This is the house that I say "I grew up in". After this house we lived in 2 others but this is "the one". I have great memories in this house. 
The garage was where we parked the big blue maxi van that we had. It is also where I remember Eric always running away to.
The front room has the same red carpet that my parents put in. This was the formal living room that we could go in when we were in our Sunday clothes. I also remember doing puzzles with my Grandpa Van in that den area (with the hard wood floor).
This is the MASSIVE staircase that we used to slide down in sleeping bags. Why is it not as big as I remember it back then...I think it shrunk. The swinging doors went to the kitchen. We loved running through those.
This is the basement where we had the laundry room. I know it is hard to see but you can kind of make out the cubbies that my Dad installed to sort our laundry into. Each cubby had a different color. Maybe mine was purple...maybe it was someone else and I secretly longed for the purple one. Anyone remember?
This tree had a big tire swing in it. We would have worn out that playset had we had it. 
Dana, Amy and I had rooms up in the attic. They had huge closests. This was also the infamous "window Nathan crawled out of".
I loved this house and loved growing up with all of my brothers and sisters here. After we moved to Idaho we were teenagers and friends became more of our focus.
It was great to just be together!
Life was simpler back then...at least for us kids.
One of Mason's goals for his senior year was to make it to State in tennis. He played mixed doubles & boy's doubles. It seems like every time he played a game he would play with a new partner the next time. In April he was practicing with the team when he felt something pop in his hip, after that he couldn't walk. After an MRI we found out he had a tear in his hip flexor. The Dr. said he was out for the season. We went for a 2nd opinion (my dad) and he said that as long as he could stand the pain he could play. He took it easy for a week and then was right back at it. He was thrilled that his goal could still be in his view. By the time districts came along he was back to his playing self. The only problem was the 2 players he was used to playing with Eli Somers & Kelsea Lay were paired together because he had been out due to injury. Mason then was given a partner named Tressa who is a freshman. She was about 5'3 and she plays very well. They made it to state and were thrilled. 
Mason & Tressa won the game and made it to the 2nd day of state and then lost. It was a great way to finish out his Senior year. The only down side was that state Tennis fell on his very last day of high school. Yep, he missed his last day. 
Way to go, Mason!
We have lived in this house for 11 years. It is the only house Kassidy & Kelsie have ever known. We have really enjoyed it but the time has come to move. We needed more space and the right oppurtunity came along...and we took a giant leap. We went from this... 
This is the family room that opens into the kitchen. 
This is the "teenage mecca." 
Then he had a birthday! He turned Sweet 16 and had never been kissed. Why is that important? Because it earned him $200. 
For his birthday cake he wanted his favorite dessert...cherry cobbler in the dutch oven. It was really good. For next year, will someone remind me to not use the small candles in a hot dutch oven? 
Colten and Dad went on an overnight campout with the scouts. They went up to McCall for the great Klonkide race. The scouts built a sled and raced it in the snow. They had a lot of fun together.
Now you all have the oppurtunity to help pay his out of state tuition. It was a good month at our house. Up next...we take a big leap!
Little miss Kels loved her pigtails. She continues to be a little doll.
I know I'm late with this, but Santa did find us. He even brought us new couches! It was great to have everyone home and a break from school. We loved it.
After further review "Honey, we are going to need the plunger."
