Arctic Blast!!!

It is crazy cold out there.  School is even closed in Atlanta where the temperatures are in the 20's!  My school district is on its third snow/cold day in a row.

What's the temperature in your area?

Do you have the day off?  It might be a great day to write a blog post or submit a recipe to the family cookbook!

Stay warm everyone!

Picnic Pics

Hi All, Here are some pictures of Alaina and Addie's visit to the U.P.! We sure are having fun with them. Faith and Alaina have been playing well together and had fun at our picnic today and getting ice cream. They both enjoyed getting to see the big cow.
Faith loved pushing Alaina on the swing.

Having fun on the merry-go-round!

Smiling faces :}

Cutie Pies!!!

We had a pasty picnic at the Island in Marquette today. The weather was great {a little windy though} but that kept us cool. The girls enjoyed the playground and being together. Ice cream was enjoyed by all! Hope you are all having a great summer weekend yourself. Love, Debbie

Saving Grace

It is plain ol' hot here in Detroit. This has been my saving grace! Yes, I am not ashamed to have a blow up pool in my backyard. Furthermore, I am not ashamed to invite people over to enjoy the pool with me! It's been delightfully refreshing.

The Detroit Zoological Society

I had a really fun day on Friday with my friends' two girls.  We went to the Detroit Zoo to see the animals.  It was a hot hot hot day so I wasn't sure it we would have too much activity but much to my surprise we had some great up-close glimpses!  First we rode the train to the back of the Zoo.  We had a picnic lunch (apples, bananas, yogurt, pbj's, and jelly lifesavers)

   I thought the back end looked just as cool as the front end!

We saw the hippo really close up.  He was just wading under water trying to keep cool!  What a crazy looking animal.

The rhinos slept in the shade.

I think this zebra's stripes are very beautiful.  It is definitely a different species from the ones I see in Africa.

 This Gorilla came right up to the window and looked

at the beautiful human exhibit on the other side.

The girls were pretty intrigued. 

The original train engine hearty All-American Chevy!!

Love the warm weather!!

Faith playing with her camper in the camper! (thanks joy)

1,2,3 GO

Playing in the pool at nanas

In Faith's class at school they learned about growing things and they planted grass now she "cuts it's hair" to keep it maintained. Its so cute!

We have a busy few weeks and i'm sure there will be some more great pictures to show everyone! Love to see more pictures and stories on here! Hope everyone will come up for the 4th this year! Who remembers the water balloon launcher?? What was/is your fav 4th of july experience??

The pool is open!

We knew beautiful weather was headed our way this week so we set up our pool on Sunday. By Monday morning it was full and the solar cover on. Yesterday the boys took their first plunge ... into the chilly 68 degree water!

Adam was the 1st one in!

Isaac was next!

We've been loving the warm summerlike days here! Today when they got home from school they headed straight to the pool (now with balmy 74 degree water!) to cool off after track & field day at school. The pool is open for the summer and you're all invited to take a dip!

Love, Joy

Fall Follies

Hello Everyone - Around the Detroit Area it seems like we have an extended fall - maybe even an extended summer. Today's high was 64 degrees F!

As usual because November marks another year in which I 'turn older' - I've done a lot reflection. This year's reflection has brought about a big change for me - I put in my resignation at my part time job at Portable Church Industries. I've had nine wonderful years there, but it is time for me to only have one job. I wish I could say, "I have no idea what I'll do with all that time," but I do know that I am going to be working on "working out" throughout the year instead of just the summer. In fact, while I was at the Royal Oak Holiday Parade, I signed up for the LA Fitness Club. I can't wait to get started. This time will also give me time to pour into our discipleship initiative at church this year. We are using the The Way of the Alongsider materials (slightly cheesy but it does the job) from the Navigators. My church is committed to making disciples who live in community and who reach out to the community. This initiative strikes a lasting chord with me.

Speaking of Fall - Here are some of the pictures from my trip to Harbor Springs/Mackinaw through the Tunnel of Trees.

