Good Day...

Today was a day for tears for sure! I'm not sure what is in the air...but it seemed like every time I turned around, somebody was shedding a tear or two. And for some reason, it hit me too! Crazy. I'm sure there will be many more tears this Thursday - NOT because Miss Andie will turn 11, but because it will be Michelle's last day of working with us :o( She is going home to be a stay at home mom full time. I am so thankful for the time I had at home while Drew and Andie were little - I am very excited for Michelle, but she will be missed.

Let's see...what else? Got an A on my two tests tonight at school - yay! I positively cannot wait for this semester to be over. Now that sports will be picking up for both of the kids, we will be busy all over again! Not that we're not busy now, but it's just going to pick up again. I'm glad - I love watching them with their friends having fun. Oh - and Physical Therapy. Had that today too. Got some fun bright pink tape on my shoulder - just for you Ashley! The place I go to in Spring Lake is a great place if you need PT. Everybody there is very nice and it seems to be helping...just need to wait and see what the good ol' doc has to say in a few weeks.

We are enjoying this nicer weather very much!! Kris and I have been walking again and it feels great to get back out there! I just hope it doesn't snow Monday like they're calling for right now. Let's keep our fingers crossed :o)

Creative

I'm feeling rather creative tonight, so I decided to give the blog an attempt to have it show. Hope it makes me look good! Happy St. Patty's Day first of all...

Went to Target tonight with my favorite older sister that I don't get to talk to or see very often these days. We have an exciting baby shower coming up this Saturday and needed gifts, so off we went! Mashawn is due within the next month with her baby girl and we are soooooo excited for her, Brian and Aiden! I can't wait to see this darling little girl (and maybe babysit sometime...??) I ended up with some grocery items I didn't think I needed when I left the house, but realized I couldn't live without once I got there. Has that ever happened to you? Also got a start on Easter candy, which I hadn't planned on opening until, well, Easter, but my hubby had other plans for it. Right about this time, I am bumming that I gave up chocolate for Lent. My hips will eventually thank me for it, but right now it's tough! Gave up potato chips too. Ouch! If you don't hang around the Bolles' very often, you may not realize that Frito Lays Potato Chips are a favorite in this house. Not just by me. I think Mike loves them more than I do. In fact, I forgot about this whole Lent thing the other day when I was at the store and bought a bag. On the way home, I remembered that I gave them up for Lent, but then myself said to myself that I wouldn't be able to eat them, but the rest of the family would, so it was all going to work out in the end. Then I talked with MB and remembered [as I was telling him I bought them] that he gave them up too! So we sat at the table for dinner watching D & A eat them. Tough!

So I mentioned that I haven't spent much time with my sister, and I need to explain a bit. I've been working more hours this winter/spring, taking a class at school, and going to Physical Therapy twice a week. Not to mention helping Drew and Andie with whatever homework they have going on and all the usual housework stuff mom's do. So.....some days I'm not sure what's going on...am I coming or going?? Now with this precious lost hour of sleep...I am also excited about the lost hour because that means that the nice weather is finally on its way!!!!! yay :o)

Kris and I have started walking again this week. Wow does it feel GREAT to be back out there walking!! It's been a long winter. I'm just sayin' Apparently we aren't the only ones with this opinion because we've seen many friendly neighbors out and about too - it's nice to see :o)

We celebrated Miss Andie's birthday with family this afternoon (I'm continuing this on Sunday...). She will be 11 on Thursday and I also need to shout out a Happy Birthday to my Grampa Anderson too on Thursday. I miss him so much! She is happily playing with her new iPod Touch right now...which makes Drew oh-so-very-happy because now he doesn't have to constantly hear, "Drew, can I play a game on it please?" She also got a Ripstik Scooter. We're sure to end up in the ER with that thing! But it also came with pads for her wrists, elbows and knees. I wonder if they keep bones from breaking? Hmmmm... Oh and she got [another] Webkinz from Drew. She really needed another one. She also got a really cute outfit from Mimi and Papa, and Aunt Shani will be taking her to Barnes & Noble for their yearly ritual of book shopping. She's really into the Percy Jackson series and she doesn't have the last one yet, so she's looking very forward to spending some time w/Aunt Shani!!

I'm having a battle with importing the pictures from my camera to my computer...so I'm just going to go ahead and post this while I continue to work on this techy stuff. I'm so not the techy type!

Well It's About Time...

...that I put something on here, don't you think?? So much has happened, where do I even begin?

