camping

I can hardly believe there was a day when I didn't like camping. I have to admit, I'm still relatively "new" to this, but I thoroughly enjoy it! About 15 years ago, Mike and I started talking about how we would like to take the kids camping. We didn't have much extra money then, so for Mother's Day that year, I received a tent! It ended up being a GREAT gift for the first 10 years because Mike would take the kids camping and I would get a weekend home ALONE! The only problem was.....they made many memories without me and *I* didn't know what I was missing! Mike and I camping
The *tent* that Kaitlyn, Julia and I shared.
I discovered as long as I was on an air mattress and brought along my fan, I get great sleep. Oh yeah....I also discovered ear plugs to drown out the loud people next door! ha

Mike (and Michael) usually does most of the cooking.

Michael and Kaitlyn sittin' around the campfire eating a S'more.

The GREAT part about camping.

Roastin' the marshmallows!

Precious Julia eating her S'more. *Notice* her dad gave her DOUBLE chocolate.

Tim.... fresh from the shower!

Kaitlyn also took some cool photos from the waterfall we went to! It was so much fun!

Now, I can't wait to plan our next trip.

A Wonderful Weekend

It began last Friday. Julia and I got up VERY early to drive to East Lansing to pick up the bulk of Nick's belongings from Michigan State. I thought it would be fun for both of us to go to Donley to visit during her grade's lunch time and for me to see many of my friends that I used to work with every day. And, was it ever fun. We were greeted so warmly with hugs and laughter. She got to see many of her friends at her former school and had time to play at recess and eat lunch with them. It did make her want to move back to EL. Julia has had many changes in her life and I wanted her to know they still remembered her. The photo above is of her best friend in EL, Anastasia. The reconnected very quickly and I promised that I would get them together this summer.

Here is a photo of Anastasia and her mom. It is because of Annie that we found out about Julia. Annie will always have a special place in my heart.

I didn't get many photos of Nick, but here are two of his friends, Sarah and Emilia. Nick has a wonderful group of "mentor" friends. Next year he will be a senior and it will be his last year of mentoring. He will have one year of student teaching after that.

Julia and Nastya at Tasty Twist. You just can't go to East Lansing without a stop at

Tasty Twist.

Easting Ice Cream.

Having Fun!

We left East Lansing around 6pm and headed to Ann Arbor to spend the night with Kaitlyn and Michael. They treated us to a wonderful dinner of Bar-B-Q Chicken. The next morning I had a very special time with my two daughters just hanging out at Kait's apartment. How I wish we lived closer to spend those types of moments together! (sorry, I didn't get any photos)

On one level, I cannot believe I am posting this photo, but it shows the wonderful breakfast Tim and Julia made for me. Breakfast in Bed with an omlette, toast and a Diet Coke! I was treated like a queen all day yesterday. Nick is now home for the summer...sort of. He's heading to Germany in mid-June for a summer "unpaid" teaching internship.

Pole Vaulting

Tim has really enjoyed Track & FIELD this year. It's been fun going to the meets and watching him. We'll find out today if he got invited to an Invitational meet on Monday