Final Home Football Game

My youngest brother Kevin made his Michigan debut this past weekend, YAY!!!! We had so much fun...we went to a few of our favorite restaurants here in Ann Arbor, and Saturday we went to the Michigan football game (our friends Jon & Kelly Peacock and their friend Jason drove up from Chicago to join us!) It was so nice having him here. Thanks for coming Kevin, you'll be expected to come once a year now, ha! :)Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Where is it Christmas all year round you ask???

Why, at BRONNERS! My dear friend Katie and I have started a wonderful tradition (this was year 2) of driving to Frankenmuth, MI to go to Bronners, the most ENORMOUS Christmas store you've ever been to in your life. Oh, it's wonderful. Anything and everything Christmas is at this store...you name it, Bronner's has it! Here are Katie, her cute baby bump, and I outside with our purchases :)

It all started with a letter...

Okay, this story actually began several months ago when I received a letter...a letter I assumed was for me. I proceeded to open the card and began reading quickly to find this was not intended for me. Whoever sent this was obviously extremely close to the girl this card was intended for and she was battling some serious health concerns. Well, I felt terrible for opening someone's mail and so I decided to google the return sender's name and address to see if I could find a phone number to call this woman and let her know that she had the incorrect address, but that since I accidentally opened the card, I would be more than happy to stick it in a new envelope, stamp it and mail it. Well, I get her answering machine so I decide to leave a message. Several weeks go by, I haven't heard anything, I decide to tape the envelope back up and write on the front "Return to Sender". I'm thinking I just need to get it back to Birmingham, MI where it came from. Well wouldn't you know within the next day or so Susie (the sender) calls me and leaves me this long lovely message (I like to leave long messages too, so I knew instantly we'd be good friends!). We connect finally over the phone and Susie and I begin this wonderful friendship. She is the dearest woman who shares her love of Jesus so openly, and just loves everyone she meets! I feel like I've known Susie all my life :)

Well, we continue to talk and text over the summer...in Sept, Ted and I receive an invite to her 60th birthday party (thrown by her husband and two daughters and their husbands at the Birmingham Country Club-which is about an hour or so from Ann Arbor). Keep in mind, we've never met her. It's 100 of her closest family and friends and here she has decided to invite us! So imagine Ted's sweet face as I ask him if he'll join me on Oct 28th and go meet Susie and all her friends and family. The event was a sit down dinner followed by speaker and Christian author Jennifer Beckham (who they saw on tv and flew to MI to speak at this birthday event for Susie). Folks, this was one of THE coolest things, and it was the LORD! Completely! How he used a letter to bring us to Susie. Susie said she'd been praying about doing something like this for several years. She wanted nothing more than to share her faith with everyone she was closest too. I can't even describe to you the evening, but it was a huge blessing for Ted and I both. I guess one thing we took away is that Faith is Risk taking, and I'm so thankful that Susie took a risk on us and I guess we on her. Here is a picture of my newest friend :)

Mamas and the Papas

All the leaves are brown(and red and orange)...and the sky is NOT gray! In fact, October has been simply gorgeous! Lots of sunshine and pleasant temperatures. Both sets of parents have come up to visit over the last two weeks, and it was so wonderful to have them here with us. Ted's mom and dad came up for the Michigan State game, and my mom and dad came up last week for the Iowa game (such great fans they all are!). Here are lots of pictures from their visits...THANK YOU all for everything!!!

Porch decor

I bought this beautiful mum at the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market the other morning...my friend Emily snapped this photo of me holding it. We laughed because we couldn't believe how big it was..it hadn't even fully bloomed yet! (and it was only $8!) The lady said it should last about 8 weeks...we'll see if I can keep it alive for that long!

Our First Fall Visitors...

Were Mimi and my brother Carleton! They drove up last Thursday afternoon and we got to spend 6 wonderful days together. We ate well, shopped well, and cheered very hard on Saturday at the Michigan Football game :) I dropped the ball on my picture taking (sweet Ted, I didn't manage to get any of him or of the four of us together). I'm sorry honey :( We had a blast though and appreciated so much them coming up here and loving on us...I drove them to the airport on Tuesday afternoon. Mimi graciously gave us her old (but in pristine condition) Honda Accord b/c she bought a new one for her that sits up a little higher. So I'm saying goodbye to my Mazda, "Fosse" and hello to my Honda who I've named "Mimi" :) Thanks for coming guys, we love you so much and had a GREAT time. P.S. That first picture has Christmas Card potential you two :) ha! ha! (we were being goofy in the grocery store parking lot!)

