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Category Archives: Grandparents

My one vacation bucket list item, year 2.

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Y’all remember last year when I got to go behind the bar and stick my head under the thimbleberry margarita spout, right?

Well, this year I wasn’t expecting that but I did want more of those delicious thimbleberry margaritas… The kids were at a birthday party so the four of us headed out.

But let’s start at the beginning…

Step 1. Thar she is. Thimbleberry margaritas. 💕

Step 2. Soooooo good.

Professional (me) vs Amateur (Linda) 😂 Round 2 coming shortly.

Step 3. Ask to go behind the bar to get a picture. Get told no because there’s a camera. Say “Well I’ve been back there before…” and get the response “OH THAT WAS YOU? I REMEMBER THAT! COME ON BACK!” 😍🙌

Step 4. Get a third drink because VACATION. They also aren’t that strong.

Step 5. Time to go home. 😭😂 See you next year!!

Len Christmas in July, Year 6

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I’m not sure we have enough crap for one day.

See? It really is Christmas!

When you learn awesome party tricks from your elders: Tequila-infused watermelon with salted limes. Aunt Rose, you rock!

The annual cousin lineup, by age: 7, 10½, 11, 12 (almost 13), 14 (almost 15).

And Nick is pulling away, which is okay since he is almost five years older!!

Adding older cousin Alex (17) to the mix (Jess was working).

I introduced Lisa to a few new products.

Unfortunately, it was a stormy day so we had to dodge rain and lightning for most of the afternoon…but, on the plus side, it wasn’t 100° with 95% humidity! My hair kinda grew throughout the day.

There was a fishing contest… Aubrey is a Master Fisher so she helped my kids. I was surprised at how long they kept at it! (Of course Tom was out there, too.)

Darrell caught the biggest one:

And then this happened…

Someone started the cooties!! (I think that will be a blog post in itself!) So for the last two hours we all had to keep our fingers crossed! We reminisced about the old days and learned Greg still has what it takes!

The big bummer? Lisa and Alex left pretty early and with the rain throwing things off, we totally forgot to take our group photo!

Vacation house, Day 4

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Filipeks and Coes left super early this morning because they had a long drive and had to be back for work Monday. So that meant it was just the Hudson and Schwalm clans.

Katie was trying to sneak the flower crown on Gramma.

Look at this gorgeous little flower girl. I can feel the hearts breaking already.

They had so much fun with the “breakout box” that they played with it again this morning.

Someone finally got a bath!! I only had my body wash with me but once you turned the jets on it was bubbles galore!!

When Schwlams were leaving it was a bit rainy so we decided to look in the landscaping rocks for Petoskeys…we didn’t think we’d really find any, even though I had already found one. Mom thought it was random luck—like someone tossed one out there. So I went out and proceeded to find one within about two minutes. And then found more! I can find them anywhere!!

And then I found this, which I had no idea what it was. I posted on a Petoskey forum and was told it was a great Rugose Horn Coral colony.

There was also more pool time, of course. But also lots of time playing Peggle with Gramma. 😄

Vacation house, Day 3

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Random pics aplenty!

Cousin Gabby made some gorgeous flower crowns.

Kathryn and Izzy tried some lipstick!

Filipeks made an awesome taco bar for lunch and ice cream bar for dessert!!

We spent the afternoon chatting on the deck and then dinner was delicious cheesy shrimp and grits!

And then the annual pics!

Cousins!

The kids, then and now.

Aunt Marie put together an amazing escape room/box for the kids. They had a blast!

Then there was card playing and video games.

Vacation house, Day 2

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We were sleeping in an awesomely dark and quiet basement room so combined with a late bedtime, we all slept in! I was up at 7:30 (technically 6:30 CST) and just waited for either kid to wake up. Owen finally got up about 8:30! I stayed in bed to enjoy the quiet and when I finally came upstairs, this is where I found Owen.

And I decided to have a fully relaxing no makeup day.

The kids spent most of their day in and out of the pool. Spending time with Uncle Jim was super fun and they even had a cannonball contest!

While the kids were (still) in the pool I got some work done. Not a bad view.

The kids were finally out of the pool and playing hide and seek while we were getting dinner ready. Uncle Marcus and Uncle Jim we trying to confuse Katie as she counted.

The birthday kids!

And tonight was a campfire and sparkler night!

And it was a momentous night—Katie actually asked to go to bed!!!

Vacation house, we are in you.

