whatever

class of 2013

well... she graduated.
we are VERY proud of her.
the ceremony was outdoors and the sky was so dark... even lightening in the distance.
it was nice to not be SO HOT but the weather was very iffy and made me nervous.
as soon as it ended the entire stadium emptied almost immediately.
it was raining shortly after. 

so we did not get photos of her afterward with friends or with her tassel,etc.
but we got this one really quick before the ceremony.
she got a new dress and looked so pretty! 

 

our party almost didn't happen because of the weather.
there was even a tornado 30 minutes away!
i said "well... it's not a TRUE Kansas party without a tornado watch"

she requested rainbow cake.
i hadn't made one in a few years.... remember when i first made it?
way back before they were EVERYWHERE.
BEFORE martha stewart.
granted martha's was very professional looking and perfect.
but mine is filled with a mama's love.
:)
perfection is not the goal. 

it was so fun to make it again.

we kept the snacks and drink very simple.
and credit to my boys... they helped me big time preparing the food.
they rocked yesterday!
it was "Duerksen Team Effort" for sure all week long.
that was a huge blessing we kept it simple since it POURED hard rain just before the party.
anything elaborate we would have done would've been ruined.






every party should have a baby.
it should be a rule.
so many of craig's family came by to wish lauren good luck in college and give her hugs.
one great thing about big milestones like graduations or weddings is seeing the family you don't see as often.

lauren with my mom and lauren with craig's mom.

it was so fun to have my friends show up to love on me as well as lauren. 
high school graduation is big deal for the kids but also a BIG DEAL for the parents too!
and they snuck off and were cleaning up in my kitchen and doing dishes when i wasn't looking.
grown up friends are the best! 

although... i prefer babies at parties that are not wearing K-State onesies.
he is so cute that i made an exception.
i was so busy that i never even got to hold this guy! lauren took over as baby holder for this party. 

 

 

family friends that we have had since i was 8 years old came to celebrate. 
(my dad did not get the memo about the black shirt...)

i LOVE that they came.
that is love ya know?  showing up for your people.   taking the time.  it is meaningful. 
it makes me teary.  

craig was face timing with his sister during the party.
:)
isn't that fun?  she got a little tour of the party and said hello.  
2013 is pretty awesome. 

i took an after photo this morning since it was too crazy yesterday.
our new little patio that we put in and all the pots of flowers make this place even happier.
it's so peaceful out there.
my chippy painted metal benches got new cushions. (home depot online)
i used all old pots, buckets and planters i already had to plant flowers inside.
the bunting is the same as what i sell in my shop...not weather proof but who cares.
it holds up just fine.

great party.

i think lauren felt loved.
and that was the most important part of yesterday for me.

 

and now i am going to go sit on that yellow bench.
:)

 

december?

really? 
already?

oh boy.
i am not sure if i am ready....maybe today is the day to get moving. 

we did get our tree up.
since we have a fake tree it's pretty easy to just get it out and put it up....no cold weather to fight or finding the perfect tree. (i didn't get out the tree so i can't technically say it's easy...but i tlooks easy)

i let the kids do ALL the ornaments.
i gave in last year and realized it was the best idea... they are able and i can relax.
no ornaments broke this year!




we start with the family ornaments first....all different random ornaments i have collected since i got married.

scott was at the gym and lauren was dying her hair...but three is plenty to decorate a tree.


after the family box is empty then they get to put on their OWN special ornaments.
i keep each child's ornaments in their own box.
every year i pick out an ornament for them that represents something that happened that year
or something they would like.
and then we keep them seperate from the family ornaments.
it's very special to them to hang their own special ones themselves.






craig made a fire in the fireplace and we all sat ont he couch and watched ELF.

(sean and i recited this entire scene over breakfast today) 

 

...............................................
 

this year our family ornament is from lisa leonard's shop.
it's so pretty.
i chose the star ornament for us.





they are lovely keepsakes.
and make wonderful gifts for friends and family.



she has a heart and a stocking ornament also.

Use the code:  ornament2011 for 10% your order

(also....all of her jewelry would make ANY lady on your christmas list very happy... go find something)

 

 

a different halloween.

for the first time in 16 years craig was gone on halloween.
so...
for the first time in 16 years i had to take my kids trick or treating.
it was always Daddy's job.
i stayed home and passed out candy and kept warm. 

i didn't really know how far to go....
where...
how long.....



side note:  do you remember UnderRoos?

i was wonder woman when i was in first grade too!  
i wore my UnderRoos over cable knit tights and a turtleneck!



but we figured it out.
it was just me and the little girls.
scott and sean were with their friends.
lauren went up to take a nap after school and didn't wake up until 9:30.




afterwards i grabbed a pizza for them for dinner and they ate candy for dessert.


lots of candy.
and we all survived the halloween with out Dad.
barely.
we definitely missed him very much.

and i scavenged their bags for any York peppermint patties.
and butterfingers.
my two faves.

i miss the days of the little kids...baby costumes....toddlers trying to say trick or treat.

here are some halloween pics from the past...

2010    2009     2008   2007  

 

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come read about my experience on the Jenny Craig program and enter to win a $100 visa gift card.

 

i got to review Mary Kay products.  Come read about it and enter to win a Mary Kay gift basket.

