He bought me a new margarita drink.
It was cute and I was excited.
Unfortunately…it was horrible. I dumped it out.
Category Archives: Travel
Grayling sun dog.
My favorite backdrop…
With my favorite guy…
Just a few fireworks.
Tom and I might have gone a little overboard at the fireworks store…but in our defense the kids love them and all the fun ones are illegal in Illinois. So tonight we did a frog princess and some huge sparklers. (The frog princess was really quite cool but I didn’t get pics because I didn’t think it would last that long… But it kept going and going! I’ll get pics the next time!)
Katie’s birthday adventure with GJ!
Remember last year when Gramma took Katie out on a birthday adventure? Well, she loved it so much they decided to do it again! But this year, Katie was really nice and invited her brother along, too, since she knew he’d have fun, too. Awwwww, what a sweet Katie bug.
They went to the city park and had a picnic lunch, skipped stones, and played in the river; then went mini golfing and to another playground; and finished off with ice cream from Dairy Queen and a quick treat from Dollar General! They had a great day!
When you surprise an old friend at breakfast.
At our dinner last night, a friend of the family (and my high school Spanish and yearbook teacher) told me a friend of mine was in town and they were having breakfast if I wanted to join them. It was early, but they are both worth it. And it was great to see her face when I walked in! It was just like a yearbook staff meeting!
River kids
We had dinner at a friend’s house tonight…and she lives on the river so of course this happened. Katie didn’t love it (too cold and too many rocks) but Owen really liked it (though he may just have really enjoyed having a dog and another boy his age to play with).
#roadtrip #michiganbound
Tom wanted to be on the road by 6. After I was done laughing at him, I suggested TRYING for 6 but not being upset if it was more like 7. We ended up leaving at 6:23 so we were both happy. (Well, as happy as I could be for having to roll out of bed at 5:30. That’s NOT my jam.)
Camp Cadillac
We spent the day in Cadillac with Tom’s extended family at a local campground where the kids enjoyed meeting new friends and playing in the pool.
Katie liked the animals. (Yes there were animals there. She especially liked the goats.)
Maggie didn’t bark once all day…until she got in front of the goats. At which point she thought she was ferocious.
After some visiting I just amused myself. There might have been margaritas involved.
One of my happy places.
Being in the military has its ups and downs, pros and cons… This move has had its share of cons, but the one definite bonus is that we are close enough to home to visit easily—and this weekend we had a spur of the moment trip home. I hate that we only got about 13 hours to spend at my childhood home (and that includes sleep!) but it’s 13 hours in one of my happy places.
The coloring crew.
I made him let me take a photo since it’s soooo rare.
This is something you rarely get to see—and only on vacation: An unshaven Tom…
Maggie vs. the pinecone
Then and now—GJ and the kids
2013 and 2017
Christmas with the Schwalms
Rosy cheeks!
Taking a quick break from playing outside and I had to snap a quick pic of her beautiful face.
Red and green lights to sleep by.
The kids were sleeping with us in the basement for the last two nights. We tried to put them to bed around 9:30 but Katie was still awake when we came down around 11. And she was excited to tell us she put on red and green lights for us. 🙂
Daddy’s Christmas gift.
Tom asked for Katie pig tails for Christmas so he finally got them today. (She doesn’t like wearing them anymore.)
An expected high of 5 today. FIVE.
She loves her new paints.
Santa found us in Grayling!
As is tradition, we set the kids’ phones outside their rooms so when they get up in the morning they have something to do until we get up and are ready (which is always by 7). This morning Katie was still sleeping at 7 and Owen had already had enough of his phone and was laying by the door just waiting… So Tom woke Katie up!
Katie got a note from Santa telling her he left a big present at home since he knew she was at Gramma’s—a Barbie power wheels!!
Then the kids opened their gifts from each other… Owen loved his sword, yoyo, and Lego Ninjago stuff and Katie was happy he was happy. Awwwww.
And then it was her turn to open and she LOVED what Owen got her (a Belle doll and matching Belle dress)!
And Gramma’s picture of the same scene from a different angle! So cute and so thrilled! 🙂
And then they put together their Lego figures they got each other.
Tom said Katie saw this wine key when they were out and about and she had to get it for me. So now whenever I want wine, I show her the key and she will bring me some. 🙂
And she also picked out this painted stone at a favorite store of mine in Grayling—Tip’n the Mitten!
The one thing she repeatedly asked for—a Sparty cheerleader outfit. She used to have a hand-me-down from the Besons but it is too small. This one should fit for a few years (Gramma had to take in the skirt because she’s so tiny).
Gramma Marsha had all these Barbies packed away so we held on to them until this Christmas. She loved them.
We’re ready Santa!
I’ve wanted family PJs but just never did it…so was happily surprised when Grannie Lin got them for us. And tonight was the night!!
Santa Hat Cutie
Green bean cleaners!
Grandpa and Katie were cleaning green beans for dinner tonight—not quite sure who the instigator was!
Land’s End might need to hear about this.
I had this coat when I was in high school—I think maybe my junior/senior years. Then I gave it to my Aunt Marge and she wore it forever. She just gave it back to us for Owen…and it’s a bit big but he doesn’t care. He LOVES it. I might need to write Land’s End about this one. (I also know I have one picture of me in it, but it’s black and white in a yearbook…and I have to find it. Stay tuned.)
Wrong holiday, Katie.
This was one of the toys she packed for the trip.
Date drinks and dessert.
I’ve been wanting to try the s’mores pizza at Paddle Hard Brewery for quite some time… And today was the day. 🙂
Decorating Christmas cookies at the gallery!
Why I was using 1990s mousse.
When you’re away from home and didn’t pack any hair product because you were planning on getting a blowout at the beauty school but they were closed for the holidays so you have to wash your hair at home and it’s not convenient to go to town so you have to rely on the hair products that are already here and all there is is mousse from high school. 😂
So then you post it to Facebook and a friend jokes:
And I was compelled to respond with this:
Two candids from GJ
