Happy Father's Day!

Happy 1st Father's Day!!!  We sure love you!

Matt has to work on his first Father's Day, so we had a special surprise for him when he came home from work this morning!  The big present was a hammock so he and Baby K can lay in it this summer.

Happy Father's Day Dad!!!  I love you so so much!!

Not just a Happy Father's Day to John, but a Happy First Grandfather's Day too!!

Again, we love you so much Matt!  Here's to YOU!!!  Love all your girls,  Emily, Kennedy, Peppe and Koda

Happy Weekend!

We hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

(Thanks Molly for the cute shirt)

We are at it again

Matt has decided that he wants to re-do the front yard.  Some of the grass in the middle wasn't growing very well.  After a close inspection, we now know why.... there was NO soil under it... it was BARK DUST!!!!  Matt was so mad.  So we drew up a new plan to add to the yard and take away some of the ugly bark dust around the yard.  We gave Fisher's Pump Supply a drawing of our yard, and they drew out a new sprinkler system for us.  Then came the digging.  Thanks to Jake, we were able to use his dad's Ditch Witch, which made our lives a lot easier.  There was only a little manual digging to be done.  Matt has done all the work.  Mandy and I dug just a little.... but with Baby K it's hard to help.  Matt put in all the new pipe and then rented a sod cutter.  

After watching Matt maneuver this bad boy, I told him he should have been a cowboy!!  It was rough and tough!!

                                          

Another big thank you to Jeff Robinson!  We hired him to help pick up the sod, scrape away all the gross bark dusty soil and take it away!!  The boys then went and got some new soil to lay down.  So much better.  Hayden was here to help too.  Above he is helping Matt pick up the bad stuff and put it into Jeff's uncles 'wanna be dump truck'.

Matt has now rototilled all the soil and raked it nice and smooth.  He wired all the sprinklers and they work!  I'm so lucky to be married to such a knowledgeable guy.  I'm hoping the next step is seeding it.  I'll be back with updates and photos.... hopefully with grass in them!

Yeah, Papa John is Home!!!

Papa John just got back from 6 months in Venezuela.  This is the first time he got to meet and hold Kennedy!! It was so cute to see him hold and kiss her.

The three generations ~ priceless!

Cute shoes from Dinora (with a little growing room).

So many goodies were brought back for her.  I think there were at least 7 dolls.

These pieces are hand painted Christmas scenes that say 'Kennedy Layne 1st Christmas'.  

Thank you so much Papa John.  We love you and are so happy you are home safe and sound.

Cutie Pa Tootie

Miss K sittin' in her crib.

Gee, who knew that it would be even harder to take a picture of freshly painted toes then actually painting them??

They are even cuter in person!!

Our sweet girl

Congratulations PFB Class 10-02!

The second class of the Portland Fire Bureau 2010 (finally) finished their year long probation on May 27th, 2011!!  What a year it has been!  There were two new babies added to the mix too (Lila and Kennedy).  A lot of hard work, long hours, long nights, lots of studying and physical fitness ~ not to mention a lot of time away from loved ones... but it has paid off.  Seven out of the original twelve 'graduated' and are full time professional firefighters (Matt being the only Paramedic too).  I couldn't be more proud of all the them.  We have made life long friends.

To celebrate this wonderful occasion, we had a BBQ with all the guys and their families.  We made hamburgers, grilled hot dogs and cooked two chickens on our neighbors Traeger.  Everyone else brought their favorite side dish.  We had some delicious food that night.  

Not to mention it was the hottest day of 2011 ~ over 80 degrees!!

This is Carver and 'Juice' (Josh) playing a frisbee game.

Matt's best friend Timmy, (Matt), Tighe and Gwen (who is ready to deliver a sweet little boy any day now).  Don't make fun of our red neck couch on our back patio... it provided great, comfortable seating!

The happy host and hostess.

Oh yes, forgot to mention that at Portland Fire they have 'Mustache May' where everyone grows (or tries) a mustache.  Joe Ferroni had a the great idea to keep the mustaches until our BBQ which was June 4th to get a picture together.  So happy May is over.  Back row left to right: Joe Ferroni (Big Joe), Chris (Maz).  Front row left to right: Carver, Drew, Josh (Juice) and Matt (Night Hawk).  The nick names all came from academy.

Had to get a mustache picture with Sam in it.  We drew a mustache on him with an eye pencil.  So cute.  Little Sam loves all these firemen.... and they all LOVE him too!  Sammy stories can make your day.

Joe and Sam riding the Cub Cadet around our yard.  I guess when you live in the city, driving a tractor for fun is a treat.  

Daddy and Baby K.  Notice Baby K is wearing her new party dress.  She was the hit of the party!!  Again, so proud of all of you.  Job well done.  Now go out there and protect us, but be safe!!

4 Months Old

At the doctors office for her 4 month check-up (exactly to the day)

WOW!!!  11 pounds and 5.5 ounces ~ such a big girl

These shots are never easy to get ~ especially since Matt hasn't been around for any of the monthly photos to help (he's always been working)!

4 Month Stats: 

11 lb 5.5 oz 

23 inches long

Loves to smile and make cute sounds

Smiles at herself in her swings mirror

Likes to suck on her hands

Beginning to blow bubbles and drool

Really has begun to 'track' you as you move around the room

SHE IS OUR SUNSHINE!!!

More Bumbo Time

Miss K is getting great at sitting in her Bumbo.  She actually really enjoys it.  

Laying down in her crib with her piggy puppet (thanks Terrie).  She always smiles and squeals when we play with it.  Such a sweet, sweet little girl!!!  

Our First Garden

We are so excited for our 'first' garden!!  A BIG thank you to Grammy for helping us out.  She basically gave us all the plants and seeds we planted.  Let's see if I have a slice of a Geiss thumb in me.  Also, we thank her for her knowledge.  We had no idea that you plant a tomato plant on it's side ~ who knew??

She taught us that putting grass over the top will keep the heat in (which they like supposedly)

Tomato Plant

There is a tomato plant, peas, strawberries, lemon cucumber, burpless cucumber, yellow pepper, banana pepper, zucchini and carrots!!!  I cannot wait.  I'm super excited for the carrots, lemon cucumber and regular cucumber!  Let's keep our fingers crossed we can keep everything alive ~ and keep the DOGS OUT!!!!  I have noticed that they like to eat the grass off the tops (weirdos).  Grammy also told us to watch out for the lone squirrel we have (not Kennedy) and the birds.  We are on the watch....

Our friends make fun of me because pretty much the only pictures of me are like this.  I tell them it's because I'm the one taking all the pictures and sometimes it needs to be noted that I was actually there.  It's not a pretty picture, but it's me out tending to the garden.  That is our neighbors back yard though.