A day in the life of a real housewife of St. Johns.

Yes, I'm still here!!!

Ummm, Jarrett started biddy basketball, Mason's in his last week of jv basketball, and Mayla's....... just Mayla. Were ALL going to an 80's themed rollerskating party this Saturday, & I can't wait. I bought some rollerskates 2 years ago, and Dianna got herself a pair, and Mayla a pair for her b-day, but you can't exactly skate on the sidewalks here without falling (at least I can't!), so it will be cool to just skate without the fear of hitting a rock, or crack.

I'm STILL looking for a job..... ANY JOB!! But, in the mean time, I'm watching Dianna's twins. My mom is driving to Arizona in June, and wants to take my kids. Gordon told me I could go too, but I'm not sure if I can save enough money to pay for Ramarios! It will be during Mayla's b-day. She wanted to go up north for her b-day, but I'm sure Arizona will suffice! I hope we still go up north sometime this summer. We sure did have a good time when we went a few years ago.

I'm starting to go nuts because there is so much snow here right now!!!! But, this week the warm-up (35-40 degrees) should melt most of it. I can feel spring coming...... so, I'm trying to fight cabin fever.

We sold my baby (the Durango), and I got a pontiac sunfire. It has a sun roof, spoiler, and is bright red. It's super cute, and now I want summer to get here even faster so I can ride around with the sun roof open. Ethan & Ashton call it Aunt Tahmi's race car.

Since my last blog, forever ago, Mason has turned 16!!! Yippee! And, for roughly $600.00 he got his license (not including the car or insurance!). Drivers training is EXPENSIVE!!! But, now I don't have to haul him around everywhere anymore. He's got a green pontiac boneville -I think. However, he is gone a lot more, so I usually only see him in the evenings, or dinner time.

Well, I need to shower before the kids get out of school. I have a HUGE chore list this week, and NO DESIRE to do any of it, so I gotta get crackin.

Love you blogger friends & family.

I'm going to go postal..........

This is an announcement (warning) to all the parents who drop their kids off in the morning at Gateway North Elementary School in St. Johns Michigan..................

When you see a red Durango in your rear view mirror..... MOVE!!!! I swear I get behind the slowest children & parents EVERYDAY! And, I haven't had my coffee yet, so one of these days don't be surprised when I hit you! My darling children have known how to un-buckle their seatbelt, and open a door since way before they ever attended the school. Why do your kids have such a problem? Perhaps you should do some training on the weekends! Oh, and to the parents who put their car in park, and walk around to open the door... SERIOUSLY????? You make me want to get out of my car and pimp slap you for being so inconsiderate an wasteful of other peoples time! I mean, have you ever noticed the line you create of other stupid parents who are waiting to do the same thing? You people need to park, in a parking spot, and then get your dumb kids out of the car. THIS IS WHAT THOSE SPOTS ARE FOR!!!

Friggin' Retards!

Sincerely,
Tamra Grandy (mother of 3 very smart children)

A lil up-date

Not too much going on, just getting ready for Thanksgiving. Mom, Dianna, the twins, and Erica are coming over, so I've been trying to get the extra cleaning done like, mop, dust, bathrooms. You know, the stuff I don't do everyday. I've had a serious headache all weekend, that wasn't getting cured by aspirin. Come to find out today, the medicine had expired 8/08.! Luckily my mom had came over with some Thanksgiving groceries, and gave me some ibuprofen. THANK YOU MOM!! I was doing good till the kids got home from school, but at lease my head isn't throbbing anymore! I also think I'm having gull stone problems, at lease that's what mom said after telling her my symptoms. Oh, well.... moving on....
My parents found a house a few blocks away from here, and are looking into moving in a few days before Christmas. It's an awesome house with an apartment on the back. So, Dianna will live in the "main house", and mom & dad will live in the apartment. And, let me tell you, mom & Dianna need the space. They are BOTH driving each other crazy!!! We're excited to get in the house and get some painting & everything else done. Dad should be here for the paper signing, and I think is staying for a week. Gordon, Mason, Dianna & I are going to try and do all the moving of heavy stuff, so that Mom & Dad can just direct. They don't need to be moving anything anyways! Gordon always has the week between Christmas & New Years off of work (paid), and Dianna is leaving for Arizona the day after Christmas, so the twins wont be in the way, and we should be able to get a bunch of work done before she get's back. That's the goal anyways. I'm so excited for it all to go down! Gordon & I LOVE to be in a home project! We just don't have the money right now to do anything to our crib.
Mason is in basketball now, and has a scrimmage on Saturday. He completed segment 2 of drivers training, and now we need to get his driving test done, and then wait for his Birthday to make it all legal. Mayla had a "fancy" dinner at school last week. They have been teaching them manners, and how to "act like a lady" while at dinner. It's so cute to see her growing up. I swear she's grown a foot in the last week. Jarrett is learning, and more importantly, absorbing as much info that he can. I think he's going to pass up Mayla any day now. He really loves to learn, and is proud to read you a book.
I found 2 friends I worked with at T.G.I.Fridays in Amarillo, and I am so excited to talk to them again on Facebook. It's making my remember a lot of things that I have since forgotten. Man, I use to have so much fun there!!! I MISS IT!!
Gordon's lovely sister Billie took family pictures of us yesterday, and so I'm anxiously awaiting that. Hopefully I'll get them this week, so I can post them. It hasn't snowed here yet (knock on wood), and the weather has been in the 50-60's . It's great.