Let's see, I'll start with the most recent. Andie is home sick with the flu. Yuck. I'll spare the details, but let me just say that from 2:30 a.m. on, we didn't get any sleep last night! Poor sweetie! Drew had it Saturday night, so I guess it's only fitting that Andie has it now. We're going to Traverse City this weekend for Mid-Winter Break, so I hope that Mike and I both stay healthy!!! Keeping my fingers crossed for the Mom Protection... looking very forward to hanging out and chillaxin' with some great friends, eating some great food (Boone's!!) and hoping for some great deals at the Mall! (Andie and Lauren are looking forward to Justice!)

Andie got braces put on her teeth a couple weeks ago. She looks so darn cute! I've got a picture of her, but of course, it's not been uploaded to my computer. I'm seeing a pattern here, are you?? Maybe I should've made it a resolution to get better at it, but it just hasn't happened yet.

I cannot tell you how much I am ready for spring! I think the "gray-ness" of this year's winter is really getting to me! I took Cowboy for a short walk yesterday and it felt great to be outside, even though it was only 25 degrees! It's pretty bad when it's only 25 degrees, and you walk outside, take a deep breath and think what a nice day it is out!!! Sad. But it did feel good to be out there breathing the fresh air and just moving! I've really turned into a slacker this winter...looking forward to getting back in the routine of exercising :o)

Need to start shopping (ok, just looking) for an orange dress for my sister's wedding. Erica and Lucas are getting married, hopefully on the beach, but I'm not sure if it's going to be this September, or next year September. Guess I should really find that out before dress shopping, huh?? Anyways, I'm soooooo excited for them! They're building their house right now and she just e-mailed me some new pictures - it looks great! I can't wait to fly out to Phoenix one day and see her new place! I miss you Erica!


These are two of the pictures that we took during the Christmas break while we were geocaching on a gorgeous day! Yep - they were taken with my new camera...that I still don't know how to use real well. I so need to take the class that The Camera Shop offers! That's at the top of my to-do list.

I know there's much more to update you on, but since I've basically been up since 2:30 this morning, my brain feels tired and ready for bed. I'll post more again soon - it won't take as long, I promise!

Proud Moments

This past Saturday evening after Church, we had the play that the kids have all been working on for a while now. Andie was asked to play the part of Mary, since there was a singing solo. She likes to sing with the ladies in the choir during Mass, and since she is the only youth that participates, they knew she would do an outstanding job in the play. Boy did she do an AMAZING job!!! I teared up when she started singing...and she just made us so proud! She started out with a real baby, as seen below, but then when the baby start squirming a little bit, her Mom came and got her from Andie, then handed her a doll. Andie looked much more relaxed after that! Maybe it was just Mike and I that were a lot more relaxed...yep, I think that's it!

Anyway, back to the play. Drew was volunteered by his lovely sister to be a camel. She figured that since she had some speaking parts, as well as singing, it was only fair that Drew do something. He also did an amazing job, but at his request, I am not posting any photos of him. I get it. 12 years old. Photos might make it around school somehow. Or worse - facebook! He might qualify for a butt-kicking at school if people actually see this picture. (hee hee).

Isn't this picture beautiful?? I put just a touch of makeup on Andie for this...it was a special occasion, and even though she wasn't on a stage, it just seemed like the thing to do. Of course, her Dad wasn't home for either one of us to ask beforehand, so...I just made an executive decision on my own. She doesn't get it everyday - she doesn't need it, but I thought it might make her feel good for this particular evening.

Today just happens to be Drew-B's 12th Birthday!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW! We had his birthday party last night, combined with Joshua's 2nd birthday (December 29th) and it was a fun-filled party. Can't believe how fast these amazing kids grow up!! Good thing we, as parents, don't age even though our kids grow up :o)

I have so much more to post, but my mind is fried right now...will catch up soon. We are all looking forward to having some time off for the holidays - so be on the lookout for some detailed updates.

Love Long Weekends

So I just about wrote a novel the other night...wow.

I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving as much as we did! Dinner was yummy and the house is now decorated for Christmas, except for our tree, which we will be getting on Sunday after church. Ahhh, sweet traditions! We go to the Christmas Tree Farm in search of the "perfect" tree every year. It's a whole family thing - and when there's snow, there's always a snowball fight...some years with tears, others with just whitewashes. Not this year. This weather is so frustrating.

So we went searching for the camera I keep talking about...I cannot wait until Christmas to see what Santa brings me!!! I know which one I like, but we'll see!!!!!!!

I also plan on taking pictures of the kids this weekend so I can order Christmas cards too. When I do get the pics, I'll be sure to post, both here and on FB.

See? I can make it short and sweet sometimes.

Happy Thanksgiving

Time to post a blog that starts out a little happier than my last post - jeeezzz.

