salsa!!

I made 15 pints of homemade salsa this weekend. It is YUM-O!
We made salsa 2 years ago but this is MUCHO yummier! The
boys want to put salsa on EVERYTHING and to just eat it salsa
and chips for every meal. Love it.

Big day for Koda today. He got his license in the mail....the real thing!
and he is now dual enrolled in J High and Baker. He will get credits from
both....and could finish his senior year with 24 -30 credit hours towards
his PTA certification! What an awesome start ! These credits can transfer
to other colleges if he choses to move to a different school. EXCITING!
Thes BEST part....it is totally FREE to us while he is in high school. No
tuition and no books to buy! He will go to college from 7:45am-11:45am
then lunch and off to J High for 2 classes! On Fridays he only has afternoon
classes at J High - no classes at Baker.

Boys schedules this week are crazy busy! Which means I am running in
several directions after work....and of course work is NUTS! Don't they usually
go hand in hand?

Have an awesome week to all of my readers.....HA HA!
(I think everyone gave up on my blogging!)
on me.

First game of the season

and of his high school years! We played Holland West Ottawa and they mopped up the rain with the Vikings! It was a sad sad game....the score was horrible.
Ummmm.... Vikings 0 HWO 57 - YES you read that correct!

LOVE this pic!!

what's going on?

Ist foornall scrimmage....complete. Now this week we start with the 1st game of the season. JV and Freshmen at home against Holland West Ottawa!!
The poor varsity kids have to travel all the way to Holland West Ottawa Fridya night....that will be a late night!! 2 hours + travel time....wow!!




Just a fun collage from MI Adventure last weekend.

This weekend id just flying by.....

• Dad had the open MRIs done here in Jackson on Friday...then tried again on Sat for the last one....and was unable to complete....he stuggles with panic attacks. Poor guy.
• Dakoda's bday yesterday was FUN. We took him out to breakfast in town to Marrer's? (not sure that's right?) then home for some 'hometime'. Then we went to DQ for Blizzards in the afternoon for ?lunch? ha ha ....then last night no one was really hungry for dinner so we had chicken nuggets n fries while watching a movie. He bought a steering wheel cover and floor mats for his truck with the $moolah we gave him! Looks sharp!
• Today....made the kids breakfast then started baking!! Made 2 loaves of blueberry zucchini bread....making muffins to freeze and then 70+ MONSTER cookies for the dinner on Wednesday for the football team!! (yes, I have to bring 70 cookies!! still wondering if it wouldn't be easier to go to Sam's and buy 70 cookies!!)
• Koda and Steve Sr are going bass fishing this afternoon!! So we are doing dinner SOON.

Next week....

Monday - Steve Sr on vacation for the day....taking Koda to test for his license and hopefully make it to DMV before they close. Jake football from 3-6p

Tuesday - Jake football 3-6p

Steve Sr take my dad to doctor at 3:30

Wednesday- Jake football 3-6p then dinner to follow

(they feed the entire team a meal the day before the game!! and the parents all provide the food!! - which is why I am making 70 cookies!!)

Thursday- Jake's first game at 4:30p

Friday - TGIF

Weekend - Chelsea Fair truck and tractor pulls!! (earplugs needed!!)

• 
  
  

where did the time go?

I am so surprised how fast 6 weeks flew by? I was supposed to get so many things done....hmm, and they are mostly all still waiting for me to do them.

• I am back to work.



• Football is in full swing. First scrimmage is tomorrow at 10am. Jakob is playing freshman football....he did not want to try out for Varsity when offered and he turned down JV. He wants more play time? I did not try to persuade him....his choice this year! :-)



• The garden is producing loads of produce. Freezing loads of zucchini, beans....



• Someone stole Jake's phone out of his locker today..kicked his lock off his football locker...and it was GONE! 3rd phone this week from the football team? Jake and Jake think they know who and the coaches think they may have an idea too.



• Steve II has grown like the garden this summer....measured them a couple weeks ago....he is 13 and 6 ft tall! He was wearing a 10.5 shoe last spring...now a 12.5/13! HELP!

• We took the kids to Michigan's Adventure last weekend for Dakoda's birthday. It was H O T!! and these crazy boys did not want to visit the water park ?? They rode coasters and carnival like rides. It was fun. The extra child is my nephew Richard!

Hope everyone is enjoying the last few weeks of summer.

What do you THINK?

Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinion drown out your own inner voice. Most imporant, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
~ Steve Jobs

Thinking I am going to put this in a frame and hang in the boys' room?
Makes you think, huh? Like it...A LOT!

hmmm

I have encountered a delay in my return to work....AGAIN!
Dr. Scott is not fond of the fact that 2 of 3 of my insisons are encountering problems. However, we have come to the conslusion that my body is not dissolving the sutures..it is rejecting them! Which is causing the issues

BUT....I do have an approximate return to work date...August 17th!

What to do with myself until then....
1. Need to do list
clean
clean
plan for upsoming activities

2. Want to do list
create
visit
enjoy sunshine

3. Reality list
rest
sit
make menus ?

Today looks like a beautiful day is ahead....hoping to enjoy some sunshine.

