are we having fun yet?

Grant is 5!!

It's amazing to me that 5 years represents at times, an eternity (like as in, I can't believe Grant is 5) and at other times, 5 years is not that much time at all!

We adore this kid!  He is a total crack up at every turn in our day, and we don't know what to expect 90% of the time with him. 

Here is birthday invite for his party this year:

 

I may or may not have my Mom making 17 superhero capes......she confirms though, it's because she loves us!  Thank goodness for talented, sewing moms! :)

 

two deer

Occasionally, we pass deer on a dirt road we take to get to the store, the gym, on the way to the freeway to get to Justan's work, etc....but over by us, across the lake that is, we've maybe seen them in our yard two times since living here. 

But, I guess, in the winter, they can walk across the frozen lake and apparently, the Stringham's is the place to be (we are pretty awesome)!  We originally put this feeder out for the birds, but all sorts of animals come to gather.  It's fun to see the squirrels maneuver to get onto the bird feeder (you can see one in the picture below), and now the deer.  When Jaden called me over to the window yesterday, I had to repeat, "you said, deer?  You mean a squirrel, right?" and he said, "no, it's really two deer out there!"  So, I was actually surprised when I saw two actual deer standing there looking back at me!

Taken from the bedroom upstairs:

Ran outside and got this shot as they were leaving:

Detroit who? Pistons???

Living my entire life in Utah, has made me a loyal Utah Jazz fan, undoubtly. I can even remember watching games with Isaiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer with the plastic mask from a VERY long (20 yrs?) ago.

However, this summer in August, Jaden had the opportunity to attend a basketball camp at the local high school put on by the Detroit Pistons.  It was actually a GREAT camp for him to attend, and I plan on signing him up again!  It was four days, of basically 4 hours of instruction, and game play each day.  He was always exhausted, but I know he really learned some valuable skills, and deep down, I think he really enjoyed it!

Camp in August (he's the one getting the rebound):

He was given ONE free ticket to attend a Pistons game, and shoot on the Pistons court before the game.  What a cool opportunity!  Of course, we couldn't send our 8 year old alone, so we ended up making it a family night and stopped at the Rainforest Cafe for dinner since the arena is a good 60 mins away from our house.  Rainforest Cafe is overpriced zoo food, but the atmostphere was cool and my kids liked it.

 He made the shot!!! 

 

 

For paying $15/ea for the other tickets, our seats weren't bad at all.  First row of the upper level.

The one thing that really shocked me was how empty the arena was.  I don't follow the Pistons at all, so maybe they aren't so good......but it was surprising how empty it was.

I liked their "basket" entrances to each of the portals, and of course, my kids being goofballs!

meet Elliott

meet our elf, Elliott, who comes and visits us daily in a new place.  He is quite mischevious!  Today he wanted to show us he could write his name and also did a snow angel!

once-in-a-lifetime-kindred-spirit kind of friends

Friends. <insert sigh>

Moving away and making friends has been challenging, atleast more challenging than I initally thought before moving out here.  I've never really had a problem making friends.  Although I'm shy, you meet one person, who introduces you to another, etc.....or you meet and make friends at work, etc....but moving somewhere totally new and having neither of those two outlets, has been hard. 

I guess I was somewhat naive and just more of the "glass is half-full-it'll-just-happen-eventually" type of people, but I have yet to find that person(s) here that is that "once-in-a-lifetime-kindred-spirit" friend here.  I was so blessed to have several of those people when I lived in Utah.   I actually think that a few of the friendships that have developed here actually have potential to reach that status, but alas, they just take time to develop and I'm ancy!

I definitely keep in touch with all of those people, but for me, there is something about being able to see people regularly in person.  I just need that.

Don't get me wrong...I think it's really hard to find those "once-in-a-lifetime-kindred-spirit" friends anywhere.  It just is and that's why it rarely happens. I also believe that part of it is just a "it takes time" and I've definitely started to feel more "at home" here and people that I've had repeated interactions with have developed into friendships.

