SKYPE

It sure helped this morning to see and talk with you. We are sooooo happy for both of you, children and Gus included.
Enjoy it as you go along because this is once in a lifetime venture, hopefully, and you will want to build pleasant memories along with your house. G''pa and I have had the experience and there is a lot of give and take but the end result is sooooo worth it. Eventually, it will bring you closer together. Be sure to have imput in every decision even tho you might not want to 'spend' that time, at the time.
I could ramble on for pages, but you get the idea. Just DO NOT hurry.
Lots of love Mom

Offer accepted!!!

We finally got an offer on our house! We signed the purchase agreement yesterday, and now are just waiting for inspections and appraisals, as well as the financing to come through. The buyer is an older man, and is preapproved. Hopefully there won't be any hiccups along the way.

We've got a lead on a townhouse we can rent for 6-months that will allow Gus (and the tots) and we've spoken with our builder who told us we can be on the schedule for May 17th (we close on the 15th.) The estimate to build is 4-5 months at most given it will be summertime. It couldn't work out more perfectly (God willing nothing goes awry.)

Now we just have to iron out our building plans, and make sure we have someplace to move!

Scott travels from 4/24 through 5/8 and we move on the 9th, so that should be interesting, but I'll get it all done. I always do. If anybody wants to come help me pack boxes on the 8th, I'll provide the food and beverages (ahem.) Scott has promised to rally his guys and do the heavy lifting when he gets home.

YAY!!!

...and after a 12-hour constant stretch of sleep (thanks, Scott!) I am feeling better, too! My bronchitis evolved into a head cold (my third in as many weeks) but today I'm mostly clear and feeling rested. The kids *seem* to be on the mend, too.

Scott leaves tomorrow for three days in Toronto. We don't have any major plans, but will probably hit our playgroups and maybe even the Children's Museum. It's supposed to be a gorgeous week (temps in the 70's!) so we'll get lots of outdoor time, too. We're ready.

The birds are enjoying the creek in back of our house, and like most years, wake us every morning at 6am. I don't mind...now. Before kids, I found myself irritated, but now I like it. The birds nest in all the bushes around our house, and some even in my hanging plants (not yet hung.) A couple years ago, Scott built a nesting house for them, too, and now we've got all kinds of fat birds hanging around our feeder. The robins are loving our elm in the back, and I bet in a month or two we'll have lots more little birds flying around. We've seen Orioles, Cardinals, Jays, and lots of different colored Finch. One of the things I love about this house.

We had our 38th showing yesterday - to an agent interested in our house. She lives in Freeland, and doesn't currently have any active listings herself, so we're wondering what that's all about. We're sending out positive thoughts that maybe she loved it and will be making an offer. I'll shout it from the rooftops when it happens, trust me.

That's all the news from here...for now...

Better.....

....after a week and a half of battling the upper respiratory crud, I'm feeling much better. Still have a cough and an urge to nap every day at 2 pm, but other than that, I'm good.

Thanks all for your well-wishes.

MSU GGGOOOO!

What a close game and our team hung on, did good and now for more excitement next weekend.

Go MSU. YAY last nights victory made us happy, even tho we slept through it.
Have a great trip to Vegas Di and Jerry. Look forward to your stories about your experiences.

Spring...Take Two???

Hopefully yesterday was REALLY the last snow! Yes, I said SNOW! Yesterday we woke up to about two inches of snow on the ground. Of course, Mozart thought it was wonderful...Eric and I were in disbelief.
It's warming up again though, and we're hopeful that spring weather is here to stay this time!
I'm working at one of my Lowe's accounts this afternoon. Last day of the quarter - YAY!!! It's been a long 3 months and I'm definitely ready for a fresh start.
Tonight Eric and I are going to the Funny Bone Comedy Club to see John Reep. You might know him from Last Comic Standing or the Dodge commercials as the guy who said, "That thing gotta a Hemi?" We watched him a few years ago on LCS and he was hilarious. Looking forward to a night of laughs...
Have a wonderful weekend!

Whoo Hoooooo

I'm on VACATION. And I think the weather is really going to stay in spring mode. It's still a bit chilly at night, but the flowers are finally starting to bloom. Yay!

Happy Daze

MSU squeaks out another win. Sweet 16 Baby. Tiger BB 2 day with Jason and 2 friends from college. AND, now I won't have to worry about health care the rest of my life. Oh wait: Now I just have to pay for ourselves and our share of 30 million more people.
NO WORRIES, BE HAPPY. Our government knows best.

HAPPY SPRING!!!

Well, I made it through Week Four of the 5k training (barely) - whew! I really like my new shoes and inserts but this week's training was REALLY HARD!!! I'm thinking I might have to "repeat" this week's schedule before I advance - I don't think I'm ready. Plus, I have to start running outside, now that the weather is cooperating, since that is where the 5k Race will take place after all. :)

