Dose of DuVall Fun!

Holy Cow... It's been almost a year since my last update!

2011-12-30T00:53:00.001-06:00

So, after realizing my last update was almost a year ago, I have made my first New Year's resolution: update my blog more often! So, to do a quick catch-up, here's the year 2011 in review!

The kids went bowling for the first time! They had so much fun! What a fun thing to do on a cold winter day! Thank goodness for bumpers :)

The kids played soccer again in the Spring. They are really starting to get the hang of the game!

Hailey learned how to cross the monkey bars!

The kids made out like bandits for Easter!

They went to the Old Capital Art fair. We took our annual pictures on the steps of the Old State Capital. How big they are getting!

We went to the St. Louis Zoo! It was a big hit. Hailey's favorite was the giraffe enclosure, while Kaden looked forward to the cheetah exhibit. Unfortunately, they were a little shy and it was hard to see them. That was a fun day!

The kids finished their PreK year!

We went on our annual trip to Onekama, Michigan. We played on the beach, roasted marshmallows over a bonfire, we made s'mores, and we watched some beautiful sunsets!

Hailey participated in her last dance recital, as she has decided to take up gymnastics!

The twins celebrated their 6th birthday! Really, they are 6 already? I doesn't seem possible!

We started Kindergarten this year. The kids were so excited! They are in separate classes, but they have friends in both rooms.

The kids played fall soccer. They both started coming into their own. Hailey was good at running the ball down the field, and she also did a great job as goalie! Kaden was an awesome defender, did great at stealing the ball away, and scored several goals! Michael was the goal coach this season as well.

We went to the Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, IL. This place was COOL!!! The owners have decorated at the White House! This is definitely a place we will come back to every year! It was worth the trip. The kids were in awe of the horse and buggies they saw, as Arthur is in the middle of Amish country. They also tried pumpkin ice cream for the first time as well.

Halloween was fun this year. I think we finally escaped the "princess" theme. Hailey was a flapper girl, and Kaden was a ninja.

We went to visit Santa. Hailey asked for ANOTHER stuffed animal, and an American Girl doll, but ended up changing her mind to a DS. Kaden asked for something Santa had never heard of, so he also changed to a DS. Santa came through with the big gift this year!

Hailey and I went to the Sugar Plum Fairy Tea and we went to see the Nutcracker. We got to go with a bunch of school friends, and they even got to take their picture with Clara, the Nutcracker prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and her Caviler!

The kids had their Christmas program at school. Hailey was a star, and Kaden was a donkey. It was so super cute! Hailey enjoyed the attention, but Kaden was very nervous. I don't think he smiled once while he was on stage :(

Hailey and Kaden both got their BIG gift - a Nintendo DS and 2 games each! They were very excited!

They also got Mario Cart and an extra wheel to play on the Wii!

The only thing left is New Year's eve, and that'll put 2011 in the books! I'm so excited to see what 2012 will bring. Here's hoping that it's a great year like this one.

Winter 2010 and Spring 2011

2011-04-12T21:36:00.000-05:00

Winter was full of fun times outdoors and in! The kids ended up having quite a few snow days this year, and they witnessed their first HUGE snowfall. It snowed 13 inches at the end of January!!!

The kids built a fort on the patio in the back yard. They each had their own space and there was also a community space. They had some great snowball fights!

And they made some great snow angels.

The kids also went bowling for the first time. They had so much fun! Kaden thought the best way to get the ball down the lane fast was to take a running start at it. It reminded me of Happy Gilmore when he took a running start at his T-shot! I can't wait to take them back.

The kids also started back at soccer this Spring. Kaden scored back-to-back goals in the second game this season! Hailey scored a goal too, but.... it was in our team's goal. It counted, but for the wrong team. Needless to say, Hailey learned her lesson and she said she won't make that mistake again.

All in all, it's been a fun Winter and Spring. I can't wait for the rest of the Spring and Summer! We're going to go to the zoo in St. Louis, go to Michigan for vacation, take swimming lessons and play at the pool, go to the Shed Aquarium, and take our first trip to EAA in Oshkosh!

Wow! The twins are getting so big that...

2011-04-12T20:53:00.000-05:00

They are learning to cross the monkey bars all by themselves! Also, Hailey learned to tie her shoes!

It's amazing what 5 year olds can do! I'm always amazed!

Yeah Yeah I know. It's been awhile...

2011-01-24T22:28:00.001-06:00

Yeah, I know. It's been a long while since I've updated pics and what not. Here are some of the events from the holiday season. Enjoy!

The Kids' PreK Christmas Program - Blessed Sacrament School

PreK Christmas Party - Blessed Sacrament

St. Charles, MO - walking on the square

Our Lady of the Snow - Christmas Lights St. Charles, MO

Christmas Cookie Fest 2010

Christmas at Grandpa's house

Christmas with Grammy and Poppy

The Christmas tree after Santa visited

Christmas Morning

Cleaning the basement and goofing off

Hailey after she decided she was a "superstar movie star"

She is a dancing queen, young and sweet...

Anyway, I know it's been a long while, and I'll try and do better to update pics more often! I hope you are all enjoying 2011!

Our Visit to the Appleton Kids Museum

2010-11-20T21:57:00.000-06:00

If you are ever in Wisconsin, I highly recommend a visit here. It's a children's museum and exploratory center. WAY COOL!

Soccer Fun!!!

2010-09-11T17:07:00.000-05:00

Soccer is finally here, and both Kaden and Hailey wanted to play.

Here are photos from their first game :)

I've got to get back to the goal!

Throw it hard, Hailey!

Kaden's not afraid of a little elbow pushing with his own teammates to get to the ball :)

And.... a miss!

