Christmas

Christmas very busy - 

filled with friends, family, food and gifts.  

The boys were spoiled. 

 We spent lots of time with family.

We went Christmas Caroling with friends.

We feel so blessed.

books,

RC cars,

 more books,

and more books

Detroit Tigers tshirt

movies, opened by the wrong person

more RC cars

and one very surprise boy....

who got his very own Red Ryder.

Red Wings tshirt

stockings filled with candy, chapstick, lotion, pencils, an ornament, and much more

new pj pant and DCS shirts,

and crazy socks for wacky sock day at school

presents from the brothers

more stockings

flashlights for dad

and a red dinosaur for Mike

and last but not least a pic of me (because I'm trying harder to put myself in posts)

Eleven

Eleven years ago, I became a mom for the first time. 

Scary but exciting.  

Some many unknown

Lots of trial and error.

 Over those 11 years, I have grown to love this young man

yes, we have had many conflicts.

we don't always see eye to eye

but I love him every moment of every day.

Happy Birthday Brendan!!!  

His birthday this year, was celebrated quite differently.  We went over for supper on the night before his bday with G & G Geerlings.  He pick Braun Steakhouse because that particular night there was a fundraiser for the YAK team that's going to Guatemala in the Spring and he wanted to help them out.   He was quite surprised when he got a ipod touch for his gift...He was super excited!!!

On his actual birthday, we celebrated with cinnamon rolls for breakfast and a Oreo ice cream pie for dessert instead of cake. A boy after his dad's own heart.  

Then the celebration continued the following Saturday when he spent the day with G & G VanDam.  They took him to Crazy Horse for lunch and then shopping for his gift.  He spent the rest of the afternoon with grandpa out in the woods.  Ending the day with dinner with us at Logan's

"I told you not to do that!!!"

Those are the word you never want to hear from your spouse.  This past weekend, Mike moved the travel trailer to it's winter location.  That night he told me he had moved it and then told me NOT to back into it.  Well, I did exactly that.  I was going to run a few errand, as I was backing out of the garage I quickly called Mike to see where I could put some cookies from a cookie exchange (I didn't want them in the house because then I would eat them.)  As he was saying hello, I had a crack and looked in the rear view mirror and saw the hitch from our 5th wheel trailer in the back of the van.  Not a good way to start my day!!!

Time Away

Second weekend in November we spent some time with friends in Traverse City.  We toured the Old Mission Peninsula and did some sightseeing & wine tasting.  On our way home we stop at Sleeping Bear dunes and did some hiking.  

Great Times with Amazing Friends!!!

Fall family fun

I have always want to have a fall party at our house.  The crisp fall air, a hayride, bonfire, carving pumpkins, apple  bobbing, etc.  We didn't do all those things but we did have a great time.  

The end of October, we had our small group from church over a fun filled night.  We started off with a hayride around the block, which ended with a stop by the baby cows.  I must say those calves didn't know what was coming when 23 kids got off the wagon and started running around...CRAZY!!!  but I think the baby cows slept really good the night (wink, wink)