We didn't make it to the "Bike Workshop" on Monday as planned...Eric's back had other ideas. He woke Monday morning and could barely walk because of pain in his lower back. We had a very relaxed, laid back weekend, so we weren't sure what caused the pain. It took him an extra 45 minutes to get ready for work (poor guy couldn't even put his shoes on by himself) and by the time he got to the office he was soaked in sweat from the intensity of the pain. Sitting at his desk was excruciating. After my trip to the gym, I called him and told him to come home. I spent the day playing nurse with ice packs and pillows and scheduled an appointment with a chiropractor. Since we were already icing and giving him anti-inflammatory meds, I know (from my own experience) that an MD would only prescribe muscle relaxers and/or pain meds and not help us get to the root of the problem. So that afternoon we trekked to the chiro and he took x-rays and examined Eric. He didn't exhibit any signs of disc problems (YAY!) so he made a couple of adjustments. Since it was Eric's first time to the chiro, he was more than a bit surprised that the doctor (as Eric put it) "jumped on top of him". As disconcerting as it was to him at first, the relief that he felt the next day has made him a believer. He followed docs instructions for stretching, NOT being stationary too long, icing the area, and drinking lots of water. He also took ibuprofen as needed throughout the day and worked a shorter day - listening to his body for limits. He followed up with the chiro on Wednesday and made it through the week with managed pain. This morning he seems to be doing fine. We'll probably take a leisurely but long walk this afternoon with the dog to help him get back on the activity wagon. It's funny how he's been so retro-actively sympathetic to my back pain from last year's car accident. He keeps apologizing for how much pain I was in and says in wonder "I don't know how you did it!" I'm grateful that my experience helped me get him on the road to recovery so quickly.

Well, getting a jump on laundry and "inside" chores so we can spend most of the day OUTSIDE enjoying the B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L weather!!!

Love to all!

Spring, spring, spring - in Michigan!

The weather has been gorgeous this week!! In the 50's and 60's during the day. There's the chance of snow this weekend, but like Ray says, it won't stick around. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all! The first photo on my electronic frame this morning was of Flynn - our own little leprechaun! Coincidence? I think not!

Spring, spring spring

Yesterday was the first Florida-like spring day we have had and today is just as nice. I got real ambitious this morning and tended to my plants. We only lost 2 to the freezing weather but the others were pretty beat up. I did a lot of pruning and some repotting. It felt good to be outside.

Windy & Reunion

Been windy & rainy all weekend. Suppose to be mid 40's to low 50's starting Monday & no rain until next Sunday.

Hope everyone (who's suppose to) remembered to Spring ahead.

We're excited about hosting the McQueen Reunion on Saturday, June 26. Just so you know there's all sorts of things to do in Caseville (5 miles north) & a nice golf course (3 miles away) for those of you who want to spend more than Saturday here. We are tentatively planning a meal on Saturday for 2:00 pm. There will be a campfire going in the evening until we run out of wood, energy or the sun comes up. There will be plenty of room available for sleeping bags, tents & trailers - bring your own.

There will be more details to follow.

RAIN

Torrential, sort of. All last night and today so far. One time it looked promising to get out BUT, like Dad said, 'that was a short day. My goodness this is strange for here this time of year.
Lori didn't want to go gro shopping this morning because of the 'lakes' all around us and that would include the parking lot.
The palms are waving very determindly and I secured our porch chairs, etc. The porch garden is getting watered by nature today.

Good

No offense, Sandy, but I like it. I'm anxious to see the changes in Jim & Kathy's abode - and to have the family all together, of course.

We got a new car yesterday. A 2006 Toyota Camry. I know what you're thinking; the problem has been taken care of and the dealer is reliable. Eric referred us to him after they bought a car from him a year ago. We sold the Buick to Jason and he traded his car. A good deal for all concerned. I'm driving it for the first time this morning.

POST IT

Change is good. Let's all support the decision and plan on a good time. J&K have an excellant place to have us. YAY for the switch.

Reunion

***NEWS FLASH*** This just in....

The McQueen Family Reunion has had a change of venue. It will now be held at Jim and Kathy's luxurious estate 2 miles north of Pigeon. As the time gets closer, we'll let you know more details about what's available and what will be going on. Hope this doesn't throw a monkey wrench in anyone's plans - but just wait until you see their place!!! It will be a day to remember.

Love you all bunches - Sandy

BB

Note in the pic the nice gloves that Diana bought me for Val Day. Certain relatives were giving me a hard time until we lost the sun; Then they realized my wisdom and were jealous with cold hands. (Tracy, the gloves also provide excellent insulation from the ice cold beer cans.)

Sunny Florida

We sent our guests on their merry way this morning around 6:30. They HAVE to be home by 4:00 on Sunday for the MSU game!! We had such fun yesterday. Jim & Kathy went to the Blue Jays vs Phillies baseball game with Jerry & Jason in the afternoon. We went to Cody's Roadhouse for dinner and to celebrate Jason's birthday. It wasn't very Florida-like but, like Jim said, "there was nothing to shovel!"

Spring Training

Jerry went to the Blue Jays vs Tigers game yesterday and about froze his pitootee (sp?) off. He wore 2 T-shirts, his sweatshirt, a jacket, 2 pair of socks, gloves, and a hat and stayed for almost the entire game. Now THAT's dedication~ The wind was blowing and the temperature never got to 55. More of the same expected for today but at least the sun is shining. I'm still wearing my winter coat to work!

Marvelous March?

We are incredulous that our temps are still in the 40s at night. Jerry is crying that he'll have to wear a jacket to the spring training game this week:( How sad are we?

Shoulder is doing well. I'd say 95%; I'm still doing the exercises to rebuild strength and get that last bit of range of motion.

Looking forward to seeing Jim & Kathy on Friday.