One Down, Two to Go....

Saturday, our first born graduated from College!

Seems like just yesterday, we were driving to the 

hospital, anxious to become first time parents

wondering what "it" would be

a Boy or a Girl....

Well, we were truly blessed with a girl and we couldn't be more proud!

The ceremony was held at

~Van Andel Arena~

Seating was first come first serve....

we were up quite high,

but we didn't care.

The graduates filed in from all angles....

carrying flags stating the "College of"....

 that they graduated from.

We watched for her

Red Shoes!

Yep....

we found her!

Do you see her?

about the 4th or 5th row up

right in the middle!

Looking for us!

After a few speeches....

a few "other" graduates....

It's her turn to walk across the stage!

Mal, do you have the camera ready??

Get her on the BIG screen!

Well.....

she tried!

I think she's the blue smear to 

the extreme left....

Oh Well!

Once again,

Sisters are always there to support each other!

So are Grandpa & Dad....

Couldn't be prouder!

Love you Amanda

We're So Proud of You!

Kitchen Update....

 Not long ago I shared with you my excitement over 

Finally getting granite counter tops.

 Except for our island

where the sink is, these 2 spots are

all we have for counter space,

not much I know.  We didn't put

granite on the island, my husband has 

a different plan for that area.

To be shared at a later date!

But, we really needed a back splash behind

our stove.  My husband is the main cook Head Chef

in our Home and there are lots of splashes going on.

 So, he finally found the time to get to the back splash.

We have had it for about a year, just haven't had the time

to get it up.

So, he decided to just do it and pulled out the 

appliances and went to work.

 We love the colors in the tiles....

they're glass and he had to make some cuts

he got a few little shards in his fingers

but, he was okay.

 We went behind the fridge just a little bit.

Makes it look like we did the whole wall.

 I know you see it too....

those white outlets gotta go.

 Much better!

Have you ever priced outlets?

I mean nice, not the cheap plastic covers.

Not cheap.....

these are bronzed metal 

looks much better....

Don't you agree?

 Now, my white extension has to go.

(notice the brown one waiting)

But, the fridge has to be pulled out.

So I have to wait....

until he has time to do that for me!

The fridge is heavy and fits tight in it's space.

We're Really happy with how it turned out.

Adds a lot to our kitchen....

we think anyway!

Stay tuned for the island....

it may be awhile though, so you'll have to be

patient just like me!

Thanks for stopping!

Have a Great weekend!

Our oldest is Graduating from

College tomorrow!

Yeah!

Time goes by....

Two years ago on the 25th of April, my Mom passed away! It was actually a Sunday, not Wednesday like today.  Her funeral was on Wednesday.  It was a beautiful day!  Sunny and warm, after a week of cold and rain like we have recently experienced.  Much like the Sunday she passed, it was dreary and rainy.  On Saturday, this past, we celebrated my Dad's 82nd birthday.  I found myself strangely emotional as the day passed, she died in the evening.  At the time not relating it to my Mom's passing.  But I wonder if in fact as we sat around the table at his celebration and shared some old family memories if in fact my Mom wasn't right there with us!  I think maybe she was! As I believe she is with me today, all of us really.
She's never really very far from our hearts and our thoughts.  That's the way it should be when our Mom's are no longer with us except where they truly never leave....our hearts!

So today, if you're lucky enough to still have your Mom with you please give her a hug.  If you are not close enough by....give her a call.  You'll be glad you did!  I'm hugging my Mom right now!

Love & Miss you Mom!

Shed building~Update....

When I left you last, about the shed that is, we had

3 walls up.  We've had several days of rain and cold

plus a busy week, so not a whole lot was done in that time.

But, on Sunday, even though the winds 

were extremely strong and blustery cold,

He got out there and built wall 4

on our back deck....

across the yard from where the shed is.

At this point are you wondering, like me, how in the world

are we going to get that wall over to the shed??

Hmmm.....

On our trip down for my Dad's B-day Celebration

we stopped by an architectural salvage store

~which is really cool~

and bought 3 windows for our shed.

We are recycling them, obviously, but we got 

them for cheap and only one has broken glass.

These two Hoodlums

were playing hide & seek 

and Delilah just found Loosey

They're Crazy!

~Ta Da~

We basically drug (dragged), whatever,

the whole wall across the yard

to the shed....

I'm not that strong my friends!

More wood for the shed.

Then he built one roof pitch truss thing

whatever they are called.

He's saying....

Put down that camera and bring the ladder!

Does he NOT understand 

blogs need pictures!

Geesh....

So I took him the ladder 

and went back and grabbed my camera

~Win, Win Situation~

That will be the pitch of our shed

Now he has to build a few more....

I don't know how many though!

Also on Sunday we hauled a few more of these

beams home.  Some of these are 14 ft long

the others are 9-10 ft long and they are heavy.

Sunday night, Monday and Today....

my right hip is out!

I tend to carry all things heavy on my right side.

Apparently I used my hip for leverage....

now I am limping along, in pain!

Can you guess what these beams are going to be?

Hope it's worth it!

Thanks for stopping by!

My last post.....

Innocent Me....

had a comment left on my last post....
(which my hubby deleted & I  have NORTON)

it was a possible virus....

My husband was trying to email someone when he 

got home from work and it corrupted what he was trying to email....
Everything he had typed was replaced by something
that the person that left a comment to my post had typed.
I don't understand it all, but it was weird.

