Stephanie and Wilson’s open house.

This is my talented, brilliant, and beautiful- let’s not forget beautiful cousin Stephanie and her handsome husband Wilson. They were married in March of 2011 in the sunny state of California. Much of our family is located in Michigan so the newly weds flew in – once there was an assurance the snow was gone - this means August (wink) to give us folks whose lives didn’t permit us getting on a plane the opportunity to celebrate with them. My Aunt Georgia and Uncle Alan hosted a wonderful dinner at the Bailiwick Pub in Flint so we drove over and made a mini vacation out of it.We pretty much filled up the joint and even in the crush of people and with the ferret feeling travel worn from the several hour car trip, it was worth it to see her beaming face. Best wishes Stephanie and Wilson.

Caelun thinking the butter is face cream and hair conditioner and Clint trying to re-educate regarding those concepts.

These are the few pictures I got from standing at our table while on ferret duty. There is something pleasant about being in a room full of folks who share some DNA with you even if you are being held hostage by a giggling ferret armed with butter.

Front Door Fix

Realizing that the end of summer was right around the corner we decided we needed to get that fix it project of the front door off our list from where we hired some one to do it and they didn’t do it right. The post on it can be found here.  As the old saying goes if you want something done right do it yourself – or in our case if you want it done “okay and functional” at least.

First we had to cut the cripples off so they were even. That is no small feet when they are already in the wall.

We ‘engineered’ a header that was bigger than what was needed for the span but fit the space from the leveling of the cripples.

Now THAT will distribute some weight.

Some foam and caulk are added to compensate where the door had shifted because of the lack of a header and the weight coming down on it.

Hooray for drywall. I sat on top of the fridge to reach a lot of it. Interesting perspective of the kitchen.

More Surprise Visitors

Out of the blue I got a phone call that my long time friend Helen, her husband Dave, and there sweet daughter- ‘baby Rosie’ as my son calls her were going to be in town picking up some tires they found on craigslist and they would be available to stop in for a few minutes. Awesome! They only had a few minutes but it was just enough time for Caelun to get a bunch of hugs and kisses in on baby Rosie. This child LOVES babies. He loves them so much he will try to hug and kiss any one he sees any where, any time- the grocery store, the park, a restaurant, etc.. regardless if he knows them at all. It has made for a few awkward moments as I am profoundly apologizing regarding his spontaneous affection toward a baby in the check out line at the grocery store. Luckily for him Helen and Rosie were amendable to his overtures.

Notice the MO- no pants and the beloved boots- I guess every one has to have a ‘look’ right?

Rosie wasn’t to sure about that kiss.. hmmm

Maybe if we turn her around so she can see it coming- less of a sneak attack so to speak.

That’s better.

I can’t blame him- such a cute little face I want to hug and kiss her too.

Mon Frere

I don’t speak French but it sounds cool and I do have brothers- 4 to be exact. We are all pretty spread out in geography and age. They were 21, 20, 19, and 17 when I was born. My two brothers that are in the state of Michigan are both over 2 hours away from me in different directions. The other two are out of state. One is in Vermont, and the other in North Carolina- so again in different directions. Yeah spread out is probably the word. This distance made it extra fun when my brother Tom – the one in North Carolina called and said he would be in town. My house wasn’t clean and we were all looking a bit – end of summer vacation rough around the edges but ehh.. who cares- (grin) There is an expression that says something like “there is nothing like fine wine and good friends…or beer and relatives” I didn’t have any beer but I had lots of lemonade. Yeah for surprise visits.

Caelun does a run by with no pants on while Tom and my dad chat- yeah that looks like my life.

Just a little family resemblance huh?? (chuckle)

These Boots Are Made For Walkin’

I hope this post makes you laugh. It makes me laugh. I am hoping some day when Caelun is old it will make him laugh. I found some rubber rain boots on sale- wellies as some folks call them -so I picked them up thinking they would be useful come fall.They have the car from the movie ‘Cars’ on them which is a positive for Caelun. It was the only movie we watched while he was in the hospital with croup. It looks different from the outside of an oxygen tent but none the less he is still a fan. I had no idea when I bought those boots how MUCH he would love them. Luckily I bought them big so he can still wiggle his feet into them – just. He spent much of the late summer wearing those boots …and nothing else. Talk about a fashion statement. Like the tape post I have even more funny pictures but I am trying to keep it at least PG rated. Wouldn’t it be great if we all could find such joy from a pair of ten dollar rain boots? Hooray for boots.

Doing a little soft shoe for the neighborhood with Grandpa Bob’s cane.

“Mommy why can’t I take a shower with my boots on?”

He got out of the pool, took off his swim diaper and put on his boots. He then was my paint helper- so I guess the lack of clothes was beneficial.

He was sooo tired he put himself to with nothing on… but his boots.

First Lake Friends

"Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends."
- Richard Bach

As a kid starting at age five I spent summers at our family farm about 2 1/2 hours away from our house. My dad was a teacher with summers off so we could just take off for a month at a time. This is the same farm I am now entrusted with the keeping of until the next generation but that is for other blog posts- lots of posts. As a kid my dad would take me, and a friend if we had some one with us, to the next town over, Six Lakes, to go swimming. My dad grew up share cropping a 200 acre farm on the far side of this lake so I imagine it had some special meaning for him as well. I would swim and he would sit on the shore and read a book. This was every summer while I was growing up. Over time the friend that came with me most was Helen. We spent summer after summer swimming, reading Nancy Drew novels from the local library- there wasn’t a TV, and tramping through the woods. When swimming at the lake,  First Lake to be specific, we made a group of friends  composed of kids whose parents came to the camp ground to camp, owned cabins on the lake, or lived in town. After losing touch for some time when I headed off to college and then a job, face book re-connected us and now we have a reunion back at the lake every summer.  We all have kids now and they are making their own group of ‘First Lake Friends’ This is our last reunion the first weekend of August of 2011.

Caelun and I swimming

At the play ground on the slide

Sitting around the campfire. Jen is Giving Baby Rosie a bottle.

All the kids are cold and wet from swimming. Warming up around the fire.

Lots of goofy faces for the crazy lady taking pictures in the dark

Look a stick for the fire- yikes

There was an escapee- captured because friends don’t let friends wander off alone.