Drum Roll Please ...

After purchasing this old barn window one year ago(at the Allegan antique show of course), I finally have professional photographs to display in it. Steph took these shots of my kids this summer and she truly captured each one of their personalities.
Thanks Steph! I am a bit giddy with this new decoration in my house and could hardly wait to clean up the window and put the pictures in tonight. I think I even scared the UPS man a little.

Antique-ing

Thanks everybody for hearing my desperate plea for comments. Except of course for you Steph - what are you busy or something? :) On Sunday, five ladies and one truck hit the road to the Allegan Antique Show. While the weather was less than perfect, the day was filled with "good finds" and "girl talk". Why is it that in our modern homes we decorate with chipped frames, rusted tea pots, & old barn windows? Probably 'cause it looks so cool. My dad however, is someone that just doesn't get it and keeps asking me when I am going to paint my table! (Keep in mind: This is also the man who when he saw the colors I was painting in our first house told me "you paint your walls with off white and decorate with color".) Love you dad, but I have my own style. Here are just a few of the couple of "finds" (which my husband calls "old junk") that I have got down in Allegan.

Hello?

If you are reading this, then you will notice that I changed my template again. Also, I think if you are going to take the time to read my blog ... you really should take the time to comment. I am waiting in eager expectation for your comment. :)

I've Been Tagged

My friend Stephanie (visit her blog at teslaa.typepad.com) has requested that I tell five wierdly interesting things about myself. I am realizing that I am not really all that wierd ... oh wait ... yes I am, but I don't want all of you to know that!

1.) I have never colored my hair. I know - you can shoot me now. I inherited my grandmother's red hair and so all I have ever had done is a few highlights in the gloomy winter months.

2.) My Dad, my best friend from childhood, and my husband all have the first name Jeff. I'm sure Freud would have some interesting theory about that.

3.) I can't leave my house a mess before I go on vacation. It drives my husband crazy as he sits in the car waiting while I make beds, load the dishwasher, etc.

4.) My Dad coached football for over 20 years at my highschool and when I was born the assistant coach came into the locker room and said, "Coach Pettinga had another girl ."(#5) To which the entire team booed. What a warm welcome I had into the world huh?

5.) I once got a red card while coaching Varsity Volleyball. Who knew you couldn't yell at the referees while walking out on the court? :) All the parents of my players kept asking me if I was Irish. (fiery temper = Irish descent I guess.)

If you read my blog and have one of your own, you have been officially "tagged." In the words of the recess playground - "you're it and no tag backs!" :)

Wood is Good

Alright, a friend of mine is always blogging about her husband's meat (grilled - get your mind out of the gutter people) SO, I thought I should brag about my husband's wood. (Once again sorry Dad and Mom Guikema - I couldn't resist writing that!) Jeff just got finished building this beautiful kitchen work station and we promised his co-workers that he would finally stop talking about it at work and just show a picture. :) He did a great job and even put in a huge drawer for me to store some "baggie essentials". We actually have had the butcher block in our basement for three years just waiting to be sanded and built. Our first house had this amazing butcher block down on the work bench in the basement. When we moved three years ago, we replaced this beauty with a new top for the new owners. (Before you feel too badly for them - keep in mind that this bench IS the size of my old kitchen. I wish I was kidding.) We just discovered the former homeowner's initials burned in the side of the wood and he has been deceased since the 1970's! We are proud to keep Mr. Hooker's craftsmanship alive and I am glad to have a new addition to my kitchen. So remember, next time you see Jeff you have my permission to say, "nice wood."

Goodbye Summer - Hello Fall

No summer scrapbook would be complete without these two pictures: kids running in the sprinkler and eating a 'smore.



While I love summer, fall is my favorite season. Here are five reasons why this is my favorite season.
1.) Putting on my jean jacket for the first time.
2.) Pulling on a pair of jeans and finding a ten dollar bill in them. Thank you very much.
3.) Eating candy corn or the candy pumpkins. By the way, they are supposed to make your teeth ache after eating all their sugary goodness.
4.) The new season of all my favorite television shows. Dancing with the Stars was great last night. Go Jerry Springer. :) Also, I can't wait for 'Grey's Anatomy, The Amazing Race, and Without a Trace'.
5.) Watching U of M play football and yes, I must admit I do watch the Lions faithfully too.

First Day of School

Quick post to show you the girls going off to their first day of school. I started writing a sign for them to hold when Paige was in preschool and now, the tradition has stuck. It is really helpful when you look back and wonder which "back to school" pic was from what grade. For those of you who have little ones ... another cute thing to do is have your kids stand back to back with you (with their backpack on) every year and watch them grow. My sister Lisa has done that with her four kids every year and it is amazing to see her 13 yr. old now almost as tall as dad. Hope everyone had a stress free/tear free start to their year.