Special Thanks

In my post about our house I forgot to mention all the help we received from so many friends until I saw Rachel's comment. Thank you to everyone who helped us out whether it was priming, painting, building closets, putting up trim, doors, demolition, installing floors, electrical, hauling appliances, you name it we had helpers all along the way. I am truly amazed at how generous people are with their time and willing they are to help. Even those who claimed they didn't know how to do something did it anyway and they did a fabulous job. Thank you so much, we are so grateful to have such wonderful friends.

The Cabin

I am not a very good blogger because I wait to post things then I feel like there are a lot of things I want to post so I do it all at once. That's a lot to read. Don't feel obligated to read all these posts but here's what's been going on with us.

Olivia had her first trip to my family's cabin in Sundance. The weather was beautiful and I always love it up there. It is so darn pretty and peaceful.

The Messicks were nice to let my family invade their time at the cabin. Here we are shooting a BB gun at stuff.

You can't get more manly than shooting in a Snuggie.


Grandma Workman and Olivia.



Olivia, Katie, and Elle. What cuties.

The House

So the month of May and first week of June were spent in our basement making it ready for renters. It was a lot of work and I can now back it up when I say that I will NEVER EVER work construction and I admire (and pity) anyone who does. Needless to say, our renters moved in about 2 weeks later than I had hoped. But it was a great experience and I'm sure glad we did it. It really looks good and I think our renters are happy here.

I must not know how to blog very well because I want the pictures in a certain order but they never turn out how I want. Oh well. I have before and after pictures but here are the after:


Master bedroom closet
This kitchen was once a laundry room with cement only and the upper cabinets.

Family room.

The Stevenson clan came over to help. We are so grateful for family and their willingness to help us out.

Olivia delegating.

Ella, Carter, and Parker.

Aunt Megan, Olivia, and Jonah.


Family room before.
Master bedroom before. Actually, David did all of the framing.


David begged me to keep the pink tile but I said, "Back away, Buster! Lemme at it!"

Rat Assassin

So about the rats in our yard...

My cousin Nakita moved and needed a place for her cat. It was perfect because we needed one so she gave us Hoover. Hoover was the perfect cat for us but ran away the day we got her. Then one day my mom and sisters found a 6-week old kitty outside Wal-Mart and we kept him. His name is Bageera and even though we are trying so hard not to like cats, Bageera sure is cute. He is really friendly and the neighbors love him.

He was still pretty little when we got him so we didn't know how he would do with the rats. But the other day my dad kind of showed him where the rats lived and right away Bageera chased a little one down and played with it for a while. He didn't really know what to do with it so he let it go. Then the next day David and I were eating dinner and out the back door we saw Bageera playing with another one. This one was bigger. He played with it for about half an hour until it finally died. Even after it died he was still playing with it. He would flip it up in the air, it would do about 3 360 degree turns in the air, then he would catch it again. We were so proud! So now we officially have ourselves a rat killer. He's a keeper!

Just some Olivia

Olivia will be 6 months old on July 8th. She is getting so big! The last week she has had the stomach flu and she has gotten so skinny. All of these pictures were before she lost some weight. Don't worry, she still has great kissing cheeks!

"Man, I'm hungry. I wonder how this foot will taste."


Too cool for school.


"Roaaar!"
"I wonder if I can fit the whole thing in my mouth?!"


Next book she'll read: The Dictionary.

Just chillin out. Everything looks different upside down.

Weiser

This is way late but Weiser (a.k.a. Lambing Season) was in May, right after we moved into our house. I didn't do much this year because I was at the house with Olivia most of the time but usually the daily activities may include pulling baby lambs out of their mommys, feeding the bum lambs, cleaning out smelly stalls, cutting off tails, clipping ears, and castrating both lambs and calves. The Chandlers are wonderful people and we appreciate them letting us invade their home.

Grandma Stevenson (David's mom) made these pretty little dresses for all the granddaughters.

Olivia's first swimming experience. Green pool? Yes, last year a lot of us got sick from swimming in it.
Grandpa, Sadie, and Olivia.


Sadie loves giving babies kisses.

Buddies! This is Burke McKay Chandler, Olivia's cousin born just a month after her to Amanda and Klave.