Light at the End of the Five Month Tunnel

The shed is only a few minor details away from completion! -T

The trim completed
The kids' loft...not really...a place to store big things

Shelves on the back wall
Shelves for the heaviest small stuff (i.e. gas cans)

Primed and ready to paint

The last time she looked like this...

...until Lindsey wanted stripes!

Oh wait...no...she wanted a PICTURE of the stripes.

A view from the back
Looks different
I'm almost tempted to want to see a tornado hit to see how strong this thing is!

To the front It's like she's always belonged there

Still left: Paint the trim Navajo White, put the last two shelves up, put the gutters/downspouts on, and then move stuff in it of course

Our First Parental "Uh Oh" Moment

The night of her 10 month mark, Mae also figured out how to do something. Lindsey and I were playing the piano together, Mae was playing on the floor. Someone wanted a better view of her parents playing(fumbling) the piano together...and she succeeded. -T

The ball wasn't there enticing her either...she brought that with her.

To make this story even more interesting...play "Name That Movie" with something Lindsey says.

Hitting Double Digits

Mae hit her 10 month mark. Each month that goes by means another month harder getting her to pose with that dang sign! 10 months just means only 2 more that we have to do this monthly picture thing. We still think it's a great idea though. -T

"Okay Mae sit up straight." The sign holder and photographer NAILED it on this picture!
All she wanted to do really was make the FF (I got reprimanded for calling it the "fart face" on the blog by this little girl's mother, so FF will have to do until she can come up with a better name)

The best we got
Mae: "Is that one of those darn signs behind me again!?"

"HEY! I know you're back there! I think I told you to give me that sign!"

"I AM THE RULER OF THIS HOUSE!"

Bells! We defeated her with bells!

Teaching Important Skills

We like to teach Mae new things. Some of the things Dad teaches her are not tremendously useful (see: making bodily noises with your mouth), but some things most definitely are, like the below time of instruction. -T

Dad: "Okay Mae, keep the elbow tucked, hand behind the ball..."

(still Dad)...get your left off the ball, and make a goose neck with your wrist..."

(still Dad)...got it? Now, you try."
Mae: "Hi Mom!"
Looks like more work will be needed...with a pre-lesson on attention span.

A Fully Functional Shed

The shed continues to progress. The "functionality" portion was pretty much completed. We closed in the top and put in soffits and a ramp. The next step is to just make it look better. So, technically I could start putting stuff in it, but I haven't yet. -T

This actually now REALLY hinders the light on the inside

I actually kind of liked the huge step in...but probaby wouldn't with a lawn mower

Ramp complete
I thought we were done with soffits after the kitchen project
Now we're getting into the aesthetics portion!

A First Time For Everything

Mae had some firsts around the same time period. She pulled herself up for the first time, ate some stuff, and took a bath in the big tub. Included in this post is while she is eating corn on the cob for the first time, she shows off her entertainment skills in my favorite Mae video EVER! Imagine her doing this to YOU if you were sitting behind her at church. Then you'll understand why the people behind us were laughing so hard! -T

Sometimes we fail, but it's all about learning those life lessons

"I've failed over and over and over again..."

"...and that is why I succeed." -Michael Jordan

First time eating corn on the cob

My all-time favorite Mae video!!!
Here's where we get her doing the fart face, followed by the blahlalala, ending with the fart face...all after she's done with her first corn on the cob

First time eating spaghetti...and drinking like she's eating a hot dog?
She's pretty proud of herself
Her first bath in the whole tub (and not the inflatable duck inside the tub)
She loved it

She loved it for awhile
But then she slipped, twisted, and fell on her back and she didn't really love it anymore

Don't Forget We're Building a Shed

After a crazy June and July, we finally were able to start making progress on the shed again! For the longest time we've only had one door...that changed our first day back at it! -T

It's the camera that's not level...not the shed

Oh and we cut down the half of apple tree that fell over like 2 months prior

I wonder if our neighbors got tired of looking at it hanging over into their yard?
She's cute

Our Little Ham

Our daughter is very social. She entertains people and that makes them seem to like to be around her. -T

People give her stuff and she just rolls with it and looks pretty daggon cute

She loves when aunts come and visit - Aunt Marlene was a fan

Aunt Randy and Uncle Mel think she's Supermae apparently
For me though, she just pulls my hair and stuff, but she knows I will still love her

Camera comes out = Mae puts on a showIs she playing peek-a-boo with us?

Schlensker Reunion Day 4 & 5: Horses and Such

Mae got to ride a horse for the first time. She also got to spend a lot of quality time with her cousins. One cousin she sees all the time still seemed excited to see her which you will know that picture when you see it. Day 5 - we have no pictures...we drove home. -T

Sorry...she's just got the juiciest cheeks...and in my defense...she REALLY looks like she loves it

Taking Mae on her first horse ride...she did show some positive expression actually

Mae's first ride (hit or miss...this time we missed on the sound)

Good ol' Charlie

Lots of willing baby watchers gave us time to go on a paddle boat ride together
Cousin Claire gives Mae a drink

I'm sorry, but I don't think this is legal for 1st cousins
This with cousin Alleah would be a more appropriate activity

...and the next day we drove home.