Hi Mom!

Heeee Ya!!!!! (yes, she actually said it when she kicked the ball)

Hailey's Dance Recital 2010

2010-08-15T12:07:00.000-05:00

Back at the end of July, Hailey had her 2nd dance recital. A seasoned veteran, Hailey was the ballet princess we all know her to be. She was a vision of grace, and she danced her heart out.

Dance Recital from Libby Dirksen DuVall on Vimeo.

Okay, so I lied a little. She's sure cute to watch though!

Here are some additional pictures :)

For Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Jerry

2010-08-15T01:01:00.001-05:00

Dear Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Jerry,

We missed you at our birthday party today. We wanted to thank you for our birthday gifts. We love the clothes, and we know we'll look pretty sharp in them once it gets colder!

We love you so much and can't wait to see you soon!

Love, Kaden and Hailey

More Michigan - fun in the sand

2010-06-24T08:04:00.001-05:00

Here are more pics from our adventures in Michigan. Despite the cold and yucky weather, we enjoyed every minute we could get outside. We built our first sandcastles, and we learned a lot about sand consistency to make the best structures.

Kaden and dad are digging a hole to prepare for the sand castle that didn't work out too well.

Hailey was more interested in creating sand angels all week. Every time we would try and get her interested in sand castles or sculpting, she'd lay down and make a sand angel. Let me tell you - I'm still getting sand out of her hair!

She did begin to like making sand and rock soup! She'd make me a pot of it every day.

They really enjoyed playing with each other. I think this is the best they have ever played together! It made the trip really enjoyable!

We climbed the stairs at The Lookout. They really enjoyed that part. I didn't mind the climbing part, but the going down part made me nauseous! Looking through the grates on the steps ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CLIFF freaked me out!

The kids playing lions and tigers in the desert (the two mini sand dunes in front of our cottage) Kaden and Hailey were on the prowl pouncing on everything they could find!

Oh Onekama, How I've Missed You!

2010-06-19T11:04:00.000-05:00

We spent two weeks in Onekama, Michigan (oh-Neck-a-ma). My dad spent his summers there, and it was our vacation spot ever since I can remember. It's my family's little slice of heaven. There are so many reasons why it's great.

Reason #1: Angel Slide. Angel Slide is a sand dune in Onekama. It's in the shape of an angel - or at least it used to be. New EPA rules don't allow you to pull the sea grass or weed it, so it's gotten a little overgrown. Oh and by the way, it's SUCKS to climb!

Reason #2: The Lookout. Just North of Onekama is a place where you can look out onto Lake Michigan. There's a large wooden staircase you climb to look out onto a large portion of the lake. It's almost like looking at it while being in a helicopter.

Reason #3: Sandy Beaches as far as the eye can see: Lake Michigan has beautiful soft sandy beaches! They are wonderful to take long walks on!

Reason #4: Waking up to the sound of waves crashing on the beach because the house you are renting has a walk out right onto the lake!

Reason #5: Bonfires! Love the fact that we can just have a bonfire without having to think twice! You know what that means? Smores!

Reason #6: All the fun of the ocean without any of the SALT!!

Reason #7: The Glenwood: A great restaurant - for a splurge!

Reason #8: Watching your kids play on the beach

Reason #9: Being able to get up close with the wildlife!

Reason #10: The Sunsets are UNBELIEVABLE!

The End of the School Year!

2010-06-19T08:42:00.001-05:00

We've come to the end of our 2nd year of preschool. It's hard to believe our time at the ELC is over. We are so thankful for the wonderful teachers our children have had. Kaden loved having Miss Reavy and Mrs. Sanders for two years. He has learned so much. We wish Miss Reavy well in her marriage next year, and we hope that Mrs. Sanders continues to have a wonderful career at ELC.

Hailey has loved having Mrs. Markey and Mrs. Feld as her teachers this year. She has learned so much, and she has grown so much as a girl and a student. We are so thankful that Mrs. Markey and Mrs. Feld came into our lives. We will never forget the wonderful experiences they gave Hailey.

It's on to bigger things next year. The kids will go for one more year of preschool. They will be attending Blessed Sacrament Preschool ALL DAY next year. I'm excited for the kids, because this program is more of a junior kindergarten than preschool. It'll give the kids a good academic base to give them a successful kindergarten experience.

Football

2010-06-19T08:29:00.001-05:00

Kaden started his football career this year! He played in the Springfield YMCA flag football league. He was one of the youngest on his team of 4-5 year olds. I've learned that the biggest challenge for these guys was to run in the right direction. Coach John and Coach Derek did a wonderful job with them.

Most of the boys got it after the first couple of games, but Kaden still struggled with it, even at the end. It think a lot of it had to do with having 9 kids running after him. He did really well at center and at quarterback. Maybe he'll have a future in the NFL! (A mom can dream, right?)

Spring Fling

2010-06-19T08:17:00.001-05:00

I've been horrible this year about posting! Hopefully this summer will allow me more time to fit this in. In May, we went to the ELC Spring Fling! The kids had a fantastic time. When we arrived, there were two really fun clowns. Kaden liked to look at them from afar, but Hailey was ready to get her picture taken with them.

There were bouncy houses that the kids had so much fun playing in. They both said it reminded them of being at gymnastics class. There were bouncy houses there that the kids got to play in at the end of every month. They also climbed up a bouncy slide and had a lot of fun with that.

There were also some wonderful cupcakes for the kids. They had a lot of fun eating them and listening to some live music. It was their first concert. They listened to some fun renditions of the bunny hop, the chicken dance, and other kids songs, only there were funny words put to them.

