As The Pictures Continue.........................

Saturday morning at the Double JJ just brought more excitement.Its a good thing we had two bathrooms in our log home because they sure were needed.While some of us walked over to breakfast,one of our cars were driven over by Annette and Earl to allow us a cooler with cold pops for later in the day.Needless to say they were needed because of the heat the weather provided.Breakfast buffet provided more then our stomachs could hold for the morning.Second thing on the agenda was to go out and choose our dogs for the duration of our stay.These were beautiful huskeys alasken dogs from their sled teams as snow begins flying.During the summer they are on vacation but are very well cared for by the wranglers.Annette and I payed 10.00 each for the two dogs of everyone's choice,which we were given a small baggy of dog treats,a name board to be designed and a bandana of chosen color to place around the neck of our dog.Annette and Earl's family chose Makosta and us Nikita.The bandanas were to show other people that these dogs were already chosen to be someones pet for the time of there stay at the Double JJ.Every morning we would go over after breakfast and take our dogs out of a much anticipated walk around the facilities.What fun for all of our girls.Needless to say the baggies of dog bisquits didn't make it too far because of the girls enjoying helping feed as many dogs as they could.Oh well, it really didn't cost very much for another doggie bisquit bag.Next on the agenda was Chuck's and my trail ride while Annette and Earl took RuthAnn along with them to decorate the doggie name plates.RuthAnn had two different corral lessons on two different horses,the one pictured is on Harley.She received two yellow ribbons,one of which we can't seem to locate but is identicle to the other one.Hannah and Sarah went out for their first two trail rides ever and did fantastic.We will attempt to get them on horses at least once every summer.This evening will be the Wild Wild West Show in the Double JJ Coral after our pig roast over at the fire pit just around the corner from our log home.See you soon.

Lets Go To A Rodeo

As we walked back over to the Back Forty from our log home in the campground I noticed Chuck's car parked in the parking lot.He had just arrived from Grand Rapids and came walking up with a huge smile on his face.Tonight was rodeo night with the bull rider participants.The haywagon was gettting prepared for people to hop on for a ride over to the rodeo grounds.Chuck drove over to our log home and unloaded his gear.What a fun night but as you can see a tireing one for Emma.After choosing where we wanted to sit, I looked over to Earl and Emma had fallen dead to the world in his arms. Earlier in the day while we were in the Town Hall registering ,Annette glanced out and saw someone she thought we all knew from our church.Sure enough her,her husband and their two kids had chosen the same weekend to be at the Double JJ. They were staying over to the golf,indoor water area in one of the hotels.We kept our eyes peeled for them most of the night but didn't find them until close to the end of the rodeo.Their kids were tired and restles and needless to say ours were also. Us adults talked it over and decided to make it a night.The haywagon had already filled up and left to drop people off, so we waited for the shuttle. We could have filled the shuttle up with just our crew so needless to say it was full to capacity and more leaving a few sitting on laps and a couple of adults with standing room only. Since everyone had had a long day,an early evening was to be had.Good night for now and I will see you in the morning.

Friday, Arival Day

Friday was our much anticipated arrival day for Labor Day weekend.Chuck had to stay behind and finish his week up at work so I loaded RuthAnn and myself up and headed for Sparta.Needless to say we had some mighty happy campers.Cowgirl,cowboy boots and hats were made room for in the departing vehicles along with suitcases,coolers,pillows,groceries,stuffed animals,pizza pans ect. and oh ya all of our bodies.Preregistration at the Town Hall transpired as soon as we got there and then over to the new indoor swimming spot.Clothes were quickly removed and water fun was had by all. About three thirty we all dried off and headed back over to the Town Hall for registering for our log home.Wow what a wonderful place to be for the weekend.The girls had their own upstairs loft that they called home while we were there.They each had their own bed and clothes shelves.Downstairs had the master bedroom complete with zucuzzie and full bath.Across the hall was another bedroom with queen size bed and the main bathroom complete with shower.These log homes are actually time shared by three owners and are rented out when they aren't using them by the Double JJ. The two cars were unloaded and we began our walk back over to where we would be watching for Chuck to pull up. More to come.

Family Time At The Double JJ Dude Ranch

Its been a little while away from my blog and I appreciate everyones patience.I will be up loading a few pictures of our Double JJ Dude Ranch away with family shortly.Love one and all.

