Landscaping

Before Landscaping

No More Ugly Bushes...YEAH!

New Light, Numbers & Mailbox

Drum Roll Please...Our New Front Yard (notice the arches)

Since Daren bought our house 2 years ago I have been super anxious to work on the front yard. For everyone who has been to our house you know we use our back door as our main entrance rather than our front door. Therefore, not everyone really pays attention to our front yard as much as the backyard. We have worked really hard on sprucing up and maintaining the back, while ignoring the front. I finally had enough. SO...I arranged for Stump Busters to come and get rid of the roots we had in our front. Leading us to HAVE to cut down the ugly 5 foot bushes we had covering the front of our house before Stump Busters could arrive. I talked Dad and Mom in to coming to town to help assist with our project. They are both incredible with renovations and Mom has a green thumb. Dad, Mom and I all went to Oakland Nursery on Friday and picked out all new shrubbery. Daren got the final say in our selections and the layout. After the game on Saturday the planting began. We made a very good team. The goal was "Contemporary Cottage"...a little bit of me and a little bit of Daren. I think we made it happen. And by "we" I must dedicate that mostly to Dad and Mom! With new landscaping, new lighting, new numbers, new mailbox, and new fixtures to the overhang I think we accomplished our goal! I look forward to adding some window boxes, a stone path and possibly painting our shutters in the Spring. THANK YOU DAD AND MOM for EVERYTHING!!! We could not have done it without you!

Hurricane Ike in Ohio

We finally have power.  Yes, we were one of the lucky ones who did not have power from Sunday at 3:30 pm till the following Sunday at 6:30 pm.  This past week we were finally back to normal!  My sister, living in the Keys, naturally  had to evacuate. Of course Ike didn't even really affect them in the like projected.  I certainly didn't expect us to get hit so hard!  It was the strangest thing though...no rain but the wind was really strong and you could actually hear trees breaking.  The first night was the worst because I was in the middle of doing all my weekly chores.  I just sat down waiting for the power to come back...and waiting, and waiting!  Daren was happy as a clam getting his "emergency kit" out of the basement and putting it to use.  He has this gigantic flash light that has a car charger outlet on it allowing us to watch DVD's every night on our portable DVD player. By Friday...I have to say it got old!  (And our little secret, Daren drained his truck battery from charging so many things throughout the week).  Then my cousins were in town, talk about lousy hosting on our part.  We provided them with a place to sleep, flashlights, and warm water!  Good thing they're family, I know they'll come back!  Although we were without power for a week, we were very fortunate our house is intact, we have a gas water heater, and nobody we know suffered great losses!  BUT, big thanks to AEP for saving my sanity!

OSU Football

Daren with teammates Adam, Jamie Houle and Jamie Natalie

Laura & I at Youngstown State

Daren & I at Youngstown State

Dad & Mom at Skull Session for Minnesota Game

OSU football is 4 games into the season!  We are so excited to have season's tickets this year since Daren has been working for OSU for 4 years now!  Every home game we stop by Jamie and Laura's tailgate to see all our friends and get pumped up for the game.  My cousins, Dootz and Michael along with Dootz's girlfriend Lauren and friend Joe, came into town for the Troy game and my parents for the Minnesota game.  For the Troy game Daren also had a gymnastics alumni weekend which gave him the opportunity to meet up with gymnasts from the past and those who are currently on the team!  The gymnastics world is one big happy family!  We look forward to the remainder of the year...GO BUCKS!!!

Bentley Turned 5

I'm a little late, but on August 23rd Bentley turned 5! Bentley Boohead had a great day! We took a nice long walk, he had a special birthday treat, and of course presents! I think I was more excited about his presents than him...oh well!

Tyler Hoffmann is Here

Tyler William Hoffmann arrived Thursday night! He is so adorable! After a long labor, mom, dad and baby are home now and doing well! Becky and Brad are naturals! What a blessed baby!