Traveling this summer

A 30 hour three day trip from Florida to North Dakota to see family another two days to Marquette Michigan to see my father has been a very long drive. Our boys had a seminar on how to build a deck. On top of learning how to cut down tree's.  Justin is a hard worker he cut down three tree's all by himself.  With just a little help from daddy in pushing them down. It's been about two years since the last time I was UP North.  I miss it nice and quiet sitting on the deck I help put together.  It's the small things that make me love life.  I adore the fact that my hubby takes time out of fighting the horrible mosquitoes to put down his hammer to build something with his boys. 

They are in deep thought as you can see above the expression on their face. As a woman I can't think of anything more sexier than a man with his children. He is spending time as well as teaching them hard work pays off. I know I can do just about anything my hubby can in landscaping but when a son see's his father complete a task. Not giving up at anything he sets his mind to means something different then seeing mom do it. As my children especially my oldest I'm grateful everyday for the time we spend together as a family. I love watching my hubby's eyes lite up when he hears "Daddy" it's amazing to be apart of something special My Family. This trip back home made me realize how much Family really means. Not that I didn't know already I mean Life gets busy and we all need a refresher.

Here is the deck with the fire pit almost complete. 

Deck complete all our hard work paid off bruised knees, shoulders from carrying the deck boards a few million mosquitoes bites that cover our body from head to toe all to see my parents smile. Not to mention that I get to build one again next year on our house in Florida.  I can't wait for all the fun to start again. 

The day is complete with smiles !!! 

A city has many stories

Every wonder why people stay in the same city,town and state their whole life? I recently made a unexpected trip to Michigan last week. On my way I seen just about everything on the side of the freeway like a table,shoes,clothes, four dead deer, tires, a rat crossing the highway. I was given the bird more times than I can count driving the speed limit which by the way no one follows. I guess it's a plus growing up in the same place. You know everyone and your way around. I don't mind a road trip since we have been in Florida as long as I have a full tank of gas to get me around when I get lost. It turns out to be fun by stopping by places we would have never found otherwise.



 Driving through downriver looking at the few stores that have changed made me realize how it was very much the same a year ago when I left.  Don't get me wrong I love being back home It was just time for me to leave when I did. I drove past my old high school in Lincoln Park as I was getting off the highway.





"Look Jay there is where I went to school!"

"Is that the school Daddy went to too?" Justin asked

"NO, Baby he went to Monroe High a totally different city in itself but we won't go there."

"Wow, Mom I can't believe it's still open!" Justin says smiling

"Thanks Jay I feel old now!"

"Anytime mom but on the bright side you don't have gray hair." He says laughing

Only my son can make what was an uneasy feeling about seeing my old high school turn out to be a happy moment. Man, I love him!

Old book store that still stands which was my favorite place to be after school. 

 Driving down Fort street I can see myself walking to work back in the day as my son would say. The hardships of living on my own in high school came across my mind. I still don't have a clue how I paid for everything on my own such as rent and food. I had a great friend back then that I talked to all the time. He was such an easy person to talk to as I was able to get to know him. He would always appear out of nowhere when I least expected it. It was complicated back then but I made it on my own. I went pass  the place I spent most nights at shooting pool with friends. Vito's were I ate the most greasy pizza ever. I drove pass my first apartment which is now painted a neon blue color. It looks horrible it was white when I lived there in 1996. My first Martial Arts school that is now a retail shop. I had a lot of wonderful times there. I made life long friends with. I guess now that I'm back in Florida it seems like a lifetime ago. It's nice to know I'm still the same person I just like to travel now to see the world.

We meet family and friends at Chuck E Cheese in Southgate for one last time before we left. We had a great time even if I did come back with two fish instead of kids. We went swimming at the hotel everyday. Our boys acted as if they never swim. It's too funny since we live right by the beach now. Coming back to Michigan a year later really made me think about life. How much I have changed as a person but very much stayed the same like the city. Lincoln Park definitely has my story good and bad.

 I'm proud of who I have become today. I have a life I adore. I wouldn't change it for anything.