Caden's at it again!

He has bumps and bruises daily, but Caden seems to have bigger injuries on a weekly basis! He can't help it... he's reckless... no fear and full of life! Last week, he cracked his ear on Grandma Burgan's piano bench. It bruised immediately and he ended up with a huge goose egg behind his ear. Yesterday, he slipped on the wood floor and split open his lip. Looks like his upper tooth broke his skin... A little rocking, Tylenol, ice and his fishy blankie... he was back at it within the hour! He's definitely our bruiser! I'm afraid!!

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning is always busy at our house... hot monkey bread, cider, and gifts. Coleman thinks he's spider man, but now takes an occasional break to box with Aunt Dawn & Uncle Jassen's boxing gloves. His new spidey undies are washed just about every day to avoid a break down! Caden was probably most excited about candy and a new toothbrush. Ty and Justin have a new ping pong table to keep busy. Both love their new beanies and games. Of course, they love the money they've gotten as well.

Our Low Post

Basketball continues... keeping our schedule busy! Justin's always up against the big guy... guess that's what he gets being a little taller!

Aunt Starr & Uncle Mac

A week goes by so fast when you're having fun... we've really enjoyed our time with Starr, Mac and baby Connor. They were able to catch one of Justin's basketball games, which was great. Mac took over the cooking one night and made halibut and salmon with Ty, his new assistant and shadow! Justin was thrilled because we don't ever cook salmon. He couldn't believe Mac gave him an entire fillet just for himself! We've also had plenty of time for games... so much fun!

Sweet Baby Connor!

We're so excited to see our sweet baby Connor! Starr, Mac & baby Connor came up for Christmas break and we've LOVED our visit! He's 4 months old now and we can't get enough of him! Coleman and Caden LOVE to take turns holding their little cousin... Caden especially loves to take his turn!

Justin's 14!

Yikes! We actually have a kid who is a real teenager! 13 didn't seem too old, but now that Justin just turned 14, there's no denying that he's a teenager now! So much fun!! He choose ribs, shrimp for his birthday dinner with his favorite "better than almost anything" chocolate cake. Fun times!

A KS "snow day"

Growing up in AK, we loved snow days... We're learning quickly in Kansas that there's rain, freezing rain, sleet... and maybe some snow! The boys got a free day off school today because of the freezing rain. The trees are frozen, but roads are just wet. I'm sure if it freezes tonight it will be a mess!

(This is the water in our back yard)

He's playing basketball!

I'm so excited. I never thought this day would come- I have a kid playing basketball! Justin and Ty have NEVER liked basketball... I've tried since they were little to get them to play, but couldn't force them. Instead, they've loved football and Justin wrestled last year. I now enjoy watching them play football... I'm still working on wrestling, but I love basketball! We're so proud of Justin for trying out and making the team... especially since he's never played before. The first couple weeks were rough... Coach told him to "box out" and he didn't know what that was, so he got to do some extra running. He was hoping the coach would just kick him off the team. No such luck! His 1st game was last night and he did really well... it's not his favorite sport yet... but, there's still plenty of time!

He's #45 in white

old hat, new hat

Caden's favorite book is Old Hat, New Hat. We read it several times every day! It's no wonder he was so excited for us to open the winter clothing box... hats! He had so much fun with them!

So Thankful!

In our new home, we decided to try a new tradition... a deep-fried turkey! It turned out well... and was an overall nice day spent together! The chill is now in the air, and we were freezing, but still managed to pull the tractor out for a ride! The boys are never too cold for that!

Jim also dug a hole for the boy's basketball hoop... that will be going up soon! We definitely miss Grandma & Grandpa in AK, but we have so much to be thankful for!!

To Granny's House we'll go...

Our time at Granny's house was nice, too. It was nice to be close enough to be able to drive- something I know I'll never take for granted after living so isolated in Alaska. In spite of dealing with Pa's death, it was nice for the cousins to play together and to catch up with everyone.

