Summer In Review...

 P.A.T.H.E.T.I.C.

Yes.  You have every right to call me a pathetic blogger.

I got to looking and I have only posted two...TWO...posts for 2016!!!

That's right!

But...I'm making each post "combo" posts...catching you up, months at a time.

Forgive me?

Good.

Let's start with the first picture!

In June, we celebrated Evan's birthday.

Two decades.

How in the world did that happen?

He is such a blessing.

He's a junior in college now.

Holds down a job.

Bought a car.

Proud much?

Yeah...just a little. ;)

 Not sure if I shared this one.

But I made a fairy garden!

I love it!

And it was so much fun to create, I want to make more!

 We also went to hubby's company picnic held at the fairgrounds.

 We had a great time.

They had a catered picnic with bbq pulled pork, chicken, hotdogs, cole slaw, chips, melon, corn on the cob, cookies, and pop.

We played bingo for prizes (didn't win)...it was a lot of fun.

 They gave us fair dollars for yummy fair food!

 We're not much for rides...

 But we had a blast looking at all of the animals...

Cows, horses, donkeys, pigs, bunnies, chickens, roosters, turtles, goats, sheep, camel.

It was a hoot.

 Then there was the photo booth, LOL!

We could NOT get it right, haha!

We barely fit in and none of us were looking at the camera at the same time.

It was hilarious.

 The boys and I went to Coast Guard Fest in Grand Haven with my sis and niece.

 My nephew is in a bucket drum band and is amazing!

They performed each night.

 In August, the four of us went back to Mackinac Island.

We spent one night in Mackinaw City and toured the retired Icebreaker Mackinaw, which is something we'd never done.

 It was very interesting...

...and a lot of fun!

 It rained that afternoon and evening...so the boys didn't get their beach time in.

So they settled for the indoor pool!

Fun!

Next day, we headed for the island...
Me and the hubs at the Grand phone booth!

Relaxing after a long day of hiking...

 We spent one day on the island biking.

We took the 8 mile perimeter.

Stopped at British Landing for fried pickles at the Cannon Ball.

 We had some drizzle on one day on the island, but we don't let it stop us!

We grab our umbrellas and keep going!

 As always, the flowers were amazing.

 Evan has always wanted to kayak.

So he and Nate took a one hour tour with Great Turtle tours.

They had a blast.

I was too chicken.

But after I saw some 8 year olds doing it alone (with the guide)...I decided I better get my booty out there next time!

And lastly, we celebrated Nate's 16th birthday.

My sweet boy is a sophomore this year!

He's in no hurry to drive and tells me he's going to live in New York City so he can just take a taxi everywhere, LOL!

Love that boy!

Well today is Labor Day...which means it's Back To School for all Michigan kids tomorrow!

I hope you all had an amazing summer!

TTFN!

May Musings...Let's Catch Up...

 Well, as I've mentioned before...since I've started going back to school full time (along with working full time)...the blog has taken a back seat.   But I figure as long as I can get one good post a month and catch up our family life...I'm doing good!  Ha!

We're doing well, busy as always.  Yesterday was National Hug A Cat Day...hence the first picture in the post, LOL!  Katarina is the little princess in our household, so I had to nab a picture of her for the day.

 Yesterday was Nate's last day of school.  It was his last year at Cityside.  Look out ZEHS...here he comes!  He came home with his Celebr8 video (year end photo/video), a President's Education Awards Program certificate, 8th grade graduation certificate, and a Finish Strong t-shirt (logging hours for staying active/physically fit).  He is looking forward to a summer of relaxation.

 In my "spare time" (right), I've been experimenting with some Pinterest ideas I've always wanted to try...namely dry shampoo.  It turned out really well and I really like it!  This one is very simple...corn starch and oatmeal.  I love that it's all natural and inexpensive...and best of all, it works!

A couple weeks ago, mom, Jess, and I had our annual Girl's Day Out.  We love going to thrift stores.  It's like treasure hunting!  We always enjoy lunch out and coffee or smoothies later!

 We stopped in Hobby Lobby while we were out thrifting and they had a clearance on their wall decor.  I got this cute "J" and pink platter for 60% off.  I'm going to spray paint the "J" and use chalkboard paint on the tray and hang both in my kitchen!

 Between all of our thrift store stops, I found an abundance of cookie cutters!  Cookie cutters are my obsession.  I love coming across unusual or vintage ones.  It's actually rare when I find one I don't have.

 I got quite a few cute clothes.  My summer wardrobe expanded!

