Where have you been?

The answer seems like EVERYWHERE!

My sister, Karen and her dog, Louie came for a visit last week. They arrived Friday and we cancelled our planned outing to Meijer Gardens. Though I would have enjoyed taking the Nikon there, it was pretty warm/humid, I didn't mind. We spent most of the day on the patio chatting away. I really enjoyed that time with her. My niece, Liz (#1, Cindy's daughter) came up in the afternoon and we all swam in the pool, made drinks and ordered pizza. Really, it was a just a great day.

Saturday, Aunt Karen came with us to the West Michigan Fly-in at our little airport. I don't know how to explain this...event? It starts at 8AM with a pancake breakfast (open to the public) and the first 50 pilots to land get a free breakfast. The pilot's association gives free rides to kids ages 8-17 and they do have some really cool planes there on display - we saw a 1917 WWI biplane (see Flickr) and quite a few others. Basically, we just sat on a blanket in the grass and watched planes take off, taxi, and land over and over. They had the skydivers going, and of course, Bruce and the Allegan Fire District were on hand. (I've been meaning to share this video. In the stills of the firetrucks, with the three guys, the one in the middle - is Jacob's Shaun). Again, see Flickr for some great pics of the skydivers WITH the firetrucks and a bunch of the planes!

Saturday was also the first day of Jeremy's vacation and after the Fly-in, we swam in the pool again while Aunt Karen went up to GR to meet her daughter for dinner. BTW - she brought back some wonderful Chinese and we will SO be going there for dinner some day soon. No worries, it's not a buffet!

Work has been crazy insane for me. At one count I had 62 open purchases. Meaning 62 purchase orders to create/process. It's been at least a year since I've had that many open at once. Now also keep in mind, open purchases are still coming in. It seems for everyone I closed, I received an open. I left yesterday with at least 30 open. I did see Ford topped sales this past month or quarter - I can't remember. I can't tell you much but, I can tell you that is a VERY good thing for my company going forward!

Which leads me to today. I have a vacation day today, a holiday tomorrow - which we're going to the July 3 Jubilee downtown Allegan. There will be a parade, concessions and a bunch of free kiddie stuff to do with fireworks tomorrow night. Again, this little city amazes me!

The 4th, we leave for Manistee in the early AM. The parade starts at 10AM so we're heading straight to Grandma Dor's (my brother-in-law Mike's mom) to meet Aunt Karen, Uncle Mike, my nephew Chris (policeman), his girlfriend, Ashton (whom I haven't met) and my niece, Jill. We'll watch the parade with Grandma - she lives on the parade route so we have access to the pottie, etc. and then head to Karen's for her annual cookout after the parade. Mmmm...fantastic!

So...I'll be back after the 4th, after I file for my unemployment for the week. I'm sure I'll have some great pictures for you and probably some good Jacobisms too.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!