{hands & feet}

We have been quite the busy family lately...hence, picture #1:

and picture #2:

and, lastly, picture #3:

Picture #1:
was a last minute trip that Jeff and I took 2 weeks ago to Harbor Springs to visit my grandmother, Marti. She had fallen a few days before and broke her hip and fractured her pelvis. She didn't have her ADT monitor on at the time, and was rescued 8 hours later by the yard guys who received a phone call from my Dad, who had been trying to phone Marti all night with no luck.

She is 93 years old and amazes me how strong she is! We visited her in the hospital and we couldn't believe that even after her hip surgery & a small stroke in the hospital, she was sitting up in a chair when we got there. She was so glad to see us and talked our ears off for over an hour. She calls herself "Wonder Woman" and my uncle Max even got her a t-shirt with her new nickname on it.

We really thought that she was not going to make it through the first week after her fall, but she is recovering. Sadly, she has had to move out of her home to a nursing home. Her greatest fear has been that her dog, Maxine, can't live there with her. But Max & Ed are so good to Marti and bring Maxine - her constant companion since my Grandpa Max passed away 15 years ago - to visit often.

She told us that she has had a good life and that family is what it's all about.
We are keeping her in our prayers that she will be comfortable & comforted with
her new living arrangements.

Picture #2:

We took our annual Labor Day Weekend trip to Muskegon
and I have 2 words to describe all 4 days:

WET and WINDY

The picture of Riley's feet were our last day there - which was, of course,
beautiful. We have gone for the last 5 years and this was the first
year that the weather didn't cooperate. It rained every night and we had wind advisories
all weekend. The one fun thing that came out of all that bad weather
was the 8 ft. waves on Lake Michigan that the kids got
to play in...in 60 degree weather, mind you.


So, 2010 will be the year that we "Survived Everest" at the
Muskegon Lake Michigan Campground.

Picture #3:

The first day of school!
Yippee!!

We started a week ago today:
Riley - 10th grade at Lakeland High School
Hannah - 8th grade at Oak Valley Middle School
Alec - 4th grade with Mrs. Lewalski (Hannah's favorite teacher)
Ian - 1st grade with Mrs. Feather (our old neighbor & good friend)

Riley didn't get a picture taken...it was 5:30 in the AM when she left.

She has been busy with rehersals for "Sweeney Todd" 3 nights a week.
Alec has been busy with football practice 4 nights a week.
And Hannah, Ian, and I have been waiting patiently for them
each night.

The basement is almost complete - carpet ordered yesterday
and wall paint is being applied in the middle of the night
by Jeff & I.

We figure if Jeff ever loses his job that
we could go into business as house painters... ;)