Happy Halloween!

Here are this year's creations...they did great again. Pumpkin carving is a huge highlight of each year here...all 4 boys enjoy and anxiously await the time!

L to R Ooogie Boogie - Steve II, Pumpkin King - Steve Sr, Jolly Roger - Koda, Tiki Man- Jakob!

do you see what I see?

The new and improved Steven...he can see !! He was having trouble seeing the overhead boards and having headaches after school. The new glasses are for school and when he feels they are needed. He said tonight "WOW, Mom things look a lot different now!" Scary, huh?

Dakoda is back off from school...the pneumonia is getting worse. He is out until NEXT MONDAY! I was called this morning from J- High to respond to him having troubles breathing.....which is a scary call to a Mom when you hear your son gasping trying to talk.....a combination of asthma and pneumonia.

Off to catch up a couple loads of wash and get ready to watch the Tigers! Who's your Tiger?

it's been a good weekend

It was a LOOOONNNGGG week ! However, the weekend that followed it seems to be making up the dreadful days that got us here!!
Our week....work was NUTS! Just a quick inside peek....there are 3 steps to the intake dept I work in- I am step 1- step 3 is a young mom to be SOON that is more than ready to be done being pregnant and goes home or to L& D a lot. Been there so I do not judge her....but it means a lot of her work from step 3 comes back to 1 after 2 to finish! HELP! In the home health field we are swamped by mid-week as the hospital and all dr offices want their patients out of the hospital and home with care for the weekend....HELP. Sorry to bore you- but this 'splains' my STRESS! LOL Then there is my very sick family....we have all been fighting the fall cold - well we all beat it except for poor Dakoda. He was out of school W, Th and F. They gave him antibiotics on Wed for ear infection, sinus infection and so on....but on Fr he was still coughing BAD and running temps. I called and asked for xrays....sounded too deep for my comfort....well Dr. Mom you are right....PNEUMONIA in his lower rt lung! New antibiotics, steroids and a tired boy that is bored and ready to pick a fight with anyone...LOL. We feared on Fr that they may keep him but he was hydrated enough and old enough to follow instructions they felt he could go home....hello he is a MALE? LOL Truly he is feeling better and hopefully returning to school tomorrow.

My weekend...
It started after spending 3+ hrs in Express Care for xrays...learning Dakoda would not be admitted was the first shine of a bright weekend....got home Jake showed me 2 A tests ( been a rough start this year) which I had made a deal with him....bring me home 2 A's and you will get to have a Special Saturday with Mom or Dad!! Yeah Friday night!!
Good Sat!! Woke up Sat with Dakoda feeling a little better , Big Steve went to get his new meds filled and brought me back a rose and card for Sweetest Day! Jake and I took off for his day which included groceries!! He and I went to lunch - his choice, he rented a video game!
While we were gone Big Steve made cookies and changed the linen on beds AND caught up my laundry....NOW THAT'S a HAPPY SWEETEST DAY! Unfortunately, the one downer to my SAT - the Tigers LOST game 1. C'mon boys this is a MUST. Oh did I mention that everyone else was in bed at 9p, last night and I watched the game alone and cleaned up my scrap area and sorted out some STUFF! ahhhh
Now- my Sunday- woke up at 610am- cleaned the bathroom top to bottom, did a load of whites (the only one he refuses to touch and I appreciate!!), made coffee and got to BLOG! I feel like a QUEEN- and here is my greatest pleasure of the morning- Beth look what I found.....OK Blogger will not let me show you.....
PUMPKIN SPICE creamer....ahh heaven.....here it is 805 and I am zooming with a cup of coffee with my fav creamer!! YUM Now- is the paper boy finally out of bed? The boys are....and they want breakfast! Off to make cinnamon apple pancakes and bacon w/ OJ!
Have a great Sunday....
Any thoughts to our clothing yet for the crop? Can we go for Worst Dressed? Just no desire to wear a formal...lol C'mon creative ladies...

What's new?

