11/9/18 Celebrated Kenzie's 21st Birthday today. She turns 21 on Sunday! Fun Time!

Kenzie with her cake

We sang Travis after Kenzie because he just had a  birthday this month too.

She was excited to get the sweatshirt with her cat's picture on it

Me and Mykenzie 

Travis sure is good with kids.  

Kenzie and Travis

Kenzie and Peyton

I took Melissa to therapy and dropped her off.  On my way home, I stopped at Kroger to let them know Bill went to use the gift card I bought from there and it didn't have any money on it.  It was a long time before I got waited on, and then the girl called the card company and waited on hold for 15 minutes and finally gave me the phone to wait so she could wait on other customers.  I waited 20 minutes and still no one took our call.  The message kept saying they were answering calls in the order they came in.  I finally told the girl I had to pick up Melissa, so had to get going.  She just gave me all the stuff and told me to call at home.  You would think they could just handle it at the store.  I haven't had time to deal with it yet.  Went to Aldi's to get what I needed to make goulash for Kenzie.  After all that waiting at Kroger, I didn't have time to go home and make it like I planned before picking up Melissa.  I headed to get Melissa and we came to my house.  Kenzie got there early, so I called and had her put water on to boil for the macaroni.  I had cooked the burger and made the birthday cake last night so I was sure happy I had that done.  Made the goulash and also Squash from the garden which are two of Kenzie's favorites.  We ate and then sang Happy Birthday to Kenzie, then to Travis.  She was very excited about her Sweatshirt with a picture of Katniss, her cat, on it.  She loved her stamps for glass pendant making from Vikki and her family and also the Milli's (for her pendant making) from Bill and I. We had a fun time celebrating birthdays and visiting.  I made banana pudding/vanilla wafer dessert to take to Dennis and Amy's.  We went there at 5:30 and ate with them, Dennis and Gail. We played 3-13 afterward and then Phase 10.  We ate some chocolate drizzle popcorn for a snack and it was delicious. I am going to have to get some from Sam's Club.

11/8/18...Vacuumed the deck,Went to Veteran's Appreciation at SVSU

The deck after vacuuming it with the yard vacuum

After yesterday's high winds, the deck had lots of leaves piled thick on it

Took Melissa to therapy at 7:45 a.m.  Came home after I dropped her off and did laundry.  Bill and Charlie went and picked up the camper.  They did a good job on it.  They also put in an access door for Bill to winterize it.  Bill took it to them to winterize because he couldn't find the access door.  Come to find out, there wasn't an access door.  They had to crawl in through the bottom storage door to winterize it.  Bill didn't want to go through that every year, so he asked if they could put an access door in.  They put one in the bunk house wall.  Turned out good and will be easy for Bill to winterize now.  I brought the rug in from the camper and washed it.  They got it muddy when they worked on the camper.  I put it back in the camper and closed up everything for the winter.  Put the tire covers on too.  Bill did the leaves in the yard, so I asked him to start the gas leaf vacuum for me and I would do the leaves on the deck.  I got the deck leaves all picked up.  Big job and my arms sure were tired afterward.  Sure picked them up good. The deck looks great now.  Bill asked me to go to the Veteran's Appreciation at SVSU.  We went and it was a nice service.  They had an 8 person choir from the college sing.  They had amazing voices.  They sang our National Anthem and God Bless America.  They had cake afterward. Bill took two pieces.  I ate one and thought it tasted like the frosting had cream cheese in it.  I asked Sandy Van Tol if it did and she said yes. Now we really know it is in Bill's head only that he doesn't like it.  That's the third time he's wanted more dessert with cream cheese in it, until he found out it had it in it.   We got things ready for our Faith Rider's meeting tonight.   Went to our meeting and is was a really good one.  28 were there and lots of people are starting to get involved and help with things.  We watched a funny Hallmark Movie called The Most Wonderful Time of the Year when we got home.  I laughed so hard.  They are saying we are in for a snowstorm tomorrow.  Kenzie is supposed to come for her birthday, so hope it's not too bad out.

