WINTER IS BAAAAAACK

As I have always been told...."don't like the weather in Michigan, wait a few minutes and it will change!" How very true. Mom- the snow all melted and within the same 24 hour period ice and snow came back. Now here is the latest!! Be happy that you are in balmy Texas!

Tonight's forecast on our local WILX station.......
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A storm system pulling moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is expected to bring heavy snow to Mid-Michigan tonight through tomorrow. Light snow is possible this evening, but it should pick up in intensity after 10 PM. The heavy snowfall should depart Mid-Michigan late tomorrow morning. From Kalamazoo to Lansing to Flint snowfall should be in the 5-10 inch range. From Coldwater to Jackson to Detroit snowfall could be up to a foot. South of I-94 we do have the chance of some rain/freezing rain to mix with the snow that would cut down on the snowfall totals.
Snow day? We'll see.

Bummer wrestling meet last night- Koda lost his mouth guard from his bag so he cold not wrestle. ugh. Dad ran home and looked all over- came back with regular guards from football. One ref said he could wrestle if he got mouthguards in so we rounded up 2 regular guards- the other BIG ref said that wouldn't work- must be the one piece guard designed for the orthodontics. Tried to get a new one (or two) today but the office was CLOSED! and tonight Koda found his mouthguard - in his back pocket of his jeans from yesterday! ugh- BOYS.

Wrestling invite in Charlotte on Saturday = all day!

Big happenings for my little lady- tomorrow she is going to the puppy spa. :-) the groomer I use cracks me up sometimes- she can be just downright obnoxious. Called her today and I reminded her that Riley can be a stinker around other dogs- she reminded me that it is the nature of terriers to act like men boxers- jabbing a punch here and there- and then she laughed while telling me in her opinion Riley just flips others dogs off when they come by like a mad road rage driver? What? Her analgies are odd!! But so far she listens and cuts Riley like I ask her to, so she can be odd. I hung up the phone today feeling a little confused!!
Next week- she is going to visit Dr. Gaide (v-e-t shhhh!) She is going to make sure that 'Aunt Flo' never comes back!! No puppies here. Kind of makes me sad but then again happy that no worries or puppy panty liners again! ick.

Big weekend plans? Wrestling here Saturday, Super Bowl on Sunday, groceries and nails filled sometime this weekend. Maybe a haircut too?

Good morning

"I sometimes wake in the early morning & listen to the soft breathing of my children & I think to myself, this is one thing I will never regret & I carry that quiet with me all day long."
brian andreas

Oh now that would be a great day...........

...if I get tickets to go see Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban, Gary Allen and Luke Bryan- all at Ford Field on August 2? Oh my - I would LOVE to be one of the many screaming wild ones out there.....NOW that would be a great concert!!

Happy Sunday to all.

Busy day here- 8a-930a groceries, 1130a took Gram to get her nails done, 1p grabbed her some lunch from her fav- Wendys, worked 2 hours and I am HOME!

Back on track with Weight Watchers.....even skipped the steaks that Steve broiled tonight!! The ill week I had sure helped me get back on track...started on empty!! Joined at work and this time they offered the etools....oh they are awesome and I have made use of them a lot already!! Making alterations in my recipes- better choices,ie. applesauce instead of oil in my snack cake yesterday....
Tried to cheat on Friday - went to lunch with Beth- had some great laughs ....and I ordered fries with my lunch....ICK- tasted terrible....threw them away! NOW that was HUGE for me....love Wendy's fries!! :-)

Back to work

Took this last night on my way to pick the boys up from wrestling- YES I went because I needed OUT of the house. :-) Although it is more white stuff, isn't it pretty?

I worked until 1pm today! I am now home and headed for a rest- not sure it'll be a nap- but resting at home.

Happy Wednesday

ick

Been home now for 2 days with a flu bug. I beleive it started on Sunday- feeling icky and kind of worn out- thenthe bug hit Monday morning!! I was in bed all day - only up to cruise to the bathroom- and for me that is a sign it is BAD STUFF. I usually can do laundry here and there, dishes? something when home on a sick day. Today- still a temp, headache and going to try to put something back in me....trying instant postatoes? sprite? So far since Sunday- great diet plan- 1/2 piece of dry toast and a 1/4 bottle of water......





Better subject. Koda had a meet on Sat- he took 4th place in his weight class....he sure found some strong dudes at this invite....one opponent was tossing him around like a ragdoll...literally both feet off the ground. He wrestled a kid from Lumen that he plays football with in the summertime out in the field - this pic is the 2 of them- they were harassing one another back and forth prior to the match. It was fun.


Hope everyone is enjoying the bright white blanket of snow....looks like Michigan winter is back.

