Last and 3rd snow of the year!

Jaden had a thought.... lets make a snow ball and roll it all the way over to Mr Coopers house!  He got all the way to the property line before it just wouldn't budge another inch...

           So he recruited some help......

 Then found some more help...  But still, that ball just wouldn't move!!!

 Alas, Mr Cooper was building his own fort, might he help us?

 Of course he will......  whoops, look below, Mr Cooper!!! your going the wrong way!!!

 UH OH, our ball is bigger than all 6 of his! LOLOLOLOL

Doesn't everyones mom pop them popcorn to hang in the snow fort?

It only snowed 3 times this winter, Swear!

                                           Who's going to cry first?

                                           Nobody cried, YAY!

Gone To Long.......

I'm so frustrated with myself for letting my blog go....  I have been utterly and completely taken over by life and schedule this past year.  Homeschooling leaves me with very little free time during the day.  My eldest son began his first year of college which brought us to Lansing quite a bit last fall.  Olyvia started high school and has been in a sport ever since.  Jaden is double sporting with soccer and TaeKwonDo.  Jona started violin lessons and began having a social life.  We added a third foster care resident which is proving to be quite time consuming.  My mom had quite a few health problems this past year and needed more help.  I started picking up more shifts at the hospital and personally I struggled through another bout of depression.  I almost feel as though I've lost an entire year to complete exhaustion, over scheduled weeks, obsessions with weight loss and wanting to nap!!  I certainly was NOT ready for summer to end last year.  I had never wanted fall to "not" get here so badly in my life.  I was not the mom counting down the days to ship everyone off..... I could have lasted another few months easily.  So here we are, another school year almost ending.  I'm SO excited for summer yet again.  I'm excited for Ivan and I and some of the goals we are working toward.  I'm elated that my children are healthy and successful in their own "little" worlds.  I'm incredibly proud of Spencer.  He had many personal struggles entering into his first year of adulthood.  Many adjustments and life changes and he has done a remarkable job.  Olyvia has struggled a bit as a freshman "girl" in high school.  What female hasn't lived through that drama and wished never to look back on it. She is doing her very best and is turning into quite the fabulous young women....pretty damn gorgeous as well:)  We took our first family spring break vacation last month.... drove to florida and stayed at the Orange Lake Resort!!  Our first spring break in 10 years.  I will certainly remember that trip for many years.... the adventure and the 3 or 4 family emergencies that got called in before we were even out of Atlanta!  I'm back to blogging!  This is something I enjoy and want to have in future years.  It's my "journal" of sorts.  I'm told on a very regular basis that one day my life will be boring and free of chaos!  When and IF that ever happens I won't have anything to blog, so I need to make the time NOW to do this.  Then when I am bored 20 years from now, I can come back here and relive the chapters of my life!

Lastly.....

My final post of my favorite summer 2010 memories!!! Jona and I camping! Didn't matter where, just camping with her was a riot!!!! She loves to help pack, unpack, clean, cook, swim, bonfire etc etc etc!!!! Duke Creek she brought her best friend Grace, (way fun!) Jannessa visited as well! We loved the lake Michigan waves, however, she was much more fearful than Jaden! She loves laying in the sun to get warm, (keep explaining that she already has a God given tan!) We explored lighthouses and swamps and took many hand held walks!!! I Love my Jona Piper Brazil and I'm pretty sure it will be difficult to TOP one of the best summers of my entire Life as a Mother!!!!

Favorite moments with Jaden!

Whoops, thats a Jona picture, don't know how to delete?




This one is extremely easy but unfortunately I don't really have any pictures:( My absolute favorite memory of Jaden and I was the day we spent in Lake Michigan while camping with the Neely's and the Stowe's. I had NEVER been in the lake when it was so warm and had such huge waves!!! It was a riot and jaden was a true fish. We had a blow up raft/boat that we hung on to and jumped waves for hours... Came in to rest and snack and would head right back out again. The waves went completely over our heads and he was never scared. In fact, I was more scared that he would get swept away from exhaustion..... as he would refuse to stay close!!! The waves never got old as we screeched with excitement each time they came. You and Calder played in the sand and all the kids fed the seagulls.... I loved this day and wished I could have had 10 more of them that awesome July!!!!!!

