Happy Howlidays!

I hope this holiday season finds you smiling, laughing, and having lots of fun!  I'll be smiling, laughing and having lots of fun after I finish my shopping, baking, cleaning, cooking, laundry, Christmas cards, and wrapping...all within in the next three days.  Why, oh why did I wait until the last minute?  This is all Matt's fault.  His total procrastination has rubbed off on me over the past 21 years.   I'm thinking my New Year's resolution will be to stop procrastinating...starting right now.  So with that in mind...Happy Valentine's Day!

'Tis the Season (Almost)

People keep asking me the same question..."What do you want for Christmas?".  I have a pretty simple list:
1.  Peace on Earth. 
2.  Good will toward man. 
3.  Irresponsible, ill-equipped people to stop breeding. 
That's about it.  I'm pretty easy to shop for.

Before I can get into the Christmas mode, I have to recap our November adventures.  Let's see...Keaton came home for a short Thanksgiving break and we celebrated Matt's birthday with a visit to Red Lobster and then some cherry cheesecake at home.  I put 43 candles on top, lit them, and came pretty close to setting off the smoke alarm.  We gave thanks like most Americans on Thanksgiving Day with good food and football.  Cyrus was one happy dog with his breakfast plate of yummy people food.  It was a great day to kick back and relax...for the guys while I made monkey bread, cheese fondue, and dinner with all the fixin's.  It's a good thing I love to cook and try new things out in the kitchen (when I'm in the mood).  I do have to say I made a fabulous sweet potato souffle that will now go on my yearly menu.  Keaton went back to school on Friday and Matt did a little Black Friday shopping.  I think he was a little disappointed this year after scouting the ads and didn't find anything to gear up for and battle in the wee hours of the morning. 

We spent the weekend driving back and forth to Indiana for basketball games.  The team split and we ran out of gas.  Literally.  Matt, being Matt, was hopeful he'd get gas cheaper in Indiana.  I, on the other hand, am not as frugal and thought it would be better to actually pay a little extra to ensure we didn't run out of gas.  So, long story short, we now have a souvenir gas can to always remind Matt why HE SHOULD ALWAYS LISTEN TO ME!!!

So, December is upon us and there are 24 shopping days left before Christmas.  I hope Santa can bring at least one thing on my list.  If not, I hope Santa remembers that diamonds are a girl's best friend.  ;-)

A New Month...

A new month...I guess that means it's time to update the blog.  My last post was in celebration of Keaton's birthday.  (October 27th...the other best day of the year!)  He had a scrimmage at KVCC that night (which K won...YAY!) so Matt and I picked up an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen to take down to the dorm to celebrate with Keaton's girlfriend and roommates.  After a tour of their newly-cleaned suite (and it looked clean...but I didn't do the white-fingered cotton glove test for dust or look under furniture or in drawers to see if they just shoved everything out of sight in a frenzy before the parents arrived) and presents, it was time to light the candles and cut the cake.  Well, we tried to cut the cake.  TRIED...that's the key word here.  You'd think that after sitting out for an hour that the ice cream cake would get a little soft.  I couldn't get a butcher knife through it.  Matt couldn't get a butcher knife through it.  I had the bright idea of throwing it in the microwave for a few seconds to help it soften.  Matt was in charge of microwave duties...which I accept full responsibility for anything that was about to happen because we all know how things tend to happen to poor Matt.  He may have heated it just a little too long because when he started to pull the cake out of the microwave, everything kind of slid off the cake.  Thankfully Matt has quick reflexes and grabbed the cake and icing with his hands and somehow managed to keep most of the icing on the cake.  Oh, did I mention it was red icing?  Our hands still have some remnants of red food coloring on them after almost two weeks later.  ;-)

Matt and I headed over to the lake shore to enjoy the last Saturday in October.  It was a beautiful fall day and quite a few trees still had lots of color on them.  We wandered around Saugatuck and visited some shops and a craft fair.  I found some fabulous things to copy and make at home...if only I could remember exactly what they were or what they looked like.  After shopping, we drove over to South Haven for a walk out to the lighthouse.  I swear sometimes it felt like an optical illusion...the lighthouse seemed to keep getting farther away the more we walked toward it.  We enjoyed a late lunch and did some more shopping.  I love the cute little shops in beach towns.  I always find interesting (and funny) things to buy and get lots of ideas of things to make at home...again, until I get home and then forget exactly what it was I was going to make.  I found birthday presents for my sisters that made me laugh hysterically in the store and still makes me laugh when I think about them!  I can't wait to see the looks on their faces...ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!   I am the best sister ever.  Really.  (It's too bad you can't see the devilish gleam in my eye.)

Halloween was a little lonely without Keaton.  I was hoping he'd agree to be one of the Seven Dwarfs (of course he'd have to kneel)...but he had basketball practice and had to stay at school.  It was still fun to sit on the porch and hand out candy...and be dressed in costumes.  I knew I wanted Cyrus to dress as a skunk for Halloween, so I tried to think of something that would go with a skunk costume.  The only skunk I could think of was from the Disney movie, Bambi. But, Bambi costumes brought to mind images of strippers or exotic dancers. So, I decided that Cyrus was a woodland creature and I would be Snow White.  Matt usually doesn't get a vote and is good-natured enough to just go along with my theme.  (He does draw the line at spandex or tights, though.)  Kids loved Cyrus and he received many hugs from all sorts of costumed kids that night.  (I always wonder what in the world he thinks of strange creatures coming up to pet and hug him.  He seems fascinated by the whole Halloween thing...or traumatized.  It's hard to tell.)  This year, the fairytale ended about 8 p.m. when I went inside to heat up some left-over beef stew for dinner.  (Yes, REAL princesses cook...and clean their own castles.)  I did like dressing like a princess and think this may be my new cleaning outfit.  I guess I could just wear a tiara with my sweats when I do housework and get the same feeling...and have a better range of motion.  Gowns really do limit your ability to move!  Matt, being Matt, had one funny incident happen while passing out candy.  After we came inside for the night, he knelt inside by the front storm door (a full-length glass door) and opened it when kids came to the door.  Well, I guess he wasn't fast enough with the door because one girl walked right into the glass.  BAM!  I guess this princess just might clean her doors and windows a little too well.


The number 20 may be the magic number this year.  Keaton is now 20 years old...and he is now #20 for the Kalamazoo Hornets.  (It's also his old high school number, so we're hoping it brings him good luck this season!)  Keaton scored his first official basket of the season in the exhibition game against Western Michigan University!  YAY!!  It was great to see him on the court at WMU and he did a good job trying to guard a guy that was 7' and outweighed him by at least 100 pounds.  Seriously.  The Broncos were HUGE!  It was so great to see him walk off the court without limping or grimacing from pain in his knees.  Now he has pain in his hip flexors...but hopefully that won't be nearly as big of an issue as his patellar tendonitis.  He thinks he's still growing, so we'll just have to wait and see.  He's happy to be back playing basketball and we're looking forward to another good season of K basketball!  Go Hornets!!

We took a road trip this past Saturday to pick up the motor home from being serviced up in Grand Rapids.  We had the check engine light come on during our last camping adventure and the mechanics found that a critter had been chewing on the electrical wires under the hood.  Matt is now trying to invent something to keep them out from the engine...humanely because he knows I'll cry if he hurts anything.  (Seriously, I never even kill a spider...I just relocate it to a new home outside.)  We took our good friends along and decided to have a whole day full of fun while in the Grand Rapids area.  First, we hit the casino where I won $30 on my favorite slot machine, Sex and the City.  (Those girls are so good to me!)  We changed into some warmer clothes, put on our bike helmets, and hit the trail at the White Pine Trail State Park up in Rockford.  We rode our bikes along the Rogue River for about 10 miles and had a great lunch at a local pub.  It was a little windy, but with four layers on, I was definitely warm enough.  (As a matter of fact, I think I looked like a fluffy pink marshmallow.)  We stopped for some pictures along the way to add to my scrapbook.  (You can never have too many pictures!)  It was a great day with great friends.  Soon the snow will be falling and we'll be trading our bikes for our snow shoes to hit the trails with our friends.  It's nice to have such good friends to share adventures with us.  It's just too bad that they're State fans.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEATON!!

