Snow

 I can't take it anymore.

I want it to stop.

It's not pretty, its not fun.

I'm sick of having wet feet and cold hands.

I took this picture while at a complete stop in the middle of a busy road.  Some idiot had pulled out in front of a bunch of cars and everyone came to a complete stop.  

We easily have 2 ft of snow in our front yard.  You can't even see around the drifts while pulling out of the driveway.  

I was holding onto hope that it was all done that maybe we wouldn't get anymore, then today happened.  It's still snowing.  They say we may get 4-7 inches. 

 

 This picture was taken two or three snowstorms ago.  Back when we could see the deck.  

Poor Tucker can barely walk out off the deck to go to the bathroom.  Luckily he does like it.  He comes in full of snow.  

Yes I hate this winter.  Nicole officially is calling this bull crap.  Time to end it.  Time for some sun.

Its only the middle of February, good Lord.

 

I'm counting down the days till this is my view.  Mom and Terry better be ready for us.  We may never leave.  I just want some sun, some beach, and some warm days. 

Wish us luck.   

Grandma Mead

 The Buschlen boys, some with more hair than others.

 Nana and Papa

 Jeremy's grandma Mead isn't doing so great health wise, so it was important for us to go up to Gladwin for her birthday.  She was turning 80.  I am so happy that we went.  We were able to see some of his aunts and uncles that we haven't seen in years.  We had a very nice lunch and visit with everyone.  Grandma isn't remembering people and its so sad to watch the confusion in her eyes. 

 These three girls always bring a smile to my face.  

 

Aunt Annette, her husband Dave, and Aunt Amy.  

 

Oh we were cracking up about this.  They thought it would be so funny to redo this photo from many years ago.  Poor Grandma didn't know what was going on but the sisters sure thought it was funny.  

All in all like I said I am so happy that we were able to go.

  We spent the weekend in Bay City anyway so the drive wasn't too bad.  Unfortunately we hung around too long on Sunday and got stuck up there because of the snow.  This was just the beginning of the crazy polar vortex weather we've been having.  The kids were off Monday Tuesday and Wednesday because of the snow storm.  We were able to make it home Monday afternoon but the roads weren't great and I was just happy to be home.  I'm hoping to get outside and take some pictures of the huge snow piles we have from the plows.  I don't remember this much snow ever and I am soooooo over it.  Come on Spring!

Waiting for baby, Baby Stories

The Nursery, banner made by Emily, wall art made by Momma Mesha

Johnny, happy to have visitors to play with.

So many baby things, elephant made by Kelli, for all her hair pretties.

 

You all know by now how very excited I am for Charlee to arrive.  I watch her momma grow bigger and bigger every day.  I feel like we're ready.  And by we're I mean myself and her parents lol.

The birthing class has been taken, the room has been prepped, the bag(s) have been packed, the clothes have been washed, I'm ready.   My camera is charged.  I've tried to keep my calendar clear. 

 I've had two friends in my life that have gone through "having baby" issues. 

 Serious baby having issues. 

My first friend is a friend from high school.  She is kind hearted, giving, smart, sophisticated and beautiful.  Her and her husband were happy.  They had an amazing life.  Great jobs, beautiful house, just happy people.  But they didn't have any kids and seemed ok with that.  One by one each of us (our group of friends) had babies.  Expanded our families but still for them, no babies.  And still ok with that. You see my friend was/is dealing with some medical issues.  Issues she never wanted her children to deal with so in order for her to have babies there would be many steps and cost for her to be sure that her children wouldn't deal with these same issues. 

Every time I would see her she would talk about being a mommy, ask questions about being a mom.  It was so hard to understand where she was coming from but I always feel like I tried.  Sometimes after being with her my heart would break that she would never know what it feels like to be a mom.  I prayed that she would change her mind.  I think I kind of removed myself from that part of her life because I wanted to be happy for her and their decision but it just made me really sad. 

