Date Night

Bryce is still up north. So Mark and I decided to go out for a nice dinner, just the two of us, (this doesn't happen very often). So I came home from work changed and we were off to Mongolian Barbecue. Dinner was delicious, and it was relaxing just to sit there and chat for a bit. We then went to Murry's Auto Parts store to pick up a new taillight for my car. Then to Home Depot to pick up a couple more cherry tomato plants for our vegetable garden (the ones we bought in May didn't make it through the late frost). Picked up a bottle of wine, then headed home. We planted the cherry tomato plants, Mark fixed my taillight and put in a new filter. Then we decided to watch a movie and have a glass of wine. It was a wonderful, romantic night!! I know this may not seem like the picture perfect night to most people, but Mark and I don't get the opportunity to spend the evening with just he and I very often. Our focus is generally on Bryce, not each other. I really appreciated spending the evening with Mark, he and I being able to focus only on each other for the evening! I think when you have children it's important to experience nights like this to keep the spark alive. To remind you why you fell in Love with that person. So easily we can forget with the hustle and bustle of life how important our loved ones are to us. I love my family very much, and I try to always appreciate every second that God gives me to spend with them!

If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance.

Bern Williams

Alicia

Time Flies By

It's amazing how with every year that passes, the time literally seems to fly by! This has been a busy week. So here is a run through the past week or so.....
Bryce had his first basketball game, and he played great, and more important he had a lot of fun!!!!
Mark & I played golf with some friends on Saturday.
Bryce had 3 sleepovers, two with his cousin Michael and another with his cousin Robbie.
Bryce had basketball practice on Tuesday and his second game of the season on Friday.
Mark played golf with his friend Tom on Tuesday.
Bryce had practice for the Plymouth 4th of July Parade Thursday afternoon (although after seeing that he was the oldest by far, and once Bryce found out about the cheers they had to chant, as a family we have decided that Bryce was a little old to participate).
Mark had his golf league on Thursday and also made it to the final round of the match play..... cross your fingers, he has a good chance of winning some money next week!
I enjoyed a night out with some friends from work on Thursday.
Jeffrey, Paula and Wesley traveled up to Michigan to visit our family as well as Paula's family, they arrived early Thursday.
Bryce headed up to the Upper Peninsula with his Uncle Jeffrey Saturday afternoon.
Mark & I attended the Frey concert with Krista & Ryan.
Krista, Paula, Wesley and I attended a boutique event (purses, natural makeup, and baby items) that my friends at Bebeology helped host.
Mark & I played a quick game of golf with his brother Mitchell.
Although all three of us had a good week, I did have some bad news, I found out that my friend / teammate from work Jennifer was being laid off. She is a good friend and I will miss her laughter, goofiness and guidance at work 5 days a week. I wish /pray that she will be able to enjoy the summer with her family and that she will find a wonderful new career!

But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day.

~Benjamin Disraeli

Alicia

Bryce has his first official basketball game tonight. He is so dedicated and is really enjoying himself thus far. He practices for hours a day either at home or up at the court! It makes Mark and I so happy to know that Bryce is a person who jumps at new challenges, who isn't afraid to try anything once, and he usually puts everything he has into it!
So far Bryce has had a busy summer, it's only been a week and he has had 3 sleep overs and has gotten together with his friend Kenneth nearly every day. He's gone fishing, played golf and he's heading up to the Upper Peninsula (right on the Escanaba River) with my brother Jeffrey at the end of the month for some fun & male bonding!
Something about the beginning of summer is enticing! It's not yet to the point that it's unbearably hot, the nights are still cool, and everything is still green and beautiful! I feel very energized, happy, motivated and it feels good!!!

"Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world."

Ada Louise Huxtable

Alicia

Eco Friendly Baby Products!!! Yeah

Be sure to check out this website, it's the best in eco friendly Baby Products!!
"http://www.bebeology.com/"
Friends of mine Brad & Nicole Hoppe started this online based business when they found out they were expecting. The products are awesome. They graciously let me help them work their booth at the Green Street Fair in Plymouth this year.... needless to say, they were a huge hit!

Alicia

Toothies!