Today is a HUGE day for celebration...Keaton is now 20 years old!  He's entering a whole new decade of life...his 20s.  (Yikes!  It's amazing how quickly the time went.)  So, in honor of his birthday, I created a little slide show of his past birthdays for a trip down memory...uh, I mean birthday...lane.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEATON!!

A Camp Divided

A couple of weekends ago, we loaded up the motor home and hit the road to enjoy some fall camping.  It was also the weekend of the big game between Michigan and Michigan State...and the weekend for HUGE winds.  We parked sideways on our site to help block some of the wind.  The guys created a nice cozy set-up with a canopy draped in tarps and hooked up a big TV for the big game...only to find it wasn't on any local stations.  Ugh!  So, we listened to the game while we all carved pumpkins and stayed warm by the campfire.  We were a camp that was divided.  Our friends that camped with us are Michigan State fans...the goofy people...and were sure to annoy me with their fight song on the iPod.  Matt and I were decked out in our maize and blue (well, Matt grudgingly wore those colors for a photo op and then he changed colors for his beloved WMU Broncos).  Even Cyrus wore his Michigan jersey...but unfortunately that didn't help Michigan beat State.  Oh well.  We enjoyed some good-natured bantering with our State friends and yummy football snacks.  I found it so odd that (and for some reason that I just can't explain) their State camp chairs kept getting blown over while my Michigan chair valiantly remained upright all day. ;-)

Last weekend, Matt and I enjoyed some quality time at home (our first weekend home in a month) and did some pretty exciting things like cleaning out the attic, breaking down boxes and filling up the vehicle with recycling.  Whoo-hoo!!  It really was nice to purge.  Since Sunday was absolutely beautiful, Matt and I hit the bike trails in Kalamazoo and rode 13.4 miles.  Yep, my decimal point is in the right place.  13.4  Thirteen.Four.  THIRTEEN POINT FOUR.  With hills.  BIG HILLS.  I'm not quite sure what we were thinking.  I've never ridden more than five miles at one time in my life.  Ever.  So, I was expecting some pain.  I was mentally ready for it.  I dreaded opening my eyes on Monday morning.  When I did open my eyes on Monday morning, I patiently waited for the first wave of pain to envelop me.  There was nothing.  My first thought was that my body was protecting me from the pain and temporarily paralyzed me.  But, I was able to wiggle my toes, then move my legs.  I rolled out of bed and, hallelujah, I could stand.  Even more amazing was that I wasn't in any pain.  It was a miracle!  I think Matt was prepared for my screams of agony and then my screams blaming him for making me ride so far.  I then found out I actually could walk without any pain.  I was a little stiff, but really not sore.  Once I got moving around, I loosened up and was actually able to climb the stairs.  Another miracle!  I actually felt so good that I switched around the closets and drawers yesterday to make room for winter stuff.  That involved about a dozen trips up and down the stairs...trips unbelievably without any pain or self-medication.  I'm not telling Matt how good I felt though because, knowing Matt, he'll want to ride up to Grand Rapids and back this weekend. 

Speaking of Grand Rapids, we enjoyed a date night on Friday up there.  Our first stop was a bar to play some pinball.  Then we enjoyed a nice seafood dinner at a local restaurant and hit another bar for more pinball after dinner.  Matt was thrilled to discover that the bar had three more pinball machines than it did last month.  He's anxious to get a pinball machine and scours the ads online and in the paper a few times a week - always on the lookout for a really good deal.  I think he'll be asking Santa for a pinball machine this year!

Fall Fun

I love, Love, LOVE fall!  I love the Honeycrisp apples.  I love the crisp air.  I especially love the colors of the trees.  We took a fall color tour up to Mackinac Island over the weekend.  It was spectacular!  Every day was sunny and in the mid-70s...perfect weather for exploring Mackinac Island and taking lots and lots and lots of pictures!  On the drive up, we took the Tunnel of Trees that snaked along the lake shore.  The colors weren't as vivid, but the ride through the tunnel was interesting.  We arrived in Mackinaw City in time to to watch a beautiful sunset from our balcony at the hotel on Lake Huron.  We took a drive over the bridge to hit the casino in the U.P. where I was extremely happy to win $162 on a jackpot playing my favorite slot machine, Sex and the City.  As soon as I won, I cashed out and was done playing for the night. (That's my rule for the casino...walk away when you win.)  We took one of the first ferries on Saturday morning to go explore the island before the hoards of people invaded and got in the way of my camera lens.  We explored the middle of the island and did a lot of hiking on many trails.  (I think Matt decided to hike since this was the first time I've ever been on the island NOT wearing flip flops.)  We discovered some new sights...and were surprised to find the crack in the middle of the island.  Seriously, there really is a huge crack in the middle of the island...about four feet deep and a few yards long.  But, as long as there wasn't water bubbling up from it, and the island wasn't sinking, we were fine with it.  So, we walked and talked and took pictures.  Lots of pictures.  About six miles later we decided it was time to head back to Main Street and grab some lunch.  After a fabulous lunch of whitefish (what else can you eat when you're near the U.P.?) and then some window shopping, we headed back to the mainland to watch the sunset near the bridge.  After another gorgeous sunset, we were pleasantly surprised by a fireworks show that we enjoyed right from our balcony.  We were up early to enjoy another spectacular sunrise and then it was time to grab some fudge and head home.  It was an amazingly perfect weekend!

Speaking of weekends, we've had some busy ones.  We had our 25-year high school class reunion in Flint the previous weekend.  It was a great time and I'm happy to admit that I remembered everyone who came.  (I confess I had a head start on everyone...I made a bio book for everyone who came that also included pictures of everyone.)

The weekend before the reunion, we headed up to Grand Rapids to visit ArtPrize.  It's a huge art contest with over 1,500 pieces of art spread around the city to visit.  There were some really interesting pieces.  I liked the extra-large chair that I think would be perfect out on the pool deck.  (Bonus:  the extra large seat makes your seat look thin!)

This weekend is our fall camping weekend.  We'll be carving pumpkins and hitting the trails for some biking and hiking.  I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures to share...hopefully full of gorgeous fall colors!

Happy First Day of Fall

Fall is definitely my favorite season.  I've already done my fall cleaning.  (Yep, I do a spring cleaning and then a fall cleaning...including the carpet both times.  I love to clean and I can't help it.  It's genetic and I have no control.)  So, with the house all scrubbed and sparkly, it was time to decorate for fall...including changing the backgrounds on the computers.  While I was changing my backgrounds to cute fall pictures of Keaton, I decided to also do a little decorating on my blog. 

I wonder what else I can decorate for fall now?  Maybe I'll go find a cute little fall collar or fall outfit for Cyrus to wear.  I'll be posting pictures of him soon...the poor dog.

Happy Birthday to Cyrus!

