Weekend Getaway!!!

Colin's boss treated his employees to an over night at the Grand Hotel on Makinac Island for a marriage conference. Well we decided to leave the day before and stay at a bed and breakfast in Bellaire about 2 hours from Makinac. So we left Saturday afternoon and made are way to the Grand Victorian B&B. Well Mark (Colin's boss) wanted to also treat everyone to a bike tour around the island and so he wanted us to catch the 9:30 am ferry on Sunday. Our dillema was breakfast wasn't served until 9:00am and we really didn't want to pay for just a bed. We would have had to leave around 7:00 am to make the ferry and we decided we wanted to relax and enjoy ourselves so he called mark and politely passed on the bike tour. The next morning we had coffee and read the paper on the balcony of the second level of the B&B. The weather was great and it was so nice to sit and relax and enjoy each others company. So we had breakfast and went on our way (by the way I would totally recommend that B&B)

We made the 12:30 ferry and were on our way to the island. It was so foggy on our trip over that we could see nothing not the bridge or the island. Oh well! We arrived in time for lunch with the group and then went to check into the hotel. All I have to say about the Hotel is WOW!! It is a very prestigious place, but I have to say one thing the decor was awful. I know I know they are going for the nostalgic feel, but green walls and yellow and orange floral prints are really not in my taste. After we checked in we went to get ready for the first session of the conference. It was a good session very funny and practical. Then it was time to get ready for the dinner. Any of you who know about the Grand Hotel know that you have to be dressed up after 6:00pm. Coat and tie for men and dress pants or dresses for ladies. So we got all "dolled"up and proceeded to the dining room for our 5 course dinner. It was good food and great conversation with those we were with. We sat at dinner for 3 hours (good thing we didn't have kids with us:) After dinner we saw christian comedian Thor Ramsey he was hilarious! The next day we decided to skip the conference and stroll around the Island. We enjoyed the company of another couple and looked through the shops.

On the way back we were able to see the bridge which I had never seen before so I took a picture:)

We had a great weekend together and it was a much needed rest.

Alex is "5"

Alex turned 5 on October 5th!!! (His Golden Birthday!) I can't believe that he is 5! He had a great day if I do say so myself:) They had a field trip at school and they went to a corn maze and they were also able to drive peddal cars and do other fun things. Then he had a friend come over and play for the afternoon And then he chose his favorite meal (Tacos) and had his family come over and he opened presents. What more could a 5 yr old ask for?? 5 yrs old seems like such a milestone in one's life. Yet he is still so young maybe it's because he can go off to kindergarten now (milestone as well) I'm not sure but for Courtney and now Alex "5" has been a big deal!! Another milestone for him was learning to ride a 2-wheeler 3 days before he turned 5. He was extremely excited as was mom and dad!!!

Basketball Fever....

Now that Courtney is in third grade she was able to be on the "c" basketball team. This team was made up of 3rd and 4th graders. Let me just say she's an animal on the court. I know I'm biased but it's true! She loved playing! She learned the rules of the game and also learned a little bit about leadership. She learned how to dribble the ball without it getting stolen from her and she learned how to do a lay-up the correct way! She is a very eager little girl, after her games she would come home and practice in the driveway. She would want Colin or I to guard her but that didn't help much so we had Alex guard her. This was a more realistic way to help her out and Colin and I got a good laugh too! Needless to say God has made her an athlete! Alleluia!!! She had great court sense and what was happening around her.....not bad for the first year. She was also asked to help out our b-team in a tournament with some of her other teammates. That was very exciting! She was a little nervous but it was good experience for her when she can be on the b-team. By the way b-team consists of 5th and 6th graders so she was little out of her league but did great just the same. We are very proud of her accomplishments!!!

Another broken arm......

Thankfully NO!! This time instead of Courtney it was Natalie that gave us this scare. She was playing on our footrest in the living room and rolled off....no big deal right? That's what I thought until she wouldn't let me touch her arm and she was crying and nothing was stopping her. Well she must have been tired because as I was trying to figure out what was wrong with her arm she fell asleep on my lap while she was still crying. Anyway when she woke up she was still crying and not allowing me to move her arm so off to the walk-in clinic we went. Thankfully my sister was working and was able to get us in right away! So after the doctor ruled out that her collar bone wasn't broken and her upper arm was fine he decided that she needed x-rays on her wrist and elbow. So we went down to x-ray and they took 3 x-ray's. The whole time I kept trying to think how I was going to get through a 2 yr old with a cast for the next 6weeks. We went back down to see the doctor and he said he saw no break.....thank you Lord!!!! He thought she may have sprained it and to see how it is in the morning. Well it isn't morning yet and she is able to use it just fine for "normal" 2 yr old activities. She is playing and playing "spaghetti arms" whenever mom and dad want to know if her arm is OK. Seriously when you have kids life is always interesting:)

School days Part 2

It was Alex's turn to have his first day of school!! He is attending pre-school 3 mornings a week. He is so excited to be able to have Courtney walk him into school this year. Of course when the first day rolled around he wanted mom to come to so of course I did. (Little secret I wanted to take him in.) But on Friday I sat in the van and watched Courtney and Alex walk up the steps together into school. It was a mix of emotions. But a good feeling none the less. This year Alex will go on field trips and learn to sit more in the classroom. So far so good he has loved it this week and I pray that attitude continues.

Labor Day Weekend

I have to say that my husband actually "labored" on labor day weekend. What most people see as a 4 day weeekend to play and have fun my husband did play but also went to work. They are so busy that he worked a 1/2 day on Sunday and a 1/2 day on Monday. Now I know all of you are going "AWW" don't worry he was able to find time to play too! We had a great weekend in the midst of work. Friday night we went to a friends house and sat around a bonfire and roasted marshmallows and made smores. They were yummy. Now the kids were looking forward to this but we forgot to bring a bat and ball to play with. Calvin (the friend) has a big backyard and a 2 yr old little boy but of course no Alex size toys. Well if you know Alex at all you know that he loves his glove bat and ball. Well Colin can make anything so he took a saw and went over to some of Calvins' apple trees and "made" Alex a bat. Let me tell you it was the hit of the night. (no pun intended). Even two yr old Ben (Calvin's son) like it.
Then we played some more on Monday. We had a cookout at mom and dad Ritters' house and we finally went out in the boat. Courtney and Alex went tubing behind the boat for the first time. Colin enjoyed tubing with them and they both can't wait until the next time! By the way Natalie fell asleep in the boat so I guess she will get her turn next time!

School Days!!

Courtney started her first day back to school on Monday the 27th!! It's hard to believe that another school year is here. She is now in 3rd grade!! So she moved to a new classroom and has a new teacher. This is very exciting for her! She had a great first week learning new classroom rules and taking on extra responsibilites like an assignment notebook. Also eating lunch at a different time and at the big lunch tables. She also is able to play C-team basketball so she will start practicing next week. My little girl is in 3rd grade and you know what this mother is excited for all the new adventures to come:)