Home improvements

Laid new yellow carpet in the front yard this week. May I recommend the best Installer in the universe?
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Frost covered leaves

Not exactly what you're hoping to see when you're sleeping in a tent!
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Roof guys

So maybe I spoke too soon with that last post. This may be an even better kind of "high"! The kids were very excited to help Uncle Larry with his shed roofing job yesterday. When I arrived from work, Ian came running to me talking excitedly about how he had gotten to help on the roof and even shoot a few nails. All in a day's work!
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The best kind of "high"

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The problem with buying Graeter's by the pint...

...Is that the nutrition facts are staring you right in the face! Now I know why they scoop it quickly into cones! But can I just say that their cookie dough chunk is my favorite. Move over Bruster's!
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Homeschool day at the Air Force Museum

Lots of cool discoveries! And it's all free!!!
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Mom's new "throne"

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Our new couch!

Finally, a place to sit in our living room! Very comfy!

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I wish I were a camel!

 

I would just like to have a pedicure, much less a day off afterwards!

This is an undoctored photo from our visit to African Wildlife Safari in Port Clinton. The boys were pretty disappointed that the camels were off duty during our time there. Bummer. But good if you're the camel. They treat those "ladies" right!

Fun in the sun

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The kitchen is all unpacked!

Yeah! Now maybe we can eat something besides fast food--little too much of that these past few weeks! Thanks to my mom, the boys and I sat down to a home cooked meal of meatloaf, baked potatoes, beets, and Belgian bread. Served on real plates even. Feels good to be making this our home after 4 months in limbo.
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Sweet memories of good friends

I'm finding myself really missing all my precious Greenville friends these days. The Fishers gave the boys these two cute magnetic guys as a reminder of some fun times throwing their own magnetic duck onto their fridge and judging his landings. They make me smile everytime I see them.
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We're HOME!!!

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A work in progress

We are nearing the day when we will move into our new house and finally unpack all the boxes we've been living with for 4 months! Most of my work has been painting all the white walls. Larry is tackling the hard stuff. He (and 4 young boys) ripped up all the carpet in the dining room and he has now built my little "mudroom" at the back door. Next step--lay the laminate flooring! Lookin' good! And all this comes after Larry's week at the extreme home makeover. What a talented guy! Great brother-in-law to have around.
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First home cooked meal...

...In our newly blue kitchen!
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"Know why I saved all my Sprite?"

"So I could drink it all down and burp really loud!"

Gotta love boys!
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Some serious 2 o'clock shadows

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Prize Winning Lion

Near the end of the school year the boys and I were studying lions and decided to make a lion sculpture out of whatever we could find lying around the house. This is how he turned out, and I just couldn't bear to part with him quite yet when it came time to move. So despite the eye-rolling of my friend who was helping me pack, he earned a stow away ride in the dining room hutch.

Then I learned of the library's "build an animal out of recycled household items" contest and just knew he'd fit the bill. His body is a large tin can covered in construction paper, feather covered paper plate mane, dowels from cloth wall calendars for legs, egg carton cups for feet complete with plastic fork claws and teeth. My favorite is his tail, made out of a frayed out shoelace that picked up lots of grass in the soccer field--Isaac gets credit for that idea.

It appears the judges agreed and our little lion won first place! Now there's a reason to be a packrat! Just don't tell my parents. They don't need any further justification!
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The solution for too much arguing...

...Just organize a water flute band! They can't talk and it demands cooperation.

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It's official

The airshow parade has begun!

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Like mother, like son

The sun has set on a busy day of birthday celebrating--breakfast at Bill's Donuts, a day at the Newport Aquarium, and a picnic dinner with my wonderful family. We played hard and will now sleep well. Ian and I had to take the trash out to the road when we got home tonight and this is how we found Isaac when we came back in. My family used to always tease me about how "stiff" I slept. Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I don't know if I ever balanced my stuffed animals quite like that though!

Thanks for the many kind birthday wishes. I'm so thankful for my loving family!!!
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I'm trying to remember how to ride a bike.

My family bought me a great surprise for my birthday. My brother nearly ran me over with it before I noticed what was up!
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One less tooth to brush

Isaac has joined the toothless, money-hungry world of first graders, courtesy of Aunt Susan on Wednesday. Say cheese!

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Up close and personal

Isaac used his "first tooth" loot to purchase a bug vacuum today. We caught an awesome moth on the back porch!

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