Time in Kansas!

We always love our time in Kansas.  

We took a evening boat ride in our pajamas.........

 Loved on our baby brother.......

 Drove Grandpa's boat...... 

 Had to be like our big brother and drive, too.......

 We fished......

 Found a clam shell and named her "Shelly" 

Spent the next two hours playing with "Shelly"........

 Went to the park and rode big boy toys.......

Was caught holding hands with our brother......

Took swimming lessons.......

 Lit off fireworks.....

 Played basketball.....

 Matched with our brother.....

 Sat on dad's lap and loved the fireworks (this year!) 

 Said the Pledge of Allegiance......

 Then danced.......

Watched the fireworks over our new house......

 Went to the lake and watched fireworks....

 Modeled while we waited.....

 Had a great time with family.....

 Gave Henry a glow stick so we could see him in the dark.........

 Played with the paddle board......

 Danced on the boat.....(wasn't moving!) 

 Hung out by the water.....

 Photo snap in "Pete" 

 Cannon-balled off the board......

 Learned to back-float......

 Watched swimming lessons.....

 Hung out in "Pete" 

 Had a beautiful view.....

 Jumped off the boards.....

 Went down the slides.....

And we passed swimming lessons!  :)  

House Update #4

It was really awesome to actually get to see our house on its foundation.  It was nice to walk through and take as much time as I needed to check out the nooks and crannies.  I found some little gems that I hadn't noticed before!  I even managed to get our front door and stone picked out!

 This wall happens to be in Mason's room and is staying.  :)  We are going to put a big powercat up in the middle of it.  He's thrilled!  His room is going to have a sports theme and each wall is going to be a different sport.    

 A demolished bathroom.  This will be the kid's upstairs bathroom and eventually just Maddy's once Mason moves downstairs.  

 Tile in the bathroom that took me 1 hour to take off.  I finally gave up and let the "professional" do it.  (Chris)  This was the only thing I did in the house.  I thought I was going to die from the heat.  Chris said that it (heat) wasn't anything like Iraq, so he was just fine.  

 This will be the top of our stairway coming from the 1st level. 

There is room there to MAYBE (hopefully!) look over the living room...not sure if that can happen yet.  Fingers crossed.  If not, it'll become a closet.  

 It's gone.  Mason's door will be moved down.  

 One of the little gems I found in the house.  All of the door knobs look like this!  I love the little 

key-hole.  The doors themselves are pretty neat as well.  They will also be staying!  I love the uniqueness that they hold!  

 This is the living room.  Those holes are for the stairway.  

 Both of the rooms upstairs have these closets on both sides of the room.  We decided that we are going to knock them out (or at least one per room.  Maddy's probably both) There is a lot of wasted space there with the wall up.  I think the slanted walls will add to their bedrooms, make them unique!  

 3 Layers of carpet.....bye-bye!  

 Notice the door!  They are all like that-Love!   

 Channing's future room before it was started on.  

 This will be a powder bathroom for guests!  

 View from our kitchen

  Living room with the carpet tore out of half of it.  We were hoping for wood floors underneath, but got this tile.  :)  

Channing-Month 6!

Channing is 7 months now!  It seems like during his 6th month, he just took off.  We are having so much fun with him and his little personality.  He is........

A happy, content baby

loves to snuggle

loves to eat puffs and cheerios

Could get into a crawling position (he is now crawling!) 

Loves to say the sounds "Da-Da" and "Ma-Ma" 

Started to get interested in more toys

Loves playing in the bathtub and pool

Really loves being around his Mommy!

On it's forever home-Update #3

The house is moved and on its forever home!  Here are the pictures of its process!

 Getting hooked up to the truck

 It's on its way!

 Clearing a powerline

 Coming into Oakley

 Almost to Main

They had a slight car problem...

Saying hello to its new neighbors!  (Jason and Jayme's house!) 

Sitting on top of the basement with beams.  

440 Royal St

Can't wait until we move here!

House Update #2!

Tomorrow is the big day....Moving day!   Our goal was to have the house on it's forever spot by the time we were back in July.  The kids and I are leaving on Monday, (while Chris plays Army man during a training session) so it's just in the nick of time!  It's really exciting, just wish we were there to see it moved in!

Chris (who is flying in a week later) and I are so excited to start tearing down walls, tearing out carpet, etc.  I might only be excited for the 1st hour or so, but that's the plan when he gets here!  If anyone would like to take my spot, I'll gladly stand back and direct!

Here are a few pics of the house and it getting put on beams to be moved.  Also, I apologize in advance for all you Oakley people who will be without power for a little while tomorrow, as the house comes through town.  Just know we appreciate your electricity sacrifice and my dad will be offering free cold beer down at the store for all you irate people.  (totally kidding.....)

 There was a porch-like area here...this shows the side of the house, which will be the back of the house in Oakley with the dining room built on.  The house is being turned on our property.   

 Original front of the house.  It will now be the side!  

 Basement dug, poured and ready to have shelter from the rain.  :)

 Up on beams ready to be loaded on the truck

 Loaded and ready! 

This will be the front view of our house and will look crazy different.  Can't wait!  

Good-bye old foundation!  

Happy Father's Day!

Words cannot even express how lucky I feel to have such amazing men in my life.  My dad was and is always there for me, gave up a lot of things in life to make us happy and to give us an amazing childhood, and I'm so thankful that I had wonderful examples on how a child should grow up and have many memories of doing many fun things.  I cherish that every day, and it's been the best advice I've ever been given, and it wasn't through words, it was from actions.  I try everyday to do the same for my children.

Chris is also an amazing dad.  He is amazing!!  He comes home from work, gets ran over at the door and doesn't sit down or take any time for himself until after the house is quiet.  He continually plays with the kids, helps them, is understanding and rarely loses his patience.  He always makes them feel loved and cherished and for that I will be forever grateful.  I'm a blessed woman.  :)

My favorite picture of my dad and I.  

(I've tried EVERYTHING to get it to turn the right way, and I've failed.  Please turn your head)

Mason insisted that his dad needed a Superman shirt....luckily, they were easy to find! 

Happy Father's Day!

(Yes, Maddy wears a swimsuit day in and day out) 

"My Daddy Rocks"  

Mason wore this when Chris was coming home from his 1st deployment! 

Donuts with Dad.  :)