Fun

Wrestling, wrestling and more wrestling! We have been busy running wrestlers to and fro and heading to invites and meets. Koda is doing great. Although last night did not include a win or medal...he did GREAT! He stayed on top- and was ahead with points (10-4)- but unfortuately he did not realize he had just 30 seconds left and he would have won by points.....he tried to change positions and get a pin...but he lost his footing and wound up pinned. :-(







Hurt his foot just after this....trainer thought he may have cracked the bone- quick bruising and pain...but it appears it is truly a bruise. (knee to side of foot- not a great pair!)




Jake went to a practice for the middle school wrestling team- loved the workout but not the sport. He tried it and said it just isn't his sport of choice....whew! I was concerned and beginning to worry where I would find a size 13.5 wrestling shoe!! ha ha (I love www.zappos.com) Actually his brother is still trying to talk him into trying oe more practice...we will see?

Saturday all day meet at East Jackson. Hoping for a win!! (and a healed up foot)

No school tomorrow- yeah me! I get to sleep in! woo hoo, a whole extra hour!!

(I will post results and more pics soon, Mom!! love ya)

Nothing too exciting

Not much going on here....a little pooped out this week.

So glad that tomorrow is Friday!! AHHH I am ready!! Had some huge things going on at work and missing a day for a migraine did not help.
Planning for Spring Break '08....heading to FL this year! Debating on what we will do...Universal? Epcot? MGM? Sea World? Anyone been to any of them - any opinions?

Low key weekend planned for most- well Jake has a full schedule Sat!! 2 parties almost back to back!!

Ugh

How was your day? This sums mine up......

+ =

Started with a headache that definitely made me think.... Migraine? I get the yawns and have vision issues when one is coming on.....for well over a year I have had them under control first with meds now without....I decided it was not bad enough to call it a sick day so I took Jake & Cory (Jake's friend) to school....it continued to worsen as we drove....and on my way back I was contemplating going to work or back to bed as my eyes were about to burst out of my noggin....when I was rounding the curve downtown near my office I heard a 'thump, thump' noise- turned off the radio and it got louder, more frequent - "Darn it- at almost 38 yrs old I have my first flat!" Well, now what? I called my knight in a shiny silver Ford 4x4 to come save his maiden in distress. He appeared in the down pouring rain and darkness and took me home, gave me drugs, where I went back to bed for 2 hours and slept off the headache - or the worst of it. I feel better but am still light sensitive somewhat so I am staying home. When he gets done at work we need to go rescue my wounded beast!!

Hope you had a better day than me.

Is vacation over already?

I am truly sad that vacation is over. I so enjoy getting up every morning at 615 and being alone to putt around and get ready!!
Tomorrow should be a challenge to get 3 kids up and ready for school. UGH. Doing our best to try to get things prepared and ready before morning.
Busy but low key day......laundry, cooking, some groceries, a visit to Gram and cleaning house....the norm?

Found this awesome recipe when searching for a soup recipe to make this week.
It was a HIT! One bowl and a breadstick they were stuffed. (the breadsticks were taunting my boys all weekend so they had to have one with soup- yummy bags of breadsticks from Sam's Club) Had great salad made up to go with this but no one could eat another bite!! Plenty left for lunch this week or another meal!!

Baked Potato Soup

Week at a glance- school, dentist appt for Steve Sr, wrestling practice daily for Koda -meet on Wed and tournament on Sat, Jake has 2 bday parties on Sat to go to, lots of vacation plans to make for Spring Break!! Florida bound !!

Better get back to my cleaning and laundry.............have a great week back to school.

SILVER

Koda took the silver (2nd place) today at the tournament at Sexton. It was GREAT!
Still trying to learn the camera and the flash in the gymnasium lighting.....but below are some pics.

Have you.........

chosen your word for 2008?

http://aliedwards.typepad.com/

My word for 2008 is SIMPLIFY
I seem to always worry about the little things and forget about what's really important!Therefore, I want to strive to Simplify my life, expect less out of everyone and and just enjoy what life brings and what others have to offer.

What will yoou word be?

TGIF

• Took today off as I worked last Sunday and accumulated OT - they asked me to take a comp day off. Twisted my arm, I squealed 'UNCLE' (remember that?) and chose FRIDAY!! I have a 3 day weekend...woo hoo (doing the happy dance)
  
• Started by sleeping in - 7am




• Made applesauce pancakes




• got a couple loads of laundry done
  
• went to Walmart to shop for wrestling snacks
• used my GC from my hubby - a new set of french nails - ooh la la
• off to meet Dad and Gram for lunch at OCB

YUM

I must share a very YUMMY cookie recipe that I discovered this holiday season.

