Doggies

Since Mama and Daddy are on their trip west, Megan is house sitting for them.  We are enjoying having a little extra time with her!  She came up to play with our dogs and I had to laugh when I looked out back and saw this...

Apparently, Marley had climbed up into the playset and didn't want to come down.  Megan and Jackson climbed up after him to try to get him down.  He didn't want to.  What he wanted to do was go through the horizontal slide to the other side!  :)  They knew that would be a disaster because there is NO good way down from that side.  However, it is kind of hard to keep a 100 pound dog from going where he wants to go!  :)

They cajoled and pushed and even tried to get him to go down the big curvy slide, but he wasn't having any.  Finally, when he was good and ready, he came down on his own accord.  But, it was all pretty amusing to watch from the house!  :)

Sad note, though... this has turned out to be the last time any of us have seen Declan, Anna's little doggie.  He was up here visiting that afternoon, but has since disappeared.  We are still hoping someone will find him or he will somehow show up back home.  But, it is a pretty sad time around here.  

A blessing on the "trip that wasn't"

We were supposed to be traveling out west this week.  We had been planning on taking this trip for several months, traveling alongside Mama and Daddy.  But, sadly, Marvin came down with the same virus that got Jonathan a couple weeks ago and we just couldn't make the trip.  However, we heard from Mama and Daddy and learned of a blessing on the "trip that wasn't".  :)

We had reserved 2 rooms at a hotel in Rapid City, SD at the Advanced Purchase price.  We knew that room could not be cancelled and weren't really worried about it.  When Daddy checked in he let the front desk know that he was aware it couldn't be cancelled and they were apparently quite grateful that he wasn't pitching a fit.  (What on earth are people thinking to pitch fits for something they agree to up front??  Anyway...)  Daddy did, however, tell the front desk that what he wanted was for them to give that room to someone who came in during the evening who looked like they needed the room.  He wasn't totally sure they would follow through, but he hoped they would.

In the morning when Mama and Daddy checked out, they were greeted with this story...

Late that night a young couple came into the hotel looking pretty bedraggled.  The man had just been transferred to Rapid City to Ellsworth Air Force base.  Upon arriving in town they had gone to their housing only to discover there had been a water main break and they couldn't stay at their apartment.  They inquired how much a room for the night would cost.  When they heard, their faces fell and they turned to leave.  The front desk guy thought of Daddy's offer and called to him that there was a free room for the couple.  The airman started to protest and the front desk fella told him, "It's not free from the hotel, some guy here already paid for it and wants to give it away."  At that point, the airman started to cry.  They accepted the room.

When Mama and Daddy were hearing this story, they told the front desk attendant the final detail.  That room had been reserved for a decorated and disabled Vietnam vet and it just seemed perfect that the room was a blessing to that airman and his wife.

Makes the "trip that wasn't" feel much, much better.   :)

Mia's Graduation Party

Last Friday we attended dear Mia's high school graduation celebration out at the lake.  It was actually a celebration of 5 graduating seniors that have been close friends since 1st and 2nd grade.  Happily, they chose to have their party on Friday evening instead of Saturday - meaning they had lovely weather for their outside gathering.  (unlike the rest of the rainy weekend...)

Mia, known for her adorable desserts, made these cute little 'sushi' rice krispie treats.  

She also created these graduation cap candies which tasted as good as they looked.  

Jackson and Mia

Gigi brought a special gift for Jared which caught everyone's attention.  She gave him a trash bag to put on, a hammer and a watermelon.  He ended up not being quite the Gallagher she might have envisioned, but that enabled him to share the watermelon with his friends.  :)  I am pretty sure they weren't disappointed.   :)

Mia will be traveling to Belgium for a year, Joey is heading to Emory University, Mason to Wash U, and Sebastian will be at Truman.  Wish I had gotten a photo of that small group.  Maybe I can before the summer is over...  We sure will miss these kids!

More photos from the evening....

Jackson and Gigi

Hmmmm... Not sure...    :)

the weather was just perfect!

no celebration is complete without time on the playground!!  :)

A beautiful evening

Megan's Senior Photos

I just realized that I never blogged about Megan's senior photos!  How did I miss that?  Well, here is a catch up post.  (since she graduated from high school last weekend!)   :)

Jackson and Megan worked on her senior photos last fall.  She is such a lovely girl and I think her photos turned out so nicely.  As you can see, she is a nature and animal lover and I believe her photos captured her essence perfectly.  

We love her and are so proud of her!!

Another update on the little house

Well, work is coming along on the revamping of Anna and Matthew's little house.  I want to keep up with the progress here on the blog as a record of all the work.  Granted, it doesn't look like much right now, but as part of the big picture, it shows how much progress has been made.  There is still a lot to do, but I am confident it will get finished on schedule.  Here are some photos...

Matthew and Julie in the entryway.  You can see that all wallpaper & carpet is gone from throughout the house plus, everything has been primed and is ready for new paint.  Those steps alone make the whole house feel so much brighter and light-filled.  Along with painting, they will be putting down an indoor/outdoor carpet in this entry/porch room.

Looking the other direction in the entryway. You are seeing the master bedroom closet where the wall is ready for new sheetrock.

All wallpaper is now down in the living room.  Primed and ready for paint.  Hardwood floors due to be cleaned and repaired soon.  

2nd bedroom - old paneling is primed and ready for paint.  Hardwood floors will be cleaned soon.

In the master bedroom looking in the closet door (space for closet taken from entryway room).  

Matthew in the master closet.  There is a window in there for great lighting!

New subfloor in the kitchen.  New floor covering will be going in soon.

Old appliances gone and wall panels taken down.  Primed and ready for new paint and appliances.

Still work to do, but old sink and toilet are gone, crazy cabinet that opened INTO the shower is now rebuilt (to open to room.)  Primed and ready for paint.

Utility room - now a holding area for bathroom fixtures.  :)  But primed and ready for paint!

There are a TON of plants at this little house - how wonderful!  Ferns all along the side of the house.

Matthew happily checking out the strawberry plants in the backyard.  :)