Bryce's road rash

Friday night we went to my parents for dinner and to visit. My parents had not seen Bryce ride his bike without training wheels, so I took his bike and helmet with us. I had also loaded up some big rocks we didn't want from the old landscaping in our front yard, so my mom could put them in her rock garden. While we were unloading them and with only little room in their driveways, Bryce got on his bike. Before I knew it, he was down and crying! I scooped him up right away, and carried a crying Bryce into the house to see what he had done. I kept telling him he was ok, because I really wanted to make sure he'd get back on! He did a good job this time and has quite the road rash! We of course joked that he hurt Grandpa RaRa's new black top, which put a smile on his face. He kind of forgot about it until we went to cut wood today and I had to wrap it. Tonight at dinner, I noticed he had been itching it and it had dried blood on it, so before his shower and before it was all cleaned up, i snapped 2 pictures! I am very happy to report that he did get back on his bike and proved to RaRa, KayKay, Uncle Scott, Aunt Tasha, Devyn and Dustin that he can ride without training wheels! I am extremely proud of him for trying again! Here are the pics of his owwie!




Tootles
~SHERRI~

Day 3 of my big project...and a confusing sign

Ok, so I met up with Dawn and some good friends we made at the party store for lunch today. 1 of them asked us about the sign they saw at the credit union today....hmmmm no clue. He told us what it said, and that of course got us all talking. From what we have gathered, Mike Trombley (previous owner of the party store and current owner and landlord of the credit union) put a sign up and is looking into either moving the store to the corner where the credit union is currently, when they move across M46...OR...he is looking into buying the store and re-opening it! Problem with him moving it is as follows.....the credit union will not be moved into the new building until June 1st (they haven't even broke ground on the new building yet.) He'd have to put gas tanks in the ground which is quite expensive. The liquor license got stripped from Norm and is currently with whomever buys the store, and to get a liquor license in Tuscola county could take upwards of 2 years...meaning opening a store with no beer (not gonna happen!) I am NOT sitting around waiting til July to get back to work and neither is Dawn. I most certainly would enjoy working for Mike IF he's going to re-open in the old store and get the ball moving soon...but I just can't stay on unemployment (well I could) for that long...I'd go crazy and thats too long to go with a minimal amount of money every week! So here is the sign that was just put out in front of the credit union last night. (Mike was caught by a few friends putting it up)

Now onto a lighter note. I didn't get any yard work done til Adam got home. I had a few errands to run after lunch and I picked the boys up from school then did home work. Once Adam got home and while dinner was cooking, we went full force in the front yard. We finished leveling it out and put rocks around the perimeter. We also moved the rest of the huge rocks from the front yard so the lawn can be mowed. I then planted the 2 mums (in REESE colors) I ordered from Dawn's daughter in my new flower bed. I am so ready for flowers now, and want to find a cute 5 foot or 6 foot tree that cascades down. I heard a cascading peach tree is pretty, but who knows. Adam is also going to take the 2 big rocks we inherited from his grandpa Stoney into the new flower bed as the center pieces! I love the way this turned out and am very proud of it! I put a lot of hard work and sweat into this, and am very glad to be done! PHEW! Hope you all think its a great as I do! I'll post 1 before picture that was already posted so you can see what it used to look like! UGH I never did find the well either, so hopefully I don't dig too deep while planting flowers and hit it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BEFORE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ hidious!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~AFTER~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tootles

~SHERRI~

Day 2 of my big project

So I went outside and started working on my big project about 9am to try to get a full day in. WOW did it warm up fast. Anyways, I took a breakfast and a lunch break but basically worked full force all day. I had to quit about 3pm, because I was way too hot! My face was red and I was sweating like crazy! I may try to get another hour in while the boys are at football, just because I am about half way thru the hardest part, but I may just wait til tomorrow afternoon. I still haven't found the well or a body (LOL) but I did find a huge stump from what must have been a bush. Looks like they just decided to cover it up...UGH! I tried to get it out, but Adam is going to have to hack away at it a bit! Now with all the rocks spread all over the yard and a huge dirt pile, it really does look like a grave in our front yard! AHHH Anyways, here are some newer pictures of my progress.


