Missing the Mainers

I'm missing my snuggle time with this little guy.

Amanda said his looks are changing. 

Will I recognize him when he comes to visit me? 

He has a new nickname "Growlie Gus".

He's a noisemaker.

Only one of my girls liked to growl - that was Meghan.

Does that mean he's going to be a big talker, I wonder.

I'm missing these guys too.

I had fun stringing beads with them to make necklaces.

I loved watching them go from clue to clue on their daily scavenger hunts.

Making Halloween cupcakes with them was messy, but they turned out real cute.

Watching them interact with their new baby brother was priceless.

They are precious, they are priceless, they are mine.

My grandchildren.  I can't wait to see them again.

Has the Spirit Caught You?

Here at the Nut House in Bangor, Maine they have caught the Halloween Spirit.

(See the sign by their driveway)

  I imagine it to be even more spectacular at dusk when everything is lit up and inflated.

I'm sure they have sound effects too, if they've gone this extreme with the decorating.

 There are witches and ghosts flying around and even a mummy hanging from a tree.

That giant spider can stay right where it is.

There is even a black cat that looks very real creeping about the grave yard.

The names on the tombstones were pretty funny.

Decorating outside is not in my book of important things to do, but I do think it's neat when other people really get into the Spirit of the Season.

I'm already working on Thanksgiving, folks, bought my turkey yesterday.

The Penobscot River in Maine

UPDATE!  The Nameless River is the Penobscot River.

Another interesting fact I found while trying to research the name of the river is that the town was originally named Wheelersborough after it's original settler, Benjamin Wheeler.

This is a river you cross on the way to Amanda's house. 

She however, couldn't remember the name of it and there was no signage.

We took the first pictures off from the bridge on both sides.

And then we followed the river and stopped several places as it meandered around.

This was a day or two after the Nor' Easter dumped some heavy rains on their part of Maine.

Unfortunately, the colors weren't as plentiful and bright as I have seen them in the past.

However, I still thought is was picture worthy.

What do you think?

I wanted to climb the fence and try to take pictures from  a better spot,

but we had Henry in the car and didn't want to leave him unattended to venture far from the car.

Amanda took some really neat pictures.  It's amazing how two people with the very same camera can take such different shots of the same scenery.

The water looks pretty chilly to me.  I know the air was that day, it was very blustery.

My Uncle's Memorial Service

In Loving Memory of Floyd P. Yarnell

Date of Birth

February 29, 1937

Houghton Lake, MI

Date of Death

September 30, 2010

Merritt, MI



His youngest son, Tag spoke at his funeral.  And so did his daughter-in-law, Claudia.  It was difficult for both of them, you could tell their grief ran deep, but their love for him was deeper still that they persevered in their efforts and spoke highly of the man they loved.

The family, friends and community who came to say good-bye were asked to join in signing "In the Garden.  A family friend played the guitar and sang, and the service ended with "Go Rest High Upon the Mountain."  All his children and their spouses, his wife and sister were there, as well as two of his granddaughters, a grandson and many of his great-grandchildren.

I have fond memories of this Uncle.  I remember visiting at his house as a child and loved seeing the calves on his dairy farm and riding his horses.  This Uncle was always good for a hug and one that didn't confuse me with my younger sister as many of the other relatives have.

God, we ask that you put your loving arms around his wife, children and all those who are suffering pain and grief at this time.  Give them peace and strength.

On the Wild Side - UPDATED!

Henry on Michael's blanket from Masue.

Okay, so now that I'm home......I'm still having computer issues. 

Looks like the hex someone put on me is following me where ever I go.

Actually, I believe it's something blogger did updating their system.

I hope the bugs are ironed out soon.

I can't upload pictures to my blog at the moment, so you'll have to be happy with just one wild side photo.

Ashley & I are heading off to Northridge Church this morning, they've recently started services at Parker High School.  I've been wandering around since I left Brighton Wesleyan Church, so I'm hoping maybe this will be my new church home.  It's so close I can walk there.

