Mackinac Island...

Wednesday we left for Mackinac Island. This was our third trip up this year. Jamie and I went over Memorial Day weekend...then the whole fam went up over July 4th and then again this week during August. We had a wonderful time.

We spent one day kite flying. We brought the kite that we bought at Great Turtle Toys here on the island in July back with us and enjoyed flying it on the lawn in front of Mission Point.

It's such a great kite. Even a novice like us can fly it with ease. Evan loves flying it...but Nate gets a little nervous because you really have to hold on tight. It goes sooooo high and you can really feel the wind tugging on it. Jamie spent some time relaxing on the lawn with it too.

Nate and I took a walk while Jam and Ev spent some more time flying the kite. Nate loves taking pictures so I let him take some snapshots in the garden at Mission Point.

I got a few of him too. He not only like to take pictures, he likes to ham it up for the camera too.

Smile mommy! Say cheese! There was a wedding in the garden just prior to Nate and I taking our walk over there...you can see little white rose petals on the ground in this photo that the flower girl had thrown. That is one fun thing about Mission Point...there is ALWAYS a wedding going on...all the time. It's fun seeing all the wedding parties.

Here's Nate in the garden again...giving me a big old cheesey smile!

Nate and I went back over and watched Jam and Ev fly the kite for a while longer. It was a super windy day...perfect for kite flying.

Nate loved the Canadian Geese...(in the background)...so he took a picture of me with them.

At Mission Point...kids eat free...so whether they're really hungry or not...the boys always take advantage of the meals...even if it's just to munch a snack. Here they are enjoying a personal pan pizza one afternoon.

Here we are at the Butterfly House. It had been years since we'd been in there and the boys enjoy it alot...especially now that they've added Insect World.

Here we are just hanging out in the lobby at the lodge...the boys played a game of checkers.

Rise and shine boys! Time to get ready for breakfast! Wake up sleepy-heads!

We hiked up to Arch Rock the first day we were there and looking down into the lake...we noticed someone had spelled out the word LOVE in colored stones! How cool was that!

Here we are sitting near The Grand Hotel...just taking a break. We tried out the timer feature on our new camera! It's pretty cool! We just set the timer, set the camera down...and SNAP! Here we go! Not too bad!

Here are the boys just hanging out near the lake. They like to go down to the "rock beach" as they call it each day and skip stones. There are also all kinds of little creatures down there...tadpoles, minnows, shells, etc. Nate took a tumble on Thursday and scraped up his leg a little...but he survived.

Me and the boys hangin' out in the hotel room one evening before dinner.

Jam took a couple snapshots on the way over on the ferry. Here's Natee!

And...Ev and I.

We had a great trip. Great weather...only one day of rain. Mackinac Island is a special place to all of us. We've done all the touristy stuff...which is fun...but it's kindof a "been there, done that" type of thing. Now...we just like going up and relaxing, hiking the trails, hanging by the lake, on the lawn, kite flying, enjoying a cup of coffee, walking...just chilling out. We love the slow paced island life, the history, and the peace and tranquility of it.

We're anxious to go back next May!

Until then...

We'll see you in the spring M.I.!!!

Thanks for another wonderful vacation!!!

Happy 9th birthday sweet Nathan!

August 25, 2000

Today we celebrate our dear sweet Nathan's ninth birthday.

Nathan has always been about routine and schedule.

Even right to his due date...he came RIGHT ON his due date!

It wasn't enough that big brother Evan had to spend two weeks in the NICU...Natee had to give a little scare too. Nate swallowed some meconium during his delivery and while suctioning it out, one of his vocal chords was damaged...so he had to spend an extra day in the hospital...after mommy came home. Coming home TWICE empty handed just isn't even right! But thankfully, he was released fairly quickly. He was born on Friday evening, mommy came home on Sunday...and Nate was able to come home on an apnea monitor by Monday evening. He stayed on his monitor for about a month and after some tests at Spectrum Hospital...they determined it had healed and there was no need for his monitor. YAY!

Nathan is my precious boy.

Some have joked that the umbilical chord was never cut, LOL!

He was always attatched at the hip to his mommy!

Evan was always happy to sit in his bouncey, walker, swing, etc.

Not my Natee!

Nate was always in my arms, on my hip, or on the floor right next to me.

He's my baby...always has been...always will be...