Sir Cyrus Pembroke Adams is officially in the double digits now...he turned 10 years old yesterday!  Matt and I celebrated his birthday last night by giving him a couple new toys and his favorite bag of treats.  He really didn't care about the toys...he just wanted to tear into his treats.  After he scarfed one down, he went into the kitchen to sit and stare at the "treat" drawer and bark, hoping we'd give him another.  Oh, he knows how to work us.  When we're eating at the table, he jumps up on the empty chair and lays his head on the table and looks up at us under his eyelashes...even batting them and working up a tear.  I'm surprised he doesn't limp to the table, pretending he's weak with hunger, to try and get some of our food.  Cyrus has his own unique personality and is the only dog I know who has THREE scrapbooks...all filled with pictures and stories of the fun we've had with him over the years!  We're looking forward to many more years of him making us laugh!!

Reflections...

Reader alert:  this blog entry is pretty serious and pretty long.  Ten years ago today, this country was personally introduced to a horrible word:  terrorism.  It affected us all.  Everyone remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing when the entire country watched in stunned silence as we were attacked.  Keaton was in the fourth grade and was only nine years old...definitely too young to hear such an ugly word, let alone to now have it defined and added to his vocabulary.  Matt left early that morning to catch a plane for a business trip to Florida.  I had just returned from dropping Keaton off at school and was on the phone with another mom talking about a fundraiser for the school.  While we were planning the fundraiser, I had the Today Show on (remember that I have a huge crush on Matt Lauer!) for some background noise...and to watch the weather forecast for soccer practice later that evening.  I saw the first Twin Tower billowing smoke and was kind of listening to the news reports with half an ear.  While still on the phone, I saw the second Twin Tower get struck by the plane.  That's when I told the other mom that something really bad was happening and I had to get off the phone.  I turned up the volume to hear the news reports and realized that it just wasn't a plane crash...we were deliberately being attacked.  My first instinct was to account for my family's whereabouts.  I knew Keaton was in school, but my mind started racing trying to figure out where Matt was.  While the news reporters were scrambling to relay information and speculation, I ran to the fridge to get Matt's flight itinerary.  As reporters were speculating that other planes could be hijacked and become weapons, the Pentagon was hit and another plane crashed in Pennsylvania.  When the reporters started speculating that flights out of Chicago could be a probable hijacking, I really started to worry.  (Matt's flight was out of O'Hare.)  As the FAA was making all planes land as soon as possible, I prayed hard and fast that Matt was on the ground somewhere...anywhere, I didn't care where...just as long as he was safely on the ground.  When he was supposed to have landed according to his itinerary, I started calling his cell phone and couldn't get through.  All the phone lines were busy.  I paced, hit redial, paced, hit redial, paced and hit redial for over an hour.  (I have the path on the carpet and gray hair to prove it.)  It was a terrible, horrible morning that turned into a terrible, horrible afternoon...until Matt was finally able to get through to me.  He had landed safely in Florida (thank God), but was having a hard time getting a call to go through.  I don't think I've ever felt such blessed, thankful relief in my life.

So, with a thankful prayer and a heavy heart, I called Keaton's school.  I asked the secretary if the teachers were telling the kids about the tragedy.  She said some teachers had told the kids when they heard about it from a TV report.  I asked her to reassure Keaton that his dad was safe and sound...his plane had safely landed in Florida and I had talked to him (only if Keaton had somehow heard the news).  I then left a voice-mail message for Keaton's teacher asking her to do the same...again only if Keaton had somehow heard the news.  Well, his class had been told by their gym teacher and Keaton was a little nervous and worried. When Keaton's teacher saw his face after gym class, she immediately pulled him aside and talked to him, reassuring him that his dad was safe and sound.  Whew.  She was so wonderful...kind, compassionate, and calm.  She called me after school to tell me that he was pretty anxious earlier, but was now more calm.  She also told me that she had been worried sick, too, waiting to hear from her husband who was also flying that day for business.  Thankfully, he safely landed in Pennsylvania...but sadly not far from the crash site. 

I hugged Keaton a little harder than normal when he got home from school that day.  Soccer practice was cancelled and we just hung out that night...purposely not watching any news footage that could scare Keaton while anxiously waiting by the phone to hear Matt's voice again.  He was finally able to get through just before Keaton went to bed, so that was better than a lullaby (or even a sedative) to ensure Keaton had a peaceful, worry-free night's sleep.  We weren't sure when Matt would get back home.  All flights were cancelled and the trains were booked.  Since he had a rental car, he drove home from Florida and finally arrived late on Friday night...actually early Saturday morning.  We didn't care...we waited up for him to welcome him home with open arms, hugs, and kisses.  I can't tell you what a relief it was to have my little family all together again under one roof.

Ten years ago we all lived in a different world.  We weren't viewed as being possible terrorists.  We didn't have to go through metal detectors or get patted down to get on a plane.  We didn't have to have our bags searched to go into an arena, an amusement park or even a museum.  Sadly, we all now see the world through different eyes...eyes that are a little more jaded, a little more distrustful, and sadly, a little more judgmental.  I try to see that there are still good people in the world (definitely some crazy ones, but still mostly good ones).  I try to see that the world is still wonderful and full of limitless adventures.  I try to live my life being unafraid...otherwise the terrorists have won by instilling fear in us all.  I won't let terrorists win and make me afraid to travel, afraid of people, or afraid to leave my home.  There's still so much to do and see in this incredible country.  In my world, everything is still pink, fluffy and full of sparkle! 

So, my lesson learned from my reflection of September 11, 2001 is that we must all be thankful for each and every day we're given.  I'm thankful that Keaton's move yesterday into Severn Hall was easy...and rain-free.  While he was registering, three of his teammates were coming back from the cafeteria and helped us unload the vehicles.  Keaton is in a suite with four other guys.  It's HUGE!  They have five fridges, four TVs, three bedrooms, two couches and one storage closet. (I bet you thought I was going to end with "...and a partridge in a pear tree".)  Keaton's room is fairly large for a dorm room...even without their beds being bunked or lofted.  Each bed is anchored to the wall and has storage drawers for clothes under it.  They each have a big wardrobe and desk to tuck away all their food and other junk they'll collect over the year...or places to stash dirty laundry and food wrappers when I make my unexpected inspections...uh, I mean visits.  It was a little easier leaving him now knowing what to expect.  I still don't like walking into his bedroom at home, though.  It's too empty and quiet.  Cyrus is looking around for him and looks out the window every time he hears a car drive by.  He'll get used to it once he realizes he can now claim Keaton's room (and bed) as his own.

I'm also thankful for Michigan's unbelievable win over Notre Dame last night.  As a matter of fact, Cyrus may be responsible for the big win.  As we were watching the last few minutes of the game, I told Matt I was going to put Cy's Michigan jersey on him and take a picture to send to Keaton.  When it looked like Notre Dame was going to win, Matt told me to forget the picture.  I still put the jersey on Cyrus and snapped a picture anyway...only to watch Michigan come back and score again for the exciting win.  Maybe it was a coincidence that Michigan won once Cyrus had on his jersey.  Maybe I'm going to put the Michigan jersey on Cyrus every Saturday.  Maybe Michigan should make Cyrus its new lucky charm and give us season tickets.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.  Go Blue!

Baseball and Football and Biking, Oh My!

The theme for this Labor Day weekend seemed to revolve around sporting events.  Friday found us heading over to Detroit to watch the Tigers play the White Sox.  Thankfully we had the air on in the car during the drive over because it was a balmy 99 degrees when we arrived in Detroit.  After quickly acclimating (and by acclimating I mean soon having matching sweat stains like every other person in Detroit) we walked over to the stadium to pose for some pictures.  While Matt and Keaton were checking out autographed paraphernalia, I tried to train myself to take short, shallow breaths because not everyone seemed to be a huge fan of deodorant.  We had great seats in the upper deck with lots of leg room.  (Since we all have long legs, it was great to not knee the back of someone's head every time we moved.)  The temp. slowly started to decrease and at game time was down to a more comfortable 95 degrees.  (Not really.  The only way to distinguish between 95 and 99 degrees is by the size of the sweat stains.)  I nestled between the guys so I was somewhat protected by any body odor.  (Can you tell yet that I'm really queasy with pungent odors?)  The only time I had to hold my breath was when everyone stood up and raised their arms to cheer.  Verlander pitched and the Tigers won 9-1, so there was a lot of standing and cheering.  Thankfully I can hold my breath for a good amount of time...and I had a program to wave in front of my face.  Sweat and body odor aside, it was still a fun time.

