Great hairdo Rylee!

Here is proof that 4 year olds should not be allowed to do there own hair.

The adventures in adding on

I think we are ready for concrete...yesterday was a day full of excitement. After some exploration digging they found out the we had no gravel under where we wanted to put the addition. The man who built our house, dug out all of the gravel from our driveway and put it under where the house was built. They dug out all of the dirt (hence the big pile of dirt in our grass) after 14 loads of gravel they have it leveled, compacted and ready for footings and a concrete pad. While digging the dirt out the natural gas line was hit and broken, which was a blessing in disguise. The line was able to be moved and is now out of the way and no longer going to be under the addition. Everything has worked out. I know that these are just the first in the long line of bumps that will come along as we progress in the building process. Rylee wants us to keep the pile of dirt in the front yeard so they can have a sledding hill this winter.

Cute ponies!

Avery with her cute little ponies...saying cheese!

Addition Update

We have had a few problems arise, but nothing horrible. We got all the concrete moved and gravel brought in. They have been smoothing the gravel and preparing the pad to have footings dug and concrete poured early next week. I will keep posting to let you all see what happening.

Sweet sisters

Zoey and Avery were actually "playing nice" and reading a book together. I thought it was endearing! (Look gramma, Zoey's hair is combed and looks nice!)

Watching the work...

I thought these were cute of the girls watching Dave push the dirt around outside. They were completely enthralled with watching the backhoe at work. What a great babysitter!!!

Born to be buddies!!!

Avery and Ethan at the hospital

Avery and Ethan at 3 months old

Ethan and Avery's 1st birthday party

Avery feeding Ethan Cheetos the other night

Many of you know that my youngest, Avery, and my nephew, Ethan, were due on the same day and born just 23 hours apart. They were born to be buddies...they are so cute to watch interact. It is like they have their own language. They jabber at each other and then take off to do something. It is so funny. It is fun to watch thew grow up together.

How do you break a habit?

This is Zoey...she has a habit of twirling her hair...we have tried everything to get her to quit, given her a doll to twirl it's hair, have her rub her ear or a toy...nothing has works. She twirls it so much she makes knots...many of which I have had to cut out of her hair. Thanks to her Aunt Jennifer we got this one out today, but she is damaging and breaking her hair off. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to break this habit??? I fear I will a very bald 2 1/2 year old.

Avery bundled up!

It was a little chilly when we started working so we bundled Avery up. I thought she looked pretty darn cute!!

And the balcony comes down

We worked all day yesterday to get the driveway for dirt work and concrete this week. We got the balcony detached from the house in one piece and no one got hurt. ( so it can be reused on the new addition.) A VERY BIG THANKS TO LUKAS AND JEREMEY FOR ALL THEIR HELP!!! We also loaded several loads of concrete and pavement and still have a few to go to get it all cleared. We plan to get the rest of that done tomorrow night with the great muscles of Raquel and Rusty and a few more friends!

It has started...

I don't know how many of you know that we have been contemplated a new house. Ours is great but a little too small for the needs of our growing family(no I am not pregnant.) We are growing out of it, especially during the long Alaskan winters. We have looked and looked and could not find anything that we like or that is worth the money people are asking. We kicked around the idea of adding on and even had a contractor meet with us last winter to discuss options, but the way we were thinking would not work due to utilities and septic tanks, but while our friends, the Lows, were here this summer staying in our driveway. We started discussing options about adding on. They suggested adding on off the garage straight down our driveway. We had never thought about that. Well we met with the contractor and he gave us a bid, A great bid. He also is working with us, to let us do as much as we want to shave off costs. We are adding on a 2 car garage with some rooms on top, a family room, master bed and bath, office and pantry. We will be converting the existing garage into a playroom and the playroom into a bedroom. Our current master bedroom will become a guest room and maybe later on an older child's room.
We got the financing ready to go and we started yesterday. We need the pavement ripped up, so footings can be dug and concrete poured for the foundation. (Please pray the sun remains for the next few days) We asked some friends to borrow their tractor and their very nice son showed up and just started working and he stayed until he had it all ripped up. I felt bad and he just kept telling me that he was enjoying the sun and "playing" with the toy...must be a guy thing!!! We now have to get all the chunks hauled away. The girls were out there piling up the small chunks they could pack. I will keep updating as the project moves forward. Please wish us luck and say some prayers for this exciting adventure. It just all seems surreal!

Don't be too schocked it is sunny!!!

Well after days and days of rain we finally got some sun....YIPEE!!!!!!! We went for a walk to check the mail. Zoey started out walking just fine and then pooped out....so here is our makeshift double stroller. We sure enjoyed the sun...we were out there most of the afternoon and evening. The sun soothes the soul! I am not going to think about how soon it will be Oct 1st and we need to get things "put away" for winter.