Extreme Makeover Home Edition Airs Tonight!!!!

This is the one I volunteered on!!!! 8pm on ABC

Extreme Makeover Home Edition!

No really! I actually did it! I volunteered for the taping in Kirkland, WA 2 weeks ago and I put in a total of 25 hours of volunteer time, part of the time as a skilled trade, part of the time as a general volunteer- just based on what was needed at the time! I had only my cell phone with me so the pictures aren't the best quality but you can tell what they are anyway. I have several pictures of the inside of the house and such but since the show doesn't air until January I think I should not post those on the internet.

I had my hands in every room in that house. When you watch the show (and I know you will!) I grouted the tiles in the downstairs bathroom and the master bathroom and I built the attic access panel frames in the office upstairs. I helped landscape in the backyard and I helped "move the mountain" (you'll see what I mean when you watch the show!) It was so cool!! It was easily one of the most incredible experiences of my life! I met some amazing people and got to see how a TV show happens- it is really incredible- and yes it does happen in just one week!

To read more about the family this home is for check out: http://www.komotv.com/news/10055816.html

...and then check out my proof of presence!

Why didn't anyone tell me I have a Leno chin?

Yes it really is him!

The house- on the morning of what was supposed to be the day we brought the family home. The weather was so miserable that we were really behind schedule- so this was actually taken about 30 hours before the family actually came home- and yes, that is a huge mountain of dirt in the front yard, there is no front porch surface yet and those pillars on the front of the house are not yet connected to anything- they are just standing there.

By the way, when you watch the show, you can look for me, but I don't know that you'll see me. They got me a few times but I am hoping they cut it because frankly I have no desire to see what I look like on TV. I didn't do it to be on tv. I did it because I wanted to be a part of something so much bigger than me. I wanted to be a part of changing someone's life forever. I wanted to be a part of a show that brings me to tears every single week. I think I would like to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity now, because I know the experience would be just as incredible, just as rewarding.

A Quick Catch Up

We have been busy! We had a scary summer waiting for the job thing to happen. Matt finally started his new job on August 6th and thus the commuting began. We listed the house for sale at the end of July.
As it is now Matt is still working in Everett (loves his job) and we are still living in Lynden. The national mortgage crisis is affecting us big time up here- the house has not sold- heck it hasn't even been looked at. So we have sort of fallen into a routine as best we can. Isaac is back in preschool and I am staying active at church and we are back to MOPS for the fall season. I am on the creative activities team at MOPS this year. So far it is fun and far less demanding than being a table leader (which is exactly what I need at the moment).
Max is 16 months old and is getting so big (of course)! He is walking and talking (a bit) now. He is all over the place, into everything and already showing signs of being a rough and tumble boy- he loves to play light sabers like big brother and he growls all the time like he is a monster. He has been making truck noises for months already. He takes some pretty nasty falls and jumps right back up and keeps going. He is certainly more daring than Isaac was.
Isaac turned five last Friday. He had a great day of preschool, playing with friends and topped it all off with a Transformers birthday party. He has now decided that since he is a big 5 year old he is too old to take baths and now must take showers. Can't wait to see the water bill next month! He is doing really great in preschool this year too! He is really getting into the learning part (last year he was far more interested in playing) but now I catch him singing his abc's and trying to learn his letters. He has been learning to tell time lately too. He is definitely struggling with daddy being gone so much however. He is showing some obvious signs of depression and I am working with him all that I can to keep it at bay.
Matt is doing well. His hand has healed pretty well and he has learned to deal with any left over inadequacies. He is working hard and really likes his job. He is always trying to explain some exciting detail to me while I stare blankly and smile at him. He has a new 2005 Toyota Corolla (had to get something reliable and more comfortable for the crazy commutes) I must admit I like to borrow it on the weekends as it is far cooler than my mommy-mobile. He hates the commute and misses the boys like crazy (I think he probably misses me too).
So that's about it for now. I will post with pictures soon.

