All Moved In (Almost)

Well we finally got to move in to our own place at the end of August. It was so nice after living with our parents, basically all summer. Especially since we moved from one to the other and lived out of suitcases. It's been a crazy summer.

We've been really blessed with this move. When we decided to move back for the time being, it was a hard decision to make, period. It would be hard to leave the life we were used to in Pullman. Living by people all in the same circumstance, poor college students. Really hard to leave our best of friends (We miss you Poteets!), and hard to see our really good friends move away too (I love you Erica!!). We decided it would be best for us, and there was nothing going for us in Pullman anyways.

We found an apartment to move into here, but a week before the move, we found out that the Earl's were needing someone to live in their house while they went off on another mission. (Just got back from Peru, and now off to Madrid, Spain as mission presidents!) What a blessing for us! It saved us money, but gave us a TON more space. So it wasn't a hard choice to move in the Earl's and here's why. It's a HOUSE! It has a YARD! It has a fire pit. (We've already roasted marshmallows twice!) It's 3 story with 5 bedrooms and 3 baths. The best thing of all, it's RIGHT NEXT DOOR to my in laws!!! Seriously, no competition to living in an apartment. Plus, it might be the biggest house we will ever live in. We had to take advantage of that.

I've scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed this house. I like to know that the dirt I see is MY dirt. I'm weird. Toothbrushes are seriously my best friend when I clean, can't live without them in my cleaning bucket. I'm not all the way done cleaning though. I haven't even TOUCHED the basement, and since we really aren't using it as a living space, it's the last thing on my list right now. We still have some boxes at Matt's parents, so we're not all the way moved in, technically. I have unpacked most of the stuff we have here though.

The Earl's still have all their furniture here, so it's been really interesting to add our stuff to it. Not that we have a lot, but we've had to figure out where to put things, but it's looking good. They already had two dining room tables in the house, so we've put ours out on the deck. It's a nice touch to the deck, and if anything "happened" to my table, not a big deal, since I bought it for $50 at a garage sale.

Anyways, I'm loving the house. It's great to have so much room. There's too much room in fact, I could never fill all the cupboards. I'm also loving have a room dedicated to a playroom. If the kids don't help clean up, I lock it and they can't play! Ha! I'm mean!! I also LOVE having a laundry room. I've always wanted one!

So if anyone wants to come hang out with the Hardy's and stay for a while, we have plenty of room for you!! Thank you Doug and Connie for being so generous and letting us call your house home!

So I've only taken a few pictures when I've been outside with the kids. (I love that I can send the older boys out by themselves, but Winston needs a little outside time every now and again.)

This is the view from the pergola. (I just learned this word from my mother in law. I had no clue what it was called.) It over looks this waterfall my father in law built in the back of his yard. Matt just power washed the pergola out and also power washed the hammock, so I'm looking forward to some relaxing times out there.
This is the view from the kitchen window and off the deck. I love to look out a window while doing dishes!
I was reading a photography book while watching the kids outside, so I had to get my camera out and play a bit. I just loved this macro shot!
These other pictures are just some random pictures I took this month, but didn't have any real post for them to go in.

My mother in law has tons of orchids in her house. I love orchids, thanks to her, and had some of my own, but they didn't like apartments, so she's inherited all mine as well.
Winston is so adorable. I love this little beast. I'm afraid he's going to be the child I always worry about. He has no fear, and doesn't learn from climbing stuff and falling off. His hair is getting so long. He looks so cute, but seriously has the mullet going on. Since the mullet isn't coming back in style, along with all the other 80's trends, I think it might be time to cut it. I'm dreading it though. His hair has cute blond highlights from the sun this summer. I had to look back through the blog when his last haircut was, it's been since April. That's a long time without a haircut!

Old Ford Truck

I went out to visit my Grandma Bushman and took Malcolm and Quinn with me. I had a great time visiting with her, reminiscing, while the boys discovered fun things at her house. It took some convincing for them to go into the basement, they were scared, but once they got down there, they saw how cool it was. Of course they had to play with the pool table, and found all the toys.