I remember seeing Nate for the first time and thinking he was beautiful...but to be honest, the first thing I noticed was his nose. LOL! It wasn't big...it was just very...prominent. LOL! I remember the nurse giving him his first bath in the nursery and saying, "Wow! What an awesome nose!" LOL! He has "grown into" his nose now. But it is still unique and beautiful! In fact, I will never forget the day we were at Starbucks, and the pretty young gal behind the counter said to Nate, "WOW! Look at your profile! People would pay for your nose!" LOL! Well, that was a new one! LOL! Never heard that before! LOL! He didn't quite know what to think! I explained it was a compliment. LOL!

Nate is my special boy.

He is so much fun.

We have such great chats together.

He talks from the minute he wakes up...till the minute his eyes close at bedtime.

My Grandma Malone would have loved him if she'd have gotten to meet him! They'd have had great chats!

Nate loves being outdoors.

He is always on the move.

He loves shooting baskets.

He loves Star Wars.

He loves Legos.

He loves his friends.

And get ready for this girls...he LOVES CHOCOLATE!!!

I keep telling him, he's gonna really get along with the ladies! LOL! We girls love our chocolate!

Natee...I love you so much!

I can't believe you're nine years old.

You're almost as tall as me!

You will always be our special boy.

Keep Jesus #1 and continue to be the wonderful friend you are to everyone.

I hope you have a very blessed birthday sweet boy!

Love and hugs,

Momma

Meijer and Target...the savings never stop!

I just LOVE being a coupon addict!

I had so much fun at Target today. I not only got necessities, but also some items I can put away as gifts!

The best of the best...

All Small & Mighty Detergent (trial size)...2 cents

Reese's 8 pk. candy...45 cents

Skittles candy...FREE plus 31 cents overage! (times four!)

Lucky Charms snack cup...FREE

Dove anti-persperant...29 cents (times two)

Head & Shoulders Shampoo (trial size)...FREE plus 3 cents overage

Hungry Hippos game... (travel size) 99 cents (times two)

These were the best of the best...but the real high point of the trip was, that I had a wonderful cashier who decided to give me "overages" on my coupons, which they normally do not do! Who am I to argue? LOL!

My tally was...

Saved: $23.67

Spent: $8.14

At Meijer, I had a good trip as well. I spent quite a bit this week...but I stocked up BIG TIME for the school year on breakfast, lunch, and snack items. My savings was quite substantial too.

Saved: $68.47

Spent: $81.82

Big savings this week!

I had two really great shopping trips on Sunday.

I started out at Walgreens.

They had Tylenol products ($4.49) Buy 1 Get 1 Free. Well using two $2.00 off coupons, I managed paying right around 25 cents each!

They had Reach toothbrushes priced at 99 cents with a Walgreens coupon...which I paired with a $1.00 manufacturers coupon making it FREE!

I got some Rimmel foundation, regular $6.99 on sale for $4.19 and used a $3.00 coupon making it $1.19!

I also tried out their line of nail polish which was regular $3.49 on sale for $2.09...of course I used a coupon with it for $1.00 off AND a Buy 1 Get 1 FREE...so I ended up paying $1.59 each.

I also got some incredible deals on Glade products as well!

My final tally there was...

Saved: $41.32

Spent: $12.03

At Target I did INCREDIBLY well!
They had those Glade Sense & Sprays on sale for $5.69 which is a good deal. I used a $4.00 off coupon thinking $1.69 was a great deal...only to see a "peely" on them for another $1.00 off!!! I got them for 69 cents each!!! I got two of them!
I also got some great deals on Edge and Skintimate shave gels as well.
My tally there was...
Saved: $21.22
Spent: $6.86

It's the little things...

Many have heard me say it...time and time again..."It's the little things in life that really make my day"...that make me happy...that truly bless me...that get me through each day!



Some of little day to day things that really make my day are...



Calla lilies...seeing these flowers remind me of how creative God is. They are so beautiful and delicate...like little rolled delicacies.

Cooking and trying new recipes...I so enjoy trying yummy new recipes for my family. Jamie and I have come across so many great recipes together just browsing the newspaper. We clip them out and add them to our "favorites" folder and they become our tried and true "go to" meals time and time again.

Reece's Pieces...need I say more? Nate and I have developed a shared love for these and end up taking them on most of our family vacations. If they are in our house...at any time...it's dangerous for me...they do not last long!

Shoes...what else can I say? This pair says it all. Pink stilletos with bows? I mean, how much more feminine and girly can one get? I LOVE THEM!!! I am a shoe addict...although I must say, in recent years, I have really curbed my addiction. When you have children, and especially as they start getting older...their needs...and usually wants too, come first.