On Saturday morning, Matt awoke and immediately hung his beloved Western Michigan University flag and Keaton's U of M flag on the porch...as he does EVERY Saturday during football season.  (He even brings them to hang on the RV if we're camping.)  He and Keaton wore their respective fan t-shirts and headed over to watch the big game at Matt's brother's house.  I sent them off with cupcakes and homemade Chex mix and Cyrus and I took a much-needed nap and watched the movie, Tangled.  I miss seeing those cute kiddie movies at the theater with Keaton.  Somehow it's just not the same to watch them at home without him.

Sunday was a lazy day of hanging out and watching movies.  We all need those kind of days once in a while.  (Plus, being the only girl in the house, there is only so much sports viewing I can take.)

Monday was a beautiful day in west Michigan.  It was 21 degrees cooler than the day before, but since it was sunny and not 99 degrees, I was not going to complain.  Matt and I grabbed our bike helmets and went to ride a new trail in Kalamazoo with our friends.  It's a new 13-mile trail that's paved and winds along the Kalamazoo River.  We ended our ride with a trip to a local pizzeria.  Those are the kind of bike rides I like!  I'm a little sore today and think I need some extra padding on my bike seat.  But, if we keep eating pizza and breadsticks after every bike ride, I may soon have some natural extra padding for my bike seat instead.

The 'Quake of 2011

We can happily say we survived the 'Quake of 2011.  Whew!  I had no idea there even was an earthquake until much later when I turned on the TV while making dinner.  (See, for all you skeptics out there, domestic queens really don't sit with their feet up and watch TV all day.)  I thought back to where I was when it hit to see if I remembered feeling anything.  Then I remembered that I was in Walmart at the time getting groceries.  I definitely didn't notice anything too unusual...other than the interesting people Walmart tends to attract.  (While I'm in Walmart, I'm usually focused on observing people...looking for that perfect specimen to snap a picture of to submit to the "People of Walmart" website.)  I wonder how Cyrus handled the quake.  I don't know if he was anxious and could sense anything about to happen.  Probably not.  I'm sure he was snoozing on the pillow on the couch and just rode out the 'quake.  It's a good thing his nap was undisturbed.

Keaton's First Flat

Keaton had his first flat yesterday...well, actually, it was two flats.  He hooked up the tractor and trailer to my Durango to go mow for two of his customers.  While he was finishing up at the last house, he heard a loud pop from one of my tires...and then saw a gaping hole in it.  His first thought was that a screw flew off from the blower he was starting up and punctured the tire.  His second thought was that one of his customers didn't like his trimming and took a shot at him.  Just kidding.  So, he called me to tell me about the flat.  (It's nice to still be needed...except that I have no idea how to change a tire.)  I told him to call Matt to ask about changing the tire.  Matt couldn't come help, so Keaton did what a good, logical-thinking, resourceful young adult would do...he looked up how to change a tire on his phone.  He had to unhook the trailer and change the tire only to find that the spare tire was flat.  So, he called me again to ask if I could run the portable air compressor over to him.  (Did I mention that it's nice to be needed?  Oh, and did I also mention that this was the one day I didn't do anything to my hair or have on any makeup?)  So, I braved shocking the public and ran over to his rescue.  He was in surprisingly good spirits and willingly posed for a picture to document this scrapbook moment.  Keaton learned that he can be resourceful and calmly handle an unexpected event.  I learned that Keaton really is an adult and can handle an unexpected event (and I really shouldn't worry that he'll be maimed, injured or crushed while changing a tire).  I also learned to ALWAYS have my hair and makeup done...just in case.

Happy Campers

We spent last weekend hanging out with Hunter and McKenna.  I picked them up in Charlotte on Thursday.  I only had to use one bad word while driving when an idiot driver nearly side-swiped me trying to pass into oncoming traffic.  (Did I mention what an IDIOT he was?)  I apologized to the kids for using a bad word.  (The funny thing is they said it's okay...they've heard it before.  Hmmm...I'm hoping it wasn't from me.)

We went to Plainwell Ice Cream on their first night here.  Yes, we had to...it's a tradition and it's sooo good.  McKenna and I enjoyed some girl time with pedicures.  We did some grocery shopping on Friday and I spoiled the kids a little.  (Wait, I confess...I spoiled the kids a lot.)  We had lots and lots of goodies to pack in the motor home and then we headed out to Fort Custer when Matt got home from work.  After about 10 minutes on the road,  I smelled gas (not from the kids...but propane).  Sure enough, someone had turned on the pilot light on the stove.  We had a little talk about not touching any buttons or controls while in the motor home.  Well, that talk didn't last long...someone tried to turn on the generator after we arrived at the campground.  So, we had another talk about not touching any buttons or controls while in the motor home.  This time, the talk seemed to work...whew!  We just made sure we didn't leave the keys in the ignition so they couldn't go for a joyride.  ;-)

We had a lot of fun...even with the gazillion mosquitoes and thunderstorms.  We played games, ate a lot of good food (yep, s'mores and chocolate fondue were on the menu), and used up all of our mosquito spray.  Hunter was happy to go on the bike trails with Matt and get all dirty.  McKenna was happy to ride the scooter and practice her ballet while riding.  (She rode with one leg extended out behind her...very graceful.)  McKenna and I made a little scrapbook for Karie when we got home and then the kids went back to their neck of the woods on Monday.  I can't believe how quickly the time went.  We really enjoyed having the kids around.  They were great dog walkers...as long as they didn't have to clean up after Cyrus.  But, that's what Uncle Matt is for!

Our Trip to Tennessee

We stuffed Keaton, his girlfriend, and Cyrus into the Durango and headed down to Tennessee to wish my dad a happy birthday...in person. (Can you see why I'm the favorite?) We had a good time visiting family and the sights in TN. We climbed the world's largest tree house (located in Crossville, TN for you future Jeopardy contestants), did some shopping at the outlet mall, went on a pontoon boat ride, played some golf (well, the boys did...even in the 90+ heat), visited the world's longest garage sale (along US-127 through five states), and did some hiking to visit some waterfalls. We had to cross a suspension bridge (I don't know what shook more...my knees or the bridge itself) to hike the loop to Fall Creek Falls...the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. (Another tidbit of information for you Jeopardy people.) I found Big Foot on the side of the road and solved that mystery. Matt found a pinball machine and was happy to play some games. Keaton found lots of goodies and desserts at my dad's house. Cyrus found someone to make him his own personal pancake for breakfast (thanks, Dad!). We're already planning our 2013 trip when Keaton turns 21 so we can tour the bourbon trail. Yeehaw!  ;-)

Summer: Cyrus Style

Cyrus isn't an ordinary dog.  He doesn't like to get his feet wet.  He's the only dog I know who doesn't like to touch the grass because it could be (gasp) wet.  He actually prefers to play fetch in the driveway.  If someone does throw his ball or frisbee in the grass, he'll retrieve it and then make a direct straight line for the driveway and trot back on the pavement.  He avoids grass whenever he can.  He doesn't like to be in the sun...or wind, rain, snow, sleet, fog, or humidity.  He prefers to be in a climate-controlled house. With all the hot, hot, (did I mention HOT?) weather we've had lately, we've all been trying to stay cool inside the house enjoying the central air. But, we decided we all could use some fresh air over the weekend. So, we forced Cy to come hang out with us out by the pool. Of course, he had to float in the pool...absolutely no swimming for this dog.  Heaven forbid his feet got wet!

