This is the house that Matt built...and my parents made look amazing on the outside!

When my parents were here they worked none stop on the outside of our house.

Anyone who knows my mom...knows she is always up for a project and Dad got right in there.

Together they accomplished amazing fetes.

Everyday was a new adventure to be seen.

The kids of course loved it too.

They got to be home...with grandma and grandpa...ride the 4 wheeler...and be OUTSIDE!

Mom and Dad, we could never thank you enough for all you did.

Please know how much we appreciate everything!!

You are amazing!

(I wanted to quit an hour into my first day helping...they had already been doing it for about two weeks!)  Amazing!!

 My dad took some great pictures while he was here.

Thought it would be fun to post for all of you readers who have not had the opportunity to visit us here in North Idaho.

And for the local readers...we are selling our house if you know anyone who is interested in this gem!

It is a great house and we will miss it.

 

 Here is the front yard...looking from the house.

Garden to the left as well as the spacious pool and wood storage to the right.

 Kitchen area.....view when you first walk in the house. Living room to the left.

 Yes, there is a deck there!  We will get to that story!!

 Here are the rocks that now line all around our house.  I wish I had a crazy weed grown before picture so you could see how amazing this is.  And my NEW flower garden.  That I happened to mention I would like to do and TADAA..it was there when I got home from work.

LOVE IT!!

 This is the back of the house and the master bedroom addition.  This is what started the rock around the house.  The big boulders were used when Joel added on the addition and then filled. 

 Matt and Dad continued the curve with the left over boulders to finish off the kitchen area.

It looks so nice!

 And then it became addicting and we just had to keep going and going.....

 till we reached the front the day before Katherine's birthday.

Should we go around or not...the great debate....

well if we did then we would have to move them when we put the deck in...well that wouldn't be a big deal.  But boy the deck would look nice....well we have the wood for it....and Matt has the day off...should we shouldn't we....and then in a matter of minutes at 8:30 am the day before Katherine's birthday party....the deck began!

 Everyone helped!

 Minor delay when the tractor broke down...inches from the house...whew that made Dad sweat a bit!

 Wes was ready!

 The crew and their endless job of hauling rock.

At eleven pm the final deck board was placed and Mommy (headlamp on) began the staining process.  With Grandpa coaching and keeping her company.

Daddy quick got to bed for work in the morning and Grandma got the kids to sleep.

At 5:30 am, the morning of Katherine's party, Mommy put the second coat of stain on.

By 1:00 it was dry and Grandpa had everything cleared and back together.

2:00....PARTY TIME!

It looks so beautiful!

Thank you for all the hard work.

You should have seen Grandpa Bob's face when the first water balloon exploded mud all over the deck...oops!

It is well broken in now and looks great!

Gotta love TEAMWORK and hard working PARENTS!

 

Thank you again for all you do!!

2nd Horse Show

As most of you know, Katherine had her first fall this year off the horse.

She was fine...a bit bruised, but fine.  Although her confidence was shaken and it has taken some time to build this back up.  Sierra, being the excellent and patient teacher she is, has done a wonderful job of pushing and waiting for Katherine all in the right time.

In the middle of July, Katherine participated in her second horse show.  She was in the Lead Line class again.  The day before the show she trotted by herself for the first time since she fell. 

She was excited to be in the show.  All of the girls did a great job and despite the rain pouring down..got right out there and got the job done.  Way to Cowgirl Up girls!

 Katherine is in the pink shirt and pink helmet riding Jack.

 Grandma and Wesley playing some tic tac toe...waiting for Katherine to show.

 Thank you Auntie Heather for the super hero squinkies...they were lots of fun while waiting!

 4th place and very proud!

Way to go Katherine!

We are so proud of you!!

 She looks so grown-up in her little jeans and western shirt.

 Wesley shares Katherine's love for horses and riding.

I have a feeling with him it is going to be a bit wilder and faster pace.

Hopefully no bucking broncs!

I am happy and excited to report that the day before Katherine's birthday she was getting ready for her lesson.  She came into my room and said, "Mom, since I am going to be six tomorrow...I think it is time for me to trot again on my own."  I told I thought that was great, but do what you feel comfortable with.  Grandma took her to her lesson.  When she got home she can running in the house so excited..."Mom, I did it!  My confidence is back!" 

And she hasn't stopped since.  She is riding a different horse and is loving life.

