old house/ new house

Our last house was an act of love, patience, dreams, threats of lawsuits and tears. We helped design it, with loving touches from a friend. We watched it being built from the ground up. It took forever, and cost more then we expected, but we loved every inch of it. It was huge and a great place to throw parties, which we often did.
We moved in 3 days before Christmas. Lucas was just a baby, he took his first steps in the living room, was potty trained on a very durable hard wood floor, had his first haircut on the counter in the laundry room. We had lots of extra space for lots of overnight visitors.
Whitney and her playgroup friends playing in the basement. They were only 3 and they were all sitting in their underwear with suckers in their mouthes (it was cute, not creepy). it was the best house for playgroup, the basement was huge and we couldn't hear the kids.
We had a family of foxes that lived in the backyard. Whitney and John took cat food and sat out there for an hour and got to feed them by hand. So many fabulous memories, in such a short period of time.
We got a call in Sept. for an offer we could not pass up. We moved to Canton 3 days after Christmas. It was cold up here, and we didn't know a soul. Nobody comes out much in January in Michigan, it was a long few months for me.
But now, we have lived in this house longer then we ever lived in Brownsburg. The house is sooo different, but filled with so many wonderful memories. They just took a little longer to get started.
Our family now comes up to visit all the time and stays for much longer then they ever did in Brownsburg.
Moving was the hardest thing we have ever had to do, and the best thing for the four of us. Those cold winter nights when we didn't know anyone else, we had to rely on one another for everything. It brought us closer together then any vacation ever could.
Being away from our family is hard, some days harder then others special events at school, or when I have to be at three places at once and John is out of town. I wish I had a grandparent for a back up. But, we have grown to appreciate our family more then we ever did before and love them beyond belief. We have also built some strong friendships up here and I now have my back up. I am just not related to any of them.
We are traveling to Indy this weekend. One of my nieces is graduating from high school. There will be family get togethers all weekend and we cannot wait to see everyone. We haven't been back since Christmastime, this visit is long overdue. Although we will miss watching the Indy 500 on TV, a perk of living in Mi, we will have the joy of visiting with family and laughing until your sides hurt.
WE are blessed.

TRUE HAPPINESS

True happiness comes from a sense of peace and contentment. Which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altrusim, of love and compassion and elimination of ignorance, selfishness and greed.
Dalai Lama

fall and the pumpkin patch

So come rain or shine, and we had both, we made our annual trip to the pumpkin patch....
Lucas has to pick one of the biggest pumpkins in the patch to try and take home.

on the wagon ride there was lots of snuggling to try and keep the chill off. The good news, we were about the only ones there, so there was no line anywhere.

Lucas and his daddy.

Whitney and her cousin Gabs. You girls look a little chilly, but still beautiful.

Johns induction

John was inducted into the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame. It was an absolute honor for him and our entire family for him to receive this honor. HIs basketball coach was the one to introduce him that evening, which brought us to tears. Almost his entire family was able to join us along with my parents. A special surprise was his friend that he played with during college, and after in Australia made the trip from Australia to be there for the dinner. It was wonderful to visit with so many old friends and experience the joy of the eveing.


John and his siblings and his mom.




Johns teammates that were able to join us that night. His coach to the far left.

First day of school

Lucas has 5 of his great friends in class. He said his teacher was nice today and he had fun. She let them have recess, so she started off on a good note.











Whitney has 11 girls in her class and is good friends with them all. She got the teacher she had wanted so all is good there.















Lucas and Whitney before school

Of course, Ruby had to get in on the gig, she was so sad to be left alone Whitney said she had a hard time sleeping last night, she was excited.. must get that from her mommy.

Lucs new room

While my parents took the kids to Canada, I needed a big project. So, I decided to paint Lucas' room. This is one of the only rooms left in the house that I have not painted and although he wasnt complaining, I felt it needed to be done. So he picked the colors and the idea and I got busy. So here you go, for those that visit, it is now the blue room.

time with family

Jackson and Lucas are two kindred spirits. They are both so laid back and so loving. They totally bonded in the few days they had together. Lucas would sit and play with him and be so kind and patient with him. Jackson would reach both hands out to Lucas for some love.

Boy are they handsome.

And then there are the two crazy chicks. Lucy is three and a half and is so full of business. She was bossing the kids around, giving everybody hell. Lucy and Whitney are sitting with Ruby on the back of Papaws boat. They swam and jumped off the dock for hours. And then slept really well. Funny how those two oldest girls are so similar also. HMMM.