S'mores & More

If you checked our blog last week, you saw that Kevin built us a patio & fire pit last Saturday. Today, he put on the finishing touches & we couldn't wait to make s'mores! Isabelle & John Michael set up the chairs & got out blankets as it was in the upper 50's, so a little chilly. The fire & yummy treats warmed us up quick. Kevin likes to have Peanut Butter Cups on his s'mores & he likes to put the whole s'more over the fire to melt the Cup. So, he pulled out the "fish" cooker (I think it's for the grill? - we've never used it). It worked very well - we can get 6 s'mores in there at a time! Our time together ended with campfire stories - Isabelle's request! Kevin told us a sweet story about Turkey Hunting! :) Isabelle followed with a story about chicks!

The fish grill cooker - works great!

Story Time!

God's Goodness

I have much to praise God for, but most immediate is the complete healing of my vocal nodules. I had a horribly painful ENT appointment yesterday where they did a nose scope to get a good view of my vocal chords - trust me, not something you want to request! As the ENT & my speech therapist are saying "wow, there is NOTHING there, do you see that?" I'm sitting in a straight chair with my head facing the ceiling, tears burning at my eyes & a TUBE up my nose and down my throat - I wanted to jump for joy, but decided that would not be the best idea! :) All that to say - when it was all over they both said I had done a great job, but that I need not be too anxious to talk. I have to be disciplined to continue my therapy at home & be disciplined to remain quiet & give my vocal chords rest. So I will press on & continue to enjoy & be thankful for silence, but I feel such thankfulness for God's goodness in healing me COMPLETELY!!! YEAH GOD!!!

Weekend Project

This weekend, ONE of us was working really HARD. As Kevin said, he's done landscaping for 10 years - and never done anything for his own house. So, finally after 10 years - we have a patio & fire pit. It is AWESOME!! Kevin did a GREAT job & I wanted to brag on him a little! We are going to bring in dirt & build garden beds & landscaping around the patio as well as a path out to the yard. So here's initial photos from this weekend. Will keep you posted.

JM helping dad dig the area for the patio.

JM is the project manager - getting a birds eye view!

Isabelle getting her turn on the Bobcat!

JM getting a closer look at the dig-out!

The finished product - well almost, there is dirt to bring in, a fire pit to finish - Kevin is putting a capstone on it, and a garden to plant. The fun begins! Sorry for the dark photo - it is cloudy & gloomy here today - and it was too dark when Kevin finished last night. I'll add better photos with the sunshine as we fully finish the product.

Future Cowboy!

I had John Michael's 4 year old pics taken yesterday. We haven't had his pictures taken in a long time - and I thought these turned out fabulous. Just wanted to share how our big boy is growing up!

Howdy Partner!

Back Home Again In Indiana

For spring break, me & my kids, Holly & Olivia, & my mom all headed to Indiana to visit all of our extended relatives. It was a whirlwind trip from west Indiana to east Indiana & back again!

The photos are of my Aunt Paulette & Uncle Bob (Paulette is my mom's sister) And of my grandma - the kids Grandma Clare.

We started in Terre Haute, IN - then headed to Franklin where we saw Grandma Clare. We spent 2 nights at my Uncle Dennis & Aunt Mary Sue's house in Columbus. They have 5 grandchildren, so they had LOTS of great toys for the kids to play with. I think they were also very thankful to be out of the car for awhile. We went to a children's museum in Columbus - it was GREAT! There was a "clubhouse" the kids could climb in - it had a "bathroom" with this gigantic toilet. There were 3 steps to climb in the toilet & then a slide to go down. When you go down the slide, it makes a flushing sound. Believe it or not, JM was a little scared to climb in. One attempt by Sissy & he was right behind!

There was a great craft area - this was crayon melting art! Very cool!

Uncle Dennis (my dad's brother) reads JM some Dr. Suess before bed.

ON TO CONNERSVILLE, IN

This is my Great-Uncle Bill, he'll be 92 in May. 5 of my 7 cousins were together with all of our children. There were 10 in all. Uncle Bill never thought he'd see all of our children together. They ranged in age from 2 months to 10 years old.

Holly, Me & my cousins (also sisters) Jamie & Mandy with Uncle Bill.

Here are all 10 children: (from left) Lydia Austin, Jillian & Bricen Tunnicliff, Faith Olsen, Isabelle Redford, Olivia Kemp, John Michael Redford, Adrienne Austin, Zak Olsen, & Asher Tunnicliff.

John Michael loves Zak - this was Aunt Sandy's husband's Harley - John Michael was in LOVE.

Aunt Paulette & Mom at Tod & Shannon's house.

Isabelle & JM love sitting in Aunt Paulette & Uncle Bob's chairs. . . they' were pretending to be them here in this picture - they had their popcorn & drinks! Just like their great aunt & uncle!

Chick Day!

We have some new additions to our family! We have a total of 6 new little chicks. The kids are crazy for our new little pets - and we are excited that they will be laying eggs! Maybe it will help the grocery budget . . . :)

John Michael Turns 4

Our sweet little boy turned 4 on 3/16/08. He was VERY lucky to celebrate for 2 weeks straight. The first birthday party was with the Stones and a trip to the P.B.R. (You can check out my mom's blog for pics from that.) His second birthday was with the Redfords a week later - we had fun plans for the outside, but it was COLD & rainy, so we were all stuck inside. JM didn't know the difference, he was just so excited to have his cousins at his house to celebrate his b-day.

You might remember that his name & b-day are "John 3:16" Grandma Redford found this hat for him . . .

B-day at the Stones - Nana & Papa gave him a football goal & basketball for outside fun! Aunt Holly & Uncle Brad gave hima fun maze toy you have to do with your feet!

My mom made his lightning McQueen cake.

Tyler (J.M.'s cousin) & J.M. - he got J.M. stacking cups!

Swim stuff from Aunt Sarah & Uncle Richard - I told him to hold them up, I didn't mean literally in front of his face, but the pic turned out cute!

JM got a wheelbarrow & tools from Grandma & Grandpa - he can't WAIT to help dad!