Wow, it has been a week since I last posted! So that will tell you just how busy we are!

Austin's game last Wednesday went great! He had lots of fun! Could not tell you if he won or lost...does not much matter, he played well! Allie did great while cheering for him! She looked like she knew what she was doing, they all did! And I say that with pride because I am the other coach! Friday, I was able to clean out the garage! Ewww! But it is done now! I was also able to get my closet and Johnny's cleaned out! I had already done the kids! Again something I did not think I would be doing this soon after moving in....but....So a truck load to Goodwill! I love to be able to give the kids clothes to friends but ours...not so much! Saturday Austin had weigh in...79.4 pounds! What that means to him...given the opportunity he can carry the ball. After weigh in the boys played several teams in their division. Austin again did very well! Johnny spent the afternoon helping Vince with some "dirt moving" The kids and I had team pics! Cash spent the afternoon with Mamaw! After pics, I played in a softball game with a couple friends from Church! I had TONS of fun! Did not do too bad for not playing in 3+ yrs! And I am hear to tell you...I am as sore as it gets! Every time I play ball it takes me back to playing when my Dad coached me! I swear I could hear him "keep your eye on it Kate" "Can of corn" "unhitch the plow" However, Dad you would have been proud of me! 2 doubles, a single, and a TRIPLE! I won't mention the BIG K...the dropped fly ball...or the fact that I threw yes threw my glove because I was so pissed! Okay so the attitude is still there!!!! Sunday Johnny, Cash and I went to breakfast and then I went to the craft show with Cheryl! Oh how I love the craft shows! So you see it has been BUSY around here! School starts in 8 days and I have a list a mile long of things to do when the kids go back! But until then....we have tons of stuff to squeeze in this week and weekend!

Outside of our Home!

~ East side of our House~

This is my favorite of all the flower beds that we have put in. It has the least amount of weeds! And it leads you to this...

Our Deck!!

We hired Amish men to come out and build a deck! They built it in 2 days! We love it!! I have been trying to convince Johnny that we need a nice big pool off of it...for some reason he is just not feeling it, I am going to keep working on that!

~The West side of our House~

Okay this looks awful I know, it is not done yet! Still trying to decide what else to put in this flower bed! Any suggestions? We have been getting our mulch from this place in Johnstown and it is really cheap ($40) for a heaping truck load! But the problem I have is I need like 10 truck loads for all that we are trying to do, and I just don't have time to go get more~so I know this is not pretty but...it will be!!!

~ Here is a closer view of the front/side~

It has come a long way since last year, when we moved in!

So, that was fun! Next time maybe, IF the house is clean I can give you a tour of the inside! Not much going on around here! The kids and I spent the day at the pool! Austin has a scrimmage tomorrow night! GO #21! Allie will be cheering for him! I will try to take some pictures! But for now it is off to bed!!!

~Husking Sweet Corn~

Saturday it was up early!! My Mom came over to freeze some corn! The kids with some help husked all 8 dozen ears! We have found that it was not a hard job...but messy! I am most certain that it will be worth it when we are eating yummy corn in the winter!

That took up most of our day! It was nice to be able to spend the day with my Mom! I did get the kids rooms cleaned out! Funny, I thought about a year ago that I would not have to actually clean out anything for at least a couple of years...not true! We have more "stuff" than anyone should have! It was a relief to be able to check their rooms and the corn off of my "to do" list!

There he is "Papaw's Boy"

To my Mom's surprise he was "Mimi's Boy" Saturday! I think he is "Who ever will pay the most attention to him boy"

Sunday! I am happy to report Johnny was able to cut the grass today!!! And the end result.....

Isn't it BEAUTIFUL!!!

So up early again today for Church! (Austin will be baptized on the 29th of August!) Then off to the grocery store! And home to find...Johnny is home and DONE with the 7 days a week!!! We were all glad to be able to spend the day together! We really did not do much. Watched a little bit of the race, worked in the yard, cooked dinner on the grill!! I say that with excitement. You see I do not do well on the grill. J is our grill man! I can cook and will cook but the grill and I...we really don't like each other very much! Or maybe it is that the grill does not like me very much?! Well anyways, we had a great dinner and a wonderful day!!

I also must tell you that Friday we finished up our school shopping! And for the first time ever....Our daughter LOVES to shop!!! This is very exciting to me 1. I love to shop 2. Allie and I are out numbered here, and I need her to like to do girlie things so we can be close 3. I love to shop 4. I have been waiting for a long time for her to actually like to try things on and like doing it! And pick really cute things out and agree that they are cute! And 5. I love to shop!! So Johnny...well he rolls his eyes and tells Allie "Nice Al" "Cute honey" What I am afraid he means is "there goes my paycheck" Well anyways the school shopping is done, except for Austin's shoes! Ummm yea he was fun to shop with too! Really! He actually asked to go into stores that I did not even know he knew about! So again because I love to shop...it was a good day!

GO MICHAEL PHELPS...was that cool or what!!!! I did not even know that I could get into swimming let alone be on a count down and cheering at the TV as though it could hear me!!!!

So that was our weekend! Busy as always!

Summer Fun!!!

Having Fun at the Zoo!

