Just a quick one.

Guess what we got on Thursday??!

Yep, keys to our new house!  Now the fun starts.

I went out to get our mail the other day and I found this in the box.  Katie had apparently put it in there.  It says, "I love my mailman".  So sweet.

Holly went to the state volleyball tournaments with some friends this weekend.  Not only are these girls as cute as they can be but they are good luck charms too.  The girls ended up getting first place!  Way to go Lady Lyncs!

Big holes and big papers.

Remember how "our" new house had a little soil contamination issue.  Well, that's all been taken care of.  This big digger was hard at work last week.

They dug this big hole and got the bad soil all cleaned out because apparently oil does not belong in the ground.  Please note the sarcasm in that last sentence.  Anyhoo, we are waiting for the call that says we can come in and sign papers to make it officially our house with a very messy front yard.  Hopefully today or tomorrow! 

Big news for Holly too.  She finished her senior biology research paper!  It's a big deal.  The teacher lets them pick any science topic they are interested in.  Holly chose "What Happens in an Autopsy".  She is so her father's girl.  It was probably the first paper she actually took joy in writing.  I read it last night.  Let's just say I don't want to have an autopsy. 

She has to give a presentation on her paper sometime before the end of the school year.  Her dad told her to use a clip from this t.v. show...

Remember how the show starts with Quincy showing the police cadets a dead body and one by one they either faint or run from the room?  Yeah, that was quality t.v.  I miss the eighties.  Good shows.  Good music. Good hair.  

Just some stuff that's been happening....mostly about Holly

1. John and I will be in Hawaii in 18 days.  I am so excited!!!

 2. Holly had her fall music concert.  She is able to be in both choir and orchestra again this year. As usual, it was a beautiful concert.  She is so blessed to go to a school that puts such an emphasis on the things she loves to do.  I was so proud of myself because, even though it was her last fall concert, I didn't cry a bit.  I am doing so good this year at keeping my emotions in check.  I'm afraid one of these days I'm just going to break down and it is not going to be pretty.

 Not a great picture since Kendra has her bow in the way but John and I were commenting on how she smiled though the entire concert.  She used to have this terrified look on her face when she played in front of people.  My baby is all grown up.

 3. I made applesauce.  My friend let me pick a bunch of apples from her trees and my mother-in-law gave me one of those cool apple sauce maker things where you don't have to peel and core them.  It worked pretty slick. 

 4.  We have been raking leaves.  A lot.  It's very frustrating when you rake leaves one day and the next morning you wake up to this in your back yard...

 Good news is that there isn't a lot left up there!

 6. We got Holly's senior pictures taken the end of August but I don't think I ever posted any on the blog.  It was a fun night and her pictures turned out great.

7. One morning Katie was so excited when she discovered that her and her dad had dressed a like!



8. This pic was taken awhile ago but I don't think I ever blogged about this either.  Holly's biology class hiked to the top of Church Mountain.  Her 70-some-year-old teacher takes his class every year.  It's a really difficult and strenuous hike.  It was a beautiful day and they had a great view from the top.  After John saw her pictures, he decided he needed to go too. He chose a day I couldn't go.  I wasn't happy about that.    

 9. Musical auditions were last week.  They are performing "Beauty and the Beast" this year.  Holly got the part she really wanted.  She is Babette, the feather duster! 

 10. Just some pictures I took off of Holly's phone.  She's been having a great senior year. 
At the football game.

All dressed up for "senior citizen day" during spirit week.

She has fun friends. 

And a really nice "friend who is a boy".  John even approves so you know he has to be okay! :)

11. An update on our house.  Tomorrow they are digging out the contaminated soil.  We are hoping to close sometime in the next two weeks.  My dad says we might as well put in a swimming pool since they are digging a big hole anyway...I don't think so.