Growth Spurt

I can still remember when my mom gently told me that 'growing into things' was no longer something I should consider when clothes shopping. Somewhere around 13 years old.

At the time those were wise words. Recently though, I've come into a new stage of life where that's about 90% of the consideration. I hold up the garment and check for tent-like roominess all the while not really being able to imagine what being the size of a house will be like.

Right now I feel like I fell off the exercise/eating right bandwagon, just kinda chubby and out of shape (and breath).  So when I walked past a quite pregnant girl the other day, I thought how is it possible that in just a few short months that will at least be me, if not more?

It's all very weird. And exciting! But mostly weird.

And then I think how perfectly created I am. Good thing God our perfect creator knew exactly how to make me, because I have no idea what's going on! I just wake up every morning and wait for the new weird thing to come along.

In the meantime Peter's been taking photos from time to time. The first one makes me laugh bc I really felt huge and like everyone in the world could tell I was expecting...ha!

We got to see our bebe yesterday. He/she is doing well, right where they should be, and looking cute with a turned up nose :)

Krafting with Kari

It was real mom stuff: 

trips to the fabric store, glue guns, and banishment of children in the name of focusing on a craft project. 

How else does a Halloween costume come to life?????

Work work work including burning our fingers to the bone! :) These are NOT lo-temp!

Who wore it best? :)

Mmk now to train for the 5k...

Big Improvement

After a summer of having a hole in the driveway, our fighting position has been improved, and in a big, aesthetically pleasing way :)

Before and after

And around the fire pit too!  Ooooo!!!

Please stop over, we'd love to have you :)

Are you green or blue?

In our house we're both and thanks to the UofM punter, Peter still has his flag flying over the driveway, I think he was starting to sweat it a little though :)

Saturday night we hosted a neighborhood backyard party, I thought it was a noon game, but it wasnt! oops! so we ended up watching the end of the game with a dozen of our neighbors, most of whom are green too.  What a finish!

Then is was time for dinner and s'mores and petting/chasing/scaring the kitty :)

We had so much fun chatting with our neighbors, it is a small, small world!

To the bitter end

Actually not bitter at all, very sweet!

We helped Frosty Boy close for the season, someone had to do it.

Goodbye Frosty Boy! Until next summer!

When eighth grade graduation eludes you

When that happens, you get to continually go on Jr. High retreats; which is exactly what I did over the weekend. We had a great time at Lake Ann learning how to strengthen our faith and share it with others. Our group (of all girls) paired up with another church and hit it off so well, I was very thankful for and proud of our students.

On the bus we got off to a great start with MASH and junk food. #classic

Chapels were full of helpful lessons - lots to learn and think about!

We had beautiful weather - just perfect!

Game time! Everyone participated and didnt complain - that's a youth leader's dream-come-true right there!

Scavenger hunt and archery tag...ask them about this one...hehehe ;)

Hanging out

Hair styling - a Jr. High MUST.

 Keeping warm around the bon fire

Our girls and Pastor Jack - dont say 'Hi Jack!'

Some of our High School students tagged along and got to help with the weekend. They made great tribal members!

Maybe having a baby will help me graduate...maybe, but probably not, and that's just fine.

So much fun I forgot it was work!

Last week the DeVos Place played host to our annual GFS Food Show, so Karla and I ventured down for a 'light' lunch :)  

Tables of bacon beckoned to Karla

Gelato made me feel like I was back in Italy, and Mt. Gordoncheesemore was hilarious, the lady was there carving, I felt like she should have been in the lobby as an ArtPrize entry :)

It was a great year, lots of new items to try and old favorites too! Yum!

Later in the week my team went for an outing to Robinette's Orchards - we did their corn maze (maize?) and enjoyed donut and cider delicacies.

What a great work week!

Out and about

I've been doing a bit more out and abouting lately, it's so fun to spend time with friends!

Artprize Seven

Coney Island: Peter and the ladies! :)

Whom shall we meet with next!?

Sparty On

Peter's so into being an MSU alumni that we went to homecoming this year.

OR

We happened to have tickets to the game on homecoming.

Either way we went and it was fun! Rainy but fun!

And they eeked out a win. It's going to be an interesting year in the Big Ten!

It was a celebratory weekend

We celebrated mom and dad's 40th anniversary again with a little belated trip to Mackinac Island, a Connie's Cake to celebrate Lindsay's belated birthday, and then we were able to be there to celebrate Virginia's baby dedication and subsequent delicious lunch.

Cheesin' on the ferry!

A little R&R before taking to the streets and shops. Good thing Uncle Petey loves George and is willing to share his George viewer!

I've said it before on this very blog and I'll say it again, if you want fudge on the Island, JoAnne's is the place to go. It's also important to not be there on a busy day.

This little man, and his traveling companions, were able to enjoy some warm fudge from the marble. Yum!

Ice Cream @ Sadie's!!!

I'm enjoying Mackinac Island Fudge ice cream at the Grand Hotel, does it get any better?!

Awww, baby T. you have great parents! :)

And grandparents too.

The flowers on the island were breathtaking. Just stunning.

Saturday we toured the fort. I cant tour the fort (or any of Mackinac Island) without feeling like Grandpa Marv is going to shuffle around the corner and point out some interesting tidbit I missed.

That's a good looking fam!

Happy Birthday Lindsay!

Bath time for babies

 Virginia and her friend Keen were dedicated by their parents on Sunday morning.

After a delicious and succulent lunch at Sante, it was home again, home again but with a trailer load of pavers for more improvement of our fighting position.