The Summer of Relaxation

This is the cutest thing I have seen in a while and I think it's the perfect image to kick off our Summer of Relaxation.  Last year we were packing and moving during this time into our new home. This year, while there is still plenty to do around the house, I think we need to step back and appreciate where we've come from and relax. 

spaces design

Although....I am struggling with what color to paint the downstairs bathroom....

Falling for it...

Image via Wikipedia

I love the fall season!  Memories of racking leaves and jumping into the piles,  hiding under the crisp yellow and orange leaves...sometimes you just have to be a kid again.
I've noticed that the red leaves are getting harder and harder to find come fall.  Driving down the road, I can't help but ponder the beauty that is all around.

Mark's mom Sheila was visiting with us this past week. We were happy to have our first house guest at our new home and we enjoyed her company very much.  Drive to Copper Harbor with the kids, Na-na's family spaghetti recipe, raspberry cheesecake, zuppa toscani soup, and a Steeler game were just some of the moments shared.  

Every year I fall in love with fall...it's time to wrap yourself up in a nice cozy sweater...better yet, snuggle with the ones you love!

Grandma Sheila with Trevor and Sophie

Mom, Mark and I  at Copper Harbor Brockway Mountain

After asking them to "pretend like they like each other"  Fun!

Never miss a chance for a family photo!

When you are out and about with the entire family, never miss an opportunity to stop and ask someone to take a photo of all of you together. These times are so few and far between.

I love this photo of me, Mark, Trevor and Sophie.  It was a great day spent together and the photo is a great reminder.  Perhaps I will have it enlarged, printed in black and white for one of the walls at home! 
Thank you to the woman who was nice enough to stop and give a few minutes to take our photo!

Family Day, 2010

Happy Birthday to Mark!!

         Mark and I celebrated his birthday with of course, a delicious meal at the Waterfront.  
The size of his prime rib was Guinness book worthy...afterwards we took a leasurly stroll along the waterfront.  Great evening!  
Mark told me "It feels good to have gotten so many great birthday wishes!"  I replied: "You're a pretty great guy!"

Mark and his delicious meat!

The Bridge:  Repair work after an evening where it was stuck for several hours. 

Happy 40th! No way!!

Happy Birthday to me!!
Yes indeed! I had a happy happy day! Mark surprised me all day long from morning until night. First I woke up to his smiling face with one of my favorites a Chamilia gift bag. A new charm to add to my bracelet that he picked out with Trevor's help! Then I was off to work where I was greeted with light teasing about the 4oth but mostly well wishes for a happy day. By mid afternoon, boss-Nick comes to ask me to help him move some items around and I followed him downstairs where I was greeted by "SURPRISE!!" Mark, and my wonderful co-workers sporting birthday hats and singing happy birthday to me; I blew out the big "40" birthday candles and we laughed together while enjoying my favorite cake in the world, black forest cherry torte, ordered special from Mark.
We ended the evening with an incredible dinner at the Waterfront Restaurant located on the canal in Hancock. My steak was cooked perfectly and after only one glass of wine, I was relaxed, content, and ready to call it a night.
Wow....I am old!
Felt wonderful to be treated so special all day long! I love my family and friends! Mark continues to surprise me with his unconditional love! Trevor and Sophie too!

Today while sitting at work I have my beautiful red gerber daisies to enjoy along with my bright red balloons. Fun reminders of a fun day!

Our NEW HOME!!
We are beyond excited about our new home in Lake Linden!!
Packing and moving is not very fun but when we get to move to such a beautiful home and make it our own we don't mind at all!
The kids each picked out their rooms and their own color schemes.
We can't wait to host a housewarming party!!
More pictures to follow for sure...

We said farewell to Trevor last night as he boarded the bus with his fellow 8th Grade class trip participants....headed to New York City!!
Of course we will miss him but we can't wait to hear about the bite he takes out of the big apple...hopefully he comes back with some very fun pictures to share. I'm sure he is making memories that will last forever.

Happy Memorial Day 2010

Remembering our loved ones, gone but never forgotten.

I still continue to tell Trevor and Sophie stories about their grandfather Bill. Mark shares stories as well about his father Sam. We all feel cheated out of knowing these great men as the adults we now are....missing out on being able to ask their advice or share the joys of parenthood.

Stories keep our loved ones with....

I miss you Dad!

Our Favorite Beach!

We spent the day at Great Sand Bay just south of Copper Harbor.
This beautiful area is our favorite place to spend a day playing and relaxing in the sun.
Can't wait to return for a day of swimming!!

Another school year under the belt for me....I'm looking forward to a fun summer with Mark and the kids. The kid's last day of school is June 8th.