Evansville, IN & Girard, IL

The first stop on our quick trip last weekend was to Evansville, Indiana... Uncle Jassen (Jim's brother), Aunt Dawn & Kota Michael's house! The little guys had a blast playing with Kota's toys... it was cool Uncle Jassen's XBox for the big boys. Of course, Dawn ran for our favorite food while we're there... Chick-fil-a! Yummy!

The next morning, we loaded up and headed to Grandma & Grandpa's house (Jim's Grandma & Grandpa)! It was so nice to catch up with them and Grandma Shellene. Grandma & Grandpa hadn't ever seen Caden. We enjoyed a nice meal and visiting!

pinch me

I can't believe my life! I have a wonderful husband, great kids... and I'm planting bulbs in November! It just seems too good to be true. Until now, I've never really liked fall... Maybe because growing up in AK, the chill in the air hits sometime in August and doesn't leave until June. The heat down here feels like heaven to me!

I'm finally doing something I've planned to do my whole life... planting bulbs that I can enjoy year after year! I'm not quite sure how my colors will turn out... I had them all neatly layed out until my little assistant rearranged them! Oh well... it's all good... fun times with the little guys! I did get a little carried away when I bought them... now, it's taking a LOT longer to get them in than I planned... we've put in probably 200 tulips and have about 100 to go!

I hope at least one makes it!

still driving...

Unexpectedly, Jim's Pa passed away last week, so we took a little road trip this last weekend to spend time with family in Illinois. It was a quick trip over the weekend, but we feel so fortunate we now live close enough to make trips like this. The little guys did pretty well considering all of the time in the truck and a new bed in a new house every night. Justin and Ty had a nice time, too. It was really nice to catch up with everyone even considering the circumstances.

Caden loved climbing on all of Pa's heavy equipment! He thinks he's driving... with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the shift.

our carpet is in!

We've been in our new house three months today! We're tired... so tired! We finally have our flooring installed... the carpet was finished this morning. We still have the details to finish up... the bathroom, trim, wood ledges, shelving, doors, stain, stain, stain... Enough projects for a year of busy weekends but, it's liveable! The big boys are moving downstairs as I type! I'm ready to finish getting organized, but I may wait a day or two- I can't get myself to move right now!

trick or treat

It was great trick or treating in sandals this year! It was chilly, but not Alaska cold that we're used to! Our generous neighbors loaded the boys with candy. One great neighbor even gave the boys each a little goody bag. Coleman and Caden's had little matchbox firetrucks in them... Doesn't take long to know what our boys LOVE! Justin threw his mask on for a minute. Coleman and Caden were cute little dragons... Caden hated his costume. We're still trying to figure out what Ty was...

little helpers

Sometimes we wonder just how far along we would actually be if not for our little helpers! They're so dependable... such hard-working young men!! Not a day goes by that they're not in the mix helping us (especially their daddy) every step of the way! Guess it wouldn't be a family effort without their hands touching every little piece of it!

We're finally finished painting, YEAH! We painted it all the same color (pretty close to the paint color upstairs) except for the bathroom and my closet. Jim let me go out on a limb with some green! Justin and Ty pulled some long hours this past weekend to help finish up this stage! Jim finished the flooring in my office and it's beautiful! Dirty in these photos, but beautiful. He did such a great job. He's about finished with flooring in the pantry and hallway. We're getting carpet installed on Friday... the boys think they're moving downstairs! Still so much to do, but we're grateful we're as far as we are!

a different kind of surprise

I wouldn't say I really like being surprised, as in startled but there is something to be said about really being surprised! The kind I like are mostly things being done without asking... dinner on the table... clean rooms... tulips and roses are always nice too! I decided to surprise Jim today. He had to go back to work- something he's not too happy with. Actually, it's the only thing we're not liking about Kansas. We decided yesterday that it we really wish we were already at that retired stage in life... to just do projects together every day! (I'd even build another basement if I got him home full-time!)
Anyhow, today's surprise... see how far I can get with the painting while he's at work! Don't you think he'll be excited?! Now that our life revolves around this stinkin' basement... our priorities and things that make us happy have adapted! I'm even starting to think that I might get some trim for our 5th anniversary in January instead of the anniversary band I've been planning for the last few years! Time to paint...

