The girls 2007

The girls 2007
Hanging out at Grandma & Grandpa's pond

Friday, June 25, 2010

Um...what can I say? I am being very delinquent in posting lately.

Well, we have finished the school year with flying colors. Lindsey made it on the all A's all year honor roll for 3rd grade and Alyssa didn't do too bad...all A's and two B+ for all year. Can't complain. They are both growing up so fast that I need to keep both eyes wide open.

Lindsey finished her second year in soccer and this year, Brian was helping to coach. I am glad that I stepped down from coaching. It gets too intense at the U10 level! She did great, quite the little soccer player.


Alyssa is playing softball again this year for the Senior girls. We aren't doing too bad, since we just started our games. I am helping to coach this again this year. I love doing this and connecting with all the girls. They are a great group to have. I have to get my camera out for the games sometimes instead of coaching all the time....but Alyssa went to a dance at school and she let me take a couple of pics of her before the dance. She is turning into a beautiful girl!


Brian and I keep going. Running from here to there and keeping it straight. Appointments, work, games, practices, and trying to squeeze extra time for ourselves.

Our whole family just took a trip to Texas in June (very hot) with my parents and sister and her family. We celebrated a graduation from high school, the 40th anniversary of my parents and just family time. Went to see the Dallas Cowboy Stadium, a rodeo, and went to Six Flags over Texas. I watched both my mom & dad ride roller coasters.

As for now, the McLaughlin Group is Great!

Monday, August 18, 2008

OH, now what have I stepped in to? Looks like Lindsey's coach will be me for soccer! I told them not to expect much, because all I no about soccer is that when you throw the ball in, both feet have to be on the ground ... so they gave me a book about how to learn soccer quickly. But, I have a secret weapon! My niece is a third year varsity this year and she will be with me every step of the way.

On other news, my kids received their letters about school starting soon. Yes, we have started to put them to bed earlier this week. Next week will be even earlier. Back to school, back to schedule.

Another year of VBS is done. Wow, what a week. We had a peak of 88 kids and raised enough money to purchase 26 back packs with supplies for underprivileged kids in our county.

Started another project that I have wanted to try the past couple of years, canning. Yep, we canned stewed tomatoes yesterday! My next project, salsa. What with gas prices and food prices, we will need to start our pantry and stay home to eat more this winter. Electric is out of sight with last months bill!

All is quiet on the home front!

God is so Good!

Nikki

Monday, July 28, 2008

Oh yeah, Alyssa now has braces! I told her I am going to own that mouth after this process is all said and done!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Wow, I haven't posted in quite some time and thought that it would be a good time to update on everything that we have been doing. Alyssa & Lindsey both finished 5th and 1st, respectively. Now, Alyssa is on to middle school, leaving behind the days of recess and playground fun. We just picked up today some locker items that she thought would be neat & needed. She also finished softball.


Lindsey will be moving on to 2nd grade and it will be pretty busy at her school. They are remodelling the elementary, adding on a gym, and several classrooms, along with a new library. Pretty exciting, since she will be able to use everything for a few more years before she moves on.



We also just finished up a week of a home vacation, where we went to Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, went tubing on Dumont Lake and camped out in our back yard. Don't think that I'll do the camping thing again unless it is in a trailer with a nice big bed! Yes, quite the experience.




We also were able to visit with our Aunt Sandy & Uncle Bill from Ohio for a couple of days, and about a week or two later, our Aunt Kathy & Uncle Larry came up from Texas. Yes, good times, good times.




We also travelled up (the girls & I) to Grandpa & Grandma Lowman's house for a quick visit. It was good to see them. Yep, we did the picture thing. Though, when we do, I am the one most likely behind the camera. It's my new hobby that I took up last year. I even did my oldest niece senior pics and will be doing my youngest niece this year. Looking forward to that. I love to take pics.




Speaking of nieces, my oldest set off for an adventure this last Saturday to Florida. Have to hand it to her, it takes a lot of courage and guts to head off at 18 to look for a job in an unknown town, out of state, away from family. But she has a lot of people that love her and are praying for her safety and success. I know that she will be coming back sometime and that she will be attending college in the near future! Right, Britt?


All I can say is that life is quite the ride. My youngest niece, Brianna has been our "live in nanny" for the past month and a half and is doing quite a good job looking after her cousins while Aunt Nikki & Uncle Brian are off to work. My oldest nephew is doing a great job in Kazoo, as a leasing agent for an apartment complex. Have to hand it to him, managing on his own and doing good at it.


My youngest nephew is such a smart little guy. He was getting a bed from his Grandpa & Grandma's next door and I noticed them, went over to help Staci load the bed and as I am walking up their driveway, he is shouting at me that "the bed is too heavy, Nikki, I need help." Now, what two year old can string sentences together and sound like a little man better than he can. He is getting so grown up!

We are doing great here in the McLaughlin household. Time flies, but we are having fun.

Until next time,

Nikki



















































Friday, February 29, 2008



Yes, this is the white stuff that we have and have had since New Year's Day. Snowing again here in Michigan today, Leap Day. We have officially broken a record for the month of February as being the snowiest month since I think they started keeping track (1930's). I took this picture on New Year's Day looking down our road. It's pretty for a while, but I think that we are all getting sick of it.

