Quad Squad 2011

The Quad Squad took their 1st trip of the year. 

We left on June 10 (my birthday) and headed home on June 14th.  

Our destination was Munising MI

We left an hour after the boys got home from their last day of school.

We hitched a ride with G-pa & G-ma Buckner. Riding in style in the motor home, pulling our trailer with the quads in it.

here is the first stop...a rest area 

We left our campsite about 11am on Saturday morning for our first ride

Here we are enjoying lunch...that first day was a bit cold so we are bundled up pretty good! 

Troy in all his gear 

This is the first year I have drove my own quad...I normally ride on the back of Steve's.  Tyler, sadly could not go, as he had just started a job at Steelcase...so, I had to drive so Trent could ride with Steve.  

I believe I like it!!!!!! 

G-pa Neil and Trent..he rode with G-pa & Steve 

We had a potluck dinner to celebrate my birthday on Saturday night.  

This is what camping is all about!!!! 

...and this....campfires! 

One of the views along the trail 

taking a break...Steve, Trent, G-pa Neil & Craig 

Florin found this horse along a trail..so he made it is rear bumper! 

Trent at Lake Superior near Au train 

having lunch at Lake Superior on Sunday 

walking the beach at Au train 

My hat looking good!! 

now I have my hanky under control

Kristi, Joanne & Kelly 

We are family! 

What would a trip be without some break downs.

Believe it or not G-pa drug that pail of cement out of the weeds so use...God is good! 

after Au train we headed to Christmas MI...it's a fun little town..all the streets are named Christmas names...Candy Cane Lane, Holly, St Nicholas, Santa Claus....you get the idea.  I purchased a Christmas ornament that says...Christmas Michigan.

The Wilson's posing 

The Buckner's turn 

THEN came the mud!!

That's Kelly on the quad, Steve by her..and well Daren...I have no idea???? 

Troy Stuck! 

G-pa pulling Troy out...Oops..went on it's side 

Florin lives for this! 

Our Big accomplishment of the trip....G-pa got his Can-Am Outlander stuck.... 

Steve got stuck too...as a matter of fact he was so stuck it took Daren, Craig & G-pa Neil to pull him out! 

And their was some accidents along the way..... 

I thought this was a funny picture....the kids are sitting on the bank enjoying the show... 

The adults headed to the Dogpatch for dinner...we clean up pretty good!!! 

On our way home from dinner we stopped by Munising Falls.

Yeah that's Steve and Daren up behind the falls.  

I guess they didn't see that sign that stated not to go behind the falls because it is unsafe!!!?? 

Awww..Steve & Joanne 

Monday morning by the Wandering Wheels sign...we had 12 quads...Awesome! 

This is why we go...cousins!

Troy & Florin 

Trent & I at the Bridge Look out...you all know the one...across from McDonalds in St Ignace.

Like Trent's cap?...well it's actually mine...Neil bought it for me at Biff's Surplus...awww....wasn't that sweet of him.. in spite of all my harassing of him...he still loves me! 

We had another successful trip..we plan to head back in September before school starts.  

Life doesn't get better than these bragging rights!

Our Baby...

Our baby's all grown up! 

No more field trips, no more Christmas parties, no more Soccer games, no more back-to-school shopping! 

Things are changing around here!  There might not be some of the 'no more' but now there are a lot of 'first' coming our way!

Let me back up a little and re-cap the last week!

We attended the Senior Awards Ceremony.  Tyler received his NHS cords....

his Scholar Athletic Award..... 

and an award for giving blood 5 times during his HS years. (which I don't have a picture of) 

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We have a Senior Sunday at church were we honor our Seniors....

Tyler introducing himself 

After they all introduced themselves, Pastor Derek prayed for them and their futures 

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Let the Party begin...

                                       On June 4, 2011 we held a HS Graduation Party for 'Our' Tyler!

The party was at Kent City Baptist Church

 from 11-2pm

brunch style-- Ham, Farmers Casserole, Scrambled Egg Casserole, French Toast Casserole, fruit, veggies and broccoli salad.

......And of course--Cake....

sign that we hung on the wall...

some of the guests.....

the 'wall'

I hung some of Tyler's elementary artwork, displayed his letter/eagle/2011, a book compiling his pre-school years through his senior year.

HE DID IT!!!!

pre-graduate

post-graduate!!

with the brothers

well---this one speaks for itself!

the diploma

the year

the happy family!

the Grandparents

the girl!

the "I'm so proud of you son!!"

the sign out front

We gave Tyler a special present for his graduation....it's a Pilot's log book.

We had a plate engraved that read...

Aim High~ Fly High

We are so proud of you

We love you- Dad & Mom

June 5 2011

Steve & Tyler are looking at the first entry....he flew back in May, so that counts for his first hours towards his pilot's license

Tyler you make us so proud.  

We can't wait to see how God directs and grows you.

We are enjoying watching you blaze a trail of your own.

