House update

Entry after.

Living room

Dining area

Kitchen.

Here are some 'after' pictures of our house.....so far. Slowly, but surely we're getting there! I personally don't like the "open" concept, but it's not forever, so it works.

Metamorphosis

For Christmas, I believe, the kiddos got a butterfly pavilion.....we finally felt settled enough to take on the adventure!!! I ordered the caterpillars and this is what they sent.....

.....five cute little fuzzy caterpillars in a jar with food on the bottom. The kids (ok, me too) were SUPER excited!!

They ate, and ate, and ate. Then they grew, and grew and grew!

Then, one day, they adventured to the top of the container and started to construct their chrysalis'.

Once they were finished we got to transfer them from the container to the netted cage.

After about a week they started to emerge from their chrysalis. Super cool....and boy are they fast! They split the bottom of the chrysalis and hang to try. I always thought that their wings were cramped in like and accordion, but nope....they are rolled up. As they hang there drying their wings unroll and flatten.

They all emerged the same day. We fed them orange slices and put sugar water solution on some flowers so they could drink like it was nectar.

Reagan and Brett doing their best butterfly impression! After a little lesson on the computer about the life cycle of the butterfly and a bit of ecology and learning how butterflies benefit nature we talked about how they eat. Both kids got to see the butterflies eating the sugar water we put on the flowers and from the orange slices...COOL!!! I explained that there "tongues" were looked a lot like fruit by the foot.....all rolled up! They LOVED the analogy.....and the snack.

After watching them all for a day or so we decided they wanted to adventure into the great outdoors. The big kids each took turns hold them and releasing them. We had so much fun with them. We'll do it again but might get double the caterpillars!

Brett releasing a painted lady butterfly.

Hurricane Earl

I wasn't too concerned about Hurricane Earl but did think we should tether down the trampoline in case the wind picked up. I had visions of the trampoline being in the neighbors back porch. Luckily, we didn't get much of a storm at all, and we're prepared for the next time....and there WILL be a next time!

To Jacksonville, NC

Brett "helping" Brady down the slide.

The kiddos enjoying some pool time at the Sauer residence.

The babes discovered the hose!

Brady was entertained for the duration of his time outside by this hose!

Addison checking out the slip 'n slide.

Still at it......funny boy.

You run, you slide, you hit the bump......and take a dive!!

Yep, still.............

And for inside fun.........they put bags on their heads!

We went to Jacksonville for a Birthday party of one of Scott's former co workers in Iowa City.....did I lose you? Two of Scott's former OSA's (Officer Selection Assistants) got orders to Camp Lejune, NC which is 45 min from us. Nathan and Ashley's daughter had a birthday so we went to go play and eat cake and have some fun time together. It was GREAT to see familiar faces and to see them and the Sego's again.

One fine day...

Ms. Dainty eating a cracker with one pinkie up!

Addison enjoying the trike.

Brady's turn....he actually gets mad though when he can't make them go like big brother Brett does.

Look at that face! "Brady, you drive...I'll shoot!" Geesh.

This is her, I'm SERIOUS!" face.....LOL.

Let's try THIS trike too.

Nope, nope, nope...help!!!!!!!!!

No her hand is NOT stuck....she kept losing the Fridge Phonics letters under the fridge and was not pleased.

Fridge phonics, aka......fridge scratcher......we don't have them there anymore. Who needs to know their ABC's anyways?

This child can sometimes be found just lounging on the floor....right in the middle of the kitchen (it isn't that big to begin with)........all while I make dinner. Perhaps she's just waiting to let me know if something falls....

Caught! No table dancing in this house...even if you are wearing a cute yellow ruffled shirt!

Nothing runs like a Deere.

Brett and Jaymasson.

Reagan and Jolie.

The kids are still loving their John Deere Gator 4x4. Brett has only gotten ran over twice and the car has only been hit once! We're hoping that maybe the small lessons learned here will make learning permits in real cars at 14 easier......yeah, I know, fat chance,huh?

Night owl

Here's our night owl, Addison. She goes to bed at 7 pm with Brady and sometimes likes to get up around 9 pm to see what Daddy and Mommy are up to. She enjoys the one on one time, I think....and usually ends up with a snack...maybe she smells the popcorn and wakes up.......hmmmm. On this particular night she decided this was the best way to watch TV with Dad. She was pretty tickled with herself. Goof ball!