Thursday, October 30, 2008

Carvin' Time....

We carved our Pumpkins tonight. Troy did his almost all by himself. Trent needed a little help when it came to the cutting part. Trent loved to take out all the guts...yucky...slimmy...goey!

I carved the 'baby' pumpkin. I wanted one to keep in the house.
Steve is using 'real' tools to help Troy carve his.
Check it out....


















The front porch all lit up! The weatherman promises nice weather for trick or treating. We just like...no rain!



Friday, October 24, 2008

Nothing...

I've got nothing!......Nothing to say, Nothing going on, Nothing new, Nothing old, Nothing.....Nothing.......Nothing!.......

Monday, October 20, 2008

Fall Footage.....

Fall is in the air, here in West Michigan!


This past Saturday we enjoyed our annual fall gathering at Uncle Jim & Aunt Karen's place. It used to be 'land', when we started this tradition since then, they have moved up there and built a house. It used to be known affectionately as the 'Pondersosa'. We have traced the early stages of the gathering to be somewhere in the 11 year range.
Obviously, the kids have grown a lot since it's early stages. They are now bringing girlfriends and boyfriends! We always enjoy hayrides and a
toasty bonfire! We have been blessed with beautiful weather the last couple of years.

Jaxi came this year...she had a ball running loose. She played with Lilly, Mike and Carrie's dog. I think she slept all Sunday, to catch up after all that running!

Most Michiganders would argue that Fall is there favorite season. They love that crispness in the air. Those beautiful changing colors. Apple crisp, hot cocoa, bonfires, hayrides, pumpkins.....and of course hunting!!

How about you...What's your favorite season????

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Give It Some Thought!



Nothing else to say!

Friday, October 17, 2008

JAXI!......

I wasn't in the frame of mind to get my camera......so no pictures!! I had let Jaxi out and often if she doesn't have to go potty, she looks for a way to get in the front yard. Which is exactly where I found her...in the road!

About a week ago a squirrel had gotten hit....it was pretty flattened by this time....you are starting to know where I am going with this! Well, she thought it a good idea, to get it and parade around our yard with it hanging out of her mouth...NICE....NOT!! So, I went to the garage to get a shovel. The next problem....she will never give up a 'prize' if she knows you want it!! She thinks more of it as a challenge...I got it and you want it!

SOOO....I chased her into the garage, thinking I could at least corner her with it! Great idea!! Then it came to me.....if I get her in the entryway...I can really get her! Problem.....the house door was open!

So like any good dogs, she took her opportunity to run in! So here I am chasing her in the house, squirrel hanging out of her mouth, with a shovel! All I could think was.....not my bed!! Her other favorite spot to stow-away....behind the couch....when she has something she's not suppose to, we can always finder her back there! Like the day, she stole one of Steve's chicken nuggets off his plate, while he was holding it!!!...bad dog!

Anyways back to my story......She ran up on the couch standing there looking at me....come on get it, I dare you! She did ultimately drop it without to much trouble and to my delight it was pretty much dried up...but I didn't know that, till that point!!!

Did I actually pay for a dog????.....

Monday, October 13, 2008

Bummer!

Tyler & his team played the first game of districts tonight. We drew Godfrey-Lee for our first game...they were rated #1 in our league....we were rated last!! Our team won one game all year.

We thought it would be a mercy situation....we were wrong! G-Lee quickly scored a goal and then sometime later another. We then came back to score...twice.....2-2......we have a game our our hands! I'm pretty sure the guys were shocked at their abilities & the score! Mr. Oxford was pretty excited too!!

Our hopes faded fast as G-Lee got a penalty kick....which they made good. We had many attempts to score, as they also did...but none made it in. End score 3-2. They did an awesome job defending our goal...way to go Eagles!

It was fun, to dream of winning...maybe next year. I'm really not sure if my nerves and voice could take another play off game!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Kudos....

Kudos to Revlon! I recently purchased my first flat iron...so begins my story!

I went to Walmart and picked out just what I needed...a combination flat iron and 1½" barrel curling iron. I have never seen one of these...maybe I have not been in the curling iron area in awhile.

It has a lock so you can use the curling part and when you want to use the flat iron part you just unlock it! It is a great tool! It would be great for travel and you only have to heat up one iron...GREAT!!!! (I sound like Tony the Tiger!)

