Dog vs. Cow

Some fun pictures of Rocky The Farm Dog taking on the Cows... Rocky actually goes up to the cows and licks them - they don't like that so much. Cow - 21 Rocky - 0

Father Like Son... drinking out of the cow watering tank...

Anthony's Birthday Party!!

We had a fun time at the Hanson's last weekend - we celebrated Anthony's 2nd Birthday! I was able to meet Anthony's birthmommy! I cannot wait to get to know Cynthia over the years at family get togethers. Cynthia also brough her boyfriend Jim - super nice guy. I was also able to meet Ed, Sally and Ben... Ed and Sally were Anthony's foster parents until the adoption was final. Again - wonderful people. Tonja and Mark are soooo blessed with how everything has turned out for them and Anthony! Here are a few pictures of the event! :)

Uncle Damon and Auntie Manda could NOT resist sharing their love for outdoor fun... As you can see from the picture - Anthony also shares our love and enjoyment! We're going to have sooo much fun throughout the years as he grows up with his crazy 'Up North' Uncle and Auntie! Giving rides around the yard to our friends....

Sharing with our friends... As the night comes to an end and the battery runs dead - the wheeler and Anthony had to be towed to the garage... Anthony also got a Lil' Tikes jumping pit - just what every little boy needs to share with his friends. Here are a few of the pictures of the fun (and babysitting service) the pit provided all afternoon! Here are some of the odd-n-end pictures I got for the event as well... Dogs beggin', kids on tricycles, etc...

Anthony's Birthday Cake!

Elmo Cake

Elmo Cupcakes

Odd-N-End Pictures

Some Odd-n-End pictures from this last weekend...

Tonja & Anthony hanging out on Friday afternoon...

Pictures from the farm...
And my ulitmate favorite - Anthony in the corner... some day he'll also look back and laugh at this picture! :)

Fireworks...

This is my first attempt at capturing some pictures of fireworks... I'd love to know what you think!

The Derbies...

We went to the Itasca County Fair 751st (not sure what number it is) Derby! Fun, fun! Here are some of the pictures I was able to get of the family enjoying the event - as well as some of the action caught on camera.

Here is Anthony and Carly meeting for the first time... They are exactly 1 month and 1 day apart in age. :) I think they are meeting for the first time... maybe it's the second?

Anthony sporting his crazy glasses - I love them!

This is my friend, Amanda's, sister: Sarah. (If that means any sense??) She made it to the finals! I'm not exactly sure who is driving these cars; however, I couldn't resist getting a fire shot! I can't imagine sitting in the car 2 feet away from flames coming at your face....

Anthony 2 Year Pictures

I Can't help but post some of my favorites from Anthony's 2 Year Photo Shoot! Here's the sneak preview...

Family Fun...

Of course there is always fun when the family gets together - even if we are working on a deadline. Here are some of the memories from the weekend; family, friends and dogs! :)

Rocky didn't want to be left behind-he figured the best spot would be in the trunk...

Supper on Friday evening - steak and potatoes... it was wonderful! :) I'm pretty sure Johnson is trying to flick me off with his stub - ha! :)

Meet Captain - my paernts' St. Bernard... who obviously got into some glue - a nose never lies!:)

My cousing Ryan and his two girls: Aleigha and Carly. Carly will be 2 September 25th and talk about a jabber jaw! "Hi daddy" "How's it going?" "I help?" ... It is so much fun watching and listening to her grow up! :) Such a daddy's girl - so much fun to see! :)

House Up Date...

It was a big week on Oteneagen Road - the Johnson's met their Monday deadline. It is hard to explain the magnitude of what was accomplished but I'm going to try for those of you who are following the story.

1) Floor beams, center beams and beams holding up the floor all came out. It was not ALL of the beams but it was approximately 8-10 on each side of the house. Any beam that looked as though it had been burnt went...

2) There are three layers of flooring that needed to come out of the whole house... carpet, thick board (for lack of a better word!:)) and the sub-flooring. Mind you - some of these were screwed in...

3) If you're taking out all the flooring - all the walls need to come with it.

4) All the sheet-rock, insulation and wiring needed to be pulled.

5) Now that we have succesfully tore everything out - we needed to start putting it back... one beam, sub-flooring and screw at a time.

As of today at 5:30pm... the last of everything was carried out of the house and it is ready for the cleaners tomorrow. It's amazing how clean the house already smells with fresh boards... I hope it stays that way once the doors/windows are shut.

The house looking towards the bedrooms/hallway/dinning room...

Standing in the parents' bedroom looking towards the kitchen...

Father Like Son...

We've had the joy of dog sitting Rocky for the last two weeks. Tonight I tried to get a picture of them together but they were not cooperating - so you have a ridiculous shot of them together.

Here's the run down of the fun we've had these last few weeks...

1) Rocky is an escape artist... he squeezes his 90 + fat butt out the fence. Mind you he does not go through, he does not go over but he goes under. I only wish I could catch him - just so I could see him attempting this crazy feat!

2) Becaue of #1... I come home and Ron and Vicki (bless them!) have baracaded off any area that looks as though Rocky 'might' be able to get his butt through. I guess he has gotten out a few times this week and has had to be escorted back to the fence by the neighbors on both sides of us!

3) Rocky doesn't like to go outside in the morning. I let Ned out and Rocky sits on the other side of the stove - peaking around - to see if I'm going to make him go out. I actually have to be dressed and ready to go to work before the dog will even think about going outside for his morning potty.

4) I came home last night and the boys had decided that within their activites for the day - they should eat the sheets off my bed. I've been meaning to buy new ones...

5) Every time I turn around Rocky is carrying something of ours in his mouth... a slipper - which I'm pretty sure he ate, my shamrock ears (not sure why they are still out!) and my favorite is Damon's hat...

So... I've had to change my routine in the morning, I have two dogs laying on me when I wake up, I've lost a slipper, sheets and a toy cow AND the gas from two big dogs is nauseating... Overall I can't help but think about how every day is an adventure when you have to labs living under the same roof. It makes me miss Ernie and the craziness he brought to our lives.

The Johnson House Up-Date...

So here are some pictures from the house... I've tried to get shots from the same angle; however, that is not always feasible when floors & walls are being removed.

I'll start with the kitchen...

Just before taking out the cabinets...

After the cabinets were removed....

After Demo Crew (where'd that chimney come from??)...

The flooring looks a bit 'zebra - ish' ... these are the lines they cut in order to replace the floor boards. That will be tomorrows project...

The Dinning Room...

After the Fire...

After moving everything out...

This is the same wall from above; however, it's removed - you're looking right into the bathroom - amazing more sound didn't carry from one room to the next... just one tiny wall apart! :)

The Living Room...

Right after the fire...

After we cleaned out all the contents...

Demo Crew...

Crazy Demo Crew... See Mom - it looks MUCH Larger! :)
This is the view from the kitchen looking at the bedrooms/hallway... my room at my parents has never been so clean in my life! :) I have never seen our basement from this angle... big! Dad and I are trying to decide whether or not we should put in a roller rink or a bowling alley. :)
Here's my loving husband - slaving away - cleaning the walls. I'm guessing that is going to cost his 'antique' mother-in-law 20+ vanilla malts! :)
**Q-tips are only being used to demonstrate the amount of cleaning needing to be done - there was only 1 Q-tip truly harmed in the making of this picture.** :) :)