Morning Workout

This morning's workout consisted of me pulling out the dryer and washing machine to rescue the dog who decided that hiding behind them would somehow help keep him safe during this morning's thunderstorm. And pulling them out is no easy feat.  They each have to come up and over a wood strip on the floor and have to be pulled out carefully so I don't disconnect the vent hose.  Oh, and it's a tight squeeze because the dryer and washing machine are tucked away in a closet.  It's a good thing he's so darn cute.

This is before he decided to get himself stuck behind the dryer.

Proud Parents!!

Whoo-hoo!  Keaton graduated from Kalamazoo College on Sunday!  I guess our baby boy is all grown up now!!

10 months old.
I swear we blinked and he was all grown up!

22 years old.

The Graduate

The past four years just flew by.  It seems like it's only been a couple of months since we moved him into his dorm for his freshman year...almost the wrong dorm.  (Keaton tends to skim over stuff that he thinks is boring to read.)  We're looking forward to the next chapter in his life and all the wonderful, exciting things to come!

We had a little pre-graduation party on Saturday with some friends and family.

We went out to dinner with family and friends to celebrate Keaton's graduation.
Matt made a nice speech and we all toasted Keaton's success!  Cheers!!

Just Call Me Martha

Last week, I played Martha Stewart and repurposed our old patio cushions into these fabulous ones.  It was so much cheaper than buying new ones and really wasn't very hard at all.  (I'm not a seamstress by any means, but can sew a straight line...well, kind of straight...most of the time.)  I found this cute outdoor fabric online and on sale (because there really isn't any other way to buy anything in my opinion) and studied some online tutorials on how to make removable slipcovers.  Then, I loaded up the sewing machine and kept my foot on the pedal for hours and had a marathon day of sewing. 6 chair slipcovers and 1 chaise lounge slipcover...and I only had to rip out two seams and only pricked my fingers 50 times, so I'm definitely improving on my sewing skills!  The best part is since they're removable, I can throw them in the wash and keep them clean...exactly how I like everything inside AND outside my house.

These cushions are a little faded and outdated, but they're nice and thick.
Believe it or not, they're also 17 years old!

Ta da...fresh, new cushions.
Believe it or not, the patio furniture is 18 years old.
(It's amazing what you can do with soap and water...and a can of spray paint every year!)

I had enough fabric left over to make a cute throw pillow for my rocking chair.
I put a pink flower on the cushion so there's no doubt that this is MY chair.

Lovely Ludington

We enjoyed a lovely weekend up in Ludington...even with all the mosquitoes.  Matt did some fishing, we played some pinball while checking out downtown Ludington, we enjoyed another gorgeous sunset on Lake Michigan, and we went kayaking on Hamlin Lake.  I must be getting better at my paddling because Matt asked if I was mad at him since I was way ahead of him in the lake.  I'm really not a water sport enthusiast. I'm more of a pool girl who likes to just float in the pool...and the water has to be at least 82 degrees.  My idea of kayaking is gracefully stepping in my pretty pink kayak on shore and having Matt gently push me into the water so I don't actually have to touch any water. (Yuck...fish poop.)  Then, the most extreme kayaking I like is a gentle rocking motion while in the water.  I really don't like any rapids or frantic maneuvering where there's a chance I could tip.  (Again, yuck...fish poop.)  Maybe I should just put the kayak in the pool and enjoy both worlds.

South Haven

We enjoyed a beautiful weekend camping in South Haven.  We enjoyed some biking and hanging out with friends.  Matt and his friend enjoyed some more extreme kayaking that we girls chose not to do...luckily. We enjoyed some shopping in the newly renovated downtown shopping district where I found my next funny sign. We enjoyed good food and we girls beat the guys in pinochle...FINALLY!  And not just once, but twice!!  Cyrus enjoyed lots of walks and some sun in his own chair because he doesn't sit on the ground like normal dogs...because he doesn't know he's a dog.

And we enjoyed watching the sun set over Lake Michigan.

And we enjoyed some less-extreme kayaking in the Black River.

And it sure would be nice if weekends lasted longer!

Pinball Showcase

On Saturday, we headed over to play some pinball at the Ann Arbor Pinball Showcase.  200 pinball games in one building.  Matt was in heaven.

Together, Matt and I battled each other on 58 different games of pinball. Then, we played some games separately.  (I only like the newer, flashier games.  Matt enjoys all eras and skill levels of pinball.)  I think I played about 70 games in six hours.  Six.  Hours.  That's a new record I never thought I'd set.  Whew...I may end up with carpal tunnel. We'll have to see if we can set a new record next year!

  

We played:
Playboy
Terminator 3
Batman Dark Knight
Elvis
Simpson's Pinball Party
World Poker Tour
Family Guy
Pirates of the Caribbean
Tron
Guns 'n' Roses
Jurassic Park
Tales from the Crypt
Phantom of the Opera
Time Machine
Revenge from Mars
The Addams Family
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Indiana Jones
Scared Stiff
Champion Pub
White Water
Dracula
Jackbot
Strange Science
Party Zone
Flash Gordon
Kiss
Elektra
Tommy
Lord of the Rings
Apollo 13
Iron Man
Spider-Man
Bride of Pinbot
Funhouse
Goldeneye
Congo
No Fear
Johnny Mnemonic
Corvette
Judge Dredd
Star Trek
Tales of the Arabian Nights
The Getaway
Terminator 2
World Cup Soccer
Monster Bash
Fish Tales
Big Bang Bar
Twilight Zone
Cactus Canyon
Medieval Madness
Banzai Run
Attack from Mars
Safecracker
Joust
Star Trek
Still Crazy

Happy Mother's Day

We enjoyed a busy weekend that included watching a baseball game, a visit with some of Matt's family, a quick stop at Holland's Tulip Festival, and lots of mowing and work around the house.  Since I think Mother's Day is a Hallmark Holiday (because mothers should be thanked and appreciated EVERY day), I chose to stay home and get some stuff done while Matt was around.  His list keeps growing and growing. Matt surprised me with some new deck chairs and Keaton brought me tulips and Snickers.  (Pink of course...the flowers, not the Snickers.)  He and Matt are fabulous cooks and picked up some Chinese for dinner. We ended the night watching Game of Thrones and enjoying some homemade pavlova and berries I whipped up for dessert.  Yummmmm!

