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my 'currently-reading' shelf:


my 'read' shelf:

Rodeo Girl!

In Risa's blog today she wrote about her son wanting to be a cowboy. It brought back so many memories of me, wanting to be a "rodeo girl". From as early as I can remember I wanted a horse. My neighbors had several horses and every opportunity I got I rode. I remember watching the horse shows at the fair knowing one day I was going to be there too. My dream of owning a horse came true at 13.

This is a posting from my other blog I had on Yahoo 360. Notice the cowboy hat...they guy(a real rodeo rider) who trained my horse after he bucked me off and I was terrified to ride again, had it fitted just for me. That thing was so tight on my head it left a red mark, but it never fell off!

MY FIRST LOVE

Yes, that is me, awkward and dorky looking with my first love of my life. His name was Double Moon and I was 13. Ever since I could remember I wanted a horse. I purchased Double Moon with my own money and was the happiest girl on earth! He was only 2 years old and only "green broke" meaning he had never been ridden with a saddle or bridle. He was quite a handful but I loved him more than anything in the entire world.

The above picture was taken at the Pelkie Fair and boy was he beautiful that day. A couple of months before he had bucked me off and I was terrified to ride again, but I got back in the saddle and we won several blue ribbons in the horse show.

I sold Double Moon 2 years later because he was a lot to handle and I wanted a car. I sold him to a family friend and he died in their barn a couple of years later in a terrible way. For many years I had horrible nightmares about him, that I did him wrong and that he was after me. The guilt of letting him go was eating me up. I still miss him terribly.

One of my many job perks

Today is Administrative Professionals Day and like every year my boss treated me to lunch today. We we went to the exclusive Huron River Hunting & Fishing Club, where we just were for lunch earlier this month for my bosses 60th birthday. It is a private, members only club for the big wigs in the area. I think this is the best lunch I have had yet. I had the surf and turf which consisted of a 6oz fillet and a 5oz lobster tail with potatoes and snow peas. It was so good! He insisted I also have a drink, so I had a Bloody Mary. Then the dessert tray came around and he insisted I have dessert, so I took the biggest piece of cheesecake I have ever seen back to the office. Now I am ready for a nap.

Busy Weekend

This weekend was one of the busiest weekends we have had in a long time. Eric had his space derby for cub scouts this weekend. Last year he came in 6th in the first round in every heat with my boss helping him carve the rocket. This year I did not think he would have any better luck, because I was the only one who helped him this year and was a bit discouraged in seeing all the perfect looking rockets at Friday nights test runs. I commented to Eric when we got home about all the perfectly painted rockets that the parents had obviously done. His response was: "Mine is perfectly painted to, isn't it mom!" (he did it all by himself). "Yes, Eric! It is wonderful!" I said and decided I did the right thing by letting him do the majority of the work, even if he wouldn't place again.

But very much to my suprise, in the first group of 6, Eric came in 1st place in every heat. From there he competed with the other group of Wolves top 2 rockets and he came in 3rd in the den. It was very exciting and he was so happy to place!



After the space derby I had to hurry him to a birthday party where they roller skated for 3 1/2 hours and ate pizza and ice cream, had their faces painted and had a guy making balloon swords, animals and hats. I stayed for awhile and talked to some of the moms, but went home and did some laundry and cleaned. The birthday party was a sleep over, so I had a night to myself. Me and a friend went out to dinner and had some much needed girl talk.

Sunday morning after I picked Eric up was his first meeting with his big brother. We all went to the park and Eric played while I found out a little more about Nick. Then Nick pushed Eric on the merry-go-round and all of a sudden there were 20 kids on it! Then they kicked around the soccer ball for awhile, he pushed him on the tire swing and then we went back to my apartment where they played catch for a little while and then went in and played video games. Eric was trying to cram in as much as possible! He stayed for 2 1/2 hours and they had a great time together.

Eric's got a Big Brother!