You are a great son and we have been blessed to see you through these first 18 years!

Dew Dumplings

A recipe you all need!!!

This isn't going to be one that your grandma has passed down over the generations!

The things you can do with Mountain Dew!

~Dew Dumplings~ 

this is a pre-baked look at the dumplings

this is the post baked look!  OOH so good! 

so here is the recipe

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 c sugar
• 1 t cinnamon
• 1 t vanilla 
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) caffeinated citrus-flavored soda (such as Mountain Dew®)
• 4 small Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and quartered
• 2 (8 ounce) crescent roll dough

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
2. Heat the butter, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside. Divide the crescent roll dough into 16 triangles. Roll 1 slice of apple with the dough and arrange on the prepared pan. Pour the butter mixture over the wrapped apples, then pour the citrus-flavored soda on top.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes

My changes: (cause it's my blog!!)

*When I make again--I will use 1 stick of butter

*just form the dough around the apple quarter

*I would just microwave butter/sugar mixture

*I used 2 granny smith and 2 golden delicious apples--we liked the GD better- but not a lot of difference

*I used 3/4 can of MD...because-I don't know why?-felt like it I guess!?!

*could easily 1/2 recipe

Enjoy!!!

Full of it...

Full of advice that is!  I wanted to share a helpful hint with you today!
Many years ago when I worked at a salon we used baking soda before every perm.  What that did was strip away any build-up...be it hairspray, gels or anything like that.
Here's what you do...put some shampoo in your hand and sprinkle a good amount of baking soda in it....mix that up to form a pasty shampooish mix. Shampoo your hair..leaving in for a couple minutes so it does it's 'thing'.  You should be able to shampoo it around...if not..add shampoo & water.
rinse and condition as usual.
Only do a treatment once a week or so.  If you have colored hair it can strip out your color faster (not totally) than usual.
It is also good to get out rust, hard water and chlorine (from pools)..no more green hair!
Also good to wash your face with..I use it daily! No more $4 bottles of facial wash!
The best part it is cheap!!  In these economic hard times we need to help each other out.  Share what has worked for you with someone!  That is all!  Take it or leave it!

Flying High...

SSSOOO I wrote this post a couple days back and posted it... I just went to look at it today and it wasn't there and half the post was gone...so I had to re-write a lot of it...so now it's a new post....=)!!!

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Saturday we were guests on the Linsley Express. The story begins three short years ago..when Steve celebrated his 40th birthday!  For his birthday I gave him a plane ride with a friend, Mark Linsley.  Well as life has it, he never took the flight. Amongst Mark's busy life....his job and his 6 kids and our life and snow and rain and wind....it just never worked out...until now! I even felt guilty tearing Mark away from his kids' Saturday morning ball games...A HUGE Thank you to him..and his wife Dusty for allowing him to go!! 

I'll have to admit it was a beautiful day!

Round 1....

Steve, Troy & Trent.  The plane is owned by Mark & his dad.  It didn't scare me too much that they had purchased the plane after it was destroyed by a hanger door and the middle area was crushed...no, that didn't scare me at all!!!!  Mark's dad had spent a year rebuilding the plane.

They tell me this is a Cessna 170...which doesn't mean a lot to me...but to some of you that means a lot! Like how many passengers you can have, how long it is, how heavy it is, how much fuel you can put in it, the wing size and on & on & on

and they are off....

and they are back

On Round 2..

Mark told Tyler to hop in the pilot's seat..what? wait? he's never flown a plane before!?!?  Mark was going to ride co-pilot!  Trent and I were riding as back seat passengers.

Here Mark is giving Tyler a short flying lesson...

Me re-thinking my decision to ride.  I'm not a huge fan of heights or pilot training

I think I can do it....

Mark & Tyler going through the take off check list.  Fun Fact about Mark----his Grandpa started the Aviation program at Grand Rapids School of Bible & Music (now Cornerstone)

Cool Cat Trent.  The kid never even batted an eye on the flight!

(This was the first time Troy & Trent had ever been in a plane)

Tyler first time flying high! He did a great job!

Those to were chatting as if we weren't cruising around the sky.  

'Hello boys we are in the air!!!'

Trent said "mom look out the window and enjoy the ride!!"

Our town...Kent City

High School in upper right corner

our house..red truck in driveway

our church..Kent City Baptist

Coming in for a landing...great job Tyler and Mark!

Tyler in front of the airport that he took his first flight at!

Some of you might not know this but Tyler has been attending KCTC in Grand Rapids his Junior & Senior year.  He gets up at 5:20ish every day to catch the bus that eventually transports him to the Kent County Airport.  KCTC owns a hanger next to Amway's where they teach Avionics and Aviation Maintenance..he attends the latter.  He has really enjoyed the program and it has given him a great foundation to pursue a career in aviation. He are so proud of Tyler's diligence in following through with the program!!! 

A HUGE thank you to Mark for encouraging Tyler and allowing him a taste of flying...a day he will never forget!