Room Up-Date

This is what the room looked liked when we started.

This is were we are as of tonight. Still quite a bit to do but we have come a long way!

Carpet Clean-Up

This is the corner I started in. Once I got an edge the rest of the carpet came up pretty easy.

You caught me doing nothing!

This is what was under the carpet. A foam carpet pad that fell apart once you started to move it.

The floor under it all.

Braces Update

This is a picture just after Mackenzie got her braces on the end of April.

This is a picture from the end of September. Her teeth actually moved rather fast. She is excited and I am too. She now has the expanders (wires between the teeth to make room for her permanent tooth) on and they hurt only a little on they day they do the adjustment. She has been in almost no pain. Praise the Lord!

MOPS Convention

Heather and Stephanie patiently waiting for their ride!

What a great time we had with 4000 other women. The worship time is unbelievable!

It was great to have my sister Kristine attend this year. Dawn and I have both attended 6 conventions! Needless to say we always have a great time!

Run In with a Van

I just knew this day would come!
Last night we arrived home after dark. I got out of my door. Amber followed out her door right behind me. I stopped at the back of my van and opened the hatch. While the hatch was opening Amber came around the corner and the door caught her. We were Praising the Lord that the door did not hit her eye.

This morning we were the first ones at the doctors office. He worked us in. Removed the tape (okay, I went a little overboard with the tape. That's the only thing that hurt her was the tape removal) and found her wound was looking good. He said to keep it clean and don't put anything on it.
During the night it closed up quite a bit.

Friends Outing

Macknezie and I along with a friend from school and her mother, took off and went to Michigan Adventure for a day. The weather was perfect and we had a great time.

The girls enjoyed the rides!

They had mini Go Karts.

Before you know it she will be driving for real and waving goodbye to me.

The night in the hotel was a big hit! The girls were up...Had breakfast....and in the pool by 8:30.

What's up with this weather?

Okay...rain....sun....rain....rain....sun/rain.
This is how the week is going. Have made the most of the sunny days. Played at the beach, lunch outside, great bike ride with ice cream, dinner cruise (pizza on the pontoon). What more could you want from a summer day.
And those rain days have been great to get a little reading in. The girls have been playing great together. Harmony in the house. PTL.
Back to reality this afternoon. Laundry and so much more!
Looking forward to Movie night tomorrow!

Fair Days

It's fair time once again. We spent last Tuesday at the Imlay City Fair. My nephew Ethan pictured in the plaid shirt one Grand Champion Pen and Reserve Champion Market.

Here Ethan is with his sister Micaela telling her how to do it!

Levi and Micaela both took 1st place in their market class. Way to go guys!!! We are proud of you!

Amber and cousins Drake and Kaleb enjoying the show.

Mackenzie had front row seats at the show.

Cousin's Autumn and Drake both showed in the clover buds. They are to young to show market animals. They both did an outstanding job showing their cousins sheep.

Camping in Caseville

RAIN!!! We had our fill of Rain. We had my 10 x 20 tent that we had 3 picnic tables under and a huge tarp that was supported up in the trees that was over our fire pit that was probably 40 x 20 so we made the best of a bad situation.

We ate well! Of course we always do. Got to love those community meals where you fix the food for everyone so you don't have to cook daily. I made breakfast on Monday and Dinner on Wednesday. Too bad I can't get the neighbors to do that here.

We did have a few days where we were able to go to the beach when it did not rain all day. On Saturday our group particiated in a sand castle contest. They made a huge Sand Town complete with a castle. They did win first place. It was fun to see everyone working together have a good time.

The kids enjoy snacks on the beach. One days Amber told me she didn't want to swim or play in the sand she just wanted to go and eat one of those good sandwiches I make. She did play in the sand and enjoyed being buried. I never did like being buried in the sand. Had a fear they'd bury me and leave me for the sea gulls to munch on.

This is what I looked liked going to the beach. I have graduated from the wagon and am now the bag lady with her own cart.

Niagara Falls

We were at the falls with my brother Daniel family. Along with my mom and another nephew. We thought we would take in the Maid of the Mist, but the kids thought they were getting wet enough from the mist that was hitting us from the falls.

"Is it my turn to use the camera? "

There was even some time for some hand holding.

Our God is Amazing! His creation is beautiful!

Delay in Return

Yes....This is a picture of a wrecker in front of my parent's motor home. On Saturday morning we left WOL Family Campground in New York to head home. Once we had cleared the 2 hours in the mountains and been on the tollway for about 30 miles we ran into problems.

It had started to rain very hard. We were on the toll way and the motor home started losing speed. The engine was running but we were getting no where quickly. We pulled off and after a couple of attempts realized we were not going anywhere.

God had it all worked out.

*10 miles of construction was a 1/2 mile ahead of us.

*A state police officer and a big wrecker were sitting in the turn around right besides us.

*The wrecker took us to their repair shop.

*Repair shop closed would not be able to look at us until Monday.

*Repair shop had a Best Western within walking distance.

*Found a 7 passenger van after 2 hours. Thought we might have to rent 2 vehicles.

*Spent multiple hours in Niagara Falls which was a bonus.

*Dad brought our van to Niagara Falls Sunday Night.

*The motor home was not serious.

*We came back home on Monday afternoon along with my brother Daniel's Family.

*Dad & Mom returned the rental car and got the motor home.

*Dad & Mom went back to my brothers and Dad got to visit with them.

So....everything worked out great but it was not what we expected at all.

I will post vacation pictures soon.

5 Days of Rain

Does it rain because we bring the big tent? This is the question I have been asking. Last summer the two times we were camping we had our new 10 x 20 tent and it got lots of use. We are currently camping in up state New York and have the tent and it has rained the last 5 days. Today we have not had a shower yet.
Despite the weather we are having a great time as a family. We have 16 of the 32 of us here. The kids are having a great time playing (lots of bike riding) with their cousins.
I'll post pictures when we get home. We were tempted to put life jackets on and stand in the volleyball court that was under water. Thought it would be a great family picture.

Mud Bath Anyone?

Last Friday the girls had two friends over. They enjoyed a picnic lunch under a tree in the front yard until a spider decided to join them so they left the shade and moved to the driveway to finish.

Malia and Mackenzie decided it would be great fun to play in a little mud. They covered themselves in mud and them proceeded to take a bath in the kiddie pool.

Looks like fun but I wasn't about to join in.

Their skin no longer shows signs of aging!

Fishing and Golfing

These were the girls two favorite things they did when we spent a week at grandma's when school got out. The picture does not show but on the end of both girls fishing rod is either a rubber blue fish or a nut because Amber's rubber fish flew off the line. Needless to say we had no fish to clean! :) Mackenzie came running off the dock once screaming because she was sure Amber had a fish on her line. It was a stick! I don't think we will be putting a real hook on anytime soon.

The girls are ready to go to the golf course to hit a few balls. This was their first time. They both really liked golfing.

School's Out!

Last Friday Night Amber graduated from Kindergarten! The grandma's came along with Uncle Daniel, Aunt Dawn and their family. It's hard to believe Amber is now in the First Grade.
Mackenzie's last day of school was on Tuesday. She had an awards assembly on her last day. She enjoyed school this year and did well too.

Okay...so she did not win the egg toss at her school party. Talk about having egg on your face!