Sorry about the doom and gloom, but since I've posted last, Ava has gotten better, had her birthday party - both for family and friends (life is good at 5, don't you think??), oh, yeah, and gotten in her first car accident. Yep. I was on the phone tonight to Shani asking for a simple recipe when she got hit by a car that failed to stop at a stop sign. All I heard was, "Aaahh! Aaahh! Uh oh." And then I heard Ava start freakin' out and screaming. Then Shani said, "I just got hit. Gotta go." Disconnected. What a helpless feeling!!!!!!! I didn't know how bad it was, where she was, or if anybody was hurt. Nothing. But only a few minutes went by and she called back to say that they were all fine, but they were just waiting for the police to make the report. Whew!

Let's see...what else has happened? Oh yes. How could I forget? Drew had every intention in the world of going deer hunting with Mike. He had been helping with the new deer blind that was being built by my ever-so-talented husband, in the garage, for two nights, with all the doors closed, and sawdust flying everywhere. Not a good combination for one Drew Bolles with asthma. Mix that with just a plain ol' virus and what do you get? Let's see...you get a fever of about 101, increased strength of Advair, add nasal spray, singulair, albuterol, zyrtec, and then to top it all off, steroids and an antibiotic. Wow. (Need a breath.) Fast forward 10 days later, and Drew is doing much better and not coughing like he was. Thank you Lord! It just breaks my heart to see him suffer like that when these things hit...but I am very thankful for Dr. DeTorres and his staff at Shoreline Allergy. They are great at what they do!

Hmmmm, what else am I thankful for? My Mike. My Drew. My Andie. My family. My friends. My job. My life. There is so much to be thankful for. I love this time of year when I can really reflect on what's important and how fortunate I am to have this amazing life that I have and everybody that's in it. If you're reading this - THANK YOU for being part of my happy life!!

My good friend Kris had the big 4-0 last week. Jodi and I planned, along with the help of Don and Connie, (and pulled off!!) a surprise party for her last Saturday. She was just expecting to spend a nice evening at Keith and Jodi's w/Mike and I for a bit of relaxing fun times between friends. Little did she know what we, along with about 20 other people, were at her house waiting for her to arrive. It was a very fun night with friends - and yes, we did the floor party too! Wouldn't have been a party w/o the floor party - right girls????

Looks like we'll be getting Christmas decorations out tomorrow. Andie has been nagging me all week to get started on the house!!! I told her before I would get one single decoration out, we had to do some major cleaning. I like to think that I keep my house pretty clean...but I must admit, it's been tough with being back in school. I know...no excuses, right? But man, I'm telling you, it's tough! With helping the kids everyday with their homework, dinners, everyday mom stuff, cooking, etc., cleaning has become tougher and tougher. BUT. We got into it and it feels soooo much better in here! So I told her that tomorrow morning, we would start with the village. I'll post pictures - I promise! I know I'm not that good at posting pics, but hopefully Santa will be good to me this year :o). But I will. Get pics posted of my village. It's one of my favorite parts of Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy your dinner and families and everything else wonderful that goes along with this holiday.

Love Friday :o)

Ok...Ava's got H1N1 it looks like - keep them all in your prayers so that everybody else doesn't get it!! Shani just took her for an x-ray because her fever has been so high since last night (around 103-ish), and she's been saying all day that her chest hurts. Good indication of pneumonia...but the x-ray showed only a little shading in her lower right lung, which could mean that it isn't full fledged pneumonia yet, so hopefully getting her started on antibiotics right away will help keep it that way. My poor new five year old goddaughter! Breaks my heart that she's not feeling well, Josh too. :o(

So we had conferences this week...and do I just have to say how proud as a mom I am of my two munchkins! Drew is currently carrying a 4.0 GPA and adjusting remarkably well to middle school. Way to go Drewcifer Jenoble!

Miss Andie Makae is doing outstanding as well. Even though she's missing two worksheets in math, her grade is still an A...and Mr. Knowles is letting her turn them in still. So she has the pleasure of competing this assignment twice. How lucky for her! Thanks for Mr. K for his flexibility! She claims to have completed them, but they've somehow been misplaced. Hey - it can happen! So other than that little hiccup, she's doing well also. Mrs. Dorr said she's going to start really pushing Andie with her writing. Fine by me - Andie's pretty creative and Mrs. Dorr apparently sees quite a bit of potential there, so go for it as I told her!! Stretch her abilities!

Great job Drew & Andie :o) Mom and Dad are proud of you.

Indoor soccer is well under way at this point. I'll try and remember to take the camera to tomorrow's game so I can post some pictures. All the kids have such a blast playing, and I think all the parents of the W.L. MasterTag Maniacs (boys' team) have just as much {if not more} fun that the boys playing!!

I'll post more when I've got the photos to share. Have a great Friday...it's easily my favorite day of the week! And tonight we've got a great fire in the fireplace and are chillin' at home together. Doesn't get any better than this!