Downtown the Roak, German Park and Family

My mom stayed with me all weekend, and we had a blast! She was at my house waiting for me when I got home from work on Friday, and of course she was doing mom stuff like washing the windows I ignore and wiping down the vent from the bottom of the refrigerator. I mean, who thinks of cleaning that thing other than a mom?! After a couple of hours sitting around and catching up, we decided to have a girls' night out downtown Royal Oak, or, as I affectionately call it, the Roak. We met up with my friend, Melissa, and had fun touring some local spots.

Say Spacebook! We're both caught here in the middle of a huge, genuine laugh.

With Melissa and Mom.

Senior-picture pose.

Next up was German Park, an Ann Arbor summertime tradition. It's a party held in a private park on the last Saturday of the month during June, July and August. Food, music, buckets of beer- just a whole gathering of people celebrating summer and having a good time out in the middle of nowhere. I can remember my mom and her friends going when I was little. I've also been there before years and years ago with my mom, aunts and uncles. On Saturday, a group of us met at the park and enjoyed what was probably the most perfect nights of the summer weather-wise.

With Leigh, Jennette, Mom and Tracey.

On Sunday, we headed to Manchester to celebrate Marti's (Ryan's mom) birthday. We like to spend time at their house on Sundays. It gives us time to get away from city-living for the day and let the dogs loose, and catch up with family. Plus, any time we get to spend with his adorable niece and nephew is fine by me. Sure, I may be a little biased, but aren't they just two of the cutest kids you've ever seen? LOVE them! We had a great time, ate well, and laughed a lot. The kids caught frogs with Alicia (one of Ryan's sisters), and stood still just long enough for me to snap a few pics. Of course I made the mistake of proclaiming my fear of frogs (don't EVEN get me started), so don't think I wasn't tortured a few times.

So curious!

Taylor, in all her adorableness.

Look- frogs! (gag me)

With Wes and Taylor.

I love the weekends! And looking forward to the long weekend coming up. I found out today that C-E is closing at 1pm on Friday, and of course we're closed on Monday. Woot woot!

Destination: Dallas

Tonight, Jennette and I booked our trip to visit Carmen in Texas. So excited, only 38 more days until a FABULOUS girls' weekend. Better go find my cowboy boots...

Don't ask. We clearly have a lot of fun together ;)

Hip Hip...

...HOORAY! My mommsy is coming to visit. She arrives tomorrow and she's mine all mine for two whole weeks. Well, I'm sure I'll have to share her with some other family and some of her friends, but just having her in the same state will be great. A sampling of our agenda:

• German Park
• Dinner with my aunt and uncle (her sister)
• Lake time during Labor Day weekend
• Lunch in Birmingham
• Laughing
• Girl time
• Good talks
• Simply hanging out with my best friend

My goal is to get TONS of pictures of us. I don't have any recent ones, and that, quite frankly, is a shame!

Picking Party

It's sweet corn time in the Mitten! August is one of my most favorite months here. It's still summer, the weather is great and the sweet corn is ready for some eatin'. Last Sunday, we headed to my dad's to pick some corn (in addition to every vegetable known to man, my dad also grows his own corn), and in true dad-fashion, we came home with waaaaay more than we could eat. So, my dad explained the blanching process to me so that I could freeze some and then have on hand during the winter months, and I've been up to my ears (ha ha- get it) in sweet corn ever since. We had a lot of fun spending the day in the country with my dad and Mary, and Kaia and Boomer did, too. I love when I get a chance to let my city dogs loose!

A quick swim and a run through the woods to burn off their pent-up energy.

Family picture :)

Pic some good ones, babe!

Totally tuckered out after a day's play.

Six quart sized baggies, and about three dozen ears left to shuck, blanch and bag!

Canoe Weekend

I had an absolute blast being up north last weekend with my man and my very best friends. Nothing like spending a few days out in the woods with your favorite people- away from jobs, babies and responsibilities. We go up every year, either the last weekend in July or the first weekend in August. Canoeing, sitting in the river, eating, drinking, sitting around the fire, sleeping in the bunkhouse- I look forward to this weekend all year long. And this time, Sarah came up with the idea to have a weekend-long scavenger hunt. The plan was to team up with whomever you rode with. In our car, we had the Hamel's, which, as I mentioned before, I was pretty excited about because Elesa is as competitive as Ryan and I. Each team was responsible for making a team shirt, coming up with a team name and taking pictures of the tasks on the list. I admit- my team talked some serious smack beforehand. Remember, we're a pretty competitive bunch. But, unfortunately, once we got the adult beverages in hand, we put accomplishing tasks on the back burner. It was a great idea by Sarah, and I think we'll even do it again next year.

