House Updates

For the last 2 of 3 weekends, my parents have come up to work on the house.  It has been much appreciated!!

Mom spraying weeds.

Grandpa Dick checking out the gutters.

Aiden 'helping' cut the boards.

Building a shelving unit for the garage.  This seems to be a theme everywhere we move...

Finished shelves!

And with stuff on them. Perfect height to still fit underneath.

Checking out his socks with Grandpa Dick.

CHEESE!

Grandma sanding the front posts.

He looks very happy to be vacuuming the dryer vent...

Tight fit!

If only I had this on a video camera...

While everyone else was working, Aiden decided to try on his Halloween costume.  We discovered it is a little too snug, so we had to take it back.  He is now going to be Buzz Light Year.  But he sure loved being Scooby Doo for a little bit.

He matches his puzzle book!

Another night... Mike came over to help us paint!

I forgot to take pictures before we primed, so that's what you see in the back- primed walls.

1st coat of light blue going on.

Another task... hanging pictures.  It's amazing how hanging things can make it feel more like home!

Daycare Assignment

Aiden's first homework! Each child in his class was given a bag and were to add certain things.  I thought I'd share what he is putting in.

A picture of him as a baby.

A picture of his family.

His favorite food.

His favorite thing.

Something he likes to do.

Cousins (2nd? 3rd) Visit

Doug's cousin Brandy and her kids (Donavon and Valerie) came to visit from Colorado. They are pretty close in age and had a blast playing with each other.

How has he gotten this big?!?

Cheese that looks like wink!

Brandy trying to hit the kids with bug spray as they drive by.

Valerie and Donavon.

Aiden got to ride!

Think he's having fun?

Donavon let Aiden drive, more like sit- but it was still nice of him!

Riding with Valerie

Donavon giving them advice, from the hood of the car.

Hair cut

In getting Aiden ready to go back to daycare, we decided he needed another hair cut.  Here he is!

Cheese!

I'm back!

After a little blogging hiatus... I'm back!  It's been a crazy few months- but we've survived!  Since last I wrote, I've started my new job at Cedar Falls high school, Aiden went back to daycare, we've bought a house, moved in, are getting settled.  The house buying process was super stressful!  We were supposed to close August 16th.  A few days before close, we found out our mortgage underwriter wanted another comp (comparable) that had an unfinished basement (as our house does).  Our appraiser found one, but it was out of the recommended radius.  We sent it back to the underwrite with hopes that it would be enough.  We found out on the 21st that it was! We closed the next day, Thursday, August 22.  And we started moving in the day after that, Friday.  Thanks to our family (Deb, Bruce, Steve, Karen, Dick, and Carolyn) and our good friend (Mike) we got everything moved in on Saturday.  Our living space is less that our old place, but there is an unfinished basement.  So, we will have to do something downsizing/picking what goes upstairs and what we store downstairs.  Needless to say, we will have months of unpacking to go.  Some of things we worked on while moving included:

• Filled garage cracks with cement (Mom and Grandpa)
• Changed all the locks and set it so all locks use the same key (Grandpa)
• Fixed the front porch posts (Grandpa)
• Hauled LOTS of boxes and furniture (Doug, Briana, Steve, Bruce, Mike)
• Entertained Aiden (Deb)
• Cleaned the fridge - very important! (Karen)
• Painted an accent wall in Aiden's room (Briana and Karen)
• Steam Cleaned the carpets (Steve and Karen)
• Polished the doors and trim (Deb)
• Fed the hungry people (Karen and Deb)

We are so grateful and blessed to have all of these people in our lives- THANK YOU!!

Here are a few pictures.  More to come!

Aiden coloring in his room (we will be replacing those curtains)

Another shot

You can see the wall we painted.

The backyard from the upper level deck.  This house is a split foyer. Meaning you enter the house and then choose to go up or down.  All living space is up, right now. The swing set came with the property.

Showing off his golf bag.

Down the stairs into the garage.

Shot of the side of the garage. The backyard is fenced in.

A shot back at the house.

Grandpa and Grandma Goodenbour came over to grill for Labor Day.  Aiden, the firefighter, was showing them the yard.

Doug enjoying the fruits of his labor, an assembled deck set!