Baby Shower- T-minus 2 days and counting

Here we go! First a meeting to rehearse Molly's speech to the LESA staff on Monday-she needs to practice! Then a Dunkin run for the kids to spend the gift cards that Brian gave then, latte's and donuts for all. next stop Gordon Foods, the restaurant supply store for muffins,croissants,etc. Home,school with Danny,then to the Party city store to get the pink and brown table goods, then home to set it up, Back out to get Ryan,who is spending the night, then fix dinner and set up living room for the party. serve dinner, then kids off to soccer with Jerry, and me to Costco. More food, more money! Yikes, what will Jer say when he sees the bills. And I haven't even bought the crib yet! Started cooking, made coleslaw, cooked the chicken ,and made the potato salad. GO ME!

The Boss dinner- A Success!

Well, big event 1 is done!
Brian and Jerry arrived home from the office around 4:30, and we all headed to the park.  We ran about 4 miles and then did a relay race! Brian is a great sport and seemed to enjoy himself. When we got home the men took a shower and we ate dinner. I had prepared stuffed peppers,  cheddar,bacon mini corn bread loaves, and applesauce. After some ping pong and shuffleboard, we have cake-a from scratch buttermilk poppy seed bundt cake with french silk icing! The whole meal gets rave reviews, but who knows if he is just being nice. The other fantastic thing, he and Jerry put the old couch out in the garage, so now I can set up the living room with small card tables!
Danny's school went well, we opened the day with mass.  Father Karl told me/Danny that he was really happy that we were homeschooling! I was surprised because I thought that he might wonder why we weren't at St. Pats. I feel very blessed as we start the year.

the cake-yum!

Brian and Molly

the running group

you too Kerry, get in there...OK!

Back at BDL

Had a chance to work this afternoon, and thought I'd better get my dupa in there before they forget who I am! I worked with Anne and Jen, doing Teen Gaming, and didn't even step foot into childrens! It was great. Jerry ended up at the Polish Village Cafe(with new outdoor tables!) with his boss Brian, who had been craving the dill pickle soup and beef rolls since his last visit to Detroit. The kids fended for themselves, playing Wii,reading,dancing and watching baseball. They probably were quite happy to be alone.
We also did a Sally's run, dropping off 2 bags, and scoring several baby items for the grab bag game, and half off kids things.
Danny and I continued our schooling. We did have some computer issues again, and hope to resolve them for good this week. It is frustrating to be working on a section and have it shut down on Danny. But I like it so far and he seems to.
Closed the evening with a Meijer run, got most of my groceries for the boss dinner and the party on Saturday. GO ME!

Monday 8/22/11 First Day of School!

I'm excited and I think Danny is too! I have him set his alarm for 8am. I get up at 6:30 and run 5miles and start on my coffee intake! Day sets up like this:
8am-coffee/cocoa on sunporch with a read-aloud
8:30 breakfast and reading
8:50 dress/tidy self and room
9-10 English-today did grammar and poetry/reading for content
10-10:15 Jump on the trampoline
10:15 Math

This was the first day, so some things on the computer didn't work as planned, and I needed to make 2 calls to the company, and change settings,shutdown and restart, the usual! But hopefully tomorrow. will be better.
We went to get Charlotte from 12-4, then finished up the math when we got home. Each day will include 45 minutes of reading, and all books will have a short oral or written book review done. So far, that's where I'm at!

Charlotte seemed to have fun, but threw a big tantrum at dinner, possibly needing to let her freak out after holding it together for 2 days, but it sure made you feel nostalgic for last night when dinner was so peaceful. Still trying to resolve this...

We stopped at the Birch Run outlets, hadn't been in years. I remember driving up to them whenever Susan would come out here, so we could go to the Esprit outlet. Danny got some new "school clothes", it will be weird not having a uniform to put on/worry about.

Starting to get a little worried about my week,work tomorrow night, boss the next night, then shower Saturday...wish me luck!!!

Girl's morning out! Sunday 8/21/11

What a fun morning! Met Donna,Shawne and Patty at the movie theatre and we saw The Help. Oh gosh,it was fantastic! Each character was so well cast and well acted, and of course the story is fantastic. It actually made me want to reread the book. Afterwards we went to Leo's for lunch and to chat about the movie and life. Great times!
We went to 5pm mass and then the kids and Jerry went to hit baseballs and they stopped downtown for icecream. There were classic cars parked on the street and Danny enjoyed hearing about them from Jerry. Tomorrow we pick up Charlotte!

Charlotte heads to Camp Fishtales

We left the house at 8:15 and headed north to Pinnconing. We arrived at Camp Fishtales right on time and were first to check in and get Charlotte her pick of bunk beds! The camp is small and cute looking and the leaders seemed really friendly. It is a small group and I think she will do great. It is especially god that it is only 2 nights and 3 days, this will be perfect for her.  After we left we stopped at the Pinconning Cheese factory outlet. They had at least 20 different types of cheese samples, including chocolate cheese! We bought a bunch of different kinds including horseradish with pickles(Dad, that one's for you!) At home we ate lunch and watched some Johnny Quest while a rain storm passed through, then went out to do some shower shopping. Jerry,Molly and Danny went to the Howell bowl-a-drome for a night of bowling as a fundraiser for Special Ministries. They had a blast! Then we had a ping pong tourney, while watching the Tigers win big! Ended the night with a couple of episodes of McHales Navy, our latest favourite show! An excellent day:)

Charlotte's camp

Charlotte's cabin

the fishing lake

the cheese outlet...milk that giant cow!!

Howell Melon Run 2011

melon ice cream

the family that runs together stays together!

Danny and Jacob

fun in Howell

cartwheel finish

Molly limps in, but she makes it!

running Danny in.....

toughest 10 year old in town

sweaty and triumphant

goofing with the Sapienza kids

Coach PJ gives Charlotte a boost!

testing the medical staff at the melon run!

Molly and Danny after he received his cup for second place!

What a night! We watched toddlers roll melons(downhill, so it was a hoot!) then kids run the mile, then we all took off in the 5K and 10K. It was hot, but the course was beautiful, and we all finished in good time. Hung out with the Sapienza family, Russ and Amy, who are SO coaches, and Karol Christianson, who lives right on the course and came to cheer us on. Free melon ice cream to the runners too! Danny felt sick afterwards, and we had to skip a late snack at Karols and head home. Probably just as well, we got home after 10 and had to take showers! And we were hungry, because with the race timing we didn't eat dinner. So we all got to bed late, tired but proud!