Keaton's Open House Scrapbook

It took a year, but we (well, I mean Matt) patched the wall and repainted the garage where I had hung Keaton's Open House Scrapbook.  This is the official scrapbook...now all neatly bound in a book, ready to go on the shelf.  I decided to create a slide show, add some music to it, and have one final viewing before I tucked it away.  The music is from Beethoven's Symphony No. 7...one of Keaton's favorites when he was little.  He used to climb on a chair, wave a drumstick around (the musical kind, not the chicken kind) and pretend he was conducting the orchestra.  I miss those days...before he loved hip hop music, dawg.

Summer

Summer is here...finally.  I took my first dip in the pool on July 2.  Let me rephrase that...I got in the pool to clean it on July 2.  Then, I got a little sunburned.  I usually don't burn, so I was pretty surprised to see burn lines from my suit straps.  Later, I was even more surprised to find I had a burn on top of a burn that must have happened while I took off my straps.  Who knew you could get a burn on top of a burn?  It's a good thing I'm not European and go topless!

We headed up to the Hart/Mears area to celebrate Matt's parents' 50th wedding anniversary last weekend.  We enjoyed a day with the family on the beach.  I tried to enjoy the shade since I really didn't want a burn x 3.  So, last week while I was patiently waiting for my skin to heal and bronze, I made mini scrapbooks for Matt's people.  This got me in the mood to scrapbook, so I spent today sorting papers and neatly filing them away in bins...also neatly labeled.  Keaton thinks I'm going to end up on that show, Hoarders.  The only thing I save are papers and mementos for the scrapbooks.  They're all neatly stacked and labeled in plastic bins.  When I finish a scrapbook, I then go through the appropriate bin, select what stuff I want to include in the book, and then recycle all the rest.  I'm so NOT a hoarder.  I have no problem throwing things out.  I guess I'm an anti-hoarder.  Matt, on the other hand, saves EVERYTHING and then some.  I've begun to call him Sanford because he thinks he can find a use for everything...including things I throw away.  All I can say is that Keaton better be very careful of what he thinks or says about me.  I can always put naked baby pictures in his scrapbooks and then share his books with all his friends.

Home Sweet Home

Wow...those eight months with Keaton away at college certainly flew by.  Keaton is enjoying his home-sweet-home again.  The move back was interesting.  I think the stuff in his room multiplied.  I know he didn't pack all of that stuff when he moved into his dorm back in September.  We were able to pack all his stuff into two vehicles when we moved him in...it took us two vehicles AND a trailer to get his stuff home again.  (And that's with a few carloads of non-essential stuff he already brought home over the last month.)  Unfortunately, Keaton developed some hive issues the last week at school.  His elbows and hands were covered with nasty hives due to some mold and dust in his dorm room.  (I told those boys they have to dust at least once a quarter.  This is why I may have to live in the dorm next year.)  While Keaton and Matt loaded the vehicles and trailer, I cleaned and mopped.  So, of course, I was covered in hives before we left.  Needless to say, Keaton and I toasted the end of his freshman year by sharing a bottle of Benadryl.

Speaking of Benadryl, I kept the bottle handy over the weekend while traipsing through the Huron National Forest during our Geocache Road Rally.  We went with our friends up north to Roscommon for a weekend of camping and caching.  (For those of you who don't know about geocaching, it's like a treasure hunt using a GPS.)  We had 52 caches to find in 24 hours throughout Roscommon County.  We spent a lot of time driving from cache to cache on two-track roads and then hiking through the woods.  (They call them roads...I definitely think they should be called trails.)  Oh, and did I mention that it poured the night before so everything was especially wet and muddy?  Our friends' Jeep had a few inches of caked-on mud by Sunday, but luckily we didn't get stuck once.  Whew! (I called dibs on driving and not pushing if we got stuck. There was no way in hell I was getting covered in mud.)  We had a lot of laughs and found all 52 caches in 15 hours after driving about 200 miles total.  (Well, the guys did.  We girls stayed in the car when it got dark because I didn't want to lose any more blood to the mosquitoes and I especially didn't want to stumble upon a bear.  Remember, I wear lotion that smells like cotton candy.)  All in all, it was a fun adventure.  The best part of it all is that I never once had to pee in the woods.  Thank God.  The guys were kind enough to find us appropriate restrooms to use.  Matt knows me well and was happy I was willing to spend a weekend out of my comfort zone...I don't like bugs, I don't like to get dirty, and I refuse to pee in the woods.  Overall, I guess I really didn't get out of my comfort zone much:  I didn't go after the caches that looked muddy or were deep in the woods; I enjoyed hot showers and the comfort of our heated motor home at night; I enjoyed eating in a restaurant; and I slept in on Sunday while Matt was up at 7 a.m. to find the last seven caches.  Now they want me to go geocaching more with them.  We'll see...I still think geocaching would be more fun if there was jewelry in the caches.

Happy 21 Years to Us!

Wow...has it really been 21 years since our wedding?  The years just fly by when you're having fun.  And we've had a LOT of fun, mishaps and adventures over the years.  (This gives me lots of writing material whenever I decide to publish our memoirs!)

How did we celebrate our anniversary?  We moved Keaton back home from college.  Yay!!  Keaton was pretty anxious to move back home and get into some cool, air-conditioned air.  (His room was about 110.  It's a good thing he wasn't on the third floor!)  So, after we all cooled off and enjoyed a nice home-cooked dinner, we had a good laugh at how much weddings have changed over the last two decades.  But, one thing from our wedding day remains the same...we're still happy together after 21 years!

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Tall Guys Lawn Care

Matt and Keaton have their own lawn care business...aptly named "Tall Guys Lawn Care".  They started their business last year as a way for Keaton to earn some money for college.  We knew the summer jobs would be gone by the time Keaton was finished with the semester.  (K's semester doesn't end until June...most college kids are finished with classes in April/early May.)  Since Keaton is away at school until June 8th, Matt has been solely responsible for maintaining five lawns all spring...six, including ours.  And, we've had a lot of rain.  A LOT OF RAIN.  So, that means more and more mowing for Matt.  I think he's counting down the hours until Keaton is home next week so he can take the reins...I mean the lawn mower.  Keaton should be an expert mower by now.  He's been "mowing" the lawn since he was 18 months old.  Of course, it may not be as much fun as it used to be for him, though...our mower doesn't blow bubbles.

Covert Camping

Memorial Day weekend found us camping over in Covert (near South Haven).  It was a rainy, chilly weekend...except for a hot, sunny day on Monday which allowed us to dry out before we packed up to return home.  We had a pretty good storm on Sunday which really scared poor Cyrus.  He slept all day on Monday and Tuesday, recovering from his ordeal.  The weekend wasn't a total washout, though.  We went into South Haven to do some shopping and I found the sign for my scrapbook room that I've been trying to find since our last camping trip to South Haven...three years ago.  I was one happy camper when I stumbled upon it!  It looks fabulous on its new throne.

Eskimo Kisses

Cyrus spent most of the day today recovering from yesterday's harrowing experience...surviving the thunderstorms.  As I was walking by his beloved sleeping place...MY bed...I couldn't help but smile and grab the camera to get a shot of him giving his favorite stuffed animal an Eskimo kiss.  He LOVES his liger (lion/tiger = liger) and sleeps with it every night.  As a matter of fact, at 10 p.m. each night, he grabs his liger, parades around the dining room table, pausing in front of our coffee table like he's wondering if we're coming to bed, and then off he goes to cuddle with his liger...in MY bed.  I wonder if he can secretly tell time.