Where have I been? No bloggin? I really have the desire to blog and keep up...just seems like I run out of time or energy or lately BOTH before Blogger makes it to the top of my to-do list!

My crew has been busy fighting......off a stinkin fall cold! I believe the weather changes sent us all into allergy/sinus overload which then turned to a chest cold. Hoping I am on the last days of hacking here soon!!

Koda is keeping me busy with wrestling practice and just plain being a teen. Homecoming game is Friday for J High and the dance is Saturday! Pics to come.
Jake is now playing the trombone in the band...which he would like to soon exchange for a bass guitar! This boy has big dreams of being in a band with his old buds!!
Steven is having fun just being busy and has just made a big life change.....we ordered his new glasses. The first in our family of 5 to get glasses. He is a little uneasy about the idea....and I reminded him that Bradley had to get them about a year ago too...and after talking to Beth today, they have the same vision issues.?? I will post soon when we get the glasses!!

We are trying to find a bigger house....which has been absorbing more of my extra time too. Ugh, I am so ready to find one....NOW!

Fall always seems to make my life busier....homework, hunting and fall/winter sports....and the fact we all like to snuggle in to watch tv together more in the evenings....mean computer time for me...is RARE! ( and the fact that Koda is always on here checking out his email, the MySpace accts of everyone he knows...and whatever else)

I am so ready for a break and our Crazy Croppin Chics weekend.....hey did anyone come up with ideas for the 'dress up'?

Have a great night all

TAG

Eight Things About Me:

1. I love FALL! Everything about Fall! (EXCEPT the fact it usually brings on a cold!!) I love the colors, the fun decorating, fall foods, baking, the Farmer's Market...I love Fall!! and PUMPKIN SPICE CAPPUCINO!

2. I love to read....Janet Evanovich is my favorite author but I enjoy many others as well.

3. Green is my favorite color.

4. I am the baby in my family and the only girl....YEP lovin it still after all these years!! My brothers both still act as if I could never do anything wrong! he he They are 7 and 9yrs older...which means by the time I was old enough to be out acting like a wild child they were living in TX!! Spoiled Rotten to say the least!!

5. My newest fav website is www.menus4moms.com they have awesome printable menus recipes AND grocery lists to go along with them. I truly saved some $$ and time last week by using my new method of planning ahead and cooking ahead. Check it out! If you sign up for their emails...the next weeks menu shows up in your inbox early the week before....we'll see how long it lasts?? CHECK IT OUT.

6. I am an optimist! I always see my glass as half FULL! and I am married to a man that has a hole in his glass....it always seems to be half empty....which actually makes for a full cup?....or a good 'DISCUSSION' ! LOL Pessimistic people can really irk me, if ever I had to pinpoint one specific trait about people that heats me up....that is it....Pessimism. How can life be so darn bad?? But I married him anyway...lol Guess I was optimistic that he would change or I could change him?? LOL How about you??

7. I danced for 13 years - Tap, Ballet, Jazz and Gymnastics. I did Ballet and Gymnastics when I was from 3yr-9yr, added Tap in at age 4, then switched Ballet to Toe Ballet at 10 and added Jazz. My final recital was in the spring of 1986 I danced a Jazz solo, Tap and Ballet.

8. I am a licensed cosmetologist! Did you know? YEP! Since 1991.

There ya go......what did you learn? anything new? LOL Cannot tag any of you....as my blog doe not get around much...LOL

YUMMY and EASY

I made this over the weekend and was telling beth how yummy and easy it was....and by the way....it is all gone already!! I was going to make her a copy of the recipe...she thought a blog post would be great that way you could have it too ladies....let me know if you all try it
APPLE NUT SNACK CAKE

1 2/3 cups sugar 2 cups sifted flour
3 eggs 1 t. soda
1 cup oil 1 t. salt
1 t. vanilla 1 t. cinnamon
2 cups chopped apples 1 cup chopped nuts
(your choice of apples and nuts)

Mix sugar and eggs well. Add oil and vanilla; beat till creamy. Sift dry ingredients together then add to batter and mix well. Fold in apples and nuts. Pour into greased/ floured cake pan. Bake @ 375 for 45-50 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar while still warm! SO yummy and SO Simple!!