For several years, thru different agency's I have been trying to get a mentor for Eric. I originally called Big Brothers when I first became a single mother when Eric was 3 years old. They told me that the child had to be 7. I was disappointed, but continued to look for other agency's. We tried with Catholic Social Services for a year with no success when he was 6. When he turned 7 I called Big Brothers again and finally, they have matched us with someone! We met today for the first time and I couldn't be happier with the match. I was a little discouraged at first because the people they kept calling me with just weren't what I had in mind. For example, a 59 year old. The conversation with Eric was funny though.

Me: Eric, Big Brothers called today and they said they might have a match, tell me what you think. His name is Chuck.

Eric: I like the name Chuck.

Me: He's 59 years old.

Eric: Does he exercise?

Me: They said he likes to run.

Eric: I like running.

Me: He's divorced.

Eric: That's ok, I don't want no wife hanging around.

Me: You don't want to wait for someone else ?

Eric: Well, does he like video games?

Me: Probably not, older men don't seem to.

Eric: OK, we will wait for someone else.

And we waited and waited and waited. The weird thing about Big Brothers is your first meeting with the match is your commitment to each other for a year. I did not like that. They tell you several details about the person, but you can't meet them first. I was about ready to give up. But then they called with Nick. He is 22 years old, athletic, went to college, has a good job. I was nervous, but he seems great. He and Eric are getting together next Sunday to hang out for the first time and I am very excited as is Eric. He wanted him to come back today.

Disgusting!

My boss received these as a joke gift for his 60th birthday from his daughter and passed them on to me for Eric to enjoy. These things are DISGUSTING! I myself did not try any but Eric did and shared with several friends. I thought they were regular jelly beans with gross names...no, these jellybeans actually taste like vomit, earwax, earthworms, boogers, rotten eggs, sausage, black pepper, soap, dirt and pickles! Eric brought them along to his den meeting for cub scouts on Monday and the leader was a bit perturbed when the boys kept running to the water fountain and garbage can to rinse and spit after eating these things. The funny thing though is they kept going back for more!

"It's magical. It's incredible, and it just arrived! The new Discovery Box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, the jelly bean preferred by Harry Potter, holds 10 wild flavors, each in its own little pocket. Discover the wild flavors of EARWAX, BACON, DIRT, SPINACH, GRASS, BOOGER, SARDINE, BLACK PEPPER, ROTTEN EGG, EARTHWORM, SOAP, and SPAGHETTI. And, everyone's favorite VOMIT! Think of stinky limburger cheese, think salami gone bad--that's VOMIT all wrapped up in the disguise of a jelly bean. Fortunately, the beans come with a mystical guide to help you recognize the flavors."

Soccer in the Rain

Eric had his first soccer game tonight and it was a wonderful 44 degrees and raining and windy for the wonderful 1 hour game! It was not much fun for us parent spectators as we were all freezing!... but all the kids seemed to not mind....some even had shorts on! Our team "The Cleats" got beat pretty bad, but it was only the first game...they have a couple of practices now before the next game so they should improve.







Stretching before the game.













Eric at goal.















Some video footage! Eric comes into the picture after a couple of seconds...

My Life is Just Not Exciting....

I wish my life were a little more exciting so I would have something to write about, but it is pretty much the same old thing everyday...work and come home and do the mom thing. I am excited that it is getting warmer though so we can spend more time outside. This past Saturday we went on our first bike ride of the year and Sunday we went to the park were Eric played and I walked laps around the park. Two weeks ago we did make our way up to the UP for Eric's Spring Break week and Easter. I swore last year that I would not do it again...there is just to much dang snow, but I asked Eric which he preferred...the beaches of Florida or grandmas and he chose grandmas so up to the UP we went. Below are some pictures of our week.


Eric and cousin Grayson taking a rest while snowshoeing and the long trails we went on behind my mom and dad's house.

Uncle Ben and Eric - Eric loves Uncle Ben because he has all the fun toys...snowmobile/motorbike/4-wheeler and he lets Eric drive!








Eric and my Aunt Kim's boys coloring Easter Eggs














and Eric with his new skateboard.















Eric and his HUGE basket in which my mom went a little crazy with candy!



I just love the look on his face looking at his new bubble pencil!