Just had to share this great tool....if you are in the market for an iron, it's 16.00 at Walmart! Someone was thinking on this one....maybe a woman! Revlon you Rule!

Kick It!.....


They played their last game on Tuesday. Which we lost.....actually, we were mercy-ed....one of the best teams in our conference. We only won one game the whole year. We actually gained 2 foreign exchange students a couple games into the year...so that was extremely helpful! One was from Mexico and one was from a European Country....need I say more about their abilities! A quiz....In the third picture...guess which one is a exchange student?

I think we would have put up a better fight if we had not had 5 ineligible players. That reeeeeally HURTS a team of 17! Enough excuses....

A strange cheerleader game to the game....a Praying Mantis...I'm pretty sure he was praying for the KC Eagles to score...please...pretty please!!
Maybe Tyler can help Trent become a great soccer player?? Isn't that sweet, the older brother playing with the younger brother. This is about as rare of a sight, as a Praying Mantis!


If you are wondering about the orange socks...so were we for awhile! That is the "color" of Multiple Sclerosis. The coaches wife, Lori Oxford actually has been diagnosed with it.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

October Recipe....

I know, I know I never posted a September recipe! We had so many things going on that month it was half way through before I even thought about it!

This is a recipe I just tried the other day....and was really quite good. I know what my sisters are thinking......why would anyone eat dried bread crumbs that have been soaked in meat juices. Let me just tell you...I'm with ya! I can honestly say I have never eaten stuffing! I just don't like the thought of it..yuck. But hear me out....it was good...enough that I will make again! (and very easy...bonus!)


STOVE TOP Easy Chicken Bake


1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 can (10-3/4 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup
1/3 cup Sour Cream
1 pkg. (16 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed, drained



HEAT oven to 400°F. Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package.
MIX chicken, soup, sour cream and vegetables in 13x9-inch baking dish; top with stuffing.
BAKE 30 min. or until chicken is cooked through. Enjoy now or cover and refrigerate. To reheat, microwave each serving on HIGH 2 min. or until heated through.

__________________________________________________________________

Steve's modifications---needed more stuffing on top, make with 2 boxes of stuffing...you would think he was getting a kick back from Stove Top!

My modification's---used Meijers brand Stove Top and Steamfresh frozen veg.

Before you turn up your nose...try it and let me know what you think!

I might have to try stuffing this Thanksgiving????

Sunday, October 5, 2008

There's a New Girl in Town!



Okay....I never post about myself...but this is pretty dramatic! Friday I got a new Do! I got it colored and a lot cut off! You should have seen the pile on the floor! I'm still trying to figure out how to get it to look right.


Dad & Linda are going to try to get online in Portugal, so I posted so they could see the new me!


Steve said it I look like the Mom on Brady Bunch....last month I rode in her car.....this month I look like her! He couldn't find me at the football game with my new do!


I did just got a flat iron, so maybe that will help it not look so much like a shag!

Saturday, October 4, 2008

My Mom!.....

Seven years ago yesterday, you left this earthly home for a new home. Oh! the things that have gone on since then!

The biggest being Trent, he was born shortly after you died. Tyler has turned Sweet sixteen and Troy is a teen too! Joel is engaged to be married soon and Hannah is in college. Arie is in college too and Andrew is a junior in HS. Those kids have all grown so much in the last seven years!

You loved being a Grandma, they were your pride and joy! You always took so much time playing with our kids. You loved to get right down on the floor with them. Sometimes, I would come to pick up Tyler after work and you both would still be in your pj's. Tyler still exhibits some of the things, I know, were things you took the time to show him, many years ago!


Even I, am an image of you! I learned some wonderful lessons & skills from you. I got my undeniable gift of bargain shopping from you! It's not just a gift...it is a skill! It seemed like we spent every Saturday heading into Westnedge. You could buy 10 dollars worth of stuff for a dollar!...we spent many hours at Meijers with our shoebox of coupons! Not many people can compete with he ranks of the Rexford girls!

Among other loves, you had a real love for crafts. We had rooms and a basement full of 'craft project want-a-be's'. You taught us how to sew, make shrinky dinks, modge podge on wood boxes, put images on candles.......the list goes on and on....