After a hour or more, we decided we better head home. As we were getting in the car, I noticed this old Ford truck sitting out by the shop. I hadn't ever noticed it before, so it must have been moved when the farm was sold. So I fell in love with this truck! I want to clean it out, put it on a trailer and bring it home with me!!
Although it's missing it's grill and front bumper, it's a beauty. With the baby blue paint job, and the beautiful brown rust! I sure wish I would have taken a picture of the tailgate, because it was awesome as well! The best thing of all, is that it's a Ford. My Dad raised me to love Ford trucks. That's all he ever drove, besides a few years where he got a Dodge that was a bad lemon, so back to Ford he went.
The boys had to pose in front of it, and they were just hilarious, so I had to post some of these pictures. They act like they've seen a body building contest some where, because they sure have some good poses.
Just look at that. Quinn's pose is hilarious! I just love it! Malcolm's bicep is looking pretty massive here.
Can I just say I love my boys...especially in front of this old Ford truck.

The Tooth Fairy Comes to Town

After the fair, we were recuperating from the heat and walking, while sitting on the couch at my Mom's house. Malcolm kept putting his fingers in his mouth, and I kept telling them to get them out of his mouth. After a few times of that, I finally asked him why he was putting them in his mouth. He informed me that his tooth was loose, so I asked him to let me see. When I felt it and looked at it, I noticed he had an adult tooth already coming in. How did this happen, and why didn't I notice before! Since his tooth was so loose, we told him we needed to pull it, so his other tooth would have more room to come in. I really, really wanted to pull it. I always LOVED pulling my own tooth. But I couldn't get my fingers tight enough on it. So Matt had to do it instead!
Malcolm wasn't so sure about the whole thing. He didn't cry, but he was a little nervous about it. Here he is sporting the first tooth he's lost!
He was a little nervous to take the tissue out of his mouth so I could get this picture. He was so afraid it would still be bleeding.
He thought he was pretty big losing his tooth. He couldn't wait for the Tooth Fairy to come, but he first had to take his tooth around and show his grandparents. He was one happy boy when he woke up to find the Tooth Fairy had left him a while dollar.

Fair Fun

I have so many memories of fair from my childhood. Hanging out all day there, as we took pigs to the fair. I loved the smell of the sawdust we used for the pens, the siphon tube setting contest (which I proudly won a few times), and fair food!

So when I heard that Kathryn was clogging her last performance at the fair, I made sure I was there to watch. We got there to the blistering heat, only to have to wait FOREVER until it was her performance, she was one of the last to perform. So the kids complained about being bored and hungry the whole time. Good thing Melanie and I had each other to keep us sane.

Reed also decided to escape and had to be rescued by his older brothers, which he wasn't to willing to go back with. So instead he decides to lay down on the grass and sunbath for a while.
Quinn and Dane take time out of their playing for a photo op moment.
Dane had to sport his cowboy hat since he was going to the fair. (Along with his T-shirt, shorts and tennis shoes. He was quite the cowboy!)
Malcolm had to go with the rock star look and is sporting his sunglasses.
Finally after much complaining, Kathryn's group was up on stage.
Isn't she cute! (Of course they had to step out into the direct sun, which doesn't make for a very good picture!) She is so cute to watch, and I'm going to be sad not to be able to watch her clog anymore. (I ALWAYS wanted to clog, I even let my cousin Cherise teach me routines when I went to her house!)
After the clogging came the fair food. The space burgers were just as good as always, but the prices were outrageous. (I miss the days when my parents paid for the food and I didn't have to concern myself with those trivial things!)

