I think we saw the sun for about 10 minutes during Maw Maw and Paw Paw's visit. Hince the theme for this slideshow...raindrops.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Things I Never Thought I Would See in October...
A snowstorm!
And the Detroit Tigers 2 wins away from the World Series!!! Go Tigers!!
And the Detroit Tigers 2 wins away from the World Series!!! Go Tigers!!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Dinner To-Go
Last night after taking mom to the airport we stopped at Famous Dave's BBQ in Novi. While eating, Paige noticed those cute little advertisements they put on the table. Cute...colorful...fun looking.
She asked me what it was. I said that's a thing you can take it to go. I meant, "That is an ADVERTISEMENT which shows how you can get FAMOUS DAVE'S to go.
She let it go at that.
When we walked out of the restaurant she had the cute little ad thing with her. I said, "Paige, why did you take that from the restaurant?" She said, "You said it was a thing to take to go."
You got a point there kid.
She asked me what it was. I said that's a thing you can take it to go. I meant, "That is an ADVERTISEMENT which shows how you can get FAMOUS DAVE'S to go.
She let it go at that.
When we walked out of the restaurant she had the cute little ad thing with her. I said, "Paige, why did you take that from the restaurant?" She said, "You said it was a thing to take to go."
You got a point there kid.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Persuasion 101
Tonight Kurtis made his world famous snickerdoodles. Seriously, they rock! So, we were sitting around doing our family "Dirty Jobs" night when Paige asked if she could have another cookie. I said, "How many have you had?" And she replied, "Well, I had one before "Dirty Jobs" and it has probably already digested and then I had another one during "Dirty Jobs" so I've kinda just had one since the first one I already digested.
Yip, she got another cookie.
Yip, she got another cookie.
Monday, September 11, 2006
A Great Day!
Was it getting my kitchen cleaned and organized today that made it a great day?
Was it enjoying a Mint Condition from Caribou all by myself that made it a great day?
Was it spending the afternoon in the car with my husband that made it a great day?
Nope.
This is what made it a great day!!!!
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Was it enjoying a Mint Condition from Caribou all by myself that made it a great day?
Was it spending the afternoon in the car with my husband that made it a great day?
Nope.
This is what made it a great day!!!!
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Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Monday, September 04, 2006
I'ma CEO!!!
CEO-Chief Everything Officer!!!
I went to www.dove.com today to get my free sample of deodorant and that is what they call stay-at-home moms. I love that!!!!
I went to www.dove.com today to get my free sample of deodorant and that is what they call stay-at-home moms. I love that!!!!
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Boys and Their Toys!
Last Christmas our family Christmas present was a brand new ping-pong table from Germany. We searched long and hard for the perfect table and ended up ordering it instead of getting one like normal people from Dunham's or even Wal-Mart.
I've been excited to have the little exercise provided by the ping-pong table and enjoyed the family time when we set up our own little tourney.
Kurtis celebrated his 33rd birthday last week and got Ping-Pong for XBOX 360. Ping-pong. Virtual ping pong. When we have a real one.
I was cleaning house a little yesterday before the OU/UAB game (OU Won!) and I hear Grant and Kurtis in the basement playing their new game. I actually heard the following:
"Wow! It is just like the real thing."
I thought to myself. "Self....we OWN the real thing!" And now, we don't get the little exercise provided by the "real thing". We are simply getting virtual exercise on the XBOX.
And men say we are complicated. Whatever to that.
I've been excited to have the little exercise provided by the ping-pong table and enjoyed the family time when we set up our own little tourney.
Kurtis celebrated his 33rd birthday last week and got Ping-Pong for XBOX 360. Ping-pong. Virtual ping pong. When we have a real one.
I was cleaning house a little yesterday before the OU/UAB game (OU Won!) and I hear Grant and Kurtis in the basement playing their new game. I actually heard the following:
"Wow! It is just like the real thing."
I thought to myself. "Self....we OWN the real thing!" And now, we don't get the little exercise provided by the "real thing". We are simply getting virtual exercise on the XBOX.
And men say we are complicated. Whatever to that.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
A New Chapter
One week from today all of the kids will attend traditional school.
It is a happy time. It is a scary time. It is an exciting time.
