"Happy Birthday to Me..."

Last weekend our family planned to go to the west coast of Michigan, to Warren Sand Dunes State Park, and stay for a few days to enjoy the dunes, hiking and the beach, but alas, it was rainstorming so we canceled our plans. It was my birthday weekend so I was a little bummed out since I had been planning this trip for a month, but we'll go later this summer. Instead, we went out to breakfast, I went shopping at Kohls while my family cleaned the house for me, went to lunch at Baja Fresh, and then Joshua took me out to see a movie that evening. It turned out to be a fun day anyway.

Then on Monday, a couple of my friends surprised me at home and took me to get a pedicure. It was so fun, and very thoughtful -- Now I have such cute toes! Another friend took me to dinner on Wednesday to Outback Steakhouse, one of my favorite restaurants. I'm lucky to have such great friends! It was a good birthday, even though I thought I was turning 36, but am only 35. My parents had to correct me when they called for my B-day. Since being in my mid-30's, I've totally lost track! Heehee....

The Beginning of our Summer Friday Fun Days....

Every summer, I come up with a 'Summer Fun Calendar' for the kids. We call our fridays, "Friday Fun Days". The kids helped me come up with a plan of some fun things and places they wanted to see and do. We've planned each and every friday, mostly outdoor fun things, so hopefully it stops raining so much so we won't have to cancel any of them.

Last Friday we went to the Ann Arbor Hands-On-Museum once more before my membership expires. Afterwards, on the way home, we went to an indoor/outdoor Botanical Gardens. We had a fun day. Be looking for more post to come of our future Friday Fun Days....

Inside the Botanical Gardens

Cedar Point 2008

This week was unseasonably cool. We've actually had a lot of frequent cold fronts come through this past month. Even so, we went through with our plan to go to CEDAR POINT yesterday, which was also a chilly, cold day. The sky was quite dark at times, with threats of rain. Because we knew it might rain, we brought ponchos in our backpack, but thank goodness we never had to use them. The last two years we've gone to Cedar Point, it was always on a stinken' hot day. But with the weather as cool as it was this year, we still weren't prepared enough, and were pretty chilly in the evening as it got dark. But we had a really fun day anyway. Joshua, Spencer, Jessica and I went with Megan and Adam Selthofer, friends from our ward. Alex and Logan stayed with the bishop's family since we'd be riding rollercoasters all day and they weren't tall enough.

We've been going to Cedar Point every year for 3 years. It's one of our favorite amusement parks. The park boasts an unheard of 17 roller coasters, more than any other park in the world! With a lineup that includes three of the top 10 steel roller coasters in the world, Cedar Point is a coaster lover's dream come true, and that's about all we did all day, until the end of the day when we were getting tired. Then, we went on a few low-key rides like bumper cars and the train.

Jessica's favorite rollercoaster was Top Thrill Dragster which is one of the tallest and the 2nd fastest (120 mph) rollercoaster in the world. She also loved the Millennium Force which is this massive, colossal rollercoaster and voted no. 2 of the "Best Steel Rollercoaster in the World" in Amusement Today (Top Thrill Dragster was No. 7). Joshua, Spencer and I love the newest rollercoaster that debuted last year, called the Maverick which has a 95 degree first drop, two separate launches, 10 banked turns and reaches a speed of 70 mph. We were glad to be at the front of the line when the park opened because as soon as it did, everyone reaced for the "Maverick". It was the farthest ride from the front of the park so even though we started out running with the rest of the crowd, Joshua and Jessica ended up race-walking while Spencer and I slowed to a steady jog and saved a spot in line for them when they got to us. We were glad that we rode the Maverick first because the line was horrendous the rest of the day.

Another of my favorite rides was Skyhawk, a gigantic swing that goes back and forth up to 125 feet in the air at a speed of 60 mph. in both directions. I could've ridden that over and over. All four of us also loved the Raptor, an inverted roller coaster that has seats similar to ski lift chairs, suspended below its inverted track. Riders see nothing but the sky and track above them, and nothing but their dangling feet below - just a few feet above the ground! On this ride, we tumbled head over heels six times!

