IU Girls 30th @ Cottage

I just returned from a fabulous weekend with my best college gals. We met up at the Streidl cottage in Allegan. My only complaint was there just wasn't enough time. Besides all the talking and catching up we did, here are our highlights:

The was absolutely no shortage of food. We could have stayed the entire week with the amount of food we brought for a day and a half. I told

We toured Lake Sixteen in the canoe and paddle boat. The weather was absolutely perfect!

If you're going to get together with girls you don't see often, what better place to chit-chat than around a campfire. I tried to get the fire going and wasn't having great success so I ran back for more newspaper. This is what I found when I returned: Jen ecstatic with herself for getting the fire going. Her response when I asked her how she got it blazing, "I just blew on it. I don't know, I saw it in a movie. Plus I was an Indian Princess when I was little" :)

The most exciting part of the weekend for Kristy - roasting marshmallows!!! She's got skill too. Nicely browned, not burned.

Michelle, heavy with child, is expecting baby #1! Here she is holding the card I slaved over for her. No pressure Michelle, but I too think you need to scrapbook and that card better make it in there!

All us girls! Love you, can't wait to do it again!!!

For more information on our weekend, see Kristy's blog (she's a much better writer than I).

Mike Young Recipient of Al Bush Award

My father-in-law, Mike Young, was honor Friday night during the halftime of Buchanan's football game. Mike is one of two recipients of this years Al Bush award.

The award honors individuals for past and continuing service to prep athletics as a coach, administrator, official, trainer, doctor or member of the media. The award was developed to bring recognition to men and women who are giving and serving without a lot of attention. This is the 16th year of the award, with the selections being made by the MHSAA's Representative Council.

Per the MHSAA newsletter:

Michael Young: Serving three schools in his career, with 32 of those 37 years at Buchanan, Young was a teacher-coach, athletic administrator and assistant principal. After his graduation from college in 1968, he spent four years each at St. Johns High School and Colon High School where he taught and coached. At Colon, he was the head coach in football and track, and he held the same roles at Buchanan – coaching football for eight seasons and track for four. He assumed the dual role of assistant principal and athletic director in 1984, working in both roles until 2001, when his athletic responsibilities shifted to a game management position. He retired in 2005.

As an athletic administrator, Young hosted numerous MHSAA and Lakeland Conference tournaments. He was twice honored as a coach of the year, and also won teacher of the year honors. The South Bend Classic Track Meet bestowed a service awards upon him in 2002. In the community, Young participated in a Neighborhood Watch Public Task Force, and in lay positions at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan State University. He was nominated for the Bush Award by the Lakeland Conference.

"Michael Young is a great role model for anyone wanting to become involved in high schools sports," said Roberts. "He enjoyed working with young people, providing participation opportunities for them, guiding them in the way they should go and then delighting in their success. He is regarded as a loyal leader, and respected for his expertise and his integrity. We are pleased to honor him with the Bush Award."

Congratulations Mike! We don't know of anyone more deserving!!!

Register To Vote

Remember that the last day to register to vote is October 6th! If you're not already registered, get on it.

"But the right to vote is conferred upon our citizens not only that they may exercise it for their own benefit, but in order that they may exercise it also for the benefit of others. Persons who have the right to vote are trustees for the benefit of their country and their countrymen. They have no right to say they do not care. They must care! They have no right to say that whatever the result of the election they can get along. They must remember that their country and their countrymen cannot get along, cannot remain sound, cannot preserve its institutions, cannot protect its citizens, cannot maintain its place in the world, unless those who have the right to vote do sustain and do guide the course of public affairs by the thoughtful exercise of that right on election day. They do not hold a mere privilege to be exercised or not, as passing fancy may move them. They are charged with a great trust, one of the most important and most solemn which can be given into the keeping of an American citizen. It should be discharged thoughtfully and seriously, in accordance with its vast importance." - Calvin Coolidge

YES WE CAN!

Kodak Moment - from July

I was just looking through some pictures and came across these. I had the intention of posting them back in July, but for some reason never got it blogged.

So the story goes...

It was a warm day in July so I bought a little pool for Eleanor. We got it all set up and filled it with water. Eleanor immediately wanted to go in. As I went inside for her swimsuit, I realized that I had just put both her suits in the wash. I asked her if she wanted to swim naked and she said she did. Hey, the pool's in the backyard and she's two.

She started swimming, so I took the opportunity to clean-up the garage. She saw me putting away her life vest and wanted it. So she played in 6 inches of water, naked, with a life vest. It was definitely a Kodak moment.

Break Out the Jeans!

We're beginning to get some cooler weather lately. The mornings have been crisp with highs in the low 70s and the evenings cooling off again. Yesterday, we broke out the jeans and the girls looked so cute, I had to get their picture.
It was a perfect evening for high school football, so we put on long sleeves and went to Buchanan's first home game. Eleanor saw a bunch of her friends and had a great time climbing around the bleachers. Carolyn sat contently through part of half-time (we got there late) and most of the 3rd quarter. That's when she let us know that she'd had enough. It's nice that we're just a block away, so I could walk home with Carolyn and Matt and Eleanor could stay and watch the rest of the game.

Slide Sprinkler

We enjoyed our long Labor Day weekend by playing outside as much as possible. On Monday, we set up the sprinkler at the bottom of the slide and Eleanor had a blast sliding down, jumping over the sprinkler, then running to me to towel her off before she went down the slide again!

Do You Like My Hat

Remember that Dr. Suess book, Go! Dog! Go! where the girl dog keeps asking the boy dog if he likes her hat. He always says no, until the end when she has on the big crazy hat. Eleanor's balloon hat from The Old Mill Festival reminds me of that big crazy hat the boy dog finally says he likes.

We had a good time during the Old Mill Festival. They had some kiddie games that Eleanor played. Here she is doing the bean bag toss. She went 1 for 3, not bad! More impressive than that was the skill she displayed during Bozo Buckets, when she sank the ping pong ball in buckets 1, 2, & 3! The parents watching were impressed and started cheering for her :)

After the games, we took a few laps in the go-cart. Eleanor loved it and I was happy that being the smaller of the two parents, I got to drive her around in it. I had been watching the kids driving somewhat slowly, so I was surprised to find out the speed it had!