Hard work and Fruits of our Labor

Some of you who haven't been able to make the trip up to Preston, have ask me to post pictures of the changes since the "flood," and all the construction on our yard. I have enjoyed looking at yours, but have no idea why you would want to see mine. But, I guess we are all curious about one another, so here they are!

This is Brindy and Matilee's room. The light in the window kind'a messed up the picture, but you can see what it looks like. I love the feeling in their room.

(I think it is the yellow).

I have always wanted to do a room in Americana and Raggedy Ann and Andy.

This is McKenzie's room.

She has wanted purplish walls for a long time. when she finally got new carpet (she use to have pink) she could finally get her purplish walls. Aunt Karla gave her the pictures on the wall (about five years ago). She stills loves them! My cousins will recognize those.

Her room is nearly always tidy!


This is the game room. we have a closet stuffed with board games, a chalkboard on one wall, and of course, the "hoop." Our children spend many a winter day in that room. We haven't put any furniture in it, but the children love the bean bags. With the bean bags put away, it often doubles as a "dance/performance studio" for the little girls.

The girls have planted, watered, and taken care of all my potted plants this summer.

What green thumbs! What a great JOB!

Our not so little puppy and our garden. Our new fence has been great for the dogs!

Matilee and Brindy carried all these stones on Saturday (the older children had other obligations)! They moved them only about fifteen feet, but for two little girls, it took a LONG time (over an hour), and these stones were heavy!!!

They also helped dad clean up after a long day working in the shed (check out the work clothes Matilee picked!). What good girls!

So here is the back of the shed, and my dream playset. As many of you know, one of the deals I made when I went to work full time, was that I got the playset of my dreams, so my children could play outside. They have clocked in many hours, since we put this up last fall. I LOVE IT!

We have worked hard, since last fall, especially remodeling the basement after that big flood. The fruits of our labors are starting to pay off. Granted, I will never live as grandly as many, but I never dreamed I could live as well as I do now. Thank you to those of you who encouraged me to post pictures of our house inside and out. It has helped me to look around and count my blessings..........................I miss you....................you know who you are. Shannon

A New Dishwasher and a Dance!

So after, twelve years, and who knows how many billions of loads of dishes, our dishwasher finally gave out! Brindy washed up all the dishes for us (well, she did the pans, I actually did the dishes, but she sure looks like Cinderella in the picture!). She loves to wash the pots and pans!

Bryan had to work on it for a whole day (he kept getting called in). We opted on a stainless steel model. Our fridge and stove are slowly dying too, and we are planning on going stainless steel with those too. (if any of you have stainless steel and have advice, I would LOVE it). I hope we don't regret it.

Matilee loved playing in the hole every time her dad escaped the room!






Future Vanna's Showing off our new appliance. I am just happy not to have dish pan hands!




Matilee Chose this charming ensemble for a "performance" in which she delighted all fans that would attend in our kitchen. I think she looks like a combination of Olive Oil (Popeye) and a GO GO dancer. At any rate, she was stunning!





A Little clip from her "performance." She was dancing to A Sharp Dressed Man! By ZZ Top

We Went to Bear Lake, with our good friends the Faerber's. It has been a while since we have been able to "play" together.

It's funny, how really good friends can be apart for quite some time, and then get together, and it seems as though we never missed a beat. The pictures tell it all, we had a wonderful time.

There aren't many pictures of the boys, because they were always out on the four wheelers, or digging this humongous hole, that I (OOPS) didn't get a picture of. At any rate, we all had a marvelous day!