Live from Tormville!

My Sister & I

My sister has been at my dad's this week, and I hadn't gotten a chance to see her until today. She lives in North Carolina, and we just don't see each other all that often - so it was fun to be able to go and pick her up to go garage saling. 

We didn't have any luck garage saling at all. Every single sub sale in lower Michigan is next weekend. But we did have fun. 

Over lunch at Red Robin, Wendy shared that, "you two are the same in that you have the same hair, the same teeth, the same voice and the same eyes, but you have different noses, different laughs and different fashion sense"

She pretty much nailed it. 

We also both ordered the same thing for lunch. 

And then there was this one...

This is the photo that I'll put into my photo a day album. 

My brother and his kids came over twice yesterday - the first in the morning when he called and I said - Now? Do I have time to get dressed first?   It was at a time when most normal people are dressed - we just weren't.  *smile* 

The first time - my husband wasn't home, he worked a few hours in the morning. The second time though, he was - and the girls lit right up. My husband has one of those personalities that just seems to attract the littles.. If there are little kids around - they are on him. He winds them up, shakes them up, growls at them and as I'm typing this he just asked Mark if he can pick him up and squeeze him. Kids seem to like this.  I have one picture where he has seven kids on him at one time, and they are all having a ball.

Something about him. 

If you ever want your kids wound up right before bed - give him a buzz. I've offered this service to my sister-in-law Sue multiple times and she never seems to want to take me up on it. 

Whatever. 

 

Party on Thursday, party on Friday, party the whole week long

We've been partying as if Christmas is coming over here. 

On Thursday night we attended the extended Pennala party. That's Greg's side of the family. My intention was to take photos once Santa arrived, but, well, he musta got lost - so this is all I've got. I had the wrong lens for group pictures - that photo only shows maybe 20% of the peeps. 

Last night we partied with my immediate family. These are the only pictures I got. I was enjoying just relaxing and visiting. 

The kids played a version (not this version) of the Wright Family for the dollar gifts and it was good for laughs as they concentrated on the lefts and rights in the story.

My brother was the reader of the tale. 

And it was good. 

Today I'm preparing tomorrows menu
Baking for evening church
Making a chocolate eclair cake
And checking my list one more time in hopes I don't bump into anything crucial that I need.
Meijers was crowded enough at 10:30 last night - I can't imagine what it looks like over there today. 

I survived Thanksgiving 2011

The rundown....

I put my husband in complete charge of the turkey. He woke up at 7:30 to get it going for 8:30. Mark wandered in at this point and wondered what in the world dad was doing to that chicken's bootie.  He had found a recipe online for stuffing the bird with carrots, thyme and onion.  

Fast forward a couple hours and my kids bickering was getting on my nerves, so I put them to work making a turkey appetizer, much like I had put them to work the day before drawing and coloring table runners for our feast. 

They did a good job, if I do say so myself.

Done with the turkey I had them be quiet with other things. 

Our middle of the night arriving guests started waking up at about 10 - 10:30, and my husband took omelet orders for everyone. He runs a pretty good kitchen. My Friday morning omelet is cooking as I type this post.

We weren't doing this to pass the time before dinner twenty years ago. 

Then the sale ads and list making began. Lot of disappointment surrounding so many stores opening between 10pm and midnight this year.  

Our youngest guest. He reminded me a lot of my own kids - his cousins. My kids weren't much for the dull roar of a gathering buzz.  He'd instantly calm down when his momma brought him upstairs to a quieter place. Very much like my own kids. 

If you count the youngest guest, we had 19 for dinner. Uncle Calvin - who shared his birthday with Thanksgiving day, was remembering when Greg and I first moved into this house 14 Novembers ago, and two weeks later I had the whole gang over for dinner. I'm pretty sure that I also insisted I could do everything myself, and did. 

I've learned a lot over the years, This year I delegated the turkey, the potatoes, the raw vegetables, the green bean casserole and the yams. I hardly did a thing.  I even bought paper plates, which I usually don't do. 

The little boys learned all about Angry Birds and iPads
My mother-in-law and Aunt Susan made a delicious broth from the turkey remains
We nibbled and laughed well into the night
We enjoyed drop by company from Kathy and her boyfriend Dino
We laughed some more
Played Mad Libs

And at about 11:30 my brother-in-law and four teens/tween went to Kohls and at about 1am my sister-in-law, husband and myself all headed up to bed.

I tried for one sale at midnight on Amazon, but even though I hit the buy it button instantly - it sold out before it ever made it all the way to my cart.  Alas and such.