What happens up north.....

The girls weekend away- this pic was taken on our balcony where we enjoyed cocktails after a very long hard day of shopping and touring the island!! :-) WOW- I think I look more like my mom as I grow closer to the 4-0!! Can you see the resemblance?

This is the back of the shirts we found and decided were a MUST HAVE after our WILD weekend away! (we even ran into Joe Morelli- are you a Janet Evanovich fan?) The shirts summed up the weekend well for us.......pssst, I'll tell my girls the stories later :-)

Destination - Unknown!

In August I received an invitation to a girls ONLY weekend away- for just my mom, my sil (Barb) (Tim's wife)and my brother Bill's significant other (Bridget) I call her my sil - lover her to pieces just the same!) We were given the departure time and place and approximate return time and place but the destination was left a mystery!! An RSVP was required by the end of 2nd week of Sept!
Barb, Mom and I were able to get away but we missed Bridget dearly! She is a 4th grade teacher- and I know both Kristin and Beth you understand that in Sept and 4th grade means MEAP prep time and just getting back to school...Bridget was not comfy being away and she also had a new principal!! We missed her!!
So here is how our weekend began! ( P.S. This was also youth hunt weekend- which meant I had to do some major planning to make sure everything went along without a hitch....Thank you Dad for taking the younger two boys!! They loved the special time...and the movie.
Here is how my weekend went.

On Friday Sept 22nd we headed to the destination still unknown to all ....but MOM. I knew we were heading NORTH which I had been doing that and a little WEST since I left home on Thursday- soon I would fall into a body of water of some sort, ya think?? Everytime we asked- Mom said watch the signs....then Barb and I started the annoying "Mom, are we almost there?" "How much longer?" and God love my Mom, just like when I was a kid she kept her cool and just suggested that Barb and I try the sign or license plate game...and soon we would notice if the vehicle came to a stop. IT DID! We came to a STOP around 630 PM- do you know where we were?? Can you guess?? Did you peek??

Mackinaw City! The Bridge! Mackinac City! Kewadin Casinos!

Cast Away

The cast has gone away! HOORAY! Jake saw the doctor yesterday and they decided the bone was fused well and they removed the cast....no brace no PT! However, he is sort of painful today so we are hoping it is just the lack of muscle strength that he is feeling and not the signs that maybe they took the cast off too early!
Better scoot off to work...had to post a positive update :-)

1.06.94-9.13.06

Today we made the toughest decision - we put Mandi to rest. Mandi has been a great little lady and she will be sadly missed by us all.
In 4.94 Steve, Koda and I went to the Paka Plaza and saw this adorable little pup in the showcase! Steve fell in love with her right off the bat. He sent me to the counter to find someone while he stood guard at the case....he was telling complete strangers that he was buying this puppy, pointing her out so that EVERYONE knew NOT to ask to buy HIS puppy. Back then I was a little ( ok, A LOT) embarrassed, now I love the memory!
We purchased her and from day one she has been an awesome pup! She was very easy to train, a great friend for the boys and another Mommy to them when I was not close by! No one could get near the backyard fence without her alerting us! She would not allow anyone to open the doors without letting them know she was right there!!
Some more of my favorite memories of her....how she HATED the newspaper...she would snatch it right out of the paperboys' hand if he made the mistake of opening the screen door and if he did not, she would try to jump through the door to get the paper..LITERALLY!
She had just one toy.....although we attempted to buy her many...in her eyes there was only ONE....a yellow rubber ducky that she STOLE from Koda's kiddie pool! She loved that duck....she would play fetch with it for hours! Even after Steve ran it over with the lawnmower and beheaded the duck....she still loved it!! It was only about 3-4 yrs ago that she stopped playing with the rough looking duck. (yes, we attempted to replace the duck, but NOPE there was only ONE yellow duck!!) I will greatly miss the friendship she and I had- the only 2 girls here we were a team! If ever I was sick and down....you could find her right next to my bed or in cases of the flu....waiting outside the bathroom door....she was my mommy too! Mandi will always be a very special pet to us all....the 2 younger boys came after she did....so they never knew of a time without her. WOWSA! This tough- my vision is a little clouded by the tears=
Tonight was pretty quiet around here....we all felt a little lost! In this little bitty house she is missed! Jackson had a pretty good storm with some big thunder and lightning. I was surprised when a HUGE crack of lightning sounded and Jake yelled out! "Hooray, Mandi bowled a strike!" How sweet that Jake and Steve had been earlier discussing that she was in Heaven- when the rain started they said they were tears from Heaven. They are so sweet.
Yes, the boys are already thinking that they need a new puppy soon.
We will see.....Daddy will need time to heal as he is really struggling!!
Thanks for reading and sharing my memories of my dear Mandi!!

