Time for Vacation

After today, I will not be connected to my computer for one whole week! Yeah for me! Vacation starts tomorrow and I cannot wait. I will read, swim, boat, eat, drink, craft, relax and sun myself every day! It will be a different vacation for me from all the others. Greg and Kaitlin both have to work all week. We'll have a great family weekend at the lake with friends visiting both Saturday and Sunday. But, Sunday night, they will head home and Allison and I will be alone on vacation. Allison decided not to invite a friend this year, so it will be lots of mommy-daughter bonding time! I know we will enjoy our week and each other. If the weather is nasty and/or we are tired of being alone, we'll come home early. At least we have options!

So, if you need me after tomorrow, I'll be at the end of the dock, headphones in, sunglasses on, book open and diet coke in hand!! I'll come back in a week with photos!

Reminiscing

The girls and I have been going through old photos. I am hoping to get some scrapping done while at the lake next week and I want to work on the girls books. I'm at year 2003 for Kaitlin and 2005 for Allison. Once I get the photos out, they love to look through them. So, they've picked a few and Allison "took pictures of her pictures" and I scanned a few. Here are my babies.

Kaitlin's 2nd Birthday party at daycare

Kaitlin with newborn sister Allison

Kaitlin and Allison Christmas 1996 (I think)

Allison isn't too sure about Santa - apparently I like Santa!

A favorite photo of mine - Allison & Emily camping in Petoskey

Allison playing in the sprinkler

Kaitlin went to Hackett's Homecoming with her friend Andrew.

Kaitlin, Miss Photogenic; probably 2004

Kaitlin at almost 16 working on her first car with daddy.

My babies are growing up so fast. It's fun to remember the "good old days" but I sure am looking forward to the years to come as well.

Bling Bling!

Check out the rings I made last night -- how fun are they?

Every girl deserves a little bling in her life, right?

My Family

Last week was the annual golf tournament that my brother Jeff comes "home" for. This year, due to my dads recovery, dad didn't play. My brother's played together and dad followed in a golf cart. They had a great time. The dinner Saturday night is always like a Riggin reunion. My brothers and my sister and I and our spouses always attend with my dad. It's a photo opportunity for me! The big family photo was taken by the photographer of the event. I'm hoping that he emails the photo soon! I can't wait to see it!

Jeff, Dad and Rick Dad & Me

Julie & Tom Cathy & Rick

Me & Greg Vickie & Jeff

This week Greg has dental surgery on Thursday morning. Poor guy has been in pain for days. Pain meds worked good for a few days, but they don't seem to be doing the trick as much. Especially at night. He was up several times last night. So, I'll be off Thursday with him to take care of him as he recovers! Aren't I the good wife!!! Then Friday I'm off for a vacation day. I'm hoping for a beach day... keep your fingers crossed!

Next weekend begins my one week vacation at my brother Rick's cottage. It will be a different vacation for me as Greg cannot get the whole week off and Kaitlin started a new job and won't be able to come during the week either. Allison, her friend and I will be lonely on the island. I'm praying for hot sunny weather. I'll park myself on the end of the dock with my book every day and be in heaven!! If the weather doesn't cooperate, we'll come home and spend the week doing stuff around town. Either way - it's a week off work for me!

Happy July 4th... and 5th!

So, our fun July 4th turned into a lazy day at home. The weather just was not good enough to spend the day at Gun Lake with friends. It was cloudy and gloomy all day. But, I enjoyed a nap and a HGTV marathon! By about 6 p.m. the sun came out a little bit! We grilled brats and had corn on the cob... YUM. Close to dark we talked Greg into DQ before fireworks - again... YUM!! We went to the airport in Plainwell, found the perfect spot on the side of the road, put the back hatch of the truck down and enjoyed the light show.

Allison and mommy! Me and my sweetie!

My idea of dressing for the 4th! Boom!

July 5th was another lazy day. Wow, I could get used to this! After dinner at Greg's parents house, we went to my friend Patti's church for more ice cream and fireworks! The ice cream was wonderful and the fireworks were just great!

OOooooooh! Ahhhhhhhh!

Now we feel like it's officially summer!

My birthday, Visitors and Silliness

So I had my birthday this week on Monday. It was a nice, uneventful day. Treats at work, gifts from good friends, hubby cooked a wonderful dinner and then cake & ice cream at my sisters house. Just a very nice day! Here are a few photos:

Last night the mommy deer and her two babies were having a blast playing in my yard. I am so in love with these creatures! They mesmerize me and I just love watching them. Of course my photos are blurry as I'm not the greatest photographer, and I'm trying to capture a moving object, and it's through a screen! But, still just so awesome to see.

A week or so ago my camera crazy baby took these silly photos of her and I. Just too fun.

I've been a bad blogger! I haven't had too much to post and I just keep forgetting to get here and write something! I'm becoming addicted to FarmTown on Facebook -- oh my goodness! What a silly thing that is, but for some reason, I have to keep checking to see if my crops are ready to be harvested!!! I've also been busy scrapbooking and beading. I also had some time to enjoy the Michigan summer. So far, so good!

Looking forward to a low key Fourth of July weekend. Hope everyone out there in Bloggerland enjoys the holiday and stays safe! God Bless the USA!