Before we left, we had to get one last picture of the kids on the couch in front of the library.

My little daredevils

2010-04-03T23:21:00.006-05:00

As many of you know, my daughter is quite the dare devil. She fears very little when it comes to her natural athletic prowess. So, my sister decides to show her that she can hang upside down on the swinging bar on our swing set.

Check out the video! Just goes to show what AMAZING core strength she has!!!!!!

Well, being the loving sister that she is, she felt the need to help her brother learn how to do it as well. He doesn't quite have the core strength that she has, so Hailey has to help. But, Kaden sure likes to act like a little monkey too!

Just some random pics

2010-03-03T20:07:00.002-06:00

I know it's been awhile. I'm sorry... BUT...

We have some well-laid plans for next year! The kids will be attending Blessed Sacrament all day Pre-K! I'm so excited for this, as they have August birthdays and are no where near ready for Kindergarten! So, they get one more year and can work on more academic-type skills so they will be for sure ready to go!

We are also working on writing our names. When I get a chance, I'll post some samples of their work. They are very proud of their writing and are excited to be getting a Woody and Buzz Lightyear toy very soon :) (Yes, we rewarded them - BAD PARENTS!!!)

Recently, Aunt Patty came over to babysit the kids so Mom and Dad could have a night out. It was quite nice, and we weren't quite sure what to do with ourselves! Below are some pics of the kids. Enjoy!

These pics are from a "sleep over" we had in our family room! The kids LOVE doing this! Fortunately, the kids sleep on the floor and I sleep on the COUCH!!!!

Most of the time, the kids are just playing with each other or getting into fights. But occasionally, they are really sweet to each other. Here's to hoping that there's more of times like this!

Here are the two cutest kids in the world with the cutest husband in the world! (No, Michael, I don't want anything)

Here are the kids with Aunt Patty right before she left to take them out to Coz's for dinner. They LOVE going out to eat!

The things kids say...

2010-02-06T22:56:00.000-06:00

So Hailey says to me yesterday on our way to the sitter...
"Mommy, I told you it wasn't going to snow."
Me: "You did? How'd you know?"
Hailey: "Because, I told you. Jesus ran out of snow, and there won't be any more coming until Christmas. Santa doesn't give any more snow to Jesus until right before Christmas."
Me: "So, you think Jesus and Santa make the snow?"
Then Kaden chimes in. "Mommy, water turns to ice when it gets cold."
Me: "Yes, Kaden. But what does that have to do with snow?"
Kaden: "Well, It's like Jesus sneezed the rain - it turns to snow."

Just the visual on that one made me giggle, although I think I threw up in my mouth a little when I realized what comes out of a sneeze.

Too funny....

2010-01-08T19:25:00.000-06:00

So Hailey and I are on our way home from ballet on Wednesday. It was an interesting conversation.

"Mommy, is it going to snow more tonight?"
     "No, Peanut. I think it's pretty much done snowing."
"Awww, man. Jesus ran out of snow."
     "What?"
"Jesus ran out of snow. There's no more snow. Awww man!"
     "Hon, who makes the snow?"
"Jesus does, Mommy... You know that. So does the Father."
     "Who's the Father?"
"In church, mommy. You know. The Father."
     "You mean God?"
"Yes, Mommy. The FATHER!"

By the way... She also thinks Joseph in the nativity scene is "the father". Too cute!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T17:20:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas to all! I hope you have had a fun holiday this year. It's definitely been a fun one here. We started off our Christmas festivities yesterday by decorating cookies.

Here are pictures from years past to remind all just how much fun we have! Also, notice the level of messiness!

Hailey Christmas 2007

Hailey Christmas 2008

And here is Hailey this year!

Here's Kaden in year's past. As always, he's the far cleaner of the two...

Kaden 2007

Kaden 2008

Here was Kaden this year:

We didn't get a Christmas card out this year, but here are a few cute pictures!

Well, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

It's been a long time!

2009-12-06T22:34:00.000-06:00

Hello all!!! It's been a long time since I've last posted. Not much has been going on in our world. The kids have been doing great in school. Kaden's vocabulary is REALLY taken off this year! It's unbelievable all the words and synonyms he has learned while at school. He describes his feelings in such complex ways. I think my favorite was the other day at dinner when he wanted to be done eating so he could get desert. He said, "Mom, this is really frustrating." I said, "What is bud?" His reply... "I just want desert, and it's frustrating that I have to eat all this first." I about died.

Hailey has been learning a ton too! She has a whole group of friends that she "hangs out" with at school. She's turning into such a big girl! She said to me tonight, "Mom am I like done eating yet?" All I could think about was, oh no... my daughter is turing into a 13 year old already!

She's really getting into playing make-believe right now. She's loving playing with our nativity set in the living room. She's really into the animals, the camels especially. She takes care of them and plays mommy with them quite a bit.

She's also starting to learn more of her letters, and she's starting to write her own name!

We've decided not to take any formal Christmas pictures this year. We got a really good one of the kids with Santa. They did such a better job with him this year. Last year, neither one could wait to sit on his lap before they were telling him what they wanted. This year, they waited until he asked before they let it all loose. We are hoping that Santa got everything they wanted, though their lists were short.

Well, here are some pictures with their cousins, Riley and Rianna from Thanksgiving.

I had to include this one too, as it was just too cool to leave out. Great pic Bob!

Happy Halloween, 2009!

2009-11-01T16:11:00.000-06:00

Happy Halloween! The kids had a good time. Kaden was a fire fighter and Hailey was a princess - Sleeping Beauty to be honest. We went to my parents, trick-or-treated in Grandpa's neighborhood, and then trick-or-treated in our neighborhood.

