St. John's Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend in the Keweenaw for our church's annual St. John's Services--judging by my stats over the weekend, that's where most of you were too. I think this was the shortest St. John's weekend ever for us. Jeff was scheduled to work this weekend but was able to get Saturday and Sunday off so we went up Friday night after work and came home after evening church on Sunday. I was supposed to drive home but Jeff said he probably wouldn't be able to sleep anyways so by the time we were halfway home I was asking him random questions to keep him awake. I think I nodded off during all of his answers. Good thing I didn't drive. We were home around midnight and he was up before 5 Monday morning.

 I was hoping to make it to the Bridgefest parade for Adrian's sake but we arrived just as we should have been finding a viewing spot so it didn't work out. I hadn't told him about it so he didn't know the difference. It was so awesome to have cousins for him to play with for a couple days. He's been really trying my patience at home lately so that was a nice break! Not that he and Kendall played perfectly all weekend or anything.

We lucked out and were able to stay at my grandma and grandpa's, they usually have a houseful for the weekend. My aunt and uncle live right down the road and Jeff has been itching to get over there to check out my uncle's bees. (He wants to raise bees next year.) I hear that he has an observation hive inside his house but I have yet to see it for myself. Jeff and Grandpa went to see the bees and I stayed back to visit with Grandma. I've realized lately that they won't be here forever so I really need to take advantage of our time with them.

I didn't take nearly enough pictures (as usual) but I did manage to snag these before we left their house on Sunday afternoon. (Grandpa was at the meeting and by the time he came back we were packed up and saying our "good-bye's.")

Poor Adrian had a few noseeum bites behind his right ear so it was all swollen. I think it finally looks normal again.

Isaac taught me a lesson during morning church. I'm so unprepared for a mess since we haven't had a blow-out away from home. Until Sunday that is. And while wearing the brand-new sweater handmade by my mom. Of course. (Don't worry, it all washed out and it's looking good as new.) Anyways, Katie saved the day. (Thanks again! I still have your clothes, I'll plan on mailing them to you as soon as I get the chance.) I swear, I spent more time in the cry room/nursery than in the pew, I should have just planned to sit there. I'm blaming it on the fact that I cheated on my usual diet (wheat-free, dairy-free) so he was a little fussier than usual. Either that or he was over-stimulated which may have been the case considering he slept most of the day on Monday.

Now we're back home, Adrian is still asking to go to Kendall's and Mumuu and Vaari's (my grandparent's) house. Jeff is back to work and I'm enjoying the gloomy days we've been having since it lets me get stuff done around here. According to the bank, we could be moving in 3-4 weeks and one of those weeks will be spent downstate. Since it's still too early to pack our things, I'm listing everything else on Craigslist. I just lost my sewing desk yesterday. So glad to have that heavy thing gone since I didn't like the style anyways but now I have nowhere to sew and I just got a small sewing project from a friend that needs to be done in the next few days. Ah, well at we won't have to move the desk.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving and that you all had much to be thankful for!

Among other things, I am thankful that we have a friendly neighbor. We met him shortly after we moved in (so about an hour ago). I figured he was a pretty nice guy when he offered to give us coffee (apparently he bought it and it gave him heartburn or something). Anyhow, the other day I made peppermint cookies, my Mom's recipe from the family cookbook. If you've ever made them you know that you have to crush the peppermint candy or candy canes in this case. The only thing I had to use for this task was a metal hammer (I tried a can but it smashed the can more than the candy). It was SO loud! I mean, my ears were literally ringing and I did it for a LONG time. I had thought that the neighbor guy was at work so, I didn't worry about the noise. I wasn't even done when I heard him come to his doorway and starting POUNDING like crazy on the door or wall, I couldn't tell. Of course I felt like the biggest fool, realizing that he was home the entire time and probably ready to knock me out. I decided I'd give him a few cookies and a note apologizing considering he'd been so friendly before, I didn't want him to think we were our previous upstairs neighbors. (I swear they rode their horse around up there). He rang the doorbell later and insisted that we were not loud at all and that he was actually hitting his door with a mallet because it was crooked. He must have thought he needed to reinforce that message because he stopped by later to give me a paper, with all the ads, and eggnog with Vernor's! Apparently it was a family tradition of his to mix the two. It sure is a breath of fresh air to have a neighbor like him after our last experience!

We enjoyed a fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's out at the lake. It was definitly different not seeing Mom and Dad but it was enjoyable nonetheless.
Thanks again for your gracious hospitality Grandma and Grandpa!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Catching up and going downstate

JoLynn: Thanks for all the advice! I'll be sure to use it, I've already looked up directions for all of the places you mentioned so I can check them out next time I run to Marquette. (We actually live west of Marquette, but I'm there nearly every day.)

We may possibly be getting a computer on Friday. I have my fingers crossed. It's a Black Friday deal however so my chances aren't that superb. Wish me luck!

