in fifty four years

I hope I look and act like her.

My Grandma School bus hit 82 this past week. 

so we celebrated

with pork chops, cake and family

Thought I would tell you a few things my grandma has taught me over the years

to have a love of seafoam candy

to watch shows like friends and desperate housewives

and how to get a good bargain!  that is for sure! :)

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Fun times and hopefully many more.

can you tell what I am wearing???

Had to try it it.  walk around the house.  sit in it.  

wear it one more time before it got cleaned and put in a box!

My wedding dress.

Yes I was that person! haha

Made J look and admire 'The Dress' again :) Nice hubby

from church to reception to front room couch.  

still love.

it's beginning to look

a lot like Christmas [sorta]

We worked on decorating this weekend.

Put up one of our two trees [real to come]

lights on the banister

lights on a bush outside

table decorations

and our stockings!

13 plus

hours of SHOPPING between Friday [black Friday] morning and Saturday ALL day!

It all started at the Farm and Fleet at 630 Friday morning

nothing like shopping through the horse and pig feed for tie down straps for my dad :)

Then the mall

and 28th street

and came home with lots of goods

All to start over at 1130 Saturday morning

started to get goofy in Walgreens

Then I came upon my DREAM gift!

AND it all ended in exhaustion and this NUTS outfit

polka dot socks 

pj pants

sweatshirt 

and two coats!

I would call this a successful time with my mama!

gobble gobble round three

the big meal

Fun night with the family like usual!

Such a beautiful day...warm enough to play outside

someone likes Uncle Jason's phone

 GRANDPA!

 first thanksgiving being married aweeee :)

 bring on the food

 the cousins

fun filled day...to bed we go.  early black Friday morning!

gobble gobble round two

more dessert making today

pumpkin dump cake

now ready to celebrate with the family tonight and eat stuffing my favorite!

I usually do not share the serious insides of my mind, but today I am making an exception to the rule :)  My blessing of 2012:

1. My Husband.  Love him.  Love being blessed with him. Love what is to continue to come with him.

2. My family.  They mean the world to me! Love love love them and my new new in laws.  Blessed to have them.

3.  My friends.  The love of friends, the closeness, the times we spend together, grow together, laugh together are all so important and mean so much to me.

4. My church.  Ada Bible as taught me so much this year.  Over and over I have learned of God's grace and love and grace we are to show for others.  I am VERY thankful for that.  

5. My health and healthy loved ones!  

This year I have felt like the joy and blessing have been overflowing more than ever.  Thanks be to the Lord for an amazing 2012!

Happy Thanksgiving Friends!

gobble gobble round one

tonight was round one of baking/making for thanksgiving tomorrow!

one: used the food processor for the first time.  It was AMAZING!!  It helped me make the crust
for my toffee dessert

Two: Rice Krispie Turkeys

one more thing to make tomorrow.  Pumpkin Dump Cake!

super surprised

Ever year my dad's birthday is on opening weekend of hunting season

[i was thinking this past week, that I have probably never seen my dad on his birthday]

soooo this year being his big 6-0 birthday I thought we would try to change that

Saturday we [Me, J, mom, Betsy and Ben] headed to the hunting cabin, coordinated with Jeff to be in the Cabin when my dad came in for lunch. 

Well it worked!  He was totally surprised!  It was fun fun to see how happy he was.  He totally deserved it, cause I truly believe he is the best dad ever!!

Love him!!

Happy 60th DAD, Dougie and now added to the list...Douger!

and MANY many MORE!!

Wating for him to come in

 SURPRISE!!!

 Dad and his kiddos

 and the madre

 Happy happy birthday to you

 family photo by the mule!

 and a ride

 Present time!

 Love this guy!

pea soup!

Second year of celebrating Dutch American Heritage Day dinner

Yes I am dutch...even with the ski last name, WHICH is no longer an issue :)

Fun night with friends at this dinner

and there were even dutch dancers, right B!

FUN. pun intended

hope you had FUN.

what did you think of the concert?  It was FUN.

oh man that was just so FUN.

Yes all the puns were intended!

Wednesday night J, me, Al, Josh, Gwen and Kim went to FUN. at Calvin! 

I loved it.  They put on a awesome show!

love love loved it!

we are young, set the world on fire

classic joke monday

How was Rome cut in half???

With a pair of Caesars!

I really giggled at that.

pat on the back moment of the day.  Getting a flu shot...each year I have to mentally psych myself up...and well I did it again this year!  congrats to me, until next year! :)

we were just freshman

remember what song lyrics those are?

Verve pipe: freshman

I like that song [and even have it on a current play list] and we were able to hear it live Friday night at a surprise birthday party for a friend from J's work...nothing like a backyard concert!

and a pretty awesome 40th birthday party!

I was number 142

I voted

this morning.  took about 50 mins

but I...

saw my old neighbor/my BFF! :) 

heard about the Tim Horton's free doughnut deal from the loud mouth 8 people back

expressed myself and my right

and got a sticker!

ALSO saw my LAST stupid political commercial this morning at the gym! worth celebrating!

Happy voting day!   

first time out

our NEW big kid napkins and place mats!

we had some dear friends over last night for dinner and set the table with our new stuff

it was fun to see it being used

friendly reminder...

from our church

thank you Ada Bible

WHAT are you talking to me.

Haha I laughed and laughed at this!

Happy Friday