When NOT to Cry!!!

As many of you know (especially Ken) on occasion I have my little "melt down" crying sessions.
Sometimes......for no particular reason at all! Well..... during those little episodes...a person can learn alot about when to....and when NOT to turn on the spicket! Here are my lessons learned as to when not to cry: I hope you find them helpful to your tearful situation...should you ever find yourself in that predicament....or blessing...depends how you view it.

#1 Do not cry if you do not have access to a kleenex box! (or paper towel, or toilet paper)

#2 Do not cry when you are reading or on the computer....you will experience blurred vision

#3 Do not cry when you are driving. (I don't need to explain)

#4 Do not cry in front of your animals......they become very distressed and tend to follow
you around until the whimpering subsides.

#5 Do not cry when answering the phone because "sniff, whimper, muffled sound, gasp,
sniff again, swallow hard, whimper".....people may not understand you on the other end of
the line!!!

#6 And lastly......do not cry when you are receiving narrow band uvb light treatment and
you are wearing goggles......because they fill up like little lakes...and you cannot see!!

Stink Bugs

I used a zoom....and did not get too close....

Creepy.....smelly bugs

Along with the amazing color and beauty of the fall season also is the besiege of the dreaded "stink bug"!!! I have detested stink bugs for as long as I've known about them. They taunt me by landing on the living room picture windows......sometimes as many as "THREE" at a time!! Occasionally I flick them with my finger off the screen, I have brushed them away with whatever I can get my hands on to brush them away with, and then I have made the ultimate "bad choice"....I have squashed them with my shoe! ARGHHHHH......what a wretched smell one little bug can give off! Not only the initial "stink".....but the lasting odor that challenges you not to squish any of his relatives!!! This morning I researched this little pest to learn more about it's "defenses". I have attached three websites that I thought you may find interesting........if you are as inquisitive as I.

Not only are the stink bugs trying to make their way into our humble abode, so are the lady bugs! "They're everywhere They're everywhere!!!".....one could easily shout as you wander around on a fall day......and it's the truth! How could such little bugs pose such an annoyance to mankind? Well.....when you look at it.....some people can be as annoying as stink bugs and lady bugs...the difference is....you can't squish them with your shoe!!! (nor would I want to! I'm just joking people....just joking!)

So for now......I'll tighten down the doors and windows....check the screens....and usher the ones out that want to hibernate in here for the winter. I'll use these shoes for walkin'........that's just what I'll do.....one of these days those bugs will never ever bother you!.


http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/brownMarmoratedStinkBug.htm

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/veg/bean/brown_marmorated_stink_bug.htm

http://bugguide.net/node/view/182

My Week In Review

Sunday.....Oct.5

Ken went out of town on a business trip to Miami, Florida this week. he was attending a boat show where Fiamm had a booth and display of their horns and products. Sunday morning our good friend Diane Cooper picked me up for church and I went with her to Temple Hill Baptist Church in Cadillac. It was so nice to see many people whom we have been friends with for a very long time. Two of those friends are Don and Hilma Lamphere who stopped by last to cut some of our hydrangea flowers so Hilma could make a wreath. Well......here it is....and it's absolutely gorgeous!!! Thank you Don and Hilma for making this for us....and for your sweet friendship!!! When they brought the arrangement this week....I was able to talk Hilma into spending a little more time at the house so she and I could play some piano duets.....and sing together! What fun we had! And....it was a special treat for my parents, who had come on Monday to spend the week with Joel and me.

Judy, Don, and Hilma

Sunday after church.....Jason, Emily and the kids came over for the day!

The weather was pretty mild.....so we spent lots of time outside.

Tuesday, Oct.7

Heidi sent some adorable pictures of the kids for us! We are planning on going to Jenison the end of October........but that is still toooooo long in between visits for us....so Heidi sends pictures in the interim! Our grandchildren are growing so fast! We can't wait to see them!

Wednesday, October 8.......Isaac's 5th Birthday

We all went to Jason and Emily's to celebrate Isaac's birthday. We took a family bucket of KFC, and Emily baked a cake. Here are some pics from the time we spent together. Since Ken was out of town he called Isaac up to wish him a special day!