11/7/18...Walked at SportsZone, Baked Cookies, Bob came to fix leak, Went to Caregroup

Painting of the Vietnam Wall Bill got and hung on our wall

                                                                   Sleet coming down


Went to SportsZone.  Bill and I walked 2 miles.  I made oatmeal and toast and then read my Bible and prayed.  Made coffee because Bill told me Bob was coming to fix the leak in the pipe they put in in the basement.  I swept lots of leaves off the deck by the door and cleaned the sidewalk. It started sleeting when I was just about done.  I came in and dusted the family room and then made chocolate chip cookies.  Bob came when I was making them so when he was done he and Bill had cookies and coffee.  Bill and I did our lesson for Bible Study tonight.  Then we watched a movie.  Made sirloin steak burgers, potatoes and peas for dinner and then finished our movie.  Went to Care group and had a good lesson, good discussion and good time of fellowship and prayer.  Cheri told me at care group that Mark who is now in youth group, told her he wished he was still little and in my class.  He is so sweet and always gives me a big hug.  He told me my cookies were the best!  He was pretty happy when I told him they could keep the leftover cookies.

11/6/18...Election Day...Took Royce grandchildren to school, Took Melissa to therapy, Helped Bill and Deb pack bags, Vikki and Twins came over

Hailey

Max and Jeffrey Peanut

Jack and Evan

Deb and Bill packing bags with gift cards and gifts to give to Marines at the Marine Corp. Ball

Peyton and Isaac with Kenzie's Lickums dog

Peyton and Isaac playing Sorry

Isaac petting Lickums so that he will lick him

Isaac got a lot of big licks from Lickums

Election Day!  Bill and I voted by absentee ballot a couple of weeks ago.  Went to Melissa's.  She was packing the kid's lunches.  She sure backs good lunches.  I helped a little when she told me what she needed.  Nice that I got to see Hailey too.  Took Max, Jack and Evan to school at 7:15.  Came back and picked up Melissa and took her to therapy.  Went to our breakfast at Sullivans after that.  Went to Kroger and then to Salvation Army and then back to pick Melissa up.  Came home and helped Bill and Deb (a Marine Corp. Auxillary lady) pack up gift bags for Marines.  There were lots of very nice donations she got from different companies.  There were 48 big bags we filled.  While they sorted stuff, I folded the programs for the Marine Corp Ball.  Vikki came over with Peyton and Isaac.  She brought nacho's she picked up.  She let me try them and they were really good.  Bill and I warmed up scalloped potatoes and ham for us.  Vikki tried some of it.  I worked on getting the toy dogs of Kenzie's from when she was little working for the kids.  Vikki and I had a nice visit and talked about all God is doing.  We watched a preacher at Elevation Church and it was such a great message.  Vikki went to her dentist appt. and the kids stayed with us.  We played Sorry.  Peyton won, Isaac went out next and I was the loser.  They sure play it good.  Isaac was so happy when he got Lickums to give him some big licks.  Peyton only wanted licks on her hand.  Rody picked them up and then Bill and I watched the news, the game shows and then the election results.

Bill went to SportsZone,I walked at home, took camper in, went to breakfast, Eye appt., Went to Trinity Rider's Meeting

Sweatshirt I had made for Kenzie's Birthday.  She wanted her cat's picture on a shirt

Vikki did it again!  She came and helped me pick out my frames.  She is good at helping all of us pick out frames!

Bill went to the Sportszone and walked 2 miles.  I walked a mile at home.  We took the camper in to have a panel fixed and the panel door latch fixed.  Went to breakfast at the Turkey Roost afterwards. Came home and Bill vacuumed some leaves up outside and I did some cleaning.  Went to Aldi's to get flour and sugar and then to the dollar store to get a few more things for the shoe boxes.  Went to my eye doctor appt. after that.  Check up went good. Only thing was I have cataracts starting.  They aren't affecting my vision yet, so I just need to go back in if I have problems. Vikki and the kids came and Vikki helped pick out some nice frames.  I sure am glad she was there.  My eyes were dilated from the drops and I couldn't really see that well to pick out frames.  I got home and a short time later, we went to Trinity Rider's Meeting.  We ate and visited and then had the meeting.  It was so nice seeing everyone.  Came home and watched a Hallmark Movie. 

11/4/18...Peyton and Isaac came over to shop and fill Operation Christmas Child Boxes

Peyton and Isaac eating before we went shopping

Isaac and Peyton raking our leaves

Peyton riding Sandy at Meijer.  Still only a penny.  I told her mom and aunts used to ride Sandy when they were little.  

Isaac riding Sandy

Peyton giving Sandy a push while Isaac was riding

Isaac and Peyton eating their Hot Fudge Sundaes

                                   Good to the last drop.  They got every bit out of their dish

Peyton filling her shoe box for Operation Christmas Child

Isaac putting stuff in his box

Peyton and Isaac did a great job and kept asking about the kids that would get them.  We are praying for the sweet kiddos that get our boxes.