our front porch

As Jim and I have planned out our "dream house" we always knew we wanted a big front porch! Now that we have it we LOVE our front porch. Anytime anything is going on... the boys head to the porch... it's great! They watch the lightening, listen to the thunder, watch the trains, wait for daddy to come home, look at the moon, play ball with Dahli, watch the sunrise... It's the best entertainment. It's also a nice place to sit and enjoy the quiet! Come visit us... try it out!

paint

We're still smiling in spite of hours of painting this week... Of course, I have the most pictures of Caden (again) since he always seems to be right in the middle of the action! This stage of painting has really been a great reminder to me of how much I need my husband in my life! I have a tendency to like to jump around. It's hard for me to finish one wall before moving on to the next! I trimmed it out, then he came behind and rolled the walls. Luckily, he keeps me on task and the job will get finished! I was ready to put color on the walls before the ceiling was even finished... he has to slow me down, remind me to follow our plan! Our bones are aching, and we're ready to enjoy it... but, all in all it's been a good experience! We should be done (painting, that is!!) by this weekend and flooring is next!! Can't wait!

Our baby is 2!

What a sweet birthday boy! He didn't even know it was his birthday... and spent most of the day wanting us to hold him while we painted downstairs. We had his birthday dinner, then "dirt" cake served in his new dump truck. He was most excited about his new puppy book and the worms in the dirt! He was very sweet... ready to play tomorrow! Time to potty train!!

texture

Coleman knows the routine. The other day, he woke up ready to head to work downstairs! He asked for his "pile of dust" which makes the perfect race track for his cars and trucks! His racecars do all kinds of flips in the dust... his trucks tow trailers through it. While sanding, we had so much dust it was easy to give him a pile. It would keep him busy for hours. I had to tell him... THERE IS NO MORE DUST!!! Yeah! We're finally through the sanding and finished texture in two quick days! This weekend, we're painting... trying to get our first coat of primer finished today! We'll see how far we get before doing Caden's birthday this evening! Our little guy is 2 today... how appropriate to make him work downstairs all day for his birthday! He doesn't know the difference, thankfully!!

Caden's at it again...

It seems that weekly, Caden has something major happen! He's a wreck!! This week, while playing cars, Coleman and Caden had a little argument. Caden called it a back hoe, Coleman said it was a front-end loader. Somehow, the track hoe ended up making tracks across Caden's face. Ouch! Poor little guy... for the majority of the time, he's pretty sweet!

Today, he scared us like never before. Jim had just gotten home and was bringing in some groceries. While making his first trip in, Coleman and Caden were hangin' out in Daddy's truck. No keys... it was off. Well, Caden decided he wanted to drive and put the gear shifter in neutral causing the truck to roll back into the neighbor's ditch. I looked out the window and SCREAMED... in a panic to see where my babies were! Luckily, they were both sitting in the front seat in the ditch full of mud. Coleman told us he said, "Caden, STOP! But, he wouldn't stop." We're afraid this isn't the last time that Caden's going to drive them both into TROUBLE!

We know we're lucky neither of them were hurt... It was a bonus that he didn't hit anything, and that our neighbors weren't upset with us!

A Simple Impression

I've just started getting serious about our vinyl lettering business. I'm still working on my prices, but happy to take any orders. I am selling it ready to apply as you'd like in your home, or as a finished product on a tile or wood plaque. The possibilities are endless!

Check out my link to A Simple Impression for ideas and some of the personalized vinyl I have created. It's a work in progress... sort of like life, right?

More Fun

From open room to framed... to sheetrock!

child labor

First you sand, then you have to feel it to make sure it's smooth... Caden knows the routine! He's watched the HOURS and HOURS we've been working down there! This weekend, we're hoping the sanding is just about finished!

Last weekend, we had the big boys sand their own ceilings... neither of them has complained that their room is too small! We haven't seen either of them downstairs since... Hmmm...

Some may call it child abuse... we're just working on life's lessons... keeping them humble!

Goin' for a Ride

The little guys were excited to see G'ma & G'pa & ready to go for a ride with them! Daddy pulled the tractor out of the garage... and everyone had the chance to take it for a spin. Coleman made sure Gramps had his seatbelt on... what a crazy kid!

