JacK-ets RooM

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UpSTaiRrs HaLLwAy

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UpStaIRs PlaYRoOm!

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DoWn STaiRs FaMiLY RoOm to KitCheN view

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KitCheN to FaMiLY RoOm view

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LiVInG RoOm
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Welcome to GiGanToR!

For those of you that will never actually make it out to our new home to see what we’ve

accomplished.

I use the word

accomplished

because it was a real task!
Here it is!!

A bit of history first…we purchased a foreclosed home for a smokin’ deal. “Why such a great deal?” you ask? Although it was in much better shape than quite of few of the other foreclosures we had seen it was in desperate need of a make-over. The previous owners had 7, count them, S-E-V-E-N indoor Labrador Retrievers. (And yes, one was a puppy.) Carpets had been ripped to shreds at every seam, base boards had been treated as teething toys, heaven only knows what the myriads of stains on ALL of the carpets were. However, trying to be reasonable...were just going to re-floor the house. Then some good friends told us of a home that they had purchased and only re-floored to get rid of the “doggies”. Their advice was that once the “new carpet” smell had subsided, the “doggie” smell returned. HOW? WHY? Dog oil, on the walls. You know, it’s not so strange, humans have greasy hair too! Hence, the paining of the entire almost 4, 000 square feet of Gigantor!

I will not try and frighten you by the telling of how much dog hair we actually vacuumed out of the house, or how the said hair was found in the uncanniest places (every singe kitchen cabinet and drawer), or how when we pulled out the old carpet the hair had worked it’s way under the old carpet and pad to find a new home, or how horribly stinky, doggie, disgusting the house smelled. But I WILL tell you of how we vacuumed, bleached, cleaned, bleached, painted, bleached, and worked our tail ends off…did I mention the bleach? To sanitize our now beautiful, clean, doggie free home! And if you know me at all, you know that when I mention the bleach I do not mean it lightly...every square inch of the house…including the walls and windows...bleached and beautifully clean!!!

Reprimanded

I'm Baaaack!

I have been reprimanded by Monte (the Senior version) and a few of YOU for not blogging since the move. I tried to explain that I was waiting for the paint jobs to be finished on the house but he reminded me that there is more to life than the new house…I need reminding…

So here goes!

EaSTeR DinNeR

EaSTeR DinNeR and Egg HUnT at GrANdpa’S

With so many eggs to hide sometimes we get creative…

At least he's got the general idea...one egg, not bad for a first timer!

EaSTeR MoRnINg

the day began with a hunt

The boys put their baskets by their beds before sleep and by morning the Easter Bunny had hidden them.

Clyde and Seth

Clyde-ster

Jack-et
Monte Birk

DyiNg tHe EgGs-really killing 'em

EaSTeR EggS
We died eggs at Grandpa’s with some of our Arnett cousins (after words grandpa took us to Dairy Queen for treats…it was chilly outside to be eating ice cream, but we were with Grandpa so no one but mom noticed the cold.

Adele, Reid, Bailee, Monte Birk, Grandpa, Clyde, Seth, Robert Jr.

This is Robert Jr.'s creation...

the "Aunt Diane color challenged egg"

I very non-politically correctly call it the racist egg...

no matter where he put it or how much color and vinegar he put on it, the blasted thing would not change colors! (By the way, it's my egg because of the hideous picture he drew of me on it!)

RanDomNesS

KiTe FLyiNG

We live at the end of a pretty wide street. And there is no development behind our house…just a huge piece of government land (love it!) Because of this we get the BeST wind whipping past our house. We keep our $ store kites close at hand and this day we didn’t even have to try to get the kites at the end of their string! It was CRAZY FUN!

Can you see Seth's kite way above the house?...and yes, that huge thing is our new home, as I fondly call it...GIGANTOR!

Here's a slightly better view of Seth's Kite. Also there's Monte Birk, just walking across the road do do do, and what's that? His kite is up and flying...no running, pulling, crying...the things LOVE to take flight here!

The day after the final move, Grandma Gardiner came out to check out the new digs.

Could there be a better big brother in the world? I think NOT!

My favorite photo from the move...

there's something special about this guy...

BoYs and BoXEs

(just add a little twine and tape and voila!)

Since the move the FuN never ends…

what can you do with a box?

Seth is a transformer bird and Clyde is a basic truck transformer.

We Succumbed...

all DaY KinDerGaRTeN!!

for those of you who know my views...

I/He did it!! He's IN!! He's in HeaVeN!!

I'm sad and lonely...

Lest we forget that DAD

is finally as young as MOM!!
Happy Birthday Sweetie!!

Jacks FiRsT BirThdAY!!

I can't believe that we've had our little man for over a year now! It is impossible to remember life before our Jack-et came to us! His 3 big brothers still adore him and want to play with him constantly. Jack is the busiest little man I have had yet...and FAST! It takes mere nano seconds for him to cross the room and get into anything he desires. And he does NOT forget what it is that her wants. Out of sight out of mind has no bearance when it comes to Jack. Grandma Gardiner and Grandpa Arnett came over for his birthday supper, traditional Gardiner birthday pinata, and cake. What a perfect celebration for a perfect boy!

HaPpY #1 JaCKet

Pay it forward

So, here's how this game works-the first 6 (it's supposed to be 3 but I'm in it for 2!) people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a handmade gift from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well. Before you leave your comment, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going (or be lazy and copy and paste like I did). Then come back, let me know you're going to play and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift! Please keep in mind that gifts may have to be adjusted based on your location...you may have to be flexible on the handmade part if you live far, far away.

I promise to begin blogging again SOON! We are in the process of a move...crazy with painting, packing, and re-flooring! I put up the before and after shots soon!!