I have been a busy bee at school as well. The end of October we had parent-teacher conferences (we do two evening and 1 afternoon session). Our assistant superintedant took a superintendant position in Romeo Schools which left an opening at the central office. Our high school principal moved into that position and now we have a new principal at the highschool. He started this past week - midstream in the year. So much change. Mr. Gawell will be my 5th principal in 9 years. CRAZY. Our open house was this past week and the science department did a real "smash up" job. Instead of leaving our classrooms open like we normally do, we shut our classroom doors and opened up our two biggest labs in which we did demonstrations all evening. The community loved it. We had a lot of fire-related demonstrations: flame tests, fire/music demonstration tube, and how to start a fire in the wilderness. I sang into the fire/music tube and watched the flames create sine waves from my voice. It is really cool. I am going to try to get a picture/video of it the next time we set it up!

Last week I celebrated by birthday. I ate way too much. On Friday I had a huge dinner at PF Changs (mmmm!) and Saturday Bastones. My friend Kim special ordered me a beautiful cake. I ate WAY TO MUCH CAKE!!!! (hence LA fitness). Last night I went to see Tim's musical Urinetown at Rochester High School. The pit orchestra sounded great, the teenager/actors/actresses did a really good job. It was my favorite show yet that I have seen at RHS. Oh - and Alaina called me on gmail Video Chat. It was a really big highlight of my birthday. Next week we will all be together in Chicago. I can't wait!!!

That's all for now - please keep posting. Let us know how you are doing or tell us about something interesting!

Love, Tracy

Family, Faith, and the Final Countdown

Hi All,

Here are some pictures of my favorite granddaughter, Faith and a picture from Mother's Day at Wahlstroms.

We are waiting for some warm weather here. There's been snowflakes in the air today. Only 13 1/2 days left of school for me. {Not that I'm counting or anything} The kids are so done with school it makes the last days seem very long.

Love to all, Debbie

Snow Day!!

Tim felt his blood pump'n when he did the 5:45 am snow shoveling. It must have been a lot of snow because it was the first time he has ever come in to take a break!








I am SOOOOOOooooooo glad that Tim and Pete gave me a new snow scoop for Christmas this year. I had no idea how many times I would get to use it Tim would shovel the driveway for me.













The best part about the Snow Day - God answered my prayers for a little bit of rest today!!!

Bitter Cold Sets In. . .

Yesterday morning when I woke up (late) I was greeted by melting snow, traces of sunshine, and 45 degree weather. Everything looked like spring. I knew what was on the horizon, however; Bitter Cold forecasted for Sunday. I took out my snow scoop and swished all of the slush and water toward the lawn in order to prevent the ice rink that was about to form on my driveway. I noticed, in the process, footprints leading underneath my deck again. Were the skunk's relatives back? Oh No! I can't have a skunk under my deck - I will for certain get sprayed. So I took a beautiful heap of slushy snow and blocked up the hole and left it to freeze into an icy boulder. This morning when I brought the trash out, I noticed it had done just as a wished - but . . . buT . . . bUT . . . BUT now there were a whole series of frantic footsteps leading up to the hole and around it. My icy boulder worked - but my heart sank into my feet. I can't believe that I blocked the only shelter for my dear little skunk, or bunny, or possum, or whatever it is. I am now responsible for the life of one of God's creatures. UGgghhhh . . . . the horror. I am going to remove the boulder today and hope for the best.

appended 7:10 pm - Carrie removed the icy boulder before church this morning.  No sightings of the critters yet today.  I am hoping the critter found a warm spot.  It is currently 3 degrees 

F.

A 1/2 Inch Short!

We just experienced another winter blast in the metro Detroit Area. The snow was falling in a way that reminded me of the lake effect snow in the U.P. Big - Fluffy - Driving - Wet Flakes. It piled up really quickly on everything. Tim & I have been loving the snow scoop! He's truly a lot better at it than me - but we are both just loving the new blue scoop. The snow glides off like a well buttered egg!

