Nieces and Nephews!

I realized that the only picture I have on here of any of our precious nieces and nephews is of Greenlee, our newest addition! So, here are the rest. We love them dearly and are so proud to be a part of their lives.

Aeneas Marc and Patrick Sidney McBrayer

Avery Brooke Parnell

Addison Magnolia McBrayer (with Mommy and Daddy: Ann and Peyton)

this was too cute to resist posting: Uncle Doons with little Avery!

(Avery has a little brother on the way)

Last day

Today was my last day at the Starbucks that I've been training at. I was actually sad to say good-bye to my co-workers. I think i actually made some friends there. So, starting Tuesday morning I start working at a brand-new starbucks near my house. This next week we will be organizing the store and Friday is our grand opening. Ya'll are invited!

Devil's Lake

On Sunday we went on our first mid-western rock climbing adventure to Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin - only a 2 1/2 hour drive from our cozy home in gurnee. Makes us miss driving down the road after work to grab a few climbs before dark. It was a beautiful day and quite the oasis amidst the corn-fields! I hope you enjoy the pictures:

Just a taste of the terror!

A glimpse of Devil's Lake State Park from our climbing spot.

Duvick and I enjoying the shade.

Duvick smiling at me after eating dirt....again.

Glad Landon works at erehwon! We just borrowed their book for the day - no sweat.

We loved our day outside cramming our toes into our climbing shoes once again.



Landon has his first day of classes today, so perhaps an update on his schooling later. Thanks for checkin in!

Greenlee Noelle McBrayer

6lbs 1oz. Our sweet newest niece! What a precious one, isn't she!?

Can't you tell that her mommy is quite the skilled and talented photographer?

We love little Greenlee!

Rain

Wow, it has been RAINING----- The above picture is of Duvick and Landon standing at a local park that is now flooded. I have never seen so much rain in my entire life. I mean, when we lived in Africa, we endured the "rainy season", but nothing like this. We're flooding everywhere. Huge puddles of standing water around our house where the mosquitos have started to put up condominiums. I usually LOVE the rain, the way it renews everything. But here, after the rain, things do not feel renewed, but bottled up and weighed down - i guess it's the humidity? I don't know, but it will take more than a month for this gal to get used to life in this town.

Though, the rain has created some wonderful training opportunities for Duvick! Landon has taken him to the park most every day to practice his commands and throw some retrieves in the grass, brush, and water. Landon is pleased with his progress. Sorry nothing too exciting going on here...

But I do really want to announce that we had a little niece born last evening!!! Greenlee Noelle McBrayer - sweet preciousness! Our third niece/nephew born in the last 4-5 months! What a blessing. Definitely pictures to come when we get them. Garrett called last night to tell us of the news and says that everyone is healthy and doing well. We are so grateful!

Home

Well, so here we are... sending our love to you over the internet once again because we are no longer close enough to do it in person...once again. But you're used to this right? Well, we're not really USED to it, but we hope that this somehow compensates for our absences.

We've been in Gurnee, Illinois now for 5 weeks. Within the first 2 weeks, Landon and i both found part time jobs. Mine at Starbucks, and Landon's at Erehwon, an outdoors store close to Trinity. He's starting classes next week.

We've already been to the beach (lake Michigan) quite a few times. Though we're not home-owners, we are really enjoying living in our first home! Planting flowers, playing piano late into the night, having a mailbox, garage, trees, work-bench. It's a work in progress, and it is a joy! Landon is hoping to start a few building projects when he gets the time and we get the moolah: a doggy house for our puppy, Duvick, and a climbing wall in our garage. Illinois is FLAT, with no place to climb and our calouses have already peeled from our finger-tips.

We're looking for some fun things to do outdoors and have not yet worn out taking walks by the Des Plaines River, but are hoping to invest in a kayak or some bikes.

The days are mostly hot and always humid - and i'm melting here. Memories of hot, dry Colorado summers make me resent the mosquito's and sweating glasses of water here. Though, it is growing on me. Our little "village" (though not a village) is charming. We live in an older home among other older homes in an older neighborhood where everyone paves their own driveways and we all have large yards and vast space between each other's houses. Not quite the suburbia i've always known. Our town is known for the six flags and outlet mall and not much else.

We've already had 2 groups of visitors, which has been a great blessing.

Last week we went to church for the first time and really liked the church. We'll let you know how our church-hunting progresses.

Well, friends and family, we love you and miss you dearly. We miss you! Come visit if you have the time! You are always welcome...