The Pumpkin Patch and the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular!

2009-10-18T09:34:00.000-05:00

This weekend, we went to the Apple Barn for our annual pumpkin picking outing. As usual, the kids had to have their cart so they could ride with their pumpkins.

Also we went to Washington Park for the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. These are the kids' two favorite fall activities. They love this outing. This year, we parked at SHG and took a school bus to the park. The jack-o-lanterns were amazing. Some were so intricate! We were all really impressed!

Burtle's Bonfire

2009-10-18T09:25:00.000-05:00

The Burtle's had a bonfire back at the end of September. The kids had so much fun! It was their first weenie roast, their first s'more, and their first hayrack ride. It was a blast!

First Day of School

2009-10-18T09:23:00.000-05:00

Kaden and Hailey started their second year of preschool back in September. They were so excited to go back! Luckily, I was off my crutches, so I was able to accompany them to their first day of school with Michael. So far we are having a wonderful year!

Hailey is talking up a storm, and she's initiating more conversation. She also has her first imaginary friend that she plays with - Dora. They hold hands and play with barbies together. It's cute.

Kaden is becoming quite the boy. He loves to pretend he's a firework going off. He's all about running, slamming into things, and tackling whenever possible. I'm pretty sure we have a future football player on our hands!

Finally Got News

2009-09-01T13:47:00.000-05:00

I am cancer free! The plastic surgeon got the remaining melanoma in my leg when they removed the chunk of skin. Also, it had not spread to the lymph nodes! Both lymph nodes he took out came back free and clear! Whoopieeee!!!!

Here's hoping that the skin graft is in good shape when we go for a wound check tomorrow!

2009-08-28T15:12:00.000-05:00

In August we went to a preseason Packer game. Wow, was that fun!

All done and resting at home

2009-08-26T11:17:00.002-05:00

Hello all. I had the surgery yesterday. It was a long day. Around 8:30, I went to the nuclear science lab and was injected with some raidoactive dye so they could pinpoint which lymph nodes needed to be removed. After almost 2 hours of laying on the CT scan table, I was finished! 2 lymph nodes lit up like christmas trees (that doesn't mean anything - no indicaion of whether it has spead or not) Thank goodness there was a TV. I watched almost the entire movie "Outbreak". I figure it was kinda timely - considering it's about an airborne illness that kills everything and everyone it touches, and well.. 'Nuff said about that.

My surgery started around 2:00. I remember getting a mask put on my face and then waking up to a nurse saying "Libby - take a deep breath. You forgot to breathe." Apparently other than forgetting to breathe, I did quite well waking up from anesthesia. I did end up throwing up. I have to say that the little puke "basket" they give you doesn't hold much. I filled 3 of them, puked on the floor, & all over the bed.

I got home around 7, and watched TV as I dozed on and off. I think I fell asleep around 11. I have learned how to get off the couch with my crutches, as I'm not allowed to bare any weight on my leg for the next 2-3 weeks. I would say, this is a big achievement for me, since Michael had to help me stand up last night. I have an appointment on next Wednesday at 10AM to have all my surgical sites checked. Surprisingly enough the pain is quite manageable. It's not bad at all. They gave me some nice drugs, and so far, I'm not needing the full dose! So... that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

I want to thank you all for your wonderful well-wishes. It has been wonderful to know so many people are thinking of me and praying for me. I feel your positive power, and it means a lot!

Libby

Bad News

2009-08-12T21:14:00.002-05:00

Hey all. Usually my posts are all things fun, but unfortunately, this one won't be. Yesterday, I was diagnosed with melanoma on my right lower leg. The mole was removed at the beginning of July, but because it was an odd presentation, I didn't receive the official diagnosis until yesterday.

Here's the good. It was not ulcerated, meaning it did not bleed on its own, nor did it peel. Also, my lymph nodes in my leg and groin weren't swollen, and the plastic surgeon said that's a good sign.

Here's the bad. When the dermatologist removed the mole, he didn't get the whole thing. In a couple of weeks, I'm going to have to go the plastic surgeon to have a large chunk of skin surrounding the mole removed. The chunk will go down to the muscle. Because the skin is already so tight there, they are going to have to take skin from my thigh and graft it over the spot.

Also, they will be identifying which lymph node is the first one to get drainage from the tumor site and they will remove it. Both the tumor and the node will get biopsied to see if the melanoma has moved beyond the initial tumor site.

I won't know the stage of the cancer until about 1-2 weeks after the surgery. Because they are doing the graft, I'm on restricted rest, and my leg will have a splint or cast on it to help the graft take and heal.

I'll do the best I can to keep you updated. Please keep me and the family in your thoughts and prayers.

Much love to you all,
Libby

Happy 4th Birthday Kaden and Hailey

2009-08-11T22:40:00.005-05:00

I can't believe my precious children are 4 years old today. Here's a little somethin' - somethin' to show the highlights of their party Saturday and their birthday today. Enjoy!

A Bunch of Firsts

2009-07-30T12:55:00.010-05:00

Well, if this wasn't an eventful week, I don't know what would be! We had several firsts this week. We had our first week of swim lessons, Hailey's first ballet recital, and Kaden's first new Karate belt! Here are some pics and a video of the kids swimming!

Kaden didn't exactly take to the swim lessons. In true fashion, he wanted to do things his way and in his time. By the end of the week, I think he got a little more used to the lesson format.

Now Hailey did not fall far from her mom's apple tree! She is truely a fish in water! She loved the lessons, and by the end of the week, she finally stopped holding her nose every time she went under water!

Grandma and Grandpa really enjoyed watching Hailey. They thought her bows were the best!

