Birthday anyone???

Isn't this so cute??

My cousin Michelle got it for her birthday.

The vase is full of candy so you could customize to whatever the person liked...

and the dips are on what appears to be shish-ka-bob sticks.  I thought you could add a gift card or a picture too if you didn't want to do just all dips. 

I can't wait to make one for someone.  I thought about for Mother's Day but I already have a plan for that. 

Any other ideas of things you might add??

Not So Fun

This is what Jeremy's doing today.....

This is what I'm doing....pray for us.



Chicago and Jake Owen



 So we were supposed to go see Jake Owen back in January but he broke his collarbone or something like that while he was skiing and had to cancel.  So FINALLY the concert rolled around and off we went to Chicago. 

Heading into the city

Rebecca and Mesha

Yes, Rebecca does have a little head, but not litle enough for this hat!

Mr. Jake Owen



Yes I would like a pitcher just for myself, thank you.

And yes I will finish it myelf.

We didn't get enough shopping in Chicago so we hit the Outlets on the way home!


We had a great time even though our hotel room was super tiny.  One couldn't even fall off the bed gracefully, or so I'm told. 
We had a horrible waitress and I wanted to beat her up.  As a matter of fact I think I am going to "Joe's" website as soon as I am done blogging and leaving a comment for them.
I'm pretty sure I would live in Chicago.  I love that you can walk anywhere you need to be. 
Joe's bar was a great place for a concert too.  It's such a small venue that even being 5'3" standing in the very back I could still see pretty good.  We had funny, crazy people around us that would've married Rebecca if we couldve found a minister.  haha
I will definitely go back to a concert there and I already can't wait to go back to shop on Michigan Ave.

More Tucker

Sorry, more pics of my baby.

He's a little turd!

Good thing he's so cute.

Tucker the Easter Egg Hunter!

Here he is with something in his mouth.

There is hardly any time of the day that he isn't chewing on something.

I keep saying its just like having a baby.

But at least with a baby, you can put them somewhere and they don't move.

This little guy is into everything. We all have to look for him all the time. He likes to chew shoes, laundry baskets, blankets, his bed, toes, and Mya.

Little Tucker

The Vera Sale

I've been wanting to go to the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale for several years now. Last year April went and I was so envious. It sounded crazy fun. I love Vera! So this year when Melissa called and said she was going and did I want to go, of course I answered HELL YEA! Amy ended up going to and we were all very unsure what to expect. When we got there we got into a semi short line outside of the conference center. Once 11 rolled around, the time we were supposed to be able to go in, and we didn't get let in we began to wonder what was going on. There were two ladies in front of us that had been a couple years ago and they were talking about how awful it was...they had waited hours and hours, the inventory wasn't very good, they hadn't gotten anything they wanted, and then the check out line was hours and hours again. I think all three of us began to wonder if this was really going to be worth it.

At about 1140 the line began to move, we were going in. But would we be going in or would we be going to get in another line. The ladies in front of us said they thought we were going in to the inside line.

But when we walked in we went right into the sale.

Tables and tables and tables of VERA!!

It was awesome, they had everything and great prices. I think that we all found what we wanted. They didn't have all the patterns we wanted in the bags we wanted but they had enough that made us happy.

I was so involved in shopping that I didn't actually get a picture of the shopping area. I'm bummed about that because it's hard to even imagine how big the shopping area is.

This is a picture of the check out area.

Amy and Melissa at the check out area. Look how happy we are that we don't have to go through those turnstiles behind them. When we got in line there wasn't hardly anyone in line.

And here they are with their purchases!

We had a great time and will definitely be going back next year.

Just a Saturday

This is what Sarah did on Saturday.
Jacob was at a boy scout campout.

Jeremy was in MN visiting Terry (drinking beer).

So that left me with alone time. No kids, no husband, whats a girl to do.

Target of course. I love Target, it's my happy place.

Some interesting things I found.

I think I might try to make this. A frame, burlap and paint??

I think I can do it.....

and these, OMG delicious. If you put one of each of the three flavors in your mouth it really does taste just like a smore...without the mess. Remember the old days when they only had cheddar flavored goldfish.

I needed mascara. I always buy this brand. I've never been able to figure out the difference between these two.

Very Black and Blackest Black

Black is black, right? I went with blackest black...

I ended up spending way too much money and then proceded to go to Hobby Lobby. I wasn't going to go, but my SIL needed me to check on something for her. So yup I went, and spend money again. But only 3.99, so that wasn't bad. I didn't buy this cute subway art but I'm thinking of making one for my beachy bathroom. I love Hobby Lobby's spring/summer stuff.

On my way to get Sarah I realized the Biggby Coffee was open, finally. Butter Bear, yum!

The lady gave me a bunch of coupons. I'm not sure if Battle Creek is a big enough town to have a Starbucks, a Biggby, and a Tim Hortons all within a couple miles of each other. But I guess if we need two tobacco, "Roll Your Own" shops then we can have three coffee joints.

It was a great Saturday, I need more just like it.

Happy Birthday my dear!

Happy Birthday my dear husband!

