No Camera!! UGH!!!!!!

We just returned from our short trip to Lansing. We spent 4 nights at the Nickels! We celebrated birthdays with the whole family (Curt and Melissa and Mom and Dad were there too!) and just had an all around great time while we were there. Molly and I got to go to see the Pistons play the 76ers on Sunday. One of my company reps took us along with his wife. They are very nice Christian people. Our seats were 5th row, center court, right behind the reporting table. Unbelievable seats! It felt like we were right in the action. We won't soon forget that. We all went to see Madagascar II on Monday. The kids (and adults) loved it and it was a funny movie. The cousins wore themselves out playing hard the whole time we were together and the adults were able to relax and enjoy the company(Molly and Betsy rock at Nertz beating the boys soundly 2 games in a row with the boys only having 3 Nertz called in 2 games!). The girls were not too excited to leave(including Molly), but were able to go swimming at the hotel on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning(plus have fun going in and out of the twirly doors!). They really enjoyed that. We stayed at the J.W. Marriot in downtown Grand Rapids. Very nice hotel. Too nice for us to pay for so I am happy we didn't have to. I was there for a company meeting and they paid for that. We stayed on the 17th floor overlooking downtown. Really cool. This was a nice mini vacation that didn't cost too much but was just when we needed some time away. We feel refreshed with a new perspective on life. It is good to have time to relax and have fun. Sorry...no photos as I (Tim) forgot the camera(because Molly had to remember everything else!)

I want to dress up anyway.

Abby has been sick for a few days and is missing some fun days at school. It is reading month and today the students were to dress up as their favorite book character. Abby wanted to be Chrissa. She got dressed up and looks so beautiful.

Abby and Chrissa.

Teachers and Marine Biologist!

This was reading week at school. On Friday the girls dressed up as what they want to be when they grow up.

My life wouldn't be complete without one of my girls being a Marine Biologist!

Katie dressed as a teacher.

Abby had the Cadillac Philharmonic Student Festival on Saturday. She played her composition and one other song. She did very well. On a scale of 5 being best, she scored 5 four times and 4 two times. We are very proud of her.

Here is Abby with her teacher.

She looks ready to go, but she was very nervous. She woke up with an upset tummy and threw up before we left.

Friends Patricia and Chris.

Abby's metal.

Abby and Patricia showing off the hardware.


After all of this we went to Dunhams and signed up the girls for softball this spring. I think they will like that.

Spring is in the air!

This is the first day it finally feels like spring. We've had a few warm days here and there, but today it actually felt like it. We all love spring. Molly and I love getting our hands dirty in the garden while the kids play. Dirty hands are not far off.

Compare to blog photo from a few weeks ago.

Sure sign of spring. New sprouts!

Time to kick the ball around.

Katie loves soccer, too.

Catch me if you can Abby!

Still going! Nothing outlast the energizer!!

One of many joys of Michigan winters!

One of the greatest things of living in the north country is the occasional wet, heavy snow. It is especially delightful when it is also trash day. There are several reasons for being happy for snow and trash all at the same time. This particular day was interesting. I was taking Macy out to go potty after lunch today and I saw him coming. I also took note when I pulled in my drive that my garbage tote was very close to the road and my mailbox. Thinking nothing of it except that I would wait to bring it in after work because I would have to go out there to bring in the mail anyway. I was too late. As I said, I saw him coming. I could do nothing about it. As Macy and I stared down the road we could see it. The big, bad snow plow. Only this time he was not pushing fluffy stuff. He was pushing 4 inches of slush. My anticipation rose to a new level. I looked down the driveway at my tote. I knew it was toast. I was only hoping that it wouldn't break into pieces so that I wouldn't have a big mess to clean up. As he approached I could see the slush coming from the road directly at my tote with the force of an F5 tornado. I mean nothing could put more force on it. As I watched in disbelief the force of the elements thrown by the plow flipped my tote end over end into the cluster of trees that surround my mailbox. I got a good laugh out of the ordeal and was very happy that the garbage truck had already came to empty my poor tote. I often wonder how much fun it would be to drive one of those trucks. You know that it gives the driver no greater satisfaction that to cremate those stupid garbage containers. Sometimes I wonder if the garbage men and the snow truck drivers have some sort of twisted deal. Good news is I would get the better of him this day. No damage!

Birthday Tea Party!

Beautiful place settings.

Molly's handy work.

Lovely ladies!

Fun, fun, fun!

Sisters sharing memories.

American girls!

Even Katie had a friend over.

She even did her makeup.

Chocolate chip pancakes. One of Abby's favorites.

It was also a sleep over.

For Katie, too.

Birthday Bash!

Abby uses the ramp, but that didn't last. She wanted to roll the ball. She wound up rolling underhanded between her legs.

Cutie's ready to rock and roll.


The release.

Katie got Abby the Chrissa movie. Abby was so excited.

Let's watch the movie. Can we, can we?

NO WAY! The Chrissa doll! Abby said she had a feeling that we got her this American Girl doll.

Abby + Chrissa = Happiness

Thank you!