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The kids really wanted to get in the pool the minute we got to the house but I was a mean mom and made them look through the house first and then actually put their suitcases in a bedroom and not just leave them splayed open in the middle of the living room.

Watching intently as I opened the pool cover.

It’s like this pool house knew I was coming.

They might already be in the pool and I might have bought them an inflatable unicorn. 🦄💦

Ahhhhh.

We had a bit of time before everyone else got here. It was quite a steep journey to the water and fire pit.

Dinner tonight was shish kebabs from the Coes. They were delicious!

Sous vide lobster prep!

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We were trying two different types of lobster in the sous vide—fresh and fresh frozen. You had to parboil them all first so you could get the meat out of the shells.

It was a lot of work but I think it was better to have it done ahead of time instead of at the table.

It was unanimous that the fresh lobster was better, though we ate every last piece of both…plus the steak and green beans.

Which, speaking of the green beans, we had a helper:

Dinner prep for six? Easy peasy.

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A Cowboy Ribeye as big as your head vacuum sealed and seasoned with fresh rosemary, onion, and spices going into a 132° sous vide water bath for a few hours and then it will be quickly seared on a 600° grill. I am already drooling just thinking about the melt-in-your-mouth smoky meat that you can cut with a fork.🍴🤤 Do you sous vide? (If not, you totally should!)

I got a huge surprise today!

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For the last 18 years we haven’t lived near family since we’re military—so when your mom calls you one morning and says they’ll be there for dinner…

WAIT, WHAT? 😳

This isn’t a 20-minute drive, y’all—my mom lives 400 miles away!

It’s doubly exciting because it’s Mother’s Day weekend and I haven’t seen her since December!

Fast forward to her arriving tonight…

The Buddy Project

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Works by young artists and even younger artists were on display during the Buddy Project portion of the Live Arts event held Friday at Warren Township High School’s Almond Campus. Woodland Elementary East had 72 students participate in the event where they drew somebody or something helping someone. Selected drawings were given to high school art students to recreate using drawing, painting, digital image or sculpture. Not only were the works side-by-side but the artists were able to meet one another for the first time and high school artists give their art work to their younger counterparts.

Katie’s superhero drawing was selected so we all went to see the display!

Katie got a ROAR Kid Award!

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ROAR stands for:

  • Be Respectful
  • Take Ownership
  • Be Accepting
  • Be Ready

Her roar:

She was going to get to walk in to the Friday assembly with all the ROAR winners…so we all went to see her! Tom surprised her as he had told her he couldn’t make it.

The picture in the front vestibule of the school:

This was the best pic I got as she walked in.

Pics with Wiley after!

Christmas lights!

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Grannie wanted to see some lights while they were here so we went to the county fairgrounds. It was too hard to take pics but it was neat—the lights were all synchronized to a local radio station. The reindeer and tunnel (pictured) were my favorites.

We also went to a personal residence that had an amazing display (also set to music). It gave me some good ideas for when we finally plant roots… 🙂

Pysanky Katie & Hatty Owen

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Katie wanted Gramma Jean to do Pysanky on her face and Katie REALLY wanted to paint Owen’s face so he reluctantly let her paint Hatty Hattington on him (hilariously yet steadfastly refusing both glitter and sparkles).

And since I had no idea what Hatty Hattington looked like, either… I guess she did okay. 🙂

We stopped by Stephen King’s house (Maine, Day 5)

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It’s completely unassuming if you don’t know what you’re looking for. It’s just another huge house along the street.

The weather wasn’t great, otherwise I would have tried to get some better-staged pics. I was also kind of bummed they were working on it so there were orange ladders all over.

And lest you think I was the only weirdo… There was a steady stream of people the whole time.

Maine, Day 4

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Starting the day off right…with a lobster omelette for lunch!

Day 4: lobster #5

Unfortunately it was another dreary day for sightseeing—at Marshall Point Lighthouse.

But we made a tiny inukchuck. (It would have been much grander except it was starting to rain!)

Does this count as a lobster for the day?

The answer is no. 🙂 I wouldn’t rush to get these. I’d never be able to tell you what flavor they were if I didn’t know. But they’re still chips and I love chips so it’s all good.

Day 4: lobster # 6 — yet another lobster roll

This is mine, Kathryn’s, and a crab roll because (honestly) crab is my favorite so I bought the crab and mom made us one to share. I think I might get one more lobster in before leaving tomorrow…

Amd homemade strawberry shortcake for dessert…