Our Michigan Trip and Thanksgiving

 Hubby, Sam, Max and Kassie and I left early Thanksgiving morning for Grand Rapids, MI for Danny and Jessica's wedding reception. We flew from Vancouver, Canada to Chicago where we met up with my nephew, Levi.  We had a three hour layover so we went to the Goose Island Brew pub in O'Hare. Our flight to GR was on time and I was so happy at this point.  Relieved to be on time, no bad weather and everyone made it. Happy Mom!

We got to GR, I went to get the rental car and they went to get our luggage, which all arrived.  Again, I am happy!  We go out to our SUV, and it is not really an SUV, and it's small.  Small, like, hold some luggage, kind of small.  The guys are all telling me to forget it, just get in and we'll deal with it.  I am not so happy now.  Hubby hops in after cramming in the luggage and the kids.  The key doesn't work, now I am seriously, unhappy.  Uhhhmmm, wait, this isn't our car.  We unload, walk all over the garage and find our SUV.  It's bigger and better and I am happy.

On to Danny and Jess's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Danny really want to cook for us as he doesn't think we'll come to GR for Thanksgiving again. It is his opportunity.

 Danny wanted some advice on carving.  The table (Danny refinished it) was set with their new dishes, silverware and linens and was so pretty. I wish I had taken more pictures of them at their house. It is mid century modern.  Jess and Dan, both have a great style and it looks fantastic.

Dinner was delicious and we had a good visit with them.  We may be back for more Thanksgivings...

We went to our hotel and crashed.  Since we had been up at 2:30 in the morning and had eaten turkey we adjusted quickly to eastern time zone.

The next morning we met up with the Housemans at breakfast.  Our hotel had breakfast included and it was just like the good old days in Hawaii where everyone gradually shows up and then enjoys a long, leisurely breakfast and coffee time.

We met Danny, Jess had a bad cold and she needed to rest and recover for the wedding reception. We went to the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. I love it there and was excited for their Christmas Around the World Exhibit.

Cheesy photo opp?  Yes, please.

The Christmas trees, nativity sets  and decorations from around the world were beautiful.

 I took a picture of Kassie by the tree from Mexico for her Grandma.

The Victorian tree was my favorite.  It was setting on a mirror.  Now I need a huge mirror for under my tree.

The conservatory had a Christmas village and train.  All of the building were made from plant materials such as seeds, bark and sticks.

The sun was out and we enjoyed the sculpture park.

 I think Danny looks like Sean Henry's Lying Man.

 I love the horse.

 Next, we went to Founder's Brewery in downtown.  It was time to start the brewery touring.

The weather was so mild that we sat outside.  Their beer cheese is crazy good and I need to try to recreate the recipe. Once we got a table for everyone, we stayed.

Next we went to New Holland Brewery at The Knickerbocker.

 Then we met at Braden's house and walked to Harmony Brewing Company in Eastown.

Hubby and I and Mark and Karen went back to the hotel after Harmony.  The kids went out to other Eastown spots. While it is fun to travel with our adult children, it is exhausting.  Mom, mom, MOM, MoM, mOm, MoooooM...you get the idea.

Back at the hotel we met other wedding guests, all of the aunts and uncles and cousins from Minnesota.  A fun group! 

Next post will be the wedding reception.

My Favorite Things and Gifts

Thanksgiving week is here!  I am super excited for Thanksgiving this year.  We will be in Michigan celebrating Danny and Jessica's wedding. It's going to a weekend packed with family fun.

We will get home and it will be time for Max and Kassie's wedding.

And then Christmas! Our family is having a huge month of celebrations.

Since Christmas is going to sneak up on me after the weddings I have done a bit of decorating and I have done some planning.  This will be the year that Hubby and I shop, wrap and finish in one day.  It's actually fun and it has happened before.  There is no dilly dallying.

It's time for my favorite things post today.  It's random this year but it includes some good ideas.

1. CALDREA dryer sheets

I love these dryer sheets.  Besides using them in the dryer, I put them in the trailer.  In between towels, sheets and blankets. I roll them up in sleeping bags.  I put them in our drawers for sachets. I put them in our empty luggage.

My family has a grab bag game at our Christmas party and they are the hot item.  Fights for dryer sheets?  Yes, ma'am!

2. Trader Joe's 

TJ's has so many good things for parties.  I always stock up in December with some appetizers from the freezer section and a lot of cheese and crackers.

 This turkey looks delicious and I plan to try it. TJ's has a lot of easy dinners and in December I am all about easy dinners.

For gift giving I love their lavender salt scrub.  It's like going to the spa but you're actually at home.  It's a good stocking stuffer.

3. Eddie Bauer men's lined work pants

Karen and I found these one Christmas and gave them to Braden and Sam.  We weren't sure if they would use them but they looked warm for working outdoors.  The guys loved them and we have bought them more since then.

4. Eddie Bauer blanket scarf

I just bought this for myself.  I like a blanket when flying.  Something small to roll up in my carry on and to cozy up with on a long flight.  I asked the clerk, "Is this a blanket or a scarf?" She told me it's a blanketscarf.  Well, okay then!

5. Leopard print anything

I love a bit of leopard print.  I do obey the fashion rule of one leopard print per outfit rule religiously.

And you should too.

I bought these leopard print jeans at the Gap for this holiday season.  

