All Moved In

All three of them in my big tub! So fun! I however have not gotten to take a bath in here yet, the clip to the blinds broke and I won't take a bath in front of an open window, I know there are no neighbors looking in but what if someone had binoculars?

The boy's room, the paint looks so cute. Luke can hardly handle how much he loves his new room and being right next to Jack in his bed. Jack really likes it too, he really wants to hang all their things up (one thing at a time buddy!)

Selah's room, I love the paint in here too and she loves her new princess sheets! (and the paint)

Brad and the kids building the swing set (that took him three days!) Last night when Luke went to bed he asked Brad "Daddy, in the morning are we going to work on the swing set again?" He was really excited, they liked the work and especially doing it with Daddy. I'm not sure my Dad or Brad's Dad shared that enthusiasm over helping with it but they really did help out a lot!

The first fire at our fire pit, the kids have been so excited about this and I have to say it may be my favorite part of our new house too. Tonight (our second fire) they were out catching fireflies while Brad and I sat by the fire and it really felt like a perfect night.

While staying at Aunt Lele and Uncle Jays's house they went to the Winterset aquatic center and had lots of fun in the backyard. My kids really love it there. Thanks Leah for watching my kids so I could work at the house!

While staying at Grandpa Ken and Grandma Lois's of course the boys had to go to the driving range, Luke really loves to golf and Jack of course loves it because it's a sport! You can't beat having the driving range down the street! Thanks Mom for watching my kids too so I could get so much done, they love it at your place too.

They did also stay at Rex and Cathy's and I know had fun there too but I don't have pictures yet.

On Father's Day we took a break, Uncle Jaysson got us tickets to the Iowa Cubs game and it was super hot but still a nice break from the work.

Jack and Brad got to play catch in the outfield before the game with a whole bunch of other kids and their dads, clearly Jack loved this!

I love this picture of all of the kids working, putting rocks in the wheelbarrow to put on the path to the fire pit. Pretty soon our family is going to stop coming to visit, we put them to work every time!

That is an update of what we have been up to! I need to get to bed!

It's a........

BOY!!! 

We had our ultrasound yesterday and the baby looks great, very, very busy in there!  And we found out he was a boy!  After the ultrasound we called the kids and Jack said "Yes, that was just what I wanted!"  I hope he realizes it may be a few years before this little boy can play outfield! We are very excited about having three little boys and one little girl to help me keep them all in line!  It was really fun yesterday to watch him moving around so much in there, I thought I felt a lot of movement!

I will scan a picture of him when I have a few more minutes.

Our Going Away BBQ

We are officially in Iowa now....... well I am here, the kids are at Brad's parents, and Brad is working until Friday but we do now own a house in Iowa.

Last weekend before we left my sweet neighbor Tami hosted a BBQ for us at her house and I wanted to post some of the pictures.Selah was all over, she talked with the babies, the mommies, played ball with the boys, swung on the swing set, played in the sandbox, she loved the party!  That afternoon Brady and Gavin were watching her for me (sweet boys, they even helped Brad load furniture!) and she went over to Tami's for a little while.  She told Tami she was coming to her party that night and Tami said "Selah, the party is for you!"  Well then she was even more excited!

This is a picture of Brad and me watching a video of photos (to very sweet music) that Monica made of pictures she has taken of our family while we have lived here.  I was crying my face off by the end of it!  Can you believe it even ended with "Friends are friends forever"?  There were pictures of how much my kids have changed and all the awesome things we loved about the neighborhood.  Thank you Monica, that really was priceless to me.  They even all signed a frame with a picture she took of our family, we are so lucky we made such good friends here.

Luke and Gabe in the sandbox, Lukey had a good night too with a break in the middle to play with Tami's trains downstairs. Jack doing what he loves most. All of the kids, and they were all even looking!  Jack, Luke, and Selah have grown to love these kids.   L-R  front - Kaden, Gabe, Sam, Jack, Selah, Zane, L-R back - Matthew, Brady, Gavin, Hudsen, Luke, and Calvin

A friendly game of football broke out, until I looked over and saw Jeremy Shana's husband taking out Brad.  A little competition never hurts right?