Dreamsickle Cookies

1/2 cps brown sugar * 1 tsp baking soda*
3/4 cp shortening *1 1/2 tsp baking powder*
2 eggs *3 cps all-purpose flour*
1 tsp vanilla extract *1/2 tsp salt*
1/2 cp buttermilk* 1 tsp butter or margarine*
1 cp white chocolate chips*
3 TBSP Tang, orange breakfast drink mix *White frosting

Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly grease baking sheets. Cream the shortening and the sugar together until light. Add the eggs and vanilla, mixing well. Dissolve the baking soda in the buttermilk. Add the buttermilk mixture, salt, 3 TBSP Tang, flour ad baking powder to the shortening mixture. Mix well. Stir in the white chocolate chips. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared sheets. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes. Frost when cooled.
Frosting- Mix 3 TBSP Tang with the white frosting.
Makes 4 dozen.

Happy 2008 to you

A new FLUFFY (VERY thick) blanket of snow came to help us bring in the new year!! The first time in 17 years of being in Jackson that Steve and I actually went out on a New Years Eve- AND ugh was the drive home a NIGHTMARE! (or I am just too damn old) There were NO roads plowed at 130AM!! But a normal 20 minute drive turned into - an hour and two aching shoulders later - but I was HOME! incident and accident free!! woo hoo!!

Here are some snow shots from today!





The Barton's wish you and yours and wonderful 2008 with much health and happiness!!

Happy Birthday BETH-

welcome home- had to wait until you were here to enjoy......

eHappy Birthday Friend!!

Happy 86th Birthday Gram

We celebrated Gram's 86th birthday yesterday - she hadloads of fun and received loads of goodies. We captured a few great pictures!! We gave her one of the electronic photo frames and a bunch of preloaded pics for her to enjoy!

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all !!
Enjoy your blessings today !!

and a favorite quote of mine.............
"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. "~Dr. Seuss

What is this?

A new baby in my house??? I offered to babysit for friends of ours that have a new baby and 3 other kids so they could try to get some Christmas shopping accomplished together!! Gaven is just 3 weeks old - oh how I forgot how sweet babies are.
Koda loved holding and talking to Gaven....well until he cries, poops, spits, etc. He was so funny holding and talking to the baby!! Jake held him briefly but more loved to just watch him!!

" he has ten tiny fingers!" what a dork Koda can be....imagine that...fingers?
"Wow, I think I would like another one now! " NOT Mr Barton- we are TOOOOOOOOOOOO old and we have both been altered!! LOL

"does he just sleep?"

That was our fun and excitement yesterday!! Today I started very early 645am at Meijer- groceries and last minute things!!

Tomorrow and Tuesday belong to us......except Steve is working today and tomorrow.

Christmas traditions............Movies or bowling on Christmas afternoon!!

new email

Have the new 'bundle' installed.....my new email is 5bartons@comcast.net
It was like Christmas here today a week early.....new cable channels....speedy cable internet .......and unlimited long distance!!
Late night....wrestling meet tonight! Koda did a great job but lost his match!! I told him to pretend the opponent is Jake or Steve and he will kick butt!! LOL

Pretty in Pink

Isn't she cute? I have to laugh- thinking soon I need to change my blog name to Riley's blog

....sorry boys!

Well, we survived the weekend travels- our venture home on Sunday was less than fun!! Our normal 2 hour trip lasted well over 3 !! 127 was one lane of somehwat plowed yet drifty snow....ugh. A semi in front of us almost lost it....but HE must have been watching over this driver and his load because he amazingly recovered - although I can tell you- it made him slow down a bit and think!!

I left my memory card in the pc - as I had put in in to clear the card and forgot about it- we got to the Christmas celebration and I pulled out my camera to find- NO CARD! UGH. I let my brother take the pics....but I think we missed many! ugh. I SOOO miss the group shots but with the older kids they seem to come and go as quick as they can. Hopefully Bill will share those that he did get!!

Wrestling meet at home this week- wednesday. Koda is kind of pumped....he hopes to wrestle the same guy he did at the last meet against them because it was a tight match but Koda lost. He thinks he can do better...we will see. It is fun seeing him strive to learn something new- he is normally the kid that does not like to adventure out and try new things if he does not think he can master it quickly.

**Our email is going to change soon!! I will post again and email everyone. I am switching to comcast cable....their bundles deals are amazing and will save me a chunk every month!! Phone, cable tv and internet for $99 !! Mom, ,my phone service will now include unlimited long distance so I will be canelling TransWorld too.

Better get ready to go to work....1/2 day today as I had to go do 'the girly appt' today. Made the appt for 830am was out by 10 and went shopping at Meijer. Spent my Christmas cash from Foote. They had the Crop In Style XXL Tote on clearance for 50.00!! (The big square box one- hoping I can fill it and clean up my computer area!!) Sorted out lots for a lady at work- he daughter is just getting started and Mom is a single Mom....and I had so much that I no longer use.....filled a box with paper and one with goodies!! Pay it forward!!