Max's Birthday Celebration!

Had fun celebrating Max's 8th Birthday!  We ate a delicious spaghetti dinner and then had yummy cake and ice cream.  It was so much fun watching Max read his cards and open his presents.  He sure is a wonderful young boy with a caring heart.  Sure do love this boy!

11/29/13 Heading home

We had eggs, potatoes, sausage, ham, toast, and fruit for breakfast.  Love the food at the Shack!  We packed up and loaded the truck.  Stopped at the Indian museum in Mt. Pleasant on the way back so Chuck could get a DVD he had wanted but they were out of.  They had it so he was happy.  We headed to Cops Doughnuts in Clare next.  Had wonderful doughnuts and coffee with good creamer.
They have a huge selection and such good doughnuts!  Hard to choose what kind to get.

We got home.  Turned the heat up as we had turned it down while we were gone.  After unpacking, I went to Melissa's to pick up Mocha.  Got great hugs and greetings from everybody.  Hailey started making a bracelet.  I saw her working fast on it.  To my great surprise, she finished I and gave it to me.  It is in Christmas colors so I will be wearing it for the holidays.  What a sweetie she is!  This Nana sure loves that girl!

Bill brought the tree up from the basement and had it all set up when I got home.  I spread the branches out and then we put the lights on.  One string was burned out so we quit and decided to finish the next day.  We watched a very touching Christmas movie and then went to bed. 

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!