Ahoy Pirate

I had to blog this picture! Doesn't Cade look like a minature Braum :)

I think we found land!!

Cade loves to be a pirate, so when the kids and I went to the park by our house and we found this boat it was a perfect picture. It is actually a really nice park only 5 minutes from our house. They are building a bridge from our neighborhood to it, its suppose to done by next spring.

(No, I am not taking advantage of Braum being gone and finally cutting the boys hair. Cade decided a couple of days ago to cut his own hair right in the front. So, this is the fix :) )

Having fun on a Harley :)

To have a fun day on the Harley -
Letting the wind blow through our hair

Sporting our nice leather jackets and chaps -
hurting our legs - we wouldn't dare

This is what retirement is all about feeling
young and free on a bike

Heck, we live a great life, raised three kids
we can do what we like

In hindsight a helmet?? - We give in, we admit, it
would of been smart

We have the headache, bleeding brain, stitches, metal plate in
the wrist, cracked pelvic

From now on I promise to leave my daughter-in-law alone,
she is not a blonde wing ding

She was right after all, that bike is a dangerous thing

So give us some advil, motrin approved - a dinner would be nice,
come fluff a pillow or two

You're happy we lived, belated we're sure, and now we have yet another
great story for you

School Days

We have made it through a week and a half of school so far. They all had a great first few days. Each one of them has made great friends already and I am so happy (so far) with all of their teachers. I haven't gotten the official year but I know the school is at least 54 years old. If you notice in the windows they have window air conditioners, there was a note sent home to try and get us to vote to get the asbestos removed from the school. Seriously big change from what we came from. However, this may be a lesson in not judging a book by its cover. Rylie actually has two teachers, Mrs. Ireland and Mrs. Carpenter, they both really seem to be there for the right reasons. Brooke's teachers name is Mrs. Pesaresi, she fits the part well of a 2nd grade teacher, -she seems fabulous. Ashlynn's has a young teacher, it may even be her first year?? Ms. Goddard - Ashlynn says she is really nice - I'll take her word for it :) I have a feeling she has more of a connection with the kids than the parents - which is fine. They leave at 8:05 on the bus and don't get home until around 4:20 give or take. - That's such a long day for me. They seem to be handling it great - but wow! I need to find something to do besides clean the house :) Cade is my bud at home - we go running with Stone in the morning and catch up on errands and play with trains during the day. He loves to send the girls off to school on the school bus, he is usually in his pajamas with his pirate hat on - (I know I need to get a picture of that). They are still building houses around us quickly, but I can't wait until its all done.

Here is our beautiful children!

Log Cabin

The kids and I took an adventure today. This is a little log cabin across the street from our house. You can literally see it from our front door. We thought we would go over there and check it out before someone buys the lot and it becomes private property.

Thought I would share

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/849020

Here is a cool website I found. I am getting the free video camera so I can take video for the blog. But, there is a lot of other cool things!!! All you have to do is sign up for a Discover Card and use it once and they send your gift off in 7 to 10 days. Well worth it for me! I am used to applying and cancelling credit cards :)

Day 3 on the Bike

Here are lots of pictures Rylie took of our day 3 with Ashlynn on her bike. She is getting better and a little braver. Even Cade gave it a try. I know I need to post some pictures of my house I just need to get over the idea that it will ever be clean as I wait for that before I take the pictures. There are a couple pictures of the new vinyl from Tami that I put up :). If you haven't checked out her website, go to www.expressitinvinyl.com.

Pay Back

So yesterday afternoon my girls said - it is our time to be queen and you be the servant, you must make us dinner, clean the dishes, give us a bath and make our chocolate milk. :) I said - okay, your right its your turn - I will try my best :)

Queen Mommy

Okay, so the secret is out! I don't really work hard at all when Braum is away. My girls work! They cook, they clean, they massage my feet, and make sure the bubbles never get too low.
(really???)

6 More Days Till School Starts

Ready, set, GO!!!!!

Today, Thursday, we enjoyed a cooler day outside. I took the kids to the pool and we decided it was almost too cold, lots of little blue lips. It was still in the upper 80's but the sun was covered. So, here are pictures with our ice cream cones goofy around outside. Braum gave Ashlynn the challenge of being able to ride a bike without training wheels by the time he gets home. Ashlynn needs to decide she can do it, and most times she does it. So, far I don't think she really thinks she can. You can see that we are practicing on a bike that already has training wheels and we exceeded our fun limit with just that. She told us that she will do more tomorrow. I'll keep the blog posted on our progress.

Taking a popsicle break

We are on day 3 of Daddy being gone and as you can see Braum is not here to remind me to give Ashlynn her medication. That's our front yard behind the girls, - look great, don't ya think?, you should see it when it rains :). Seed should be planted in 10 days - hurray!!!

I wish for my daddy to be safe and come home soon!

Ashlynn turned 6!! This picture was taken 1 hour before we were all in the car taking Braum to his bus for his trip to Iraq. (Happy birthday Ash). He didn't leave until 9 pm, so at least we had the whole day with him. We are on day one with his 4 1/2 month trip and counting. I feel blessed that it is not 15 months, which so many families get separated for, including the unit he is joining over there. They have all been gone since September 07! The thought of that makes me sick to my stomach! In the last week I realized that this is not just a TDY to Ft. Rucker Alabama, here in the states. He is actually going to war. Packing up his bullet proof vest with helmet and having to fill out a sheet of paper asking questions of addresses and contacts that I hope nobody has to open a file cabinet to get the answers too was probably my reality check. Those who are not thankful for what the military and their families do make me sick!! After saying that; I know we will be fine - God is great! One day at a time, and one is already (almost) gone. :)

The Manhattan Zoo

Here we are at the Manhattan Zoo on Ashlynn's Birthday. I am sure you can tell by the pictures, it is nasty hot!!! The heat index was 106!!! The pictures of Cade on the ground say it all - the heat "smoked" us! It was fun to get out of the house and see the animals with Daddy before he left. There is alot of behind the head pictures in this slide show, I thought they were sweet and my kids are sick of posing for pictures for their mom. :)

Chuckie Cheese

Here we are at the Chuckie Cheese in Topeka. We had a great time celebrating Ashlynn's birthday and spending some fun time with Braum before he left to Iraq.

Where a kid can be a kid