On a lighter note, all of us are travelling down to Florida! Going to go sun ourselves! We cannot wait for this trip. My kids are looking forward to spending days on the beach and maybe going to Disney for a day. You never know where the winds will blow while we are down there.

Both the girls are doing well. Alyssa is finishing up basketball on Saturdays and Lindsey has completed soccer, which she absolutely loved doing once she got the hang of it. Who knows, I might become the proverbial soccer mom!

Both are doing well in school. We just went to conferences and had glowing reports. Brian is now working a regular work week instead of his screwy 12 hr days with two days on, two days off. Getting back to normal is taking a while to adjust to.

My nephew just turned two and he is quite the smart little (tall) guy. I cannot believe how many words he is stringing together. Does my heart good when he starts yelling Nikki when he sees my house. Love him to pieces!

My oldest nephew just turned 21 and is now living in his own apartment (again). Couldn't be prouder of him. He seems to be adjusting to single life alone quite well. Couldn't hurt to see him a little more though! Love him to pieces!

My youngest niece just turned 17 and finished her junior year in basketball. Oh yeah, she now has her drivers license, so watch out world, here comes Bri. Love her to pieces!

My oldest niece will turn the big 18 this March and is making plans for her future. Can't believe that she is going to graduate this spring. Way to go Brit! Love her to pieces, too!

Over all, we are just chugging along. My dad is leaving on another mission trip to Pass Christian tonight, so pray for his safe travel with all the "guys". They are attempting to build a house in a month with a different crew every week. Some are there for the whole month. Way to go Haven Reformed and outlying churches!

Take care all!

Nikki

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Well, it is that time of year again where we think of everything that we are thankful for, but should be thankful for throughout the year. I can remember in times past when we would all head up to Detour Village to attend the Thanksgiving dinner at Grandpa & Grandma Lowman's house and we would have family from all over come to gather around at night in our "circle" and say what we are thankful for. There was always so much to be thankful for, and I truly miss that small portion of what we did up there. As our families have grown, so comes the times that families are doing "their" thanksgiving together as they start their own traditions.

This year, Bri, the girls and I will be traveling to Gladwin for Thanksgiving with my family to bring the Turkey dinner to Grandpa & Grandma's house. I am hopeful to post pictures after we get back, but am looking forward to this trip because I have not seen them in some time.

I am so thankful for my husband and kids this year, being so understanding when mommy brings home work to do and allowing me that "quiet" time to do it. It has been a whirl-wind year, very busy and looks to continue into the new year.

Alyssa will be starting volleyball for the next four Saturdays. Must say that this is mommy's favorite sport. She is looking forward to it. She also took in the slip for basketball camp, which starts in January for 6-7 weeks on Saturdays. Yes, a very busy girl.

Lindsey on the other hand is looking forward to the day that she will be able to do all the "fun stuff" as she calls it. She can't understand why she can't do it now.

Both kids are doing very well in school, with Alyssa having her last year in elementary school. Bri & I were talking about that the other day and can't believe how old she is.

I am also thankful for my mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law and nephew. They are just great. Mom, Staci and I will be heading of in 3 weeks to the Big Apple! We are so looking forward to a busy weekend checking New York out. Good thing Staci has gone once already so that she can be our "tour guide".

I am also thankful for my extended family with my mother & father-in-law, Sister-in-law, brother-in-law, my 2 beautiful nieces and other nephew. My in-laws celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past year as well as my sister-in-law celebrating her 40th birthday. Such mile stones.

On another note, just received word that my youngest niece (16) has mono for the second time. Please pray that she will get over this quickly, for she is a very active girl and basketball season has started. My other niece will be graduating this year from high school. Please pray for her that she will "find her place" in the next year and that place be college!!! Yep, she is looking at KVCC, which is great!

Take care all and have a very Thankful Thanksgiving!

Nikki

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Yes, my girls are growing older. I have known that I would have to some day face the fact that Alyssa wants to be her own person and pick out her own close, etc. But it is hard sitting back letting that happen when she picks out spring/summer in the fall/winter. Battle number one, go change that skirt and shirt for Church. It's too cold outside. Battle number two, turn that radio down and quit singing so loud. Well, I try to choose my battles these days with her. It's hard, but she is growing up to be my beautiful brown eyed girl.

Lindsey is becoming quite the independent girl too! I can't believe what she is learning in 1st grade. Words are actually forming on paper now. For a lefty, she sure has great penmanship. She sure is my beautiful blue eyed girl.

Brian got his first deer of the season and our freezer is again full of deer meat. At least I talked him into getting it processed this time instead of sending to a friend.

All is going great for now. Mom & Dad are in a little town just west of Biloxi called Pass Christian on a mission trip. If you get a chance, check it out on the map. It is right on the water. Mom says it is going slow, but good. My nephew is growing big and handsome and I am already looking forward to Christmas with him. Yep, I have ideas, but I need to make sure that the "little things" are big enough.

Work is work. Bringing stuff home and working from there on weekends. Yep, that is part of the job of year end, but it sure beats not having a job at all. We are so thankful in that respect.

Take care all,

Nikki