The Projects

"The Projects" : That is what we call the nearly 5 acre property we bought as a foreclosure about a year and a half ago.

Why "The Projects"?

Because Makenna started calling the property by that name because Jared was often talking about all 'the projects' that need to be done out there. And the name stuck.

So there is the explanation behind the name.

Our long term goal (provided we have God's blessing and it is His will for our family) is to tear down the current - not livable as is house and build a new house almost exactly where the current house is located.

It is exciting to go out to The Projects and dream about what life might look like out there. The best part is watching the kiddos run around and explore all the wide open space. I also love all the possibilities living out there brings.

A few things that the property already has on it that I am excited about:

• 2 apple trees
• 1 pear tree - which might have to get removed:( 
• a large patch of rhubarb 
• an old corn crib
• many full grown trees

A few things we have added/done to the property:

• raspberry bushes - which may or may not have died
• a bunch of perennial flowers
• torn down a fence
• trimmed/cut down dead trees
• used a brush hog to cut the overgrown pasture and yard -it was a sad sight until Jared went to work on it
• sprayed thistles several times
• had the electric company drop a power line that runs diagonally across the north/front side of the current house

Now for a few old pictures of the property. They are from over a year ago but not much has changed. I think Jared has a few that are more recent and that have several more/better angles of the property. But for now these will have to do.

Looking Southwest towards the pasture and loafing shed.

 Looking Northwest towards the corn crib.

Standing up by the current house looking South.

Hawaiian Pirate

4th of July

We headed to Carlisle for the 4th of July. Carlisle always has a big celebration on the 3rd and 4th.

Here are few pictures of some of the fun things the kiddos enjoyed...

Kiddie Parade

Kyla won a Cookie Monster stuffed animal

Pony Rides

Kyla As A Frog

Makenna Did Her Own Hair

Kyla Reading

A Bible

 

This is the best book every.....REALLY!!!

 

Kyla's Baby

Kyla is staring to really enjoy her baby dolls. It is really funny and sweet to watch her interact with her babies.

Should I put her in the bucket?

Sure, It looks like a great place for a baby.

All ready to go. I much prefer the two wheel approach...this way I can see my baby.

Outside for a stroll.

I'm Back

For what it's worth I back from my absence on the blog.

Lots has happened.

So I have a few things to add to the blog.

Here is a very brief and highlighted list:

• Kyla started walking
• Kyla turned 1
• I got glasses
• Colin turned 3
• We sold our house 
• Life is happening...enough said

Check back often to see/read in detail about the aforementioned and many other things. I'll try my best to get this blog updated sooner than later.

Wreck-it Ralph

This past Saturday we (as in me and Makenna and Colin... Jared got to stay home with Kyla) went to watch Wreck-it Ralph at Jack Trice. Thanks Auntie Sarah for finding out about this FREE and fun event. It was a ton of fun and the kiddos had a blast.

Colin @ 3

These are Colin's stats @ 3 years :

• Height - 3' 3"
• Weight - 33 pounds

Here is a highlighted list of some things that stand out about Colin @ 3 years :

• He LOVES to pretend play with Makenna.
• He can count to 20.
• He knows most of his letters and their sounds. He does best at telling you a word that starts with a letter sound rather than identifying the letter. 
• He is into super heros... Spiderman, Superman, knight/princes, and pirates.
• He will spend hours digging in dirt/sand. 
• He gets himself dressed and likes to have a say in what he wears.
• He loves food and will eat most anything that I make for him.
• He can verbally spell his name.
• A few of his favorite toys include; cars, tractors, his pretend gun, a plastic camera, and a sword.
• He has gotten in the habit of sticking things in his pockets. I however have yet to get into the habit of checking his pockets for trinkets before washing them.
• He works really hard at 25-50 piece puzzles and he does them very well with little help.
• He continues to have a rather laid back and quiet personality.
• He is a cuddle bug. He always wants to be rocked before both his nap and before bed at night.

Colin's 3 Year Pictures

Colin's Tractor Party

Colin requested a tractor theme for his birthday party. I think that he was very happy with the results.

Snow in May

Yep that is right, snow in May.

The kicker to this is that just this past weekend I packed all the winter coats and snow pants and sent them to my parents house because we are moving so the kiddos can't even go out and enjoy this really unusual gift of snow in May.

Although I wasn't able to get any pictures of the kids playing in the snow, I did get some of Kyla enjoying the snow from the window.

Kyla admiring the snow.

Kyla's view of the snow.

 This was too cute not to get a picture.

A Comparison

 Here is a quick comparison of how much Colin has changed in about a year....

A year ago (Age 2)

 

A few weeks ago (Age3)

Kyla Talking On The Phone

Kyla loves to play to with my phone. No it isn't a smart phone. It is your standard flip phone.As in she will try and throw a fit/whine so I will let her play with my phone.

Typically I don't let her play with my phone and try to satisfy her with one of Jared's old phones that have been converted into play phones for the kiddos. Most of the time this doesn't work...the kid is just too stinkin' smart.

Well, one particular day she somehow got a hold of my phone and broke it in half. Needless to say I had to get a new phone.

So long story short, I ended up with one of the kiddos play phones as my new phone.

If Jared Willis is anything he is resourceful!!!!

Here are a few pictures of Kyla playing with my new phone while it was still a play phone. If you think it's confusing to you, try explaining to you 1yr. old that this is no longer a phone she can play with.

I think I have a call.

 

Hello!!!

It's for you Mama.

Makenna @ 4 1/2

I decided that since I have recently updated about both Colin and Kyla I would do a quick update on Makenna too.

Here are a few things that stand out about Makenna @ 4 1/2 :

She loves to color.

She REALLY likes to play Sequence for Kids. She is also a fan of many other board games but this by far is her favorite.

She still lives in princess land. Although it has tamed down a bit.

She loves animals. She doesn't even discriminate. She likes to let bugs crawl on her hands and pick up worms. Inside I am thinking "that is gross" but outwardly I encourage her because really it isn't that gross and it even 'cool' (her word not mine) to Makenna.

Her vocabulary and word comprehension shocks me at times...in a good way. A few highlighted words in her vocabulary; familiar, particularly, precisely, and exactly.

She would rotate eating grilled cheese, pizza, or pb&j for every meal if I let her.

Makenna's 4 1/2 Pictures