 I'll never forget the day I opened my mail to a card that announced that she was pregnant.  I think I cried for a half hour before I called her.  Her and her husband had decided to try, to get drs help and make it possible.  I'm happy to say that today she has a beautiful little girl and I think now she knows what I was talking about when I said "you won't understand that feeling until you have a child of your own"  And all those doubts and fears about being a mom, I think she now understands that we all have those fears but everything just works out it in the end.  

 

babysitter Sarah, practicing
 

My second friend would be Charlee's mom.  This friends story is a little different.  See she always wanted to have children.  I think when she got married she always knew she would have a baby.  Not right away, she married young.  I think they wanted to be "ready" whether financially or emotionally. 

The problem is when that time came, it didn't happen.  They watched baby after baby come into peoples lives and hoped for their own. 

Man was it heartbreaking. 

To watch someone that wants a baby so bad take care of other peoples babies everyday is a heartbreaker.  And then to watch her give up or start to give up or try to give up was the worst.  I still prayed and I know others prayed. 

And then it happened, finally

And then it happended, devastation.

The questions, the tears, miscarriage.

Only to be followed shortly by another miracle.  And this time Charlee!

After all the sorrow and grief a bright end to this story.  She isn't born yet but like I said above, I'm ready.

I think its safe to say that this little girl is going to be a pretty special little girl. 

 

 I'll never understand the hows and whys of pregnancies and how Gods mind works, of course not, but I do know two little girls that are so very blessed to have my friends as their mommies!!

 

 

Our lazy weekend

I say we had a pretty lazy weekend but really it was just a really lazy Sunday. 

Friday night we made plans with the Beaches to go to a movie and hang out.  I have been waiting for state licensing to come to work for about a month so Ive been stressed out and anxious and she came on Friday!!  And it went great, so I was super happy to be going out on Friday.  A chance to relax and let loose. 

We ended up at the Alamo Drafthouse in Kalamazoo to see That Awkward Moment.  It was ok.  I enjoyed my Coke and the little extra I added from my flask. hahahaha  (I hope that sounded as if I do that all the time).  

Jeremy and Brian

After the movie we headed back home.  We decided to go to Millers for some drinks and karaoke (how the heck do you spell that?).  Guess who we ran into?

Brian and Aimee

Oh man the good times we had with these two.  And we talked about them all night.   

 



Aimee, Me, Amanda

It was fun.  Other than the parents that had their children at the bar with them at 10:30 on a Friday night we had a good time.  I was annoyed to say the very least.  These children do not belong in a bar that late at night.  I realize that Millers serves food but shouldn't they be gone by 8 or even 9.  Isn't there a law about that?

Aimee was one of my first friends when we moved here.  Our husbands worked together and were friends so it was easy for us to become friends.  Aimee and I have similar personalities and like the same people.  That being said it was easy for us to get together and dislike the same people lol.

 

 

 

On Saturday Jeremy let me sleep in, which was so nice. 

Sarah and I headed to K-zoo in the early afternoon to go to the Art center.

We went with her girl scout troop and we were able to make a glass candy dish. 
We each got to make one.  I think it was really fun. 

After we were done we went to the mall to see about getting Sarah some new clothes. 

Successfully we found a couple shirts and a swim suit. 

So then dinner and the middle schools play.  I won't blog about that.  I was bored to tears but I imagine a lot of hard work went into that so I'll follow the old saying if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all.

 

 

After that fun filled Saturday I was ready to do nothing on Sunday and that it what I did.  Not even any laundry.  It was really nice.  We all kind of had a down day.  This snow and weather is starting to get to us all. 

The pups love down days.  And Mya has finally become ok with Tucker snuggling in and napping with her, well most of the time.

 

Wrestle Mania

 So it seems like so long ago that Jacob said "mom, I think I want to wrestle"

Here we are 2 tournaments and a meet in to the season and I'm so very proud of him.

He really seems to like it and he seems to be good at it.

It makes me crazy to watch other kids beat up on him but he is so strong.

 I can't believe we're a wrestling family.  And I really can't believe that I enjoy watching it.

 We have a handful of meets left and I'm excited to see how the season ends.

I'm hoping I can keep myself up in the stands and not be the crazy parents screaming at their sons from the edge of the mats.