After eating we noticed that there was going to be a tractor pull starting soon. In the meantime, we went to watch this little performance by these guys, Brothers from Another Mother, or something like that. Just as we were sitting down, they asked for a volunteer from the audience, and who did they pick, Nathan. He got to go up there, put on this crazy helmet, which they made reference to Madonna about, and hold to stick. Then they spun balls and placed them on them, and had him balance on one foot.
Then for being such a great volunteer, they rewarded him with a Ricky Martin trading card! Haha!!
All the kids, excluding Winston and Reed, were able to participate in the tractor pull. My boys were so excited, it being their first time and all.
Can you see how excited Quinn is jumping in and putting his had in there. He's a little shy!
Nathan was up first from our group. I love the face he is pulling here, trying so hard to make it to the end. The kids don't compete with anybody but themselves. They have to peddle the tractor, while it pulls a bucket with weights up to the top of the trailer with a pulley. Nathan is tough and got it all the way to the top, making it into the next round.
Then Malcolm went, and the poor kids foot fell off the peddle before he was done. He didn't care though, he just enjoyed himself.
Dane was a stud and got the bucket all the way to the top, just like his brother, so he made it to the next round as well.
Kathryn tried her hardest, and was only like a 1/2 inch from getting that bucket to the top. She did an awesome job.
Here comes little Quinn. The announcer guy told Quinn that he was pocket size, and that if they ran out of weights, they could just put him in the bucket. He did a great job, but didn't get the bucket to the top.
Winston really wanted those tractors, but he was pretty good to just watch at the end.
Reed was pretty content in his stroller, although I don't know that he was appreciating me taking this picture.
The two six year old boys resting on the fence. True cowboys only do that! (Really Dane's birthday wasn't for a couple more weeks here, but who's counting!)
After the tractor pull, we were off to see all the animals. I tried getting this picture of the boys with the big mama cow, but they weren't too interested. They actually kept looking behind them, like they thought the cow was going to come after them. They so are not farm kids!
If you can see behind all the kids, they are petting a pig here. One girl let them go in her pen to see it.
Winston is meeting some baby chicks and their mama. He was trying to make the cheeping sound back to them.
This nice girl also let them pet her sheep. Now go wash your hands kids, you've touched way to many animals in one day!
That was our fair experience. Melanie and I with eight kids (she was sporting one extra for the day), which we somehow survived. We ended up being there for almost 4 hours. I know I wouldn't have lasted that long if I didn't have Melanie to keep me company and help keep me sane. We rewarded ourselves and the kids with some snow cones and elephants ears. We are just too nice!

Bushman Family Get Together (Part 2)

The next day, my brother Ryan was taking out his boat and invited us all to come. Heck yes, no way I can turn that down! I don't ever get to go boating anymore, I miss it.

Not everybody came this time. Milo and his family was heading out to go camping, Malissa had to go home and Calvin had to work. Brianne came back up for the day. It ended up being a little chilly, especially compared to the day before, and a little windy. So the water was a little choppy. No way I was going to relive my slaloming days on that water.

We had a lot of fun despite it. The kids loved the boat, but weren't willing to try tubing yet. Brianne and I both went wake boarding. It was so choppy, that even wake boarding for the inexperienced, was not easy. I fell quite a few times, and I was sore all over the next day. Man, wake boarding takes strength, and I'm not so young anymore!
This is my niece Dixie, Ryan's daughter. Isn't she so cute, even with a licorice face. He has the beautiful Bushman blue eyes, just like her daddy's.
Another picture of my "special" brother Jason. I don't know why he always wants to take pictures like this! He must be compensating for the Bushman fake smile!
My niece Chesney, Ryan's other daughter. She's just as adorable as her sister.
Kloie, Jason's daughter, was yet again ready to be photographed. She's adorable with her deep brown eyes.
Kloie showing me her swimsuit. He had burnt her leg on the motorcycle the day before, so it was all bandaged up.
Winston was drawing in the sand. He was not a fan of the lake water. After I went wake boarding, I made him go in with me. He was not happy! I'm sure not having a nap really helped the matter also!
It was so windy right at the end! He looks so cute with his long sun highlighted hair, I'm having issues about cutting it. But he has a serious mullet going on!
I'm surprised Jason didn't freak Winston out taking this picture!
Tyler and Carter thinking they are some buff studs riding in on the boat that way! Oh, Tyler cracks me up! Love ya kid!
Malcolm with the best seat on the boat, in the front, with the red vines!
Kloie posing for me again. Love that girl!!
After boating, we went back to Ryan's again for leftovers and hot dogs. What a fun few days with my siblings. I miss them since we don't get to be together too often. I love you guys!!

