Jake and I had our first day + night away from Cash over the weekend. We went to Traverse City with my brother, his girlfriend, my best friend and her husband to celebrate Jake's birthday. We went on an Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour and had so much fun. We visited 7 out of the 8 wineries, since one had an hour wait (no thanks). I only tasted at the first 5 and then I needed a little break:)
At Brys' Estate, they put a candle in a little pumpkin muffin and we all sang Jake Happy Birthday.
Everyone was laughing at the fact that I shoved a bunch of pretzels (they were free!) in my purse and went on my merry way.
We had such a fun day and night, and our little chunky monkey was so good for Grammy and Papa. But boy, we were ready to pick him up on Sunday!
We have been enjoying Fall over at our little house. We spent an evening raking and trying to bury Layla in the leaves (which is part of the reason she won't look at me in the above photo). We also carved pumpkins...my very first time ever (so don't make fun), and made the most delicious pumpkin cookies. Mmm.
Then last Saturday night I attended a girls' night at my parents' cabin. I dressed up as a cowgirl last minute. We danced, sang karaoke, and had a LOT of laughs. Can't wait till next year, ladies!
Have you all done anything fun to commemorate the season???
We decided to keep on celebrating, if you will. We met up with one of Jake's good buddies from college, got a hotel room for a couple of nights and just did our thing. I can't lie and say the whole weekend was about Jake because he did kind of spoil me and let me have the better part of the day Saturday to go shopping (and its been so long!). But we also had some nice dinners, went out on the town, soaked in the hottub, and saw a movie.
This is what a 30 year old looks like:)
old buddies
acting crazier than we really are
first time riding the bull and he didn't even get my face!
Matt's turn
On Sunday Jake and I decided to visit the Henry Ford Museum before leaving town. If you remember, last year we checked out the Motown Museum- which we loved.
My review of the Henry Ford? It was awesome. Of course, I didn't think to charge my camera so I only got a few photos before the battery died:(
A 1950's kitchen. We both agree that the 50s and 60s are our favorite decades--all around.
An original Allis Chalmers tractor. (per Jake's request:)
One of the first wagons used for transportation.
Us pretending to drive a New Holland. (hey, where did Jake's face go??)
And then the battery died. Unfortunately, I didn't get photos of my favorite things, such as the chair Abe Lincoln was sitting in when he was assassinated, the Rosa Parks bus that started the entire Civil Rights Movement, the limo JFK was sitting in when he was shot, plus tons of other cool historical things. Guess we will just have to go back! If you like history and have never been, check out the Henry Ford!
It has been a busy 5 weeks since returning from Haiti, and life has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. The husband's gone for a few days working out of town, so I had a few moments to catch up on the blog.
Jake took me golfing for the first time. I got to wear one of my new visors. I'm a decent putter. My swing needs some work. And we haven't gone since. Maybe this fall.
I am not a good eater in the summertime. My appetite is very small and random, so I have been eating a lot of salads and on nights when I don't have to worry about what someone else is eating, like tonight, I have cereal.
A couple of weeks ago I spent the weekend in Traverse City celebrating my friend, Shannon's 40th birthday. It was complete with giant wine glasses, dancing, and fake tattoos. Ya know, the usual 40 yr old stuff.
Last Thursday I headed to Nashville for my friend Tiana's wedding. I finally got to get to know her future husband and spend some quality time with her preparing for the big day.
She was a beautiful bride. Like, belonged-on-the-cover-of-vogue-beautiful.
And what does the bridesmaid with no date do? (J stayed home.) Why, take pictures of herself in the bathroom and send them to her husband of course.
We have been having some summer fun over the past month. My parents recently bought a boat and they have really been enjoying it. Thank God for a hot summer. Above are some photos from the 4th of July and another hot, sunny day out on Higgins Lake.
I have been bad at posting photos the last few months, so here are a few. In January, one of my best friends got married and Sara attended as my date! Then my mom and I went to Colorado to visit our sweet friends Jamie and Charlie and to celebrate JaeLynn's 3rd birthday! I also got to meet up with my high school friend, Tia, and her new baby in Denver! And lastly, my nephew, Houghton, turned 2 in February!
Spring Break 2002 my family, friend Sara, and I spent a couple of days in Nashville, on our way to Florida- where we met this guy shortly after he was signed to Dreamworks Records:
We became fast friends, and kept in touch over the next several years. I would often travel to another Michigan town to watch him perform and support his growing music career. We even lived in the same city for a while (Nashville). Fast forward nine years later....
We had been out of contact for about 3 years, he'd been busy performing and walking all over the country, while I've been busy getting married and stuff like that:) I heard on the radio that Jimmy Wayne would be performing in Traverse City friday night. Sara and I decided we should go.