My sweet friends! L-R  Miss Bekah first with Micah (she is sweet, loves the Lord and it so radiates out of her, an inspiration for me as a mommy, and has become so important to me!), then Miss Tami (she is full of awesome information I needed with three boys who also love sports, always a huge support for me, encouraging, and the best backyard neighbor I could ever have!), me, Miss Monica (an great artist, so thoughtful, super generous, I cannot tell you how many signs she has given me, not to mention groceries! And to live next door to a family who has another 7 year old boy who loves most of what Jack does has been such a blessing), Miss Resa (my walking partner!  So many discussions on our walks that somehow ends up with one or both of us crying, what is our deal?  Any way, I will miss them!), and Miss Shana with Addie (Fellow Iowa girl!  As much as I wished she lived in the neighborhood while I did I loved hanging out the times we could, and I'll see you in Spirit Lake right?)  Thanks everyone so much from all of us, we will miss you but please come visit!  

The end of our homeschooling year!

The DuMonds had a few homeschool families out last night for a BBQ, bonfire, and fun hanging out together. The mommies for a picture all together, Bekah, Jill, me and Karmen... I will miss these sweet friends and all of their support so much.

The graduation 1st grade class! Maria, Jack, and Calvin

Selah roasting her marshmallows, one for her smore and one for me.

All of the kids, minus poor Grace who was home sick. They were all running in the woods playing until 10:00!

This is so cute, really I can't even handle it they are so sweet!

Wade and Bekah have a three man slingshot for the boys that kept the dads and kids busy for quite a while launching water balloons....fun!

It was such a fun night spending time with friends, I think we will maybe drive from Iowa for next year's party it was such a good time. Thank you Wade and Bekah for having us out, while your house is on the market and you have a newborn baby!

Our Day with the DuMonds

Another one of the big things we will miss SO much about Rochester are our friends the DuMonds. Bekah and her boys have been a huge blessing to us while we have been in Rochester and who I know will be lifelong friends! Please come visit! We had Miss Bekah and the boys over yesterday to spend some time with them before we go, the kids had fun outside and Bekah and I got to hang out together. What a great day!

A break from the water in the sandbox.

Everyone ready for battle.

Can you handle how cute baby Micah is? I couldn't get over his hair!

Big yawn.

I must say Selah can keep up with all of these boys quite well.

Selah and Gabe

Jack and Calvin played army most of the day, Jack is going to miss his homeschooling buddy Calvin almost as much as I'm going to miss his Mommy!

Selah and Zane. Bekah said it was funny when they were stuck on a bump and Zane got out to push, Selah watched with her feet up in the car.

Thanks for coming over guys!

Luke's Thomas Sprinkler

I love sprinkler in the backyard pictures!

This kept them busy for at least an hour the other day....priceless.

Such good buddies! (sometimes)

One of the many things we will miss

The other night Jack was out playing wiffle ball with the neighborhood kids and I thought I really needed to get some pictures, he LOVES playing ball with his friends and there are pickup games almost every day in this neighborhood. What a huge blessing this has been while we've been here.

This is Miss Tami's backyard, where the majority are played. And Brady who Jack looks up to so much (and is also a great kid) is pitching.

He could and does play for hours and hours. Please pray with me there are boys in our new neighborhood who also love baseball!

Weekend in Iowa

Levi turns 6 today! Happy birthday Levi! Yesterday we went to his bowling birthday party.

All of our little bowlers!

Jack did great, I guess practicing on the Wii has helped his game.

Luke did good too with Daddy's help.

Selah and the girls had a blast, lots of hi fives and hugs after every pin down.

Before our trip to Winterset we were in Storm Lake. They have done a lot to Storm Lake making a resort/water park with a beach and an awesome playground that we stopped at after a boat ride.

Selah got her turn at the wheel but was more interested in turning the wheel all over than looking where she was going.

Luke loves the boat, at first wanted to go slow but soon wanted to go faster, faster, faster!

I loved the static that made her hair stick up!

Jack did most of the driving and other than Grandpa giving directions (and of course pulling the boat in), and giving Selah a turn he drove the whole way.

Brad's cousin was getting married so we got to visit some relatives this weekend too. Selah of course loved the wedding dance and got Grandpa Rex out onto the floor.

What surprised me most was Luke! He was all over the dance floor!

Lots of spins and twirls.

And Luke did his own thing!

Back to unpacking and laundry, but we had another really fun whirlwind weekend.