The Hincka outdoorsmen

Danny just got back from the November camp out with his scout troop. They hiked,visited a museum, shot 22's and rifles with clay targets, made a thanksgiving dinner, played euchre, slept outside in 30* weather and were still home by 11am Sunday, just in time for 11:30 mass! Wow!! And Jerry went to the lake on Friday

to do some maintainence on the heating system and check that all was secure. Then he drove up to posen to "huntin camp" and worked on trail and ground stuff and painting inside the camp. Jerry's getting super excited about hunting this year, he heads north again Thursday morning to get ready for the first day which is this Friday. He and hank have a trail cam,  and he brought the sad card back with him. Tonight jake,jer and Danny were poring over the still shots Jerry had on his computer, marveling at all the " action" on the trail! Hilarious! I am happy that they enjoy the beautiful outdoors michigan has to offer. Danny already has his deer this season, now let's see if dad can do as well!

All join in!

Lucky for me, miss Roseanne was losing her voice....not only did I get to work today, I got to do a story time!! All join in is the drop in story time held on Friday mornings for all ages. I had about 30 participants. I had so much fun that I forgot to stop and instead of lasting 15 minutes it lasted about 45! And I am quite sure I had more fun than the kiddies. I read a new story about an " ol mama squirell and how she worked to keep all dange away from her babies. We all yelled out "chook chook chook" whenever a dog,bear,etc. came near the tree. It was really fun!

Molly was invited to join the Burkharts at the district final for BHS girls volleyball and boy was she excited. The team won and now they head to the regionals.  Oly went out to Red Robin with Rachel, a senior on the team! and Greg and Lisa. Anthony, their oldest, was a few years behind jake at CC and jake drove him to school for two years. How great for mol to have a chance to have such a big night!

BOOM

Justin Caine, who started the BOOM awards, today explained where the name came from. " when there is an Explosion, everything is shook up and turned around and usually not the same again. The BOOM award recipients are a big BOOM! In there communities, now let's share them with the world" it was very inspiring as were the speeches of the other award winners, Erica's d Doug, and the other folks that opened up recon, the conference where the BOOM awards were presented.we did not know that Molly would be asked to say a few words, and when she walked on stage to receive her award

She was speechless. She got choked up and couldn't say anything! Can you imagine molly speechless?! But God love her (and I know he does) she did a great job. 

We started the day with breakfast for the award recipients. We got to know each other a lot better. Then our family headed to the workout rom for 45 min of running,stretching and weights followed by swimming and hot tub

. Then we changed and walked around the exhibit hall and looked at all the vendors and bit a bit of shopping. There were several micro enterprises run by people with ID and we wanted to support their businesses.when the awards were finished and a photo session completed we we're ready to start our 3:30 min drive back to brighton.

Miss never-say-die molly, after realizing that the volleyball game she wanted to go to would be over the time she and Jerry got there, immediately changed course and told me she wanted to go to the run at the Main Street running shop, called LIGHT up the night. Okeedokey! I leap into my running togs and got us down by 5:55. The store had jackets and sneakers from new balance for the runners to borrow. So we pulled on jackets and shoes, and headed out with the 3 mile group. It sure was neat to see all the glowing forms speeding ahead of us up the dark rainy road. I was unsure of molly running in the dark, but she did fantastic. It did start to pour as we hit the - mile run, and we cheered for ourselves, we are two tough gals!!

 

Before.....

After!!!

And of course, PJ!!

Before....

Traverse city trip

Molly is being honored tomorrow with the athlete of the year award from BOOM, Be Our Own Motivation. An organization that honours folks who achieve in spite of great challenges. The award will be given on Wednesday at a banquet luncheon. As part of the award molly was given an overnight stay at the Grand Traverse Resort, with dinner and breakfast with her fellow honorees. We left the house around 2:30, sending Danny on his bike to wisbiskis and leaving jake to come home and watch dogs. The ride up is a bit boring, the scenery just trees on trees, most with no leaves on them, but there was certainly no traffic, and definitely no snow! We stay at this resort for the Special Olympics winter Games and on that trip conditions can be snowy and challenging. Jerry and Molly attended the dinner while Charlotte and I watched the Disney channel and ate subway in the hotel room. Charlotte was in heaven! Hopefully tomrw after the 7am breakfast call we can visit the beautiful pool and health club before the luncheon at 11:30. I am so happy that Jerry could come to see molly in action and meet some of the interesting folks I always seem to meet. I will post photos tomrw of our gal receiving her award!

A weekend with Cassie

What a blessing this past weekend was! We were able to get Cassie on Wednesday night and have her with us until Sunday night! it felt like the old days when she lived with us and we were able to bond so much better. She was very happy to see us on Thursday when she woke up.( Not so much Wednesday night, but that 9 pm arrival is ridiculous.) Halloween! After breakfast we went to a party at the new baby boutique in town. They had crafts and snacks and a photographer. We had a great time, in spite of the pouring rain. Next stop was Jake's workplace, Barnum. The company invites employees to have the kids come to trick or treat around the offices. It is a huge place and almost every desk had bowls of candy and treats out. Cassie was reluctant at first, but as soon as she learned that "trick or treat" produced candy for her purple pumpkin bucket she joined in with glee. "EM-a-ems" she said to everyone! She looked so cute in her candy corn princess dress and jake seemed very proud of her. She took a nap in the car on the way home and I left her to sleep in her car seat so as not to risk a short nap with such a busy night coming up. When the kids came home from school she was excited to show off her candy haul. Jerry and Jake took all the kids to Fairway Trails at 6, and I stayed at Princeton court to give out candy. The weather was terrible and I only got around 17 kids. But I guess it slowed to a mist at FT and the kids got ridiculous amounts of candy and stayed out til around 8:15.

