11/30/13 Off to the store to get more Christmas Lights

We went to Sam's Club to get more Christmas lights.  Got LED soft white!  Went to Toys R Us to get a Birthday gift for Max.  He want some K-nex so we got two sets.  Then we went to the Christian Book store and got some things for Christmas.  When we got home we put the lights on the tree and decorated it.  Dad put the outside lights up.  He did a great job!  While we were working on this, Vikki called and invited us for meatloaf and mashed potatoes at 5:30.  Of course we said yes.  We headed over and were so happy to see Pey Pey and Isaac.  Sure did miss them while we were gone.  They have such cute personalities.  Love watching them play and talk.  We had  a fun time with Vikki and Rody and the food was delicious.  Bill ate a couple helpings and said it was better than the Shack.  I agree and the Shack's food is very delicious.  A big thank you to Vikki and Rody for having us over.  Rody told us about Ollie's, a new store that has opened in Green Acres.  We left and headed there before it closed.  They have great prices.  Their books are great and prices are super.   Headed back home to watch a movie on Netflix.

12/1/13 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET GRANDSON MAX!

Happy Birthday Max!  We love you so much!  Hugs and kisses from us to you!  Max turned 8 today!  Called him, and Papa and I both wished him happy birthday. Melissa wasn't feeling too good, so Papa picked Hailey and Max up for church.  I went early since I was teaching Sunday school.  On the way to church, I noticed a sign at the fire station  next to our church that said they were giving free fire truck rides when a toy was dropped off today.  Knowing how much Max loves fire trucks, I called Melissa to tell her.  Bruce was working, so she asked if we could take him after church as it only went to 2 pm.  Told her yes, of course, as I thought that would be so fun on Max's birthday for him.  He brought his fireman suit to put on after church.  The kids both sat great in church.  Stacie, DJ and Kody were there. We were so happy to see them and have them sit with us. Bill was holding Kody when I sat down.  I took him and after a while asked Hailey if she wanted to hold him. I knew the answer ahead of time.  She sat and held him and he fell asleep right away.  She has the right touch and is so good with babies. I offered to take him if her arms were tired, but she said no.  She reminded me so much of Melissa. 

I had fun teaching my class.  Picked up Hailey and Max from their rooms and we all headed for the fire station.  We had cookies and orange drink while we talked to a fireman. Everyone loved Max's fireman suit and they told him Happy Birthday.  Got to ride in the fire truck right away.  Max, Hailey, and I rode in the back and Papa rode in the front.  How fun and what a great memory!  Loved the smile on Max's face!  When we got back, we talked with our friend's daughter, Katelyn.  She was working there!  That was a nice surprise.  She has gone on some of our motorcycle ride with us.

Bill went home and I took the kids to their house.  Picked up a pizza and ate with them.  Gave Max one present to open on his birthday.  He was happy to get it today as his birthday dinner will be a different  day because he and Hailey are in the Boar's Head Performance today.  He loved his present and Jack came running to ask me if I would get him that for his birthday.  So cute!

Fun in the fire truck!

11/28/13 Giving Thanks to God on this Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Today I am thanking God for the amazing and wonderful family God has given me.  Also giving thanks for the many great friends God has put in our lives and for my church and church family.  Thanking Him for the benefits He has told me are mine that I'm not to forget in Psalm 103:1-5.  He is always so faithful and so loving!  Thanking Him today for all the blessings in my life and His hand upon Bill and I and our family!

We went for a walk outside and went through the museum at the Shack.  It is very interesting....old cars, tractors, snowmobiles, antiques that brought back many memories of things my grandma and grandpa had when I was little.  The grounds are beautiful to walk, but we didn't go far because there was about 5" of snow.  We didn't bring our boots as there was only a dusting back home.  We played some games, then we had our delicious Thanksgiving meal....turkey, ham, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes, rolls, cranberry relish, and salad bar.  I had a pumpkin bar for dessert!  We were so full when we were done!

