrappers on the floor and no one would admit to the crime....and then I found this!! Just like a toddler...always into something and that 'who me' look upon her face is the sweetest!!
Jake the sleepy hunter......got to see 7 deer this morning and had a doe run right up to his tree he was sitting in.....but she caught a glimpse of them and it was over!!
The mad bow hunter was hunting alone in his tree stand at his uncles house this year...he had 2 does come in under him ....he stood up too quick - nervous and excited and they sensed danger and booked. The buck never came in.

They are all on their way out again for another try!! Updates to come.

Girls Getaway 2008

Awesome weekend !! We had a great time. Met everyone at the hotel on Friday night. We started the weekend with cocktails and pizza in the room!! Turned in shortly before midnight!!

Woke early on Sat and headed over to Turkeyville to the craft/ antique/ flea market.

The group...starting with the driver ...my favorite crazy REDNECK cousin, Stephanie, behind her, my loveable most awesome friend and myMOM. Sitting on the steps to the driver..... my favorite silly sister in law, Barb, behind her my most awesome and favorite Aunt Bobbi , and ME!

Turkey Pumpkin Kit

We went to Schulers for lunch on Saturday.....I loved reading the quotes on the walls, we had tons of fun.....the food was great too! Saturday evening we went to the dinner show at Cornwells - it was tons of fun, great entertainment and loads of laughs!! ( the food was much like Thanksgiving dinner)

We stayed up until between 1 & 2am this morning to watch 'Baby Mama'. Then this morning we shared breakfast and headed our separate ways....weekends like this make me miss home....oh how I wish I could move!

Awesome Tuesday

Great Tuesday evening.....went to get the piggies cleaned up before they hibernate for the winter - with Beth and Karen! It was awesome - the fella that did my pigs gave an awesome massage on my feet and calves too. OH I could have fallen asleep!! Beth in the massage chair after the royal treatment!!

( Can you share the pics you took? please?)

Dinner at Finley's followed...Thank you Karen for the treat!!

This package was left at the front desk for me last week from a scarappin gal that I have done a lot of little extras for lately. I was quite surprised....inside there were stickers, brads, the fall stack of 12x12 papaer from Joanns and a Me & My Big Ideas 12x12 fall special stack and even some adhesive and a handmade card!!

I'm listening

Too cute!!

Jake was reading his hunters safety book - and Riley snuggled up and looked as if she was listening to his every word....and then the pooped out ( below ) except someone was peeking!! LOL

Time flies and scary scary!

I have AGAIN been a blog slacker - life has me in quite a whirlwind right now. Hoping to get caught up and find a slower pace again soon!!
Worked all week, school started, football practice pick ups after work every day - but Jake did give up and quit! :-( , I am sad, ran up north Sat am to stay with dad until this afternoon.

Dad is doing well - I talked him into getting up enough courage to go down the stairs and get in my car yesterday. HUGE steps. Scary for him when he just had surgery and has not done the steps since the day I brought him home. We took about a 45 minute ride down by Lake MI, watched a few boats come in and go out - then headed home. I was driving very defensively - I did not want to have to stomp on the brakes or anything - we had fun!!
I was able to catch up on some house cleaning that he cannot do while there, did some shopping for him, washed his hair, etc - all those things we take for granted when we have 2 good legs...lol
Had to go to work when I got back to Jax as the computer program I use for payroll was down on Friday- which meant I was behind! ick. Stayed just about 2 hours and then ....................Steve called- scared the daylights out of me.....my 2 nieces, 1 nephew and a friend all left for a walk about 330pm this afternoon and could not be found at 530- then 6- Steve and the boys all went and started searching with the others and I went home and waited to learn where I was needed. I made many phone calls asking if anyone had seen them, heard from them, etc....and about 610 they were found on a walking trail. OH my heart was relieved - this world is crazier and crazier and all I kept thinking was time is crucial and praying like mad! HOORAY they are home safe with some lengthy lectures and loads of hugs!!

Jake and Steve II both passed their hunters safety this weekend....today actually and now all I can hear is how they all want bows for Christmas. OH brother. :-) Koda has one - just 2 more to buy!! Going for broke!!

The Barton's are all fine and dandy....crazy busy....but just dandy!

Heading north again next weekend for dad's bday and to check on him as well.

Sept 19th - GIRLS WEEKEND!! woo hoo. This year there are 7 of us. We are going to a dinner show at Turkeyville....and hoping for loads of fun and lots of laughs!! :-)

Update !!

Hooray! Dad's surgery went well. Everything is going quick and smoothly! I have been here since Thursday afternoon and busy!! He came home yesterday early afternoon and is beginning to zoom around.
Today we had everyone over for a nice dinner. Steve brought his brother, Mike, Koda, Steve and Riley up last night for an overnighter. They went Lake MI fishing this morning at 6am. One King Salmon was all they brought in....but they had fun.
Thanks for all the prayers and support.
Love ya

Sweet 16 Camping

Happy 16th Birthday - Dakoda David Barton!!

