Pretty girls!
Funny line of the day... I don't know why this cracked me up so much but I gave Collin a piece of pumpkin pie and as the crust separated from the pumpkin, he quickly declared, "the back of my pie fell off!"
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thanksgiving
Funny line of the day... I don't know why this cracked me up so much but I gave Collin a piece of pumpkin pie and as the crust separated from the pumpkin, he quickly declared, "the back of my pie fell off!"
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Halloween 2012
It was cold and rainy but not enough to keep these two trick or treaters in for the night. They made the rounds in our neighborhood and we managed to nab a few shots of them before they gathered in the loot.
Hoping to add some pix of a certain beautiful flower that sprouted this year in Huntington Woods.... (to be continued)
Sunday, October 21, 2012
House
What's your definition of a house? It depends on who you're asking. Yesterday in Ann Arbor over a hundred thousand descended upon "The Big House" to watch the Wolverines take on the Michigan State Spartans. Many more thousands were at home or elsewhere watching the two teams go at it once again. It's a big deal, always has been. Ours was a "blue" house until our son Michael went off to MSU and turned "green." Somewhere along the way I became neutral.
Used to be we never made big plans on the day of the big game. This year I planned to have two of our grandkids over while their mom & dad went to a party together, something they don't often get to do. Turned out we just had Madelyn while Collin went visiting with his Nana. We played together, she played by herself. She is good at doing that and we enjoy listening to her imagination go wherever she wants it to go. Then she decided it's time to play with Papa so, with her sweet hand rested on his forearm, she asked him, "Papa, can you come play dolls with me?" Usually when she asks me I'm in the middle of this or that and tell her I'll play when I'm finished with whatever. Not Papa, he got right up (during the football game!) and went into the other room to play with his cherished granddaughter, who reminds him so much of his cherished daughter. I sat on the sidelines just in case he needed assistance getting started (he did) and loved seeing the excitement on her face as she interacted with her Papa playing dolls.
A while later, she wanted ice cream. She must know that is an automatic with her Papa. He popped up and before she knew it the three of us were off to the drug store for ice cream. She genuinely seemed tickled not only that she was getting ice cream but that all three of us were going to get it together, just like that! That's the beauty of being grandparents. She came home with a jolly rancher jumbo popsicle and enjoyed every last lick!
After we returned, this text exchange took place between father & son:
Green - Congrats on the win pops, it was a great game, hope you enjoyed it.
Blue - I thought MSU played with a lot of heart and deserved a better fate. Michigan had a very poor game plan. Mads is over and it was the first time I played dolls during THAT game. Can't wait for Claire to join us one of these years.
Green: Hahahahaha! That's great, that's what really matters, the second the game ended I put Claire to bed, she wasn't worried about the outcome.
Blue: Some day you will have grandkids and then all of the games just won't matter all that much next to them. Can't wait for Claire to talk.
Green: I know she is making all kinds of noise! What a blast.
Blue: Mike she is just perfect. You and Andi should never have a bad day. When things get you down, think of her. The day will brighten.
Green: Thanks pops, that is true, and great advice.
Blue: That is how mom and I feel about you and Meg and now your families. We are blessed.
Green: We definitely are.
So what is a house? It may be big, it may be small, it may be pretend, or it may simply be a house that's a home because love is there... and, when all is said and done, your family is what matters most of all anyway.
Used to be we never made big plans on the day of the big game. This year I planned to have two of our grandkids over while their mom & dad went to a party together, something they don't often get to do. Turned out we just had Madelyn while Collin went visiting with his Nana. We played together, she played by herself. She is good at doing that and we enjoy listening to her imagination go wherever she wants it to go. Then she decided it's time to play with Papa so, with her sweet hand rested on his forearm, she asked him, "Papa, can you come play dolls with me?" Usually when she asks me I'm in the middle of this or that and tell her I'll play when I'm finished with whatever. Not Papa, he got right up (during the football game!) and went into the other room to play with his cherished granddaughter, who reminds him so much of his cherished daughter. I sat on the sidelines just in case he needed assistance getting started (he did) and loved seeing the excitement on her face as she interacted with her Papa playing dolls.
