Birthday Party!

Matthew Turns Three!

Today we celebrated Matthew's third birthday with a party of family and some friends at his house. He was so excited! He picked out this cake himself. He loves baseball and has seen the American flag at baseball games at Comerica Park, so Shelley took him to pick out a cake and this is the one he wanted!  :) 

This car wasn't really a birthday present, but Bob was driving in the neighborhood one day this week and this car was being discarded. He stopped to see how much the man would charge for it and the man gave it to him for free. It runs on a rechargeable battery. Matthew is in this picture with Peyton, his cousin who was at his party.

Matthew got lots of presents. He wanted to play with all of them and would forget that he hadn't opened all of them yet. He loves using playdough and these were some tools for making things out of playdough.

Bob made sure he looked at all of the birthday cards that came with each present.

Matthew is just getting to the age where he is able to play some games. He got a couple of them for his birthday and he was very pleased.

It was a nice enough evening that the kids got to play outside for awhile while the adults visited. They were in and out and had a great time playing together.

One of his favorite presents was a set of wooden and plastic cars that have interchangeable parts which he got from his aunt who lives in Arizona.

We had appetizers, donuts and cider, pizza, salad, cake, and ice cream. Matthew had lots of family there - His Uncle Tom, Aunt Lisa, Cousin Breanna, Aunt Carol, Uncle Dave, Cousins Peyton, Karia, and Savannah. Terry and I were there, and some friends Amy and Dave Jacquemotte with their kids Avery and Lucas. Avery and Matthew are the same age and she is a special friend of his.

Here are Matthew and Avery looking at one of Matthew's presents.

It was a fun evening! Matthew loves having company and was just old enough this time to really know it was his birthday and was able to enjoy the presents and cake.

        

Yate's Cider Mill

Today was a beautiful fall Saturday! The weather was perfect - pleasantly warm and sunny! We started out the day by working a couple of hours in the kitchen where we are removing the wallpaper and paste that have been there for about twenty years. We are making good progress! At noon we got together with Shelley, Bob, and Matthew and went to lunch at Chelies. It is one of our favorite places and we had a great time visiting with Shel and Bob and playing with Matthew. Since it was such a great day, we decided to go to Yate's Cider Mill for part of the afternoon. Shelley and Bob and Matthew couldn't join us, but we went anyway.

It was VERY crowded!! We parked quite far away and walked. The line for cider was long, so we decided to walk along the river. It is always so beautiful there. While we were walking, we saw a little girl of about seven standing along the railing. She was alone and crying. She said she was lost. She knew which way her mom had headed, but had lost track of her. Another lady came up about that time and suggested that she call her mom on the lady's cell phone. She did that and a few minutes later her mom came up and just kind of grabbed her. I think the mom had been scared and just reacted out of embarassment and fear. 

These are some pictures of the scenery we saw today while walking along the river. Isn't it beautiful?

A young couple wanted us to take a picture of them, so they reciprocated and took a picture of us!

When we got back from walking along the river the line for cider was two or three times what it was before, so we had to give up the idea of getting cider today. So we bought our favorite tart apples (Empire) and started home. There won't be many more days like this! I know winter is coming and it is long, so we were thankful to have a day to just enjoy the beautiful fall season! God is good!

GEORGE GEORGE PARK - Autumn 2008

Today was a beautiful autumn day - a day that would be hard to spend inside when you could be outside enjoying the cool breeze, the warm sun, the blue sky, and the gorgeous autumn trees!

It was a perfect day to go to George George Park - a beautifully landscaped place with two fountains, many bridges, creeks, ponds with geese, clean picnic areas, gardens, and beautiful TREES!

In the middle of the park is a children's Play Area. It is for climbing, swinging, sliding, and pretending. Shelley and I played with Matthew there for awhile before we ate our lunches on a picnic table under the shade of a beautiful old tree. For awhile we played on a black twine structure that looked like a spider web. We all had to be "spiders". Matthew knows that neither one of us likes spiders, so he let us be "little tiny" ones!

The trees are just beginning to turn colors and they are so beautiful! Here is a view across the park.
We crossed several bridges on a walk through the park. This was the view from one of the bridges of a little creek running through the property.

I don't know what happened to my frame around this picture - I did make one - but it is still a great picture of Shelley and Matthew at the top of one of the slides in the play area. Shelley actually went down the slide with Matthew and she is eight months pregnant!! She gets around very well, but it is getting tougher to keep up with an active almost three year old.

We stopped by a large pond to see all of the geese swimming in the water and getting food in the mud and grass. There were also some cute ducks.

Matthew was very nice to pose by this big pine tree. It kind of shows how little he is, but most of the tree got cut off.

Matthew was getting tired of pictures by this time, but we "snuck" this one  in. I wanted one that showed some trees in the background, but he would have nothing to do with any more pictures.

We had a great time - what a wonderfully beautiful place! Here is the pool around one of the fountains. There used to be a sign that said "No swimming!" in front of it. One day Terry and I were walking here and saw two girls actually swimming in this pool. Their mother had brought a change of clothes and towels to dry them when they got out. Go figure!!

Michigan is so beautiful in the autumn! I had a great time being outside. I am so grateful that we have these times together. I love my grandson very much - he's the best! Soon we will have another grandchild to love and play with -can't wait! :)

In the midst of all of the chaos in the world right now with the economic crisis and the crazy Presidential campaign, it struck me how peaceful it was at the park today and how peaceful we can feel in the middle of a world at unrest because we have a family who loves us and a God who holds us in his hand!

More ESME pics!

Shari and little Esme. How sweet!

Esme burping (or not!) for Mark

I also was sent a funny video of Mark and Esme, but Blogger

didn't cooperate in loading it. Oh! I got it to load. It is right below this post.

     

Esme Speaking French!

This is a video of  Mark playing with Esme - when she gets older she'll deck him!

Esme Arabella Fields - Three weeks old!

I am the queen of THIS castle!  

One has to be prepared for the bright sun in North Carolina!

I kind of like this whole balcony thing! You can see all the people shopping and walking by and the sun feels really warm! :) I especially think that the palm plant is interesting.

My daddy thinks I'm so special. It makes me feel so secure!

I actually think he's very nice, too!

What happened to the sponge baths and spa treatments? This real bath thing is scary!!

KNOXVILLE!

Today Shari called to confirm that Mark has accepted a new job and that they will be moving to Knoxville, Tennessee! He begins the middle of next month, so they will be moving in October.

They are sad to leave North Carolina, but grateful that the Lord has provided this job for Mark - one that he hopes he will like so much better than his present job.

Knoxville is a LITTLE closer to us than Charlotte, NC, so we are happy for that. It is only a couple of hours closer, but every little bit helps!

Knoxville is just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - a beautiful place! It is also home to the University of Tennessee. We will be anxious to visit and can maybe go through there on our way to Florida each year by taking a different route than we usually have. We are excited for them. We are praying that they will find a good church family quickly and that Mark will love his job. This is really the first time in their married lives that they can actually be together on weekends and every night because Shari will not be working - at least not outside their home. Little Esme is growing, gaining weight and doing very well!  :) I miss her!

These are pictures of Great Smoky Mountain National Park just outside of Knoxville. Looks so beautiful!

Tiger Game with Friends

Yesterday was just one of those wonderful late days of summer that makes you sad for the end of the warm weather and yet welcoming of the cool, crisp days of autumn. It started out to be a very cool day, but warmed up through the day, and it was BEAUTIFUL!  Blue sky, fluffy clouds, a nice breeze - and a ball game!  :)  

We had tickets for a day game at Comerica Park. Terry took part of the day off and we invited a couple of our very favorite people to join us at the game. Often when we invite friends to join us, the game becomes secondary while we get to talk and catch up with what is going on in each other's lives. That is always fun to do - and we really enjoyed doing that with Cyndi and Mike! They are newer friends in our lives, but have impacted us so much with their love for the Lord and their daily trust in his provision in their lives. They are an inspiration to us and many others! We dearly love them. They have NINE children - all of them just the nicest people ever!

 
The TIGERS lost the game - but, that has been the story for much of the end of the season. It is always fun to go to Comerica Park, though - it is beautiful there. In spite of the loss, it was a fun day spent with people we enjoy and love. We don't get time to do enough of that and it was a pleasure!!

LABOR DAY 2008 - Frankenmuth and Birch Run

SEPTEMBER 1, 2008

A Trip to Frankenmuth and Birch Run

Monday morning after we had slept in a bit and gotten dressed, Terry and I sat down on the couch to talk and we both decided that we didn't have anything to do that day and just didn't want to stay at home and work around the house. After all, it was so beautiful outside and it was our last summer holiday. So we tossed around ideas like going to the State Fair, the Romeo Peach festival or just going to the mall and to eat. But we decided in the end that even though it was already 10:00 A.M. that we could be at Frankenmuth by noon. So we just got in the car and headed off! What a gorgeous day it was!

All of the flowers and grounds looked beautiful. We arrived just in time for lunch at Zehnder's. We walked right in and got a seat right away. We thought it would be best to eat our big meal first and then walk it off while we walked around Frankenmuth and Birch Run.  

The meal was really delicious. We had chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, bread and rolls, relishes, dressing etc. As always at Frankenmuth, we had an excellent waitress. So we left stuffed and happy and ready to walk.

We looked at all of the shops in Frankenmuth - it is a beautiful place! Then we took off to do so serious shopping at Birch Run. We walked around Birch Run for about three or four hours and then left for the trip home. I really enjoyed just being with Terry on the trip there and back and the meal and all of the walking. It is so nice just to connect for awhile and get away. 

The end of the summer is just about here. It has been a really nice summer for us. We were able to get away several times this summer and enjoyed God's beautiful creation. We enjoyed the mountains on the way to North Carolina, the weather and ocean in Florida, an interesting Retailer's Show in Florida and we were able to go to North Carolina again to welcome a new granddaughter into the world. We feel very thankful and blessed! We look forward, too, to fall and all the beauty and color that it brings along with the cooler weather, but will look back on this summer as a happy, busy, and peaceful.

"Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks through him to God the Father."

Colossians 3: 16,17

A First Visit with New Granddaughter, Esme!

Isn't she a sweetie? I just got back from my five days in North Carolina. Terry and I drove down and Terry stayed for a day and a half and drove back and I stayed for a couple more days. Esme is just so precious! She is still under six pounds and just perfect! Her little hands and feet are so cute and soft. She has very dark brown hair, but light eye lashes and eyebrows, so she may end up with lighter hair. She looks very much like Shari looked as a baby. Shari says she thinks Esme has Mark's mouth, and she may. She has a very expressive mouth - very nicely shaped and cute. She still sleeps much of the time - except at night!

I LOVE this picture! It shows just how little she is and how expressive! Mark and Shari are so proud of her. 

Here is Esme with her proud grandma.

What a little angel!! So innocent and sweet.

Mark is very good with Esme and likes to cuddle with her - she likes it too, and falls right to sleep! Mark actually gave her a sponge bath one day while I was there because Esme had messed herself up and needed a bath. She was so funny! She LOVED it! She never made a peep, but was awake the whole time and really loving all the attention. She got her hair washed and fluffed and baby lotion and baby oil rubbed into her hands and feet - a real spa treatment! She knew she was in the right home!

Here is Terry holding Esme. Notice the ice cream cone on the T-Shirt? This is a shirt that Mark found for Terry to wear in place of his own. Terry picked up Esme for the first time and sat down on their couch - Esme immediately pooped and it went through everything she had on and all over Terry's shirt! It was so funny! But he just took her back as soon as they were both cleaned up. Grandpa's are like that.

Shari looks great here! She is actually very tired. Small babies like to nurse a lot all day and all night and it does take its toll on a new mom, but she is so happy! Esme actually had her eyes open here and looks all content. I hated to leave - I love her already and will miss holding her and feeling how soft and warm she is! Granddaughters are just wonderful!