I got a little behind with my "Favorite SUMMER events" Posting!

I believe I did Spencer, then Ivan! Now on to one of my favorite moments of the entire summer with my oldest and most gorgeous preteen (at the time) Olyvia Satja McKenna! It was actually difficult to come up with just one.... I had to pick so I picked the day we went to Ludington Beach while camping in Lakeview Mi with the Neely's and the Stowe's! Lake Michigan had unusually HUGE waves and was also extremely warm for the big lake. We were told it was because we had SW winds all summer. The lake is more shallow near Indiana so the water warms quicker and comes on up to us that way? We had a blow up raft and would float out to the sand bars. The waves were so BIG they would crash above us and land in the boat or float us inland... We did this for hours... laughing till we cramped. It was so much fun! Jaden also loved it but more so on foot than in the boat I think. Jona scared easily, especially if I let go of the boat.... But Olyvia and I road the waves for hours!!!!! Don't have any fun pictures of the "event" no water proof camera:( The pictures from the beach are just as beautiful. Later that day we went to Ludington Pier and climbed an awesome Lighthouse together for the first time EVER. Also road a bus out to Sable Point light house and both Olyvia and I bought sweatshirts to remember the occasion! So many fun memories from this short but AMAZING camping trip. Can't wait till Summer 11' it will be hard to top this summer for sure!!!!

Trying for the second time!

This may have worked?

http://http://www.highschoolsports.net/local/grandrapids/Bleachers/?bctid=645587286001

Olyvia went to a mud bowl! Football dirty style!

The Spencer Elliott Show so the story goes on West Mi all star:)

http://westmiallstar.com/?p=6697 vote for Quarterback of the week!

I hope this works!

If this doesn't bring the "Real" article then click the browser and go have a look see!!!! Awesome Article!

http://westmiallstar.com/?p=6672

Whoop Whoop

High school football, Week 8: Forest Hills Eastern 37, Catholic Central 13

http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/10/video_forest_hills_eastern_pou.html

Perhaps this is it?

Never know when this will work?

http://www.highschoolsports.net/local/grandrapids/Bleachers/#/highschool/Forest+Hills+Eastern+35+South+Christian+7/221189307001/51325922001/622814936001

Rolling along with Football!

I Love this guy and all his moves.....

First day of School, 1st day of NO UNIFORMS:)

Their most exciting event was hot lunch and no uniforms....

Seeing if this works this time??????

My 2nd most fun Event!

Dads Birthday Ribs @ Fat Matt's!!!!

Our farewell Brady Bunch Shots!
In front of the Kings Memorial!
Uncle Ivan and Orion!
1 of many pee breaks on our trip, this one leaving Nashville!
I love these two pictures! My 007 coming from the deep end:)

So, a week after school got out our family headed South! This would be our first road trip together... I am NOT a fan of long car rides so I wasn't sure how this adventure was going to be. Ivan and I stood in the kitchen before pulling out of the driveway. We prayed for safety, for patience and for an awesome family vacation! Minus Spencer who was staying home bc of his first ever "official" summer job! We first drove straight through to Mammoth Cave, I don't know if Ivan or the kids were more excited? I was excited because they were so excited and because I new we'd be getting out of the car after 8 hours! Ivan was SOOOO patient on the drive. Not ever once breathing deep, huffing or yelling at the umpteen stops we made before even getting out of Michigan! The caves were an awesome experience with my family! I hadn't been there since I was 8 years old... the exact age of Jaden! We new ahead of time that it was 112' degrees in Nashville... ICK! Ivan loves the heat.... but the cold of the caves was a WELCOME surprise! After spending the afternoon at the caves, we headed for Nashville where we would sleep. On Monday we spent the day at Nashville Shores.... for many of us this was one of the BEST days of our entire summer! It was squelching heat and the wave pool was a HUGE hit, Jaden and Jona rarely came out of it! I was always taking note that mom and dad never argued once! That evening we finished the rest of our road trip arriving at Levi and Nichelles house late Monday! We spent the entire week with them. Going to the most awesome man made beach, play practice, Martin Luther Kings museum, church and several New restaurants for the Young's. It was both fathers day and Ivan's 42nd birthday while on vacation! His gift to self (a road side firework stop across the Kentucky border.) I'd say the most impacting memory of the week in Atlanta was the time Ivan was able to spend with his cousin! Levi is a very spiritual and uplifting man! Every morning before his family awakens he goes on a prayer walk through his neighborhood. He prayers for family, friends, neighbors, strangers, the world, his church and I'm pretty sure whatever else floats into his head! This was quite inspiring to Ivan who upon returning home started doing the same thing, both alone and with his children! How transforming to have a father prayer walking every morning to start the day! This was a fantastic trip and I can't wait for the next one!!! It took way WAY to long for this to happen and by far it was one of my best summer memories with my husband.