I made bread yesterday. For the second time in my entire life. The first time the consistency resembled that of a rock. This time...it took forever. But it tastes good and it's much softer. However the recipe said to bake for 30 minutes. I was thinking that sounded like a pretty short time. I was right. It took closer to an hour and when I finally said, "enough!" and took them out of the oven...they STILL weren't completely cooked through. Maybe my loaves are just too big? I am by no means an expert though, so feel free to throw ANY and all tips and advice at me!

I forgot to mention...my landlord was in our apartment replacing a door handle while the dough was rising. I was talking to him and sort of forgot about my dough. By the time I remembered, it had overflowed from the bowl, what a mess!

I also made chicken fettuccine alfredo...geez that's a long name! The recipe was from Better Homes and Gardens. However, it didn't call for garlic and we (Jeff and I) didn't realize it till the end so we just added a little bit of garlic salt. That was fine but next time I think I'll roast fresh garlic with the chicken before adding it to the sauce. Jeff said it was delicious, I thought it was alright. I made it for him, I know he loves it and I'm not really a huge fan. It was, however, very fast and easy!

I'm looking at facebook as I try to remember what I had actually wanted to post about and notices yet ANOTHER mom expecting twins. I'm telling you, it is the year of the twins!

Jeff had hockey again last night. It starts at 11 and the poor guy gets up before 5. And I slept til 10...I feel kind of guilty about that one. I was the only girl yet again. I brought a blanket and book this time so it passed pretty quickly. I feel pretty silly being the only person sitting in the stands but I guess it beats sitting home alone. Like I do every day...

Speaking of which, I think I'll bake some cookies today.

I just remember what I wanted to say! I have no idea how I could forget this. Probably because we've been going back and forth about it for a week and I can never seem to remember what we did decide. But this is it: We're going downstate this weekend! Not for Thanksgiving day though. Jeff has Thursday off but, not Friday. We will go up north to my Grandparents for Thanksgiving; did I mention that they live two hours away as well? Hi Grandma! ;) Then, we'll be leaving to go downstate when Jeff gets home from work Friday. He had originally had Monday off so we would go home then but now he's not so sure. Either way, we'll be at church on Sunday so we can see all of our friends that we haven't seen in...what's it been, two and a half weeks? Ha, we're pretending we never moved!

We visited "up north" the past two weekends so Jeff could go to the hunting camp. This past weekend was pretty short, just Friday and Saturday (Jeff has Friday off). I'm starting to think my sister Emily is a shopaholic since we went out shopping both times I was with her. Okay, I'll give her credit, it is the holiday season, there is Christmas shopping to do!

Well this is getting a little long. See what happens when you don't have access to a computer every day?

Reunion

This weekend was so much fun. Friday afternoon was "just like old times" hanging out with Annette and Chrissy like we would when we were twelve. After that it was about what I thought it would be knowing full well that I wasn't twelve anymore. I "met" my cousin Luke, I haven't seen him since I was about seven. According to the older kids he hasn't changed a bit. He started a kickball match on Saturday evening with some of the older kids. I wish I had taken my camera...we all started stretching before he got there.
I got to visit quite a bit with my cousin Kelli and her husband Brian which was really nice, considering how much older they are than me. I guess the older you get the closer in age you get. Know what I mean?
And of course I was able to see Jon and Sara, Matt and Emily and kids as well as Paul and Amanda which is always a treat! Paul was actually riding a scooter by the end of the weekend. All of those kids just seem like such "big kids" all of a sudden, especially Janie.
On Saturday we made Hobo Stew. It started with ham and each family added various vegetables or meat. It was very tasty, and very hot. The weather was also hot...and humid but we ate till we were stuffed nonetheless.
Later on, the kids played games, as well as some of the adults. We had relay races and pinata. Luke led (pretty much everything) the little kids (8 and under) in a game where they had to act like animals and find the same animal. He told them so spread out and they more or less ran to the woods, they were a little confused. We all thought it was pretty hilarious.
That night, the Aunts and Uncles all wrote down five facts about themselves and Luke read them out loud at the fire. We all had to guess who was who. That was neat because we learned a few interesting facts about them. Well Grandpa's was nothing new: Loves Grandma, loves grandkids, lives on lake, goes south in the winter, is lazy.
After that, awards were passed out: Biggest family unit present, family with the most cars present, family with the most pets present(there were a LOT of dogs), etc.
Jeff and I left Sunday afternoon so we just spent the day relaxing and trying out the tightrope that Uncle David had made. Gretch could go all the way across forwards and them started walking backwards. The little kids were pretty cute there too.
I heard there were 127 that made it. Only about five out of about 70 grandkids didn't make it. Pretty good numbers if you ask me!

ROAR!!!! I AM ANGRY. IT WILL NOT LET ME UPLOAD PICTURES!
Hopefully it will work later of tomorrow, so sorry to leave you hanging!