What a Nice Surprise!

Before heading back to Alaska from visiting new baby Connor in Texas, G'ma & G'pa decided to make a quick visit to Kansas! They flew in to OK, then drove up just in time to make it to Thursday night football! Both boys were totally surprised! Jim & Gramps went to Ty's game. G'ma & I drove south to Justin's game, then made it back in time to catch the end of Ty's game.

It worked out perfectly! We already miss living so close to G'ma & G'pa... they need to get OUT of AK!

Haggard

haggard: having a gaunt, wasted, or exhausted appearance, as from prolonged suffering, exertion, or anxiety

OK- This was one of Justin's vocab words this week. He was looking for a definition this week. Instead of pulling one up from the Internet (our dictionary isn't unpacked yet) I simply said... me! He quickly responded... tired? Guess that fits! I didn't know the real definition but it actually fits! I don't think I've had prolonged suffering, but too much work and not enough play certainly fits! I know it looks like I'm doing all the work and Jim's sailing through this remodel... but, it's not true! He's pretty much touched every piece of sheet rock, wood and mud that's down there! (along with Uncle Dana...) Taking advice from my brother Steele... use as little mud as possible... sanding it is NOT fun! Justin was on the sander for a couple minutes, then completely worn out. The next day, he came home from school and we told him I sanded the whole downstairs. Jim asked him, " Do you have just a little more respect for mom now that she did the whole thing?" He quickly responded... "Oh, I already had a ton of respect for you both." Actually, all four of the boys have had a hand in helping build our basement... Caden's put in the most time... he's Mr. Fix-It. He LOVES being down there doing whatever we're doing! Justin's a close 2nd... He carried almost all of the sheet rock downstairs with Jim. Great bonding dad/son time! (Ty did carry 4 of the 140+ sheets... gotta give him credit!) One of these days when we're finished, they'll all be able to say they helped build our house!

A bit of sheetrock!

From completely unfinished, to framed and now sheetrocked... here's our basement! We're going to eventually put some kind of countertop on the cabinets for a work area. The corner is going to be our office and my work area for my vinyl. The bathroom is right there, too. Plus, the big closet that Justin calls, "just a closet." On the other side of that wall is our pantry area and space for canning along with our utility room/tornado shelter. It's all so open and light!

Jim and I have a hot "weekend date" down there... playing in the mud! Should be loads of fun! I really can't wait. I'm so excited to work on it! With so much dust and mud flying, there's really no reason for me to clean or dust upstairs, right?

A Family Affair

Let me just say... we decided to skip doing any small projects on our new house and get down to business! Finishing our basement is like building a house!! It really is! If there's an award out there for "Uncle of the Year" it goes to my Uncle Dana-fix-it. That's what we call him since any time his name is mentioned, Caden adds on a little "unka dana fix it". He just spent another weekend with us away from his busy life in San Diego to join our craziness! In just 8 full working days between both long weekends he was here (Jim only had 6 full working days)... it's coming along! Starting from a big open room- they framed it, ran all the electrical, sheetrocked it, and even got a plumber in to run the lines for the bathroom. I never thought I'd love the sight of sheetrock, dust aka orbs, 2x4's and tools everywhere! It's just beautiful.

When it's finished, we'll have Justin and Ty's bedrooms down there, a huge family room, nice big office/work area, full bathroom, canning area/pantry w/a drop sink, tornado shelter in our utility room, and a walk in closet that I can hardly wait to organize! There are windows all around, so it's so bright and light. I think we're going to LIVE down there! I'll post photos after I make it down there today to clean up a little bit!

Undefeated

I know they've only had two games, but both Justin & Ty's teams remain unbeaten! Both of their teams shut out their opponents last week, making sweet victories! Winning isn't everything, but they're sure enjoying it! Actually, we're all really enjoying football. In spite of the four hours or so that we spend in the bleachers, it's fun hanging with the little guys! Of course, Caden's our little daredevil child, so he'll likely be hurt sooner or later! By the end of Justin's game- we're all exhausted!

It's fun to look forward to each Thursday night!