Ah Michigan.....

...this is why-  We.Love.You!

We love you for your beautiful beaches....your sparkling water and your pure sand!  

You are beautiful!

Summer seems to zingy by so fast these days!

We miss out on the lazy days of summer. 

So, I called up my friend Caryn and we set up a beach date!

Some sunny hi-lights!

digging in the sand 

Troy 

Troy burying Carson & Trent 

all buried... 

all seven kids..... Ben is in there, just behind Carson.  

Troy got out and then covered all six kids 

last picture to leave you with.... 

Trent and his rocks he collected! Apparently, he has a little of his Grandma Sharon in him!  

G-ma Sharon loved to collect rocks, I frequently recall hauling rocks home from vacations and beaches. 

 She loved beaches!  She loved the sun! She loved pictures of sunsets!  She loved driftwood!

She saw beauty in nature! 

Gerber....

...your more than baby food! 

You are a festival in Fremont!

A town was put on the map after a young entrepreneur put his dream in motion.

Back in 1927.....the factory in Fremont MI started manufacturing baby food.  

Interesting Fact....Gerber controls 86% of the baby food market.  Sadly, they have moved a lot of their manufacturing overseas.  Steve's grandma retired from Gerber

 after putting in 25 years (according to Steve...but his tone wasn't of real confidence!)

Back to the Festival.....

We attended the 10:30 parade with friends, the Wilson's....

Joel Tacey on stilts 

Trent giving Ronald McDonald a high five, minus Ronald McDonald...to quick on the shutter. 

Trent's street fair purchase...black Spider Man mask. 

Dakota volunteering at the Joel Tacey show 

holding the ball on his head... 

fun day in Fremont!

Blog-mercial

Another Blog-mercial coming at ya!!

On the heels of my birthday...I had some cash to spend.

I've never been happy with my blender...at least that's what Hamilton Beach calls it!

I put ice cream in it to make a smoothie..and it says "no thank you!!!!"

I mean come on...your a blender...aren't you?

Problem solved!

If this looks good to you....read on!!!

I did it!

I got the Ninja!

Let's just say...impressive!

Troy and I wasted no time..testing this baby out.

Right out of the box---we tried the ice!

We didn't have un-even clumps of ice...we had snow!!

It totally made snow cone quality ice!  

I think that is a pretty tall order for any blender.

Then Troy & I quickly moved to something more appealing.....

a Snickers Blizzard....YUMMO! 

it has blades at the bottom and about 1/2 way up..hence more even blending!

Mine also came with a smaller container for mixing small batches.

I purchased it at Pamida for $39 (on sale, of course, $10 of the regular price) 

I've also made Strawberry Smoothies...I have to say...pretty awesome!

You are suppose to be able to make salsa & dips (avocado...)..I have not tried that...so, you are on your own if you choose to purchase a Ninja!

The only thing I have noticed is it only has one on button..it's like a 'pulse' button..you can do quick bursts or hold it down.

This is a MUST for smoothie lovers!!

Einstein

He's a near Einstein!  Really, he is!

He's my Einstein!

This is how he came up with a 'fix' for my 

outside spigot..Unique huh!

Now we have to say...go turn on the door knob!

Summer Fun...

Sprinkler fun gone bad!  

It all started out as a sprinkler spraying on the trampoline.

Then it turned to making a mud puddle for the bikes.

Then it turned to body mud masks.

Trent and Jack...

Jack in his "mud shirt" 

all in good summer fun!  

A couple of years back this would have thrown me for a loop!

I would have been pretty upset....but in my old age, I have learned to roll with the 'things boys are made of'!!

These are the things boys live for...girls, not so much...at least not me!

I have always felt my boys have missed out by growing up in town.

I wish they would have had a woods to built a fort in 

I wished they would have had a creek to build a dam in

I wish they could have had a real tree fort.

But these kids didn't have that...so I guess they get mud puddles!

Week-end

On Saturday we surprised the kids and picked them up at Lake-Ann.

It was fun to walk around and remember our years as campers and hear all their fun camp stories!

Here is what welcomes you....

the rock under the sign... 

The Welcome Center...this is defiantly a change from when I attended camp.... 

Tyler, Troy & Florin with their counselor 

Trent stayed in Otter 2 

after picking up the kids we went over to the Isenhart's to have lunch . 

and we did a little boating

Craig, Steve & Captain Jim 

the girls..Kristi, Joanne & Renee 

We had a wonderful time!! Thank you Jim & Renee!!