This is my mom and dad's new house that they are building.

Karaoke

Eric was doing karaoke and dancing around and it was hilarious, but of course when I wanted to record it he got shy...but he still shows a little bit of his personality!

New Kitten

This is our new kitten "Othello". Eric is very happy! We got him yesterday and he seems like a good kitten. He loves Eric and as I type is sitting in Eric's lap while he plays his Gamecube!

1st Day of Winter Break

Christmas Break!! I am off of work for the next week so I can stay home with Eric and do lots of fun things! Today we took advantage of the snow that fell this past Sunday and went sledding!

This hill is at the park about 3 blocks from our apartment.

After about an hour and a half we went home and Eric invited 3 friends over and I made a big pot of hamburger soup and some cookies. Tonight we did a little bit of shopping and I hit some really good sales at Elder-Beerman...what a great store! They had a ton of sweaters for only $9.99 & $14.99, lots of stuff marked down 60% and a ton of $4.99 racks! I need to go back without Eric though because it is pretty much impossible to shop with him ....I did manage to get a few things though!

I did go out and buy myself a digital camera on Monday. I finally just asked my mom if she was getting me one...I couldn't wait anymore or be without one for Christmas.

Tomorrow Eric and I are going to look at a kitten to adopt. He has been wanting one forever and I have gone back and forth. I stopped in a pet store last week to get a real fish tank for our goldfish who currently resides in a small fish bowl which I am cleaning about 3 times a week....but anyways, while at the pet store I saw a kitten that was there through a rescue agency and I have not been able to get him off of my mind. They will be back there again tomorrow so we are going to see if he is still available. I just hope I don't end up regretting it....this will be our first pet besides the goldfish which we only got in October. I won't be to heartbroken if the kitten is no longer available.

Eric's Christmas Concert and Updates

Yes, I know it has been forever! I have not had a camera and it is driving me crazy (I like to post a picture when I blog). It is taking all of my will power not to go out and buy one...but I can't because I think my mom is getting me one for Christmas. Eric had his Christmas concert last night so I borrowed and old camera from work. I tested it before I left and it seemed fine...it is really old. Well, when I started taking pictures at the concert they were all blurry and then the flash stopped working. I was not happy. I am posting the one picture that came out almost ok...and of course he is acting goofy...but, that is my boy I guess. I wanted a nice picture in front of the "fireplace"...he acted like his had was in the fire...lol.

Following up on what has happened in the last month that I have not blogged....hhhmm, really nothing! We went to the Circus and it was fun but we probably won't go again. It was expensive and the place was just to big. It was $50 for 2 tickets, $10 to park, $18 for a stupid toy, $20 for 2 drinks and nachos and a pretzel...so $100 for us to go to the circus. And, I spilled my drink in my lap!

Thanksgiving I ended up cooking a turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, rolls and green beans. An old college friend of mine was in town for the Lions game and came by with his son to eat with us. The only bad part of that was is he ate all of my stuffing, and that is my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner!

The next day we took the kids to the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum and the U of M Natural History Museum. They had a lot of fun and we had fun hanging out.

Other excitement is Eric is grounded for 3 weeks...he has made it 2 so far. This is the longest I have ever grounded him. He threw a complete temper tantrum in the grocery store. I was so embarrassed. People were peeking around the corner to see the horrid sight. It only started off as 1 week, but he kept insisting he wasn't grounded so it got to 3 weeks before he finally calmed down. Fun fun! The biggest part of his grounding is his DS is taken away.

Also, we have been sick. Eric's behavior may have been slightly influenced by him coming down with this nasty cold. I have been sick for over a week now. I don't think I have ever had so many symptoms in one cold....maybe that is good though, I will get everything at once and be done for the season.

My Christmas shopping is pretty much done. I went the easy way and ordered almost everything on line. I didn't intend to, I only looked online to see what I wanted, but when I went to the store I couldn't find anything.

I will try to be better at keeping up with this. And, if my mom doesn't get me a camera I am buying one for myself! I can't stand not having one!

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!