if you haven't heard from us lately...

it's because we've been here.

and here takes a while...

but more frequently than the grocery store, we've been hanging out at the sunny (sonny?) porch inn. rather than explaining why an old frame house has been given such a fun name (my sister in law is much better at telling these stories!), i'll just tell you why we've been here.
you see...we're moving.

yes.

again.

but before you get all crazy, we're simply moving down the road. still in our sweet town.

to a two bedroom, 1 bath house.

and i'll tell you what, i couldn't be more excited!!
and that's the truth.


michael's parents are allowing us to do some work to a house that michael's grandfather built. and actually, the work started last summer when michael, his sisters, and their husbands and children gutted and cleaned the house. pregnant girl had to sit back and watch as they waded through what was left after the house had been abandoned by former tenants (70s?,80s?)...
"sonny porche" and his mama...

everyone has a part in re-doing the s.p.i. and it will eventually be used as a camp house for all. but until then, we are getting it ready to become our next home.
so that's where we've been. and we've been packing too. because we have a contract on our current home! it's nuts around here. i mean, nuts.
but here's the fun part. some of these pictures are for the sake of my sisters (in-laws)--to keep them tuned in while they're away. sit back, enjoy our progress!

painting the kitchen
(before)


(after)



we painted the cabinets. they're not really installed yet, just a peek at what's to come.




and the trim


a look outside...doc's territory





hello handsome
this is my husband pulling fence.
and being handsome.



and finally, the little troops.
what the sweetest baby in the world does while we work...




the toddlers for security from snakes club

it's been a busy few weeks but we have definitely had some fun!

the carnival came to town for "Land of Leather" festival.  we were anxious to see if the kids were interested.  last year was a flop, but this year...

another story!

it was all we could do to hang on as lori threw herself on to the first ride!! in fact, i kept holding on to her and she kept pushing away my hands.
now, her brother?

just as excited with a little less ferocious intensity. this was his "warm up" ride. didn't even sit down even though dad held on. thus, displaying again, the difference between my first and second. but don't let this fool you.

he was ready for the boats. okay so they are VERY low to the ground. and his sister ran and dove into her seat. either way, he got on happy.

here they are, contemplating the kiddie roller coaster. at this point, they were begging to ride! i was very convinced lori meant every word, but nolan? would he really get on??

BELIEVE IT!! they rode this for the rest of the night!




we had the best time! did you, west?

affirmative!

wanted to share some recent pics of my youngest.  

unfortunately, the happiest smiles make for the blurriest pictures in babyland...all that arm dancing.  as you see here, underneath all of that cloud is one stellar baby shot.

here's typical west.  content.  sweet.  hanging out.

again, pretty typical.  he's "talking" a lot now.  i'm quite sure he is telling me how much he loves me in this shot.  ;)

true confessions from a before-picture mom

i've arrived.
no. not to that incredibly wise place where i know about important things and am confident in my decision-making. though that has happened, it has not happened often. just occasionally. semi-occasionally.
and i've especially not arrived to the place where people see me and think, wow, she's got it together. let me know if i do get there, by the way. we'll throw a party or something.
nope, i've arrived to the "before" picture-place.
you know when you've seen the before picture of the tired mom who looks like she's been working hard labor for some time? i guess there is a time or two where i sneak in an acceptable hair-do/outfit with some make-up to boot. but again, we're going to go with semi-occasionally. just think of the show "10 years younger" on TLC. those are the before shots to which i am comparing my arrival.
now, i'm not speaking of this because i'm proud. in fact, it's kind of a terrible discovery. and i'm less than thrilled that my discovery happened to me with an audience.
i was at a dps office in a nearby city. i wasn't planning on being at the dps, just there because the friendly bank teller reminded me that no money was mine to withdraw if i couldn't prove it was mine. and my expired license couldn't prove it. no problem...add an errand to the day's list.
at the dps, i met another friendly lady who reminded me i would be getting my picture re-taken.

slight panic attack-
"okay, really? i mean, is it that important? seriously, i wasn't prepared...my hair is in a pony tail and that's not normal-they won't recognize me (HA!), i just had a baby...PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY PICTURE!!!!"

have i ever bothered to talk about how i hate having my picture taken? lots of stress there. just don't like it.

and to make it worse, not only did my new friend assure that YES i would be posing for my new license, she also started suggesting i spruce up. i believe it went like this,
"yes, every time you come in to our office, we take your picture."
smile.
"now, you want to do something?; take your hair down; try something else?"
hmmm.
i mean, i know i didn't exactly fix my hair that morning but there was some effort. besides, didn't you see the car seat i've got hanging from my arms??? i've got other, higher priorities than standing in front of the mirror. i'm molding my babies little minds, hearts, teaching them everything they know! i mean, for pete's sake, i am busy shaping the future!!!

okay now i'm just getting dramatic. but it's way more fun.

my friend just smiled. i laughed like i could care less and said, "what you see is what you get." (inside i was cringing)
and so that sneaky lady snapped that nasty camera.

i was speechless when she showed me the picture...my "before" picture...and now recorded, by the state of Texas, as my identity. what a great, amazing moment for me.

later that night, my beautiful, crazy daughter helped start the healing process. some show was on tv in the background. we weren't really paying attention so when lori started yelling, "Mama! Mama!," i thought she was actually talking to me. turns out, brooke shields, uh-hmmm, BROOKE SHIELDS, appeared on-screen and she was pointing to the tv. to be sure i knew what was happening, i said, "sissy, who is that?" she walked to the tv, pointed again, and said, "it's Mama!"

okay, beautiful child of mine, you can think that.
and if my sweet daughter thinks she saw the correct image of me, then maybe there is hope for an "after" picture.
i'll be sure to post that picture.
when i look like brooke shields.
try not to hold your breath.

and speaking of images, let me share a few of the crazy girl :) she makes us laugh more than i can mention. she loves dress up and you never know what you are going to get next. that's my girl.   

(here she is modeling her brother's shoes and a net from the butterfly game)

here's the latest

our youngest is 4 weeks old now.  that is unbelievable.

here is what has been going on...

ignore some of the dates on a few pictures-we have issues with our camera.

getting his IV off so we could go home!!

the oldest two were so happy to see something in the car seat--it had been empty for a few weeks prior.
christmas--a sweet princess receives her crown.  she was way excited about it all.

and daddy may have had something to do with this one.
he could not have been more thrilled.  he drums E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.  he makes drumsticks out of the most unlikely objects.  he talks to his dad about ben, the drummer, whenever he's playing.  this was a good day for him. 

just plain cute.

how we do breakfast.




bath time!



part of our traditional photo shoot to get a birth announcement picture. these didn't make the cut but they're still cute, yes?



our baby is a smiler! he is a wonderful, precious baby. our easiest but don't tell the other two... it's still kind of fresh for them. we're all in love!