I just need a royal blue chair and my set will be complete.
Happy Mother's Day to me!

35 Days and Counting!

35 days until Keaton's college graduation!  Whoo-hoo!!  No, wait...HOLY COW!!!  We're having both sides of the family come for graduation and will host activities during that weekend.  Since we can't move into a nice, shiny, brand-new house before then, that means we have some work to do around here to get our house ready for a lot of people.  That only gives me 34 days to:  finish my spring cleaning (and this means scrubbing everything  upstairs and in the basement with a toothbrush), steam-clean the carpet, wash the upstairs screens and windows, paint the garage and garage cabinets, wash the garage floor, power-wash the pool deck, wash and repaint the patio furniture, plant flowers, change the landscaping in the front of the house, make slipcovers for the patio furniture, make Matt install a new vanity and sink in a bathroom, repaint the bathroom, make a slide show, and make a scrapbook for the graduation party.  Oh, and we're losing some  valuable working days with pre-scheduled camping trips and some other weekend events.  So, I really only have 26 days to complete my to-do list.  I. Can. Do. It.  I think.   Boy, I hope so. 

 

2010 - Freshman

2014 - Senior

 

 

 

$10

What did I do with a $10 sheet from Walmart and a little creativity?  I made three valences for my windows in the living room and kitchen.  To attach them to the top of my pleated shades, I just used a magnet to hold them in place on top of the metal clips.  Voila!  I even have fabric left over and think I may have to try my hand at throw pillows next.

Pinball at the 'Zoo

Pinball at the 'Zoo 2014.  Keaton met us to spend the afternoon playing pinball on Thursday.  Matt's going back on Friday and Saturday.  One day was enough for me.  Don't get me wrong...pinball is fun.  I just can't play for hours and hours and hours.  Plus, I have a hard time not pulling up the pants of some guys...or talking to them about ditching the sweats for some jeans.  They'll never meet a girl to play pinball with if they don't at least try to get dressed.

Keaton and I really liked Pirates of the Caribbean.

Like father, like son.

The Wizard of Oz is still our favorite.

Austin Powers was pretty groovy, baby.

Wedding

Keaton was a groomsman in his childhood friend's wedding over the weekend.  Holy cow...these kids can't be getting married yet.  We're not old enough.  The silver lining was Keaton had his hands in his pocket for the garter toss.  There was NO way he was catching that...and we're grateful (for a few years at least!).  ;-)

Easter Cooking

Cooking Easter breakfast + cooking Easter dinner = a well-deserved cocktail for me.

Monkey bread, scrambled eggs, bacon, & fruit cups.  Yum!

Ham with maple & brown sugar glaze, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole with homemade onion strings (none of that canned fried onion crap), buttered cabbage, glazed carrots, asparagus,  and cheddar biscuits.  Oh, and there was a cherry cheesecake for dessert.  Yum!!

I'm relaxing and saving the dishes for Matt.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter from 1973. 

Darling Debbie, Cute Karie, & Lewd Laurie
(Laurie's underwear is usually showing in most pictures of her.)

Taxes

Keaton used to love to copy whatever Matt was doing and/or wearing.  Here's a throwback photo of him "helping" Matt do our taxes back when he was 3 years old.  We weren't audited, so he must have done a good job!

He borrowed Matt's glasses and calculator so he could do HIS taxes.

It's Official

Yay...Keaton has officially been offered and officially accepted a position at the company he interned at over the summer and has been working at part-time this school year.  He'll be 'Applications Developer' at the local branch of the company after he graduates in June.  The company he'll be working for is awesome!  It's young and hip and he's really enjoyed working there so far.  They have a very relaxed work atmosphere complete with a game room with video games and a game console, snack rooms stocked with products from their clients...and an ice cream bar.  He's so excited...and so are we!  It's great to watch him begin the next chapter of his life and see what exciting things are coming next!!

 



Six different flavors of Plainwell ice cream available...yum!
Every. Single. Day.



They actually have an old soda fountain counter...complete with hot fudge continuously heating.

Spring Break

While we're watching it snow here yet again (it's pretty much on an almost-daily basis here), Keaton is soaking up some sun in Florida.  We're totally jealous and should have crashed his spring break getaway.

Matt took Keaton to the airport and they found a pinball machine to help pass the time before Keaton boarded his plane.
(Of course they did.)

Keaton sent this as they were getting ready to land at LaGuardia.
I'm glad he got to see the sun.  It was snowing here (again) when I got his text.

He found a way to help pass the time until his flight to Florida.

Ahhhhh...he finally made it to Florida and headed right to the beach.

Enough!!!!!!!!

Mother Nature, please turn the page on your calendar.  It's MARCH 25...not February 25!  Thank you.

Celebration!!!

Last night, we celebrated Keaton's spring break, the end of basketball, and our last college tuition payment with a seafood feast I made.  We enjoyed some crab legs, shrimp cocktail, coconut shrimp with a pineapple dipping sauce, salad, twice-baked sweet potatoes, and cheddar/garlic biscuits. The best part was we didn't even have to change out of our sweats or Keaton didn't have to comb his hair to go out to a restaurant.  ;-)