All shapes and sizes

We have had three rainy days in a row. Luckily one of my home school mom friends gifted the kids these blocks in all kinds of different shapes and colors. Maddie had a blast turning them into art. This is her flower. And Sam made..."chicken soup". I bet you guessed that right off!

They have been playing with them off and on for 2 days now and have really made some creative stuff. I have to admit when I saw these in a bag I was wondering if we would ever use them, but 2 rainy days later I think they are awesome!

A Fresh Coat

Alot of things are receiving a fresh coat of paint around here! The new addition has been primed. The ceiling is painted and light fixtures/fan are in place. Colors have been chosen for the new room as well as our dinning room/ school room. We have put a 2 week deadline on ourselves (Megan's First Birthday party will be Saturday the 7th) Troy finishes his summer session class on Wednesday so after that we will have alot of time to devote to finishing up. It's amazing what painting can do. I'm excited to show you all the big reveal in just a few weeks! As a side note I would like to add painting the ceiling as something I'm very grateful that I don't do for a living. It would be second only to doing drywall!

Uh-oh!

Megan is on the move and into everything!If she is quiet you can bet she is into something! So the baby gates are up, the crib is in the lowest position and all small toys are up in containers. Here is to hoping that everyone remembers to shut the gates and put the toys back into containers when they are done playing with them.

Blessings

Blessings come in all shapes and sizes.

Sometimes they are hard to recognize.
Sometimes Not.
This is a picture of 8 little blessings.
My 3 kids and my good friend Davanna's 5 kids.
It was taken a few weeks ago when all the kids were playing dress up. Annalynn (in the center by Sam) was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 4.
That was 4 years ago.

She has been through alot.

So have her parents.

They have a very awesome and positive outlook on life.

Every time I get to spend some time with them I'm blessed.

Davanna told me that this song is very special to them right now and helps them get though the hard times.

I listened to it and I cried.

I hugged my kids.

And I thanked God for good friends and for His plans that we may never understand.

I don't have time here to tell you the number of lives that have been touched by Annlynn and her family.

I will tell you that I'm forever grateful that we were some of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0&NR=1

Family Photos

Over the 4th of July weekend, my entire family was together. There are a lot of us and getting in one spot at the same time doesn't happen very often! We decided to shoot some family pictures at my parents farm so we will remember the time we got to spend together.Here is the whole Family. Mom and Dad, their seven children and spouses and 27 grandchildren with 2 little boys on the way!
Mom and Dad

Matt's Family

John's Family

Melissa's Family

Joe's Family

Our Family

Melinda's Family

Melissa and Josh

All of my siblings in age order.

I'm glad we got to spend time together...It was just like old times, and I liked the old times!

Almost there!

I'm very happy to report that the 'project' is in it's final stages!! All the dry wall is done. The closets are done in our room which means you can walk through our room once again! The floor is ready to be stained and sealed. The ceiling is patched and ready to be painted. Our hope is to have the floor, ceiling and walls finished by Saturday. If we meet that goal, we will be able to hang the ceiling fan, door, and trim on Saturday and that would be a wrap! I will be very excited to post some finished pictures for you all next week.(Don't worry the kids aren't really painting, although it would be nice if they could help out!)

Trip Home

Celebrating the fourth....Visiting the zoo....Riding with Papa....

Laughing with Aunts....

Girls day out at Wal-mart???!!Swimming with cousins....

And Hugs from Grandmas!

It was good to be home!

11 Months

Megan turned 11 months while we were vacationing in Indiana. She is still a very good baby. She is very mobile now and getting into everything! She has 6 teeth and likes to eat whatever we are eating. She sleeps pretty well, but still gets up to eat around 5 am. She is very vocal and has added "done" and "No No No" to her vocabulary. She is learning how to communicate with Maddie and Sam and we definitely know when she isn't happy!It's interesting the difference in your first child and your third. I just realized while we were away that Megan's first birthday is just 3 weeks away. When Maddie's 1st birthday was 3 weeks away I'm sure that I had the whole party planned, the gift bought, the invitations in the mail, the baby book up to date, the month by month frame filled, her outfit chosen ect.... With Megan I just realized the party is 3 weeks away and none of these things are done. I started planning a few things in the car and I'm hoping to pull off a party. I can't think of a single thing Megs needs, but I'm sure a gift will be purchased. The frame and the baby book... I guess now filling them out will be my new goal for the next three weeks! With these looks on their faces, I'm not sure the girls believe I will pull it off!