Twilight, Twilight, Twilight! YIPPEE!!!

glitter-graphics.com

Well, it's been a crazy week on T.V., with New Moon coming out this week. It's been non-stop footage, and sneak peeks of tomorrow's premiere. So, last night I had a crazy dream, well, not so crazy. It began where I meet Robert Pattinson (YUM!!) at some random place, and we hit it off, so I invite him to my house because he's trying to hide from the paparazzi's. So, he comes over, and my house is a "hot mess"! Mason is playing xbox in the frontroom, Mayla & Jarrett are at school. So he comes in, and I'm trying to clean up as fast as I can. Then were hanging out, and Mayla comes home from school. As soon as she walks in the door and see's him, her mouth drops WIDE open! But she's too shy to even say hi. Then Dianna stops by and act's like a total freak job! So he & I take off and head to a water park and hang out on this ledge over looking the people, and out of sight. Then the next day I head over to his hotel room which he's sharing with "Alice & Rosalie" He's sleeping on the floor, and wakes up when I close the door. He get's a big smile on his face, and I jump, and lay next to him, and we're both just laughing........ Then, my alarm goes off! So, no kissing,(DANGIT!!!) but it was a good dream still the same. Oh, and in my dream he didn't have an accent, which I love!!! Sorry, I know I"m being a nerd about this, and I never expected to be one of those people who get's geeked up about a movie, or saga. I am with Twilight!!! I've disciplined myself not to read New Moon till after I see the movie, and I'm not going to go see it this weekend, because I DON'T want to fight the crowds. But, I will go see it, and then if it's clean enough, I'm taking Mayla to see it, because she's a HUGE fan too! She's got a picture of Robert hanging up in her room, that she occasionally kisses.
I just watched Robert on Regis & Kelly, and I gotta say.... YUMMMM O!!! Now, I do appreciate all the hard work that "Jacob Black" has put into his body. It's looking yummy too, but I am absolutely on................

Gordon's laptop- no pictures. But a blog just the same......

Mason/ The varsity team finished off the year by making it to the playoffs, but losing to a tremendous team, -varsity fed Lowell high school. However, we are not feeling defeated, because Mason has 2 more years of Varsity football to play (they should be exciting!!!) PLEASE COME if you can!!! But otherwise, his open house will be June 2012 (I'm making a scrapbook). Lord don't that make me feel old!!!! Now off to Basketball......

Mayla's school teacher this year is AWESOME!!!! I LOVE MRS.DEAN!!! She's kickin ass and taking names, and WILL NOT let Mayla be defeated......... medication or not.... I LOVE HER!!!! I'm anxious to see what will happen with Mayls's 3rd grade year! ( & wish it could have happened sooner!!) !!!!! In the mean time, were still doing what we need to do to help her be successful. We're thinking about putting her into an art class, because she doesn't do physical, but she loves art/music. (ps: people- any advise with this would be great!!!) HINT HINT!!

And Jarrett..... Our "widdowest"???? He's excelling at kindergarten. I'm not sure if it's a boy/girl thing... but my boy's are excelling!!! He & Mayla have been ill this week, but I'm not worried about him missing school, because he loves it.... and HATES missing school!!! He starts basketball in a few months, then football next fall.... And he CAN'T WAIT..... He wants to be like is "big brother"

I'm sure that it seems like I throw my kids into activities....

But the driving back... and .... forth.... that's so not me!!!! I'm LAZY!!!!
I don't know what I'm doing......
The kids decide what they want to do....and I roll with the punches!
But, I'm going to support them in whatever they want, or need, to do to help them fulfill the life that they want.
If it's now...... or ........in the future.
I'm down for the success!!!

BTW.....

