New House

Longest Move!

Thought I would bring my blog up to date since I am up early this morning and have a few spare minutes. Between having medical tests, having bronchitis, and trying to move to our new house...haven't had alot of extra time on my hands the past 2 months.
We can finally see light at the end of the tunnel. Have just about everything moved to the new house. Have to have everything here by the end of this month. As far as the medical tests are concerned...they're just the normal routine tests required when you're over 50 years old. Everything is fine, thank goodness! Have one more test to go through. Since I get bronchitis once a year about the same time every year, my doctor wants to run some tests after I am healthy from the current bronchitis. Wants to see if its chronic bronchitis or something else.

If I haven't sent you all an email with our new address, I will be sending one out soon. That is, if I don't forget!

Our animals came through the move surprisingly well. In fact, I think they like this house better than the old one. Bigger house and open floor plan helps alot.

Not much else going on. NOW...have to organize everything! Downsizing is sooo much fun! Even though the new house is bigger, we do not have a garage like at the old house. Sure is one way to get us to "downsize". We are such "pack-rats"! Both of us!
We've been giving away and throwing away alot of "stuff"!

Summer Almost Over!

It's been several months since I have updated...so, I thought I better get busy and do it today, because I know I will not have any extra time in the near future to tackle the task.
We have been looking for a different house all summer and finally found the one that we wanted to purchase. We signed the closing papers yesterday afternoon. It's a 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch style home with a fireplace in the living room. Kitchen with a breakfast nock and dining room with sliders to a deck. The house is apx. 10 years old and sits on 1 acre of land. We're really excited about this step in our lifes...feel very blessed! The property is on the south side of Sand Lake...closer to the highway for Tim to drive to work and closer to our families.
It seems like this summer has gone by soooo fast this year. There's alot of things we wanted to do, but never had the time. Oh well...apparently, we weren't intended to do everything we wanted to do.
Our grown kids are getting their children ready for school. School starts Tuesday! I can relate to the daughters...yeh! Kids in school!
Tim has been "trying" to restore a 1964 Dodge Polara 2-door most of the summer. He hopes to have it on the road within the next few weeks, but with us trying to move within the month, don't know how much he will get done on it.
Not much else going on...just the normal day to day stuff.
When I have pictures of the new house...will try to remember to post them.
Oh yes! My oldest grandson, Michael, is playing football this season and is in the marching band as well. Very proud of him! We will be going to at least one of his home games this season!
Hope everyone had a great summer this year...and a safe Labor Day weekend!

Busy Weekend, But....Fun!

This "picture" says it all as to how I felt this past weekend. Too Busy!

With Emily's graduation open house on Saturday and Father's Day on Sunday...was very, very busy! But...enjoyed every minute of it.

Will be downloading pics of Em's party soon. Will post a picture or two.

Father's Day was spent at home with Tim and his kids and grandkids. We had a cookout since the weather was beautiful for a change. NO THUNDER STORMS!

My Dad spent his day with Helen's family for a picnic at Helen's daughters home.

Now the bad news...Angela's mother-in-law pasted away Sunday afternoon. Her health has not been good for a long time. Our prayers and thoughts are with her and Mark and their families during this sad time. Mark will be going to the funeral in Indiana this week with Angela staying home with the new baby.

UPDATE!!!!

I have been a bit lazy these days about updating my blog...so, when try this morning.

First of all, Tim and I have a new grandson. Joseph Henry (Hank) Utley was born May 24th, 2008 to Angela and Mark. He's such a little guy! Weighed in at 5 lbs. 15 oz. and 19 inches long.
He has red wavy hair! Can't imagine why! lol Hope to make a trip to Ohio sometime this summer to visit Angela and her tripe!
Memorial Day weekend we had Tim's family over for a picnic. Everyone had a grand time and alot of food to eat, as usual.
Tim was laid off from work back in March for about 1 1/2 months...called back to work for a couple of weeks, laid off again until this week. He went back to work Monday. We're still trying to get used to our schedules again. He works from 6am till 2:30pm. Hopefully, he will not be laid off again in the near future. I recently started working part time at a party store/gas station about 2 miles from our home. Not my idea of a career change, but it's a job for the time being.
Jennifer and John are getting ready for Emily's graduation open house. Event takes place June 14th. Hard to believe that we have 2 grand daughters that graduated this year. Mark and Angela's daughter, Autumn graduated as well.
Since my last post...Ben decided to wander away from home and we haven't see him since. We posted flyers in the neighborhood with no success. Believe someone saw him and picked him up. He was such a friendly dog and loved to ride in the pickup! So...we only have Duke and the two cats...Bubba and Milo.
Uncle Jerry and Aunt Laura visited me on Tuesday. Was happy to see them! It's been so long!
Enjoy receiving emails and visiting their Blog often to stay in touch with them!
Well...have to get busy around the house today...day off from work...hope to see family this summer!
Enjoy Life!