Through all of our homeschooling the past 7 years, I knew we were doing the right thing. Now, that they are going to school I know this is the right thing.
How do I know?
Well, every school year I ask myself and the kids if homeschooling is still the best option for our family. I also ask myself, "Why am I doing this?" This last school year my answers began to change. I always homeschooled to give my kids a great education, to be a part of that education process, to protect them from pressures of other kids and to allow them to grow and learn at their own pace. I realized I couldn't do those things effectively anymore.
The reason, though, is not so much that I had lost the passion I once had for homeschooling. I still believe it is a great educational alternative and when done correctly has great benenfits. But, I realized I had a need to control those things myself instead of leaving them to the One who controls my children much better than I ever could.
I realized that God was doing a great work in me. I am quite a control freak. I like to do things my way. I don't like to be told I am wrong and I believe I do things better than most people. I thought I was controling the lives of my children. Ha!
That was the turning point. When I realized that God has control of my children. Not me. I am here as HIS tool and not HIM. Only God can protect my kids from outside pressures. Only God can provide them with sources of great education. Only God can teach them to rely fully on Him and not their mom when they are fearful of new things. Only God loves them more than I do.
Behold the birds of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? Matt. 6:26
What a simple illustration of God's love and provision for us. He is able to guide my children. To teach them, to nurture them and protect them. It is all about Him after all and not about me.
Thank you Lord!!!
It is a happy time. It is a scary time. It is an exciting time.
Through all of our homeschooling the past 7 years, I knew we were doing the right thing. Now, that they are going to school I know this is the right thing.
How do I know?
Well, every school year I ask myself and the kids if homeschooling is still the best option for our family. I also ask myself, "Why am I doing this?" This last school year my answers began to change. I always homeschooled to give my kids a great education, to be a part of that education process, to protect them from pressures of other kids and to allow them to grow and learn at their own pace. I realized I couldn't do those things effectively anymore.
The reason, though, is not so much that I had lost the passion I once had for homeschooling. I still believe it is a great educational alternative and when done correctly has great benenfits. But, I realized I had a need to control those things myself instead of leaving them to the One who controls my children much better than I ever could.
I realized that God was doing a great work in me. I am quite a control freak. I like to do things my way. I don't like to be told I am wrong and I believe I do things better than most people. I thought I was controling the lives of my children. Ha!
That was the turning point. When I realized that God has control of my children. Not me. I am here as HIS tool and not HIM. Only God can protect my kids from outside pressures. Only God can provide them with sources of great education. Only God can teach them to rely fully on Him and not their mom when they are fearful of new things. Only God loves them more than I do.
Behold the birds of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? Matt. 6:26
What a simple illustration of God's love and provision for us. He is able to guide my children. To teach them, to nurture them and protect them. It is all about Him after all and not about me.
Thank you Lord!!!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Our most excellent camping adventure
Bill and Ted had nothing on the Minneys and the Schoebs this weekend...
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Did Wolfgang Puck begin like this????
Grant has a new found hobby and career path. He has decided he wants to be a chef. So he has been hangin out in the kitchen quite a bit and made Rice Krispy treats all by himself the other day and shared them with our professional chef friend Zac.
Zac, being a super nice guy, offered to spend a day teaching Grant the ropes of the kitchen. So, at 10 a.m. they began to prepare an amazing meal. We had homemade pasta, meatballs, some other things I can barely pronounce so I won't try to spell and a wonderful dessert thing. It was SO good.
Zac even gave Grant this get up so that he would look the part. Now, Grant loves to tell me what I am doing wrong in the kitchen and tells me what produce to buy. Ask him about tomatoes next time you see him.
His Christmas list is complete with a GOOD set of knives, a pasta maker and a new cookbook. Doesn't every 10 year old boy want that?
Monday, August 07, 2006
Faith of a Child
All of the kids have kind of being going through the "I'm scared" stage for the last few months. Actually, not Grant as much as the girls. But a couple of months ago I opened my Bible and read to the girls the verse in Matthew that talks about the faith of a mustard seed. I showed them some mustard seed and we talked about how small the mustard seed is and how little faith we need to have to know that God will take care of us. So we prayed and asked God to help them have the faith of a mustard seed that God will protect them through the night.
