I haven't been keeping up lately like I have been. When my back went out, I couldn't get on the computer and I just haven't been in the mood lately to sit down and do anything.

A couple of weeks ago, we went to Beloit and got pictures taken by my cousin Andrea. Here are a couple of my favorites.


She did such an awesome job. It is going to be tough choosing which one I want to put in the living room.

My mom and dad are on vacation right now. I talked to them yesterday and they were in Yellowstone. They left last Wednesday and were headed to Montana. Dad has always wanted to see that part of the country. I am sure it is just beautiful. I can't wait to see their pictures.

Chris has been working non stop for the last month and a half. I don't think he has taken a day off yet. But it is wearing on him and he is ready to get away. As long as nothing comes up in the next couple of days, we are planning on leaving town Friday for a weeks vacation. Chris wants to go to Tennessee and Virginia. There are alot of Civil War sites in both of these states. We had so much fun 2 years ago in Gettysburg exploring and learning about the battles that went on there. It should be fun learning and visiting other battle sites. It will also be an experience doing this with a 4 month old!!!

Madi is doing well. We are dealing with teething right now. At least I think it is teething. She is constantly chewing on her fingers and anything she can get in her mouth. Drooling like crazy. Since last Friday she gets very cranky in the afternoons and I couldn't do anything to relieve her pain. I called the doctor and he said to give her Tylenol as needed. It has helped but I can't wait to get her to the doctor on Friday. She has her 4 month checkup and shots. I am debating on whether to take her for her shots tomorrow or wait until Friday. I just don't feel comfortable getting her shots Friday morning and then making her travel. I am also hoping they will say to start giving her cereal. She just doesn't seem satisfied with just a bottle anymore. But I will keep you posted and let you know on Friday.

I have to finish laundry and getting the house cleaned up before leaving Friday.

Love, Amy

It has been a tough week around here for me. My back has been out and I have been in pain since last Wednesday. It got so bad that I couldn't pick Madi up or hold her for very long. Chris' mom came over Friday, Monday, Tuesday and this morning to help me out. This weekend we both went to my parent's house. I have been going to the Chiropractor and got some medicine from my regular doctor. Both seem to be working and I have finally been able to take care of Madi today by myself.

Chris is still working on the inside of the new addition. They got the electrical done, insulation in, and wood put on the walls. He has been painting when he can. He has been forced into coming home early and taking care of Madi. He has been a trooper. I don't have any new pics but will probably get some this weekend.

Have a great rest of the week
Love, Amy

Wow!!!! In just 3 days, Chris was able to get the whole addition done on his building. Just amazing. Here is everyone who helped work on it: Chris, Dan, Jane (Chris' parents), Jon (his brother), Bob (cousin to Dan and moving into the new addition to do Taxedermy), Bobby (Bob's son), Vicki and Jeff (Bob's daughter and her husband), Patty (Bob's wife), Claire (Bobby's wife), Tom and Betty (Chris' grandparents), and I finally made it down Monday afternoon. My mom and dad cooked lunch and brought it down on Sunday. Which was very nice. To see the transformation look at the pics in my shop photo album on the left. Satuday it rained almost all day. They were all wet and cold. They had the heater running in the shop during the day. By Monday it was sunny and warm and they had the fans blowing.

Saturday, Mom, Dad, Madi and I went to Beloit to get pictures taken by my cousin Andrea. She did a wonderful job and she got a lot of great photos. I'll pass them on once I get them. It was a great day. We stayed at Andrea's and visited all day. Of course we had plenty of entertainment between Ella, Andrea's almost 2 year old, and Madi.

Well, we have determined that Madi is teething. For the last month she has been drooling like crazy. And the last couple weeks she can't keep her fingers out of her mouth. But, she doesn't have enough coordination yet with her hands to keep a teething ring in her mouth for any length. I have been sitting with her in the evenings and holding it for her and massaging her gums. It seems to help. I think that may also be the cause of her non sleeping habits. I am just glad that it hasn't been keeping her up at night, yet.

I hope everyone has a great rest of this short week!

Love, Amy

Last night, we had all of Dan's family over for supper. That means we fed 14 adults and 3 kids. I made swiss steak, mashed potatoes, corn, and vinegar cucumbers. It was so good. I have never cooked that much food for that many people. It was hard work but I enjoyed it so much!! I could probably have Christmas at my house, now that I know I can do it. Madi was such a trooper during the day. She played on the floor and sat in her swing while I chopped and peeled vegetables. But she was so tired last night. She had a few really good crying spells while everyone was here. She is starting to tell me when she has had enough with noise and people I think. Good thing about it was she went to sleep pretty good last night!! She must have been exhausted because it is 9:00 am and she is still sleeping.

I had to post this pic. She is just too cute. They said she was trying to look at the glasses on her face and she was looking cross eyed!!


Chris starts building walls tomorrow down at the shop. Hopefully it doesn't rain. Madi and I and my parents are going to Beloit tomorrow to have pictures taken. My cousin Andrea is going to take them. We also want to visit my Great Aunt Marlene and Uncle Tom, stop at the cemetary, and make a trip out to the farm. We are just going to hang out in Beloit for the day, it is going to be a lot of fun.

I miss going up there. We used to go to the farm a lot when we were younger. We had so much fun, riding four wheelers, sleeping outside in the back of the truck, getting scared by a frog that had found its way into the truck on our sleeping bags, shooting off fireworks and watching them fly clear to the "tird cellar" as my Uncle Frank would say. I thought that was so funny and I remember that still today. Darci, do you remember when we were going to walk to Uncle Melvins house and we tied our shoe strings together. As we walked the knot got tighter and tighter and we couldn't get it out. I think you ended up walking back with your shoe off and I had it trailing behind me. We weren't always the brightest kids, but we had fun!!

Enough reminiscing. I need to finish getting the kitchen cleaned back up and dishes done. Have a great weekend.

Love, Amy