We went to church.  Had a good time visiting with friends before the service started.  Worship was amazing.  They sang "This is How I Fight My Battles" which is one of my very favorite songs.  Dan gave the message and it was a really good one.  After church we came home and ate.  Vikki came over to pick up a table for her bazaar.  I kept the kids to go shopping with me and help me get stuff for the Operation Christmas Child Boxes.  We went to the Mall and got a sweatshirt for Kenzie with her Cat's picture on it for her birthday.  It turned out so cute.  We went to all the stores with toys in the Mall.  It only took 20 minutes and the sweatshirt was finished.  We went to Meijer after that and got the stuff we needed for the shoe boxes.  Went to Culver's and Peyton and Isaac had hot fudge sundaes.  I had buy one get one free coupon.  They wanted the ice cream flavor of the day, Cappuccino cookie crumble.  Also picked up two Concrete Mixers I had a coupon for and took them home for Bill and I to have.  Came home and did the shoe boxes.  The kids were excited to do the boxes.  They did a great job.  They wanted to play in the leaves, bt Peyton had a dress on and no coat.  We looked upstairs and found a sweatshirt, a pair of short and a pair of knee high socks of Kenzie's for her to use.  Isaac borrowed a sweatshirt too.  They had fun raking and playing in the leaves.  I took them home and went in for a while.  The doggies were happy to see me and did good.  I made scalloped potatoes and ham for dinner.  Bill and I watched  a Hallmark Movie.  

11/3/18....Thinking of my dad today. I sure do miss him! Went to Adam and Eli's soccer games and Kimmy and Jared's afterwar d, Went to Dawn's Benefit Event, Went to Veteran's Appreciation Dinner

Adam in action going after the ball

Adam kicking the ball!  

Adam going after the ball again

Another good kick

And Adam kicking the ball again...He did great today!  They had a tie game!

Me and my soccer champ Adam

Beautiful view out my family room window.  

Eli going after the ball

Eli getting ready to kick the ball

Eli before he kicked the ball

Eli in action

Eli

I was thinking lots of my dad today and how much I miss him.  It was nine years ago today that he went to heaven.  He was the best dad ever!  I am so thankful and happy that I will get to see him and my mom again in heaven some day.  Thanking Jesus with a grateful heart.  We slept in this morning.  Ate our oatmeal and then got ready and went to watch Adam's game at 10.  He sure played great today and kicked the ball several times.  Loved watching him in action.  He was amazing.  They had a tie game.   It was pretty cold out( 40 degrees and windy) so I was very happy to have my hat and mittens Kimmy made me on.  They kept me nice and warm.  Bill got pretty cold because he didn't take a warm hat, gloves or a blanket.  We left there and came home to change our clothes and put our CMA vests on, and then we went to our friend, Dawn's, fundraiser at Baywood Lounge.  After raising 5 children, she went back to school to get her nursing degree, got a job at Covenant, a week later found out she had breast cancer.  She has been going through Chemo and Radiation and just found out last week she lost her job because of not being able to be at work.  Sure am praying for her and her family.  We sat with Jim and Marsha and had burgers and fries.  After that, we came home and put our warm clothes back on and got clothes to change into at Kimmy's house after the game.  We went to watch Eli play soccer.  He did great too and was in action after the ball and had some really good kicks.  It was a little warmer at his game, because the sun was out.  We went to Kimmy and Jared's after the game.  Adam and Eli rode with us.  We had coffee and enjoyed our time there.  Wyatt was a wonderful and well behaved dog as usual.  What a beautiful dog he is!  We changed and then left for A Veteran's Appreciation Dinner put on by the Lions in Midland.  It was at the Great Hall.  The food was delicious and they had a nice band playing.  We sat with Julie and Ralph Rosas.  They had a photographer there taking pictures of everyone.  There was a silent auction and Bill wanted a painting of the Vietnam Wall in Washington.  He was bidding on it and a lady would go write a higher bid right after him.  He waited until 3 minutes to 9 when the bidding would be over and wrote his final bid.  She didn't see him for a minute, and then noticed the lady was picking up the sheets and told her she wanted to bid higher on it.  The lady told her it was too late so she didn't get to.  She was upset at first, but when she found out Bill was a Vietnam Veteran, she was happy for him and came and talked to him.  Tonight we turn our clocks back.  Yay, and extra hour of sleep tonight.