It was working really well until last night. Paige was especially frightened and she came downstairs for comfort.
Here's how it went down:
Paige: I'm scared.
Me: I'm sorry to hear you are scared Paige. Do you still have your mustard seed I gave you?
Paige: No.
Me: Would you like another mustard seed to hold in your hand while you go to sleep to help you remember that God is watching over you and protecting you.
Paige: No, I want to sleep in your room.
Well, she didn't get to but I did give her the entire jar of mustard seed to take to bed with her.
When I went to check on her about 20 minutes later she had the mustard seed wrapped in both arms like it was a stuffed animal.
This morning I asked her if having the mustard seed helped her to remember to have faith that God is protecting her. She said it did but it would have helped more if she could sleep in my bed.
I'll keep trying!
It was working really well until last night. Paige was especially frightened and she came downstairs for comfort.
Here's how it went down:
Paige: I'm scared.
Me: I'm sorry to hear you are scared Paige. Do you still have your mustard seed I gave you?
Paige: No.
Me: Would you like another mustard seed to hold in your hand while you go to sleep to help you remember that God is watching over you and protecting you.
Paige: No, I want to sleep in your room.
Well, she didn't get to but I did give her the entire jar of mustard seed to take to bed with her.
When I went to check on her about 20 minutes later she had the mustard seed wrapped in both arms like it was a stuffed animal.
This morning I asked her if having the mustard seed helped her to remember to have faith that God is protecting her. She said it did but it would have helped more if she could sleep in my bed.
I'll keep trying!
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Thirty-Five Smirty-Five
Yip. Yesterday was the day. I'm half-way to dead.
Actually since my grandma is well into her 80s I guess I may have a few good years left in me.
On my 35th birthday I learned I have arthritis in my hand. I already had it in my back. I'm old.
But to prove to myself I can still move I played tennis with my husband and had to do it in the 97 degree heat just to show I could.
I bought a couple of pairs of pants and yes, they have an elastic waist.
I didn't get on the scale on my birthday. And no one can make me.
Really though, I look back on the last 35 years and I can't be more thankful for my life. I have three beautiful children and a wonderful husband (who bought me great presents!). Great friends and God who loves me even on my worst day.
Actually since my grandma is well into her 80s I guess I may have a few good years left in me.
On my 35th birthday I learned I have arthritis in my hand. I already had it in my back. I'm old.
But to prove to myself I can still move I played tennis with my husband and had to do it in the 97 degree heat just to show I could.
I bought a couple of pairs of pants and yes, they have an elastic waist.
I didn't get on the scale on my birthday. And no one can make me.
Really though, I look back on the last 35 years and I can't be more thankful for my life. I have three beautiful children and a wonderful husband (who bought me great presents!). Great friends and God who loves me even on my worst day.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
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Monday, July 24, 2006
Friday, July 14, 2006
Thursday, July 13, 2006
What I did on my Summer Vacation by Jacki Minney
We made it. Two weeks with the fam in the 100+ heat and we survived. Boy, Oklahoma is a great place to be from and visit twice a year. No offense, mom, but it is too hot for me there now!!!
We had a great 4th of July out at Kurtis's parents house.
And after that week in Oklahoma we headed to the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee for a few days with Kurtis's sister and her family.
The Smokey's are absolutely beautiful and the resort we stayed at was so much fun. I'm so glad Leslie (Kurtis's sister) and Matt (her husband) have the time share and we get to mooch off of them.
There were several funny moments on the trip but I think this is my favorite:
We are sleeping soundly in our 3 bedroom condo at Fairfield Resort at 4:13 a.m. when the smoke detector begins going off. Not like the little "peep" you hear when the batteries are low but like a bull horn you hear in movies shortly before the small village is being attacked by Japenese Zeros. All NINE of us are out of bed and my bro-in-law calls the desk. They tell him, "Hmmm, we've never had that happen before!" To which my bro-in-law holds up the phone to the screaming alarm and says, "Well, it is happening now!"