We were also able to visit with long time friends Jon & Susan Freyer.

Grand Haven....

This has become somewhat of a tradition for us...

when the kids go to camp, we take a night to head over to Grand haven to watch the sunset.

I checked the weather and Wednesday seemed like the best choice...so over we went!!!

I'm no photographer and I don't have one of those ritzy cameras..so this is all I got!

I look at others pictures and love them and how they look..but I know my A.D.D. self and know I would never be able to teach myself all the things you need to know about photography!!!  I would need Steve to read it all and and explain it to me...and then remember it when my feeble mind forgot it! Not gonna happen!!! 

that's all folks!!

Lake Ann....

Early Monday morning we were shipping three boys of to Lake Ann Camp near Traverse City.  This is Tyler's last year...which we thought he might not be able to get time off at Steelcase..but they let him have it off.  This was Trent's first year attending LA...he was sooo excited!  Troy...well..yeah he went...he plays like he doesn't want to go...but we know he does!!!!

Trent bringing is stuff to the bus!

Here they are getting ready to ride the bus up there.  Yes, that's a chartered bus..our church owns one.  I remember riding up to LA all jammed in a van..what happened to those days???

Five Buckner Boys heading to Lake Ann!!!

Tyler, Trent, Troy, Florin & Nic....ready or not here they come! 

Lake Ann is a great great camp and well worth the money it takes to send them there!!!!  As a matter of fact, I went to LA 4-5 times myself.  Some of my most fond childhood memories were from LA...spending time with my cousin, Dawn...why we ever signed up for Tee-Pee camping one year is beyond me!?!?!?  We do have a lot of memories to show for it!!! It was a fun year for us...oh, and that one counselor we all had a crush on...baby..was he hot!!!!  I think I got off track there a bit!

My dad was also a camper the 2nd year LA was started...back in 1948!

Steve's mom was also a camper there!  Third generation campers!

He's 19!

Tyler's Birthday was on Sunday..so we had a little party.

We went to Oakridge after church for dinner then we came back and had cake and ice cream at our house.  It's so hard to believe he's 19.  My goodness...seems like only yesterday he started pre-school!!

He's a handsome young man and we are so proud of him!

Awww....does a mom's heart good to see him loving on his brother! 

What Tyler's doing presently....

he's been working at Steelcase. His job title is "material handling"...and that's what he does...he moves boxes! He has to be there at 6, so he's gets up around 4:30 and he gets out at 3:30--working Mon-Friday.  He says "it's not too bad!"

Makes going to college and getting a good job appealing!!!!

Great Wolf Lodge.....

Last Thursday Steve was heading to Great Wolf Lodge for a fire show.  At the last minute his boss couldn't go with him..so Steve called me at 2:30 and asked if I wanted to go with him...my first response... I would love to but I have sooo much going..that I can't.  Needless to say we were pulling out for Traverse City at 4:00 with Troy & Trent in the backseat! Yes...we got ourselves packed in an hour! So, I guess things can be changed and re-arranged!  We stopped by a near by Fire department to pick up a truck for people to look at....and I followed Steve with the truck.  Once we got there, we had to give it a quick wash....it's a family affair!

everyone's helping! 

The next morning, bright and early, we headed to the water park. Steve had to stay out with the truck and do the show...so mom had to do the slides, play structure, lily pads....and of course, the river and the hot tub! 

Normally, we don't do the "extra's"....we did let Trent make a tie-die pillowcase...here he is before he started it 

me helping him 

then we played a game of checkers in the 'Cub Club'...yes I did beat him. 

Steve was able to come in late Friday PM for a few quick rides down the slides with the boys. 

and some basketball 

Trent was exhausted...isn't this precious! 

on of the other vendors at the show was a fire Truck Simulator.  It is a tool Departments buy to train their staff on driving the truck.  He let Troy, Trent and Steve give it a try. 

Trent can't be trusted yet, he hit a pedestrian. 

Steve said it was very very realistic..his heart was beating away and he was sweating after he got done! 

back to the water park on Saturday...Troy with Trent in the background. 

Trent's finished product..we had to wait to pick it up while it dried. 

saying good-bye for now! 

we will see you again soon GW!