Fun Party Night

Wow! We had such a great time last night in Saugatuck. We hung out at the Corner Bar first with Bells, Overbeeks and Everses, then headed to Mermaid's for dinner. I was so impressed with Mermaid's- we had 18 in our party for dinner, and they served us right away, got all the orders right, gave us all separate checks, and the whole dinner went great..... for us anyway. Mary Jo called me at some point right before we got our food and said they had taken the kids to Russ' for dinner, and Brooks threw up 4 times in the restaurant after he ate. Ewwwwwww! I felt horrible that she had to deal with that. She said not to come home because he seemed fine after he threw up. So we stayed. :-) After Mermaid's with the gang (Bells, Overbeeks, Everses, Doans, Turners, Holsteges, Bekins, Lamers), we left and went to Wally's. We met up with 8 other friends (Boeves, Koopmans, Drneks, and Overwegs) who originally were supposed to eat at Mermaid's too, but ended up going to Corner Bar for dinner. We hung out at Wally's for awhile, then we went to Marro's. We only stayed there a few minutes b/c half of our group (mainly the guys) couldn't get in, so everyone left and went back to Corner Bar. We sang, danced, and had a great time. It was a late night!!!!

This morning we slept in until 10:00, then I called MJ to check on Brooks. She said he was fine, but Sadie had started throwing up and had a fever. Ewwwwwww again! She said she was back sleeping, and for us to still come for lunch. Once we got there, Sadie seemed better, but is still running a fever. I am hoping it stops with those 2 and doesn't travel through Cobe, Ryan or myself. We had a delicious lunch and headed to the new house to see progress. They are still working on trim, so more of that had been done. That must be the slowest part of the building process b/c there is so much trim, molding, library paneling, etc. in the house.

Now we are home, Sadie is back asleep, and I may be headed there myself right now!!!!

Memorial Weekend

We started off our holiday weekend at Cobe's baseball game. They played the Cardinals and won 6-0. It was fun b/c Lynette and her boys came to watch, Tonya and her family were there b/c Collin is on the Cardinals, and Tim and Chase came as well to watch. After the game, Ryan, Cobe, Chase and Tim left to go see Iron Man in Grandville. I came home and gave the other 2 a bath and put them to bed.

Tomorrow, Lisa and I head to Howell to hit the outlets b/c I was frustrated by not getting a lot of time there yesterday. It definitely got me in the shopping mood, and I only had about 45 minutes to shop. I went to Aeropostle (I was with 7th graders remember!!!!!) and got 2 shirts, so I want to go back and hit the million other stores I really wanted to get to.

Then we'll head back to get ready for a big night out on the town in Saugatuck. There are 30 of us going out in Saugatuck- I can't wait!!!!! We have a group of 18-20 and a group of 8 eating at Mermaid's first, then we're all heading to a bar after dinner to meet up with a few more friends. So looking forward to it!!!! No big plans for the rest of the weekend- Cobe is supposed to walk in the parade Monday morning, so I'm sure we'll go to that if the weather cooperates. Right now, they are calling for thunderstorms, but I haven't been able to tell what time of day they are predicting them for. I hope to pick up some flowers and hanging baskets this weekend as well to brighten up the house a bit.

Dateline tonight is on the Janet Chandler case so I am off to watch that- a lot of Holland cops are on it supposedly and Lisa's dad, Ken, served on the jury for this case, so I am interested in watching it. Have a great weekend!!!!!!

Detroit Tigers

Cobe and I had such a great day at the Tigers game. It was a bonus that they played so well and won 9-2 (especially for Cobe's sake). We took charter buses and left school about 8:15am. We went to Howell to the outlets and shopped a little (a very little- didn't have much time), ate lunch and got back on the road by 11:20. We made it to the VERY LARGE stadium about 12:30 for the 1:05 game. I had 7 kids in my group, and they were very well-behaved and easy to watch. All the kids seemed to have fun. Of course we had to blow some money on Tigers souveneirs for Cobe, Brooks and Ryan. Our bus made it back safely and all the parents came quickly to get their kids, so I'd say the day was a success..... for the 2 buses that were with me anyway. The other 3 buses that went straight to the ballpark had some angry parents because they were way later getting home than us because they couldn't find their buses after the game. And about 30 kids/chaperones never even made it to the game b/c the last charter bus never showed (it hit a deer on the way to our school and had to be towed). So those poor kids had to go see a movie instead. Bummer!

