Still here!

Life's been busy - not a great excuse - but this hasn't been top on my priority list lately. However, I still check other blogs regularly and am getting a bit tired of our Easter picture, SOO... This is a small bit of fall.

We went to the corn maze with my mom a few weeks ago. The fun part about bringing her along, aside from many important things Grammy's are to their grandkids and daughters, is that there were some pictures of me with the kids! :) I didn't hold the camera the whole time :)

Easter

It feels like life has been in fastforward for several months. We are feeling settled in our new home and finding a new routine in our own space!! :)

Easter was a wonderful weekend filled with family, beautiful weather and too much food! :)

I enjoyed the enthusiasm our kids had for soaking up the Easter story this year - Jake asks so many probing questions about things we've been discussing in family devotions. I am challenged to provide answers that encourage him to continue to want to learn more.

Britton is getting bigger and more fun each time we see her. What fun to have a cousin to "play" with. Pat and Matt and the kids:

While we waited for Grandpa and Grandma to make a wonderful meal, the kids had such fun playing out in the yard and running through the wheat. Getting them to stand still for a nice picture wasn't possible. Here's what we got :)

We're Ready for Spring!!

So, we are ready for some spring weather!! The sun was calling us this afternoon. We spent quite a bit of time this afternoon outside and enjoyed the freedom of the sun! :) Several times I saw Jake lying on the ground staring at the sky soaking up the sunshine. Enjoy some sunny smiles! :)

Quickly enjoying the beautiful day!!

Merrill Teller says more winter weather is on it's way - so we hurried outside after Jenna's nap to soak up the sun today! I ran in to grab something and the phone rang - so Emily took advantage of an unsupervised camera - here's the world through her eyes!

Jenna rode the tractor solo this afternoon - she even sort of figured out how to push down on the pedal to make it go. She was making grunting sounds and squeeling with joy as she drove all over the yard! Look out Grandpa - here she comes!

Paint update

I feel a little silly posting so many pictures of the house, but I think I'll like having the documentation someday when we forget this process. We're so deeply involved in this right now that I can't even imagine forgetting all these steps, but I'm sure the "newness" will wear off after we begin life there...

Our bedroom:

Kids' bathroom, girls' room - I missed capturing the other wall in their room - the other three are a pale yellow...

Blue and Orange - of course this is Jake's room:

Standing in the dining room - looking at the front door (and Pat, SOOO glad we're going through this process together!)

View from the front door:

We were a little bold with the red wall - I love it!!

Random kid shots

I love these kids so much - none of these pictures are really anything special - but I have such fun playing, laughing and watching them develop friendships with one another - that's what these pictures make me think of! Great memories!!

Jake loves coffee cake

notice the blue sleeve peeking out of the sweatshirt

he likes to pick his own clothes and dress in layers!

crazy morning hair!!

Emily has begun to do her own hair - this creation is one piggy tail on the side, the clip on top only held a tiny bit of hair, the rest was just down!! I have to wonder what her teacher thinks each morning! : )
Emily also likes to pose for the camera...

Jenna is going to be our clown!!

Before Paint

We went to the house this weekend with our camera - to document what the place looked like before the paint went on - the painter had already been busy staining and spraying the woodwork all week - I was amazed at how those two steps really made a dramatic difference in how things looked!

The girls' room:

Jake's room:

Kitchen - this shot is actually from before the painter had done any staining - the counters aren't even all the way complete in this one
Kid's bathroom and the girls' room in the background:

Our bathroom:

Kitchen and dinning room view from the front door: