I Miss This!

I know I say it always...I have soooooo much to post! I miss blogging more than a lot of 'stuff.' No more promises, no more saying I'm gonna do it. I will just post from time to time with what's going on. And trust me, there's more than words can say, but I will share what I share, and if there's more, I'll share in person. I couldn't possibly post everything on here. But I will say this. There's some updated photos. The kids are growing and maturing pretty darn fast, so I'll do my personal best to get them on here. I might even try tonight.

How does one handle the maturing quicker than anticipated? Any experience with the chics? Goodness. That's overwhelming sometimes. I know, I'm a girl, but I couldn't have matured as fast as Miss Andie Makae. She's growing up before my very eyes. I'm not missing it, but I'm surprised at how fast this little chic is becoming a lady! I love to spend time with her every day, and have talks with her. I hope we remain as close as we've been lately - she's a special little lady :)

You may be aware, but I lost the football challenge...not happy, but I'm supportive none the less. Just can't wait for October 20th!

Will post more in a little bit. Night all!

Catch Up

So much to say, so little time...I've got pictures to post from Andie being the most beautiful purple flower ever in a play, to Drew being a crash test dummy in the Cruz'In parade, to the beautiful little blonde one year old sweetie that has about a hundred pictures on my camera! But my camera isn't right here with me...so it'll have to wait till tomorrow. And I'd love to get them off of there, because I need the memory on my camera for the upcoming week - my love's birthday, my sister's bachelorette party and shower, wedding week - which includes haircuts and highlights, pedicures and manicures, rehearsal, and whatever else it may happen to snap!

Speaking of haircuts...the pups got groomed yesterday and let me tell you...their hair is short!!! We had missed a cut {my hesitancy on spending the $$} so they ended up with almost no skirting at all and super super short hair!! Needless to say, they're feeling fresh and looking adorable!

So I've been having some pretty strong feelings about football this year, and am struggling totally with signing my Drew up to play. I so don't want him to do it, but he tells me that he really really wants to play. Oh the dilemma! The discussions aren't over yet and I'm working on some alternative options for him...time to turn to prayer!

Andie has been invited to be one of a few managers for the HS volleyball team this year, but she signed up to try out for cheerleading, since Drew [thinks] he'll be playing football...time will tell what happens there.

All in all, we're loving summer this year and enjoying our children more than ever since we know they're growing up super fast and will be out before we know it! Rich and Tracy know what that's all about right now, since they'll be moving Alyssa up to FSU on Friday, August 26th. Unbelievable.

I love my children...

and it's a good thing I do!! Let me just share my schedule for this weekend. And no, I'm not looking for pity, nor do I think I'm doing more than you, cause I know you're busy too, but I just feel like sharing. I'm nice that way :)

Friday - Bowling for Spanish Club, Carnival at WMS, both from 6-8 pm; first tournament for volleyball @ Inside Out, need to be there by 5:45 pm.

Saturday - Tennis @ Mona Shores at 10:00, Soccer @ Ravenna at 1:00 pm, Church at 5:00 pm.

Sunday - Volleyball @ Sparta (Sparta!!) at 8:00 am (8:00 AM!!!). Where the hell is Sparta anyways? Timbuktu??? It's gotta be a neighbor.

So, like I said, I sure do love my kiddie-poos and am so thankful we are able to provide these opportunities for the kids. I know there are several that don't have that option.

Looks like I better have my Nook Color fully charged in case there's downtime at any of the games where I can sneak a peek at a new book...and I do love to read. Did you know that B&N has a free book every Friday?? I do love my techy gadgets these days.

The weather has been kind enough to allow for a walk for the past two days. in.a.row. Can you believe it?? I can hardly. My thighs can hardly believe it too. They're just pissed off right now. They better learn to deal with it. Kris and I have vowed to become runners again.

OH!!! I received a phone call from my favorite neice and Goddaughter yesterday...she's playing BASEBALL!! At least somebody in the family is. {drew!}. I can't wait to be able to go watch the cutest blonde haired blue eyed girl swing a bat!! Go DogNSuds team :)

A Happy 1st Birthday shout out to my favorite one year old nephew CARTER MATTHEW!!! Saw him just a few days ago, but we already miss him so much! Counting down the days till July when they come back home again. Skype will definitely be downloaded on this computer fo sho'!

Have a beautiful weekend friends, and enjoy the lovely weather that's in store for Friday and part of Saturday :)

I truly do love them and would do anything for them!

Will Spring EVER Arrive??

I told my husband the other day, as we were arriving for one of our many outdoor sporting events, in the cold, in the wind, and in the somewhat misty rain, that when our kids were grown up and gone, I wanted to move. Out of Michigan. Didn't know where, just that I didn't want to be in this state anymore when at this time of year, it is STILL as cold and wet as it's been! Maybe we'll go here...where the palm trees live :)

You never know...

This Easter weekend was not lacking in activity for the Bolles Family! Drew and Andie's cousin, Carter (who turns one this Thursday) is visiting all the way from Tampa, Florida. We had family time with them Saturday evening, Sunday morning and Sunday evening. What a cutie pie he is!! We had not seen them since last June, when Carter was just a tiny baby. He has completely fallen in love with Andie - his face lights up and he immediately goes to her for hugs. It's the cutest thing! So wish we all lived closer so we could see one another more...

Sunday was a very busy, but productive day! We got up and went to Church first thing in the morning...we are used to going Saturday evenings, but Easter is always on Sunday. It was a beautiful Mass! The visiting priest we had for it was great! We then had both of our families over for brunch and an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. (Thanks to my wonderful Mom for all the goodies that there were in the kids' eggs!!) After everybody left, I mopped the floors, did about four loads of laundry, went for a walk with my hubby, even managed to close my eyes for a bit. Then we went back over to Mike's parents for a scrumptous dinner of swiss steak, mashed potatoes, veggies, the works! YUMMY food all day yesterday! Needless to say - I need to walk walk walk!!!!!

The kids were thrilled with their Easter baskets - Andie received some volleyball stuff, and Drew scored some new sweats in his. Not to mention the chocolate goodies. Really needing to kick that willpower in to stay away from it...I hear the Hershey's eggs calling to me. I might just have to get one tiny egg.

Such a blessed time of year!

I miss blogging. Why do I punish myself with procrastinating so long to do what I dearly love to do?? I {again} have so much to say that I think tonight just needs to be an outline, a reminder to myself, of what I need to tell the world. And you, my friends, are my world. How else in my lifetime am I going to fulfill my dream of authoring a book someday, if I can't even seem to get my daily stuff down in a blog? a. photos of Andie b. spring break in arizona (the camera is still sitting on the counter with all the pictures on it!) c. general stuff in life d. lent sacrifices status e. my nephew's first birthday (love you Carter Matthew!) f. upcoming life events, aka: sports. Good Lord, that needs to be a topic all on its own... Hmmmm...guess I have plenty to get busy on, huh? Oh! First I need to order my dress for my sister's wedding - this summer. If you get a second, check out www.davidsbridal.com and type in F14169. The color is Malibu - and the BEST part? The size!!!!!! I'll keep you guessing ;). Let's just say that portion control, discipline and walking has definitely helped. But...there's a long way to go! Ok, to be precise - 8 lbs. total. THEN I'll be where I want to be!

Happy Birthday!!

Today will be All Things Andie!! My sweet baby girl turns 12 today...I'm super excited for the young lady she's turning into. She's super sad about "growing up." How sweet is that? She wants to remain "mama's little girl" forever. I keep telling her that no matter how big or how old she is, she'll always be that.

I plan on posting some photos of her throughout the years, but will have to do it later, as I don't have them with me. I'm excited to share though, because she was one of the most beautiful babies and little girl I've ever seen - not just because she's mine, but because she's just a beautiful person :).

I won some movie tickets to the Cinema Carousel today! Super excited - I don't even know what's on right now, but it's just fun to win something! Oh! And I won a fondue set and cookbook a few weeks ago too...I will really need to have a few friends over for a fondue party! I need to get my house put back together first...which we're working on, but it's a process and these things don't just happen overnight. But that's why no pics have been posted yet either, I couldn't just put the photos back on the wall - the frames don't match anymore! I'm working on it though - be patient.

Ok, like I said, I'll put pics of Miss Andie Makae on a bit later. Have tons to do to get ready for perch tonight and birthday presents to wrap!

TGIF!!

Lent

I've been reading from a few people about the 40 bags in the 40 days of Lent...a purging kind of thing. Let me tell you I could do that! I am one to get rid of things in almost too quick of a manner, but I believe I could come up with 40 bags. They wouldn't have to be big, right? I wonder if the stuff I've gotten rid of lately would count?

I decided the other day that I'm going to have a garage sale this summer...it's been a while and I've been in the get-rid-of-unneeded-stuff-mode. Would it count if I bagged everything up, then displayed it this summer? Hmmmm...might just get started on something new.

I think what prompted this idea of purging, garage sale, etc. was the fact that we decided that the kids' rooms desparately needed painting. I'd been talking for quite a while now about wanting to change the dining room, living room, kitchen areas because I was tired of what I had done so long ago. I've also been feeling the need of some deep spring cleaning [it's been a long winter, hasn't it??]. So this one little idea evolved and grew and developed into where I'm at today:

All the holes in the walls have been patched, all the ceilings have been painted (except for the bathrooms, which is on the agenda), new light fixtures in the living room have been purchased and installed and we got a majority of the rooms painted on Monday. And when I say a majority - I mean both entryways, the kitchen, dining room, living room, hallway and master bedroom. (Didn't we start out with the kids' rooms? Following me here?). Mike was hesitant at first about my getting quotes from professional painters, but I know us...and while Mike certainly doesn't lack the talent to carry out the tasks at hand here, what he does lack is the time to complete the process before I change my mind again with the colors. I say that with the most respect ever...he's very much a perfectionist, and loves to save a buck where he can. So it was really difficult for him to grasp the concept of paying somebody what he is capable of doing. In the end, he agreed to having it professionally painted, and folks, let me tell you! These painters came in and did it all in one day!!

What we are waiting for now is the carpet place to install our new carpet. Oh yeah! That's how it all started! We had our carpets cleaned this last fall and the cleaner guy mentioned how bad our carpet was coming apart (you could pull pieces out of the carpet at random and it was like they weren't even attached). So we made some calls, and about 6-8 weeks later, found out that they were going to replace it for us, so then we started talking about how that would be the right time to do the walls too. But in the midst of all that, we did also talk about how the kids' rooms needed updating so very badly.

Really? Are you following? Cause I'm getting confused here myself, and it's my head this is coming from...see why my head is a scary place to be sometimes?! Jeesh!

Moving along, I couldn't be happier with the colors I chose! I was initially going to go with three colors, but in the end {after MUCH himmin' and hawin' and discussin' with a friend} I decided to only go two colors. LOVE IT!! I know, you're thinking "where the heck are the pictures??" but I need to wait till my house is put back together before I can seize the photo op. No worries though - I'm too excited NOT to share!

It's been fun looking at all the color options with Drew and Andie for their rooms. I love the color Andie has chosen - it's very "Andie-ish" and I believe she is going to paint a mural on one of her walls. Can't wait to see the completion of it - she truly is an artist at heart and I know she'll be in her glory painting a scene on her wall! Drew is going with the school spirit theme and will, too, be painting a mural on his wall, only it'll be a Viking. He practiced on the window with snazzy window markers that Andie got for Christmas and he did a great job! He'll also be getting some Fathead "W" things for his walls...a gift from Mom and Dad.

Andie's 12th birthday is coming up in just over two weeks - unbelievable that they're growing up so fast! Her birthday happens to fall on a Friday, so for our family get-together, we're doing a fish fry at our house with our families. Since it's Lent and all, us Catholics can't have meat on Fridays, and my Dad has perch from Drummond Island all cleaned and cut, so we're going to dip those babies in some batter and fry 'em up! Yum!!!

Andie's wish for her birthday this year was to have she and I go to Your Plate or Mine in the mall and paint something. No family, no friends. Just the two of us for some mom and daughter time. Wouldn't even think of trying to talk her out of that one! Heck yeah I'll do that with her for her birthday! So we are going to go to Salon 297 for Pedi's in the morning, then head to the mall for some good 'ol painting! Can't wait to spend time with my girl. Hope she never loses that 'want' to be with her mama!

Oh....Lent. What to give up? Negativity. I like to think that I'm a positive thinker, but it's something I could still improve upon. A few other things too, but those will remain private. Such a reflective time of year. Kind of somber, but necessary all the same.

Is anyone else looking as forward to spring as I am?? I can't remember ever being so ready for it! I thought with the sun shining yesterday that it was a good sign, so I took to cleaning my windows, inside and outside, and getting ready for the screens, because I know that Mother Nature is going to get in a better mood real soon and turn the weather nice for us :).

I Know.

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I have soooooo much to update on. I tend to let it go until I'm overwhelmed and don't know exactly where to start, then I fumble and it doesn't come out as smoothly as I'd like it to...at least as smoothly as it is in my head. Which brings on a whole 'nother issue (in my head). Not going to go there right now.

Things I need to update: Drew and the fact that he's playing basketball...?? Andie and her volleyball experience (thanks Amy. And Travis!). I have a feeling that we're in the beginnings of a new era for Miss Makae.

Spring Break - trying to find good ticket prices to go see my favorite younger sis Erica...hoping it works in our favor!!

What's coming up??? Baseball of course!! Drew thinks not for him, but I'm not done with that battle yet, and may turn to Greg Throne for help!

Hmmmmmm, what else? Trying to get a dinner organized at Porta Bello's, maybe a massage at RED'S SALON first...enjoying a pedicure with Miss M. last week, planning a yummy health-friendly snack/dinner for Super Bowl XLV.

And most of all, I have pictures to update from our snow-dump by Mother Nature. Somebody sure pissed her off, huh?? Anyways, it made for a decent day of outdoor play, once I got home from work...so stay tuned all, it's coming.

Can't wait for Friday, February 18th - I LOVE mid-winter break!!!!!!!!!! So many reasons why. (my girls get it :o). Yes, I know you're not MY girls, but in my head (again, we won't go there tonight), but really, you ARE. And yes, you know who you are!