Trevor's 8th grade class trip will be the following week. We are excited for him!

Lately we've been dreaming about a new home and we are hopeful for one we can call our own with a big backyard for Abby and plenty of space for entertaining! A big kitchen would be a dream!

I will post pictures soon as it's been a while since I've posted ones of Trevor, Sophie and little miss Abigail.

Happy Spring!!

Abigail

Publish Post

We'd like to introduce you to our newest family member....Abigail Constance our little pug puppy.

She was born on November 16, 2009 and became a member of our family in mid-January.

Funny little puppy dog, she makes us laugh when she's fast asleep snoring away...

She has a little bit of a wild time of night where she has to run off her energy, running from one room to another.

We can't wait for everyone to meet her!

Happy Halloween!!

Sophie is one goofy little girl!!

She could make anyone smile! Her sense of humor is contagious!

I'm never in a bad mood for long when Sophie is around...

When it comes to Halloween, sometimes Sophie and I disagree. I think Halloween should be about scary, creepie or even funny costumes. She always seems to lean toward super hero's or something of that sort.....we do both agree that Halloween is not for a "princess" or a "fairy" or any girly-girl costumes...

We shopped around trying to come up with a funny idea....Sophie spotted the boxing gloves at the Family Dollar store. Those were our starting point. We ended up having to only spend a couple of dollars on a headband and another dollar on a plain white t-shirt. The rest was things we had and our imaginations! Yes, we had the wig and those giant blue shorts!!

She was one tough looking boxer...with a 5 o'clock shadow that Sophie insisted she have instead of the black eye that I said she should have. What the heck would she have a black eye for...she knows how to guard the money-maker, that sweet face of hers!

Halloween is definetly worth dressing up for...tricks or treats!

Sophie and I found a fun new website!

Sophie and I had so much fun playing on this website:

www.stripgenerator.com

Check it out!

http://stripgenerator.com/strip/307191/

Our Recent Company...

My sister Jenn and her sweet little boy "Punchy" came to visit from Wisconsin. We had the pleasure of them staying with us and Mark captured photos of his little bubble bath in our kitchen sink!

We also took one of him wearing his new Yooper style hat!

Michael is growing so quickly, changing every second!

WE can't wait for his next visit!!

Week Three....Complete

So I've completed week three of my college experience...
it's getting tougher now. Trying to balance homework and housework and the kids and meals and Mark...
I'm learning my schedule still and have to figure out what that priority thing is all about. I'd like to master some great easy to prepare meals that don't taste like they came out of a box.

It will get easier as I get more organized. That is my goal for this weekend...GET ORGANIZED JILL...quit being such a lazy....

Well I included this picture since it's the current background for my new computer. It makes me smile for two reasons:
1. I love everyone in the photo
2. I love Italian food and this guy really knows his stuff

Here's to a productive weekend!
I will post new pictures of Trevor now that his football season has started. Funny how when I first started our blog he was starting his 7th grade season! Wow!

Back to SCHOOL

oh boy...I'm on my second week of school and learning once again how to balance it all.

The kids start school next week so I picture the three of us seated around the dining room table, working on homework and eating Little Caesar's pizza.

Mark promises me a home-cooked meal at least one of the nights that I have night class!

I will keep you posted as to how that turns out. He's pretty good at making eggs and his pancakes are melt-in-your-mouth good!

Hopefully I can post a photo of Trevor and Sophie with first day of school smiles!!

Reunited and it feels so good...

What a fun weekend! Mark and I joined my classmates for a stroll down memory lane..or should I say a float down the Portage canal...

We celebrated our 21st reunion with dinner at the DT followed by a lovely cruise aboard the Keweenaw Star.

It was great to catch up with classmates and share old stories while learning what's new as well.

The years keep passing us by but we still look the same as we were in high school, or at least we all act the same!

Go Gremlins! "Hail..hail the orange and black..."

Goofy For Sure....Trevor at his best!

"Let me entertain you...let me make you smile..."

Sophie Turns 9!!!

Sophie turned 9 years old on June 28, 2009!!

Our little millenium baby!

We had a fun little party with her at Grandma Dorothy's since Aunt Jenny and little Michael were visiting from Wisconsin.

She's excited to have an outdoor camping/swimming/silly girl party later this summer!

Yeah Beans and Punchy!!

We had such a great visit with my sister Jennifer and her sweet little boy Michael (aka: Punchy) recently! He is the most well-behaved, mild-mannered, little guy! Such a sparkling personality like his mother...or quite possibly his Aunty Jill! :D

We can't wait for their next visit!