Labor Day Weekend

As most of you probably know (and in case you didn't and are wondering why your boyfriends/husbands need to be around a television at all times)College Football season is officially here! Oh, I must admit I'm super pumped myself and love this time of year. The colors, smells, the cooler temps, and yes, college football games! This weekend here at UM was the re dedication of the stadium (The Big House). For the last 3 years, Ted's office primarily has been working on adding suites and indoor and outdoor club seats-which has been no small task. Well, Friday evening was a sneak preview if you will of the finished product (sort of a "Christmas Eve" type feel). The University Development along with the Athletic Dept put on a lovely event to recognize The Stadium Project and to celebrate its completion. Here we are with two of our favorite donors/tail gate friends :) And of course, a few pics from Saturdays game. Folks seemed to really love the new additions and a win was certainly icing on the cake...way to go Blue!!!

Another test, sorry

This is only a Test

Testing Testing 1,2,3

Is this thing on?

Oh, why I am so "blog challenged"?!

Tailgate Dress Rehearsal.

Saturday night, a group of us had a "game day tailgate practice run" over at our friends the Jobe's house... It was a BLAST. We decked out in our Michigan gear, dined on the finest of tailgate food, and even watched a Michigan game (We selected the 2007 UM vs. Florida...we won that one!) I did not do a great job on remembering to take very many pictures, but check out this fabulous football cake Emily made :)

Anne's Weekend...Ted's Post coming soon!

Last weekend, Ted and his buddy Jon Ripperger("Ripp" as we call him) went on a golf trip to Wisconsin and Chicago. They took lots of pictures on Ripp's camera, so as soon as we get ahold of some copies I will do a "Ted post". Bless his heart, he hasn't had one in awhile-it is definitely his turn, ha!

Friday night I went to the movies with my dear friend Emily and her mom Carol (who is in town visiting from NY). We went to see "Eat Pray Love". It was really good...then Carol treated us to a delicious pasta dinner (which you'll want to do immediately after the movie...either that or travel to Italy!). Saturday night, our dear friend Katy Jackson got married. It was a GORGEOUS wedding, and a ton of fun. The girls you see in the pictures are all teachers I taught with at a studio here in MI. It was so good to see them and catch up. Sunday afternoon, we all went to a Tiger's game. Katy's family got a group of tickets and invited us all to come. It was a beautiful day, AND the Tigers won!

Oh No!!

Our blog went blank!! I'm trying to figure out where it went...hopefully I'll find it and bring it back :(

Weekend Up North

Before I begin this post, I wanted to squeeze in a brief report on week 4 of summer camp, "All About Ballet". I completely forgot to take pictures on Friday, but the girls looked so cute in their tutus (which they made themselves)and did a great job on the dance we learned that week from Sleeping Beauty. So immediately after camp Friday afternoon, I raced home to finish packing and meet Ted, and off we drove to Lewiston, MI for a fabulous weekend "up north"(yes, Michigan IS north but we went MORE north). We went with our good friends Randy and Jan Hoffman, Randy's dad Charlie, his sister Debbie and her husband Skip. Friday night we arrived a little after 9pm. We stayed up and talked for awhile. Saturday we slept until...oh I'm embarrassed to say, okay I will, 10:30am! Jan made a delicious breakfast. Ted, Jan and I went for a walk around the area, then came back to the cabin to change into our swimsuits. We then spent the afternoon and early evening at the lake tubing, skiing and riding the sea doo(spelling?) Saturday night we went to Tally's. They are known for their burgers and man are they YUMMY!!!!!! To finish the night, we made smores around the camp fire. Sunday, we went to a really nice golf course called Garland. I rode along and took pictures while Ted, Randy, Jan, Charlie, and Skip played. It was a beautiful course...there was even a bald eagle's nest on the 11th hole (saw the nest, but not the eagle). We made it back to the cabin where Debbie had prepared a delicious lunch, watched the PGA Championship, and then hit the road for AA. Thank you Hoffman Family for a wonderful weekend!

Friday, August 6, 2010

Summer Camp-Week 3

This week was Theater Dance Camp. We did two numbers from the Musical "Annie". The girls did a great job on their singing and dancing, not to mention the dramatic flair they all gave each time they performed :) We learned "It's a Hard Knock Life" and "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile". We made our costumes (old t-shirts + scissors + markers and paint = orphan costume). The girls loved it. Today we actually watched "Annie" just so they could understand the whole story. They were GLUED to the television. My sweet assistant Marika, helped me do their hair and "make up" (which was eyeliner smudged onto their cheeks to look like dirt). We had several parents and lots of other campers come to be our gracious audience. The girls were fabulous and most importantly, I think had a lot of fun...their teacher certainly did :)