Full of Beans!

Green beans have definitely started to take over.....I froze 51 pounds of green beans today!
YES I said 51 pounds....we have our garden in the backyard then we have more on the lot behind us. OH MY! My freezer is FULL of beans...literally!
Thinking Jake and Steve will be sitting on the corner selling green beans with the sweet corn guy!
Anyone in the area in need of green beans....c'mon over! Would you like them...fresh or frozen?
Lovin the sealer machine Dad gave us....it is perfect. The bags are a little $$ pricey but well worth it...as they freeze up wonderfully!

Back to the doctor tomorrow...thinking he may spring me soon. However, I do have a new infection in an incision and a lump under another incision (my opinion, as if it counts, I think my body rejects the sutures....seems each time I clean the sore I pull out another un-disolved suture! note to Dr. Scott...need to try a new kind!) .....and having my hormone levels checked tomorrow to see if I need the replacement patches or no?

****
NOTE!
Thank you Hamlin's again for allowing us to have the boys! I had an awesome time with all of them from the time we picked them up til we dropped them off. Awesome kids. Hope we can do it again sometime...before next summer.

Christmas in July 2009

What FUN! This year was hosted by my Aunt Bobbi and Uncle Jack and their kids/ families. The luau theme was a hit!

2 zucchini....

Who'd a thought kids would love my zucchini so much?
I used 2 zucchini and made ......
2 loaves, 24 mini muffins and 12 regular sized muffins of
CHOCOLATE zucchini muffins/bread!

http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,184,156182-255207,00.html

I feel good....

I cannot believe how much better I feel today compared to Friday! WOW those fevers were kicking my butt much more than I thought they were! I am beginning to feel much more like ME! I like ME! :-)

Have a couple shots to share of Jake at football camp. Lomas Brown - former Lions team member help a camp at Jackson High.

Jake has an organge tshirt on in the 2nd row.

He had a lot of fun and cannot wait to play football since the 2 camps.

Dakoda had to dress up to go to U of M as part of his job. They take them on some 'field trips' - so far he has gone to the capitol and U of M. Great opportunity he has with this MDOT job! I am hoping maybe he will continue next summer too!

and there is Steve - crazy nut- I think he is wishing he was a UFC fighter in this pic!

precious

This precious note was on top of a BIG platter of

HOME-MADE blueberry muffins!

The note was from an awesome little girl that has a very special place in my heart.

Thank you Madi - I love this note and it made me feel all better!

XXOO Love & MIss YOU

The muffins are amazing - you are ready for the B&B grand opening Miss Beth! So far everyone in the house that is up has snatched a couple with a glass of milk for breakfast and commented on how moist and yummy they are!

Thanks again so much for the visit. I do agree that we need to get some sort of pledge going to meet up at least once every other month.....the 3mo/ 6mo plan just bites! and we need to get the whole gang together in there sometimes too!

Not enough time in a day every 6 mos to catch up on life!

Smile and Laughter Therapy

Smile and laughter therapy works. I love it. Our visit with 1/2 of the Hamlin's was awesome. Loved the chattin with Beth on the front porch with an iced tea just catching up on life.

Then I had fun watching these boys being typical teens and rough-house in the pool. They were a riot.

Thanks Hamlin's! You lifted me waaay up!

And I get them back on Tuesday.......fingers crossed! until Friday! :-)

although it is from a camera phone- it is pixel-ly...you will get the jist of it.

DORK teenagers. :-)

*Still running fevers....ugh! Started antibiotics yesterday but still lingering. Sounds like maybe some lab work and maybe tests to see what is causing this? Let's hope it will just end with the antibiotics.

Peace.

warm

The weather is warm and I am warmer...ugh.

Fevers started on Sunday afternoon- low grade. Then faded only to return yesterday afternoon. The went away before bed last night and are back again even higher today! :-(

Talked to Dr Scott today - he decided to start some antibiotics. Let's hope this does it!

Call him back on Fridat morning with an update..if not drastically improved..we will do more tests as he is concerned about that lonely ovary he left behind. YUCK

Now on to the good stuff.....

The Hamlins's are coming tomorrow. The Hamlin's are coming tomorrow. (do you see me dancing my happy dance?)

My house is a wreck and filthy....but I am going to ignore it and focus on my visitors. Gosh golly...we all know we didn't become friends because of our house or maid service. :-)

This lil princess has been my shadow since I came home. She's been posing for some great pics.

That wraps up my day so far!

"The Hamlin's are coming! The Hamlin's are coming!" :-)

Here is our garden plenty....green beans. They were so yummy last night!!

This is a little of what we have been up to.....