Mason has a game Friday against Lowell (hopefully Dad will make it for this!). It's the first playoff game of his sophomore season. It's gonna be raining, but I'm still going!!!! Then Saturday we're having a bbq before trick-or-treating with the kids. Mason's "girlfriend" Erica is coming. LORD!!! I need to clean this house! Details later.......

Some thing's I've realised....

In the past few weeks.....
Since I lost a few daycare kids, I've figured out some things with my own kids.......
First... Even though Mason has asked me a few times for the money for Segment 2 of drivers training, and I've told him a few times that when I get a job he can take it..... He doesn't realize that money is tight now.......
Second..... When Mayla wants to get a new puppy, stuffed animal, or is making her Christmas list..... she doesn't realize that money is tight right now.....
Third...... When I threaten Jarrett with buying "girl" pull-up's because he wont (for whatever reason beyond our discovery) "poop" in the toilet....... doesn't realize that money is tight right now........
I know that things will be o.k. and back to "normal" before they know it.

But, then I think about when I was a kid. How on earth did my parents do ANY of the amazing things we did as kids????

1-Disneyland 2x including hotel and food.
2-Sports for any & all kids that did them.
3-Back to school clothes????? (Gotta be a bank breaker!!!)
4-Sending someone to France.
5-Eating out at least once a week with the whole family!
6-Road trip's
7-Camping trip's
8-The Navy trip to San Diego -including airfare. (how did that happen?)
9-YEARBOOKS!!!!!
10-Girls/Boys camp
11-Sending someone to modeling school
12-Raising & paying for a grandchild or 2,3,4,5,.....
13- So many other AMAZING things that are escaping my brain right now......

My parents are AWESOME!!! And have all of our "backs" any day!!! I can't wait to be just like them! (someday??) Let alone that they are so in love with each other even to this day that it's sickening, and you have to plug your ears or say "lalalalalalalalalala" sometimes when you hear them on the phone! God it's gross, but SO TOTALLY CUTE!!!! (still don't wanna hear it!).

However, I love you mom & dad.

And even if Mason wants to buy you Caesars Palace in 21 years. & I'm living in a shack....... compared to the magnitude of memories and love we were given as children, it will NEVER COMPARE!!!! And I only hope my children will understand that we did what we had to do when we had to do it, and only remember the memories that we tried to establish when we had what we had.

Thank you!!!!

Nuff said.........

St. Johns v Sexton Football

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ST. JOHNS V SEXTON FB

KEVIN W. FOWLER | for the Lansing State Journal

Mason Sauls (left) of St. Johns runs into the Sexton defense on his way to the endzone during overtime of their game Friday. Sauls' touchdown turned out to be the game winner as Sexton failed to score on their possession.

My heart is full!

I'm about to burst with excitement! Mason has his 2nd debut of Varsity football tonight. Last year after his regular freshman season ended, he got moved up to Varsity for the playoff's. Unfortunately, against Mt. Pleasant they lost on Halloween night. 3 days ago the Varsity coach asked Mason if he wanted to play some Varsity ball. He said yes (of course) and has been smiling ever since! I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of him, as a sophomore, being moved up to Varsity. And, he's the only Sophomore to be asked. I know he wont get to play as much as he did freshman year and the 2 games of JV he played (the whole game!), but he will be on the kickoff, punt receive, and special teams. I'm not too sure what position he plays, because I don't know a lot about football, but I'll let you know when he tells me. I do know that he's #43. My mom's going, along with Dianna, & her.... "friend" Ken & his twin brother Jon (Mason's old basketball coach), Nate & Ashley, and Gordon & the kids. It's a warm and beautiful early fall day, and the low tonight is only suppose to be 50. AAAAAHHHHHH! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

After the game, Gordon & I, and Nate, Ashley, Amber, Mike, Talia, & Kevin are going to Comedy Connections. Which is a comedy club in Lansing. I've never been to one before, and I don't know who's performing, but Amber got the tickets for free from work (SWEET!). Oh yeah, and it's Friday, and my paycheck just came in the mail. My hair turned out, I'm not on my period (for a change), I'm almost off of work, I got my new fridge last weekend, my house is clean, I'M NOT PREGNANT, and dinner is Pizza.

LIFE IS GOOD!!!
GO REDWINGS!!!

Dinner is Served!

In my family, we always make a spaghetti dinner to announce we are pregnant.

It was started by my oldest and most favorite sister, Beckie. So here it is!

I haven't been able to post blog entries because I've had

morning, noon, and evening sickness.

The good news is that I've lost 10 more pounds

which is GREAT considering I don't want to gain any of the weight I worked so hard to lose.

Gordon is SO excited.

He mentioned that he wanted another baby

and I surprised him by already being pregnant.