Almost Summer...

It's almost 6:00 AM this Tuesday morning. Looks like the weather is going to be warm and sunny today. Will be working outside in the dirt! lol

Tim was called back to work last week. Thank the Lord for his job! The strike with American Axle is pretty much over, but still going over their contract details. Tim has had to adjust again to the daily routine of getting up at 4:00 AM and driving in Grand Rapids with all the road construction. What fun we have! And...with the price of gas these days, have to redo the budget again! Tim is looking into car pooling with someone in order for us to save some money with the increasing gas prices.

Jennie and John are busy with their "tribe". Getting ready for Emily's graduation and open house on June 14th. Will be helping Jen with preparing the food and all.

Joshua is in Nashville, TN going to school and working. Hear from almost every day. He's doing well and making new friends and learning about life on his own.

Angela and Mark are busy as well with Autumn graduating this month. Angela is a stay at home mom with Emma is school, Maggie at home (4yrs), and Nora at 1 yr this past March. Angela has started her "nesting" since the baby "boy" is due in June. She believes "he" will arrive the first part of June instead of around the 20th, her due date. She's doing well...tired and busy, but that's to be expected.

Dad and Helen downed by Sunday evening for a bit. They've been working outside getting the yard and flowerbeds cleaned up from the winter.

And me...well...still looking for a job. Try to keep myself busy around the house with some spring cleaning (really do not like cleaning, but has to be done), and working outside cleaning up the leaves and such from all the trees we have since we live on the edge of a wooded area. Love being outside when weather is good.

Oh yes!!!! We no longer have "Ben". He slipped his collar and ran off and we haven't seen him since. That was 2 weeks ago. Posted pictures and flyers in neighborhood business' of him. We believe someone saw him and took him. He loved to ride in the pickup and was a very friendly dog. So...now we only have Duke, Bubba, and Milo. Our Kids!!!

Picture is of "Bubba" enjoying his busy life style!

SPRING??

Not much going on in the Proctor household. Just waiting for spring weather. Can see some progress. Most of the snow has melted, but still have about a foot of the white stuff in the back yard. Hope it goes away soon. Want to get outside and play in the dirt! The gardens!

Tim is laid off from work at the moment, because of the American Axle Strike and GM laying off and closing some of their plants. Tim's shop makes parts for GM...parts for the axles that are used on GM pickups and SUV's. He's not in production though...maintenance department. He does fabricating and repairs press'.

Dad & Helen are doing great. They have had cabin fever just like everyone else. But since the weather has improved, they've been out and about more.

Tim, my brother, had surgery on his foot a couple of weeks ago. Nothing serious. He will be off work for about 6 to 8 weeks. He's doing good though. Getting around on his crutches.

And me...still looking for a new type of work. Still working in the mortgage business, if that's what you want to call it. Not much work these days. I should have changed my line of work years ago! Oh well...something will work out. Maybe I should do something with gardening and my painting. That would be fun and maybe, make a small living at it at the same time.

NEW FAMILY MEMBER

As of about a week ago, we have a new member in our household. His name is "Ben". He's a little over a year old with big brown eyes. He's so ugly, that he's cute! And he very smart...already knows to sit, stay, come, lay down, shake hands, and find his toys on command. The only naughty habit he has (as you can see) is getting on the furniture. Still trying to break him of this.

Winter Storm of Feb. 2008

Early Feb. Winter Storm!

This is a picture of our driveway after a winter storm in early Feb. We received 15 inches of snow within a 24 hour period. To say the least, it took us most of the day to plow and dig out! It was very beautiful!

February 2008

Our family has grown this year with my husband's youngest son living with us full time as of Christmas 2007. His name is Ryan and he's 17 yrs old. Seems strange, but good to have a teenager in the house again. Even though we have been active with our grown kids and grandkids, alot of adjusting is going on within our household. Good adjusting!!!
Tim is doing great with his job. Just started 1st shift this week. He was working 2nd shift and did not like it since he is an early morning person, but was patient knowing that 1st shift would be around the corner for him. Another adjustment for all of us, but a good one.
As you all know, I have been working within the mortgage industry for many years. Well...the past year plus has been a real challenge to say the least. Thank goodness my husband has a good job! Been thinking about going back to school to get a degree in education. Just thinking about it right now...have to see if we can afford it and all.
Latest news from Ohio...Angela and Mark will be having a "boy" in June. They have 4 girls and are really excited about this new little guy on the way.
Joshua left for Nashville Sunday for college....he's going to a high prof. engine school...2 year program. He's my "motorhead" kid!!!
Jen is very busy with her family. Their oldest is graduating from high school this spring, so they're very busy with senior pictures, planning grad. open house, etc. Plus all the other activities of the other kids.
Between my 2 daughter's families there are 9 grandkids plus another on the way. Tim has 6 grandkids with his daughter's family. WOW!