Our Hero Grandpa

Last weekend we had an incredible opportunity to see my Grandpa off and home for "Operation Hero Flight". This was a trip that was planned for veterans of WWII. Grandpa had called and put his name in to go, but hadn't heard anything for quite awhile, so he didn't think he was going to get to go. The trip was on Friday and on Tuesday he got a call. Someone had dropped out at the last minute, and the gal in charge of this part remembered him and thought that he should be the one to fill the last seat on the plane. As a family, we were all excited for him to go, but also a little scared. Afterall, he IS 93. Traveling by himself at his age just sounded a little scary. We later found, though, that there would be plenty of emergency personnel, and my cousin Clint, who lives in Baltimore, would be able to meet Grandpa for the weekend and help him around. We all felt better after that.

It was such an awesome experience to be at the ceremony when they left. We were also able to be there when they came home, and that, again, was an emotional experience. We really are proud of Grandpa and feel he is our "Hero".

Happy Birthday Brekan!

Yesterday was Brekan's 1st birthday. He is so much fun!! He is such a happy baby! He loves to just smile at you and wave. He's entered a climbing phase and loves to climb on anything low enough he can get on, which is pretty much everything in our apartment right now. He says "mama" and "dada", and "hi". I have found that with your first child you try and get them to do everything so early. But with him as my third, I am just enjoying things as they come and not pushing him to do anything. He has just one tooth barely breaking through, so he doesn't eat much besides baby food, but he had no problem with his ice cream cake last night. We love him so much and are so blessed to have him in our family!!

All smiles

Lovin' the cake!


Opening presents


This WAS a ball when we bought it for Brekan. It was broken as soon as we got home (by some older brothers). So Daddy made it a hat.

Is it done yet?

The answer is no, but it is getting there. Much progress has been made on the home, ans as long as it continues, we should be done in the next couple of months. So, here some pictures of what has been accomplished.

The stucco done. We like the green, ite matches the slate pretty well.

The rock was almost done

But started to fall off. Now there has been a change in who is installing it and it has to all be taken down and re-done.

The soffit and facia are done.

My mom stained her concrete floor. This is the base stain in her part. Ours is black.

After the second coat to make it a marble look.

After the sealer was put on. This is the finished product.

Our part of the basement, jet black.

They are currently working on the finish work and tile. Painting should start sometime next week.