still alive

yes, we are still here...it's just been forever since i've blogged!  i have been so consumed with getting my neice's scrapbook of her first year completed.  i know, she's 4.  it's sad.  i actually gave this scrapbook to amanda before maddie was born, it just needed the pictures inserted.  so, you would think this would have been completed shortly after she turned one, right?  no.  to be honest, i forgot about it until we moved.  then i felt really really horrible for having it stowed away in my guest room dresser for four years.  no worries!  it's [almost] completed!!  i just need a few more pictures to insert and i can pass it on.  finally.  sorry it took so long, amanda!

we have also been super busy getting things accomplished around the house for brian's parents.  brian was able to cut down a tree in the backyard and then split the wood, so now his parents are set for cozy fires in their fireplace this winter.  we spent one saturday morning gathering the mess of limbs, leaves and walnuts the mini hurricaine left behind, too.  brian trimmed bushes, mowed the grass (with the help of oakley), and we picked up more walnuts.  the next project we are going to tackle is removing the 20 year old wallpaper from the dining room.  sounds like fun, right??  we are really enjoying this opportunity to help with all of these projects!

splitting wood.  glad he had the machine!

oakley helping load the wheelbarrow.  he's always so eager to help.

riding in the trailer was the best part of cleaning up the yard!

brian has been busy on the job search, too.  he's been in contact with recruiters from both kansas city and tampa.  he actually had a phone interview with a company in tampa today that went really well.  they are flying him down to florida for another interview next thursday.  we are excited about the potential opportunity.  he also has another phone interview with a company in kansas city on friday.  we will keep you posted as things progress!

oakley has been enjoying his time with nana and papa.  normally, when we see them, it's for a quick weekend or just a few days at a time.  this quality time with nana and papa is really cool!  oakley loves helping nana with her "chores" like watering the flowers, filling the bird feeders, and picking up walnuts in the yard.  they are quite the pair!  oakley loves sitting between nana and papa at dinner, too. :)

walnuts!

using "pyers" (pliers) to fix the trailor

we have had opportunities to play with brian's cousin's kids, jenna and grant.  oakley loves getting together with them and talks about them often after we leave.  i enjoy the time catching up with their mom, kristin, too. :)  brian's other cousin's kids, john and silas, are coming over to play tomorrow while their dad works.  we are so lucky to have all of the shafer side close enough to get this quality time in with everyone!  

i have been struggling with a knee injury lately.  i was running 5-10 miles at least 3-4 times a week for a while and woke up one day really hurting.  i ran through the pain :/ for a while, until it became unbearable.  i have an mri tomorrow to see what the deal is.  boo.  i've been going crazy not being able to run for the past 5 weeks.  i'm really hoping the doc will tell me i just need a little therapy and no surgery.  i was planning on running a half marathon this fall, but not sure if that's going to happen at this point.

oh yeah, my sister and brother-in-law found out they are having a boy in january!!  we are so excited to add another boy to the family.  one of these days, maddie will have a girl to play with, hopefully!  hang in there, maddie!

here are a few random pictures of oakley after brian gave him a *free* haircut (also known as a buzz).  he looks so old!

i took a picture of brian and oakley insisted i take one of him as well.