We pushed our way to the front of the crowd, elbowing a lot of females out of our way. I told Sara I didn't want to act like a crazed fan and she was like "Who cares?! Get up there!" haha. It's not easy to get someone's attention when their eyes are closed 90% of the time! It took a couple of songs before he realized we were in the front row. We had officially surprised him, so we figured we could go sit back down and be civilized again:)
After the show, and a long line of picture-takers and autograph-getters, we caught up with Jimmy, and headed onto his tour bus to chat for a while. I hadn't seen or talked to him in about 3 years, so as you know, a lot's changed--the biggest shock being my new marriage:) I had to remind him that I'm not 15 anymore.
(please ignore this awful picture of me and focus on the other two!)
There were a lot of laughs as anyone who's ever been around Jimmy knows. We reminisced about the day we met, my mom's "sweet, conniving, southern girl" accent, his ex-girlfriends, and one heated phone conversation. In three years, he hasn't changed a bit. Isn't it comforting to see an old friend and feel like no time has passed at all? That's how it was. Until next time, buddy!
(Seriously, don't you just want to push that piece of hair over?? Oh well, I suppose it's the memory I'm after, bad hair or not.)
I had so much fun Friday night hanging out with Ashley and Andrea. At the Holiday Inn patio we were accused of being members of the "Jersey Shore" cast by The Situation himself! He sure was a good dancer.
Saturday Mom and I drove 3 hours to attend a bridal shower for my cousin's fiance. The shower was nice and it's always good to see family you haven't seen in a while:)
(Houghton, 18 months)
This afternoon we went to the big brother's to celebrate the little brother's birthday. Houghton showed us his new big boy car bed! He looks like a little midget lying in it:)
(Singing Happy Birthday to my little big brother.)
Kody turned 20 on Saturday--hard to believe. When asked what he wanted for his birthday he simply replied, "An Envoy." Go figure. He is recovering quite well from his back surgery, hence the black brace. He goes to the doc tomorrow for a check up, so we'll know more then!
So, I hope he doesn't kill me for this, but I am "submitting" my friend, Roarke, in this weeks' "Show Us Your Life" over at Kelly's Korner!
In my opinion, he's such a great catch!
And ladies....
He's SINGLE.
Roarke Joseph O'Brien (don't be mad that I gave away your middle name!)
Age: 28
Business: Advertising
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Hometown: Gaylord, MI
Activities: Traveling, Snowboarding, Water Sports, Hanging with friends, family, etc.
I have been friends with Roarke for about 10 years or so. We started hanging out when I had a slightly ridiculous crush on one of his best friends. We became fast friends and he eventually was thought of as part of the family. Everyone loves him; My dad even used to say "Roarke, why don't you and Karlee just get married??" To which we would all laugh. It was a ludacris idea--Roarke's basically another big brother!
(Me, visiting Roarke in AZ in 2006. Always a great time!)
He's funny, energetic, driven, motivated, adventurous, genuine, and kind. Not to mention, he has hair most women would kill for. Be it an 80 year old woman or a 2 day old baby, he's a lover. Snatch him up, ladies--After I approve, of course:)
The weekend's winding down; I'm burnt and tired, but what a great time we had!
Our good friend, Rich (whom we haven't seen since he was a groomsman in our wedding 10 months ago), came up to visit for a couple of days.
Friday night we avoided the TC Cherryfest madness and headed to Frankfort for a little "Northern Michigan nightlife." If there is such a thing:) The Cabbage Shed on Betsie Bay is the epitome of a "hippie bar." The three of us didn't exactly fit in which I was oblivious to in the beginning. We made several friends that night, including a father-son duo. We cheered as the free-spirited barefoot dancers hit the dancefloor, ate off a random wedding reception buffet, and used text language such as "O.M.G." and "TTYL."
The phrase of the weekend was definitely "baddest one out." Or was it "I can't live like this"?
Saturday, we headed to Empire's North Bar Beach. My friend Ashley joined us and we had a great day soakin' in the sun, blasting music, and getting completely fried. Someone forgot sunscreen-- way to go me. But Lake Michigan is beautiful, so it was totally worth lying with cut up tomatoes on my bare back later in the evening. They're suppose to take the burn out!
That evening we headed downtown to the Cherry Festival for the first time all week, Ooh-ed and Ahh-ed over a fireworks show, ate some pizza and headed home!
I'm a 20 something wife and mother who use to write about foreign missions, women's ministry and interior decor musings. Now I pretty much just write about my baby. Thank God for the internet because I have yet to buy a baby book.
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