Hide and Seek

Cyrus has become a bigger baby than he already was.  For some reason, he is now scared of clouds.  It began last year then he became afraid of thunder...which progressed into being afraid of lightning...which progressed into being afraid of rain...which has since progressed into being afraid of clouds.  Seriously.  I now have to give him Valium to try and help him cope with storms.  He starts to shake when he looks out the window and sees dark clouds approaching.  He shivers, pants, and tries to dig furiously at anything and everything while looking for a place to hide.  Today's storms found a new hiding place for him...under our plant.  I have to give him credit for originality.  Since it doesn't seem like his Valium is calming his nerves, I think I'll give it a try to see if it calms my nerves.  My patience is wearing thin...and it's not even summer yet.

Happy Harry Fest 19

Harry Fest 19 was a fun time on Saturday.  Food, drinks, rides, live music, a poker run, and a silent auction...it had something for everyone.  Matt, a.k.a. the President of the Harry Stout Foundation, has been logging some long hours for the past couple of months.  The goal of Harry Fest is to raise money while celebrating Harry's life.  For those of you who don't know about Harry, he was a classmate of Keaton's who passed away suddenly at the age of 12.  Matt (and Harry's Dad, Joe Stout) coached Harry in basketball.  It was a tragic loss here...but Joe found a positive way to celebrate Harry's life and keep Harry's compassion alive.  When Harry was in elementary school, he asked if he could buy a pair of shoes for an underprivileged classmate.  Harry then put the shoes in the student's locker anonymously.  WOW!  That just shows what an awesome kid Harry was.  So, this led Joe to form a non-profit organization that helps kids around the area.  Harry's Foundation donates shoes to the 'First Day Shoes' program in Kalamazoo...a group that gives new shoes to underprivileged students for their first day of school.  They offer senior scholarships to students in Plainwell and Otsego  (Harry went to Plainwell and Joe attended Otsego).  They give money to area school band programs...Joe is a drummer and music was such an important part of Harry's life.  It's just an all-around feel-good organization that lives by Harry's code:  Eat, drink, and be Harry!

Our Trip to Hell and Back

We went to Hell and back last weekend.  Seriously.  We visited Hell, Michigan while we were camping in nearby Pinckney.  Matt and his partner (his adventure race partner...this isn't Jerry Springer) had their Spring Fling race last Saturday.  (Hey, wait a minute...Spring Fling?  Matt doesn't have a "partner".)  Matt and his partner (maybe I should clarify...his race partner) were in the lead after the canoeing portion of the race.  They said they did well biking.  But, orienteering was challenging for them both.  Each had ideas about where they were and the best way to get there.  They couldn't agree quickly about the best route to take.  (I personally think they're beginning to sound like an old married couple.)  Over the winter, they took a search and rescue class and are now officially certified not to get lost in the woods.  Somehow, their training didn't really give them extra help and they finished five minutes after their allotted time.  They were so disappointed.  So, after they showered and dosed up on ibuprofen, we went to Hell.  We stopped for ice cream (who knew you could get ice cream there?) and looked around a bit.  It was interesting...not as hot as I was expecting.  There wasn't any fire or brimstone.  Nobody with horns.  It was actually a cute little drive-by kind of town.  I imagine my hell would be something completely cluttered, disorganized, and dirty...and I wouldn't have any cleaning supplies or my label maker.

So, we enjoyed our first weekend of camping for the year.  Keaton came home to babysit Cyrus.  Keaton had some friends over and this time none of the neighbors called the police.  Whew!  We came home and Keaton had a nice big bag waiting for me for Mother's Day.  He bought me a plant, some jewelry, and (best of all) a Snickers.  He just may win the "Son of the Year" award again this year.  Matt washed the motor home and I got to spend the rest of the day watching movies that Matt and Keaton won't watch with me.  Cyrus, however, cuddled with me and enjoyed watching the movies.  He just may be my favorite now...until someone brings me a Snickers.

April Showers Bring...Snow???

We awoke this morning to see everything covered in a layer of white. It's pretty to watch the snow falling...but I'm over winter and ready to move on to spring and finish my spring cleaning. I've scrubbed just about every inch of this house armed with soap, water, and a toothbrush. (Luckily Matt wasn't in trouble so I didn't have to use his toothbrush.) We've washed windows, screens, and curtains. I've washed walls and woodwork and scrubbed every piece of furniture, picture frame and knick knack we own.  I've washed every blanket, comforter, and pillow in the house.  We've moved furniture to clean and scrub under and behind everything...and I mean everything.  (I've even taken apart toilets to clean them.)   Matt broke out the ladder to finish my tall items and I'm happy to report that I'm just about finished with the house. (Poor Matt cringes when I climb a ladder barefoot, and since I'm always barefoot, he just took over the ladder duty.)  I bet my house is cleaner than Martha Stewart's house.  One more room to clean...and then maybe it'll be time to switch closets around and pack away the winter clothes. But, looking outside today...I don't think I'll be pulling out any summer clothes for quite a while.

Matt had a business trip last week in New Jersey (or New Joirsey as the locals pronounced it).  He had a tour of a facility in New York and a conference. One night, after the conference, they took a boat trip to see the Statue of Liberty...but it was foggy and there wasn't much to see.  It's probably a good thing because the camera he took with him wasn't working.  I would not have been happy to not have pictures for the scrapbook.  He had a little trouble getting home on Thursday when his flight was cancelled due to a mechanical problem.  (I guess it's better to find out about a mechanical problem BEFORE the flight instead of learning about it while airborne.)  He finally made it home about 2:30 a.m. on Friday morning.  He was anxious to get home on Friday so he could go to Pinball at the 'Zoo in the afternoon.  Matt goes every year to check out the latest pinball machines and play lots and lots of pinball.  This year, I tagged along and was not surprised to find that I was one of only a handful of girls in the entire building.  We played many pinball games and I actually beat Matt once or twice.  They had some old machines and some new machines...the brand-spanking new machines cost between $5,000 and $6,000.  (Do you have any idea how many shoes and purses I could get for that?)  I was spoiled after being allowed to play a guy's Iron Man game (insert your own joke here) that he didn't let the rest of the crowd play.  He had it all pimped out with LED lights and an extra sound system.  Matt was pretty happy he took me along so I could use my feminine wiles to check it out.  It was pretty sweet...and that's saying a lot since I'm not a pinball nerd like Matt and others at the show.  I'm glad I went, though, so now I can veto any machines I don't like from coming into the house.  My personal favorite at the show was "Creature from the Black Lagoon"...it's also one of the most expensive games.  Of course it is...I can't help it, I have expensive taste.

Keaton and Matt went to cheer on the Red Wings on Saturday.  They had a great time and Keaton actually stayed awake on the drive to Detroit.  (I'll have to mark that in his milestone book.  He never goes more than 20 minutes without falling asleep in a car.)  On the ride home, Keaton did stay awake long enough to get out of the parking ramp...and then he slept all the way home.  Of course he did.

Cyrus isn't enjoying all this wet weather...especially when I make him wear his raincoat.  (I'd make him wear his boots too, but he won't leave them on.)  He was supposed to get his hair cut on Wednesday, but as I was getting ready to take him to the groomer, he started limping.  I took him outside and then he wouldn't put any weight on his front leg at all.  There's nothing more heart-wrenching than seeing a dog hobble on three legs.  I took him to the vet and he started walking just fine once we were there.  The little stinker.  She did some tests and diagnosed him with a strained muscle and gave him some pills.  (I'm the one who needs the pills.  I'm telling you, it's like having a toddler in the house.)  While we were there, I had him get his yearly shot and spring tune-up.  If he faked his limp to get out of going to the groomer, then he deserved a shot...he's not pulling one over on me.  The little stinker.

