Five Pines

You might have noticed a new name on my blog, "Five Pines". When I started this blog "Blessings" was not very original. I asked Craig to help me think of a new name for my blog that didn't sound so boring. I couldn't think of anything. Craig reminded me that when we bought our house 5 years ago that I said I was going to call our new home "Five Pines". "Five Pines" because of the 5 huge pine trees in the front yard. I like it. Most of my entries are about our "home".....kids, hubby, myself, dogs, family....... "Five Pines" fits well. I like it.....

You also might have noticed that I changed the template (if anyone really does ever even look at my blog). I did this so that I would have a white background. This was done for a reason. After each entry I copy and paste my entry onto a word document and print it out. When I was printing my entry's with the old template I was wasting a lot of color ink. I keep all my entries in a book for Caleb and Jordan. I hope that someday they will appreciate having them to look back on when I'm dead and gone.

There's a bomb in the road!!!

I was just thinking today about funny things my kids have done and said when they were younger. As much as I love this stage in their lives I miss the younger years just the same. One of my all time favorite funny Caleb stories is when he was about 5 or 6 years old. We were driving along one day when we happened to come upon an accident that had just happened. Being the first on the scene I figured I should stop. It was some teenage girls that had pulled out in front of someone. No one was seriously hurt but the girls had some facial lacerations. I instructed Caleb to stay in the car while I went to help them. When the police arrived they put out flares and laid one next to my car. It was not in my view but Caleb could see it. Next thing I knew Caleb was hanging out the car screaming "There's a bomb in the road. There's a bomb in the road!!!!". I had no idea what he was talking about and instructed him to get back into the car and be quiet. He was terrified and when I wouldn't listen to him he tried to tell others standing around. Finally I figured out what he was all traumatized about. At the time Caleb didn't think this was funny at all. He truly believed that a bomb was about to go off.

Caleb was my little one that worried and was sensitive about things that other kids never paid attention to. As the young man that he is today this is a wonderful trait. I continue to be amazed and proud of the insight and thoughtfulness that Caleb possesses.

A Woman's Work Is Never Done...

It's Saturday!! Craig went to Cadillac this morning for an annual guys weekend that he always goes to each year. They spend the day at a shooting range doing whatever it is guys do at shooting ranges. Jordan is at Grams today and Caleb is getting ready to go do something with Bethany, movies or something. And I get to stay home and do housework. I've already put a roast in for dinner, got the laundry going, cleaned the kitchen, and made a to do list for today. Don't pity me, I love these days. I can do what I want at my leisure and it feels so good to get this stuff done. I can enjoy my Sunday's so much better when I am not overwhelmed with what has to be done before I go back to work on Monday.

New Bathroom

We re-did the upstairs bath. Craig tore out the tile around the tub and put a new surround in. We raised the medicine cabinet and got all new light fixtures. The pictures don't do the color justice but it's painted a rich brown. It goes great with the green decor I picked out. It's so pretty. Amazing what a few new touches can do. I love it!!!

Threatening Weather Is Looming

Threatening weather is on the horizon. They are calling for 45 degrees and rain by the middle of this week. This puts all our wonderful snow in jeopardy. Craig and I went out riding tonight trying to get a little more riding in before the warm temps and rain. We are hoping to stretch it out a little bit longer.

Catching Some Rays

Jordan and Lindsey decided to catch some rays yesterday and have a snowball fight all at the same time. The pictures speak for themselves. Oh, to be 15 again.....

For My Sweetie

I used to love these cartoons when I was a kid. I found them on the internet and picked out some of my favorites. Happy Valentines Day Craig. I love you.








I bet you didn't know that I really do hug your pillow when you are away......

Diagnosis

Well, the diagnosis has been made. Jordan has a syndrome called "The World Revolved Around Me". Luckily it's only a temporary teenage syndrome and she will outgrow it. Treatment is pretty simple......She has to be reminded that she has this and she has to abstain from any TV, friends, i-pod, cell phone, telephone, and computer. It's amazing what a couple of days without these things does to bring her out of the relapse. You gotta love her, we do!!!

A 12 Hour Day In The Groomer......

My favorite groomer operator!!

Heading down the trail with Glenn following in the other groomer.

Driftskippers Snowmobile Club

Team work...

Taking a break.

Craig and Glenn.....Don't you love the hat?

Repairing trail signs.

Looking ahead down the trail.

Sunday Blessings

There were very few of us at church this morning. Maybe only 40 in attendance. Everyone was complaining about the blizzard. At our house it is a blessing. After church we went to my parents for dinner then we came home and Craig asked me to come outside to take some "winter wonderland" photos. I also got some great pictures at my parents house of my Dad's birds.

Big Mistake.......

This is what I looked like after I got home from driving to Dowagiac to pick up the snowmobile part for Craig this morning. I am totally traumatized!! It took me 3 hours to drive there and back to my parents. My parents live 5 miles from my house and I barely made it there. I had to stop at their house and compose myself before heading the rest of the way home. There were times that I was totally blinded and once nearly ran head on into a truck. I am now safe at home......

OOPS!!

Craig and I went riding last night. It was only 10 degrees but thanks to hand and feet warmers I stayed nice and toasty. I had my first crash last night too. Well, it wasn't really a crash. I was barely starting to move. I went down a steep hill and got off the trail and flipped the sled into some trees. I was fine but the windshield shattered. Craig and Caleb are on a club ride this morning and I am off to the parts store to purchase a new windshield.

Winter Welcome

Signs By Our Back Door

It's amazing what a little snow (ok, a lot of snow!!!) will do to put smiles on faces around this house. It's been feast or famine this winter and we are happy to be enjoying the feast right now. There is several feet of snow on the ground now with a storm warning for even more.

Seadra & Zo-Zo With Their New Winter Coats