6. Spanx leggings

There are many styles and I have black plain jane Spanx leggings.  They are not Spanxgirdletight, just cozy, thick enough, and stay up.  Everything I want in leggings and super comfy.  They are part of my flight uniform for winter. I found mine at nordstrom rack.

7. Cribbage

Hubby and I enjoy playing cribbage.  There are so many choices for cribbage boards.  Etsy has some gorgeous boards.  I recently played with four players.  It's a fun game that packs up easy on vacation.

8. Carmex

I cannot sleep without Carmex on my lips.  Stocking stuffer!   Sometimes people don't even realize how much they need it in their life.

9. Old Navy pajamas

So many choices, so inexpensive! They have flannel, fleece, and thermal for babies, children, and adults.  Get matching pj's for the whole family for Christmas Eve and everyone with be cozy and comfy.  They have plus sizes, maternity and tall for men. That should cover just about everyone.

10. Drizzle 

Drizzle is located in Bellingham and Lynden.  Their oils and vinegars make great gifts.

They are set up for shipping and have the packaging to get your gift via mail safely.

Our favorite combination is the Wild Mushroom and Sage Oil with the Cranberry Pear Vinegar. 

This makes a nice gift as it keeps for a bit and everyone gets a lot of food gifts over the holidays.  Then in January when the diets start, they will have something delicious to use on salads.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving! Mine will be happy because I don't have to cook this year.  There is something wonderful about one of your kids making dinner for you!  I thought I'd really miss the prep, turns out, I don't!

*Just a reminder, no one sponsors my blog, I don't get paid for my opinions or writing.

Showers of Love

 This last month has been so much fun, so many blessings and so much pretty.  I can hardly stand it.

Kassie has been on the bridal shower circuit and I've been along for the ride.

Her first shower was given by my besties.  Oh my, those girls fussed and it was a lot of pretty.

 The food was amazing too.

 The shower included my friends and Kassie's Mom's friends. 

 Kassie's Mom, Idalia and I are pictured with the beautiful bride to be.

 Kassie loves Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. Deb got her the latest cookbook and I got her Ree's apron.  Kassie got the same red hair as Ree, at birth.

 My friends are gorgeous and fun and it was obvious that they fussed and had fun making it all happen.

The second shower was with Kassie's family and here she is with her Grandmas. Her Grandma Plata always tells she how handsome Max is and that he could be a model. Oh please, don't tell him that! 

It's hard enough living with that guy!

The shower was Miss to Mrs. and was so pretty with a lot of greens and sparkle.  The food was delicious too.  Mary, I still need the recipe for those roll ups!

 Kassie has little cousins and a niece so she had a lot of help unwrapping her gifts.  They fluttered around her like little helpers all evening.  One little cousin and I had met before in the classroom.  She shyly came up to me and asked, "Are you Mrs. R?" Yes, I am and you are the little girl that I had told Max about.  One day after school I called Max and told him I had a little girl in my class and she reminded me of Kassie and how I imagined her daughter some day.

 Ella is a her niece and flower girl and she will be happy to tell anyone about her job at Auntie Kiki's wedding.

 We played some fun games too.

This week Kassie, Idalia and I went to Seattle to meet the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.  We had dinner at UVill and it was so pretty there.

 Yes, Ree.  This is your mini me! 

 There were people commenting in line that Kassie looks like the Pioneer Woman and then when we told then that she was getting married and moving to the farm, they swooned.

Kassie was star struck and almost cried as we got closer to meeting Ree.

It was a fun evening and then we got back to the car and realized we we were so excited that we walked away without paying for parking.  Ticket!

The next evening my sisters hosted a family shower for Kassie.  They did a Pioneer Woman themed shower.  It was so pretty and the food was PW'S recipes.

The Grandmas had a nice visit.

 Ree and Kassie have identical dogs too.  I got her the cookie jar that looks like Bo and Lucy.  And I gave Bo the treat jar from PW's line of home goods.

 My sissies rocked the Pioneer Woman theme.  Ree was even there giving a cooking demo (on TV, but still).

It has been so fun celebrating Max's bride to be with friends and family and showers of blessings.

Thank you to all of the hostesses!

Here and Now

Some times you need a laugh and your sissy knows it.

I have been substitute teaching the last few weeks.  Today and tomorrow there is no school, and boy howdy is that a good thing.  My house, yard, garage, closet, cupboards, laundry room are all a mess.  Which tends to make me a hot mess.

Next week is parent teacher conferences so the students have half days and all teachers are there to meet with the parents.  Since this is my first Fall of subbing, I just realized I probably won't work next week.  An unscheduled vacation for me!  I plan to decorate for Christmas, shop for Christmas and wrap for Christmas.  Lofty goals.

I've had good things going on and just no time to post them.  I am going to do a bridal shower post soon, because I have been attending some beautiful showers.  

In the middle of our joy we have had some hard things.  Things that aren't mine to share.

I know that some good always comes out of the hard stuff.  And I see it already.

God is good.  All the time.

I am getting out the luggage for our trip to Michigan.  We are getting so excited to see Danny and Jess.  It is going to be a fun family time.

Happy Veteran's Day!  The students in our school district are being taught to appreciate the military and their sacrifices.  That makes me happy. The Veteran's Day assembly at BV Elementary was respectful and well done.

I am going to get back to regular scheduled posting.  Soon.

Because this was a tad random.