busy night

It is the season finale for Big Brother- will Boogie or Erica win??? and the season opener for Dancing with the Stars- love the show!...what shall a girl do? Channel flip- cannot miss either one! I know you all think I need to get a grip or a real life...but it sure feels like an awesome way to settle in after one very busy day of home care and Hospice referrals! Poor people- so sorry they are ill but gosh golly couldn't they space the referrals out? LOL
Update you all on the outcome of my shows! G'night!

A new week...

Hope everyone has a great Monday.
Weekend was very busy, as always!! Koda and Steve got some practice shooting in with both guns so Koda could decide which he prefers for his first big hunt!! (*youth deer hunt) He now has a 30/30 rifle w/scope, and a 410 shotgun and an awesome bow! (all gifts!! best way to get them!)
Got more painting finished......and I went clothes shopping for ME! YEAH, but of course I came home with something for everyone else too!! LOL
Off for a busy week....have a great week everyone.

Feels like Fall

I think it is beginning to feel and smell like fall. Even my garden is showing signs of fall.

My pumpkin vines took over the yard but have only produced tiny little 'gumpys'. (Jake's term for Pumpkins when he was little..gumpys = pumpkins!)
Most of my marigolds are now hidden beneath my pumpkin vines- UGH!
We spent today cleaning up doing some fall -like cleaning and Steve is still working on painting the house. I made a yummy dinner (pork chops, corn on the cob and fresh green beans w/bacon! YUM!) Now it is time for me to start the dreaded laundry!
Happy weekend to you all.

TGIF

Oh I am so ready to sleep in tomorrow!! I feel worn out and dazed! Steve had a rough time waking me up this morning, much like the kids- I would wake up, lay back down and go back to sleep! LOL

Weekend plans....Hoping to house hunt a little, Koda is going out to practice shooting a few times at a gun range ( do not know anyone that we can target shoot on their property down here.) so they go to a shooting range. Dakoda is going out for the youth hunt this year! Hoping he can bag a BIG ONE in a couple of weeks! He got a rifle and shotgun for his 14th birthday! (Grandpa and Bill (cousin!) ) He is hunting the youth hunt up north and then will go with Dad here during the norm! season! He is very excited! He wants to hunt squirrel too because he wants to stalk his prey! Too funny!

All three boys are loving school now. Yesterday was a great day for all three. YES!!

Better get off to work...thing I need a Pumpkin Spice Cappuchino !!
Happy Friday to all!

school update

HOORAY! The younger boys made it on the bus in the morning and afternoon - AND made it to our house without walking a mile...LOL
Dakoda is adjusting to J High and seems to be liking it more. :>) BIG HOORAY!

