Days with the Dorans

We almost missed our opportunity to go Up North and spend some time in my parent's condo.  It was rented almost every day in August but we did manage to squeeze in a little get-away (and by little I mean  4 days) before I had to be back to teach a blog workshop at school.  It was REALLY hard to come back. We left after Jeff got back from church (I packed up everyone and the car).  When we got to Elk Rapids the kids immediately unpacked their things and asked me to make their bed (how exciting to have TV in their room... only time ever). Jeff went to the store for groceries (he bought one of those frozen pizzas for dinner which was actually really good) and the kids and I hit the beach! Now that Sean's older, traveling has gotten easier (let's face it, life is getting easier).  We didn't have to pack nearly as much (no diapers, pack-and-play... etc).  He's also gotten so much more independent.  Don't get me wrong, he's a mama's boy but Jef...

As you may remember, last summer we had a MAJOR kitchen remodel and repainted our family room.  I have been looking at a bare wall in the family room since last summer and it was time I put something on it.  In my mind, I envisioned something like mirrored window panes (since we get a lot of light through the doorwalls in that room).  I had been looking for almost a year for the perfect "something" with no luck.  Everything was REALLY expensive and I didn't like anything enough for the price tags I was seeing.  I picked up some cheap framed mirrors at Ikea.  I like them fine and if that perfect "something" turns up, I've only spent $30 on those mirrors ($1.99 a piece) so am not out much. After hanging them, I decided I needed a green tree in the corner.  Nothing alive that I could kill... but something that LOOKED real. After searching many stores, I finally found the perfect tree at Art Van (not cheap) and I LOVE it.  But then I looked ar...

 One perk to summer birthdays (in a house of teachers) is that no matter what day your birthday falls on, the whole family is all together!  I waited up late the night before Jeff's birthday so I could decorate.  I put up the "Happy Birthday Sign", drew on the chalk board and blew up 20 balloons (which made me a bit sick).  In the morning I got up real early to make cinnamon rolls and coffee for Jeff before my morning walk.  Of course we stuck a candle in it and sang to him too. STO LAT! While I was on my walk, Jeff told Ali for his birthday that he wanted to watch the DVRd SYTYCD where HE held the remote so he could actually watch the dances and hear what the judges said (Ahh... he's turning into a real dance dad!).  Shortly after I got home, it was time for presents.  We've spent a lot of money this summer but it was still fun to give him some homemade cards and a few little somethings.  Ali gave him $3 to get a new song on his Rocksm...

Today was my Nana's 95th birthday!! WOW!  It feels amazing to write that number and yet I feel like I could easily be writing 100th birthday in 5 years!  After Joe's piano lesson, we stopped by the store for balloons, party favors and foam boards (for the great grandkids to make cards).  Danny was over with the kids so they all (minus Seany and TZ) made their cards and we were off.  When we got to my Nan's, she was in a drumming exercise class.  She was doing great!  She is really active over there (and is the best speller~ winning the spelling bees each and every week).  It was fun to peek in on her while we waited to surprise her. The thing about my Nan (that I believe I have mentioned before) is she has ZERO short term memory... That being said, she has the BEST outlook on life and greatest sense of humor.  I was there the other week while she and a sweet friend of her's were having breakfast and they were talking about their memories (...

 So I had hoped to blog in a few weeks when our deck is 100% done, but this deck feels like it has happened in chapters so there will probably be another post about it down the line (preferably with all of us sipping some well-deserved adult beverages on it).  My brother and I are both doing deck projects on our houses this summer with my dad working overtime in both design and labor on both.  He built all the decks at our childhood home (their current home) so we thought we'd save some money by doing it ourselves.  As you can see (from the above picture), our decks have caused some injuries and I'm hoping that this third (and worst) injury is the LAST! It started earlier in the summer (we haven't exactly kicked out these projects... it's been work a few hours or a day here~ then go play at the lake~ etc).  We first had to do deck demolition on our old deck (the one that was still semi there after our new kitchen).  There were a lot of rotted boa...

 So I was out of the country for a while... I went with my folks, brother and sister-in-law to British Columbia to see my beautiful cousin get married. It was too pricey for all us Dorans to come, so I was the only one who went.  It was the first time I have ever left my kids for more than a night.  Ali and Seany sobbed, but of course they were in good hands.  They had a great time with Jeff and I was thankful for Skype and email to know what they were doing.  It helped me enjoy my time away.  Since I was solo, I got to sleep on the pull-out couch which was actually just fine.  I put on the fire each night and read my book before falling asleep.  It was heavenly!  Like I said, we Skyped each day for a bit so I could get my kiddo fix.  Also Jeff took pics and wrote updates of funny stuff for me (do I have the perfect husband for me or what???).  I now know that we will be totally OK for a vacay without kids to celebrate ou...