Tressie, Author at On Davis Time

Flat Stanley Adventures Continue

Posted on May 15, 2013September 28, 2023 by Tressie

Remember Flat Stanley? You can read about his last adventure here, when Alex sent him to Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Most recently, our family was requested to host him right here in Chelsea, Michigan, so the Flat Stanley adventures continue!

A big thank you to sweet Dayton for sending Flat Stanley here – we had a great time with him, and hope he enjoyed his visit.

Flat Stanley returned to Dayton with the following letter:

Dear Dayton,

Thank you for sending me to Chelsea, Michigan!! I arrived on Wednesday, May 1, and it was 84 degrees and sunny. Surprising, since just a week or so before that it had been snowing. I sure am glad I had nicer weather for my visit.

I spent my time in Chelsea with the Davis family – Tressie and Rob, and their kids Riley (10), Alex (7) and Robby (5). Dominic is away at college so I didn’t get to see him (though I had a great visit with him earlier this year when Alex sent me to visit him at Wittenberg University in Ohio).

The Davis family kept me busy. The first thing we did was choose an outfit for me so I would fit in here in Chelsea. Do you like my University of Michigan t-shirt? There are a lot of UofM fans in Chelsea. There are fans of other Michigan schools too, but… those people don’t really count. (haha)

Chelsea is a really great city, with so much to do. A vibrant downtown boasts great food, art and entertainment. This is even more apparent during the warm months when Chelsea hosts Sounds and Sights every Thursday evening – sculpture walks, food, local brew, outdoor movies, and literally music on almost every street corner with diverse line up of musical artists performing at staged areas. It isn’t quite summer yet though, so spring sports and site seeing is what we did.

On Saturday Riley had a softball tournament that was an hour and a half away (first tournament for a long summer of softball!). I decided to stay with Alex and Robby and go to their hockey and soccer games since those were in Chelsea.

The first stop was Robby’s hockey game at the ArcticColiseum. Brrrr…it’s cold in there! But it sure was fun watching the super cute mini hockey players.

After the ice rink we had a little extra time before Alex and Robby’s soccer games, so we stopped at Pierce park, where the Chelsea ROCK is. The ROCK is a giant boulder that people in Chelsea paint to send messages of all kinds – from congrats, to happy birthday, or other fun things. The day we visited it matched my shirt – how cool is that?

I have sent you pictures of some of the cool sites in Chelsea. The clock tower is a favorite of many residents, isn’t it beautiful? It used to be a water tower for the Glazier Stove Company in the early 1900s.

Directly across the railroad tracks is the Chelsea Depot – a gorgeous historic train station built in 1880. Service at the station closed in 1981, but through the efforts of the Chelsea Depot Association, restoration efforts began in 1986. In 1987 Chelsea Depot was listed on the National Register of Historic places.

Just to the west of the clock tower is something very yummy. Did you know that Chelsea is the home of Jiffy Mix? Their cornbread muffin mix is my favorite.

There are lots of places that I wanted to visit, but didn’t get a chance to on this trip – like the Purple Rose Theater, The Chelsea Teddy Bear Factory and Timber Town.

Maybe next time I visit you can come with me?

Love,

Flat Stanley

xo

ps – want to see a cool video made about Chelsea by Jeff Daniels? You can check it out HERE

Every Day is Mothers Day

Posted on May 10, 2013September 23, 2023 by Tressie

Sunday, May 12, 2013 is Mothers Day. At least “officially”.

But whether I’m sitting at the ice rink with my skaters, or cheering at a soccer/football/basketball game, or sitting down at my desk to pay bills and finding little notes that say “I love you Mom”, every day is Mothers Day for me.

In doing for my children, I reflect on the things that my mother did for me, and the things she now does for them. Indeed, I sometimes see in my own actions, those of my mother. Most often good, but occasionally with the thought, “oh crap, I sound just like my mother“. My choices in life may be different and we may not always agree, but my mother made me who I am and for that I am thankful.

There are many other mothers in my life. My mother in law raised the man who became my husband. With her guidance he has grown to be the kind of father we all wish for our children to have. She embraced me with all of my baggage and has surrounded my family with love.

I would guess that for my mom and mother in law, every day is Mothers Day too.

It takes a village of mothers to raise our children. That village is teaming with grandmothers, sisters, in laws, and our mom friends that share the joys and triumphs as well as the “OMG I can’t believe what happened” stories that remind us we are not alone.

For these moms I know, every day is Mothers day.

While the world sends cards and flowers to commemorate this one special day for moms, I want to add a hearty THANK YOU to every mom out there that touches my life every day. My mom and my mother in law (for everything, always), my grandmothers (love you), my sisters in law (you rock!), the mothers of my children’s friends that help out with rides and play dates and fun (I appreciate you!), my friends who are also mothers (thank you for laughing and crying with me!), and my photog friends (I treasure the pics of me with my kids!) – I could not successfully walk this journey without any of you.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

Images below by Judi Morrissey Photography www.judipix.com

Giving Gifts that are not Things

Posted on May 1, 2013September 23, 2023 by Tressie

My girls each have a birthday coming up in May. As I look around my very cluttered home, I cringe at the thought of them receiving more THINGS. Things that they play with for 10 minutes and forget, things that end up perpetually on the floor – and the worst, big things that are comprised of many little pieces that ultimately end up separated to the far corners of our home never to be seen together again.

