Vive le Tour!

Yes, we are bike dorks but we are awesome bike dorks....the kind of bike dorks who throw parties and invite people over to celebrate the Tour de France regardless of whether or not they even watch it. Aimee used her creativeness to put together the deliciousness of each leader jersey from the tour and we even made our first dutch oven cobbler (it pays to have a gravel driveway!) Jackson took home the yellow this year (suck on that Contador!)

Our main goal was to consume as many calories as the riders spent during the final stage of the tour and I'm thinking we came pretty close. We also wanted to see exactly how many families we could fit into our kitchen where our family, by itself, fills it quite nicely.

Next it was time to say goodbye to the 2009 Tour de France in style.....fireworks. The fireworks started with the biggest big bang thanks to the "ball buster" firework (thanks Todd) which was follwed up by roman candles and then came the cops (oink, oink) telling us to put the fireworks away. So I guess fireworks also ended with a little ball busting as well, freakin pigs!

Once the cops left I wouldn't let the man keep us down so the kids stuck it to him with some snaps.

Jackson demonstrated his potential to one day ride the tour as Batman and he even had a crazy fan running along side of him cheering while going up the climb just like in the tour. It was a fun little way to share our nerdiness with our friends in the ville. Thanks to all who came and didn't poke fun a us. (Chambers, Overalls and Craguns...you were missed, I was the only dude there with shaved legs)

On another note, Vive le Piggys! Dang she's cute.

This is what I found when I came home for a quick lunch today, pillows piled on the floor and Jackson teaching Olivia how to make do without a trampoline while ruining a couch. All well, they have fun.

What is wrong with this picture?

We had to wear jackets and blankets to the Farmer's Market this morning. What is this crazy weather!?! I want summer back.

I'll tell you whats not wrong is when O fell asleep on the way home---and these 2 cute mugs!

Our life back in Kirksville

Our first week back to Kville felt like Kville didn't want us back. We had a stream of bad luck. Mine and the kids first trip back to Walmart---we had just finished up ALL our shopping (i'm talking a full cart, we were gone for a month) and as we were walking up to the register the lights went out. The workers told us to leave our carts and exit the store. Now many of you have shopped with kids before, not fun. Jackson cried as we left the store, devastated that he couldn't have his Cheetos. First trip back to the pool---we were there 15 minutes when we had to get out of the pool because some little kid had pooped. Again kids crying as we left. Then in that same week we woke up to one of our giant trees down in our backyard. We had a bad wind storm but didn't expect to see this. The funny part is neither Tyler or I even heard it. We were really lucky that the only damage was our neighbors fence. Tyler spent a couple days out with the chainsaw chopping it up.
But we are doing better now and Kville has excepted us back.
Jackson helping with branches. He came out to help shirtless, moon boots and winter mittons.

We have spent a lot of time working in our yard. Since we missed most of the Spring we are now working in the heat, and it has been hot.

Painting the flower box.

Finished product.

Painting window frames.

Painting our basement doors.

Finished product (red and white, like the rest of the house).

Newest member of our family---Gretta.
She is a australian shepherd/collie mix. She is only about 8 weeks old (it's like having another 1 year old). She is adorable and the kids adore her.

And a lot of this. We love summer!!!