Grandma Judy and Grandma Karen with Isaac and Annabelle

Isaac.....just after he talked with Grandpa Kenny on the phone!!!

Playing the Wii

http://the30centconnection.blogspot.com/

Check out Emily's blog of Isaac's b-day

Thursdays With Grandma......and Great Grandma and Great Grandpa

I didn't take many pictures today.....but would like to highlight the days' activities!! When the boys arrived, Isaac showed me some more of his birthday gifts that he received from Stephanie and Ben, and the items he got at the AWANA store at church. he is a Sparky now! He played with those things and visited with Great Grandma, while Seth played a memory game with Great Grandpa. About mid-morning Seth took a nap....and Isaac did his homeschooling. My Mom was delighted to watch him do his work and the two of them had some fascinating conversations! One of the conversations involved age!

Here's how it went:

Isaac "Grandma, your skin is wrinkly, why?"

Mom: "Well Isaac, that's because I'm old"

Isaac: "oh....well how old are you?

Mom: "I am 83 years old"

Isaac: "How old is Great Grandpa?"

Mom: "He is 84"

Isaac: "Well if you are 83 and Great Grandpa is 84....then he is older than you!"

Mom: "That's right!!"

My Mom was surprised at Isaac's' ability to figure that out.....and quite amused.....well maybe except for the wrinkly skin!!

Isaac helping Seth with his zipper

Great Grandpa helping Seth with his shoes. Normally Seth does not need help with his shoes....but somehow the back was bent down on the right foot...and Grandpa needed to maneuver it a little bit.

Isaac wearing his new shirt from Uncle Joel

Friday, October 10

Well here it is Friday already!! Ken got home early Thursday evening, Mom and Dad went back to Onekama, Joel is in school, and I just spent close to 2 hours working on this update!!

Whew.....(if that's a word?).....I am glad to be done! Have a wonderful weekend everyone! It sounds like the weather is going to beautiful for Fall colors! Personally.....after a short snooze, I can't wait to get outside!

Happy Birthday to Isaac!!!!! 5 years old today!!!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY TO

OUR GRANDSON ISAAC!!!

Wouldn't you know it!!!!! I left our camera at Jason and Emily's

so I won't be able to post the b-day pics till Thursday!

We really enjoyed our visit to help Isaac celebrate his 5th

birthday!!! My parents have been visiting for a few days

and that has been a real treat! They went to Jason and Emily's

with me today ....and are going to be sharing my

"Thursday's with Grandma" tomorrow!! There will be lots of

pics to post on Thursday!!!

Thursday's With Grandma and "The Hungry Hippos"

Today was our third Thursday together! Most of our day was spent playing "Hungry Hippos", play dough, schoolwork and rest time. The "Hungry Hippos" game is alot of fun....yet very noisy. We started the day with 20 marble size balls that the hippos ate.....and somehow ended up with 17!!! So somewhere..............there are three hippo snacks waiting to be devoured.

I changed the routine a little bit and had Seth take an afternoon nap instead of the morning.....just to try something new! At the same time that Seth laid down, Isaac did his homeschooling.......which he is quite motivated to do! One of the funnier moments in the day was when Seth needed to use the bathroom. he told me to leave the seat cover up....because he was going to go potty standing up!! I said fine...and as I left the room he shouted out, "Grandma!! Do you stand to go potty?" I chuckled and answered back "No Seth.....Grandma likes to sit!!"

On the other end of the house, as Isaac laid down to rest.....he told me that Mommy has him rest and look at books because it keeps him "quiet" and "busy". And sure enough it did!!!

Once again.....enjoy the highlights of our day.......and stop by anytime!!!

Everybody got excited when Grandpa came home at lunch

Ken got in a quick game with the boys at lunch

After schoolwork is over, Isaac gets to spend a little time playing a Wii game

We hollered out the front door at Molly, who was busy grazing....

She finally looked up and gave a little whinny back!

Isaac's play dough creation. A birthday cake, yellow with white frosting....sprinkles on top and also little pieces of yellow play dough that served as candle flames.

Seth's cake was yellow with pink frosting.....and since we ran out of candles...we used a toothbrush for his candle.....which he thought was quite amusing!!!