Allie & Chloe We have been busy busy busy around here! Tuesday Allie had Chloe over to spend the night. They had lots of fun! As you can see... Wednesday morning was up early to go to meet with Pastor David. We are still working on a date. I am hoping to know by the weekend! After that we were off to the Zoo. It was a beautiful day for it! We actually were able to make it everywhere in the Zoo except for North America. The kids were kinda bummed but we had to get home in time for our nightly football and cheer. Today we were up early again for a day at the pool! FYI I can not take pics and keep an eye out on Cash~who by the way has all of the sudden taken a liking to being in water that he can kick and be a "shark" in! He is so darn cute!!! So off for another night of football! Johnny is still on this 7 days a week shift...I have been trying to make a list today of all the things I need to be doing this weekend! School shopping is on the list for sure! I did not realize that we have like 2 weeks and they will be in school! Oh and all of you better have your phones on and ready to hear me crying on the first day! Austin will be in Middle school this year and my little Al will have to go all by herself! Okay I better save that for another day...I think I may need to get out the kleenex already!

Well the kids and I made it the weekend and we all still are alive...Thanks for the prayers!!!

Saturday we got up and cleaned the house, and I did say WE! It only took an hour maybe. The kids were amazed at how fast we were able to get it done! I was able to do my "I told you guys it goes fast when we work together" speech! You know one of those "when I am a mom I will not say that to my kids" Yeah well I ate those words...just like the other ones I eat so often!!! Being a Mom is hard work! So hats off to all of us Mom's! And Dad's! Johnny ended up working 12 hrs on Sat and 15 hrs on Sun! We were all happy to see him Sunday night! Still not sure how long this will go on, so keep up the prayers! So after cleaning the house the kids and I made some snacks to take to the party! We had a good time! RIP Piglet : ( Allie and I both agree that a pig roast is "gross" The boys disagree with us! On Sunday we went to church and found out that we are going to be able to change the baptism date, due to J having to work. Still not for sure on a date yet. Austin is meeting with David our Pastor tomorrow morning so we may know something after that. After church we went over to The Garrett's for lunch and conversation, playtime for the kids! It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed every minute of it! Yesterday was back to football and cheer! The weather here has been BEAUTIFUL! I mean low 70's, sunny, a nice breeze! You can just smell fall in the air! I love fall! So, I made chili for supper! Odd for August but like I said the weather...it was saying...fall...chili...so I made it! And it was very good! Not as good as yours Dad! But okay I am trying! Today is a little warmer outside. I spent all morning freezing sweet corn! I have never done it before, it is messy but not too hard and I know in January it will taste so good! Well it is off for now, Jake and Jenna will be leaving soon and before I know it, yup time to leave for football!

Enjoy our lazy day pics...

YEAH it is Friday!!!

Yesterday, Johnny had his yearly check up at the James. We are happy to say that all is well!! He is going to have a mole removed within the next week or so. Just out of precaution. He has like 5% chance that he would have the ugly C again~but we will take NO chances!!!

Football is still going strong~off til Monday! I think Austin is feeling better this week! Last week he was pretty sore! Oh the joys of getting in shape!

Cheer is going well too~Allie enjoyed herself Wednesday night! The high school cheerleaders had a 2 hr practice with them! They learned a "hello cheer" and a dance.

Today, Cash is not feeling well. Poor guy! There is nothing worse than not being able to make them feel better!

For all of you who did not know Austin is going to be baptised on the 17th. He is so excited about this! We are very proud of him!

Oh my goodness I almost forgot to tell you that we have grass! J is so very happy! He may even be able to mow in a week or so! Okay so I am happy too! Looking at mud and dirt for over a year gets old really fast!!! He has been treating the yard like it is a newborn infant! "hey baby did you water" "hey hon did you move back the sprinkler" "hey Kate did you make sure the ground was nice and wet under the straw" Too funny! I will be sure to post pics soon!

Johnny will be on 7 days a week for....we are not sure how long! Please say a little prayer for me that I do not get too frustrated with the kidos, and for him that it will not be for too long!! That is about it around here! Not much else going on! We have a party to go to tomorrow after J gets home from work! And hanging out the rest of the weekend! I love Saturday's & Sunday's!!!!

Yesterday we took a trip to COSI! Johnny had the day off due to rain and Austin and Allie were looking forward to a day with mom & dad! The first plan was to go to the pool...but as I said J had the day off due to rain, so they settled for COSI. As they were making the decision Johnny and I were laughing at Al, and trying to figure out where she got the "it is my way or the highway" tude! I buckled and have decided that it might be from me?! "the pool is the only thing that will make me happy" is all she kept saying! As you will see in the pics, she was proven wrong and our trip to COSI made her happy after all! Johnny and I have decided that COSI seemed better as a kid, but seeing the kids enjoying themselves made it fun for us as adults! Enjoy the pics!!

This could be fun?!

Okay so my cousin has been doing this blog thing...she is a little younger than I but....I thought it would be neat to try! Johnny and I both have family that live far and we are sooo good at sending pics~not! That maybe this will help keep everyone posted on what is going on in our busy lives!!! So it is now football/cheerleading season! Can you believe it? We were able to have 3 yes 3 days off from being on the go with something! Our kids are into so much, I love it...J not so much! He likes to see the kids busy and doing something (not on the couch or game system) but with his job he has little to no time at home. I do understand, however I am home all day so it really does not bother me the way it bothers him! He is a good Dad and toughs it out!! That is what we do as parents, right! So this past weekend I was able to spend with my Dad! He had a slow weekend so he came home to visit! We enjoyed having him here! And as always hated to see him go back! It won't be long and he will be home for the winter: ) Okay well I will try and post more later! This is kinda fun!! Thanks Les!!! Oh and about those pics...ummm yeah I am going to save that for another day!!