We love you.

These are My Days...

We've been pretty busy this last month.

I'm not complaining, I just can't believe that its already the middle of April.

My favorite so far was Easter weekend. I had the best Easter this year.

My in-laws came down on Friday and we got everything ready for the Easter dinner at our house on Saturday. We were all so relaxed and ready that Saturday was a wonderful day.

We started the morning coloring eggs.

Jacob has colored eggs with his Nana for 10 yrs. We've only missed two of his 12 years. He still enjoys mixing the colors and spending that time with Nana.

I'm happy to say that it worked out that our niece, Jolie, was able to come down with Nana and Papa and spend the weekend also. Her and Sarah get along so well. She went with Sarah to her cookie sale on Friday night which meant that Jeremy and I and Nana and Papa went to dinner just the 4 of us. I'm pretty sure thats the first time that has happened since Jacob was born. We had a great time.

My sister in law put together an Easter egg hunt for the kids. (Thank you so much Emily, since I know you're reading)

Along with our family, the Couch's, the Morales' and the Swanson's came over to celebrate Easter with us. It was a great day. Sun was shining, kids were having fun, and the food was delicious.

This has been our main source of busy-ness!

Tucker, please go potty outside!!

We attended a very special Mickey Mouse Clubhouse birthday party, for my favorite 3 yr old.

You should hear this little guy sing "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid, amazing!!

I'm serious about Disney in February, are the Morales'??

Sarah and I have been baking, chocolate chip banana bread is our favorite.

Trying to keep Tucker busy in any way possible. I forgot what its like to have a baby.

I'm hoping we settle into a routine pretty soon.

Summer's coming and we have tons of plans already. Jeremy has reenacting, Sarah has camp, Jacob will have football and scouts, and I have a couple scrapbooking weekends a couple concerts, and trying to figure out a way to travel to Dallas in October, hmmmm!

Dad

Direct quote from my dad tonight

"it's official im so healthy its sickening. honest my near death was highly exaggerated"

That was the text I received from him.

I'm assuming he went to the doctor today and thats what they told him.

I'm so happy, relieved, and grateful.

I know he won't live forever but I'm most certainly not ready to lose him.

I can't describe the feeling I had while driving the 4 hrs to Petosky.

I can't even imagine him not around. I can't wrap my brain around the fact that my dad won't always be here. I cried some tears and prayed some prayers but nothing made me feel any better till I walked into that hospital room and saw him there alive. He doesn't like when I cry, neither does my brother. I can't help it I'm a crier, thats how I express myself. BUT I held it in. When I saw him laying there with my own two eyes I just wanted to go to him, fall on his chest and start bawling. BUT I didn't. I took a couple deep breaths and said "Hi dad, how are you feeling" When what I wanted to do was yell at the top of my lungs, "Thank you dear GOD I wasn't ready to lose this man"

So with that I will say "THANK YOU DEAR GOD I AM NOT READY TO LOSE THIS MAN"

Queen for a Day

Two very handsome boys, a brand new 13 yr old and a very soon to be 12 yr old.

Celebrating their day at Buffalo Wild Wings.
Sarah sure loves her Aunt Allison. I wish we lived closer so they could have a closer relationship. Sarah is always super excited when Allison comes to town for work. It doesn't have anything to do with the fact that we usually get to swim at her hotel and order pizza! haha

I'm afraid I'll jinx it again so I won't say a whole lot about this picture.

All I will say is if my brother and his family were to buy a house, I would hope that it looked just like this one!

We went out with Josh and Allison on St Patty's Day in Bay City. A bunch of their friends were there also. Kassie was celebrating her birthday, lucky girl born on March 17th.

Aunt Kathy and Uncle Den joined us for dinner and drinks. We also went to the Whyte Goose for some drinks. Ronda was serenading Kassie in the above picture but what I love is Josh's expression.

Deep thoughts with Jeremy and Kathy....don't even ask!

Best float of the St. Patty's Parade!

I had to double take, I thought they were men dressed like women, but OH NO, these are the real thing!

Why oh why do we not have queens like this in our town. Mesha, April, Kelli I think we should start this. We could be the founding queens!

Tucker

House training, ugh...I don't know if I can do this.

Two steps forward and four puddles of pee backwards.

I swear I put him out, hang out with him outside for like 15 minutes, bring him in and he squats.

There are no signs. He can be walking along looking cute and whoop there it is!~

And honestly the pee is worse than the poop. The poop is no bigger than two inches, the pee is barely a puddle but I'm afraid of the smell. I don't think it smells but what if my house starts to smell like a pet store and I don't know it. What if friends come over and then leave and say to each other "Did you smell Nicole's house? It smells like urine!"

In no way whatsoever do I regret getting him, he's so precious. I just am not enjoying the puppy training.

He also likes to disappear. He's so little that he can fit anywhere. It seems like I find myself saying "Has anyone seen the puppy?" several times a day. The response is usually "no" and I usually find him (and a puddle) in the front room. I think it's time for a family sit down. Time for everyone to realize that we need to be serious about this puppy training.

Pray for me, and Tucker lol!