Called the girls to tell them Happy Thanksgiving and was happy to hear their voices.  Still miss them on the day, even though we celebrate the Sat. before. 

We weren't very hungry but ate a light supper....goulash, chicken casserole, beans, roll, salad.... I didn't take much as I wanted to save room for my banana split.  We all managed to eat our banana splits at 8:30....dad even had an extra scoop.  Can you believe that!  I know you can.

It was a great day with great friends!  So much to be thankful for each and every day!  Above all so thankful for our Amazing, Awesome God and for who He is and what He has done.  He has forgiven me, given me eternal life and made me his child!  He has made a way for everyone's sins to be
forgiven and have eternal life by believing in Jesus and trusting Him as Savior and Lord!  Thank You Lord!

11/27/13 "The Shack" here we come!

We headed over to Chuck and Sue's and left our car in their garage and rode with them to White Cloud.  We stopped for breakfast at our favorite restaurant on the way.  Then stopped in Blanchard  and went through a couple of stores.  Our favorite, Loafers Glory, had closed.  We are hoping somebody buys it so it reopens.  We got to the Shack and checked in.  We were surprised to see that our room had a jaquizi in it. We played a game of Euchre with Chuck and Sue while we were waiting for Wes and Gayla to get there.  All of our rooms were in a row on the first floor.  Wes and Gayla got there about 4:30.  We played shuffleboard with them.  We went to the dining room for our dinner.  We had the same waitress as last year which was very nice since she was such a nice one.  We ate roast beef that fell apart and also chicken breasts, salad, potatoes, rolls, salad, desert.  So delicious!  At 8:30, the banana split bell rang.  Had a choice three scoops (10 flavors to choose from) of ice cream.  So yummy!  Played a game of 3-13 and then went to our room to enjoy the jaquizi.  Slept great in the comfortable bed!

 Dad's Banana Split!  Big and plain...just chocolate

11/26/13  Took Mocha over to Melissa's as they are watching her for us while we go to the Shack  Melissa put these pictures on facebook so I could see how happy she was.  The kids were each so good with her and so cute.  Abby and Mocha got along good too so she put this picture on for me to see.  So glad she liked staying at their house!

Got up and out of curiosity checked to see if there were any school closings.  Wow, every school in Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City was closed.  This was great for Jacob, Adam, and Kenzie since now they aren't going to miss any school on the Georgia trip.  Bill and I headed out to our Tuesday morning Breakfast and boy was it slick out.  Our road was a sheet of ice.  The main roads were salted already and were good. So glad Kimmy and her family left yesterday instead of today like they were going to.  Everybody showed up for breakfast except one couple.  Bill had a VA appt. so he went to that when we got home.  I got suitcases down from the attic to start packing for our trip to the Shack tomorrow.  So excited to go there again!  Wes and Gayla and Charlie and Sue are going too.  Packed up Mocha too as I am dropping her off to stay at Melissa's.  Bill and I moved the tv and some other furniture around so we could make room for our Christmas tree.  We will be putting it up when we get home.  Love my easy movers!

11/25/13  Jared dropped Truman and Norman off at 7:10 am.  He took them to the basement and brought their stuff in that was going with them to Vikki's.  The dogs were really good here and were good at going outside and then back to the basement.  They really liked it when I took their canvas cage down for them.  They were so funny!  They both got in at the same time.  When Kenzie got out of school, Vikki picked her up and brought her to our house so Jared could pick her up to take her with them to Georgia.  Peyton and Isaac came in and Vikki told them to leave their coats on because they weren't staying long.  Pey Pey came up to me and said, I want to take my coat off and off it went.  She sure talks plain!  Vikki helped me get rid of some leftovers from Thanksgiving as Bill and I were getting pretty tired of them.  Vikki packed up the kids and then put the dogs in her car.
She called to say the dogs were being really good at her house too.  Kimmy texted me before I went to bed to let me know they were 1 hour from their hotel in Kentucky.   I was so happy to hear from her.