If I thought these things were treasured, or helpful in some way I don’t think it would bother me so much, but that is rarely the case. More often the excitement is fleeting, and the mess these gifts make is permanent (at least until we shovel the living room).
As my mind traveled down this path, it occurred to me that what my children talk about for years on end, and what they really treasure have always been EXPERIENCES. Places we’ve gone, amazing things we have seen, and things our family has done TOGETHER. We have a special book case full of photo books made with the images of our vacations, our holidays, and the milestones of my children. Those books are the one thing that the kids never tire of. Oh how I love when they reach for a special book and say “remember this?” or “this was the best vacation ever”. Coloring Easter Eggs, our Disney Cruise, golfing with Daddy – these experiences are far more special than any THING I could ever give them.

What better gift to offer them for their birthdays, than a memory? (and maybe another photo book as a forever reminder of that memory!)

So this year we are thinking of doing things a little different. This year in addition to the cake and ice cream but instead of the “things”, I may take a day off work so we can make a memory.

Some current ideas:
1. Detroit Zoo (Detroit, MI)
2. Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)
3. Mackinac Island, MI – this is my favorite place in Michigan!!
4. Air Zoo (Portage, MI) – my husband might like this one more than the kids 🙂

What about you? Where are the places that your family has had the most fun making memories? What do you think would make a memorable “non-thing” gift?

Get in the Picture!

Posted on April 24, 2013September 28, 2023 by Tressie

I am fanatic about photography. After the word ‘no’ my children probably first said “no more pictures”. Or at least they thought it. There aren’t many fans of my paparazzi ways. I can’t tell you how many photographs I have of the backs of heads as family would turn away from my camera, or hands put up to ward off the lens.

The drawbacks of my obsession with photography (other than those my family would list)? I have an extremely difficult time publishing/printing imperfect images, even if they perfectly illustrate meaningful times of my life. And while I love being behind the camera, I do not like being on the other side…I know that I am not alone, I can’t think of many people (with the exception of models) over the age of 6 that LIKE having their photo taken.

During the last several years, my family has suffered some very painful losses. As we sorted through images, there were realizations that in some cases we had no record of entire YEARS, if not decades. I also realized that if I didn’t get in front of the camera at least some of the time (and keep those “imperfect” images), my children would have nothing to remember me by – except pictures of them with everyone but me.

I will not let that happen to my loved ones, and neither should you. Four tips to stay on track:

1. Remember to photograph everyone in your life, including yourself. Do it frequently. The images do not always have to be professional – simply having them is a blessing. Keep the camera near, and document. In addition to milestones (the first day of school, graduation, etc) be sure to snap the every day moments – bath time and bedtime, reading a book in the corner, haircuts, and family game night. Hand your camera to the “non-photographer” in the family and ask them to make sure you get in a few images!! Need pics of you and your spouse? Hand the camera to the kids. Turns out the every day details are my favorite photos…those, and the snaps of me with my children. And if they are blurry? All the better to hide the wrinkles my dear.

2. Get your images PRINTED. Or make a book. Or anything more concrete than a handful of pixels on your Facebook account. My kids are particularly fond of Shutterfly books. We make a few a year, to document our vacations, or a holiday, or a sport season, or graduation. I like them better than loose prints, as they are easy to display and share. My heart smiles every time I see my kids take one of those books off the shelf and say “ooohhh, remember this?” If books aren’t your thing, check out Imagine Your Photos where there are a whole bunch of cool things that can be made with your pics – everything from canisters, to blankets, to clothing and wall displays. Really a very cool site.

3. For especially momentous occasions, hire a professional. Take pics of every day life yourself, but do not skimp for weddings, newborns, senior year, etc. Hiring a professional will allow you to immerse yourself in a moment or event without worrying about documenting. And at least every couple of years hire a pro to produce artistic, timeless and technically sound images for your family that will be treasured for generations. If your pro delivers digital images, be sure to get them PRINTED. (see number 2)

4. Don’t get too wrapped up in documenting. A particularly difficult tip for me, this may sound like a contradiction, but it really isn’t. While following tips 1-3, don’t forget to BE IN THE MOMENT. Take one or two snaps to remember the day, then put the camera down and have fun.

Live fully, love deeply, laugh often….and please, get in the pictures!

A huge thank you to all of the photographers (too many to name!) that have blessed my family with images and me with support, as well as family, friends and random strangers on vacation that have taken pics of us!
A special shout out to the following very talented photographers, whose images appear in this post (mixed with mine).
Judi Morrissey – Judi Morrissey Photography (family pics at the lake)
Violeta Harrington – Violeta Harrington Photography (pics of me with Robby on the beach)
Trula Muir – Time in a Frame (below pic of me wearing orange dress and lifting Robby)
Burrill Strong – Burrill Strong Photography (image of me on the Football field with Dom)
Brigitte Hoag – Brigitte Hoag Photography (images of me with Alex and Robby)