• Dakoda got his truck - 1999 Dakota
• He takes his final test on Sat at noon with EZ Way
• Sec of State on Monday and he is OFFICIAL
• Awesome pics from Grand Haven pier the last weekend we were up
• Koda working on painting and cleaning up his hitch for his truck- he is so grown up...I hate it on one hand and LOVE it on the other. He is an awesome kid.
• My Gerbera Daisies are awesome in full bloom!
• My new fern from my mom is gorgeous - and HUGE!
• Koda got his first check from his first job! NICE! He made his first truck payment!!
• Jake has been busy with football....Loma Brown camp last week, J High camp this week then a 2 week break!
• Steve has just plain been GROWING! He is almost as tall as Jake and not slowing down.
• Me? I am good. Survived my surgery on Wed July 8th! a nightmare to get started but all in all came out well. Struggling to slow down and relax!
• Steve? I think he is tired of being a nurse and ready to go back to work! :-)

right now

Right now....

• I am home on my lunch hour.
• I am exhausted. Training peeps to cover my many daily tasks called MY JOB!
• Jake is silly. He went to a birthday sleep over...and he has not eaten or slept since yesterday! (well he ate dinner last night) He is so sleepy he is silly
• I looking forward to the week or so after surgery- I have a couple good reads on hand and more scrappin stuff to make cards.
• I am planning pages to do for Koda's scrapbook...need to get it done before next spring!
• The sun is hiding behind a thick blanket of clouds making for a gloomy and cool afternoon.
• all in all....life is good.

I hope to start blogging more after surgery....I will have more time. lol

Outside my window: and awesome garden awaits the 'Garden Ho'.

I am thinking: that Koda really needs to get his license....the Mom Taxi has to have him at work at 7am.....HELP!
I am thankful for: Faith, family and friends
From the kitchen: I hear boys scooping icecream...and a fight has just started over flavors

I am wearing: stuffy HOT work clothes
I am creating: A MESS!

I am going: CRAZY...wanna join me?
I am reading: blogs, blogs and more blogs
I am hoping: the dr will decide to do surgery SOON

I am hearing: That 70s Show, the shower running, and Guitar Hero

Around the house: I hear TIRED boys! They may be teens but they still get HOT n cranky!

One of my favorite things: ICE TEA
Plans for the week: Heading north on Thursday to accompany my dad to a dr appt to get a referral to the U of M!
Photo to share:

Porter Street Biker Gang

The frame I made for the baby

shower last weekend=

Brylee's her name

I love fishing

Because my men folk all LOVE to fish. They headed out about 3pm this afternoon and said they would see me around 'dark thirty'! WOO HOO. Watching a chic flik, blogging, clipping coupons, and sipping an ice cold Coke. Does like get any better? :-)

Spent yesterday evening at a wedding...it was beautiful. Very unique wedding.....nothing traditional about it, really, other than the attire. Congrats to Josh and Abbi! A few snapshots from yesterday....

I am blogging....

I stumbled across some old photo albums when I was up at my dad's last time.....and have started scanning the pics to share with my siblings and 2 cousins. I am amazed


The handwriting is my Grandma's....this was her home where her father had the butter room. Grandma made note ...look at the single light bulb above the machine...that was IT!


This is an old family photo.....how cool. This was her Mom's side of the family!

This fascinated us....my brother, Bill and my Grandpa Meek were playing a video game....do you all remember that game? The console is sitting on the stool. HELLO? Look at the tiny TV!

Guess who?

Life has been crazy for me. Seems as though it's just one curve ball after another. However. I have been chanting "I will survive" and it seems to pass the day. Thinking I may need to go back to batting practice...as it seems to be wearing me out!

Had a wedding to attend today...and it sure was nice to have everyone else travel this time rather than me. The wedding was in Grass Lake. Nice. Funny too to hear them all grumble about the long drive....I know nothing about that drive....ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !

I found a neuropathy clinic at the U of M we are trying to get my dad into. Cross your fingers. Next step find him a new place to live. Must choose....Eaton Rapids or Spring Lake.

Next weekend....I get to go spend some time with MY MOM. Miss her lots...NEED to go spend MORE time with her. Just need to figure out where to get more days in a week/ month. xxoo

do you remember...

Thank you Mom and Dad and Cassie for coming to Jake's graduation! It was such a treat to have you all present! He was surprised!!

(this pic shows those eyes up close...although it is an oldie...it's a goodie) lol

Did your school do the mock elections ? They give you a list of a bunch of things to nominate people for - you vote. (all choices were fun and positive)

Jake also received a 'Fly Under the Radar' certificate from his Algebra teacher....too TRUE!

What a fun day...and then.....

We had a great day today....the 8th graders were TONS of fun and loads of laughs. They played putt putt golf at Ella then we had the picnic. We had a DJ -complete with karaoke.

The weather was cool but NO rain!! :-)

The dancing 8th grade girls........and Team 8-1. This is the group which is 1/4 of the

class of 2013

and then Jake and Ian were playing around walking on the curb....Ian gave Jake a shove and he rolled his ankle. (please ignore my messy house)

Waiting to hear from the dr or express care tomorrow....to see if they determine a break or just a bad sprain. For now he is on crutches totally non weight bearing! My boys just are not graceful ballerinas. lol