Picture Day!

Some of the girls took all the grandkids in for pictures this morning. Unfortunately I had another appointment so was unable to accompany them. But as you can clearly see, they did an awesome job on their own!

Here are all the girls - Linnea - 9, Olivia - 3, Selah - 2, Maggie - 9 months.

Here they ALL are!! Alec - 10, Luke - 6, Caleb - 4.

Another shot of them all....this time at the "beach"!

Okay, if you know Selah at all you will know why this picture is my absolute favorite!!

See what I mean??? And if you don't know her, you wouldn't understand!!

Washing Machine

We got a new washing machine last night. It seems that the kids thought it would be okay to stuff a comforter in the old machine. Seriously?? If you have to sit on the lid to close the machine, it seems you'd know that the load was too large. But I guess not.

The old machine was a top loader and I did learn last night, at the appliance store, that you actually do stuff a front loader......so maybe they were just *confused* at the difference between "top" & "front". Anyways we got another top loader to avoid confusion - and because our old machine was covered on an extended warranty and therefore replaced at no charge to us. (Which is the first time that has ever worked out for us!!) So we purchased another 5 year extended warranty and figured by then the kids would be long gone and we could buy the machine of my dreams without fear of another comforter or something being stuffed into it!

So I am off to catch up on laundry, housework and pack for the weekend!! YAY!

July

Well here we are at the end of week three of summer vacation. Not counting the half week that started break. Yep, only 56 days until we go back. CRAP!

So the first week I took 2 grandsons up north - see earlier blog. The next week I worked at school but in a different classroom (our class doesn't run through the summer) during the day and then at church 3 nights for our General Assembly.

Now here we are already at the end of week 3!! And here are the pictures of the week.

This is a photo of my kitchen sink. Grandson Luke got a hold of my camera the other night when he was over. This is really about the only picture suitable for this blog. It is actually the only pic that is in focus. The scary thing is that we were all oblivious to him walking around taking dozens of pictures! Pics of armpits, butts, computer keyboards, closeups of ears, eyes....... You know, all those things that are funny to a 6 year old! Aren't digital cameras awesome? Imagine my surprise had I taken in a roll of film and then seen all those silly pics!?

This was taken last weekend in Ludington at Lake Michigan where we had a nice quiet weekend. Just Tom & I. No kids, no grandkids, no dogs.

This is a house we drove by in Ludington and then had to back up and look more closely......I guess they have a little cottonwood problem there huh? But it totally works for Christmas in July, don't you think??

So then today was another rainy cold day and I'd had about enough of cleaning and organizing and other not-fun-stuff so I went to the movies and saw The Proposal. It was pretty funny! Totally better than more cleaning!

Here's one thing I know - next week will be mostly warm and sunny. How do I know this???

I know this because next week I work! Duh.

BUT --- the best thing that happened this week was that I found a dress for the wedding!!! YAY! Now all I need to find are some shoes! Maybe a trip to Chicago is called for?

Being Elderly

We are back from our week in Ludington. We had a nice time......the weather was pretty crummy except for the one day we went to the beach. So we played a lot of Left, Center, Right using candy instead of the chips. They also learned how to play a computer game on my laptop. We went to the pool (indoors) many times each day. Listened to "Grandma look at me!" about fifty two thousand times :~) Went to the movies twice. A long time ago I took the kids to see a really lame Winnie the Pooh movie. It was soo bad I could hardly sit through it! So I've learned to only take them to movies that I would actually consider seeing even without them. Therefore we saw "UP" in 3D and later in the week we saw the new "Night at the Museum". We also visited the elk ranch and got up close and personal with about 200 elk. We fed them out of our hands - kinda weird - wished I'd had my purell with me. We went out for ice cream a couple times and also spent an evening at the playground. Took several long golf cart rides up and down back roads, through the woods, to the "haunted house", up & down the big hill. They stayed up as late as they wanted to, ate what they wanted, etc.

So during all these activities I kept noticing how many other grandparents were out with their grand kids. And I was thinking that they all looked so old. Seriously. And I was thinking that for a grandma of 7 I look pretty darn good. Like maybe the kids should be calling me "Auntie Sheryl" instead of Grandma.

So you can imagine my surprise when Luke tells Julie that I'm "elderly". WHAT???? I don't even qualify for a senior discount anywhere yet kid!!

Up North

Well here we are up north. Me, Alec & Luke. We got here Monday afternoon. Yesterday morning we went in to town for groceries and stuff. While we were in the grocery store my phone rang and it was Steve, the boys' dad. Alec answered and played a "trick" on him ( HIS idea, not mine!). Here is the side of the conversation from my end.....

Alec: Dad, we lost Luke!

Alec: No! Seriously, we don't know where he is!

Me: NOT funny Alec, give me the phone!

Alec: We've looked every where for him dad!

At this point I took the phone from Alec.

Me: Hi Steve.

Steve: Hi. Julie is in the ER.

Me (thinking this is my payback for "losing" Luke): Seriously? You are joking, right?

Steve: I wish I was joking!

So anyways....long story short......and many phone calls later......Julie had appendicitis and had an appendectomy yesterday afternoon. Weird huh?? And she went home last night! Phew!!!

Yep, the summer is off with a bang!

School's Out!!

YAY!! School is finally out for summer! Woohoo! The room is packed up (sort of), the graduates have moved on (kind of), and we are left wondering (as usual) what things will look like in the fall - in terms of staff and students. But for the next 74 days I don't really care much :~)

The first day of vacation I was up early and super busy all day.......(I have a really long to-do list planned for the summer). The second day I slept a little (lot) later and kept a little busy. By Friday - the third day - I rolled out of bed about 10 (what's the rush??).

I've been shopping (had to use that 30% off at Kohl's and visit the B&BW semi annual sale), went to the movies (the book was better!), went to a bonfire and ate way too many *s'nores*. Except for the dismal performance of the Red Wings, I'd say this summer is off to a fine start!

Tomorrow or the next day I am heading to Ludington with a couple of grandkids for a few days. I probably won't be sleeping late but I'm sure we'll be super busy doing stuff and that to-do list will be right where I left it for when I get home! I'll keep you posted.

Home Sick

I really hate when this happens......

Okay so about 2 weeks ago I decided that I would take a *sick day* before the end of school and I checked the calendar to make sure that I wouldn't miss anything important like graduation or the pizza party or the bowling banquet. So June 3rd looked like it would be the day. I mentioned it to my co-workers and that was that.

And then I really got sick......just a nasty cold/cough bug, but truly not feeling well. So it is noon and I am still in bed, drinking cold coffee and feeling sorry for myself.

This isn't the first time things have turned out like this. You'd think I would learn huh?

Oh well. Here are some pics from Memorial Day weekend. Tom & I went to Ludington and took Maggie with us because Nick & Chelsea had the same bug that I now have and they also had to work. She is a great baby - Maggie. She was content in the car, slept all night, happy during the day.....well except for the Amoxicillin....which she flat out refused. Twice a day we tried to squirt that pink goo in her tiny mouth and twice a day she spit it out completely!

She fell asleep each time we took her for a golf cart ride.

She was fascinated with bubbles, trying to catch them and then looking puzzled when they disappeared.

Not at all afraid of the racket Tom made while making a repair to the hallway floor. Actually slept through most of it.

She never even made a peep in the car until we were almost home. Here she is in the car looking at herself in the toy mirror.

Back to work tomorrow........only 4 school days until summer!!!! YAY!