At the fair we watched the horse show and Katherine was able to hand out ribbons.

The whole time she kept saying, "Mom, can't I just go ride a little bit."

She truly loves it.

Thank you to Sierra for your amazing teaching and mentoring to Katherine and to the rest of the Spanglers as well!  We feel so blest to have the opportunity for Katherine to ride and know none of this would be possible without all of you!

You are an incredible family!

Thank you for all you do for us!!

Auntie Heather and Grandma Mary come to visit!!

The second week of July brought my sweet sister Heather and my dearest Grandma Mary.

We were a full house filled with fun, laughs and great times.

We all loved every minute of it! 

It was so wonderful to spend time all together.

 Here is Heather with precious Evangeline.  She is Joel and Julia's daughter...our little cousin.

She is the youngest cousin on the Majeski side and I (Melanie) am the oldest.

She is a doll.

 We love playing with Auntie Heather.

Thank you for coming and playing with us...and letting us drive you crazy...ha ha.

Next time we will get Uncle Nate out here too!

 Grandma Mary with Joel and Evangeline.

It was so much fun to have Grandma come visit.

Love you so much!!

 Do we want to know what is going on at this table???

Looks like Cody, Katherine, and Wes are up to something!!

Grandma Sue and Opal. 

She is a sweet puppy....and getting so big!

We even managed to get family pics taken while everyone was here.

Next pic will be in June for Heather and Nate's wedding!!

We are so excited.

Oh I love my family!!

We are so blessed with amazing families!!!

4th of July Fun!

The month of July was filled with fun and adventure.

Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sue rode their motorcycles from Minnesota and spent the entire month of July with us.  It was a blast.  They arrived on July 1st.

Because this the first of a series of blogs that will be posted in reverse order...I am sure you have already read about all of our fun. 

Here is how we spent the 4th of July!

First we headed out to Troy, MT for their parade and celebration.

 The parade was so much fun.

Right in the middle of it...two fighter jets flew right through the main road super low.

It was very powerful.

Brought tears to Mommy and Grandma's eyes.

You could hear them for a long time afterward too.

 We have learned the bigger the wave the more candy they throw!

 True Cowboy 4th of July!

 Whoa...what is that coming down the road???

 After the parade we went to the park for food and fun.

There was the coolest face painting stand.

Check out the amazing face painting we had done....we even were patient enough to wait 45 mintues till our turn.  Grandpa struggled a bit...till he found ice cream and a bench!

 Beautiful Unicorn

 Wesley is so excited and concentrating so hard on being still.  I love his hands on his thighs and lips.

 The one and only....amazing Spiderman!

 Parade number two...Bonners Ferry!

Followed by a train ride in the park....great food...music...and awesome fireworks.

We ended up sitting right underneath them.  It was the closest we have ever been and so wonderful.

Wesley fell asleep about 15 minutes in to the show...Katherine made almost to the end.

It was a wonderful 4th of July.  We were all so exhausted and Mommy was very burnt!  

Grandpa Scott comes to visit!!!

Grandpa Scott came to visit us for all of last week.

It was a blink how fast it went.  We had so much fun with him.

Each day was an adventure...golfing, playing outside on the swing set, going shopping, going out to eat, bowling (that is a fun story for Mommy *smiles*)......and the list goes on and on.  We all wore each other out and loved every minute!!

Today at the airport after we gave Grandpa hugs...Wesley turned to Mommy and said, "Mommy, I wish Grandpa never had to leave."  It was very sweet.

The hardest part of living in Idaho is without a doubt being so far from our family.

Thank you for an amazing week, Grandpa Scott!

We love you sooooo much!!!!

 Grandpa and Katherine ready to hit the golf course.  Grandpa even taught Katherine how to drive the cart all by herself.

 Fun times with our sweet Grandpa.  (Wes was having a hard time finding his smile today.)

 Below.....Daddy and Wes ready to golf a round.

 The official score keeper!

 We start T ball this week.  So Grandpa worked with us this week so we would be ready.  Mini training camp.  Both of the kids are ready to knock it out of the park.  Wes likes to skip some bases, but he and Grandpa had a good pep talk on how the game works!!

 Here the kids are teaching Grandpa how to play Angry Birds.

What a wonderful week!

Thank you again for coming to visit!!

We had so much fun!

Love you!!