Last night Carrie measured our final snowfall at 5.5 inches which put me a 1/2 inch under the "snow day" mark! Tim's school, however, had a great deal more school and so he was able to enjoy the "sleep in"!

Have a super day eveyone.
Love, Tracy

Well It Snowed Again!!!!!!!!!

Well It Snowed Again!!!!!!!!!

I think that our friends in Georgia are about to send us back to Michigan with our weather. It is snowing again. This time the snow is a lot more than before. I knew something was up when we went to our local ACE Hardware store this morning and they had sleds, saucers, and salt all out at the front door. I though to myself “Yeah right someone really going to need those saucers”. Then on the way out there was a woman on her cell phone talking to someone saying “Yes they have those saucer things. Yes do you really think I should pick it up for the hill out back? Well you know the kids will love it.” I gave her a look like any good Michigander would to say are you crazy lady this isn’t real snow you know. Well I think she was right! It is beautiful and snow covered.

We were going out tonight with Super Club. I arranged a dinner at a really neat old restaurant in Newnan called 10 East Washington. It is a delightful old Georgia restaurant. Well I started getting calls from the group saying that they know I wouldn’t think this is much snow but they can’t get out of their driveways because of the hill and one said her church called and canceled all their services for tomorrow. Well I figure if it is good enough for God then it is good enough for me! I canceled. I figured the church had inside knowledge about the freezing roads and more snow that the weather man said would come tonight. We will just have to go in a couple of weeks.

I am just going to spend my time working on the Welcome bags for the Wedding. They are for those who will be staying in the hotel. They will get one as they check in.

Take care, stay warm, and go sledding

It Snowed in Peachtree City

It snowed in Peachtree City Georgia!

I have been told that is has not snowed in Peachtree in nine years. The last big snow storm was in 1993 fifteen years ago but the last time snow fell and stuck to the ground was 1999.


They kept telling us on the weather reports that it was going to snow. They called it frozen precipitation (AKA SNOW). There were reports every half hour and weather warnings running on the bottom of the TV all day. It may stay on the ground was the warning. No one I talked to believe them. The answer was: “Oh they mean up in the Northern Mountains. It snows up there. We never snow here.” So I went about my day believing my neighbors and friends who have lived here longer than me. Besides I just got back from the being with all of you and we had snow (real snow not frozen percipitation) all the time I was up there. I was not to excited to see more. I get my fill with my Christmas visit just fine!


I was working in my craft room when Paul called me from Detroit where he was at the auto show. He wanted to tell me someone texted them a picture of the parking lot at work in Peachtree City and there was snow on the cars. He then told me to go out and take pictures. I thought he was nuts but just as I open the front door to look out the school bus with all the elementary kids was unloading out front and all I could hear was squeals of joy as they saw the snow coming down. I knew it was true. There really wasn’t much there but boy were they excited to see it come down.


Luckily it did not last but the kids had a wonderful time. Plus I get to say that I was around when it snowed in the Atlanta metro area. Everyone got on boots and hats and gloves it was a site. I put on a sweater laughed and went back in the house. But I must say it was a joy to hear the kids and a joy not to have to shovel it away.

Meet My Swedish Snow Scoop

It's Handy - It's Light - It's efficient - It's "Back" Saving - It's Amazing

It's my Swedish Snow Scoop - a.k.a - the Yooper Scooper!

And I have loved scooping snow with it over the past couple of days. I am so glad that we had a couple of inches to try it out. Thanks to Tim and Pete for my wonderful Christmas gift. Thanks Aunt Linda for the fantastic recommendation - the snow is flying off like a fried egg on teflon!

I love you. Tracy

The Vedict: It snowed!

It sure did! Tim and I shoveled this morning and Carrie tried out her snow shoes (she's been waiting two years). Tim is a master at the snow scoop! He made perfect mounds just the way that Dad always does!
Thanks for your help Tim.

Love, Tracy