A few pics from my awesome weekend...

Scavenger hunt task: Get a team member's name next to a sign with his/her name on it. This one was literally a block away from my house.

With Elesa. Team name: Balls Deep. Team Motto: All or nothing. (Told you we were competitive!)

Scavenger hunt task: get a picture of a far-away license plate.

Scavenger hunt task: get a teammates picture with a mullet. I think we should get bonus points for not one, but TWO mullets ;)

Team Balls Deep with Team Roneldo, sporting team attire. We left that morning at different times and from different places, but met up at a bar/restaurant on the way up.

With Tracey and Carmen. The weather was perfect in the evening for long sleeves and a fire.

Stef with her husband, Aaron. They both work at a TV station in Cadillac. Stef is a producer, and Aaron is the evening Sports caster. The Mills' always get in around 2am on the first night because of 11:00 news. When signing off, Aaron always gives the group a shout-out, and you better bet we are inside watching. It's tradition. It's how we roll.

Sarah and Jen. These two have been friends since kindergarten. Their parents are even good friends who vacation together.

One morning waiting for breakfast. Kody and Pinky always cook it on the flat top griddle outside.

Striking a pose with Tracey- it's her husband's (Kody) family cabin. They are PERFECT hosts.

The whole group- all 17 of us. Heading out for a day of canoeing.

With my Texas friend, Carmen

LOVE these girls. Mitten Kittens forever :)

Prescription Produce

A few days ago, I read an article about how some doctors in Massachusetts are advising their patients to eat "prescription produce" from local farmers' markets. They provide 'veggie vouchers' in various amounts to each member of the patient's family. This is in part to help fight childhood obesity, and to get everyone in the family to eat more fruit and vegetables. Brilliant! Americans need more fruit/veggies, less McDonald's.

So, on Friday, when Campbell-Ewald welcomed a local farmer's market, I was a purchasing fool. And let me tell ya, nothing better than locally grown. Peaches, green beans, tomatoes, cantaloupe, red skinned potatoes and cucs...I don't know what to eat first! Of course they had sweet corn, but tomorrow, Ryan, the doggies and I are heading to Manchester for a picking party at my dad's house. His sweet corn is ready, and you better believe we're going to bring home more than we can possibly eat. Too bad my mom isn't here visiting yet, we could have a canning party! That woman knows how to do everything :)

Happy Saturday- my most FAVORITE day of the week.

Welcome Back (to reality)

Yes, I'm still here. Yes, I'm still blogging. Yes, I made it home from my trip. But...

1. Found out just an hour after we arrived home on Sunday afternoon that the dogs (both, sigh) had fleas.
2. Ryan is covered in poison ivy, and I started to show signs of getting it, too.
3. Working off literally no sleep for the past week.
4. Overwhelmed with the fact that by the end of next month, I may not have a job anymore and it will be back to pounding the pavement.
5. My vacation is over. Though it was short, the trips up north are always my favorite.

But...

1. We successfully killed all fleas. I haven't even seen one since Sunday night. Praise the Lord, hallelujah!
2. My poison ivy doesn't seem nearly as bad as Ryan's (although I still feel mighty bad for him).
3. The weekend is only three days away!
4. I'm positive everything happens for a reason. What's meant to be is what will be.
5. I'll just have to start planning my next trip!

Plus...

I have the greatest friends any girl could ask for, my mom is coming back for a visit at the end of August, and there is a Farmer's Market in our parking lot at work this Friday. Fresh tomatoes, sweet corn and other fruits, just in time for the weekend. Yay!

The crew- heading out for a day on the river. More pics to come!

Bye Bye, Birdie

I'm leaving. Not on a jet plane, but in a car, and we're headin' north. I am dern excited. So see ya on the flipside, blog world. For now, I'm off to pack because tomorrow and the following three days will be spent with my very best eight girls. And our men...someone has to steer the canoe ;)