Basement - we're halfway done!

As of this past Friday, we are halfway done. This means that we have installed plumbing, electrical and heating, after framing the rooms. The goal remains to have this entire basement completed before Nov 17 when Tara's parents will stay with us for Thanksgiving. (That's still an aggressive goal.) Enjoy the photos below.

View from guestroom (Tyler's bedroom) of playroom (on right), stairway (now cut open) and kiddie nook under the stairs

Tyler in his future bedroom

Linen closet (left), bathroom (center) and office (right)

Next we install insulation and hang drywall. Full speed ahead!!! :-)

Happy Birthday Brock

Here's our reaction to Brock blowing out the candles. Chris' face is AWESOME! Way to go, Brock.

Brock opening his presents with Daddy's help. We took other pictures but the matchbox cars he opened here dominate all of Brock's attention from this point on. Oh well! At least we have one.

Oh the places he can sleep

In Pompeii Italy

In Positano Italy

On Daddy's shoulder on a tour bus in Istanbul Turkey

On the floor of a glass-bottom boat in Dubrovnik Croatia

Mediterranean Cruise Highlights

Brock was very excited to start the cruise. He couldn't wait to get to the boat.

Temple of the Sagrada Familia by Gaudi in Barcelona

I was volunteered for the Gloria Gaynor lipsync competition.

Rob and I drank directly from the Trevi Fountain in Rome so we would; a) have good luck? b) return to Rome one day? c) find love? or d) save a few Euro on water?

Maren and Anne's Karaoke - Living on a Prayer
Forgive the camera angles, mom thought it was a picture, not video.

Beautiful city of Salerno, near Naples, Italy.

The plaster cast at Pompeii.

So many people in St. Peter's Square in Venice that Rob gave up on waiting for the people to pass - and took the pictures at the moment they were in front of me. Funny.

A quaint street in Venice

The Happy Family in Croatia.

Beautiful Dubrovnik.

Mom ordered "nothing" for dessert one night. This is what she got. Cute.

Ruins at Ephesus in Turkey. Where John preached to the Ephesians.

Ruins at Ephesus - really hot.

Most of our meals with the Brockster - Finding Nemo saved our life and dinner conversation.

The cheesy farewell show on the boat. We are a part of their family... Wa-Wah...

Turkey's version of Guac and Chips - cheese Doritos and blender avocado paste with tomato chunks. Mega bleh!

The food we were too afraid to eat in Turkey, but love in every other country.

Istanbul - Mosque of the Blue Dome

MadRom Basement Fun Has Begun...Again

Future playroom (stairs and future game/toy shelves behind them)

Future bathroom (left); future office for Chris (right)

Future bedroom for Tyler (the post and beam will be the interior wall).

-- Stay tuned for more photos, hopefully that show progress :-) --

Will's Birthday and Snakes n' Ladders

Interpretive dance 101

Another little clip of Chloe's first phrase...

Trip to Beale Park

Monkey-ing around

Chloe and Will hanging out waiting for the train

Suave Chaz

Crazy Chaz

Crazy Chloe

Crazy Will

Chaz wrestling a croc

Madison Pic's

Aunt Jackie & Uncle Davey taking Tessa for a run on the tubes.

She just can't stand to be apart from me as shown in the picture above.

Although Miles is blurry, I wanted to post this one so you could see our backdrop as we played in the water as the sun set.

The "Big Ox" getting out of the water.

Here are my Bully older brothers trying to get me in the water. But alas, I'm just too wirey!

The sons of Clyde. What we lack in Scalp Accessories (a.k.a. HAIR) we make up for with amazing smiles.

The view of Miller Park as we drove into Milwaukee for the Brewers game on Boys Night Out.

Check out the amazing seats that Miles bought for us.

Some of the boys as they munch on their Bratwurst's.