You had a real love of photography. After an ice storm, off you would go, to find some candid shot of ice on a tree or a fence row. Very often your three girls were the subject of your pictures. Dad never enjoyed the picture taking..."come on Sharon...just take the stupid picture!" or Mom would say...." oops I forgot to wind the camera". We have lots of boxes of pictures of us and the fun we had....and ice on a tree....and rainbows.....and sunsets...and silhouettes of us....and....

You were our Brownie leader, our Girl Scout leader, our 4-H leader & our room mom. You were their when I crossed the bridge from Brownie to Girl Scout. You planned camp-outs in our back-yard and cake decorating with Mrs. Bell. You helped us make 4-H projects for the fair. And then there was bowling.....every Saturday....you wanted us to break 100...we wanted fries from the cafeteria. It still rings in my ears..."keep your arm straight...point your fingers toward the pins...." You helped when we showed cows in the fair...even to go pick them out. The most memorable being, the time you went to run in the manure but your boots didn't move with you...needless to say we all rode home with Dad that day!
There were so many great memories with you Mom...like our many vacations to Florida, a three week long trip out west, going to our cabin, a rodeo at our house (in the rain!), all our many farm animals, Long John Silver..you loved that place! and camping with the Nortons......the list goes on and on......
But most of all Mom you loved God with all your heart. You had a desire to see others come to know His saving grace! You didn't come from a wonderful home life but in your teens God reached down and 'picked you'...and you except His free gift. Your life would never be the same...no more physical and mental abuse...a new life that you could only dream of! I get the pleasure of seeing fruit from your time spent here at Kent City Baptist. You had the gift of hospitality and greeting. Just tonight, with tear filled eyes, someone came to me and recalled their first visit to KCBC and how you welcomed them, not only the first week but the second and third.....they are still there some 13 years later! And another recalled how you found a babysitter for her kids, so she could come to Ladies Bible Study! And I remember, how you brought home a lady from bible study, to stay the night because she couldn't go home. One man said he always hide when he saw you coming 'cause he knew you would have a project for him. You always had a idea, you were a thinker and a dreamer....always trying to find someone to help you implement your plan.....most of the time it was Dad!
I guess this is the end....I am who I am because of you Mom! You instilled so much value, character, worth and integrity in me. A true love for people...I'm a people person because of you. You loved each of us girls unconditionally.....you gave us the best...you gave us a great life...and we are so thankful for that life. We are all truly blessed in our lives....Thank you Mom!!!! Thank you for all the times, as a Mom, you sacrificed for us. We will never forget you and the legacy you left behind......
Just in case you are wondering....that picture was taken for a church directory. The man called me alligator face and apparentrly I didn't appreciate that! That is the picture that was published...I hope I have gotten a lot sweeter over the years!

Homecoming......

Kent City's Homecoming was Friday night.

They had a parade at 5, then there was the football game...which they won 44-14....this is a rare occurrence here in Kent City! We won't mention other schools that have had great football teams!


After the game they put on a wonderful fireworks show! It was suppose to be displayed on Kent City's Fall Festival, but if you remember, it was rained out.....so they were postponed till last night. It was a pretty awesome show.....for little Kent City!


The Dance was held on Saturday night. Tyler is getting a lesson on tie tying...Steve wasn't sure he remembered how to tie a tie...it's been awhile! Here is the group he went with......Sam, Tara, Ariel, Sabrina and of course Tyler......doesn't he look sharp! I guess I'm kinda prejudice....Mom's get to be!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Worth the Watch!.....

I've never posted a YouTube before, but I thought this one was really good! It's kinda long..8 minutes...get your Latte and enjoy......

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

The UP Trip.......

The long awaited pictures of the UP trip. The stats....8 4-wheelers, 9 passengers.....that would be 3 dads and 6 boys, 2 tents, 1 campsite, 2 vehicles, 1 fry pan & not enough blankets!
There was MUD!.....
There was rocks!....... There was repelling off the rocks!......(I'm hearing numbers like....200 feet!) There was leaning into the repell!.....
There was adults repelling!...... There was riding....and lots of it!......
There was leaves changing color!......
There was sunsets!.......
THE END!.....all good things must come to an end!