The rope is my guide for the new flower bed! I did start digging up the grass but wow thats tough work!



The remaining mound and my rope for the new flower bed!



Another view of my new flower bed and the mound!



UGH the bush stump I found and dug around but can't get out! It's right in the middle so I was a bit leery thinking the well is near too!

More after another days work! Hopefully this is only a 1 week project, but i don't know. I can't work on it all day again until Friday, since tomorrow I am meeting some friends for lunch and Thursday I am working picture day at Bryce's school.


Tootles
~SHERRI~

This morning before school

The boys were goofing around with Molly this morning before they got on the bus for school, so i snapped a few pictures!

Drew and Molly playing on the chair!

Bryce and Molly playing on the couch!

Tootles

~SHERRI~

my big project

So since I am unemployed, I decided that I was sick of looking at the huge ugly mound in our front yard. This morning, I was just going to clean it up, pull all the weeds, and fix the rocks that had fallen down and had weeds growing up in between the rocks, but after starting just that, I decided that more needed to be done. Since I ain't working, I have nothing but free time on my hands! LOL I called Adam to find out what he thought, because we are unsure if the well is hidden under this thing. He thought it would be fine, just to be a bit careful! I figure I started about 11am, took about a 30 minute lunch break, chatted on the phone a few times in between, had to jump the car because I had worn the battery down listening to it while working but otherwise I worked til about 4pm when the boys got home. These are my before and after pictures for today. I decided I am going to take down all the rocks around this thing (wow there are even some buried) then use them as the perimeter of a beautiful flower bed like at my mother-in-laws! I am sure this will take me a bit, but I hate the mound that was there before. I was talking to Dawn from my work today and I told her what I was doing. Her and I joked that it would look like I was burring a body...I said, oh my what if that is what is under this mound?!?! Scary! LOL Anyways, here is my progress. I will take a picture after another full day of working on it. I wanted to take Bryce bike riding tonight while the other 2 go to football practice, plus lots of shows start tonight, so I worked the afternoon and called it quits. Plus it was hurting my back!

Before I started.......my ugly mound that was here when we moved in!

another before!

After about 5 hours of work!

Another after 5 hours of work picture!

Tootles

~SHERRI~

my goofie kids

Today the boys decided to get into some gear and shoot foam things at each other around the house! 1 guy was the shooter and the other was the target...a moving target at that! They had a blast and wanted me to get their pictures so here they are! It was funny!

BRYCE

DREW

Tootles

~SHERRI~

Our weekend

Friday night started out with the Reese Football game VS Vassar! The good guys won 21-13....hmmm maybe it was 20-13...Gosh it's hard to watch when I don't understand football! I go there to chat and people watch...LOL. After the game I picked up my bestest friend from work...Dawn and we were off to Joe's bar! We got bombarded with questions about what happened at the store of course, but after that kind of settled down, we had a BLAST! We got lots of drinks bought for us, b/c we are unemployed...LMAO!! It was funny. We left about 11:30pm to get Kirbie K from her house since she turned 21 at midnight! We walked into her family all being at the bar and lots more drinks! I bought Kirbie a gross shot, LOL...bad Sherri...but it was funny! Kirbie was fine, but Dawn on the other hand was not. Kirbie, Dawn and 1 of Kirbie's friends did a shot of tequila and that put Dawn over the top....AHHH Anyways, after partying with Dawn on numerous occasions in the 4 years that I've known her...I personally have never seen her pray to the porcelain God at the bar...UNTIL Friday night...ohhh that poor girl! I felt so bad for her, because she just was not feeling well at all. Poor Shark (her hubby)....anyways, we had an amazing night HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRBIE!!!

The Birthday Girl! Love ya girl

The Birthday girl, Dawn and 1 of Kirbie's friends in the background!

Dawn's best friend Saundra came out to party it up with us!