Today I'll make a turkey soup
We're getting company for the Fantasy of Lights parade
I'll probably wander downtown this afternoon and check out the shops, the tree auction, and other events.
Wendy and I will run a 5K

And we'll laugh some more.

Life is good.  

 

 

 

If you see my mom today....

....she'll be smiling like this. 

Today is her last day of full-time work (she'll still work every other friday/monday - giving her ten day stretches off).  She's been counting down the months for about five years. 

She's worked as long as I can remember. When we lived in Laurium, we owned a hardware store - that required many hours from both of my parents. We had a full time babysitter during those years. 

When we moved to Northville in 1982, she worked somewhere. I don't remember where, but I remember coming home from school and her giving me directions on how to put dinner going before she went to work. I remember lots of meatloaf. 

The next year we moved to Walled Lake, and I remember there being extra kids roaming around the house as she did daycare.

When we moved to Milford, she worked at Huron Valley Hospital - which came in handy that night I had to drive myself to emergency. She worked the registration desk at emergency. No hanging around the waiting room for me. 

She also worked at the nursing home in Milford, on the corner of Commerce and Hickory Ridge. I remember stopping in there quite a bit - must have been my broke, can you lend me a few dollars years. 

I can't remember which came first - the nursing home or the hospital.

When my mom and siblings moved back up north, she worked at Michigan Tech for quite a few years, but was never fond of the Calumet to Houghton drive in the winter. 

She was thankful when she got her current job at Keweenaw Home Nursing - much closer to home. She was with them when they moved from their location in Laurium over to their current place in Calumet. 

It's going to be one happy potluck party tonight! 

Congratulations Mom! 
Love you!  

the newest nephew

At 4am this morning, our newest nephew (Grayson) was born. 
I drove out to meet him this evening (I'm gunning for favorite auntie status) and I took a few pictures to share since I know the long distance aunties, uncles and grandparents are waiting to see him. 

Look at those fingers!

He's a momma's boy already. 
He was all snuggled up nice and tight with her when I got there and as soon as she passed him to me, he started howling. And howling. And howling. I gave him back to his mother, and she settled him down in no time. His dad says not to have hurt feelings, as he gets the same treatment. 

It's not often I get hold them less than a day old. Can't you just smell him?

I like this one of another auntie getting a photo

And while I took a picture of the new mommy too - it's not postable. Just know that she looks far too good for having given birth less than 24 hours ago and only having one hour of sleep since.  There was a bit of 'no fair' going on between visitors. 



 

Renee

When we were on vacation in upper Michigan last week, it was a bonus that my husband's sister Renee happened to be up there with her family at the same time. We ended up at their beach a couple times for swims and visits. 

As you can see, my oldest just fits right in with their family. 

So fun to get to be around them for a few days, and get to know those long distance kids just a little bit better. They change so much when we see them just once a year.

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This morning we're headed off to the orthopedic surgeon. I've had a real hard time focusing on anything this week, just anxious to get some answers on what's going on in there.  Fingers crossed it's nothing too major.

Happy Friday!

I'm hoping this evening will find me lounging on the courthouse lawn watching our local american idol style contest semifinals immediately followed by - Elvis!  Looks like a beautiful day for lounging on the courthouse lawn.....

 

A day at Little Traverse

As luck would have it, my husband's younger sister Renee and family are up here the same week as I am. They live out in Minnesota, so we don't see them all that often. In fact, our Wendy could have come up here with them - but she chose to say in Minnesota just a few more days and will come in a ride today. I can't wait - she'll be here about suppertime.

Renee is such a fun mom to watch. She's mother to three boys and a girl. 

This was the first time we got to meet Penny. She not walking yet - that's always my goal to meet the new ones before they are walking. It doesn't always happen. 

She just had a new tooth break through the night before, so she's a very happy girl.

And very happy boys. They had fun with cousins - it didn't take them any time at all to warm up to each other.  If you don't count my Mark. He's been a little slow to warm up this week. 

Seven hours on the beach was awesome. And yes, I went under again. Two dips in one year!  Today is supposed to be rainy, and then a few 80 degree sunny days to carry out the end of our stay. Awesome. 

On the way out of LIttle Traverse I bumped into my nephew Pete fishing in the river.  Pete, I said, are you coming back to grandma's with me? 

Pete said yes, and biked back to his camp to grab his gear.  Pete is riding home with me on Sunday.  Pete is a little bummed that Allan is not riding home with us. 

Pete was fishing with this Johnson boy.  This Johnson boy was picked up by his mother on her way out. 

 

 

Coffee Break

It's been a good day for enjoying a good strong hot cup of coffee.....

happy father's day

to my husband

to my dad

and to my father-in-law

We've been blessed to have such great men in our lives. 
I am so grateful.