Days with the Dorans

Not bad, but we'll keep working on one! (HA!)

A few weeks ago, Ali Jane asked, "Mom, does Great-Nan have a credit card?" I found that to be funny because why in the world does she know what a credit card is... "Yes she does." I said, "Why?" "Because I think she would want to buy me a big girl bed, that would really make me smile." (Where does she come up with this stuff?) Anyway- she mentioned it again to Great-Nan and sure enough we were shopping the next day for a bed. (Though I used MY credit card for the mattress pad, sheets, pillows... etc to make my sweetie smile.) We couldn't find pink polka-dots so she settled for the next best thing, purple. Eve made her the pillows surrounding her and I got her the pink pillow with her name on it (Princess). The first night she slept great it in, but came to me about a half hour after we read our last story quite worried because she couldn't find Pudge. I told her I had moved his picture so it wouldn't be behind her new bed. With her t...

After the successful Tiger game (pics and blog to come- forgot camera-got disposable one...) we (my folks) decided to take the kids and Eve (Jeff & Jane's daughter... Jane is the "Jane" in Ali Jane) to Greenfield village. (Jeff was still working at SCAMP and sorry for all the parentheses.) The kids were so excited when I told them we were going on an adventure. We started the day by loading up on the sunscreen because it was 97 degrees and quite humid. We had three strollers though, so all was well with the world. The kids loved it but will appreciate it much more once they understand the history of it. Eve found it to be a blast. One of the best things about the Greenfield Village is you can bring your own food! (yeah!) We had a mini picnic near a lake and were able to watch as the train went by. Zachy had fun on the train (as did the big kids of course!) This was the last pic of him with Joey's sunglasses because shortly after they were history too! Luckily Jo...

Hands down, Joey and Ali Jane's favorite friends this summer live next to my folks! Dodge and Davis are in Elementary school but treat my kids so well! Here they are taking a little cruise around with their new friends- Ah- summers on Commerce Lake! Sweet Joy!

It's starts with the first taste... Keeps 'em comin' back for more!

O.k- so my brother and his wife moved into a house that needed quite a bit of work done and one of the things that Danny talked about was this peel and stick tile that was soooooooooo easy to do. So I looked at our ugly half bath downstairs and went to Lowe's to check things out- I got the whole floor for under 25 bucks and a cheap white toilet and pedestal sink (a big improvement from the ugly green stuff we had...) Well- the floor turned out to be not so easy. I normally would NEVER put such a LOVEEELY pic of myself on here- but you can see a little of the ugly diamond linoleum floor near my leg... (Why didn't I take a normal before picture... ( errrrr ). The "peel and stick" floor was NOT so easy and I had a big temper tantrum about the whole thing- swore (and yes, Joe WAS there and reminded me that even when you're frustrated you should not use "not-nice" words!) and ended up having to rip up the WHOLE floor!!! Well, by midnight the floor was don...

This summer has had the most wonderful weather! A few days before the fourth, I snapped these pics of the kids playing in the yard since they had their red, white and blue on. On the actual fourth- we had fun playing at Commerce Lake with friends and family (but of course I forgot to snap the pictures). The kids loved the fireworks and even though it was their second late night (they saw fireworks on the 3rd at Union Lake)- they managed to stay up (and happy even though they didn't have naps) for the entire firework display... (o.k. Zachy fell asleep a little before they ended- but he almost made it...)

For those of you who may be unaware... VBS stands for Vacation Bible School and last year it was Joey's first experience with adults other than family. He did great and 2 1/2 year old Ali Jane wanted to go too. I told her it was too bad that she couldn't go, but you needed to have "Potty Power" to go. Though I sometimes thought it would never happen- she decided to get rid of those diapers that week and was all excited to go to VBS this year except.... (ugh) they follow the school calendar (which I think is a little dumb) and she missed it by 27 DAYS!!!! (ugh again) So, mommy blew it- though we did re-create all the crafts thanks to her mom being a teacher! The Sunday after VBS week there is a big celebration and picnic... etc. All the kids started the church service by singing two songs that I had heard Joey and Ali Jane sing NON-STOP that whole week. Well- when it was time for the kids to sing- Joey spotted us right away- gave a shy wave and smile and mouthed the...