Celebrating 31...

Tuesday was my birthday, yeah. I can't believe it has already been one year since I entered my 30's. I had a great time celebrating 31 with my family and friends this year.
A few weeks before my birthday a group of girls in my previous ward got together to celebrate the March birthdays. This year there were two birthdays in March so we had a fun celebration for Jacqui and I at the Cheesecake Factory. We all enjoyed chatting and eating great food,especially cheesecake. Thanks girls for a fun afternoon.

Starting in the bottom left corner... Lindsey, Amber, Whitney, Lacey, Jacqui, Kim, Chandra, Tonya, and myself.

The weekend right before my birthday Bryce took me on a date to celebrate. For the last couple years we have gone to Tucano's, and this year was no different. The food was delicious as always, and we both definitely ate too much. After we went to a movie, The Croods. It was hilarious, we will definitely be taking the kids once it goes to the cheap theater. We had a great date night, LOVE you Bryce.

On my actual birthday we went to dinner at Red Robin. It's a great family restaurant and we tend to go there often to celebrate family birthdays. I was so happy the kids smiled for a picture with me, yeah.

Last night I celebrated with my sisters by going to dinner at the Olive Garden. My mom is still in Michigan due to Grandpa passing, therefore she was unable to be there with us. It was nice getting together [without kids] to enjoy time laughing and having uninterrupted conversation, haha. After dinner we went to the movie, Les Miserables. The movie was fantastic, and the music was unbelievable.

Overall celebrating my birthday this year was a blast. Thanks to my family and friends for making me feel so special.

West Side Story!

My dad and I went on a daddy/daughter date Thursday night. He treated me to Cancun Mexican Restaurant for my birthday. I LOVE their chips, salsa, and bean dip, it's the best ever. After I treated my dad to the play West Side Story Broadway musical, an early Father's Day gift. We had an absolute BLAST. The play was so entertaining, and the music was great. Thanks dad for a fun fun night, love you.

Crafting with Grandma Ellsworth...

Grandma Ellsworth came over a couple times this week to make a pinata with Kyra for Easter. Kyra had a lot of fun crafting with Grandma. Kyra is excited to get together with family this Sunday for Easter and surprise the cousins with a pinata full of candy. Thanks Pennie for doing this craft with Kyra, she had a great time.

Love you FOREVER Grandpa Lutz...

My Grandpa passed away recently, and for journaling purposes I want to share his obituary. I will miss you Grandpa so much, but I'm so happy you can be with Grandma again. Thanks for always being a wonderful Grandpa to me. I have so many memories of you and Grandma that I will never forget. Love you forever Grandpa. 

    

Traverse City, MI - Willis “Bill” Lutz, 88, of Traverse City, passed away Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Traverse City.

Bill was born June 15, 1924, in Oil City, Pa. He was the son of Willis and Beulah (Good) Lutz. He graduated from Fordson High School in Dearborn, Mich. After completion of high school, he joined the United States Navy and from there moved into the Marine Corps Air Division and trained as a pilot. On May 6, 1944, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Waller, at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla. During the Korean War he served as a pilot.

When the war was over, Bill worked for Sears, Roebuck and Company in Daley City, Calif. The family relocated in 1968 to Traverse City to purchase the Brier Hill Motel. In 1974, the motel was sold and he began a 30-plus year career in cherry farming on the Old  Mission Peninsula.

Bill was an active member of the Traverse City Masonic Lodge. He had attended Faith Reformed Church since 1979. He participated in many civic projects. His favorite travel destination was New Zealand. Also, he was an avid University of Michigan fan. He was a season ticket holder of U of M football games for 36 years. Go Blue!

Bill was the father of four children, Karen (Lynn) Collins, David (Cathy) Lutz, Pamela (Alan) Ellsworth, and Virginia Arnold. He was the grandfather of 24 grandchildren and 55 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia; and his sister, Jane Hill.

Bill remarried in October of 2012 to Sue Loomis, who survives him.

He will be remembered for reciting the “Cremation of Sam Magee,” buying everyone Turtle Sundaes, and the beautiful garden that he and Virginia grew and shared with everyone. He was always ready to help anyone who had needs, whether they needed a ride to the doctor, to get to the hair dresser, or just to give a kind word of encouragement.

Bill will be truly missed by all the family and his many friends.

The family thanks Munson Hospice House for their kind and loving care and service during the last days of Bill’s life.

A graveside service with military honors will be held Tuesday, March 26, at 2 p.m. at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.

Happy Birthday Miles!

Mister Miles turned the big two March 22nd, crazy! Seriously where has the time gone? We had prepped Miles all week about his birthday coming up, so he definitely knew it was his special day on Friday. In the morning before Bryce left for work we gave Miles his main birthday present, a basketball hoop. He LOVED his new toy immediately. He shot hoops all morning.

During the day Miles and Kyra played so well together, I was a happy mama. This picture is proof that they really do love each other.

A few weeks ago I took Miles to Target to get his pictures taken. Normally Miles will smile for any picture, but Miles refused during this particular photo shoot. I was so bummed, but when it was all said and done there was one picture he smiled for. Yeah! I tell this story because the picture below is proof that Miles really does smile for pictures, at least when mama is the photographer.

Later that night Miles had a birthday party. We invited family and a few friends he sees on a regular basis. Because of the weather the party was indoors, needless to say there were a lot of people crammed inside our house to celebrate Miles' birthday. Miles LOVES playing with balls, therefore the theme of his birthday party was sports balls [football, basketball, baseball, and soccer]. We served snacks you would normally see at a sporting event [Water bottles, popcorn, red vines, chocolates, cookies, and peanuts]. Miles enjoyed eating treats all night long.

I originally saw this cake on Pinterest, and immediately knew I wanted it for Miles' birthday party. I knew I was unable to create the cake myself, so I asked my friends sister Cheryl if she would make it, and she had no problems doing so. She did an amazing job, I LOVE the way it turned out.

Miles had his own little smash cake, a basketball...

I got a cute picture of Miles with a few of his buddies [little Bryce, Ashlyn, and Ellie]. I tried getting other pictures throughout the night of Miles with some other buddies, or cousins but it never happened. Oh well.

Overall Miles birthday was a success. We all had a great day celebrating. Happy Birthday Miles! We LOVE you so much, we are sooooo happy you're apart of our family.

St. Patrick's Day!

This last Thursday in preschool Kyra had fun celebrating and learning all about St. Patrick's Day. Each child wore green, they danced and sang silly songs, played games, and ate leprechaun food [Apple Jacks cereal]. They also made leprechaun masks for their art project, super cute. Mrs. Wall sent each child home with a little black pot filled with sparkly jewels in hopes to catch a leprechaun. Kyra has carried her black pot everywhere with her since she received it, but NO leprechaun yet. She LOVES preschool and learning new fun things each day.

On St. Patrick's Day we had a green pancake feast for breakfast, the kids wore green to church, and we had a yummy pot roast dinner with rolls and green jello. Overall it was a fun day.