Friday, 7/16/21, Kimmy and family left for Copper Harbor, Filled all the bird feeders, set traps to catch chipmunks and a woodchuck, went on 10 1/2 mile bike ride, celebrated Jack's birthday

Adam sent these two pictures at 6:20 a.m. when they crossed the Mackinaw Bridge

Eli, Adam and Jacob at one of my favorite places.  I love their cinnamon rolls!  So huge you can't eat the whole thing by yourself in one day

Eli and Jacob....Jacob is enjoying his cinnamon roll.  Eli didn't want one

Cinnamon roll Charlie gave me yesterday.  Bill and I split it.  I had mine while the Russells were at the Hilltop.  It didn't come close to being as delicious as the Hilltop's cinnamon rolls.  I didn't even eat my whole half.  It was fun pretending I was eating with them at the Hilltop though lol.

Adam and Jared enjoying their cinnamon roll

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Pictures Kimmy sent me...Adam, Eli and Jacob  at Stone boat in Kearsarge

Peyton and Isaac riding the rail trail. 

 Hailey just got home from Worship Arts Camp at BayShore

Max listening to Papa's two funny jokes...one was ...I will be standing outside, so if anyone asks, I'm outstanding lol

Jack with his cake

Jack blowing out his chocolate candles

 Bruce, Jack and Melissa

Abby was a traitor...she sat under Bill's chair the whole time pretty much and only came when he called her

Jack with his Lego set Melissa, Bruce, Bill and I went in on.  He was pretty happy!

Jack with his rip stick from his mom and dad

Me trying to do what Hailey and Jack were doing...I had no clue what I was doing as you can tell

When I got up, I had texts and pictures from Adam and Jacob.  They left at 3:30 a.m. and crossed the bridge at 6:20.  I texted with them and Kimmy as long as I could.  I enjoyed their trip with them.  They watched some really good movies on their way.  We said our goodbyes when they knew they wouldn't have a signal any longer.  I will miss them, but I know their Grandma Russell will take very good care of them.  

It was a nice morning to enjoy time with the Lord, reading devotions, Bible, worshipping and praying.  It took a while to fill all the bird feeders, clean the hummingbird and oriole feeders and fill them, and put the grape jelly out.  I am excited to still have orioles after 3 weeks of being gone.  I forgot to set the blueberries we picked out yesterday because we weren't at my house that long, so froze them today.  

Vikki, Peyton, Isaac and I rode the rail trail for 10 1/2 miles.  It was a great ride and so much fun other than Vikki's bike kept locking up.  She had it tuned up yesterday, so she called and took it in when we were done riding.  They fixed it right away.  Peyton's bike kept squealing when she hit the brake because the brake pad was bent.  I brought it home with me and Papa fixed it.

In the evening, Bill and I went to celebrate Jack's birthday.  Hailey got home from BayShore, so she was their to celebrate with us too.  The cake and ice cream was delicious and we had lots of fun celebrating.  Hailey played My Lighthouse on her guitar and Melissa and I tried to sing along, but we couldn't follow very well.  Hailey is going to have to start singing so we can follow her lead.  She plays really well now.  Abby sure loved Bill tonight.  

She acted like she didn't hear the rest of us when we called her, but came right away to him.  

We came home and I realized I forgot to get an Amazon card and book for a baby shower tomorrow for our sweet missionaries at church.  I went to Kroger.  Gift cards were doubled, so I picked up some for us and one for Charlie.  He had given Bill $50 to get him a Tim Horton's Card.  I got a few things that were on sale too.  

July 15, 2021, HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY JACK!!!, Kimmy and the Boys came over, Vikki and twins came over, Kenzie and Travis came over

Happy 13th Birthday Jack!

Our handsome 13 year old
These pictures from Jack's party at Kokomos were supposed to be last, but I didn't feel like moving them around.  

Jack

 Jack with his Birthday cake

Eli at Kokomos

The kids had so much fun on the water boats squirting each other

 They had lots of fun riding the go carts too

 Jack having fun at his party

Connor, Eli, Jack and Caleb at Kokomos.  Jack had so much fun at his party and so did the rest of the kids.

My Peter Rabbit was up on the deck relaxing this morning

Mylee on my little bridge

Adam, Jacob, Eli and Max

Isaac, me and Peyton

Jack, Evan and Melissa

Me and Travis and Kenzie's new puppy,  Jasper (Jazzy) He's such a sweet puppy.  We all love him!

Abby was in the window with her cone on.  Max peeked out and smiled at me!

Eli, his kitten, and Jazzy

Peyton and Kenzie...Adam photo bombing in the background lol!

Isaac, Kenzie, Peyton, second row....Eli, Adam and Jacob.  Some of my good looking grandkids

Kenzie, Travis and Jasper

Peyton, Jacob, Adam and Isaac having lots of fun

Peyton and Jacob playing with Kinetic Sand

My zinnias 

Our corn is getting very tall

and our squash and pumpkins are  amazing.  Cucumbers are in the middle somewhere.  Only five plants total were planted.

