Sunday, November 29, 2009

Chicago

We had such a great time in Chicago. It was actually very relaxing. We did a lot of walking, some shopping, sightseeing and hanging out at the hotel. Josh and Belle went on their first cab ride. Josh thought the first cabbie was rude and Belle thought his car stunk! We would like to go back and see the museums and Navy Pier.
Yes this picture was taken at the top of the Sears Tower looking down. The left side of the picture is the actual building. How did I get this picture...

This is how... The sky deck has 4 glass encased boxes that extend from the building. You can walk out and take pictures. Belle had no problem and thought it was really neat. Josh was nervous and had trouble stepping out. It really plays with your mind. I was not nervous at all until I went to step out on it and completely froze. I couldn't do it. So I got lots of pictures. I did take the picture above and it really freaked me out.

Looking out the windows of the Sky Deck


Eating Chicago style pizza at Gino's East.

Our hotel-the Sheraton
This guy was so good. He could stand like a statue for a really long time.


Look real close that is the kids at the feet of the man!

American Girl

Belle had her first experience with American Girl Dolls. She was in doll heaven. She immediately found the doll she wanted and started finding outfits. This place was amazing. It had window displays all over the store. Upstairs there was a salon where your doll could get their hair fixed and their ears pierced. You could get your picture taken and have tea with your doll. Next time we go we will make reservations to do some of the other activities. Poor Josh did not want to even look at the store. At one point we had to walk through it to get outside and he said oh thank god there are other men in here.
One of the window displays outside of the store
Belle with her doll at the hotel.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with Joel's Aunt Cindy and her family. It was a short visit, but we had a lot of fun. We arrived on Wednesday afternoon and had a great dinner. Belle latched on to Kelly who played lots of Polly Pockets with her. Josh and Meg became fast buddies again. Thanksgiving dinner was delicious. There were 26 people at dinner. They set up one very long table and it was so much fun laughing with friends and family.
Kelly and Belle coloring
Josh helping with the Turkey!

Lego Discovery Center

The week of Thanksgiving we went to Schaumburg to the Lego center. It so neat to see everything made out of Legos. The kids had a ton of fun. They had rides, workshops and 3D movies. Of course the best part for Josh was the Lego store.

They had a room that was a replica of Chicago made out of legos of course! The detail was amazing. The lights even replicated the sun. So every 5 minutes or so the sun would rise and then set and the lights in the city would come on. It was neat later in the week when we were downtown and the kids could see the actual buildings that they saw here in legos.
Josh would have spent all day here. He just studied every little detail.
Josh and Indiana Jones. You cant tell in the photo, but it really did look like Harrison Ford.

Joel's Building

We are finally seeing progress on Joel's building! They are in the process of bricking the building. Then the parking lot, driveway and curb will go in. Joel hopes to be moved in in 3-4 weeks!

Halloween

Joel's parents came down for Halloween. They were able to have lunch with the kids and also help with Belle's Halloween party at school. Grandma went trick or treating while Mustache handed out candy. Joel and I went out to dinner with friends and had a great time!
Josh spent a lot of time thinking about what he wanted to be for Halloween. He finally decided to be a Knight.
Belle changed her mind about 10 times before she decided to be a Cowgirl.

Going to the Farm!

Belle went on her first field trip in kindergarten to Cedar Hill Farms. She had so much fun, they did the corn maze, picked pumpkins, rode horses, watched pig races and fed the animals.
Belle Posing!
Abbey, Belle and Ashlyn. I just love this picture.

Lost Tooth

My baby lost her first tooth in October! Seems like yesterday that those little teeth were busting through the gums!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Disney on Ice


Belle and I went and saw Disney on Ice. The boys were away on their first Cub Scout camp out, so we had a girls night out. It was so much fun and Belle loved it too:) As you can see she has her Tinkerbelle fairy hat on. We enjoyed the characters from Cars. The crowd went wild when the Mater came out onto the ice.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Meet the Teacher



Josh's teacher--Mrs. Bridges
Josh started 3rd grade this year. He has an awesome teacher that seems very fair.
Belle has Mrs. Danielle. We are very happy about her teacher. Josh also had her and we know what to expect from her.

PCB




We spent about a week in Panama City, FL. It was very nice and relaxing. Joel was unable to go with us so I invited my friend Shawn. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed just relaxing!
Yes this was totally staged! They did not all of a sudden decide that they liked each other and wanted to hold hands. I bribed them with crab hunting!

They had so much fun searching for little crabs. These things are small and fast. Josh was great at this and Belle even got into it and had no problem picking them up.
We spent one day at Shell Island and had a great time finding lots of Sand Dollars, shells and other interesting items! The kids loved this and we all decided this was definitely a place to visit again.
Josh buried in the sand. We even added small boobs, which the kids thought was very funny!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Cubstruction

Josh and his friend Noah at Cub Scout day camp. Josh and 3 other boys went to camp. I drove them to Eudora, MS everyday for a week. The things you learn about boys when you are stuck in an enclosed area for 45 minutes each way!
The last day they had a program for the parents. Josh and Noah were supposed to do a puppet show, but their leader cancelled them. So they will do it in the fall for their pack.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

We finally get a permit!!!!!


Well Joel was finally able to pull a permit for his property. He will start moving dirt around on Monday and that is as far as he gets to go...I didn't say he got a building permit. We hope that by the end of this week he will have a building permit. As some of you know it has been a big struggle with the city of Olive Branch. Now the battle is over having to pave in the back and putting in a glass door. You'd think the city would have better things to be concerned about, but apparently they do not.
This will be the last time this section of the 6 acres will look like this!

We plan to document the process with pictures so check back often!

When the kids are away the parents will play...

As most of you already know the kids spent 10 days in Michigan with their Grandparents. While they were gone Joel and I had a nice relaxing vacation filled with dinners out, long walks, late nights talking and watching movies...If I knew how to make a screeching sound with words I would insert that sound here and then rewind the last paragraph to the part that say, "While they were gone..." Well while they were gone we worked out butts off redoing their rooms. We emptied everything out, painted the walls and the trim, floored both rooms, ordered furniture and decorated. It was a crazy week and one I hope to never repeat when my children are away. Even Joel looked at me, the man that is a workaholic, and said, "this feels like work." Here are the finished products. We didn't finish hanging Josh's stuff on the walls because we wanted his input so we will finish that this week.
His bunk bed and stairs that go to the top. Lizards are on his quilt. The bottom part is like a little club house and he has decided to put his no girls sign there!
On the left bottom side is his Lego city. You can barely see it, but he was happy to see it still in his room.
Josh was completely shocked and we sudden became the best parents in the world. They had no idea we were doing this. We had them pick out the furniture, but they had no idea that it would be there when they got home.
I have to say I love her room. The pictures on both rooms don't do them justice. I love her colors.
She starting running around the room like a nut!
Those that know Belle know she either will love it or not notice it. She walked in and said, "What the heck!" (Which I absolutely hate) Where is the green stuff. I thought to my self the money is all at the store:) (She meant the sage green paint she used to have) She was all kisses and loved her room. She loves the color lellow!(no that isn't a typo)
They are happy to be home, but had a ton of fun and were filled with lots of stories. Belle's favorite part of her trip...going to Target and buying the dog a treat. (She is crazy) Josh loved the airplane museum that he went with Grandpa and Uncle Todd. Joel and I enjoyed or time alone. Next year we'd like to do something fun, but we both have a feeling that we will be working on our new house. We get our preliminary drawings in about 10 days. Cant wait!