I've really put myself out there, and tried to meet a bunch of people, many, many different ways, moreso than I have ever done in my life.  It really sucks to be making friends at the age of 34. It's not as easy as when you were making friends in elementary school.  It's been a real challenge for me as I'm typically a very shy person initially.  However, I knew it had to happen because I'm not meant to be a loner.  I like people!

One really odd thing yet it has been almost surreal to experience, as I have met new people this past year in Michigan, it's almost like the new people's personality and mannerisms (and sometimes looks) are actually eerily similar to those of friends back in Utah! 

I didn't mean for that to get all off track, just reflective of the past year and what I've faced moving to a new place.

So, as I was back in Salt Lake a couple weeks ago for Roger's funeral, I managed to squeeze in some time to see my awesome, dear friends, Sande and Layle. I met them many, many years ago.  They are definitely those type of people that are there for me no matter what.  We can be out of touch for awhile, but they literally drop everything to help me out, or be there for me.  Love them dearly! I actually have many friends that fall in this category, but don't have any pictures together! And because I write posts based on pictures in the post, that's why I'm focusing on Sande and Layle on this one!

They've both become hard-core, serious runners.  They looked fabulous and were so inspiring!  We met at Mimi's Cafe on a Saturday morning and suddenly, three hours passed after we had started breakfast without us realizing it! 

yesterday

yesterday.

I'm always feeling behind when it comes to this blog, but I want that to change.

and so I start today, posting about yesterday.  It's a start.

So this was yesterday in the afternoon probably around 3pm.  Michigan during the wintertime to me is very gloomy and dark, even at times you would think it should be bright.  This picture so accurately represents the darkness level during the early afternoon of this particular day.  Looking forward to seeing the sun again soon!

oh, the creatures we meet!

Saturday brought us a snapping turtle:

never pick up, unless you don't mind losing a hand!  this guy was MEAN! 

Sunday, we found a painted turtle in the yard:

I saw a possum last week, and we always see squirrels and chipmunks, my neighbor saw a turkey and a deer......I can say with confidence we never saw any of these animals at our home in Utah!  My kids are LOVING it!!

after school today

after school.

today.

capturing their "moment together"

in the backyard.

brothers. love. forever.

grant today 05.27.2010

Grant is really big into dressing himself or doing anything by himself.....and he changes his clothes about 15 times a day!  It can be very frustrating for the person left doing the laundry.  Here is his look he's working today (and the posing is all him):

Here he is riding his bike right beforehand:

roger

back in March (I believe - this is why I need to blog WHEN it happens, not after the fact so I can remember better), my step-dad, Roger, was in ICU for almost a week.  He has emphysema and he was not able to breathe on his own like normal with his oxygen tank.  Well, after multiple tests, they realized that his lungs were just shutting down and they gave him 2-6 months to live.  Not being able to be there in Utah and be clear out here in Michigan made the days seem soooooo long and so hard to know what was going on.  He was finally released, and my mom and many wonderful people came over and got their home ready for him to come home to. 

Of course, I wanted to go back and see him and my mom as soon as possible.  I wanted my boys to see them again.  So, very last minute, we all decided to go back for a week and spend time at their home the first week of April.  It turned out to be a great week, and I was so happy that my kids were able to spend that time with him.  I was so glad to be able to spend that time with him and my mom.  It was one of the most emotionally draining times in my life, and I was so, so sad to say goodbye and have that one last hug before I left at the airport. 

I believe losing my dad at age 10, has made me always super sensitive and emotional when people die.  Knowing someone is going to die does not make it any easier either for me.

Roger married my mom four days before I turned 16, so he has been a BIG part of my life for the past 18 years.  At first, we did not see eye to eye.  But, quickly, I grew to love Roger.  He has been absolutely fantastic for my mom and he has treated both my sister and I like we were his own.  He has cared for my children and been a HUGE part of their lives.  He is their grandpa.  Doing stuff with them, playing with them, reading them books, anything and everything. 

And while he seems at peace with what will eventually happen, I am not.  Every time I think about it, I am brought to sobbing tears.  It's hard to imagine him not being there.  But, I am so grateful for all the years I have spent with him.  He means the world to our family!