Grammy and Poppy were so excited to see Hailey preform! They thought she did a good job memorizing the dance and she hardly looked at the helpers on the side of the stage!

Sometimes she probably needed to look at the helpers more :) She was trying to go the wrong way off stage.

Hailey's our little Michael Jordan! She dances with her tounge out!

In Hailey's own words: "Hailey, what was your favorite part about dancing tonight"

"The tap parts and being on stage"

Here she is with her make-up off. Thank goodness she only has to wear it once a year. Any mor than that, and her mommy would have a heart attack!

This was Hailey's first time having her hair curled. Cute huh? Again, her apple didn't fall far from Mommy's tree. It was almost bone-straight by the end!

On Saturday, Kaden got his first new belt at karate class! He was so proud! Grandpa was on hand to witness the ceremony!

Here's Dad giving him his belt! I am so proud of my little guy! He's finally following along in class and working hard!

Isn't he cute in his outfit?

Like I said, it has been a busy 5 days in our house! I'm ready for a relaxing weekend full of dinner out, a friend's bar opening, and Mom's b-day! Oh wait... I guess relaxing will come later!

Will Work for Diapers

2009-07-22T12:23:00.004-05:00

Today my good buddie Jessica Gillis, my school's art teacher, came to paint ballet dancers on Hailey's walls! They turned out AWESOME!!!! Here are the pics!

Jessica - You have some diapers heading your way!

Joyce and Jerry came to visit!

2009-07-19T14:18:00.006-05:00

Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Jerry came to visit this weekend. Unfortunately, they didn't get here until late Friday :( We had a fun day Saturday! Hailey had ballet, and Grandma got to watch her. We went to lunch with Grammy and Poppy. It's alwasy fun to get Joyce, Jerry, George, and Georgia together. They have a really good time. Afterwards, we went to the Henson Robinson Zoo. We had a wonderful time there and the kids got to feed the goats and pet the donkey, mule and horse. A fun time was had by all!

Joyce brought her world-famous lagasana - YUM!!!! The kids each ate some this time, which was great to see! They really enjoyed it. They sure loved visiting their Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Jerry!

We also want to wish Jerry good luck on his surgery this week. We'll be thinking of you and hope all goes well.

Fishing At The Burtle's Farm

2009-07-17T14:53:00.006-05:00

On Wednesday, we went out to the Burtle's farm to fish at their pond. This was the first time fishing for Kaden and Hailey. Dan and his niece Olivia came too. Olivia and Hailey became fast friends, as you can see in many of the pics :) I want to thank Dan for remembering his camera. I forgot mine :)

Olivia and Kaden had smaller poles, so they could hold theirs. Donna had to help Hailey hold the bigger one because it was too heavy.

So I learned many things during the fishing trip. I learned how to hook a worm, break a worm in half with my fingers, and take a fish off the hook.

At first, Kaden and Hailey did not want to touch the fish. Hailey was crossing her arms so she didn't touch it. Kaden backed away fast!

But, as you can see, it didn't take long for Hailey to come around, especially since Olivia was holding the fish too :)

As you can see, we had quite a bit of fun! But the kids thought it was bright out.

Hailey and Olivia tried to play checkers, but Hailey had her own plans. She just wanted to stack the checker chips. Olivia waited so patiently!

Here are the BFF's when we went to the Burtle's field to pick some sweet corn. Thanks for the corn Sam and Donna! We can't wait to eat it!

Here's the three amigos! They had quite a bit of fun hanging out. Hopefully Olivia will be able to come back soon and play some more!

Thanks to Donna for letting us come out to play and fish! We had quite a bit of fun. They keep asking when we are coming back, because they want to fish and go swimming.

The Kitchen Is Finished!!!!

2009-07-10T11:41:00.005-05:00

Well, as many of you know, it was my mission this summer to repaint the kitchen and the cabinets. Well, after a week of long HARD work, I can say the task has been completed! Just as a refresher, here is the old and ugly kitchen with the pea-green walls and ugly cabinets.

And here is the pretty yellow kitchen with newly painted cabinets!!!

It looks so good. I'm proud of the hard work Michael and I put into these rooms. It really changes the feeling of the area. Before it was just dark! There is no natural light coming into the kitchen, and the green walls made it look like a hole! Now it's brighter and more lively! It'll be a fun place to hang out!

Kaden and Hailey at the Pool

2009-07-01T15:54:00.008-05:00

Well, it was a little cold when we went to the pool on Monday night, but the kids have come so far since we started at Colony West just a short month ago. At the beginning of June, the kids wouldn't even get into the pool without me. Hailey wouldn't walk in the pool unless she was holding my hand. Kaden wouldn't get into the pool, period. He liked to play on the side or sit on the step of the baby pool. Now we've graduated to the medium size pool, and both of my kids will put their heads under water. Check out the video!

Just pickin' some flowers

2009-07-01T15:09:00.003-05:00

Well, as many of you know I don't exactly have a green thumb. I do, however have a mom with one. So, during our visit to my parents' house, my kids decided it would be fun to go pick flowers. Thank goodness my mom didn't mind. She helped the pick some pretty flowers and they each had a bouquet when they were finished. Now I have a nice vase of flowers on my kitchen table :)

Fun in the Sun!

2009-06-28T12:13:00.004-05:00

Well, we've had a fun summer so far! We joined the pool right down the street from us. We've been having a fun time! The kids have been learning how to put their heads under water. Fortunately, they have figured it out :) Hailey, being the daredevil she is, goes down the slide in the medium pool all by herself.

