Going to the Circus!

I am so excited! I just purchased tickets for Eric and I to go to the Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey's Circus of Dreams this Saturday! Eric has never been to the circus and I think this is the perfect age for him to really enjoy it. Every year growing up my mom brought my brother and I to the Shrine Circus. The Shrine Circus was always at the SDC at Tech and you always had a pretty good seat. This circus is at the Palace of Auburn Hills which is HUGE, so I am a little concerned about being able to see well, but since we are in the 100's section, I know we don't have nose bleed seats! I have been there a couple times for concerts and it is not even worth going if you have nosebleed section seats. I went to a Christina Auguilera/Justin Timberlake concert and I kid you not, we were in the highest seats, right against the back wall. I actually fell asleep because I couldn't even see!

Also, this Friday we are going to a Plymouth Whalers hockey game. They are a Major Junior Hockey Team. I am excited for that too! We are going with Eric's cub scout pack. He has never been to a "real" hockey game, so I am looking forward to that too. Last year we had tickets to go, but I ended up having to get my wisdom teeth pulled the morning of the game!

Other than our weekend plans, nothing really exciting has been going on. I am finally recovered from our rushed trip up to the UP for my great grandma's funeral along with the time change. Last week was rough, but this weekend I got some rest and finally feel back to normal. I am however looking forward to having some time off next week and doing nothing. I am only working Monday and Tuesday, so I have 5 days off in a row. We have no plans for Thanksgiving as of yet, but that is fine by me. I would like some turkey, but a whole turkey for just Eric and I is way to much (and it is not even really the turkey...it is the stuffing in the turkey that I like best!) My mom and sister are coming down after Christmas for a week, so I will just make one then. This is the hardest part of being a single mother and living 10 hours away from my family...spending holidays alone.

In Loving Memory of My Great Grandma - Anna Marie Huhtasaari (92)

Anna Marie Huhtasaari L’ANSE — Anna Marie Heikkinen Huhtasaari went to be with the Lord on October 31, 2007, peacefully at the Skilled Nursing Unit at Baraga County Memorial Hospital with her family at her side. She was born on December 23, 1914, in Askel, to Oscar and Jenny (Backman) Heikkinen. She married Arne Huhtasaari in May of 1932 and they celebrated 56 years of marriage until his passing in September of 1988. They lived in Detroit for 20 years, moving back, in 1971, to Askel Hill where she has been a resident since.“Gramma Anna” will always be remembered for her laughter and her “polkas” at family events. She was incredibly independent well into her 80’s. She was wonderful to her grandchildren (and their children) and her home was always the family gathering place where she showered her family with love. Anna enjoyed quilting, crocheting, flower gardening and crafts. She was a member of Mission United Lutheran Church, Martha Circle, and the Red Hats. Anna was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three sisters, Senia Huhtasaari, Trudy Fowler and Mae Siira; one brother, Ben Heikkinen. She is lovingly remembered and survived by her sons, Clarence Huhtasaari and Ken (Eva) Huhtasaari of Askel Hill, Michael (Phyllis) Huhtasaari of White Lake, Mich. and her daughter, Shirley (Paul) Kezele of Southfield, Mich.; 12 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two loving sisters, Sylvia Pesola of Elo and Elmi “Beda” Borro of Marquette, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 3, at 1 p.m. at Mission United Lutheran Church in Pelkie. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Pastor John Autio will officiate. Burial will be in the Elo Cemetery. Her grandsons, Jeffery, Ken, Doug and Dennis Isaacson, Ken, Karl and Tim Huhtasaari will serve as pallbearers. The Jacobson Funeral Home in L’Anse is assisting the family. Friends may sign Anna’s guestbook or send condolences at jacobsonfuneralhome.com.

Happy Halloween!

***Update...the above picture is Eric on Halloween night with my friends daughter Nautica before Trick-or-treating in his improved Jack Sparrow costume. It is impossible to take pictures of kids WHILE they trick-or-treat...they are either running or you get the back of their heads!

We did a costume trial run last night and here are some pictures. Eric had to snarl in every picture! I thought it was so funny. He looked like a grown man with the painted on beard and mustache! I bought a pirate hat for him today so he will be a little bit different looking tonight when trick-or-treating. He thinks he looks exactly like Captain Jack Sparrow!

Pumpkins and Salsa Dancing

Yes, I know...I am a horrible blogger...I had a blog on Yahoo 360 for a little over a year and I guess I just lost motivation to blog. I am going to try to make a better effort though!

This weekend Eric carved his pumpkin. He was really excited to do it. I wasn't very excited, because I thought, like last year I would end up doing everything and he would watch cartoons. But, I was wrong. He did it all himself! First, he drew out a design on paper, then replicated it on the pumpkin. He did a great job carving it out too!

This weekend we also went to a local apple orchard. It was cold and rainy, but Eric still had a good time. We went with a group of people from his school. We went on a hay ride, thru a corn maze and had cider and donuts. By the time we left we were freezing and absolutely soaked! I had planned on going to Wal-mart afterwards for a few things, but instead we just went straight home and changed our clothes, turned up the heat and ate soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.

I actually did something different for once last night. I went for Salsa dancing lessons! I met a girl last week who teaches the salsa dancing class at U of M and she invited me to come. I had a great time and am looking forward to the next lesson...I will be back in Level 1 beginners again...they teach you a lot of stuff in an hour and a half! I will be going every other Monday that Eric does not have a boyscout meeting. Eric came along and watched from the sides. He was very excited that one of the guys that I danced with looked like Will from Pirates of the Caribbean....I have not watched any of them yet, but I looked it up this morning and sure enough, I could have been dancing with Orlando Bloom's stunt double!

Here is the link to the MSalsa site!

http://www.umich.edu/~msalsa/index.shtml

I am still trying to figure out this whole blogger set-up...there are many things I have no idea how to do...like adding a link to your post just from clicking on a word and adding links to other peoples pages on your page. I guess I just need more practice!

Vacation, Birthday and 1st day of School!

Wow! My boy is 7 today! The picture on the left is Eric this morning on his way to school. I can't believe how fast time flies! It seems like just yesterday when he came into this world...by emergency c-section at 9:11 am weighing 4lbs, 15oz! He is the joy of my life and I am proud to have him as a son!

This is Eric on his first day of 2nd grade sitting in his seat in the classroom.






On the left is my boy blowing out is candles for his 7th birthday party held at the Travel Lodge in Houghton...we had a pool party with all of my cousins (pictured below are all in attendence).
















Eric spent 3 weeks up in the UP with my parents. This is the longest that we have been away from each other. It really flew by though and he had a blast! He would love to live up there...he loves swimming and fishing and motorcycles and all the cows on their farm! I went up for Labor Day Weekend and we had a birthday party for him since there are so many of my cousins up there that are his age.

Hello!

Just thought I would create a page if anyone wanted to stop by and leave me a message!