Summer Fun Outdoors

It's almost been a week since my last post again and that's irritating. I like to use this medium as a tool to record everyday life, since I know I will forget it all too quickly. I couldn't even tell y0u what I had for lunch yesterday without having to REALLY think hard about it. Life moves so quickly and we change and grow right along with it. I need to do better.

The whole fam took a little day trip up to Newaygo State Park on Saturday to attend an Event put on by Geocachers and also by the State Park to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Michigan DNR. We had a great time... Mike gave a Geocaching 101 presentation, hooked up with some newbie cachers on their first ever find, had a wonderful potluck lunch, more caching, and ended with cake and ice cream. It was beautiful day...a perfect Michigan day to be outdoors with our kids, playing with high-end technology to find tupperware in the woods!

The Tikibirds Family at the Event on Saturday

Sunday was Father's Day and another beautiful day it was. We invited both our families over to celebrate the day with us and almost everyone was able to attend. Mike cooked burgers and dogs on the grill and I made strawberry short-cake for dessert. The kids played in the backyard while the adults sat around relaxing and yapping. It was very nice. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to believe my luck is real. I've got a wonderful husband and father to my children, a great home to raise them in and a fantastic set of relatives to share it with. Does it get any better?

Last night we had a delicious dinner with The Youmans, very dear friends of ours, and then had their help at the old house for a bit. Our new renters are moving-in this weekend (yay!) and come to find out, they have their own washer & dryer and microwave! So, we had to haul the old ones out and we'll be selling them later down the road. Then tonight or tomorrow, we need to go back over and fix one of our sprinklers that someone literally ripped out of the ground and repair the fan in the upstairs bathroom. I think that's it. We are SO ready to not have to pay 2 mortages every month and the new renters seem great...let's just keep our fingers crossed that it all goes smoothly.

I have another full week, culminating with the wedding of Deane & Linda's daughter on Saturday at their home/property. Since these are two of our favorite people, I am really looking forward to that and am praying extra hard that the weather cooperates for them. Plus, weddings are always happy events, filled with smiles and hugs, well wishes and pats on the back. I can't wait to share in the joy!

Wordless Wednesday: INK!

Projects, projects and more projects...

This weekend, Mike's parents took the girls for a few hours both on Saturday and Sunday. We also had no big plans for the weekend, a rarity during the Summer months. Time to do more work on the house. Here's what we got accomplished:

• Finished painting the Guest Bedroom, it's closet and all the trim work. Installed all new switches, outlets and covers in the room. Organized it, too.
• Painted our Master Bathroom, top to bottom. Installed new towel bar, ring, hook, toilet paper holder, new light fixture, framed the mirror, added blinds and did all the electricals as well.
• Installed all new switches, outlets and covers in the girls playroom and bathroom.
• Added all the new hardware to the kitchen cabinetry. 43 handles. Yes....43.
• Planted 3 flats of petunias (Red, White & Blue-ish) in the little garden next to our garage. Mike and the girls did this all by themselves and did a fantastic job!

We did a lot of other little things as well, but those were the biggies. It's coming along but sometimes it's just so depressing to get up in the morning and see all the work that still needs to be done. Not to mention all the everyday things, like laundry, dishes and cleaning, that are clambering for my attention. Oh well, one thing at a time. Every step forward is just that. Another feat accomplished, an item checked off the list, a tiny weight lifted off my shoulders. Everything will come together in time. It might be a LONG time, but I know that sooner than I can imagine, we'll have lived here for 10 years and I'll be looking to start the projects all over again! :)

...and the living is easy...

Summertime. Not that you would know it here in Michigan, of course. We have yet to hit those 80 degree days - actually we're happy to hit 70! Irregardless, it was time once again for the girls to have their "summer" hair cuts. We go to Snip-its, where everything inside is wacky & fun, you get a new comb and prize when your style is complete, not to mention a sucker, barrettes and sparkles in your hair and super friendly stylists that are accustomed to working with the younger set.

I always worry about cutting their hair but as soon as the shorter do's were done, their smiles said it all!