Kansas City over the 4th!

Our annual 4th of July trip to Olathe to visit The Schweer's!  The Boys' couldn't have been better!

Where did April go?!

I can't believe April is almost over!  Summer is just around the corner and we can't wait!

We moved into our new home 2 weeks ago now and are absolutely loving it so far.  We were definitely ready to get out of that condo!  It was like Christmas unwrapping all the boxes!  I forgot how much crap I have and the boys were in heaven meeting up with all their old toys:)  I'll post pictures soon!

Hudson dancing in the booth while eating at Joe's Crab Shack!

Kite flying at the new house!

 

Iowa State Spring Game!

 

Day 136 (25March2012)

Closing date on the house is scheduled for 6April2012!  Can't wait!  We've had a few bumps in the road the last few weeks, but everything seems to be back on schedule. 

We had to rip out our entire staircase (don't ask...), knock out drywall in the bathroom because the tub didn't fit, and cut into the kitchen cabinets so the oven would fit.  We also had to find a new painter (of course right in the middle of the outside being painted).  

With that being said, there is a lot to be done in the next two weeks:  Finish painting the outside, repaint the new staircase, carpet, appliances in, central vac installed, remaining light fixtures hung, backsplash in the kitchen, counter-tops in boys' room and spare, and CLEANING.  It's a MESS!

I'll post pictures in a couple weeks!  It's a secret for now:) 

Day 115 (4March2011)

Drywall - Check
Trim/Doors/Carpentry - Check
Cabinets - Check
Stone Work - Check
Paint (interior) - Almost Check!!

We are nearing the corner....hopefully only 35 more days left to go!  Painters have been at the house all weekend and floors start Wednesday.

We have been very grateful for our temporary living space, but we are ready to get out and start our lives in Ankeny! 

The best babysitter...EVER!

One of the hardest parts about leaving Waverly was also leaving our babysitter, Michelle.  She spent all last summer with the boys and was probably with them at least once a week during the fall.  She's really become a part of our family!  It's the best feeling in the world as a mother to know that your children are being watched by someone who truly loves them.  Thanks Michelle (and Nick too!) for spending the weekend with us and the boys....we love you!!

Michelle and Nick surprised the boys by taking them to Monkey Joes!!  I'm pretty sure they had just as much fun as Kaden and Huddy did:)

No wonder they love her...:)

Well, we finally got our first 'big' snow in Ankeny today...maybe about 5 inches of super wet snow.  Papa Don, Gma Sandy, Kathy, and Romaine were headed to Olathe and had to turn around once they got to Ames....roads around the Des Moines area were really not in good driving condition.

We, however, managed to have a very full day.  Kaden in particular had a great day!  He had a birthday party this afternoon for triplets in his class, one of his good friends from Waverly came to visit, and he (we) went to 'Family Fun Night' at his school.

Last summer Brady Willis and Kaden became really good friends!  Brady lived just two houses down from us when we lived in Waverly.  He was in town today for his older brother's basketball tournament so Brady got to spend a few hours with us!

Brady also joined us for Family Fun Night at Kaden's school.  It was just as it sounds....

F = Five million kiddos in line for each different activity
F = Frustrated parents either trying to find their kids or trying to get them to settle down
N =  Nightmare

I joke about it, but it really wasn't too bad.  J stayed home with Huddy which made a big difference.  Unfortunately Huddy was not blessed with patience...he's a bit like his mother:)

House Update:  Day 86 (4Feb2012)
Drywall is up!  They started mudding and taping yesterday.  Hopefully by the end of this next week they are done.  We still need to pick out an exterior paint color and stone.  I would have never guessed that to be the most difficult part to this whole process!

Matching tattoos! 

 Oh to be a kid again...

Family Room

Kaden's bedroom

Top of stairs

Day 82 (31Jan2012)

Let the drywall begin!  The plumbing, heating/cooling, electric, sound, security, central vac, and insulation were all complete as of Friday, 27January.  Garage doors were also installed on Friday (less the glass and hardware which is on order).  We finally picked out an exterior paint color and stone so with any luck, mother nature will let us get those completed in February...I have my doubts:) 

Besides my two full time jobs...well, make that three (John Deere, building a house, and being a mother-- NOT in that order!), we managed to make a weekend trip to Dubuque to celebrate my niece, Kennedi Michelle's,  birthday!  She has reached the terrible two's!  We went to the indoor water park at Grand Harbor--kids had a BLAST!  I'm not sure I would recommend staying there, but definitely something fun to do with the kids during the winter months.  (We actually stayed at the Julian Hotel across the street and it was very nice.)

Enjoy the beautiful weather!
 

 Stairs

Office/Front Door

I was warned that sometimes the drywall guys 'accidentally' cover outlets/cords, so I was told to take pictures of all the wires.  I thought this picture was pretty impressive--check out the amount of wires in just this area!!

Main Floor Living