 In other news, my rose bushes are blooming!

 As you all know, I'm going back to school to get my teaching degree.  My school (WGU) held a little contest (Thank A Teacher) and I wrote a post about my favorite high school teacher...and I was selected as one of the winners!  I won a $30.00 gift certificate to the school store!  I chose this hoodie!

 I have had this beautiful flowering bush in my yard for 15 years.  Each year I post a picture and ask friends if they know what it's called.  No one ever knows what it is.  This year, a friend of mine helped me locate a picture of it online and we discovered it's called a Japanese Snowball!  Unfortunately, the blooms only last about 2 weeks.  But I love it!

 Last year, my mom gave me some Hens & Chicks to plant...they came back!  I love succulents!

 Nate and I have been taking bike rides in the evenings.  I hope to do this all summer long.  It's one of the few forms of exercise I enjoy!

 Tulip Time was a success again this year.  This was Nate's last year marching with the middle school band.  Next year he'll march with the high school band.  Evan said it was weird NOT to be marching after 7 years in the band!

 The parades are always fun and the evenings filled with walking through the tulips and getting fair food are great too!

 There's my Nate!

 Nate once again made the Champion Chix list all 6 terms and was a part of the awards ceremony.  We were very proud of him!

 I've been busy working with my baking business.  I did this graduation gift for our pastor's son.  If you haven't already, be sure to check out my baking blog at:
http://sweetivyconfections.blogspot.com/

We are also on Facebook:
Sweet Ivy Confections

And Twitter:
Sweet_Ivy_Conf

I have a wedding order coming up...400 cake pops and a small cutting cake for the bride and groom!  So this month will be busy!

 Our car lease was up this year...and we are now the proud new owners of a Toyota Rav4!

We really love it!  We are buying instead of leasing this time.

 And...introducing...EVAN'S CAR!  Yes, my baby has his own car now!

He completed his first year at GVSU and has been working full time this summer at Meijer.  He bought it all on his own!  It's a 2005 Toyota Matrix.  He really loves it.  INDEPENDENCE!

Nate had his end of year trip with his class to Mackinac Island.  He had a blast, but they jam pack so much into 24 hours, he said he's really looking forward to our family trip in June when he can do his own thing, LOL!

Well, that about sums up our May.  Hope you're all having an amazing summer!

TTFN!

Blogging has taken a backseat...as has everything else...

Easter mantle

 I used to think I wasn't a very good blogger...keeping up with what's going on in my life.

But now...

Now I think I'm a HORRIBLE blogger.

You see, since I started going back to school full time, not just blogging, but EVERYTHING seems to be taking a back seat with school.

School has kept me so busy (and work), it almost feels like anything else I do in life is almost a "treat".  Decorating my mantle for the holidays, doing new chalkboard art, making cookies...shoot, even folding laundry feels like a treat because I get to GET AWAY FROM SCHOOLWORK!  I've been horrible stressed with this science class.  It has been a science class nightmare.  Lord willing, (I'm trusting you God!), I will pass this course SOON!

I did manage to get my Easter mantle done (see pic above).  I framed some free printables, strung some bunnies in a banner, and added some of my old decor I keep stored away.

 My Easter chalkboard turned out really nice I think.

I love that song by Nicole C. Mullen, so when I saw the verse on this pattern, I had to have it.

 Nate had a band concert last week.

It was his last middle school concert.

 We still have some more parades, but this is it for the concerts!

Here he comes high school!

She thinks SHE is the baby of the family

 Katarina is doing well.

She had a small procedure at the vet and has made a perfect recovery.

She is our sweet little stinker.

We love her so much.

 I have a cookie convention I'm going to next month.

And I wanted a t-shirt with my logo on it to represent.

I decided to get some blank iron-on transfers and have a go at it myself.

I just played around on a photo editing site and then printed it on the blank transfer.

I am always fearful doing iron-ons.  Rightly so.  This one gave me some fits.  See how it's lighter in some areas and darker in other (in the pink areas).  Well, when I went to peel the paper backing off, it stuck. Yes, it stuck.  Ugh.  I did manage to get it off after much stress, borderline tears, and a phone call to the craft store where I bought it.  Thankfully, I don't think it looks that bad.  Hubby says it kind of looks "vintage"/"distressed"...LOL!

Yeah...yeah...that's right everyone...I did it on purpose.  I was going for the vintage/distressed look, hehe!

Well, I think that's all that's going on around here right now.

What are you doing for Easter?
I hope you have a very blessed Resurrection Sunday with your family!

TTFN!