Kaden still thinks the slide into the pool goes a little too fast. Hopefully one of these days I'll get to take some pictures of them doing their little "tricks". Right now, they still need me in the pool most of the time. Hailey loves being thrown in the water. She thinks it's hilarious!

Kaden doesn't like to be thrown, but he likes for me to hold him and throw the two of us under water. I guess he's a little more reserved. Well, here are a couple of pictures of the kids in the baby pool before the graduated to the medium pool.

Aunt Suzie, here's your whistle!

2009-06-17T21:47:00.003-05:00

Aunt Suzie taught the kids how to "whistle". Unfortunately, the kids didn't realize that it's a wind noise and they think it's a vocal noise. Yes, they can really scream at that high of a pitch :)

The First Annual Pucci Golf Outing

2009-06-12T15:04:00.009-05:00

We attended the first annual Pucci Golf Outing in Oshkosh at the end of May. A lot of fun was had by all. The day started with the golf outing. The family played in teams of 4. Unfortunately the Pucci-Falk/DuVall team sucked wind. I took the twins to see great-grandma DuVall while the fam played golf.

Afterwards, we went to Uncle Mike and Aunt Cheryl's house for some family fun. We had a bag tournament, and I have to say, I suck wind at bags. I do, however want to make myself a bags set. It was fun! Kaden and Hailey even got in on the bags game some. They both got some bags in the hole. We had a wonderful pot-luck lunch and hung out with family.

Aunt Cheryl, if you are reading this, please send me that slush recipe. It was awesome! The kids all got into the hot tub. After much whining and crying, Kaden and Hailey got in and actually swam a little. Hailey even put her face in the water. Now we just have to get her to dunk her head!

Kaden and Hailey after about 20 min. of coaxing to let me go

Kaden, Hailey, Riley, Rianna and Alec all in the hot tub!

The kids having a good time

Kaden's field trip

2009-06-12T14:48:00.002-05:00

Well, I figure better late than never, right? Kaden went to Washington Park on his field trip. We started off looking at the botanical gardens. The kids loved the fountains and looking at the different types of flowers. It was awesome to see all the kids in the class talk about the colors of all the flowers and the different types of leaves they have.

They also have a neat little maze made from day lillys. At the center of the maze is a bench the kids can sit on. The kids had fun making decisions about what path they should take.

Next, it was on to feed the ducks. We've done this a few times, so the kids are familiar with the MEAN GEESE! I think this was Kaden's favorite part. He loved seeing all the baby ducks. Unfortunately, they weren't as hungry as we had hoped. They didn't particularly like the cheerios we brought.

Then it was off for a hike through the woods, (yeah, I liked that part - not) playing on the playground, and then snack.

All in all, Kaden and the rest of his class had a really good time. It was a great way to end the school year. Happy summer!

The end of the first school year

2009-06-06T23:34:00.002-05:00

I can't believe it's here, but Kaden and Hailey have finished the end of their first year of school. Granted it was Pre-k, but it was still school. It's hard to believe how much the kids have changed in a matter of a few months, but oh how they have changed.

For starters, Hailey didn't talk much. She had a very limited vocabulary and was almost silent any time Kaden was around. She would just sit back and be in the back of the room and become a wallflower. Not any more! She's assertive (almost dictator-ish at times) and she's finally found her voice. She can still be as quiet as a church mouse, mostly in the car, but she is now a girl who knows what she wants. Before, she'd just sit in the rocks and play by herself at school, but now she's starting to play with other kids! Most of the time they have to come and ask her to play, but it's better than ignoring them as she did at the beginning of the year. Reading didn't change for her. She loved books before school started, and she still does. She really a tactile learner. She learns best with big muscle movements and music. She also learns quite a bit by observation! She's definitely artistically inclined.

Kaden fell in LOVE with his teacher. He has so much respect for her, and Miss Reavy deserves it! If any of you should happen to send your children to ELC, definitely ask for her! She's so wonderful!

Anyway... at the beginning of the year, Kaden didn't have much interest in books. Now he loves to be read to, and he wants to know how to spell everything! He also likes reading letters on pages, because he can recognize almost all his letters! He can read all his numbers, and he's even starting to learn how to put them in combination! Instead of saying 2-3 he says "23". Kaden has become quite interactive with other kids! At the beginning of the year he mostly played around other kids but not with them. Now he's playing with other kids, and he's even making up games to play with the kids. He gained some good friends, he's learning patience to not blurt out, and he's taking interest in others. He learns by listening and watching best.

What a year it's been! I'm so happy my kids are done with their first year of school. Next year Kaden will have Miss Reavy again, and I'm excited that Hailey will have a new teacher. I hear she's awesome, so I'm excited for her! Hopefully we'll be able to make up for the year she had this year!

Ahhh... the things kids do...

2009-05-20T17:32:00.002-05:00

So, I sent the kids out to the back yard to play so I could vacuum upstairs for Fred (he's allergic to dogs) when Hailey comes marching up the stairs yelling for me.

I'm thinking, "Now where did you get hurt?" She's been quite clumsy lately. I turn around and the girl is holding a dead bird by the neck. She proceeds to say, "Look Mommy! The birdie is sleeping!"

I begin to scream. All I can think of is, Uggg I'm going to have to touch that thing.

She says, "Why won't it wake up?"

I tell her that the birdie has gone to heaven to play with Petey and Rosie. I quietly ask her to put the bird in the bathroom garbage can and then we IMMEDIATELY go downstairs to wash her hands.

Upon the 5th wash, Hailey asks me, "Mommy, why are we washing my hands again?" I'm thinking to myself it's really gross and it was probably full of disease, but I say...

"Well baby, birdies from outside have lots of germs and they can make you sick."