8+1=9

Our special girl turned nine years old August 2,2007.What fun it was to be a part of her special celebration of becoming one year older.Such a beautiful blessing the Lord gave to her mom and dad.Sarah is a beautiful look alike of her mom with special unique qualities of both her mom and dad.She is a one of a kind which our good Lord created.There was lots of fun to be had this evening with family and special friends.Her best friend is standing to the right of her with short hair,glasses and a white lay hanging around her neck.Her name is Ellie and her sister who is Hannah's best friend is standing to the right of Hannah in the back.

8+1=9

As the gifts were opened with lots of happyness,anticipation for her to get to the one from grandma and grandpa grew.She has named her two hermit crabs Blaze and Tiger.There is a store in Rivertown Mall that has its own unique sell.They specialize in hermit crabs that eat,sleep and walk around in all shapes and sizes of shells.They have everything needed to make your own unique house to take them home in.Sarah grew a liking to these hermit crabs and probably never imagined being the proud owner of them one day.As I was trying to get ideas for us to get her,Annette suggested the idea of hermit crabs.Of course what a great idea.One she would never dream of sitting wrapped up loosely in tissue paper waiting to be opened.I waited until just before she would open her gifts to wrap this these two fellows up.As she opened it up,those of us who knew what she was about to take ownership of could hardly wait to see the expression on her face. Of course we were not disappointed.As the camera shows it was a happy shock.All of a sudden all the girls faces showed big smiles as they crowded around the little cage.One of the girls looked at her with her mouth wide open in surprise and exclaimed,Wow I sure wish I had a Grandma like you!The first night taking of residence in their kitchen, Smokey ended up knocking over this little cage.All he wanted was to have someone to play with,I think.Of course he might have felt alittle hungry.Anyway that night there was an escape by one of the two crabs.We received a call from Annette the next day to let us know of the little felon.As soon as I told RuthAnn,she went into the living room,sat down on the couch,folded her hands and prayed that the little crab would get found.Within a few hours we received a call from Hannah telling us they had found the crab in her mom and dad's bedroom.Now how do you suppose that crab got that far from the kitchen?Either it walked into that room looking for a safe place to hang out or Smokey had lots of fun batting it around and decided to take it to his Master and Mistress's bedroom.Can you imagine what shell shock that poor crab had for awhile.He probably could have used a couple of aspirin.




Our tree climbing time brought us some beautiful pictures but not without injury.As RuthAnn was being lifted up to the girl on the right limb to sit with her for a picture ,with RuthAnn underneath the limb,a weak part of the limb snapped.Down the girl came with a thud on top of RuthAnn.It took alittle time to calm RuthAnn down and the other girl received a scraped up cheek and a few bruises.She sat on the ground for just a short time before getting up for us to proceed with the games.Needless to say Grandma put the girls up to getting in the tree so that I could have some fun with my camera.Oops,I should have had a tree specialist look the tree over to deem it safe before I pulled this stunt.Thank goodness no one was actually injured from the fall.





Of course since some of the girls were soaking wet from this game why not jump in the pool!Annette had them playing the game of trying to find out who the dead one was.The water was alittle bit cold when grandma braved getting in for RuthAnn's sake.It seemed an eternity before I was confortable,I think I only grew numb.Neither RuthAnn or Emma got into the pool during swimming time.They had equally exciting time just sitting along the edge of the pool making grandma nervous and just waiting to jump in after one of them if they fell in.Needless to say I got out after realizing I was the only adult braving getting themselves into the water for alittle while.Besides I think my skin had turned a lovely shade of blue within a short time.I kept telling myself it could be Lake Michigan I was getting wet in. Earlier in the day before I drove in to join the birthday time,everyone was in the pool enjoying the water with the warm sun shining down on them.








This camper became the sleepover place for all of the girls with the exception of Emma and RuthAnn.These two slept in Emma's room in the house.As Grandpa,Grandma and Dan began to get ready to come back to Grand Rapids we walked over to the camper to give our goodbyes.There grouped around the small tv with a movie on were all the girls with RuthAnn and Emma sitting next to each other on the floor thoughly engrossed in the movie that was playing.It was a wonderful evening in Sparta with everyone celebrating.