Loon's Baseball Game

Instead of having a Christmas party at work this year, we all gathered for an SVSU ITS Loon's game. We were in a pavilion with food and cover from the rain, but there was also a nice grassy area, which was great for the kids. If you live in the area, this is a nice family outing. The lawn seats are great if you have kids, they can run around, and are pretty inexpensive. They also have a play area, and fire pits at the statium. I think we will be going back.

This is proof that we were actually at a baseball game. With little ones, you don't get to really watch the game, but we had fun.

Lou E. the loon...Addie was facinated by him, even though she looks scared.

Addie & big brother Jacob.

These two were buddies for the night. This is my friend's son Cole.

Cotton candy for the first time....YUMMY! Which Cole gave her.

Family picture.

Addie & Mommy.

Caramel Corn Crunch

I have made this twice recently and it went over very well, as is in the past. So, I thought it was worth sharing.

7 cups popped popcorn(1 bag microwave popcorn)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup margarine or butter
3 tbsp light corn syrup
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 cup m&m's and/or 1 cup peanuts

Remove all unpopped kernels from popped corn. Place popcorn in a greased 17x12x2" baking pan. Keep popcorn warm in a 300 degree oven while making caramel mixture.

Butter the sides of a heavy 1 1/2-quart saucepan. In the saucepan combine brown sugar, margarine/butter, and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat to boiling, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to dissolve sugar. This should take 7-10 minutes. Avoid splashing mixture on sides of pan. Carefully clip candy thermometer to side of pan.

Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, till thermometer registers 255 degrees, hard-ball stage(this should take about 4 minutes). The mixture should boil at a moderate, steady rate over entire surface.

Remove saucepan from heat; remove candy thermometer from saucepan. Add baking soda and vanilla; stir till ombined(caramel will change in color and consistency). Pour caramel mixture over the popcorn; stir gently to coat. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 10 minutes; stir gently. Bake for 5 minutes more.

Turn popcorn mixture onto a large piece of foil. Cool completely. Break popcorn mixture into small pieces. Stir in m&m's and peanuts. Store in a tightly covered container. Makes 9 cups.


Note: I usually stir the mixture in the oven more than once, just to make sure it is coated evenly.

Enjoy!

Addison's FIRST Birthday!!

My baby girl turned ONE on May 30th, so we celebrated PRINCESS style...because that's what she is you know. Addison is such a joy to have in our lives and we can't image it without her. We love you SO MUCH Addie. Here are some pics of the fun festivities.

Memorial Day Weekend

I know I'm a few weeks behind on posting this, but I'm trying to catch up on my blogging. Many of you have already seen these on my FB, but I do have a few readers who aren't on FB, so PLEASE be patient with me.

We had a very busy weekend. Dean had to work part of the weekend, so it was just Addie and I. We visited with my aunt Val in Gaylord, went to my cousin's open house, went golfing with my dad, celebrated my dad's 60th birthday, went to the park, and stopped to play with the animals at my uncle's on the way home!

Update on my Dad

My parents stopped by before going back home tonight. My dad is doing very well post surgery. He said it isn't as bad as he thought it would be. He is still on pretty good pain meds. though. They removed all lymph nodes under his right arm, a large portion of skin on his back, and most recently found nodules on his left shoulder which they also removed. He has a drain under his arm for fluid that they have to empty a few times a day, which will stay in for about 2-3 weeks. A nurse will go to his house to change his dressings on Saturday morning. He will be going back to Ann Arbor to talk to the team of doctors about the possibility of having surgery to remove his lymph nodes under his left arm also. I think because of the nodules they removed, which they are pretty sure were also cancerous, tests will confirm. They are considering him cancer free as of right now. He looks good, and is moving around better than I expected. Addison gave him a gentle hug, it was so cute. Thanks again to all of you that have been praying for all of us.

Please Pray

My dad is having surgery this morning. Please pray for him and my mom today, and the doctors who are performing the surgery. He was diagnosed a few weeks ago with stage 3 melanoma. He is having all of his lymph nodes under his right arm removed, along with a large part of skin on his back, where the cancer originated. He is having surgery at U of M, Ann Arbor. It is an outpatient surgery, which will take a few hours, and then after a short recovery time, he will be released today. They live in Cheboygan and are planning on making the trip back tonight(while he is still pretty drugged up). He will have a drain under his arm for a few weeks, and then after he is pretty much healed from surgery, they will talk about maybe starting him on Interferon. It's a drug to help boost your imune system and fight off anymore cancer.

Praise: My dad's CT scan came back with no signs of the cancer spreading to other areas of his body, including any major organs. So according to the doctors, this is completely curable. However, he will have to watch VERY closely from now on for any signs of skin changes. AND use LOTS of sunscreen, and try to limit sun exposure from 10-4. I told him he will have to start moonlight golfing. :)

I will try to post an update tonight or tomorrow after I hear how everything went and how he is doing.

Swimming Lessons

As some of you may know, I signed Addison up for swimming lessons here at SVSU.  It is a 3 week class, meeting only once a week for about a 1/2 hour.  I got a $5 discount for paying early and another $5 for working at SVSU, gotta love that.  She had her 2nd class last night and daddy was able to go with us this time, so we actually got some pictures.  She loves the water, but her biggest problem is that it is cold.  She shivers and by the end has little purple lips.  She even does well with us dunking her under the water.  Not really fond of it, but tollerates it.  She is actually the only baby in the class, so we basically have our own instructor.  She has Addie play with toys in the water, try to hang on to the edge of the pool all by herself(which she can do), sit on the edge and then fall/lunge into the water into my arms(while singing humpty dumpty), and trying to float on her back and fliping over to her tummy(like a pancake, there's a song for that too).  I'm so proud of her!!

Ready to go!

Swimming with daddy.

Playing with water toys.

Me and my little water baby.

With Addie's swim instructor, Chelsea.