I don't think ANYTHING can make me happier than a good hair day. When I get a good hair cut and style and it's something I can do quick and easy on my own, I am one happy camper. Bad hair + Melody = You don't even wanna be around me.

A good romance novel is tops with me. Give me a Nicholas Sparks or Susan Wiggs book and some time alone...you won't hear from me...till I'm done!

A massage...I have only ever had one professional massage in my life. But let me say...it is better than anything else in the world! I got off that table with "jello-legs". AMAZING!

Make-up...period. You'll really see me happy when I get new make-up! I ADORE getting new make-up! I suppose it could be because I'm so dependant on it. You will NEVER see me without it. The only people that EVER see me without make-up are my husband and sons. PERIOD.

Magazines...walking out to the mailbox and getting a magazine instantly brings a smile to my face! And lately since I started reading Deal Seeking Mom's blog, there are SO many FREE magazine subscriptions out there! So let me tell you...this has been one happy momma!

Manicures and pedicures...professional of course is preferred...but who has the time and money for such frills...except for the rare special occasion. Even a "fresh coat" on the fingers and toes can make a girl feel like a new woman!

Gardening...I call it stress relief and therapy! Pulling weeds instantly brings me stress relief and the gratification of anger release! Of course there's also nothing like getting your hands dirty each spring and planting the flowers, but I totally enjoy the weeding aspect as well. I do have to admit though, by mid-August, I am starting to get a little burnt out on all the watering and such...

Great music...David Cook, Daughtry, Michael Buble'...these are just some of my new favs. Love music from the 80's and early 90's. Always true to the contemporary christian music I grew up with as well. Great music will always put a spring in your step!

A day off work...NOTHING...and I do mean NOTHING...is better than A DAY OFF WORK!!! PERIOD!!!

Coupons!!! Anymore, I enjoy couponing more than scrapbooking, stamping, knitting, YOU NAME IT! It has become more than a way to save money, it is a fun pass-time, a hobby if you will...but most of all, a way of life...and I LOVE IT!
Pringles Select Parmesan Garlic...OH MY GOSH...these are my addiction...they are becoming harder and harder to find. And I am just praying they don't quit making them! These are my ALL TIME favorite potato chip! I swear, I could buy them in bulk!
Mackinac Island...we will probably never vacation any where else again. This historical island is near and dear to our heart. Our family loves it. We would all live there year round if we could. We love the slow paced life these island folks lead. Such a spirit of community the island folks have. We have done the touristy stuff. When we go...we do stay at Mission Point Resort...but we just enjoy sitting...by the fireplace...by the lake...enjoying our coffee...a good book...hiking the trails...walking...talking...relaxing...enjoying each other's company and the beauty of the island.
A good thunderstorm. No one else appreciates a good storm like I do. They complain it ruins their plans. They complain they can't sleep. They complain they lose power. They complain their satellite goes out. Me? I enjoy the rumbles of thunder. The light show put on by lightening. The sound of the rain. BUT...I do have to say...I only want to be HOME enjoying my storms. I don't want to be out driving in one...that does make me a little nervous. LOL!
What are your favorite things? Some of God's creativity? Some great junk food? Your old comfy jeans? Snuggling with your cat? (Oh I forgot that! I love snuggling with Oreo! LOL!) Tell me what you love!

The best of the best at Meijer today...

This week Meijer had a couple really awesome deals going...

The new line of Tony's Pizza was on sale for 98 cents. There are many printable and insert coupons floating around for Save $1.00 on two...making them 48 cents a piece!!!

The second was the Kraft Easy Mac. Meijer price is $1.00 for these. You can combine a Meijer Meal Box coupon for $1.00 off two, along with a Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon which were available in many magazines...making them FREE!

Better Late Than Never! (Coast Guard Fest)

I totally forgot I had these pictures and didn't realize I hadn't written about the Coast Guard Fest!

We had a great time visiting with cousins Tiffany, Jeremy, Ellie, and Nicholas during Coast Guard Fest.

Jess had a cook-out on that Saturday and we went up there for some great food.

The kids all got to play together and we hung out and had an awesome dinner.

Later we went downtown Grand Haven and toured the big boats. It was totally crazy chaotic...and probably something I won't do again...LOL...but it was fun to be with the fam.

It had been raining off and on throughout the day...and on the way home, we saw this beautiful rainbow when we stopped off at Meijer. Since I had my camera, I snapped a picture of God's handiwork.