"Oh, OK" was her reply. So afterwards, Kaden, who is crying because he wants to hold the dead bird asks, "How can the birdie go to heaven if it's in the garbage?"

I think to myself, CRAP!!! Then I calmly say, "Well, the part of the birdie that was alive already left and went to heaven. This is the part that we have to put outside. It's the part that gets left behind."

So we say a prayer so that the birdie can play with Petey and Rosie forever and ever in heaven.

Then, Hailey asks, "I need to give the birdie a kiss goodbye!" I'm throwing up in my mouth at this point.....

I remind her of the germ thing and then she goes outside to play. The bird is now in the bottom of my garbage can.

It's been awhile....

2009-05-14T10:27:00.011-05:00

Well, it's been a little bit since I've updated you all. I can't believe the school year is 2 weeks from being over for me! The kids have 3 more weeks of preschool and then they are finished as well. Kaden and Hailey went on their first field trips this past Monday. Kaden went to the zoo and Hailey went to the park to play. (ask me how I feel about that one later)

Anyway, since Kaden gets 2 more field trips, I went to the park with Hailey. Next week I'm going to the Botanical Gardens with Kaden. Here are some pictures of "Danger DuVall" on the gym equipment. That's right, Patty. I have officially stripped you of the title "Danger Dirksen". Your niece is more dangerous than you are!

You can't see it from the picture, but Hailey's up pretty far! It's like jumping out of a 1.5 story window. She climbed up all by her lonesome and then JUMPED to the edge where the slide is.

Sometimes I swear if Hailey could say "Look mom, no hands!" she would.

As you can see, it was a pretty fun day at the park. We had a good time playing. I was really hoping to do some digging in the ground and look at some yucky pond water, but well, that's just the breaks. Better luck next year!

We also had Spring Fling at the twins' school. I think Kaden summarized the whole evening best. "We get to play in the boucny house, the big slide, we get ice cream, and a one hotdog meal."

Unfortunately, the boucny house pictures didn't come out very good. But here's some cute ones of the kids.

I especially like this one because of the "one hotdog" reference. Plus, how cute is it to see Hailey eating a hotdog like that?

By the way... if you want to see a funny video, make sure you click here! It's of my friends John and Dan during the GIS school play. They look rather comfortable in their clothes. I think they're ready for rainbow pride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVBzLoC_nuw

via

http://lundfamilyfun.blogspot.com

Dance and Gymnastics

2009-04-19T22:44:00.009-05:00

Thought I'd throw in a couple of videos of the kids with their activities... Enjoy!

My little engineer!

2009-04-15T19:49:00.002-05:00

So I'm doing laundry on Monday, the last day before the end of my spring break, and I'm needing to hang up clothes for the kids. As Kaden is taking his clothes upstairs to put in his room, I ask him to grab some hangers from Hailey's room and bring them down.

He's up there for quite some time. I'm concerned, as they both have been getting into things they shouldn't lately. So, Kaden comes down with hangers. And the kiddo was so smart! He took one hanger and hung all the other hangers from the bottom of it! I wish I had gotten a picture of it :( I was shocked!

I'm not even that bright. I would just carry them down in a big wad, and he kept them organized, all going the right direction, and found every last hanger for me!

My little engineer!

Spring Break

2009-04-10T12:13:00.012-05:00

Well, spring break is coming to a close. We've had lots of fun hanging out together. The kids helped me paint the basement, we played outside, and watched it rain, A LOT! It's too bad the weather hasn't been warmer. Unfortunately, the kids haven't played much outside. Well, here are some pics and a video of the whole process this week.

Kaden and Hailey Paint the Basement

And here are pictures of the painted basement.

The first picture is the house keeping area. Hailey's baby stuff, dress-up clothes, and kitchen/food play is all in this area. The second picture is the TV/chill/library area.

The last picture is of the transportation/construction area. This summer I'm going to stencil some letters in the back to say, "Construction Zone" on the back wall in this picture below.

Our Visit to Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Jerry's House

2009-04-05T10:35:00.007-05:00

We went up to see Michael's mom and step-dad over the weekend. We went to this place called Monkey Joe's in Appleton, WI. So, I'm thinking we need a place like this here! Midwest Gymnastics has one similar, but much smaller, and it's only open to birthday parties. This place was in a strip mall and was the size of a medium-sized store.

There were blow-up bouncies of all kinds! The kids had so much fun! Here's to someone bringing a place like that to the Patch!

Also included is a video of Hailey playing teacher at school. She was doing her calendar patterning. She did quite well with it and only made one mistake. Long - short - short - long....

Hailey reads to Kaden

2009-03-23T20:38:00.003-05:00

I thought this video was too cute, and I just had to share.

Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Jerry Come To Visit!

2009-03-10T19:25:00.010-05:00

Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Jerry came to visit a couple of weeks ago. We were so happy to see them! It was a wonderful visit, and we can't wait to go up and visit them next weekend. Here are a few pictures from their visit.

This is Kaden in his Oshkosh Public Works hard hat. It was specially made for him, and it even has his name on it! Thanks, Uncle Mike!

Awww..... they love each other so much!

Another picture of Kaden in his oh so cute hard hat!

Okay, this is what Hailey actually looks like when she's at dance class. Isn't she cute?!?!

Here are the kids as they sit and watch their favorite movie, Lion King.

What a week!

2009-02-14T12:12:00.005-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!
It has been a crazy week, let me tell you! We've had many sleepless nights thanks to the coughing fits of the pretty one in pink. Fortunately, we seem to be ending the week on a good note.