Made pies over the fire. Steve cheesin...enjoying. Riley stole my fav chair

campfire friends since kindergarten - Koda and Kyle

Played lots of card and dice games Mom and Steve THE BOAT was a HIT!

We had a great weekend. Lots of family time. Steve's mom, Cassie camped with us Wed, Th, Fr. We had Koda's bday celebration on Sat afternoon - family came - and a few friends. We had fun. We cooked by the lake and had cake. Grandma North came down , Grandpa McKessy, Great Grandma Meek, Great Aunt Shar, the Bliss family, Grandma Cassie, Grandpa Barton, Unle Mike and Aunt Jennifer, Jordyn and Kaitlyn......it was loads of fun. Koda's finale was when his Uncle Mike and Aunt Jennifer took him and Kyle to the truck pulls at the Chelsea Fair!!

Back to school?

Can you believe the kids go back in just 2 short weeks?

OH MY !! am I ready?

Yes and No!

Yes- they need a schedule and get back with all their friends

No - I like getting up at 6am alone and being ready to walk out the door by 730am- AND have changed loads of laundry and picked up the house before I go.

and it also means sports and their social calendars keep the tires HOT on the car

How ready are we?

• Some school clothes
• backpacks
• class schedules
• bus schedules
• career center letters / phone calls
• orientation dates - Koda = Aug 20, Jake and Steve = Aug 27
• Football meet the coaches meeting = Aug 25

Are you ready??

question.....can we go someday?

http://www.scrapmap.com/sm_caribbean_0109.html

What a weekend...

• Took gram to her girl get together with her friends from high school in Eaton Rapids.

• Steve went on a fishing charter - they were cancelled and offered a half day rain check.

• Visited with Beth and her mom at the garage sale!!

• My house is back to being full of boy sounds, smells, and piles of their stuff everywhere!

• Stopped at the mall in Okemos on the way back from picking up the kids in Portland. The boys like Steve & Barrys and Spencer's there. Steve & Barrys has everything 2/ $15 this year - we were amazed. They have some cute girly stuff? and cool stuff for the boys. WOWZA did we clean up - 3 BIG bags !!

• Then to Spencer's for 2 concert tshirts!!

I am exhausted. I worked 11 hours today!! 645am - 545pm! Happy moment of the day = Koda has decided to play football. His buddies have talked him into it. :-) I am happy! Busy boy with sports = busy boy out of trouble!! MORE letters and metals, I LOVE it !! woo hoo!! Now, cleats for 2, sports physicals for 2, etc!!

Physicals tomorrow at 430. Koda can wear Jake's cleats from last year!! woo hoo.

Have a great week all.

spolied boys

Our boys have been up north with my dad then my mom since Monday! They have been busy!!

• Monday night - out to dinner - wading in Lake Michigan
• Tuesday- homemade breakfast ala Grandpa, Lake Michigan swimming fun, all u can eat pizza buffet for lunch, more swimming fun, grilled chicken ala Grandpa
• Wednesday- traded off with Grandma. Met at 10am. Went to Michigan's Adventure for the day! Got rained out at 8pm.
• Thursday - boys built a windmill for Grandma when she was at work. Played basketball at the park where I grew up!! Got ice cream at the ice cream porch - my first job!!
• Friday- horseback riding for the very first time for each of them!!
• Saturday- back to Grandpa's - riding with Uncle Bill in his 68 GTO!!?? weather permitting and Grandpa has surprise plans for Saturday night!! Another first!! They will LOVE it too!!
• Sunday- home to their everyday boring life with us!!

Priceless !

Awesome concert. Great music. Hot performers. Front row parking spot - a FREE one at that!!

Ferris wheel ride. French fries for dinner. SKEE BALL. Elephant ears.

All with my best friend. What a fun night!!

Updated with pics !! I love Fishermen

ahhh, just a bit of ramblings ....
Why I love fishermen? I am a lucky lady right now....all my men are off fishing! WOO HOO !! Can you see the Kandi dance happening?? uh huh! oh yeah!! Just me and my puppy!!

• I am in heaven....no men this afternoon/ evening!! ( fishing and one in Cedar Point with friend)


• Washing clothes all day trying to gather enough to ship the boys off for a week


• Helped Dina clean the dr office Friday night BEFORE walking at the Relay from 10p - 12 MIDNIGHT! WOW am I out of shape!! OUCH! %$^&^(*


• Weeded for 2 hours on Sat in the garden! What a job - and a dirty job!


• Weeded and picked green beans today - I think I am sore in places I forgot could be sore?


• Many text messages from Jake yesterday and today - he is having a blast - first time in Cedar Point!! ( he was so excited to tell me about the rides he rode he called at midnight last night!! lol He had no clue what time it was and was trying to stay awake for his turn in the shower!! lol)


• Planning a trip to Michigan's Adventure for the kids with Grandma on Wednesday.


• Wednesday is Josh Turner and Jake Owen at the Jackson County Fair! Box seats front row center.... Beth and I are heading there after work for fair food before the concert!! :-)


• One dinner date planned for this week with no kids....just Steve and I !!


• and lots of cleaning and throwing out the old clutter OR some R & R and S & K time.

Have a great week