It's nice that Cedar Pointis only 2 hours from our house. We were able to drive there and home in one day. We had a fun day! Alex will probably join us next year. Hopefully he is as much of a roller-coaster junkie as the rest of us! If you are too, come join us next year!! We always go the week after school gets out in June.

Our family next to our favorite ride, the Maverick

Eating lunch in the park -- "Chick-Fil-A"

Getting ready to ride "Skyhawk", with our friend Megan.
Joshua and Adam watched.

Here we go...... Weeeee!!

...On our way back up.... It's really high!!

Spencer and Mom on the "Power Tower" where we dropped 240 feet in 3 seconds at a speed of 50 mph!

Dad and Spencer riding in an antique car

In the evening, we rode the train around the park. Cedar Point in located on the coast of Lake Erie so we got a beautiful view of the sunset over the lake.

Jessica and Spencer in the "Peanuts" pumpkin patch.

Liberty Fest

Well, last Thursday was the kid's last day of school. We celebrated with a family sleepover party in the evening.We made homemade pizzas and ate a lot of junk food while we watched "The Emperor's New Groove", one of my favorite Disney movies. I laugh from beginning to end! Alex and Logan had never seen it, and it had been a long time since Spencer and Jessica saw it. Then we all slept together in sleeping bags in our front room. Fun night!

Then, this last weekend, Canton had their annual Liberty Fest weekend. We spent Friday and Saturday doing that, and now we are all sunburned! I think this year was the best Liberty Fest they've ever had. Lots of fun shows and bigger, better carnival rides. On Friday night, there was a fun show called 'Nickelodeon Live'. Alex got picked to be in the show. He was disappointed that he wasn't slimed -- the other team got it instead! Also Friday night, Josh and I went to the amphitheater for a free concert by "Bon-Journey" - a tribute band who plays the songs from the bands Journey and Bon Jovi. It was really, really fun! They played all the great songs. This is them here on YouTube singing some of their Bon-Jovi songs -- LISTEN HERE

On Saturday morning, the parade was longer than ever -- an hour and a half. The kids have more candy than we can handle all summer, and of course, lots of free stuff!! We'll be bowling, skating, eating, and laser-tagging for free this summer! Then we headed over to Heritage Park to ride the carnival rides. Also lots of fun shows, especially the one in the evening before the fireworks -- The John Corbett Band. You know the guy in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", "Raising Helen" and other movies? He has a band and they came to sing here in Canton, in the Liberty Fest! SEE HIS WEBSITE HERE -- That was pretty fun! We sat right in the front and could see everything clearly. Fireworks were extra long this year. Logan actually got bored after awhile. Here are some of our pictures ---

2007-2008 School Year Over

Yep... This was the last day of school. And below are pictures of Jessica and Alex with their teachers this last year. They were terrific teachers and I know the kids will miss them a lot. The kids always give a bouquet of flowers to their teacher on the last day of school.

We always have a family sleepover party on the last day of school, so we're going to start getting ready for that. We actually have fun plans all weekend to celebrate the end of the school year. We'll post more on that later!

Jessica's 4th grade teacher, Ms. Brohl

Alex and his 1st grade teacher, Mrs. VanHeest
(Jessica had her in 1st grade too)

Mommy and Logan Days

It's finally come.... what I've been dreading all year. The last week alone with Logan before all my other kids are home for the summer, and before he goes to kindergarten in the fall. This last year, I've had so much fun with him! I've planned Friday fun days every week with him, taken him out to lunch dates, had him as my little helper on all my errands, and much more. So this last week, I've dropped everything and spent the week doing something fun with him every day. These are pics from last Friday when we walked around downtown Plymouth, a quaint little shopping area that we both enjoy walking around together. I love my little Logan! I'm going to be a big fat mess on the first day of school when he's gets on the bus to go to school. It's hard on a mom when your kids get older, start kindergarten and leave you. This will be the fourth, and last time I will do this. I've had someone home with me every day for the past 12 years, and starting in the fall, I'll be alone at home. But I'm not going to think about that now. I'm going to enjoy the summer with the kids. We have lots of fun plans!!