Saturday Bryce had a soccer game in Frankenmuth! I do believe Bryce scored in the first minute of the game! It was GREAT!!! He was so excited. I think this was their hardest game but yet the good guys came up on top! 3-2! YEAH BRYCE He loves soccer and sure puts his whole heart into it!

Awesome kick buddy! (amazing pic by "G" also)

Another great kick and great pic...love the fact that you got the ball in the pic also!

Bryce as goalie picking up a shot! Great job dude!

Drew had a football game at 3 in Vassar so after picking up a few groceries for taco salad, we ran home, made that quick, then were off to Vassar! Drew's team scored first making the score 6-0 but then the other team came back and scored 3 times! We lost yet another game! Maybe after loosing 3 games out of 3....they will be sick of loosing and really try next weekend. I will not be at the game b/c he plays in Clio at 9 and Bryce plays in Frankenmuth at 10! Anyways...GL Drew we know you guys can win a game!

Drew standing for the Pledge of Allegiance before his game started....wow he looks so grown up! I am so proud of him!

Drew and his good friend Jared!

Drew hiking the ball!

After Drew's game, we ran home quick, Drew jumped in the shower and we were off to Frankenmuth again for a get together at Robin and Tim's house. There were lots of kids so the boys had a great time! Daddy played baseball and football with all the kids! No one got hurt either, so that was a bonus...lol. Anyways, we got home about 11 and now today is a day to relax and cut up some wood...oh fun! The boys are also doing homework that they like to put off til the last day...turkeys!

Earlier in the week, I had taken Bryce into Reese to ride his bike without training wheels. I know he is late, but he just wasn't interested last summer and we were bad parents and didn't take him out this summer. The boys had gone with "G" and Papa to their friends cabin a few weeks ago, and Bryce wouldn't even try the 2 wheel bike for papa, so I knew we had to try! He also just got asked to go camping with a friend in a few weeks in Bay City and the friends mom said, "bring his bike" and I though UT OH! So we were off to parking lots in town. We met "G" at Trinity and after me barley starting him...he was OFF!!! He did amazing! He did fall a few times, just b/c the darn curbs ran out in front of him..LOL but nothing major. He sat for a few minutes and wanted right back on! The next day we took him to the HS parking lot to show daddy. I video taped and Adam showed him how to start! He did great! He is now a starting and stopping bike riding machine! He loved it too! "G" took a few pictures, so enjoy!

Mommy helping him get started when we first got there!

WOW look at me go! YEAH!

Thats all my up-dates Adam is off getting some more wood! (LOVE FREE HEAT!) lol

Tootles

~SHERRI~

Robin's baby shower

Just wanted to show off a picture of my pregnant sister in law at her shower! Her shower was yesterday. All went well even though it was pouring outside! Robin and Tim are due November 17th for their first child and the ultrasounds say it's a GIRL! Name is picked out, but only mommy and daddy know so far. the rest of us will find out when she is here! Kind of neat to not share! Anyways, she looks beautiful pregnant! Has the pregnancy glow about her!






Tootles
~SHERRI~

Drew's football schedule....sry

I didn't realize I didn't have Drew's football schedule on my blog. We just go to their web site, but unless I tell you what that is, you wouldn't know...my bad. He played Saturday night (yes even in the rain) although while sitting there waiting for his game to start it poured, while he was playing, it didn't rain! Them poor cheerleaders for the game before him were soaked! They are all gonna be sick! Drew's team lost 6-14 I think, but wow did they try! They finally got the taste of a touch down, so we were all excited! Drew was in on a good block (knock down) whatever, and "G" was screaming because she was so excited! He is also running much faster when someone on the other team gets a break away. He is 1 of the first couple down there trying to knock him down! VERY IMPRESSIVE!!! Anyways....here is his schedule!

Saturday September 20th HOME (Vassar HS) 3pm

Saturday September 27th AWAY (CLIO HS) 9am

Saturday October 4th HOME (VASSAR HS) 5pm

Saturday October 11th AWAY (GRAND BLANC) 1pm....
(For teams traveling to Grand Blanc for games this season, please note that Grand Blanc plays their home games at Lake Fenton Middle School. ) This was on their web site.