Allison's Farewell Tea Party- June 7

Allison and I
Melissa and Allison

Maria

At Lynden's Cup of Tea

Miss Allison

Jodee

Sara- Allison's Sister

The 6 of us- one last time

Allison moved back to southern California in June. The girls got together one last time to say goodbye to one of our dearest friends. She will be missed by all. Please come back to visit soon!

The Rock Keepers

We've always loved the little green men on the WWU campus!
We took advantage of the opportunity to take some fun pictures of the boys

hanging out with these cute little critters

and then just hanging out on the rocks

a new friend

up here mommy!

Senior Project Demonstration Day! June 7

We all came to see the culmination of daddy's hard work!
The boys passed the time by spinning in an office chair

The proud parents! Phew! It's about time!

Explaining the details to some visitors

Matt with his other pride & joy.

May 26th- The Launch!!! Finally!!!

Some final touches
Isaac made a friend- and they were inseperable!

Putting the rocket together...

Heading out to the launchpad

Blast off!!!!

Found it!!!

It was a REALLY long trip, when we got there it was REALLY dusty, the next day it got REALLY hot while we waited for Matt's rocket to launch, but when it finally went up, it was REALLY cool!!! This was the last big event leading up to graduation...only 2 weeks to the end!!!

Last Day of Preschool May 25th

Such a big boy!
Chatting with classmate Sophie

Posing with his teachers Mrs. Brann and Mrs. Heeringa with the sun in his face. The teachers are holding the scrapbooks I made for them to thank them for being such great teachers! I made the covers and each student decorated their very own page to put inside. Sonshine preschool celebrates the last day of school by setting up a bike track and inviting all the kids to bring their bikes or scooters and riding around the track together. Even the teachers were out on their bikes too!

Daddy's Birthday May 23, '07

So Matt's schedule was just out of control. We couldn't celebrate his 30th birthday anywhere near his birthday because he was basically living at school. The day before his birthday he didn't have to leave for school until 9 am- so I had him meet us at a local restaurant for breakfast and presents. The waitress was great- she even helped us sing to him. Instead of a cake Matt got a huge waffle drowning in strawberries and whipped cream- WITH a candle in it!

Isaac's Spring Program May '07

Hi Mom!!!!!
Caught mid-song...

Enjoying a snack after the show with baby brother!

Isaac's Preschool Spring program was lots of fun- and SO cute! Mamo came up to join us- daddy had class this time. They sang about lots of things- but our favorite was the little teapot song ( a slightly altered version of the familiar version). Isaac looked so nice in his Easter outfit, but then he had to go to the bathroom after I had released him to his teachers and before the show started, which means he came back from "going" by himself with his shirt hanging half out and his pants twisted. I suppose there are worse things.... like how instead of doing all of the choreography with the other kids halfway through the program Isaac decided to do the "smackdown elbow" (a WWE wrestling move that daddy taught him- thanks Matt!) over and over again. I hope no one else figured out what he was doing....

Meeting Uncle Thomas May '07

An after-dinner chat with Uncle Thomas
playing spaceships!!

Uncle Daniel, Uncle Thomas and the boys

Who knew that running up and down the hallway with lego spaceships could be so entertaining?

Uncle Thomas reads Isaac a story at bedtime

Uncle Thomas (from Iowa) was in town on business so he got to meet Max for the first time!

Helping at the New Park May '07

Shoveling Bark with Dad
The big playhouse

Staining the frame

Has it really been 3 months? Well here we go with some serious back-tracking!!! Back in May we volunteered to help build our community's new city park. This playground is HUGE!!! We had lots of fun helping out!

Frolicking through the Tulips!

There's always one...
They were working on a "project"

Man I love Washington!

Gonna eat it!

2 buddies, just checkin' out the view...

Me and my beautiful boys!

He just wanted to break one off!

My sweet boys!

Hiding with Caedmon in the Tulips!

It was a beautiful Spring day in Washington last Thursday, so we packed up and headed down to the tulip fields with our friends Denise, Caedmon and Keagan. Denise and I enjoyed the sunshine, beautiful flowers and fresh air, while our boys enjoyed the mud puddles and dirt clods! A wonderful time was had by all!