Our love is THAT strong!

Jarrett is happy that he will be a big brother.

Mayla can't wait to dress him/her up.

Mason can't wait to show off his pregnant mom at his football games.

It's a family event!

I've got to go rub Coconut Oil on my tiny tummy.

I'll post ultrasound pictures soon!

Just a tiny blog.

Hi Ashley & Amber!

The today show co-host's this week.

So far, Monday had Bethenny from N.Y. (LOVE HER!!), Tuesday had "Danielle" from Jersey, and Today was Nene from Atlanta, wonder what tomorrow holds....... I've heard Tamra from O.C. (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, HER). Gosh I'm such a junkie for the housewives, but if you watch, you understand. They better have a new one starting when Jersey is over, and not that nyc prep crap!

The new edition to our family.

Gordon's new baby.


Mason's car in need of a little plastic surgery...


& my gorgeous baby. Ain't she purdy? Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE my truck?

Was the diet & excersise all worth it?

I'd say so!!! (if I do say so myself!)


And it only took a second to get the zipper up..... unlike someone else who took 20 minutes. I swear we should have brought some pliers to get her zipper up! But I'm not mentioning any names! Apparently it was the zippers fault though, even though EVERYONE else's went up fine!



More pic.'s to come later. Ashley just stopped by, so I'm gonna visit.
TTYL-Tahmi

Weekend plans

It all starts today. I'm going to leave in about 2 hours to go help decorate for the reception. Then tonight is the rehearsal, & dinner. Tomorrow the wedding. I am so totally excited that it is finally here. I didn't meet my overall goal for the weight loss, but I fit in the dress, and that is all that matters. 45lbs down, & IDK how many to go seeings as how on Sunday I'm PIGGING OUT!!
BTW- Last weekend was fun at Bremer's wedding to Alison. I was worried when Gordon told me that the tux's were ivory, but he looked DANG HOT in it. (The blue was a little feminine though!) Here is a pic. of him, Bremer, & my girl Ash at the bottom sampling her concoction.



IDK what happened with the right side of my hair.... prolly the stupid haircut I got a few months ago, still trying to grow out, but desperately wanting to get noticed! However, here is a pic. of me & my Hunny......



Maybe I just need one of those "bump it's", cuz, it's looking a little flat! Anyhoo- last Sunday we had dinner with Amber & Mike at their house (this weekend's b&g). They got a patio set for a bridal shower gift, so Gordon took it outside so we could eat there. Well, one thing let to another, and this is what happened.....



An umbrella fit for a giant!

Just being concided!

So, since I missed the March of dimes walk-a-thon last weekend. I decided to challenge myself to a walk. Dianna decided to take my kids on Tuesday because she was off of work. As I sat on the porch contemplating what I was going to do for a few hours with no kids (HIGHLY UNUSUAL!), I decided to walk. After spending 20 minutes looking for a water bottle, I was finally off! I started west on Gibbs, then went north on Lansing st. Walked all the way up to Walker rd. (haha walker!), then headed west to Dewitt rd. Once I was there, my phone decided to die on me, & therefore my clock was gone! So, I just headed south to Townsend rd. then north on Lansing st, & back to home. My knee started hurting when I was about 10 blocks from home, but I think it was because of the way I lay in the tanner. But, if I didn't lay that way, my feet would stick out of the end, and never get tan. Anyhoo, after 3 pop cans (a.k.a. 30 cents), a dead raccoon, & a dead squirrel, many, many, beer tops, & 1 honk from a weirdo in a van, I made it home.
The next morning, I loaded up Jarrett & Destinee in the car. re-set the trip meter, and headed on the same route. Guess how far I walked............

6.6 MILES!!! In 2 hours! And I wasn't sore the next day! Sorry, just gotta pat myself on the back!

My baby's getting so big! & crazy Ashley!

So, Jarrett has had a pretty huge week in his life. He graduated from pre-school, and last Saturday, we took his training wheels off of his bike. At first I was holding onto the seat, and he kept saying "Don't let go mom". Then I let go, and held my hand behind him so he would think I was holding on. He kept saying... "Don't let go mom, don't let go". I told him "I'm not holding on Jarrett". He turned back to see that I wasn't holding on, then he was off! Even our wonderful neighbor's to the north were saying "Good job Jarrett". I think he was smiling for hours!



Mayla wanted her picture taken too....