Saturday October 18th BYE week (I don't know what that means and I don't know if there are play offs!)

Anyways....there you go for those that were asking!
Tootles
~SHERRI~

A GOOD LAUGH

When my worked abruptly closed a week ago, Dawn and I had cleaned the store out, taking some things home. The schools couldn't' take the opened 3 gallon ice cream buckets so we took a few that we would eat. Those things take up so much room in our freezer, so after the boys ate it a few nights, I transferred it into a smaller bucket. I thought the dogs would enjoy some ice cream, so I called them both out. Molly was the only 1 interested, so while standing in the living room, watching Drew's football game tape from last night, I see the 3 gallon ice cream bucket flying around in the air. I look and see the Molly has her head stuck in it, and isn't sure how to get it out! By no means was it tight, all she needed to do was tip her head down...LOL OMG we all stood there laughing so hard at her. She backed herself under the kitchen table, and just sat there. Once I snapped a few pictures, Drew took it off her, and told her not to pick her head up again! OMG we were laughing so hard! I even had to wipe down her face and ears!!! Anyways.....it was super funny and just wanted to share! Thanks for the laughs Molly, you sure are a funny puppy!




Molly stuck


Too funny


Molly with her head out!

Tootles
~SHERRI~

My kids

Bryce had his 2nd soccer game tonight. We noticed he needs to work on goal kicks. While in the goal, at 3 different attempts to kick it out, 1 time he fell on his hinnie, 1 time he barley kicked it and the 3rd time, he finally got ahold of it! We couldn't help but giggle a little. Bryce did miss 1 of his practices, so maybe thats when they did goal kicks. He had never done 1 until tonight. O well...we will get there. We ended the game tonight tied 2-2. Bryce didn't have any goals, but not for lack of trying. He did let 1 shot get thru on him though. At that point, the game was then 2-1 bad guys but then the good guys caught right up! He said on the way home that the other team was good. That's good for him to learn that he can't win every game! WTG buddy, I can't wait til Saturday am, so see your next game!

Drew had football practice tonight. When Adam got home, he handed me his football pictures! I took a few pictures of them with my camera so I can post them on here, LOL. "G" and KayKay and any Aunts that read this....you have pictures at my house from the packages, so don't worry about printing them off here. Hope to see some of you at Drew's next game at 7pm Saturday night in Caro. He plays 1 game under the lights on the football field, and that's his night, so it should be pretty exciting! Enjoy the pictures!

Good close up of Drew being so serious!

Same picture, just back a bit farther!

Drew is 10...top left next to coaches!

his friends from school are 71 and 89.

Tootles

~SHERRI~

News in our household lately

So after being a bum and cleaning the house all week, hardly even showering, LOL I finally was able to call about unemployment! WOW do I feel like a looser, but I guess when your screwed out of your job very abruptly, you got to do this to keep your family in tact. It is NO fun. I think it is more work to do this then to find another job. I am really looking forward to getting lots done around our house in the next month or so, but I most certainly miss going to work. I did get a phone call on Tuesday morning that the bank already owns the store, and the locks were changed! Norm lied to us and told us he had 2 weeks, but honestly, the more I find out, I am not surprised he lied about that. I did get an e-mail from Amy Joles at the Tuscola County Advertiser, asking if I'd talk to them about what happened. I called, but haven't heard a thing. My sis-in-law texted me late last night to tell me TV5 was at the store and it was on the news last night at 11pm. I guess they talked to a local customer, but couldn't reach Norm....big surprise! She said they said the store was for sale on e-bay...but I couldn't find it. I do hope and think the chances of us being back in there are very high, but I know it will be awhile. I know there is LOTS of interest! Dawn and I as managers there, have already been told we are wanted to "run" the whole store, while a few owners go partners and work their other jobs! How cool is that!