If at first you don't suceed try, try again.

Seriously, how many times are you suppose to try?

If the pictures weren't so darn cute, I'd of given up long, long ago.

Who said I don't have many props for taking pictures?

I can use just about anything, just give me some thinking time to be creative.

Awake or asleep, this little guy is h-a-n-d-s[o-m-e!

If you think otherwise, voice it elsewhere, it's taken me forever to download these pictures

and put this post together.  Don't you dare ruin it.
Not that I honestly think any one would ever have any other opionion.

Some of us need our beauty sleep & others just come by it naturally.

Henry was only in a diaper and he LOVED this plush blankey.

Henry we are so glad to have you in our lives.

Mainer Outfit

Griffin in the Mainer Outfit.

I bought this little outfit for Griffin at an Elder Beerman sale.

The little whale and lighthouse reminds me of Maine.

I thought I had pictures of me holding Griffin and you could guess which baby was which.

That's what I thought, but....with Meghan holding one of the boys you obviously know which is which.

Here's Henry wearing the same outfit.  We were on our way to the Sea Dog to eat Lobster.

Yum! Yum!  I also splurged and ordered a Roasted Beet Salad with Chard & Goat Cheese.  It was awesome.   I just love beets.

My daughter Meghan also did a post on her blog regarding how much the boys look alike.  Click here and see for yourself.

Oh Henry, this little outfit will not fit in another month.  I wonder how many other little boys will be born into our family and get a chance to wear this "Little Mainer Outfit".

Just Henry

I must confess, I'm tired of fighting this bleep-bleep computer.  So today it's just one picture of Henry.
I've got some scenic photos to post once I am at home.

Now it's off to the Sea Dog to eat Lobster.  Henry is wearing his Maine Whale outfit.  Later this week we'll have a comparison of the photos of the boys (Griffin & Henry) in the same whale outfit. 

Movie Night - NO Parents Allowed

I bought "How to Train Your Dragon" for our movie night tonight.

After dinner the kids and I are heading for the basement in our pj's for movie night.

Ava is going to make a sign for the basement door, which says "No Parents Allowed!".

We will pop some popcorn and enjoy a movie, while Mom & Dad have 100 minutes upstairs of peace and quiet.  Well.....that is if Henry behaves himself.

I offered to babysit while Amanda & Derek went out, but Amanda said she'd rather stay in.

This way she can have her popcorn and eat it too.

Gramie LaLa with her 7 Grands

#1 Michael William Samoluk

Amanda brought their foster son , Michael to meet us for the first time. 
He was 19 months old.
The following fall he officially became part of the family.

#2     Ava Lauren Samoluk

#3     Sydney Nicole Hall

#4  Griffin Sawyer Hall

#5     Daniella Elizabeth Silva Korte

#6     Rowyn Gracie Jane Roberts

#7 Henry Owen Samoluk

We've been blessed seven times.  Four times in the past 12 months.

Thanks Girls!  I love being a Grandma.

Bath Time with Henry

We used the heater to help keep him warm during his bath and he didn't cry a bit this time.

Michael helped me choose a picture to post.  He wanted some real bathing action.  His cord won't be falling off any time soon, it isn't even a tiny bit loose yet.

All done and time to get dressed.

This is mommy's favorite pair of jammies, it has teeny tiny stars on it. 

This guy is most definitely a BIG STAR in this house.

The Cemetery

There is a cemetery is Hampden that I've always wanted to check out.

Yesterday, we did.

About 3/4 of the cemetery is very old, the inhabitants of the graves were born and died in the 1800's.

The other 1/4 are from the 1900's.

There were some really unusual grave markers.

There was some very interesting lichen growing on the this one.



This one was so old I couldn't read the writing or see the pictures, but it looks like there was an image of two small children etched on it originally.

The grave of Orrie was my favorite. 

 I'm working on trying to figure out the poem that was inscribed on the grave stone.

I wished that we had more time to spend there, but Henry decided it was time to go.
Fall colors are almost at peak.