Crafts and Cooking

Crafting has not been picture worthy lately, but we have been spending some time in the kitchen!

Natalie gave me a zucchini from her garden, and it was so tasty when I cooked it up!

I scored two free cookbooks from the curb, which has inspired me to try a few new recipes each week.  After the second week of new, questionable recipes, Alice, Grace, and Juliet each volunteered to make a 'normal' dinner for us.  So, it was a win for me, since I didn't have to cook for the rest of the week!   

It has been nice to have fresh bread each week to go with our meals!

If we have leftovers that I think they will like, I'll freeze some for my mom (and possibly Sarah.)

Emily has made 3 batches of chocolate chip cookies in as many weeks!

And Grace made these cute little marshmallow-ghost chocolate milks!

I did find a 7/7 recipe in my 1963 good housekeeping cookbook, but have yet to take a picture of the recipe, so it might be in the blog next time!  Or if I remember, I'll try to add it here.

later days

Band: Marching Season!

Marching season is in full swing, and Emily is loving it!  It's pretty late when she gets out of practice on Wednesday nights, 8:30, but this time of year that means beautiful sunsets!

On the first day of school, I stayed at practice with her and sewed five patches onto the guard uniforms, and managed two more before the first football game (on a Thursday?)  but didn't take any pictures of my handiwork, so here's my smiling Emily holding my tools as we left.

As I just mentioned, the first football game was on a Thursday night, which made Friday feel off, but the night was fair and warm!

The drum major runs along the band asking if each section is ready.  Since Emily is alone in her section, she answers alone. 

Emily is at the very front!

The night was exciting, though Holt was losing for most of the game.  The final quarter was a good one, despite being a loss.

The light up batons will be switched out for fire at the light show!  Emily has some practicing to do before then though!

I think they were doing the wave?  Just having fun on the track during the third quarter!

Football season is so exciting!  Emily did a great job, and I love volunteering so that I can watch her up close!  I'm also happy that all the other games are on Friday nights!

later days

Alice Turns 17!!!

For Alice's 17th Birthday, we celebrated her with friends the weekend before her actual birthday.  The theme was "Alice's Favorite" things.  = )

Juliet made a strawberry shortcake bat dragon cupcake topper to enhance the table.

Emily made her main cake.

I only get to see Melony at Alice's birthday parties, since they are no longer in the same school, but I'm so glad they have stayed friends!  Aubrey and Alice have a class together this year, so she gets to see her frequently, and we run into her at school events too!

17, which means the countdown is officially on for her 18th birthday!!! = 0

I think she really enjoyed her day.  She handled all the decorations, from things that we had around the house.

Her actual birthday fell on the second day of school this year, so it was an early morning celebration!

Her siblings collected things for her this year too, so she had lots of very Alice gifts waiting for her!

Happiest of birthdays to my favorite Alice in the whole wide world.  I hope this next year is filled with all kinds of wonderful things and events!

later days

edit 8-30-26: backdated for continuity.

Back to School

Our first back to school event was for Alice and Emily.  We ended up changing the plan last minute, so Emily didn't have time to plan her outfit, but she looked adorable, nonetheless!

Grace sported her Taco Bell sticker from her bag when we redeemed their library prizes. 

The twins had 'jitters' day next at their school.  There were no teachers there, and we only had approximate schedules (whatever was posted in powerschool.) but it was nice to get in and walk around the building for a bit, since the twins were feeling a little nervous.

It also gave Juliet an opportunity to recreate the picture I took of Grace in the spring, since I took no pictures of her at move up night.  oops.  In my defense, she was off walking around with Kennedy the entirety of the night.

The next event was also for the William, Grace, and Juliet, but William was off having fun with Jacob, so he didn't come.  Since he was returning to the school, he didn't mind missing it.  The girls were so happy to see their friends!

We have to get out the door while the sun is still hiding, so we didn't get first day pictures until after school!

There was just enough light at the bus stop for a picture of all 5 before they were off!

In a weird quirk of the calendar, Alice was 16 on her first day of school, which was her birthday, last year, her sophomore year, and because her birthday fell on the second day of school this year, she was 16 for the first day of school her Junior year as well!  She looks extra happy in this picture, because it turns out on days that her professor is not there, MW, she might get to leave early, and as long as she maintains a B, she gets to leave early every Friday!  On a related note, guess who now wants to work on their hours so that they can get their driver's license?