While cleaning the house, I have decided to have a MAJOR garage sale SOON! Adam and I have lots of stuff we don't want, including the boys wooden swing set from the Richville house (Adam says he's not putting it back up) and the boys HUGE train table and some train pieces. I am not sure when I am opening it, but it will be all week next week, if not some days this weekend. I am just trying to sell stuff that we no longer use to keep our heads above water! Please pass on the news......lots of goodies my kids have out grown. Including fishing poles, hockey and sports stuff, home decor...movies, ps games, ps2 games....whatever they don't use I am selling...LOL Sick of all the clutter laying around. So......I am trying to keep my spirits up, but I am bored at home. I haven't gone anywhere in 3 days! Laundry is caught up, beds have clean sheets, house is clean so today I am finally going to Saginaw for a few things then Bryce has a soccer game at 6pm in Frankenmuth! I also get to go be a looser and go to MI works...oh fun! : ( Hopefully life will turn around sooner then later! This sucks!

Bored at home
~SHERRI~

Boys games this weekend

I know it's Tuesday and I am finally finding time to post pictures on here about their football and soccer games, but that's only because my life was turned up-side down Friday night! Anyways.....at 11am, Bryce had his first soccer game in U8. This is a big step because there are no girls and there are goalies! He was goalie first which he LOVED doing! They put a shirt on top of their regular game shirt so you know who the goalie is, so of course I had to snap a few pictures!

Bryce in the goalie shirt!



Bryce blocking the goal!



After being goalie for the 1st quarter, he was defender for the 2nd two, then he went to offence. While on defence, he scored 2 goals!!! He was the only boy on their team to make 2! They won 5-0 (maybe 5-1...I don't remember!) It was so exciting. Plus he is the youngest on his team, because we kind of had an option with his birthday to either bump him this year to U8 or not to. We choose to because we wanted him to get a challenge! WTG Bryce!!! We have another soccer game Thursday night!


After Bryce's soccer game, we headed to Vassar for football! Drew is number 10 in the picture. We sat in the bleachers, they have cheerleaders, they announce all the team mates...it was really neat! We didn't know what was going to happen, so it was pretty exciting! Vassar JV1 (Drew's team) played against Frankenmuth JV. We ended up loosing 22-0 but I think it was a HUGE learning experience. Drew's team doesn't do much throwing nor much defence while at practice and I think that's what hurt us. He did have practice last night, but I typically stay home and have dinner ready when they get home, so I don't know how much they practice those items. He plays at 7pm in Caro this Saturday night (their game under the lights) so it should be really neat if anyone is sitting around doing nothing! I don't know much about football, but I know he is the hiker! LOL He did get a great block, and I am "paying" a friend for a great picture he took of that block, so I will post that once I get it! Great job Drew on your very first ever football game! It was so exciting to see you out there playing, and to hear them announce your name!

Number 10...sorry so blurry (had to zoom in so much)

GL at your games this week. Bryce plays Thursday at 6pm and Saturday at 10am in Frankenmuth and Drew plays at 7pm on Saturday in Caro!

Tootles
~SHERRI~

up-date on my previous work...ha

Well, from what we have heard, Norm was a snake for the last 3-4 months, and owes everyone and every business he was involved with - money! He hadn't made payments in awhile to basically everyone and it finally caught up to him. He skipped town, and thinks he will get away with things he did. I won't bore you with details, but he's in MAJOR trouble!

The good news is....MANY MANY MANY people have talked about going partners and opening the store back up. Nothing right away, because I do believe the bank will own the store in 2 weeks, so it will be at least that long. Dawn, my-self, my mom and a co-worker were up there cleaning our butts off today. Dawn and I met at 6am to make coffee for our regular customers. Many didn't know a thing until they walked in and saw the store EMPTY!! We donated all the big ice cream tubs, pizza condiments and ice cream cones to Reese Elementary and Middle school, and to St. Michael's (where our kids go.) We had lots of laughs and talked to lots of friends that stopped up to wish us the best and told us to keep our chins up! So anyways, we are filing for unemployment tomorrow together, and going to enjoy some time off...but we do plan on being back!