A while later, she wanted ice cream. She must know that is an automatic with her Papa. He popped up and before she knew it the three of us were off to the drug store for ice cream. She genuinely seemed tickled not only that she was getting ice cream but that all three of us were going to get it together, just like that! That's the beauty of being grandparents. She came home with a jolly rancher jumbo popsicle and enjoyed every last lick!After we returned, this text exchange took place between father & son:
Green - Congrats on the win pops, it was a great game, hope you enjoyed it.
Blue - I thought MSU played with a lot of heart and deserved a better fate. Michigan had a very poor game plan. Mads is over and it was the first time I played dolls during THAT game. Can't wait for Claire to join us one of these years.
Green: Hahahahaha! That's great, that's what really matters, the second the game ended I put Claire to bed, she wasn't worried about the outcome.
Blue: Some day you will have grandkids and then all of the games just won't matter all that much next to them. Can't wait for Claire to talk.
Green: I know she is making all kinds of noise! What a blast.
Blue: Mike she is just perfect. You and Andi should never have a bad day. When things get you down, think of her. The day will brighten.
Green: Thanks pops, that is true, and great advice.
Blue: That is how mom and I feel about you and Meg and now your families. We are blessed.
Green: We definitely are.
So what is a house? It may be big, it may be small, it may be pretend, or it may simply be a house that's a home because love is there... and, when all is said and done, your family is what matters most of all anyway.
"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Fun-Fall-Family Photos
Not much is new around here other than we're enjoying the beautiful fall temps and changing colors here in Michigan. I was determined not to let September pass by without a blog post so here it is... a collection of fall photos of our three beautiful grandchildren - Collin, Madelyn, and Claire. First on Thursday we got some pictures of Claire at home, then Saturday was such a great day, I met Meg and the kids at Heritage Park for some more family photos. I've enjoyed looking at them over and over and over again!
Here's to fall and the upcoming holidays. These three certainly add to the joy of our lives!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Fran
Yesterday we lost a legend, at least in our family. Frances Theresa Butkovich McGuire, born March 12, 1917 and died August 13, 2012, on my 58th birthday.
I first met Fran in 1973 so we go back 39 years - WOW! We lovingly called her "Francie" but later learned she did not like that so we started calling her "Fran" (more sophisticated I suppose) or "Gran Fran" which was my personal favorite. She was a lady who loved to laugh, she was fiesty, spunky, energetic, hard-working, fiercely independent, and even a bit of a stinker at times. She was loved by her two boys, Don and Gary, her grandchildren Megan, Michael, Ryan and she dearly loved her first granddaughter, Heather, who sadly died at the young age of 3. We find it fitting that she will be buried close to Heather which was one of her final wishes. Of late, what made her smile the most was her three great grandchildren - Collin (5), Madelyn (3), and Claire (6 mos.). Bringing someone in her 90's together with little ones was an interesting mix. But we're glad she was able to enjoy them in the waning years of her life.
People often commented on how nice she always looked. She made sure she had on a nice outfit with all the right accessories and loved nothing more than a good hand-me-down. I remember seeing things in her closet that had been in mine 20 years ago! She let go of very little.
We are thankful for the many years of good health she enjoyed. It wasn't until the last few years that her mind began slipping and then she was felled with a terminal illness that took her in just 2 1/2 short weeks. I saw my husband at her side caring for her every need with deep devotion, sometimes more than once in a day, along with our daughter just about every day after the diagnosis. I saw our son and his family visit when they could and then waste no time making an 8 hour drive down from the Upper Peninsula to be by her side within half an hour of her last breath. Megan commented she was waiting for him to arrive. We sensed that and it is now a sweet family memory we will treasure forever. When the going is tough, that's when you see the true measure of a person, what they're all about when it matters most. Little gestures, soft words, tear-stained faces. We are there to wipe away one another's tears and then do what we can to see even the slightest smile crease their face in the midst of great sadness.
It should not go without mention that Fran was not only loved by us but also by many nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved. As many who can will be traveling down to pay their final respects to their "Auntie Bea." She was the youngest of 12 children and she lived longer than any of them, although most of them, remarkably, lived well into their 80's and early 90's. The spunk in her took it's time leaving. We miss her already but we say thank you to God for her life, and now her death.
Precious Lord, lead me home...
Until we meet again.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Father's Day, Love, and Time
Happy Father's Day Gary! You are a wonderful husband and father of our two kids.