Off to work now- last day this week- 4 days next (and those aren't even full days!!!!) YAY for summer break!!!!!!!

Preschool Graduation

Brooks graduated tonight from preschool and earned a diploma. I took a ton of pictures, but unfortunately, accidentally deleted most of them. Ugh! Boeve said you could see the improvement Brooks had made since 3-school. Last year at his program, he curled up in a ball on the floor and all the kids had to walk around him. This year, he stood where he was supposed to, but did not sing a single word or do a single motion that he was supposed to. Oh well- at least it's progress! :-) Haha Here are a few of the pictures that didn't get deleted- they are all from the playground where all the kids went after the program.





Sadie got to spend the day at Lovie's house. She was pleased to tell me all of their adventures. She was so tired from missing her nap, that she went right to bed at 4:00 when we got home, and went back to bed right when we got home tonight from the preschool program. Thanks Missy for tiring her out!!!!!!

Weird Feeling

It is Sunday night, but it doesn't feel like Sunday night. The kids don't have school tomorrow- teacher workday for K-5 teachers, so Cobe is off spending the night at his best friend Chase's house. I still have a regular work day tomorrow, so it just seems like he should be at home. Yesterday was Chase's birthday, so Cobe got invited over tonight to Chase's family party. Brooks slept ALL afternoon, so I am sure he'll be up until 11:00 or so before he can get back to sleep. We had a nice, relaxing day though. We went to church, went by our new house- they have about 1/2 of the trim done- doors are up, lights were on, so it felt a little more finished, then came home to work on the MASSIVE book report that Cobe has due this week! (Haha- Hey Em!!!!) For some reason, there have been a lot of tears shed over this book report. Ryan and I have been trying to help him, but I guess we are just too dumb because according to Cobe, we don't understand anything about how to do this report. Every suggestion we have come up with hasn't been right. So today, I sent him to his room and told him he was on his own if he wasn't going to accept the help I was willing to give him. Thank goodness he changed his tune when he came back down and thanked me profusely and from then on, all my ideas were good ones. Hmmm.... teenage hormones in such a little body! But he worked his little butt off all afternoon making a great poster. He had already done the rough draft as he read the book this past week, so it was a matter of him writing out his final draft, gluing some pictures on, and drawing a picture. He got it all done except for the picture, so we can manage that tomorrow night. Phew! Glad homework is almost behind us for a year- I am afraid we're going to have some long years ahead of us b/c Cobe would rather be doing anything else besides homework. I hope Brooksie has a different attitude about it, or else I'm doomed!

I made dinner and no one was really around to eat it- Cobe was gone, Brooks and Sadie were sleeping, and Ryan wasn't hungry, so I packed most of it up and Ryan took it over to his grandparents. I made terriaki pork, broccoli casserole, scalloped potatoes with sour cream and chives, and golden brownies. I wasn't about to let it go to waste. Ryan's grandpa Hains is not doing too well. Mary Jo and Carol noticed that he was really yellow looking and thin last week. He went to the doctor and he said he was jaundiced. He underwent some blood tests and an ultrasound. The blood tests showed an inflammation of the liver, and he'll get the ultrasound test results back tomorrow. Please pray that it is a simple virus causing this inflammation and not liver cancer, hepatitis or something else serious. He has not felt well and hasn't had much of an appetite either. I talked to Grandma today and she thought he was looking less yellow and feeling somewhat better today than he has been.