Enough rambling on...I have lots to get done today, so tomorrow I can start on my honey-do-list....LOL

Tootles
~SHERRI~

WOW WHAT A FRIDAY NIGHT I HAD!!!

So here goes nothing.....RICHVILLE CITGO is CLOSED! After 4 years of employment for whom I thought was a great boss/friend we were all screwed over and I am EXTREMELY PISSED OFF! We found out at 6:30pm Friday night that we are unemployed! LOVELY! Norm stopped paying his bills and as far as we understand...the bank will own the party store in a few weeks. It is emptied and closed as of 9pm Friday night. HA Thanks Norm.....more info on it all later, as of now........I am extremely hurt-tired-mad-sad-shocked-pissed-upset-scared-worried- so I will leave it at that for now. Lots and lots of tears have been shed and some extremely close friends that I have made in 4 years will be dearly missed. Enough for now or I will start crying again! Off to bed

Tootles
~SHERRI~

1st day of school

Drew's alarm went off at 6:41am.....he came down on his own as usual. I went up to get Bryce who was laying in his bed awake and EXCITED to start 1st grade. He jumped right in my arms and said he had been laying there after sleeping for a long time! LOL They ate breakfast and got dressed, brush teeth and put on shoes. I of course grabbed my camera to take 1st day of school pictures. Bryce stood right up with his back pack on and smiled for me. Drew....ha....I had to threaten to take a picture tomorrow when he gets on the bus OR today when I dropped him off, I could go inside and get a picture of him by his locker....LOL. He stood up and smiled at home (no friends around) Anyways, I dropped Drew off outside at the middle school. I took Bryce to his school, asked the helpers where he stands when he gets off the bus tomorrow, and we stood in line. I was the only mom with a 1st grader so I asked if he wanted me to leave or stay. He said to stay. When the bell rang, we went inside, found his hook outside his class room, he hung up his back pack, opened it up, grabbed out his folder, gave mom a kiss and he was off. I got out to the van, text Adam to tell him they were in class and I started crying! UGH!! This is my 2nd year with Bryce gone all day, so I thought I'd be ok...guess not. I took today off work so I could take them to school and pick them up...but now what do I do?!?! I guess I am going raspberry picking with Cheryl. Got to keep my-self busy! Adam told me I could split wood...LOL NOT!!! Anyways...here are their pictures!

Bryce ready for 1st grade!

Drew ready for 6th grade!

Both of my little indians ready for school!

Last day before school

Today we slept in because I took the day off. I wanted to spend the boys last summer vacation day at home with them. I made pancakes and sausage for breakfast, then we layed around and watched tv. About 1pm, we took off to Saginaw where the boys played at the big park by Walmart, while I ran into Sams club for a few items. Then we were off to see "Fly me to the moon!" It was a 3D kids animated movie. Kind of cheesie, but the boys liked it and it was about the only kid movie playing. It was extremely expensive due to the cool glasses we got and I guess they have to get a different screen for the 3D to work. Oh well.


Bryce with the 3D glasses on!



Drew wearing his 3D glasses!



Adam wearing his 3D glasses!

I also wanted to show Uncle Tim the school shoes Drew picked out a few weeks ago. We figured he would think they are cool, so I snapped a picture of them. Since I took a picture of Drew's new shoes, I assumed Bryce would be up-set so I took a picture of his as well. They will never look this clean again anyways! Both boys found great deals on shoes at the out-lets so they each got 2 pairs. Bryce is still learning to tie so we did 1 tie and 1 velcro.

Drew's new school shoes.

Bryce's 2 new pairs of school shoes!

All our papers are signed, checks made out for lunch money, lunches picked out, and back packs ready. Showers will be soon. We are going to attempt to allow Drew to stay up 30 minutes later then Bryce and see how that goes. He is going into the 6th grade so it's only fair. We shall see how he gets up in the morning! Anyways....off to get laundry finished.

Uncle Tim....we hope you like Drew's shoes....

Tootles

~SHERRI~