Pretty Dahlia

My buckets are overflowing

Bill took Charlie down to U of M for a doctor appt. and procedure.  Sue called me and talked to me.  She told me she's having trouble with her knees and has lots of trouble going down stairs.  I went over to her house and got some things she needed in the basement and brought them up for her.  Then I prayed for her knees.  I gave her an amazing worship CD so she has it to listen to also.  I came home and got there just ahead of Kimmy and the boys.  Vikki and the kids came a few minutes later, then Kenzie and Travis came.  We hung out for a while, then Melissa called. When I told her I was going to Sam's she asked if I could pick up candles for Jack's cake.  Peyton and I went to get donuts at Tim Hortons, then went to the Party store and face timed Melissa while we walked through the store looking at what they had for a 13 year old.  Melissa picked out what she wanted over the phone and we got it.  We went to Sam's club and got muffins after that.  We came back home, and all went to Melissa's.  Kimmy cut Jack's hair and Vikki, Kenzie, and Kimmy cut Travis's hair.  We all had a great time hanging out for Jack's Birthday, singing to him and eating donuts and muffins.  We spent a lot of time there.  Bill messaged me that he and Charlie were eating in Owosso.  Bruce got home.  We said hi and talked for a few minutes, then packed up and went to the library.  Kimmy and Eli picked out some DVD's for their trip.  Jacob and Adam were at Aunt Bippi's.  Kenzie met us at the library to pick up the kitten. She is watching it while they are on their camping trip.  She and Travis left.  Kimmy, Isaac and I took Eli to Jack's Birthday party at Kokomos.  We dropped him off with Melissa and Bruce, and then headed to Vikki's.  We walked around and looked at her garden.  Kenzie got her a Knockout Rose today to surprise her and she planted it in the front.  It's very pretty and adds color.  The kids all had fun jumping on the trampoline. Kimmy worked on giving another coat to the damaged wall at Vikki's.  It is looking great.   I picked up pizza and breadsticks and we all ate pizza.  Melissa called, so Kimmy, the boys and I went to pick up Eli.  It rained just for a short time at the party, but the kids went in the water boats during the rain and had so much fun.  They had fun on the go carts too!  Kimmy and the boys left for home.  We had go rain here too, so I walked around and looked at all my plants and the garden.  Adam and I texted lots of good nights and good mornings to cover the time we won't be able to text.  It was such a great day.  I am so thankful to God for my family.  Each one is such a special blessing and so loved.

 

Wed., July 14, 2021, Went to Kimmy's, Their butterflies came out of their chrysalis, Visited my friend Phyllis, Vikki and the kids came over to swim, then we went to pick blueberries

Wyatt smiling at me...he smiled lots today

Eli with his buddy

Eli walking his sheep

Jacob walking his sheep

The butterfly on the far end is out...it wasn't long and the other one started coming out

This is it before it's wings were completely stretched out...so neat to watch

Designed beautifully by God.  

Jacob with his new haircut, Adam and Eli

With Wyatt added to the picture

Isaac and Peyton

Isaac, Nana and Peyton

Isaac, Vikki and Peyton

They sure did a great job picking.  I have never seen bushes so fun and sticking out in the paths.  You sure can tell we have had lots of rain this year.  They were delicious.  Good thing they didn't weigh us before and after.  They told us to enjoy eating some though.

Beautiful berries and nice and big

Isaac, Peyton and me

Looking at the creek their mom and Aunt Kimmy used to play in when they were young.

We passed this and turned around to take a picture.  It looks so fun and relaxing

 I went to Kimmy’s at around 10:30 to visit and to learn how to take care of the animals while they are gone on their camping trip. I picked up Angel food cake and no bake cookies and took them there and Kimmy got home a few minutes after I got there and she brought muffins.  That’s what I tried to get but the store didn’t have any.  We sure had lots of yummy snacks.  Jacob got a haircut and looks so handsome.  The other boys got their haircuts later. I saw pictures and they look very handsome also.  We walked around and looked at her plants and walked through her woods.  She showed me what to do for the animals.  We came in the house and Eli noticed the butterfly was out of the chrysalis.  They thought the other one would come out tomorrow, but ten minutes later, Eli noticed it was starting to come out.  I was so happy I was there to watch it with them.  What a miracle to see how God has created them to do this.   I ate a muffin and then left for home.  I went and had a long visit with my dear friend, Phyllis, who is battling against cancer now.  She has the victory in Jesus Name!  It was so good to visit with her. She looked good and has such strong faith. We spent time praying and now are expecting her miracle.  I took her a worship CD Rody made for her.  Andy was there too and it was nice to talk to him too.  I got home and swam with Vikki and the kids.  Then we went and had fun picking blueberries.  Peyton and isaac were great pickers this year.  They gave me their berries.  We always have so much fun.