In lue of our dentist appointments today, I just have to blog about my love for Tom's of Maine Toothpaste! We have been using it for a few months and I really like it. I know, I know it's just a toothpaste, but this stuff is awesome! Our teeth our squeaky clean after we brush, and it has whitened all of our teeth. In fact, Mark and I have used the Crest White Stips and they pale in comparison to the Tom's complete care toothpaste. We also use the mouthwash...... it taste's pretty gross, but again, it's all natural and I suck it up knowing I'm not swishing around all of the chemicals. In addition to their dental line, we also use the deodorant, my fav is the apricot scented....love it!
Not only are Tom's products great, the company is amazing. 100% of electricity consumption at their factory has been off set by investing in wind energy. They encourage their employees to donate 5% of their paid time to volunteer. They re-use all of their shipping materials, and their products are 100% recyclable!!!!
No, this is not an advertisement for Tom's of Maine, I just wanted to spread the word about what wonderful products they offer.

Alicia

1st weekend of Summer

Well Bryce has now got through his first year of middle school. Hard to believe he will be in 7th grade.It is his 1st weekend of summer and we went on Lk. St. Clair this morning and caught 2 Muskies no keepers we also saw the Red Bull air races taking place on the Detroit River. Bryce will be playing basketball this summer I'll keep the stats up to date, triple double he we come.

Mark

The Rain

When I was younger, I would play out in the rain all day if given the chance. I loved watching it, feeling it, smelling it! When there were storms, my Mom would grab some blankets and we would sit out on the porch together. Yesterday I really wanted to go walking, but because of the rain I had decided not to. I sat there, looking out the window watching the rain and wondered..... when did I become so afraid to go out in the rain? I got up, put on my tennies, grabbed the dogs and walked our 3 miles. I was rejuvenating! I had to stop myself from smiling the whole time.

“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.”

G.K. Chester

Alicia

Turtles

After work on Wednesday, I met mark and Bryce up at the golf course. It was so beautiful outside and it made our family outing that much more enjoyable! Silly Mark underestimated the skill of his wife and son and ended up getting his butt kicked by Bryce and I in a friendly family bet. Before I arrived, Mark and Bryce rescued a Turtle from a hungry Raccoon, they picked up the Turtle put in in the basket in the back of the golf cart and drove it to a nice wooded area. Once I got there we found another Turtle on the path and Mark picked it up and moved it to a safer location. Shortly after our rescue mission we spotted a HUGE snapping Turtle, we stopped and watched it for a bit and then were on our way!
Bryce had an end of year skating field trip for school, and the thought of wearing actual Roller Skates was too much for him to handle! At the moment Bryce doesn't have a pair of roller blades that fit him, so thankfully Uncle Mitchell lent his to Bryce. Bryce and I went outside for a bit for him to brush up on his "blading" skills, I was looking at the open field across the street and there stood a beautiful deer. It was only there for a moment before it darted off out of sight. I feel so lucky that we live some where that we see wildlife so often. I took our dogs for a 3 mile walk yesterday and saw so many bunnies, and a surprising amount of beautiful yellow finch's. Walking along I couldn't help but soak in how peaceful it was, looking at the beauty of every one's gardens in bloom, trees blooming even appreciating how green and lush every one's grass was. I came home feeling refreshed!

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.

Ann Frank

Alicia

About Us

I have never officially blogged before, but after reading some one else's, I was inspired!!!

I am married to a wonderful man named Mark. He is handsome, inspiring, crazy, loud, smart, hilarious, caring, giving, thoughtful and a wonderful Father. We just celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary, and we couldn't be happier! Mark currently attends Eastern Michigan University and is working on finishing his degree in Teaching. I am so proud of him!
Our son, Bryce is 12 years old. He is probably the most hilarious person I have ever met. He makes us laugh all day long, his views on life are so refreshing, he is definitely wise beyond his years. Bryce plays hockey, this year was his first year running Cross Country (He didn't get his running gene from me!)and he just started basketball.
As a family, we enjoy golfing together, we go on a week long ski vacation up at Boyne every February. Mark and I usually argue as to who Will be preparing dinner, we both love it. We all enjoy Nature and Michigan and try and experience the beauty of our state whenever possible.

We have always been conscious of our mark on the environment, but this year we made a commitment to do as much as we could to help. We have dramatically increased the amount that we recycle. I've read a lot about the damage that we all have caused on our beautiful Earth, and to say the least, it is frightening! Bryce and I just participated in the Rouge River Day Clean Up this past weekend. It wasn't what we expected, but we had a lot of fun. I've made the switch with almost all of our products, cosmetic and other, to more natural (100% natural if possible) eco conscious one's. I have to say, The difference I can see and feel in our face's, hair, and skin is beyond words.

Alicia