After I finish my spring cleaning, it's time to finish the family website I made and work on family trees.  I do like things all tidy and organized.  Then, it's time to get back to scrapbooking and I need to get started on my quilts.  It's really no wonder I don't sleep...lots to do and not enough time.  Speaking of time...it's time to go shovel.  Just kidding.  Matt put away the snow shovels a few weeks ago.  I guess we can blame this latest snowfall on him.

Happy Easter!

Our little honey bunny in his Easter bonnet (and bib) at 6 months! It's hard to believe it was only 19 short years ago!!

Keaton's Spring Break

Keaton spent his first college spring break at home...relaxing and catching up on his sleep. It was far from boring, however. Over the weekend, Matt and Keaton headed to the Breslin Center to watch the high school basketball state finals. I stayed home with Cyrus and worked on creating a Robinson family website and created another slide show of some baby pics of me and my sisters. (Turn up your speakers and click on the triangle button on the right to play the slide show.) My weekend was without incident...unlike Matt and Keaton's weekend.

Friday was pretty uneventful for them. A nice drive over to Lansing. Basketball. Eating. More basketball. More eating.

Saturday was another story. While on their way to get some breakfast at the hotel, Keaton (who was walking briskly, hunched over a little with his hood up to ward off the morning chill in the air) walked right into the corner of the hatch door of a van someone left open. Idiot. (Not Keaton...the moron who left the door open.) Being guys, they surveyed the gash on Keaton's forehead, wiped off the blood and continued on, anxious to get to the first game of the day. I asked if they thought about going to the hospital to get some stitches. Of course they couldn't because they'd miss too much basketball. Keaton said it was fine...he just brought extra kleenex and kept wiping the blood off his forehead the rest of the day. Ugh. So, a little behind schedule on Saturday morning, they drove over to the Breslin Center. Traffic was pretty thick as people were trying to turn at a really short light. Matt made the light...and then was pulled over by a state trooper for running a red light. Oops. Now they were really running behind schedule. Matt dropped Keaton off at the door so he could get their tickets from their friend waiting outside the arena. Matt went to park the car and as he pulled up, they closed the lot. He was redirected to another lot and as he pulled up...they closed that lot. He was then redirected to another lot...and surprisingly it wasn't closed...but he missed the driveway and had to double back to get back into it. The rest of the day continued without mishap, thankfully. (Based on Matt's luck that day, it's a good thing he didn't waste any money buying a Mega Millions ticket.)

So, Keaton's spring break is about over and he's getting ready to head back to campus. He slept, ate, worked out at the gym, went to an exciting Red Wings game (OT and then a shoot-out), visited friends and watched three west Michigan teams win state basketball championships. He helped his dad and uncle try to install a microwave and stove without the proper tools. He watched them improvise and try to use jumper cables as pliers and use a screwdriver and hammer to cut wood. I'm sure Keaton will always remember his first college spring break...and his adventures with his dad. He'll always have the scar on his forehead to help him remember.

Cheers!

In honor of St. Patrick's Day and the Irish love of storytelling (and alcohol), I decided to update my blog and share with you all a wee story. Matt and I picked Keaton up from school for his spring break. He wanted to stop at the store to pick up a video game. I waited in the car because, believe it or not, video game shopping is about as exciting for me as watching golf. I pulled out my phone to text my sister, Karie.

Deb: "It's not fair. I'm bored. We just picked Keaton up for spring break and they're in Game Stop. He's anxious to get home and play video games."

Karie: "Sory you are board." (Ah ha...based on the spelling, I knew McKenna grabbed Karie's phone. She's notorious for texting on her parents' phones.)

Deb: "Hey...is that you, McKenna?"

Karie (a.k.a. McKenna): "i am doing home work"

Deb: "Smart and pretty...wow!!" (Notice how I use proper punctuation in my texts? It might be why I take so long and always seem to hit the wrong buttons.)

McKenna: "i am not the pretty 1 u r!" (Can you see why I love her so, so much?)

Deb: "Flattery will get you everywhere! I'm planning to come hang out with you guys over spring break...or you guys can come here."

McKenna: "I'm up for that:)"

And here's where my texting went to hell. For some reason, an old, incomplete text from my draft box flashed and was sent to Karie WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING. I didn't hit the send button. I didn't do anything...except corrupt my sweet, innocent niece.

Deb (Again, the text was sent all on its own.): "As chilly as it is now, I might have to make hot chocolate with buttershots for tomorrow night. He's..."

McKenna: "I'm kenna"

Deb: "I don't know why my last message went out. That was a really old text...ignore that one."

Karie (She quickly took back her phone after McKenna asked about hot chocolate and buttershots. I'm sure she shrieked and ripped the phone from McKenna's hand before I could do further damage...she knows my other texting mistakes.): "I am cooking dinner and unloading the dishwasher so yes it was kenna txtin and she said she can't wait til spring brk!!! She said buttershots sounded good even though she has never tasted them...hahaha!!! Gonna have to keep a close eye on that girl for sure!;)"

Deb: "Sorry about that. That was an old text...I have no idea why it was sent."

Karie: "Thats ok."

Deb: "I'm about to pee my pants from laughing so hard. Keaton just figured out it was a draft that was in my box too long and was automatically sent out. But, one day she'll think i'..."

Deb: "Damn it...I suck at twxting. One day she'll think I'm the coolest aunt."

Karie: "Hahahaha! Hope your Valentine's text isn't in your drafts...lol!"

And that's why I'm not allowed to text children anymore.

Cheers!

K(eaton) Basketball

Our first year of college basketball is behind us now. What a fun adventure! Keaton enjoyed his season...even with his knee problems. We couldn't have hoped for a better experience! He played almost every minute in the JV games and was in for a few minutes of action with the big guys on varsity a few times. (**Mom's Brag Alert**: Keaton scored 27 points in the game against Hope College. He had five 3-point baskets in a row. It was awesome to watch him play the game he loves...and have fun! Oh, and he only missed one (yep, 1) free-throw all season.) He was welcomed to the team...and entire basketball family...with open arms (of course, after showering). All the families were so nice and friendly. The coaches were all positive and kept a sense of humor throughout the entire season. The guys on the team were awesome!! There was a real sense of camaraderie...it must be all those bonding times eating together and playing video games. It's been such a welcome change from high school ball: no parents yelling at the players, no players criticizing each other and bickering, no coaches belitting a player, and no slumped shoulders and hanging heads coming out of the locker room. It's such a nice change! The best part...I don't HAVE to have a drink before each game. Not only are my nerves calm, but my liver is much happier! Keaton had a nice fan club at his games and we're so grateful for the support from family and friends! College basketball is definitely much different than high school; it's so much faster and more physical. Holy cow, he's playing against HUGE MEN!! But, Keaton's accepted the challenge to be a scorer on varsity next year. He's working hard off-season with lifting and gaining some weight. The trainer has him eating six (yep, 6!) times a day. We're hoping he'll be able to strengthen his knees and won't suffer from patellar tendinitis (or Osgood-Schlatter as Keaton and his beloved Web MD believes he has/had). So, to honor Keaton's basketball season, I made a little highlight slide show. Just click on the triangle start button on the right and turn up your speakers. (For those of you with little ones and/or sensitive ears, there is a little profanity in the song. But, hey, Keaton's in college now...this is one of the tamest songs I could find in his music library.) Oh, one more thing to look for while watching the slide show...Keaton is #44. However, he is wearing #43 in a few pictures...he wore #43 in a JV game and then changed into #44 for the varsity game. (Just a fun fact in case you're ever on Jeopardy and the category is "The Life and Times of Keaton Adams.)

