A New Family Blog

To all who may feel we have been in neglect of updating our blog. It's true. We had some sort of formatting bug in the source code to our blog, which made the presentation "unbearable" to my wonderful wife who always wants things to look and feel nice, calm, and welcoming. To her our blog was becoming much like a house in disarray, where no one can think or find anything. Unfortunately, I couldn't help her clean up our blog house like I promised. I wasn't technologically savvy enough. So we started a new one. If only you could swap out real homes in the same way. Well anyway, without further ado...here is the link to our new home.

http://dakotaandcharlotte.blogspot.com/

Family Room Facelift

Our family room has had cheap, ugly, wood paneling since who knows when. It's been there since we've moved in and any way that you look at it - that's too long. So when my familiy came to visit over Spring Break we decided to put up some real walls. Keira and Bently were very excited to help with every stage of the project - demolition, screwing screw in, mudding, sanding, they were up for it all. Here they are providing a little band for entertainment and Grandpa was truly entertained! Thanks dad for all of your help! What a relief it is to not have that hideous wall paneling!

Corlista

My very dear friend Corlista came to visit us in March and it was a wonderful and very memorable visit. Corlista and I have been friends since before middle school - and although there have been times where I wished I would have made more of an effort in our friendship, every time we get together it seems like we pick up right where we left off. However, this visit was exceptionally special for me. I realized over the week how dearly I love and hold our friendship. One of the greatest things (out of many) that I have learned from Cori are the gift of unconditional love and service. Corlista has the ability to love with an amazing depth because of the amount of effort and service that she puts into a relationship. She is incredibly dedicated and I have learned so many things from a very dear and incredible friend. I hope that we can have another week like that very soon! On Saturday we went to the zoo all together - it was a first for Dakota and I as well! Regretably I don't have any great pictures of the week. A lot of great time and conversation was had enjoying the outdoors. I wish my hiking companion could stick around here forever with me! This is a picture she took of Keira and I - so sweet. I can't express in any real way the love that I have for such a true friend. She is a great motivation and example to me. Thakns for such a great week Cori!

Blogging Help!

We are in desperate need of help! I hate this blog lately because - well just look at it. The pictures are so disorganized and all over the place. This is not the case when I create the post. When I create the page it looks beautiful. However, as soon as I upload the new post it puts the pictures and text wherever it wants to which is always random. At any rate it is driving me crazy and I hate coming to my own page.

SO . . .

Please give me your tricks, ideas, methods - whatever!

Which program do you use to upload photos? How do you get everything to look the way you want it? Which templates do you prefer. Please help!

Winter in NC

Winters in North Carolina really could not be any more beautiful! We have picnics and go for walks in the park. And even enjoy a ride or too! And I thouroughly enjoy it because of you! Thank you for spending your days with me!

Timber . . .

As you all know a few months ago we bought a house that really needs some TLC - (and that's a very kind way to put it!) We have been working on the almost .5 acre yard since we moved in and have cut down many of the smaller trees ourselves. However, we have gotten to a point where we could no longer muscle through the work alone. So we hired our good friend Tommy Lowry, who has come to cut for us before, to take down the remaining "forest" that we like to call home. As I looked over the yard in the morning hours before Tommy's crew came - I fell in love with those huge living organisms and the sun streaming throught their branches. However, now that it's done I really love it!

This is the front yard right before Tommy and his boys came.

Dakota was careful to put a sign on each and every tree instructing the workers exactly what to do with it. (We have a fireplace and Dakota builds us a fire at my mere suggestion of it!)

And this is the backyard.

Here is the mass destruction that Tommy's crew can do in only a few short hours. I wish I could accurately describe the enormous earth shaking, and house rumbling boom that is heard each time a tree falls. It really is kind of an incredible experience.

And so we had picnic by the windows during the mornings, and put our coats on to watch a little closer in the afternoons. Bently thought he was in heaven watching the big machinery, trucks, and loud saws!

And that is just the beginning of many more hours of work in our yard. But we truly enjoy it and the kids are quick to grab their toy rakes and shovels to help! In the meantine we dream of soft green grass and a playground. Someday . . . someday . . .

Happy Valentine's

You Say True Love . . . and my mind goes here. How can it not? I Love You Valentine!!

Christmas Day

We had a great time opening presents this year on Christmas Day! This was the first year that Bently and Keira really knew what they were doing and were really excited about what was going on! I had a great time making Bently's present comprised of a bunch of dress-up costumes. I also snuck a pink cape into the mix since I knew that if Bently was interested - Keira would be too! Keira got a shopping cart, which she loves to push her baby in. Dakota recieved two new suits and a bunch of other clothes. And, of course, I got Molly - who I love having around! But then Dakota spoiled me with a new weather station with lots of cool features. I secretly really love watching and tracking the weather - so this gift was really perfect! However, all this does not even compare to the abundant blessing of family that we have. Keira and Bently bring us more joy everyday than I can even begin to describe. I am so thankful for them in every way. Dakota, you are immeasurably special to me. I love all the little things you do to let me know that you are always there and that you always care. Our extended family is scattered far but please know that when we are not with you, you are on our minds always. We love you all very much and are so blessed to be part of your lives.

Christmas Eve

As tradition goes, we always act out the dear Nativity story on Christmas Eve. This year Bently and Keira played the part of "angel". Dakota and I were Mary and Joseph (which we hadn't been since Bently was born) and baby Jesus (our brnad new cousin Eli) was too mad to be part of the scene. Our nativity scene looks a little rowdy and scraggly but hey, we try! I love being with these people - you all make me smile just to look at these photos! This is a really cute shot of my Grandpa Randall (Bently and Keira's great grandpa) who is now in his 80's. He is playing with one of the kids' toys and I love the very childlike expression on his face! He is great! Spending some time with him was probably one of my favorite parts of Christmas this year.

Long Drive

On the Friday before Christmas we started our journey for the Holidays to Michigan! I always look forward to going to Michigan but I do get sick of the car very easily. Really, I am no better than our dear children. At one point in Illinois we stopped for gas and I whined about wanting a slusshy because I had heard too much whining in the backseat. Dakota got us the yummy treat but I don't know what I was dreaming about thinking that we wouldn't have to share it with our backseat passengers. The whining quickly turned to screaming and to appease the jealous cries I handed over the slushy. As you can see moods quickly changed - as did the state of cleanliness! But hey, for a good hour of happiness it was well worth it!

Welcome Home Molly!

She's back! Luckily a dear lady found our little dog in the street a few days after she ran away. She said that Molly was sitting in the street shivering in the cold so she took her home. I got a call from the police the next day asking me if we'd found our dog and when I said no the gentleman connected me to this sweet lady who had found Molly! I am so grateful that even though Molly didn't have any tags on - such a nice person would take the time to find it's owner. We are so glad to have her back!