Garage Progress Update

This is our humble abode. Moved in on 8/1/08We are building a garage off to the side of our house for all of John's "stuff ". It will also have an exercise room, a bathroom and a loft off to the back for guests to stay...This shows the garage footprint, basketball court, and hole for the built-in trampoline... the same hole that I found Royce climbing up out of the other day...

We've got cement on 10/17/08...Finally started framing on 10/24/08. I think even John is a little surprised at how tall it is. More framing on 10/27/08

This shows the loft over the bathroom area.We've got a roof 12/08...View from the backyardDrywall 12/08Cabinets & granite 12/08Stucco is done...Doors, paint & travertine 12/28/08...John helped paint the inside.Bathroom shower tile. John also helped Sterling with this. It looks great!

That Darn Tooth Fairy

So, as if it's not enough that Ashlee already looks like a jack-o-lantern, she has to go and lose another tooth. After a few mornings of grave disappointment with no visit from the tooth fairy (that darn tooth fairy!), she has decided to write a letter of understanding. She has included a bracelet as a present for the tooth fairies generosity and has requested a note to be left for an explanation as to the delay...
FINALLY! She made it! And she left a note... Ashlee was very impressed with the tooth fairies handwriting.
Big smiles for the note and money.... Good job tooth fairy, you've reclaimed the hope and faith within a little girls heart.

Pumpkin Carving/Drilling Fun

This weekend we visited the Pumpkin Patch with some of our very best friends, the Sparks family.Jad worked very tediously, determined to clean out his own pumpkin...Jad and his pumpkin... too cute!

Myla and mom worked on recreating a picture they had seen in a magazine... not perfect but turned out pretty cute.

Dreya really wanted a cat... and a cat she got. Her mom and dad could possibly have arthritis now from the tiny, endless pokes and cuts that they had to perform but hey, that's part of being a good parent... right?

(Good job Jenesey & Branden)

Myla's little baby pumpkin....

Ashlee looked like a jack-o-lantern herself...

Some how Jenesey entrusted her precious "white" pumpkin into the hands of John and Branden to make a visionary cute poke-a-dot pumpkin. Well, Branden broke the perfect stem, worthy of envy, off within a matter of minutes and John was seen with his drill, a wood boring drill bit and a mess of pumpkin shavings... the end result was more of some kind of bowling ball/disco ball recreation... thanks guys for all your help. All the cute kids and pumpkins... Good times!

Saturday Morning Soccer Game

75 degrees and sunny... perfect weather for a Soccer Game. This is Myla's 4th year of soccer and she has progressed to be quite a star player. She usually plays as forward which gives her the opportunity to score lots and lots of goals. So far, their team is undefeated...

A little smile comes over her face as she runs back after scoring a goal. Myla scored one goal this game. Good job, Myzee!

This is Victoria Brenay. She and Myla are best friends. Tori is quite a super star on the team too. She might as well be our 5th child. She and Myla spend every moment that they can together, despite going to different schools and a 25 min. round trip drive from house to house... Good game Tori! BFF

From the side lines: the proud, supportive parents...

Ashlee and her art supplies make it to every game...

Jad is just here for the food...

So is Royce...

Yeah, good game! We won 4 to 2...

The happy little soccer super stars...

Time to pack it all up...

John and Scott pack all the chairs, umbrellas, blankets, etc. up and get ready to make the long trek back to the cars. Man, the things we do for our kids...

What better way to celebrate a good game than lunch at Chick-fil-a... At least the food and friends kept the kids quiet for a few minuets so the adults could talk... whew what a morning.