I got rid of "word moderation" I believe it is called

where you have to type 

SILLY WORDS

to leave a comment
(sorry but it is annoying to have to do)

on BLOGS that think they need it.....

well, maybe I should be adding it back

BEFORE I loose 

EVERYTHING I have  tried to 

journal on here!

Because someone from some other country

decides MY little blog is important enough 

to 

CORRUPT!!!!

BEWARE....

Thank you....

please don't leave me because of this 

STUPID person!

Question:
I woke this morning to my blog "interface"
being Upgraded....
I did not do this as I like the "old" version
I noticed that the message we all see,
those of us who have the Old Version,
states that it will be gone in a month.
Does this mean we are being forced to have
the new Upgraded...don't like it....Version?
What have you  noticed?

Sing, Strings & Things Coffee House....

after we got Home from my Dad's 

Birthday Celebration

the High School hosted a

~Coffee House~

Anyone who wanted to join could

sign up and perform for an audience 

of about 60+ who attended,

for a small donation of $2.00 or more if you wanted.

With the proceeds going to our Middle School

to help the Guitar Class with supplies.

Food, beverages, and of course,

Coffee were available for a small fee.

My husband and I weren't going to attend

after the 2 hr ride Home from the B-day celebration,

but, Mallory did and called and told us Dad needed to

come and bring his Banjo....

so we went.  The host, Mr. Rousseau, our M.S. band director

saw us come in with a Banjo and invited my husband to 

come up and jam with him!

They got the crowd going and the banjo music

was a Welcomed addition to the night!

My husband had a blast!

Then little did we know....

Mallory and her friend got up and performed....

This is something Mallory absolutely

LOVES

to do, but hasn't done often in front of a crowd!

Had I known I would have brought my

camcorder and recorded them.  They sang

Torn

by Natalie Imbruglia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pe8lYz1YhU

They were Awesome!!

Mr. Rousseau

making adjustments to the sound if needed

The girls did a fantastic job....

hope they keep it up and sing at the 

other Coffee House performances that

are sure to come!

It was a fun night!

Thanks for stopping!

Happy 82nd Birthday Dad....

Dad to 6 adults Kids

ranging in age from

63 to 48

Grandpa to 20, ranging in age from 

40 to 17

&

GREAT Grandpa to 20+, I've lost count, ranging in age from

about 15 to baby....

 this is my sister Rochelle

she's about 5 yrs older then me....

I'm the baby!

Her husband was out of town.

 She ordered these fabulous roasted peanuts that

the restaurant roasts themselves....

Our family loves peanuts!

 We met at a pizza place called

Cascarelli's

http://www.cascarellis.com/

located in a small southern town in Michigan

if you live anywhere near you've probably heard of it.

This is my brother Emzy "MZ" with Dad....

Odd name you say....

not to us, he was named after an Uncle.

I'm told it comes from the Bible!

He named his son the same....

and his son did the same!

They're everywhere!

 Emzy & Kathy....

not an odd name, but a sweet addition to our family for sure!

Love you Kathy!

This is my sister Melinda and to her left (actually the bearded guy)

on her right,

is her husband Mark Tank....

Love this guy!

Big Teddy Bear for sure!

 Someone ordered these cheesy breadsticks....

by the time they got to our side of the table

and I remembered to take a picture

this is what was left!

That's how good they were!

 We all ordered a different 16 inch pizza....

one didn't even make it to the table yet....

Yes, there were leftovers!

Ooooo so Good!

 ~Cheesy Goodness~

 The one in the hat is our oldest sister Barbara

& her husband Darryl

They got us all together to celebrate.

There were some stories that came out

as they tend to do when family gets together.

Memory Lane is visited....

lots of laughter....

GOOD Stuff!

 Then it was Happy Birthday time....

My brother and my hubby

brought their instruments, brought them in

and we sang to our Dad....

He doesn't look to sure about this,

he said he was glad he didn't bring his 

hearing aides....ha, ha!

But, we had fun and are

~Thankful~

that we were able to celebrate another

Birthday with him!

Happy 82nd Birthday Dad!

Love You!

In case ya didn't know....

I didn't know!

Amanda and I went shopping Monday I think it was....

anyway, they had red and yellow peppers on sale

~10 for $10.00~

you've heard of those sales right?

And you also know that these colorful peppers

are usually more expensive then the baisc

Green Bell Pepper.

So, Amanda who loves to cook "healthy" foods

was bagging a few up.  I said,

 "Why are you buying these, do you plan to use them soon!"

Oh yes, they are good for snacking on!, she said

 Okay, but you know how you are about forgetting 

about food and it goes bad! 

 Ha, ha....she laughs!

I decided, I'd put one in my cart too.  Brad likes to roast them,

we'll find something to use it in I'm sure!  Well, here's where it lies....

 On my 3 tiered stand in my kitchen,

where I put the banana's, apples, oranges....

fruits and veggies like that, so that my family will see them

and hopefully eat them or use them for a healthy snack.

But, as you can see Mine is terribly wrinkled!

Left out in the open air,

so that it could be seen and used in 

a delicious recipe one night!

 Amanda has not touched hers either and in fact they 

are still in the plastic bag she put them in when she bought them.

Oh, they're going to be mushy....right?

 Nope!

Smooth as silk....

Fresh as can be!

 Remember we purchased these at the same time.

Whose would you rather have?

Mine may have to be tossed,

I will ask the hubby later because

 he is the chef in the family!

Just thought I would pass this new "knowledge" along,

I didn't know....maybe you did....Did you?

Someone should really come up with cute

veggie plastic bags that can be displayed out on our counters!

Have a lovely day!