Like family...

For as long as I can remember Joe and Doris Kniffin have been family friends...as a little kid I remember them on Door County camping trips at Peninsula State Park , my dad and Joe leaving for Canada fishing trips--where they would come back with fishing tales and unshaven faces, sharing what seemed to be a gigantic, yellow boat with the name Strike 3, seeing them at church and family picnics. In later years--Doris and Joe would move to Door County to retire and lived about a mile from my parents--Farm Breakfasts were shared and beautiful sunset dinners on my parent's deck during our annual 4th of July vacation--even after we had kids and the dinners weren't so relaxed they would come to join our family or we would take our circus to their house.

Joe was a big guy but was as nice and down to earth as they get...he always had a funny story, a pipe and was one of the few people that while growing up I actually let call me Annie. There are some people that are such staples in your life...you may not see them for months/years at a time but time seems to stand still and you pick up right where you left off... you imagine that they will always be around--perhaps that is why I was taken by surprise when we got the news that Joe had passed this past Friday evening. Generally a trip to Door County would be anticipated with great excitement...tomorrow is the exception. Saying good bye is neither fun nor easy...Godspeed Joe.

Scenes from a Roscoe Weekend...

We had a great weekend with the Chiers and Donahue's--they made the long, boring trek from St. Louis to Illinois! We enjoyed some Stateline Area hot spots--for those of you in the know for the Roscoe area we hit the Ledges Pool, The Gun Club, The Firehouse, The Whiffle Tree and some very cute stores in Roscoe (I know...cute stores in Roscoe who knew?)--we enjoyed the rest of the time relaxing on the deck, having a bon-fire and catching up. It is so good to reconnect with good friends who remember your past (this can be good and bad ;-) and now although our lives are different--locations, jobs, kids we still enjoy spending time with each other and are always planning what our next reconnect is going to be! Thanks for making the effort--it means a lot!

What happens after your wives get a "deal" in New York after a few glasses of wine...note the excitement in Kyle's face!
Swim time at the pool!
Whiffle Tree Fun!

Maybe someday...

these girls will take a girl's trip to NYC????  More pics to come from the Chier/Donahue/Hankins weekend in Roscoe...stay tuned!

Meant for someone else...

Thanks for the beautiful bookmark and the great letter.  I am so glad things went well.  I was praying for you.  What a wonderful opportunity for you to go with Ted.  Or did Ted go with you?;-)  I am so anxious to hear all about it.  It is a wonderful area to visit, but very sad since they do not know the  Lord.  Have a great time at the lake.  Love, Elaine.

• Obviously this e-mail was meant for someone else--guessing Anne with an e Wilcox (yes I still use my maiden name in my e-mail)....but I'm curiously intrigued what kind of life the other Ann(e) Wilcox leads...who is Ted? A guy? A dog? both?  Where did they visit...obviously wonderful...but the whole area doesn't know the Lord?  Or the people they were visiting don't know the Lord?  What Lake will they be having a great time at???  And what kind of beautiful bookmark was given--one with beads, a leather homemade one---ahhh the questions :-)

I just had to post something...

So I could move Green Well Guy's Head further on down the blog...the spray on gray was getting on my nerves...spray on tan pushing the limit (and yes I have pushed that limit once!) but spray on gray???  Really?? I mean really????

I have no idea...

who this guy is...he took his own picture on my camera--I vowed to Meg that he would get his own post...so here you go anonymous Green Well Guy...now you are famous!

Grand ol' Grand Rapids time!

Sorry for the most ridiculous title to date...but we did have a most wonderful time. We spent time at the pool, Meijer Children's Gardens, the park, Jersey Junction and the adults found time to get away as well....the girls to Smooch for a little foot care and then Ann and Meg took a little diversion to hit the Green Well for a glass (um...well two glasses) of wine, the guys golfing and then an all adult outing to Graydon's Crossing for yummy food and drink and then of course...it wouldn't be a Hankins' night out without karaoke--I have no idea of how to correctly spell or describe getting up in front of complete strangers and singing (trying to sing) songs off a monitor all while trying to look completely comfortable (i.e. shooting Meg looks like c'mom back up girl...help me out). I am only referring to my rendition of Liz Phair's Polyester Bride--everyone else in our group has a decent voice and I was signed up against my will...but of course still went up when my name was called and proceeded to sway my way into karaoke history. It was a great time and Margi, Tad, Meg and Brian were all great hosts and it was fun to see Jon who was in from Seattle and to hear of his upcoming trip to Africa! Chris and I also managed to get in two runs around Reed's Lake--"getting to know" the triathlon course for September. Here is a little glimpse of our time...

Lounging by the pool

Meijer Gardens

Reading with Nana

Meg and Ann...doing two of their favorite things...getting their picture taken and drinking wine

Adult Hankins' Evening

Times I plan to cry as a parent...

I have gone through a list of scenarios in my head of times that I will more than likely cry when my child goes through a milestone(the first day of kindergarten, high school graduation, dropping off at college, college graduation, wedding,etc)....of course,I realize there are about a million more things that I have never thought of that might bring a tear to my eye or maybe even uncontrollable sobbing...and yesterday was such a day!

Anyone driving down Santa Cruz in East Grand Rapids, MI must have thought they happened upon a child being taken away against her will.....hmmm let me back up....Clare was invited to come and spend a fun time with Nana and Papa--so the plan (which we went over and over...very excitedly) was that she would stay a few days extra after our visit. Well--that was all good...until we said it was time for us to leave and her to go with Nana and Papa....she started crying and begging for Chris....more crying, screaming, begging....picture the most pitiful, sad child and you have Clare...who normally is our brave-not afraid of things child.

I knew that she would have a great time, I knew that she would stop crying and be laughing within 20 minutes of leaving, I knew that she had to take this next little step into growing up....but it didn't make it any easier....So as they pulled away...Clare still crying....I started to sob....like awful movie sobbing. I regained my composure...but not after making a total scene in Meg and Brian's front yard....thank you Brian for entertaining Addie....who let it be said was not at all sad her sister was leaving....she was riding around on the trike happy as a lark with the prospect of getting to spend some alone time with mommy and daddy!

We stayed in town for an extra 1/2 hour to make sure all was well with operation stay with Nana and Papa...and of course...within 20minutes I had a text that she was skipping down the aisles of toys r us holding papa's hand (yes folks...there is a time for bribery...and this was it!).

So...I guess Clare's wings got a little longer and stronger yesterday....and mine did too! Now only 37 days until kindergarten starts....uggh!

Happy Times on the 4th of July

We had great weather and great times in Door County over the 4th of July weekend! We had fun times playing with cousins--throwing rocks into the water, riding ponies (that weren't attached to a ring!), parade watching, all-terrain bike riding (see pic below!), rock painting, playing at Plum Loco Farm, pancake eating, canoe riding and some beautiful sunsets! I also managed to get my longest run (5 miles) and ride (22 miles) in to date--which helped make up for the wonderful food and beverages I consumed! We are refueling, detoxing and doing laundry before we hit the road for another fun time with the Hankins/Richards in Michigan....from one side of the lake to the other....here we come!

Jesse James, Spice and Junie

Always prepared with her ear protectors!

Look out Danica!
hours of fun with old boards and rocks!
This would have never happened a year ago...she also fed the goats and horses...btw...the pig's name was Roger...seriously Roger???They look so serious...they are actually trying to recall how to "play" checkers!
Tending to her Flowers!