I got cass to bed and the other kids had a big candy trading party!

Friday the rain continued and cass and I played with toys and read lot so f books. We also did a Meijer run, and got groceries a long with a Duplos set. I can spoil her, I'm Cookie!

Friday night everyone went to basketball, and in spite of badly hurting his knee SuperJ worry still took the kids to Leo's for ice cream. Leah spent the night on the trundle in charlottes room and enjoyed a day of playing and crafts with Cassie and the kids. 

First thing Saturday morning Danny,Molly, Charlotte and I participated in the give it away 5K at Huron meadows. It was cool and drizzly , in other words, perfect running weather, and Danny and I did the 5 will PJ and the girls did the 10. The rest of the day we just hung out, which was really nice and relaxing.

Sunday morning Cassie and I made buttermilk pancakes and bacon for everyone and we ate and read the papers. Then Jerry took everyone to Huron meadows to play and run, including both dogs! While they were gone I made autumn chowder. Cassie went to church with us at 5 pm and Danny and I were both privileged to serve at mass. After supper and a bubbly bath and pj's it was time for jake to drop her back to Cammy. That is truly the worst time. She is always so happy and relaxed by then, and it stinks to send her away. But that's what has to happen so that is what we do.

I am not sure what he futre holds for Cassie and our family, so we try to enjoy each moment we have with her. It is a gift from God!

Uncle Danny taught me how to ride fast and slow!

My dad's first pony, "funder"

Cooking pancakes with Cookie

Playing dollhouse with my friend Leah

M&M's!!

Story time

Ready for the next holiday!

Run Fun!

PJ thought we would enjoy this run and boy was he right. Reasons?

1. Held at Huron meadows, our home course

2. They had a family rate of $50, and kids 12-under were free

3. 5 and 10K's to choose from

4. Money being raised for a good cause in our community

5. Cool race shirts

6. Chocolate chip bars as post race food

7. A raffle...and Charlotte won a target gift card!

So in spite of the rain and mud and chill we loaded up the car and headed over. PJ subbed in as Jerry, who really hurt his bad knee playing basketball last night:(. Easy parking and registration and then back to the car to warm up and wait. There was a motivational speaker and Jimi Hendricks version of the Star-Spangled Banner and then we took off. Danny hooked up with an 8th grader from his cross country team and they ran the 5K together. Finished in around 23 range. Molly,PJ and Charlotte tackled the 10 and did great. A lady came up to me after she finished and mentioned that she had run a. Opulent of miles with Charlotte and really enjoyed her company. I was tickled! She saw Danny and I near the end of the race as she was walking back out to find Charlotte and cheer her on to the finish--how nice! PJ beat molly, which thrilled him. Me? Well I did run the 5K, finished in around 33, ran with a girl who was doing her first 5K so it was fun to encourage her. Great time,

Danny and Adam

Charlotte and her encourager

Molly kicks in!

The Monday night club molly runs with, HURT, she forgot to wear her shirt, but at least she matched!

Friday night basketball

The tradition continues! Cassie is in week three of her "rookie year"  of Friday night basketball. Jerry's rule is that they have to be 2. I can remember when Charlotte was finally old enough to go! Jerry started playing with this group the first winter we lived in Michigan. Even though he was very busy at work and I had no friends I realized that Jerry without basketball is a very unhappy Jerry. When Molly's physical therapist Robyn mentioned that her husband Stan played ball with a group of guys every Friday night AND they took their kids with them, I knew I had to get him in. Because you see this group was very picky about who could join them, the core worked together as social workers and were extremely nice and just wanted to enjoy the game. That is a big departure from the crazy hotheads you often find at the church open men's ball nights. I begged Robyn to talk to Stan and give Jerry a tryout. Luckily, and not surprisingly,  he was just the kind of player they were looking for. So 22 years later, he is still going! And all through the kids childhoods he has opened the doors of the van and just piled in whomever wanted to go, jake's pal Jeremy, Sam Stewart, Melissa, Ryan, Sophie, Leah, and now Cassie. It is very cool. And along the way I have had Friday nights to Christmas shop, see a movie, or even just clean and organize for the weekend in relative peace. The guys always take the kids out after ball, originally Stan and Jerry took our kids and Megan and Katie out to Big Boy, now jer takes all our crew to Leo's, where the girls all make a big fuss over them! Tonight Cassie and leash had a great time with the other kids, and despite giving his knee a bad twist, super Jer headed to Leo's for treats. Leah is having a sleepover here and the happy chaos continues,