Next to come... My Most memorable summer moment with??? You'll have to stand by!

Spencer's First TV interview as HS Quarterback!

All the best of summer 2010!

Ronell visiting us about 6 weeks later?
CO Hot Springs... I can never remember the town?
Hannah Grace and her Fella's :)
First Night in Golden/Denver
Red Rock!!

I'm going to do an entry related to each of my family members individually! I'm going to write about MY BEST experience of the summer with them INDIVIDUALLY!!! I'm starting with Spencer because it's chronologically the first BEST experience I had:)

In May we visited Colorado for 3 college campus visits! Spencer and I went alone and I'm certain that in the past 9 years this was the most time we had been together (and alone!) Did I mention, we were alone:) I didn't get emotional, as I thought I would for sure! I enjoyed each and every moment that we were together (but I did find myself floating off into the realization that it was our last time together in such a way!) He absolutely LOVED the state and all it's beauty! He commented on every mountain peek we passed. Rick took us 3 hours North to the hot springs.... for the first hour and a half both of us couldn't get enough of the mountains and all it's beauty. Of course we tried to take a hundred pictures while driving.... they are NEVER as good as the real thing. Hannah Grace is in love with her cousin Spencer... she smiled for all of the pictures, we are told she doesn't do this ever! Our first night there I took him to Red Rocks! I was so excited to show him where U2 sang.. Unfortunately, there was a wedding going on and the inside was closed:( We did get to tour the amphitheater though! Our Second day we left at 0600 for the Hot springs.... We spent the day Up North, shopped, visited NIKE town and the POLO outlet! Secretly it was probably Spencer's favorite part! We had lunch in the mountains and swam in the Hot Springs! Our Third day we visited CSU, fantastic campus and the coach that met up with us gave us our own 2 hour tour... Spencer loved it! Next day we visited DU and University of Denver? all the letters confused the Hell out of me! Denver State? The campus in Boulder felt like Old white Cronies and the academic advisor didn't end up meeting with us? University of Denver felt like Harry Potter's second home. Old majestic campus buildings. We invited ourselves into the Lacrosse Coaches office and had a great visit. Our tour guide was drop dead gorgeous with boob-a-lishes flowing all out of her strapless dress with leather cowboy boots! Yea, that was a hot campus tour. We had an 80 year old grandma and grandpa on our tour that asked a million questions:) IT was a great day! On our last evening Rick and Marissa took us out to dinner at a local pizza joint. We bought ice cream and came home to watch the season finale of 24!! Bitter sweet that was!!!! Spencer and I both love Rick and Marissa's kids, they make us laugh all the time! Rick has an amazing house with spectacular views and neither of us would have a problem moving in with him:) I'd feel so happy if Spencer picked a school in CO. I'm sure I'd be able to visit some what regular and get to see family as well!!! Rick could keep (long distance) close eye on things and Spencer would have a place to go for Sunday dinner once in a while! We didn't know at the time of our visit.... but several weeks later he went back to CSU for a Black Student Caucus camp and met a really nice young man Ronell. Ronell came to Michigan several weeks later to attend a football camp and again..... Spencer went back to CO several weeks after that and stayed at his house. His parents seem amazing on the phone and I'm sure would also be a safe place to find help if Spencer chose a college so far away! They treated Spencer like their own son when he visited. I love this kid, I will miss him sooooooo much when he's gone! I'm so glad that we had this time together! This is a year of lasts for me as his mother (sniff sniff tears rolling now!) It's a year of endings and beginnings for him! He is So excited to reach this point in his life that I'm praying for God to give me strength and peace with all of it! How horrible to have a mom crying all the time when your so excited, right?