After a few minutes it stops (Kurtis and Matt took the batteries out of said smoke detector) and the security people come and check it out. The next day a maintenance dude comes out and asks about our previous night's events. When Leslie and Matt fill the nice gentleman in on what had happened he replied, (and I am not making this up) "Did your ear tell you it was going off?" And he actually put his hand up to his own ear. Did he think our butts told us it was going off???
Anyway, it was quite an adventure. I am thankful for the save trip and the good times we shared with our family over the last 2 weeks.
I'm experiencing technical difficulties uploading pics but I will try again soon.
We had a great 4th of July out at Kurtis's parents house.
And after that week in Oklahoma we headed to the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee for a few days with Kurtis's sister and her family.
The Smokey's are absolutely beautiful and the resort we stayed at was so much fun. I'm so glad Leslie (Kurtis's sister) and Matt (her husband) have the time share and we get to mooch off of them.
There were several funny moments on the trip but I think this is my favorite:
We are sleeping soundly in our 3 bedroom condo at Fairfield Resort at 4:13 a.m. when the smoke detector begins going off. Not like the little "peep" you hear when the batteries are low but like a bull horn you hear in movies shortly before the small village is being attacked by Japenese Zeros. All NINE of us are out of bed and my bro-in-law calls the desk. They tell him, "Hmmm, we've never had that happen before!" To which my bro-in-law holds up the phone to the screaming alarm and says, "Well, it is happening now!"
After a few minutes it stops (Kurtis and Matt took the batteries out of said smoke detector) and the security people come and check it out. The next day a maintenance dude comes out and asks about our previous night's events. When Leslie and Matt fill the nice gentleman in on what had happened he replied, (and I am not making this up) "Did your ear tell you it was going off?" And he actually put his hand up to his own ear. Did he think our butts told us it was going off???
Anyway, it was quite an adventure. I am thankful for the save trip and the good times we shared with our family over the last 2 weeks.
I'm experiencing technical difficulties uploading pics but I will try again soon.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Double Digits
Today my one and only son turns 10. Hard to believe.
Grant and Kurtis had been saving money to buy an XBOX 360 and for Grant's birthday we gave him the lacking funds to buy it. He was very much appreciative of the gift.
Little did he know he gave us the gift on his birthday.
Kurtis and Grant were sitting alone together in the car when Kurtis said to Grant, "Wow Grant, you are ten today - double digits- I wonder what you will be like in 10 more years." Grant replied, "I don't know dad, but I hope I am just like you!"
What a sweetheart.
We had a great time with friends at Los Tres Amigos here in Howell and then our chef friend made Grant an opera cake (at his request) for his birthday. At Los Tres they sang "Happy Birthday" and then gave G some fried ice cream. Don't miss the video below!!!
Then it was on to play XBOX Live with some buddies all of which are 30 and above!!! I love my kid!!!
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Grant and Kurtis had been saving money to buy an XBOX 360 and for Grant's birthday we gave him the lacking funds to buy it. He was very much appreciative of the gift.
Little did he know he gave us the gift on his birthday.
Kurtis and Grant were sitting alone together in the car when Kurtis said to Grant, "Wow Grant, you are ten today - double digits- I wonder what you will be like in 10 more years." Grant replied, "I don't know dad, but I hope I am just like you!"
What a sweetheart.
We had a great time with friends at Los Tres Amigos here in Howell and then our chef friend made Grant an opera cake (at his request) for his birthday. At Los Tres they sang "Happy Birthday" and then gave G some fried ice cream. Don't miss the video below!!!
Then it was on to play XBOX Live with some buddies all of which are 30 and above!!! I love my kid!!!
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20 minutes from Hell
You may have heard me say before that when we left Oklahoma we didn't move to Hell but we are within 20 minutes of it. It's true ya know. Hell, Michigan. Look it up!!!
For the most part Howell, MI is just a hum drum little town smack dab between Lansing and Detroit on I-96. I can be in either place in about 30 minutes. And for fun and excitement we usually take on one of those cities.
But once a year, Howell becomes the place to be. Even the Detroit Free Press had the annual Michigan Balloon Challenge on the front page on Friday.
I love living on Thompson Lake and the best part is when the balloons come right over the lake and touch down on the water. Unfortunately, this year the wind was coming from the north so they didn't come and touch down on the lake but it was still a sight to behold.
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