Lunch at Subway
(He loves choosing what to put on his sandwich!)

At Plymouth's Kellogg Park

Playing at "Kid Cafe"

Funny Kid Quotes

This Week's Memorable Alex and Logan Quotes ---

A conversation with Alex on the way to church:
Mom: "Alex, settle down. We're going to church so let's be reverent."
Alex: " What? I was just doing the chicken dance!"

A conversation with Logan on the way home from McDonalds"
Logan: "Mom, I saw lightening."
Mom: "What do you think is going to happen next?"
Logan: "Die!"

My Daughter, My Joy

" A Tribute To Daughters "

Every home should have a daughter,
for there's nothing like a girl,
To keep the world around her
In one continuous whirl!

She is soft and sweet and cuddly,
but she's also wise and smart,
She's a wonderous combination
of a mind and brain and heart.

And even in her baby days
She's just a born coquette,
And anything she really wants
She manages to get.

For even at a tender age
She uses all her wiles,
And she can melt the hardest heart
with the sunshine in her smiles.

She starts out as a rosebud
with her beauty unrevealed,
Through a happy childhood
her petals are unsealed...

She's soon a sweet girl graduate,
and then a blushing bride,
And then a lovely woman,
as the rosebud opens wide...

And some day in her future,
if it be God's gracious will,
She too will be a mother
and know that reverent thrill.

That comes to every mother
whose heart is filled with love.
When she beholds the"angel"
that God sent her from above.

And there would be no life at all
in this world or the other
Without a darling daughter
who in turn, becomes a Mother!

Author - Helen Steiner Rice

Once upon a time, Heavenly Father sent one of his most choice spirits to us. A sweet angel for our home. Every day since, we've felt so grateful to have Jessica as our only daughter. We couldn't have done better if we chose her ourselves! My day becomes wonderful when I see her pretty face, smiling sweetly at me. She is my angel, and a most kind-hearted, thoughtful, caring person who radiates warmth and sunshine each day. Every day she also grows smarter and more beautiful. And every day I am more proud to be her mother. As she goes through the many stages of life, there will be times when she feels scared and confused, but her strength and values will help her in her experiences. And I am, and always will be, here for her each and every day. Jessica, you are my heart! My miracle! No matter how old you get, you will always be my angel. I love you! Happy 10th birthday!

JESSICA THROUGH THE YEARS ---

Meeting her big brother in the hospital -- June 1998

Newborn baby Jessica -- June 1998

3 months old -- September 1998

First Birthday -- June 1999

1 year old -- August 1999

18-months-old -- January 2000

2 years old -- June 2000
(just after moving to Michigan)

2 years old - October 2000

2 1/2 years old -- December 2000

3 years old - June 2001

3 years old -- September 2001 (holding baby Alex)

3 1/2 years old -- April 2002

4 years old -- December 2002

5 years old -- October 2003 (with baby Logan)

6 years old -- September 2004

6 years old (First lost tooth) -- November 2004

7 years old -- October 2005

7 1/2 years old -- May 2006

8 years old -- January 2007

9 years old -- October 2007

It All Started 14 Years Ago Today ....

Do you know what you were doing 14 years ago today? I do.....
I was getting married in the Salt Lake City temple.
Happy Anniversary, Joshua!

OUR WEDDING DAY -- JUNE 3, 1994







OUR TEXAS RECEPTION -- June 17, 1994

The wedding party

Julie's Family (left) and Joshua's Family (right, all except for Samantha)
And Julie's baby sister, Erin sitting in front (who is married now and pregnant with her first baby ... makes me feel old)

Our third wedding anniversary, back at the SLC temple