Lisa came over after dinner and we went for a long walk. It is nice to not have a schedule- I look forward to summer so we can experience that freedom daily. I am going to watch her girls in the morning while she works, then she'll watch my kids, then we are going to hit the pool tomorrow afternoon. Same plan as usual with the kid-watching, but Aliyah and Cobe will be in the picture tomorrow since they don't have school.

Well- I have two little ones to get to bed. Even though Brooks won't be tired, Sadie will be. Hope everyone has a great week!

Baseball- Whitecaps and Pirates

We decided to go to a Whitecaps game last night- it was a beautiful night and lots of kids from Cobe's school were going to be there (reading program night). Another elementary school was there as well for their reading program, and we knew lots of those families as well. It was a really fun time. We got to sit with Lynette and her family and the Tresemers. It ended up to be a double header, but we only stayed for the first game because it started getting late and Brooks was ready to hit the road.

This morning the Pirates (Cobe's team) had another baseball game- they won against the Athletics (13-5), and he scored 2 runs. He was excited! I had to work the concession stand the whole game because each team has to take a turn if they are the visiting team. About half the parents end up working the stand at some point. I dreaded it, but it wasn't too bad. I could see the field from where I was working so I saw Cobe up to bat 2 of his 3 times. I probably saw more of the game than normal b/c Mary Jo and Jim were keeping up with Brooks and Sadie instead of me. Thanks a ton!!!!

Off to fold laundry before heading to Saugatuck for the evening. I should try to sneak in a nap as well, but there is no time for that. :-)

What's a mom to do?????

I am sitting here listening to..... absolutely nothing but my fingers clacking away on the keyboard. Ryan got home from work, packed up the kids, and left. We have another showing tonight (worthless- people still have a house to sell themselves), but it bought me some free time in my house. I don't know if you other moms feel the same way, but free time ALONE in my house doesn't happen much, and when it does, I SO enjoy it. I get free time quite a bit to go do stuff- run errands, go out, whatever else I may need it for. But rarely do I get free time in my house- love it! What did I do so far? Clean for the showing. Even that doesn't bother me since nobody is here to mess it up. :-) I cut up some fruit, and now I am posting this. If I had a bigger chunk of time, I could clean out closets and drawers or something fun like that. Haha

House update: our house is drywalled and the ceilings are done. The trim guys started today with the trim. Now that they are inside, it does seem to go slower, but according to our builder, we are still ahead of schedule. I have picked out the flooring, cabinets, counter tops, tiles and hardware for most of the house. I only have the paint colors and lighting left I think. Plus Sadie's bathroom floor and counter top. I am really pleased with how everything is coming together. The interior decorator I am using is excellent and having one has helped me more than I thought possible. I can't wait to see everything come together!

Cobe lost his baseball game on Tuesday night. His first loss (they lost 10-2 to the Braves) wasn't really upsetting to him like I thought it would be. I thought he'd be bummed, but when I told him I was sorry they lost, he said, "Why?" I guess I"m glad he reacted that way rather than being mad or sad about it. They really had a pitiful game and never got any energy or momentum going. Oh well- there's always next time. :-) He plays again Saturday.

We only have 10 days of school left- 2 of those being delayed start days and one being a half day. Also, one of the days (Thursday) we are going to take the 7th grade to a Tigers game. I got permission for Cobe to go with us, so he is pumped, and I am MUCH more excited about going since he gets to go with me. I can hardly wait. I had no idea that Comerica Park had a ferris wheel and carousel. The teachers think the kids won't even want to watch the game b/c there is so much to do inside the ball park. We are taking charter buses and stopping in Howell for an hour and a half on the way for outlet shopping. My kind of field trip! Then we'll head to stadium for a 1:05 game. I am so excited!!!!!!

This weekend brings a night out with the family tomorrow night- we may go see a movie and go out to dinner or something fun anyway. Brooks really wants to see Speed Racer, so I'll have to check and see where that is playing. Then Saturday evening brings a night out with Rob and Missy to Saugatuck. We are going to go early evening so Missy can share her favorite shops with me and then go to dinner somewhere. I am looking forward to a laid-back but fun weekend. Hope yours is a good one!