Bushman Family Get Together (Part 1)

The first week of August, Uncle Max and Aunt Reaka came up for Max's high school reunion. They wanted to get together and see us kids. Well it ended up being a big Bushman get together. It was so much fun to be with family again. Since Dad's been gone, it hasn't happened much. All of our siblings were there, except for Amanda. It was great to be with my siblings. I love and miss them all so much. We aren't together nearly enough!!

We started out our day at the Aquatic Center. It was a great day to go, with great weather. The kids all had a blast and despite Matt not being there, there were tons of people who took the boys along with them.

Nothing like playing with your cousins. These two boys, Malcolm and Dan always enjoy hanging out together.
Uncle Max even convinced Grandma to come and join in the fun. Although she wasn't into hanging out in the water, she enjoyed the shade and ice cold water. I sure love my Grandma!!
Jayni girl, Brianne's daughter, her, Malcolm and Dane are all the same age. So much fun!
Malcolm getting ready for some deep sea diving.
Brianne is probably going to kill me when she looks at this, but she just looks so cute, I had to post it.
Uncle Earl and his family were driving through on their way back from Colorado, so they stopped by to see us all. It was fun to see them for a few minutes also.
My cousin Brandon with his GQ pose (Earl's son). That's also John (also Earl's), although he's not looking at the camera.

Malissa might disown me for this picture! Love you Malissa!!!
Mason the moose, Brianne's son. He is one busy boy and a huge beast!
I think Quinn was a little tuckered out from all the sun and playing.
Baby Win was tired too. A one year old can't last too long past his nap. I was so glad he actually fell asleep and stayed asleep when I put him in the stroller. He's so cute with his greased sunblock hair.
My niece Ally, Malissa's daughter, in her cute little princess towel. I think this is the cutest towel ever, with a crown and then is has all the Disney princesses on the back! Too cute!
After the pool, we headed to Ryan's for a BBQ. Ryan started a grease fire on his grill, but the meat still tasted good. Haha. After all the good food, we played volleyball. How fun is that, seriously? We had so much fun!!
Aunt Reaka has some mad volleyball skills! She was so much fun!
My little bro Tyler, that isn't so little anymore, being the goofball that he is! Seriously I still think of Tyler at the age of eight. I can't believe he's a SENIOR in high school. How did that happen? He's been blessed to be able to live with Uncle Max and Aunt Reaka. They are so good to him and I am so thankful for them! What a great family I have!!
This is my niece Kloie, Jason's daughter, and my brother Spencer. Kloie was so cute, she loved having me take pictures of her, and she just couldn't stop talking to me.
Milo still has some skills! I can't believe he can still do that! Haha!
I know this picture is blurry, but I just had to show my "special" brother Jason! Love you dork!
Milo with his NATURAL smile!! FYI, the Bushman's do not have natural smiles, we get it from our Dad. I think Milo needs to start practicing in the mirror, because he really can smile! Haha!
I LOVED that Uncle Max and Aunt Reaka got in on the game. They are awesome and still got it! My brother Carter all blurred.
While we volleyed, the kids ran around, doing their thing. Apparently Dane is doing stunts with Quinn.
Although I had thought of it right before getting the volleyball game started, at the end we decided to get a group shot of all us kids. By then it was starting to get dark, so this picture is really blurry, but at least we are all in it. Only Amanda wasn't there, so this is all my siblings from my Dad. In the back: Tyler, Malissa, Milo, Brianne, Ryan, Jason. Middle: Trevor, Spencer, Calvin, Me, Carter. Front: Kathryn and Tanner. Let me tell you, it is so hard to get a picture with this many goofy people. Everyone is pinching and tickling everybody. I sure do love my siblings though!!
The girls, minus Amanda. By this time, it was really dark. Brianne, Me, Malissa and Kathryn.
Matt got this beautiful sunset picture as we were playing volleyball. What a perfect ending to a wonderful day. I seriously didn't want to go home, I was having so much fun. But my baby was TIRED, and kept crying and just wanted his bed.