The twins were disappointed that they had to wear last year's shoes on their first day.  We got their new shoes in plenty of time, but despite being the same brand, the next size up was smaller in a different style, so we had to return them, and the new order wasn't expected until their first day, but in the afternoon of course.

It was a fairly smooth start to the new year.  I'm greatly enjoying the single start time and having them all on the same bus!  I worked my first sub job on Friday, at Dimondale, but with the car trouble we had earlier in the week (der UW and my car both decided to have issues on the same day) I was glad that I could at least walk to work if necessary. 

Alice completed part two of driver's training last week, so now she just needs her night hours, and then she will take the driver's test, and now she is motivated!  I'm so ready!

later days

78 Michigan Parks: Tippy Dam State Recreation Area #40

There was a roadside beach that we attempted to locate, without success, since reception was not great.  We did find a man-made lake, which is not the norm for here!

Luckily, Manistee had several local beaches that we scouted, until we found one from our list that we wanted!  First Street Beach was pretty empty when we arrived.  But more and more people arrived, presumably to watch the sunset.

At the farm stand, we bought some bird seed for William to give to the seagulls.

William was not able to get close enough to give the seeds to the seagulls, but when I sat and threw a few seeds out, they came to me.  So, William sat, and a few of them came his way.

But there were more, and he wanted to feed them all so he moved closer,

...and closer, 

....and closer!

Meanwhile, the girls got to swim and play in the sand.  We even remembered to bring our beach toys!

Emily was doing flips in the sand.  The ones where she was actually flipping didn't turn out great, but this one of her about to stand was cute. ; )

Emily wanted to take some pictures at the beach in her new homecoming dress.

As the sun set, we packed up, because we had a second stop planned: Tippy Dam!  Our trip had a short pit stop, for ice cream!!!!

By the time we arrived at Tippy Dam, the sun had set, and we just had some ambient light left.

Emily had several cute poses here in her dress as well, but the light was just so poor, that the sharpness was compromised.

Tippy Dam looked just like one of the Dam's in Fallout 76!

The siren did not sound while we were there, but we did see several people out in boats!

Danger, William!

By the time we left, it was proper night, and we had a three- or so-hour trip home.  I think we got in around 1am?  It was totally worth it to see a little bit more of the state, this time the pinky!  If we can swing an earlier appointment next time, maybe we can make it all the way up to the pinky tip!

later days

edit 8-30-26: backdated for continuity.

A list of our previous visits:

Fort Wilkins Historic State Park #1
FJ McLain State Park #2
Twin Lakes State Park #3
Baraga State Park #4
Craig Lake State Park #5
Van Ripper State Park #6
Bewabic State Park #9
JW Wells State Park #10

Palms Book State Park #12

Indian Lake State Park #13
Muskallonge State Park #14
Tahquamenon Falls #15 (round 2!)
Brimley State Park #16
Straits State Park #17
Keith J Charters #33

Orchard Beach State Park #38
Sleeper State Park #46
Port Crescent State Park #47
Silver Lake State Park #49
Muskegon State Park #50*
Newaygo State Park #51
PJ Hoffmaster State Park #52
Grand Haven State Park #53
Ionia State Park #54
Sleepy Hollow State Park #55
Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area #56
Lake Port State Park #57
Seven Lakes State Park #58
Holly Recreation Area #59
Algonac #60
Holland State Park #61
Island Park State Recreation Area #63b
Highland Recreation Area #64b
Pontiac Lake Recreation Area #65
Dodge #4 State Park #66a
Bald Mountain State Recreation Area #66b
Maybury State Park #67
Saugatuck Dunes State Park #68
Fort Custer Recreation Area #69
Waterloo Recreation Area #70a
Pickney State Recreation Area #70b
WJ Hays State Park #71
Belle Isle Park #72
Van Buren State Park #73
Grand Mere State Park #74
Warren Dunes State Park #75a
Warren Woods State Park #75b
Lake Hudson Recreation Area #77
Sterling State Park #78
Port Austin State Harbor #Bonus 1
Kal-Haven State Park #Bonus 2
Wagner Falls #Bonus 3
Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park #Bonus 4
Yankee Springs #Fail