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

Beau Jeffrey Schulz

Congratulations to Ryan and Kasey for having baby #3!  Beau Jeffrey Schulz was born Friday, January 6th, weighing in at 9lbs. 6oz.  Another beautiful healthy baby boy to add to the Schulz crew.  Ms. Campbell is going to have to keep these boys in line!

Basketball begins!

Justin and I were SO excited when Kaden said he wanted to start playing basketball!  This game was such a huge part of both J and I's lives for so long that we hope Kaden enjoys it just as much as we did.  He may be taking after me just a bit however with his monster shoes and chicken legs...maybe we should start him on the creatine now!  At least he's not pigeon toed;) 

Can't wait for Huddy to join the fun!  For now, he just cheers on the sidelines playing with his cars.

Go Cyclones!

Why do I have a feeling we'll be purchasing Iowa State basketball season tickets next year??!!  Kaden and Justin have now been to three games and they are LOVING it!  Justin's sports obsession(s) have started to rub off on Kaden a little too much.  Their teams of choice: Denver Broncos, Iowa State Cyclones, and the St. Louis Cardinals!

Huddy...looking away on purpose...stinker!

Kaden has also started doing Tae Kwon Do!  Their instructor takes it very seriously and the kids do a great job of listening.  It's pretty funny to watch Kaden bow to the instructor and yell out when they kick or punch!  I'll post another pic as soon as his robe comes in...the first one we got we was swimming in.  Go figure!

Day 63 (12January2012)
The house is coming along fast...a little to fast!  They were even able to pour cement for the driveway and porch last week.  They also wanted to paint this week, but I couldn't make a decision that fast.  Never in a million years did I ever think they could get the house painted before spring!

Furnace installation and duct work should be completed by the end of this week.  Plumbing should be completed mid next week as well as the electrician.  Cabinets were ordered Tuesday, flooring is being finalized, counter tops are out for quote (keeping my fingers crossed), trim and doors are picked out, and we've confirmed the appliances.  Now that all of that is (was) nearing completion, we've decided to finish the basement!  Luckily it only took a day to frame up:)

Oh Happy Day!

Wow...65 degrees and sunny on January 5th...I'll take it!

The boys and I went to check out a nearby park after school.  Kaden insisted on wearing a t-shirt and shorts (he lost), however if you look closely at the pictures he opted to wear his pants backwards instead!  Ooops...I wonder if he wore them like that all day long;)

On the way to the park I asked the boys what their New Year's resolution was (after first explaining what it was).  I told them mommy was going to stop drinking pop!  Kaden then said he wanted to go to more Iowa State games and Huddy wants to go to the water park in the summer;)  Now that's what I call a New Year's resolution!!

Notice the pants:)

welcome twenty twelve!

Happy New Years!

Justin and I (along with my brother and sister-in-law's) went out for a night on the town while the kiddos spent the night at Justin's parents house.  Luckily these pictures were taken early in the evening:)  Looking forward to 2012!