WOW! Remember this is info released from my 5th grader!!
Steven had an interesting first day in science. He changes classes and so he met a new teacher too. The teacher was loading a presentation from his pc to be shown on the overhead....the presentation came on...and it was naked people and a title of PORN. The teacher explained it must be a virus...he shut off and re booted and he said INFACT, there is a virus! Ya think? Oh my - now Steve and I are a little shocked BUT also laughed hysterically about it behind closed doors when we imagined what this teacher must have thought and/or felt. Steven said the whole class gasped then started busting out laughing! Hello....5th graders= naked people- hilarious!! Hmm, what else does this new school have to offer??LOL
Hoping for a repeat day! ( minus the PORN!) LOL

back to school

Well we started on an awesome foot yesterday!! Everyone was up and ready in plenty of time...then it began! LOL (Jake and Steve are riding a bus for the first time this year....yes, 5th and 6th graders!!) We were standing at the bus stop and the bus rolled right past us....literally rolled....I could have thrown the boys on she was rolling slow enough...just never came to a stop!! LOL So I drove them and dropped them off....that was cool.
Dakoda started Jackson High- all was ok until he went to all of his classes and found no one he knew! Now he is bummed. ( told him to put on his big girl panties and deal with it.) I will help him if he really needs to get out of a class.....he is an algebra class with 10th graders that are repeating the class and he is UNimpressed!! :-) We had a great chat last night and he started today with a better attitude. (cross your fingers for me)
Oh I almost forgot ...... Jake and Steve rode the bus home yesterday afternoon.....LOL. The bus again rolled past their stop and our house....and they got off when the bus stopped next....which was up by Beth and Kyle's. Luckily, Jake has a built in GPS/ compass in his head and remembers directions when we go places - so they walked home from up there. I explained to them I was proud of them for handling the situation the way they did BUT told them that it is the bus drivers job to get them HOME! Go up and tell her that she missed your spot and she will HAVE to go back! LOL Jake said "no way! I would have been on that bus forever!!" LOL
All in all I , like you all, am so glad school has started! I was able to get dishes done, laundry changed over and the house picked up after my kids were gone and yet before I needed to leave!! ( the bus picks up at 635 AM and Koda gets a ride at 710 AM) LOve it.
Today so far went great! The bus STOPPED today and Koda left with a better frame of mind!!
Can't wait to get caught up on blogs!!
**Is it Novemeer yet??**

if you are ready to start school....

Camping @ YOGIs in Indiana

raise your BROKEN right hand! LOL Just kidding...this was a cute shot I snuck in last weekend at Lake Michigan when Jake got caught down by the lake again without a cover over his cast! Oh Heaven help me, how do you ever keep a boy down and DRY with a cast in the summertime??

At last I can update you all...life has been keeping me on my toes and dealing me a hand full of challenges daily!

Well- We made the camping trip to Yogi's in Indiana....had fun although it was a soggy weekend. Tammy and Bill lost their awning....the downpour we had at 2 am actually was so heavy and hard, although they had their awning tilted...it BROKE! The steel bar actually snapped and tore the awning. Luckily, Dakoda and Kyle were 'sleeping' in the tent under ours and dumped the rain for us....they were still up at 2am and said their pillows were floating in their tent....it was fun! I moved them in around 3am and believe it....Steve Sr, Steve II and Jake never stirred. MEN! Otherwise, we had a good time. Went on my first wine tasting adventure...it was interesting!! Still not a big wine drinker....like the same fruity ones.