We had the banquet last weekend and it was fabulous! Wow...another nice change from potluck high school banquets in the cafeteria. It was catered and very nice! One dad made a highlight DVD that was incredible! Matt copied the JV games for the JV players and I made 27 photo books for the entire team and coaches/trainer. One last basketball story to share is a quote from Keaton. We took him and his beloved Elizabeth out to dinner after the last K game. He said he's really looking forward to next year and "being socially dominant". He said he won't have to sit in the middle of the seat in the van for away games anymore...he can have a window or aisle seat; he won't have to carry the extra bags around; and he can boss the freshmen around next year. Aim high, Keaton!

We purged our basement and are now officially clutter-free! Matt built shelves in the basement and we have everything all neatly stored and labeled. (Our stuff was neatly stored and labeled before, but we just had way too much of it!) I forgot how much crafting I used to do. Now that I can get to it, I have to start getting crafty again...after I finish my 500 scrapbooks (I'm not kidding...I have about 20,000 pictures to scrapbook) and quilts. We shredded 13 years of tax records and now have what was in three bins all neatly compressed into one portable file box. (Neatly labeled, of course!) We had eight bags of shredded papers to recycle and our Durango was filled to the roof with donations to Goodwill. I'm sure the neighbors thought we're either moving or covering our tracks as insider traders. It feels so great to be purged. Now Matt can get his long-awaited pinball machines for the basement. I can't say no anymore...unless I want him to get the garage finished first. Hmmmmmm....

Matt and I have had some laughs at our mishaps lately. One day, Matt went out to shovel the driveway until I watched him limp up to the garage with his boot in his hand and his sock hanging off his foot. I then watched him crawl into the bathroom and just shook my head because there's no telling what he just did. Well, he left a nice bloody trail from the chunk of glass wedged into his heel. The strange thing was that he wore those same boots days before and walked a few miles snow-shoeing in them...with the glass in them and it never bothered him. Luckily he dug out the glass and didn't pass out while doing it. (I wasn't dressed at the time and really didn't want to take him to the ER in my p.j.s...and Heaven forbid...without my hair and makeup done!) I've had what I call my "Lucy Moments". I relearned the principles of refraction of light when I thought Matt had replaced a white light-switch cover with a pink one. I was all excited and thought he was so sweet to install something pretty for me...until I discovered that the light from my red robe makes the white switch-plate cover look pink. Who knew? I also learned the hard way that my hand does NOT fit in the kleenex box. I was putting on my makeup and needed a kleenex. There was one left...at the bottom of the box, of course. (And by box, I mean in the cardboard box INSIDE the decorative ceramic box.) So, I carefully reached and dug and finally got the kleenex...only to discover that I couldn't get my hand back out of the box...uh, boxes. Unlike Lucy and her crying, I start to laugh when I get stuck. I don't know about Lucy, but when I start to laugh really hard, I have to pee. The harder I laugh, the more I have to pee. Well, my right hand was stuck in the kleenex box...and I'm right-handed. I honestly thought I was going to have to call Matt to help me get my hand out of the box...or help me go to the bathroom. Since that really wasn't a call I wanted to make (and have Matt's cubicle neighbors think I'm even crazier than they think I already am) I oiled up my hand and got it out. My bladder was very happy. I have another story about texting...but it's a little naughty. Let's just say to always double-check...no triple-check...who your message is going to before sending any texts. Seriously. Check. Then check again and again. ;-)

We headed back to good ol' Kearsley to watch the younger generation play some basketball. It was strange to be back at the high school and middle school. I don't remember a lot. (I still believe that all the fumes from the gallons of Aqua Net hairspray I used has marred my memory.) I do remember kissing Matt in the hallway at school, so we HAD to pose for a picture for old time's sake. Keaton was thoroughly disgusted.

We had an ice storm a few weeks ago and it was really pretty. Keaton called to say they lost power at school. He went to his teammates' house and crashed. I was thankful he was warm and he could shower and study. He was thankful he was warm and could plug in his laptop and cell phone. Their team really is like a little family. They all look out for each other and it's such a nice relief to not have to worry. (Well, I still worry, but I don't have to worry every second of every day. My gray hair isn't coming in so fast and furiously now..whew!) Really the only thing I have to worry about now is who I accidentally just sent my last text to...

Snowmageddon

Holy cow...make that holy WHITE cow! Our blizzard warning went into effect on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The news all day was that the "Blizzard of 2011" was on its way. People were storming the grocery stores, stocking up on food and water. (I, myself, went grocery shopping on Monday morning...thus avoiding the lines and crowds. I get a gold star for being prepared. I also made sure we had gas for the snow blower. Make that two gold stars for me. Actually, just make that gold jewelry.) The news coverage started on Tuesday night and people were told to stay off the roads. They interviewed one couple in Grand Rapids who were the only customers in a restaurant. They seemed surprised they were able to park right across the street from the restaurant and they were the only diners. Duh...smart people were at home...or had the delivery guy bring them pizza. Schools closed left and right around the region...even the colleges (yay, Keaton!). Reporters on the news led people to believe that the end of the world was coming...not quite Armageddon, but Snowmageddon.

We awoke to about a foot of the white stuff on Wednesday morning. Turning on the TV, all local stations were broadcasting live news feeds from around the area. "The Blizzard of 2011" was top news around the area...and I didn't get my Matt Lauer fix for the day. Not good. The news crews stood in snow drifts and reported that we had a lot of snow. Yep. The news crews stood on sidewalks not shoveled and reported we had a lot of snow. Yep. The news crews stood in snow drifts next to roads and reported that a lot of roads were not plowed. Yep. The news crews reported that people were stranded in their vehicles because they were stuck in the ROADS THAT WERE NOT PLOWED. THESE WERE THE SAME ROADS THAT THE STATE POLICE WARNED PEOPLE FROM DRIVING ON...PERIOD. This latest breaking news kept me from watching The Today Show...and Matt Lauer. I get so frustrated with people who fail to heed advice...and news reports on these people and their mistakes and then make me miss out on my morning ritual.

So, with all that said, Matt (not Matt Lauer...sigh) worked from home on Wednesday. We opened the garage door to about a foot of snow. Poor Cyrus jumped in the fluffy white stuff and promptly disappeared. I tried to get Cyrus to wear his cute little booties, but he just kept kicking them off. Unfortunately, Matt couldn't get the snow blower to start on the tractor, so I started shoveling. I'll just say that I shoveled the porch, sidewalk and about 1/10 of the driveway before the neighbor came over and plowed for us. There are still nice people in the world.

Awakening this morning, there were lots of schools closed again today...including Plainwell. (Sorry, Keaton.) I was so happy to see the sun coming up and my life back to normal; no local live news feeds reporting on "The Blizzard of 2011" and Matt Lauer live on The Today Show. It'll be a good day.

So Happy Together

Happy New Year! I'm having a good time playing around with different forms of media online. I'm so definitely NOT a techie, but I think of myself more as someone who accidentally stumbles upon the technology...after much frustration and cursing. So, here's the slide show I made for Matt to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Just click on the picture on the right and the slideshow will begin on another page automatically. (YouTube kept blocking my song due to copyright infringement, but I found a way around it...shhhhh!) Be sure to turn up the volume. Don't make fun of the different hair styles, hair colors, and/or fanny pack. I had a hard time finding pictures of just me and Matt...so that explains why Keaton is in so many of the pictures, in case you were wondering. Well, plus Keaton is MUCH cuter than we are. I'm going to try to update the blog more frequently and will try to include music...as long as I can remember how in the hell I did it last time. Enjoy!