I heard some advice given to a young father who was seeking words of wisdom from a wise, Godly father and grandfather. He said LOVE is spelled T.I.M.E. The time you spend with your kids translates into love and this view of quality time vs. quantity time just doesn't cut it. There is no substitute for time.
In our family, we were fortunate that the teaching profession allowed Gary to have time and time was something that he freely, willingly, and lovingly gave. Time after school, meal time, time on the weekends, out for dinner Fridays, time during holiday vacations, and more time during the summer. Something for which teachers forever and a day have taken criticism for but it certainly worked for us! I'm thankful for a father in the home whose biggest investment into our children was his time. Time answering questions, time giving advice, time joking around and playing, and time taking them to church and teaching them about God.
Then the time came too quickly when they were off on their own and you hoped and prayed that the things you taught them would stick and make a difference in who they are, the choices they would make, the direction they would go in life, and the values they would take with them. You watch them branch out, they spend time with friends, they meet someone special, and they fall in love. Then, just like with you, that is the only one they really wanted to spend their time with. They marry, they have children. Then... they come back because they want to spend time. They want their children to spend time and you realize better now than before that these years are fleeting too and the best thing you can give to your grandchildren is your time. Time to answer questions, time to play, time to wear yourself out with them. Because they will grow quickly and the only thing you care about is that every last one of them will want to return. To spend time. Because they have learned through the years that TIME is spelled L.O.V.E.
Happy Father's Day to the man I consider the greatest father in the world and Happy First Father's Day to our son... you're off to an awesome start!... and to our son-in-law who measures very high on the scale when it comes to being Daddy. We love you all!
We celebrated father's day over two days - first on Saturday in Huntington Woods with Michael, Andi, & Claire. Then again this afternoon with Meg, Collin, & Madelyn. So thankful for every last one of you!!!
I heard some advice given to a young father who was seeking words of wisdom from a wise, Godly father and grandfather. He said LOVE is spelled T.I.M.E. The time you spend with your kids translates into love and this view of quality time vs. quantity time just doesn't cut it. There is no substitute for time.
In our family, we were fortunate that the teaching profession allowed Gary to have time and time was something that he freely, willingly, and lovingly gave. Time after school, meal time, time on the weekends, out for dinner Fridays, time during holiday vacations, and more time during the summer. Something for which teachers forever and a day have taken criticism for but it certainly worked for us! I'm thankful for a father in the home whose biggest investment into our children was his time. Time answering questions, time giving advice, time joking around and playing, and time taking them to church and teaching them about God.
Then the time came too quickly when they were off on their own and you hoped and prayed that the things you taught them would stick and make a difference in who they are, the choices they would make, the direction they would go in life, and the values they would take with them. You watch them branch out, they spend time with friends, they meet someone special, and they fall in love. Then, just like with you, that is the only one they really wanted to spend their time with. They marry, they have children. Then... they come back because they want to spend time. They want their children to spend time and you realize better now than before that these years are fleeting too and the best thing you can give to your grandchildren is your time. Time to answer questions, time to play, time to wear yourself out with them. Because they will grow quickly and the only thing you care about is that every last one of them will want to return. To spend time. Because they have learned through the years that TIME is spelled L.O.V.E.
Happy Father's Day to the man I consider the greatest father in the world and Happy First Father's Day to our son... you're off to an awesome start!... and to our son-in-law who measures very high on the scale when it comes to being Daddy. We love you all!
We celebrated father's day over two days - first on Saturday in Huntington Woods with Michael, Andi, & Claire. Then again this afternoon with Meg, Collin, & Madelyn. So thankful for every last one of you!!!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Birthday and Mother's Day Celebration
Today we combined Gary's birthday celebration with Mother's Day. I will confess, I enjoy receiving gifts, but admire my husband when he says the only thing he wanted was a Blonde Alpine torte and all three grandkids to help him blow out the candles. We delivered. We had our kids, grandkids, and mothers all over and really enjoyed our afternoon together....
These two moms celebrated their first mother's day today:
I wish days like this were less hectic and lasted longer. Would have loved a picture of me with my two but that's the way we roll these days. Here's to another year for Gary and to all the wonderful mothers in our family!!!
These two moms celebrated their first mother's day today:
I wish days like this were less hectic and lasted longer. Would have loved a picture of me with my two but that's the way we roll these days. Here's to another year for Gary and to all the wonderful mothers in our family!!!
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