The reunion is over- it was a 4 daay get together- lots of fun. We all went to Manistee on a chartered bus on Thursday to the casino...it was fun but we are not rich but the Indians are wealthier thanks to our family!! On Friday we toured the wooden shoe factory in Holland, rode the Dock in Saugatuck/ Douglas, shopped and shopped the outlet mall in Holland. Saturday was an afternoon picnic at Lake Michigan. It was an overcast day but warm enough to enjoy the beach and lake! (the kids did at least) The best part of the whole trip....we stayed with my brother, Bill and his significant other, Bridget and my niece, Alyssa. Every morning we woke up to a hot breakfast.....complete...like eggs, bacon, sausage, frsh fruit....coffee, juice! WOW It was cheaper and better service than a bed and breakfast!! It was tons of fun and it was a great time to make memories with my brother and his family! On Sat night we took the kids all to the drive in....the one where I used to go as a teen...they are closing it after Labor Day for good...selling the land....so sad we had to make one last trip! We saw Invinceable...that was a great movie!
Hmm, what else....on a very sad note....our Mandi is not doing so well. Her time is ticking quickly....she cannot walk very well anymore...her hips are giving up...we are carrying her in and out to 'use the bathroom'- this is very tough for us...as she is only a year younger than Dakoda....basically one of the kids. We will have to make that call very soon. Neither of us can do it yet...however, I know when she has had enough we will know it and we will be able to go.
On a happy note....looking forward to the Crazy Croppin Chics getaway in November!! Glad to hear you can join the fun, Beth and Jill. Wish you could too, Kris but I understand the other stuff all too well...I have been missing all the fun lately!
Hopefully Blogger will play nice and let me come back and play again soon.

Poor baby!

Bike accident last night!! Jake tried to make a turn in a grassy area which hid some steps , he hit a step and flipped his bike...he went up on his front tire and onto his head! His rt arm got caught in the bike frame=
Jake is a mess....road rash on his left side....forehead, face ,arm,shoulder, etc, broken right arm!!
....and yes, I am taking my digi with me when he gets his cast to see if they will let me take pics!!

Now do you all understand where in the world I have been hiding? and I started a new job 'ta boot'! LOL Miss you all.

Here is my hubby's new toy! 2006 Ford F150 4x4. Sweet new toy!! Sorry it took me so long to post!! Life has been a STRONG wirlwind and I just keep spinnin! HELP I am getting very dizzy!
Ok, so after the truck...came Christmas in July

Here is a pic of my oldest brother with a cool hat that we gave as a gift ...it is a Thanksgiving day dinner table hate and it plays "Turkey in the Straw" It was a HIT!! We had a lot of fun again this year!!



After Christmas in July- we came home with the FLU! Started with the kids, then Mom, then Dad! By Wednesday all was back to norm. ewwwww!!

We spent last weekend attempting to do some cleaning but wound up deeper in trouble than we did ahead.....started working on the camper getting it ready for our upcoming trip to Yogis and learned that we had a split in the water heater.....UGH! went to Lowe's to get some parts for this and that to by pass and as we were walking back out to the van I noticed a stream of fluid coming from beneath the van....mentioned it to Steve and he assured me it was from the A/C - hmm, "honey we had the windows down on the way here, no A/C" he hit the pavement made a quick swipe with his hand to learn that there was a leak in the main cooling system line and shouted for me to jump in and drove us home quickly and threw a pail under the van!
YEP- Water issues in the Barton house last weekend.
Took the van in on Tuesday to Extreme - should be covered under the extended warranty!!

Last night- attempting to post a long overdue post of the new truck etc when a screaming child comes in my house screaming that Jake was just in a bad accident ...come see......3.5 hrs in Express Care=

ahhhhhh

1/2 day today then I am off until Monday! A much needed day and a half away!! We have our annual Christmas in July this weekend- which equals loads of fun and many side splittin laughs!! Infact, I think I am adding jello shots to the laughing!! Last year I did my famous frozen vodka slushies......but since I am supposed to be vacationing today and tomorrow jello shots sounds yummy but loads of work..lol
I get my kiddos back tomorrow too....boy do I miss them! It was a good week for them to be away I will say. The most stressful week at work with this job change! It was good for Steve and I to be home together without the boys. He could be my rock and he goes to bed earlier than me so I could chill alone and wind down....all in all....good timing, thanks Pa!
Steve will be adding a new dependent to our monthly expenses today- I will post a new pic as soon as I can. (Beth, he and Kyle just share too many ISSUES as I am sure they also share with with many other men too- just don't know the others as well) Can you guess?
Better get ready for my 1/2 day of work....hey, can I follow 1/2 of the dress code today and wear capri's today since they are only allowed on Fridays and I am off tomorrow? Thanks girls, I knew I could count on you.