BTW...anybody ready for CAMPING?? I can't tell you all how much I want a seasonal at Poncho's Pond. I know it won't happen there, but I can dream, right?? Please feel free to post your thoughts....

One more last thought. The West Michigan Home and Garden Show is coming up - if you're wanting to get ready for spring, this is T-H-E P-L-A-C-E to gear up!

Aaaahhhhh...love Friday nights.

Today I picked up the kids from school, took Drew to get his hair cut (don't worry Aunt Erica, I'll give the back of his neck some kisses!), the decided tonight would be a great movie night. Drew had a gift card for the video store, so he chose The Other Guys (which we've not watched just yet), and Sis chose The Karate Kid. We just finished that one and WOW was it great! Jaden Smith is such a cutie! So many similarities, obviously, to the original Karate Kid, but still great.

Threw some Omaha Steaks on the grill, baked some potatoes and now we're just chillin. Couldn't ask for a better way to spend a Friday night.

One of the best parts? We don't need to wake up early for anything tomorrow! mmmmmm. love.

Puppy Love!

Coopernicus B. Woof. Quite the character I might add. Not sure how many people that are reading this are "dog lovers" but since we have two. Yes. Count them. One, two dogs, one might realize that we pretty much like our pups. Well, most of the time.

Anyways, MB created a nice fire tonight, to go along with our grilled steaks for dinner - it's just the perfect winter night with a yummy dinner, a fire, and a few games with Drew...back to my point here. The fire was lookin' good, and feeling even better when Cooper jumped up on the hearth and stood there. Just, stood. I tried calling him down, thinking he might burn his fur. But he still wouldn't get down. And every couple of minutes he would shift. It was hilarious! Pretty sure he was warming up his fur!

It was too cute anyhow...

Back to the name for a sec. Andie was so sweet and typed up letters to Santa from the dogs - asking for treats, rawhides, etc. and signed his Coopernicus B. Woof. It just kinda stuck, just flows, ya know?

Happy New Year!

2011. I know I keep saying this, but where in the world does the time go? I try hard to relax and take in every moment during the holidays and such, but it seems as though time just goes faster and faster. Even the kids are noticing it...I don't remember noticing it as much when I was a kid.

We had a great holiday season...it started with a family party on Tuesday, December 21st for Drew and Josh's birthdays. 13 and 3. There's a whole decade between the two. And I really notice it more when I see it written (or typed). When you really think about a decade, that's a long time. Yet the two of them have a blast when they get together, despite the age difference. Maybe because they, being boys, like cars, guns, and just boy stuff.

We went to Christmas Eve Mass, where Andie surprised me by singing again this year. Brought tears of pride to my eyes. She has so much courage to do things like this - things I NEVER would've considered doing as a kid, OR an adult. She makes me so proud :). Then the family came over for dinner, which we love preparing. The kids each got to open a gift, then everybody went home rather early to get ready for "The Big Guy" to stop by and visit. It was funny - Andie was checking his progress on Norad, and about 7:30 she asked, to no one in particular, "Where is Allendale?" WHAT??? Allendale? She found out where it was, then proceeded to give hugs goodbye and goodnight and put herself to bed, because she knew that Santa can't stop by if she's not in bed and asleep! Too cute!

Christmas Day was spent at Mike's parents, where we all got spoiled rotten. Ate some food, talked, and really relaxed. It was splended! After that was the Anderson get-together at Shani's, where it wasn't quite as relaxing, but nice in a different way. Love to see the kids, especially the younger ones, opening their gifts and being excited beyond belief! So cute!

New Year's Eve was spent with great friends...the adults were very outnumbered by the kids, but thankfully, they're ALL great kids so it was a fabulous way to ring in the new year. The Bolles' didn't even attempt to make it to 5:00 a.m., but WOW! Kudos to those that did for sure! We turned into party poopers at 2:00 a.m. and headed home to bed where we slept until God woke us up in the middle of the morning sometime.

Then it hit. Poor Mike got sick on Monday afternoon. Stayed home from work on Tuesday AND Wednesday! Unheard of really. I took him to the Dr. Tuesday afternoon and got the official word of Strept Throat...the kind that causes Scarlett Fever! He's had kind of a rough week, but thankfully has been on meds since, so at least he's not contagious anymore! Boy oh boy have I been disinfecting!

So here we are to the end of the first week of the year...Andie starts a volleyball clinic tomorrow, the extended Anderson Family Christmas Party is tomorrow (always a lovely time!), school resumes for moi, Weight Watchers begins on Tuesday, and Drew's talking about Basketball this winter. Who knew? Thought he was all done with that, but we'll see! I always love watching my kiddies play sports :0).

All in all - we're pluggin' along, anxiously awaiting springs arrival.