 

 

grown.

these kids have a lot of nerve growing up so quick.
it's kind of mean.
they just grow and grow....taller and taller....wearing man and woman shoe sizes and think it's fine!
rude.

first grade.                                                                    eighth grade.
 

fifth grade.                                                                    fourth grade.
 

we started at a new school this year.
smaller.
more like what craig and i grew up in.....yeah.....S.M.A.L.L.....so happy about it.
and they were too.
they were nervous but they each fought it.....they were brave......they are BRAVE.
no tears.
and actually not even one "goodbye Mom"  they were just gone....never looking back.

i am proud of them. 

snapped this out my window as i drove home.

it's going to be a great year.
thank you Lord.
amen.

(ps....lauren starts on thursday....she was at volleyball practice when we left this morning)

 

a kitten and peaches and an {e}book

what a weird title.  

we almost always go peach picking when we are in michigan.
it's something to do that is good for all ages.

as soon as the kids got out of the car they saw this kitten.
and they all mobbed it.
it never touched the ground until we left.


 
we went out in the HOT sun and picked a basket of peaches.
with the kitten.
and a dog followed us too.


 

they weren't quiiiiiite ripe yet.
but we found a few in there that were ready.


 

 

 

 
it was really hot.
too hot to be there i think.
so annie was out of sorts.....and wanted more turns with that silly kitten.


gosh darn it i like that guy a whole bunch!



dave filled a basket of the peaches already on the ground (ruined ones) and made our michigan sign.
:)
he is pretty creative.
 
and then everyone got to throw them back into the orchard.

 

 

 
we took home all the peaches we picked....with grand intentions as always.
but nothing was baked with the peaches.
they just weren't ripe enough.

i don't even like peaches.
i don't hate them but i am not going to just bite into one!
i wish there were strawberry patches.
or it was pumpkin picking weather.
those are two things i like to pick.  :)

and after this jenny and i got to go out for lunch just the mommies!!!
it was wonderful.
(possibly the highlight of the trip for me.....i love lunching with my friends....and getting a crisp cold salad and eating outside by a beach....and getting amazingly yummy brushetta as an appetizer....without our conversation interrupted once with the words "hey MOM?!!" )

 
................................................ 

COOL STORY here:
yesterday....i was blow drying my hair and my blog friend Jeannett popped into my mind.
i shot her a quick email saying hello and that i was thinking of her.
she told me that she wrote an {e}book.
and i thought "oh that's nice" and "too bad i don't read books"   (ha....seriously)

then later that evening after a day of throwing around a lot of frustration and thoughts i have been having
about the businesses that i have....balancing this home life with all these kids.....taking care of this house.....
wanting 20 more hours in a day.....missing my sewing machine.....looming work deadlines......

i checked her blog to support her in the {e}book.
i was shocked.
can you guess what it was about????

here is what i found as soon as i opened the page:

Are you a blogger or have a web based business and are running yourself ragged?

Do you love the community created through Social Media,
but you don't know how much longer you can keep up?

Or are you handling it all pretty well, but there are just a few things that you really cannot stand to do? 

check.
check.
check.

i bought it immediately.
why had i never thought to ask jeannett about this stuff?
she is experienced.  she knows!  
maybe you are having the same questions/frustrations.....maybe you are curious...maybe you want to be hired?
Click here to visit Hire Blog Help.


i love that she did it.
that she put herself out there and used her experience to help other people freaking out like me.

i told her that God knew i was struggling....i was telling him constantly...so He told me "say hi to jeannett today"
while i blow dried my hair.
and i did.
and she was there for me....thanks jeannett......thanks God!!!
you are awesome.

i've been at the beach.

with some of my favorite people....
my family
chicago jenny and dave and their kids
and even more old friends came for the first day with their kids!

i love lake michigan.
a lot.

the beach was full of smooth rocks at the shore line this year.
so beautiful.


we dug and built castles....
and buried each other...




Erica is a photographer too!  it was fun to watch her shoot....

this was her shot.....

:)





i love this picture.
it just screams simple summer fun.




very fun to have more girls to play with....







there was lots of football and tackling....

and screaming....

and hugging.








so jen and i thought we'd like a picture of us IN the water.
we got out there not too far and turned our back on the water.

we were POUNDED by a wave that we never saw coming.
it took us both out.
we were laughing so hard and the waves just kept coming.
i don't even like to get in the water.....let alone go under completely....i was soaked from head to toe.
it was hysterical.
kind of.







and then we were redeemed!
a lovely photo taken by erica of me and my jenny....who i am already missing like CAAAA-RAZY.
boo hoo.
 

10 kids and 6 adults for dinner....very fun and silly...that's the good stuff.

there was a wiffle ball game with the dads and kids while the moms cleaned up dinner and chatted.

then a camp fire with s'mores in the yard.

 

 

campfire songs in 2011....on the iPad.


the yard backs up to a bluff (which is a nice word for cliff) 
and down 223 steps is the beach. (ouch my calves still ache)
it's a pretty amazing place....the house itself is nothing special but the LOCATION is fabulous!

the moms....also known as the S'more Makers.

 
i hope you can handle lots of posts with LOTS of pictures.
cause i took like....a thousand pictures.
and this was only day one.  


we are home now.
we survived the 13.5 car ride back....barely.
at the end i thought about making a run for it at one of the gas station stops.
but then i remembered how slow i run.
ha.
NO ONE likes to be in the car for 13.5 hours....especially tired cranky kids.....and their mom who took dramamine so she floated in and out of consciousness all day long.

how was your week?
what have you been up to?
can you believe it's august??????

it's nuts.

happy monday people!