Saturday night Ashley says to me..... "get on my shoulders & I'll pick you up" Yeah right I thought! But this crazy girl did it! Ok, Ashley's like 5'5", or 5'6" I'm not sure, and I'm sure she'll correct me. Here I am 5'11" weighing a lot more than she does, and she picked me up! She has god like strength! So, I'm trying to be B.A., and told her to get on my shoulders. HA!! I couldn't even get out of a squatting position! I am such a wimp. But the moment was funny, and the picture, HILARIOUS!! Here I am on her shoulders, touching the roof.

Ahhhh, good times! I love Ashley!!

Is it possible to have too much fun? I did on Saturday night!

Gosh, the Bachelorette party was SO MUCH FUN!!! Where do I begin?.....

We started the night at Roadhouse. A fabulous restaurant here in town. It's where we all met up. However, the waitresses don't know how to take a picture, so mine is all blurry. Then we headed to my house for jello shots & strawberry blender drinks... not too sure what they were, I didn't have any. It is where "Mike" joined the party (a giant inflatable penis). We got our card's for the card game, our beaded necklaces, shot glasses, and our bachelorette party check list. My card said to find 5 guys with the same name & I'd get 30 points. It was easy, because once they find out your with a bachelorette party, they all decided to have the same name. I got that one. Anyhoo- we walked downtown to Bruno's first. the bar seats were all empty, which was perfect because once we got there, it filled right up! Then we went to Swany's (which I thought we were going to Alibi next, so someone had to come get me from Alibi, while I was looking for my guys with the same name). We were only @ Swany's for a little bit, because it was DEAD in there. Then we headed to Alibi.... FINALLY!! I think we were on the dance floor ALL NIGHT! My thighs are still soar from dancing. We had an abundance of men swarming us (& "Mike") the whole night. Gordon & Nate showed up for a second, but after not getting any attention, they left, went home & went to sleep. We closed Alibi, and with "Mike" in tow, we headed back to my house. We somehow managed to pick up 3 guys whom were willing to dance for us topless (nobody wanted them totally nude thank god!). One of them is a friend of ours, with an AMAZING BODY!! All 3 of them had nice bodies, and we were pretty "lit up" anyways. We played "tippie cup" with them. Amber ended the night by getting both feet rubbed, and a neck massage by all 3 guys. Lucky girl! Well, not really because she actually ended the night in the E.R. because she couldn't stop puking. Turns out she had a stomach virus. I think I went to bed around 4am, but I'm really not too sure. There is a lot more that happened, but I just cant remember it all.

3 more weeks till the wedding, and I CANT WAIT!!! It is going to be so much fun too! I was thinking, since this year is my 10 year wedding anniversary, maybe I should have a bachelorette party, since I didn't have one 10 years ago. What do you think?

And one more thing.... I love Courtney! She is awesome!! I don't know why she doesn't hang out with us all the time! I should get her number. She fits in so well with our group! Maybe I have a crush on her. lol.


Me, Talia, "Mike", Amber, & Ashley. The group of the bridal party that's over 21.

IT FITS!!!!

And that's all I have to say about that!

The up-coming weekend.

So, this weekend is Alison's bachelorette/informal bridal shower party. Alison is Bremer's fiance. The girl we lost him to. She stole him from us, and he hasn't been the same since! Anyhoo- that's on Saturday night. I think Ashley & I are gonna go for a drink or two, but that's probably it because it's in Fowler (the next town over) and we have to drive back. Also this weekend is spring clean up here in town. That means that we can set almost anything out on the curb that we no longer need, and since we gutted out the camper last summer, we have a tun of stuff to put out. Then it gets picked up for free!!! Good deal, however, we usually end up storing things in the garage, waiting for "junk day" every year, and with the addition of the bikes finally being able to come out, I cant even park in there. I love to park in the garage, because then I don't have to lock my car doors, and nobody knows if I'm home or not. But this weekend, we will be able to clear out the garage, and Gordon has promised me a corner, so I can organize & store the sports equipment, and my gardening stuff. Hopefully it wont rain this Saturday so we can get all the things we need to get done to the yard, & garage. I have Dianna's twins this weekend, but they are usually good for me, plus, there's always nap time!!! lol.

Gordon also borrowed a rototiller from Nate's (Ashley's hubby) father, so we can get the garden ready, & a few "low" spots in the backyard. We would have done all of the tilling last weekend, but it rained...... AGAIN!!! It's getting really old fast! Wish us luck on getting our outside chores done this weekend. It's a family thang!

One more thing.... Thank you Beckie for your comments on my last post. I've never heard that song, but I think I'm going to add it to my play list on myspace. I truly appreciate the encouragement from all of you who keep me going. And, I'm glad I don't live in Az. while I'm trying to lose weight. I'm sure some sugar cookies would have been delivered to my house when we were in the biggest loser contest! teehee!