This and That from Connie's camera...

Here are a few moments captured on Connie's camera when her and Perry were visiting and helping us move and set up the new place over the holidays. They were such a huge help, as they always are.

Remember the awesome chicken coop and pen that Nathan designed and built? Well, we were not about to leave it behind so we moved it! Knowing that we would be moving someday, Nathan designed it to easily come apart for that purpose (such a thinker!). The roof came off in three sections and then the pen came off of the coop. We locked the chickens in the coop for the move over...they were NOT happy with us! The poor girls didn't lay us many eggs for several weeks! But all is forgiven now and we are getting plenty! Good girls!

Here they are moving...with great effort... the coop onto the "foundation". Yep, those chickens are in there wondering what the heck is going on! LOL!

Then Nathan takes off the chicken wire he had temporarily put on top so that we could attach the roof. The funniest part of this was not caught on camera...what do you think you would do if you were one of those hens and all of the sudden you could fly out? Yep, feathers went flying and lets just say, they were not the easiest things to catch after that. LOL! It was too funny.

Whew! That was hard work! Thank you Perry!

Nick adding water the our automatic watering system...

All settled. I think they are going to like it out here!




And I will add a few more pictures from Connie's camera. I just cannot resist!

Andrew helping make lunch...he is soooo cute!!!!

Andrew and Grandpa walking down to get our mail...I think this turned into a favorite daily activity!

Ben playing a game and getting excited when he notices that his sweet sister is making a sweet treat! Yumm! We love having a little baker in the house!

Andrew was collecting pine cones and just couldn't carry them all back to the house, so Grandpa helped!

Good times! Thank you Connie for capturing these memories for us!

Happy New Year with the Tolmans!

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!"
We had our first "official party" on New Year's Eve in our new home. It was a lot of fun! We had several families come out for the fun. And when I say come out, I mean it! These were all Albany friends that each drove 45 minutes just to come visit us! We feel so loved! Thank you to the Montgomery's, Clark's, Anderson's, Trish, and Angie! We love you all! Others were invited but couldn't come, we love them too!

Here the ladies played a game around the kitchen table...later the guys joined in too.

Eating dinner all spread out, some at the table, some in the kitchen, some on the steps to our living room... make yourself at home!

Good Friends!

The teens hung out around the food for a while.

The men kicked back and watched football.

The "big boys" hung out in Nick's room for a while. I went to look for them upstairs and they were all playing video games on their ped's (personal electronic devices). Huh? Whatever happened to "talking" when you "hung out"? LOL!

And then, of course, by the end of the night Ben and several of the other kids were throwing paper airplanes over the banister from the loft and bridge upstairs. But who taught them this little trick? Our dear friend, Max. LOL! This is not surprising...and they would have figured it out sooner or later. I am actually surprised they have lived here for almost two weeks and haven't yet!

Ready...aim...fire!!!

It is a tradition for us to do a "family friendly" New Year's Eve party every year. Part of the tradition is that we ring in the new year along with New York City, when the ball actually drops. This is only 9:00PM our time, but then the young children get the full fun of New Years, and still get to bed at a decent hour. Plus all of our friends are able to drive home safely before all the "heavy party-ers" hit the road after midnight.

WELCOME 2012! We are so excited to see what you will bring!