Last weekend, Kaden tried Karate class. Well, that didn't go very well. He was getting sick, so he decided to get cranky and he refused to participate. After a few good naps and 2 nights in a row of good sleep, he was finally back to normal.

Hailey started ballet class this week too! (She wore the pink tights, not the black ones to class.) So she REALLY enjoyed the class. She knew one of the kids in there, so that helped her stay at ease. She gets to learn ballet, tap, and tumbling. I think her favorite part is tap right now because of the fun tap shoes that make a lot of noise.

What is even more fun than the class is every day when we get home, she puts on her leotard and tights and prances around in the family room. I love it! She twirls and does all her best dance moves.

We also went to see Jim Gill this week. He's a child music preformer. The kids LOVED it! He's very family oriented and has songs the kids totally remember.

Hailey also discovered nail polish while at the sitter's house this week. During nap time, she got into my sitter's daughter's nail polish and thought it was blush. As you can see, she's quite the make-up artist!

I also broke out the play-doh for the second time at the new house (indoors). The first time the kids broke it out in the basement. It was quite the adventure trying to clean it up! Holy cow! I never realized how disgusting play-doh can be when you are trying to get it out of carpet! This time we played on the kitchen table, and it was much more successful!

Well, another successful week draws to a close. Here's to healthier kids, hopefully, and lots of romantic valentines!

Coming next week: Pics of the kids in their activities!

Kaden and Hailey - Singin' the Rhymes

2009-01-16T19:24:00.000-06:00

Odds and Ends

2008-12-28T21:34:00.003-06:00

I got a new microphone for Christmas (Thanks Patty!!!) and the kids and I tried it out today. Here's what we made. Enjoy!

Ho Ho Ho!!!

2008-12-17T21:32:00.000-06:00

So we went to see Santa today. We were planning on doing it tomorrow but the weather is supposed to do some nasty stuff! Anyway, Michael decided we should go today. There was quite a long line. I think everyone had the same idea we did. The Santa portion of the trip was successful. The kids were quite anxious to tell him what they wanted that they forgot their manners. He was trying to get them to engage in conversation before the "What do you want" portion of the program, but the kids would have none of it. Oh well.

So then we decided it would be smart to get Kaden's hair cut. MISTAKE!!!! He's never cried through a hair cut. So, he was moving and fussing so much, and the stylist was a SLOW AS MOLASSES, that he jerked backward and got his first bald spot in the back of his head. I'll take pics and post them as soon as I can. Needless to say I was quite irritated by this because, well, you don't take your sweet time when cutting a 3-year-old's hair.

Well here's the Santa picture. Happy Holidays!

Cookie Decorating

2008-12-14T22:25:00.008-06:00

Well, we decorated cookies again. Dan and Amy came over this time to do it. I'm glad we did it at our house. I would have died had the kids made this kind of mess somewhere else. Fortunately, the kids are getting a little less messy. It's better than last year, that's for sure. As you can see by the comparison of pictures....

Amazing! Hailey has actually gotten better about keeping the food OFF her face, but apparently she's still just as messy on the table :)

Kaden... well not much has changed here. He's just a year older, and still loves to eat icing!

Exhibit 2: Hailey = mess Exhibit 3: Kaden = no mess

Check out Dan's cookie. Yes, he's male and he's being all cutesie with the decorating! Don't let him tell you his wife told him to do it. He's like this all on his own. I'm beginning to think he's the mastermind behind all the goodies he brings to school.

Lovin' the Leaves!

2008-11-22T23:26:00.009-06:00

So, my Mother-In-Law and Stepfather-In-Law were here visiting this weekend! I wish we could see them more often. The kids have SOOOOOO much fun with them when they are here, as you can see by this photo.

It was working in the yard day. Now that we have trees, we actually have a mess of leaves to clean up! Holy cow! It's amazing how many leaves there were!

Hailey ended up getting a little goofy. She loves pigs. I'm thinking' she kinda looks like one here!

They LOVED jumping in the leaves and getting covered in them. I think this was probably the highlight of their day today! They even helped out in getting the leaves into bags!

Here's our little daredevil! It really freaks me out she swings that high!

The kids are in love with the slide! They love to race down on their tummies!

The Circus

2008-11-21T21:04:00.006-06:00

So, the kids had such a fun time at the circus last weekend. We were able to get these cute pics with a clown! K was quite nervous to get this pic taken, but after seeing H do it, he was much more agreeable.

So, as we all know, K is OBSESSED with elephants and tigers. He was fortunate to see the elephants, but there were no tigers. He kept asking and asking! So... after the intermission came and went, and there was no tiger cage, I had to tell him the tigers were sick and had to go to the doctor because they had a cold! Fortunately for me, they believed me! All the way home, they kept asking if every building they saw was the tiger doctor's office. They wanted to go and make sure the tigers were okay. It was quite cute! I do have to say, I want to take the kids to the Ringling Bros. one next year. I think they'd really REALLY enjoy that one.

Turkey Time!

2008-11-21T20:57:00.003-06:00

So we had to make turkeys for K's preschool class. Well, you can't make one with K and leave H out, so both kids made them. We had a lot of fun! I think after Mom got over the initial heart attack of feathers flying every where, we all had a good time! K even tried to put feathers on his face and he called himself a turkey!!!! Yeah, it's shocking! Yeah, literally!

Hi Ho... Hi Ho... It's off to Chicago we go...

2008-11-11T20:09:00.006-06:00

So, I took the kids for their first weekend adventure to Chicago to see Aunt Patty. We had quite a bit of fun! They were very excited to see the "dinosaur bones" at the Field Museum. They also got to go on their first "city bus" ride. They ate at a 'big person' restaurant, Big Bowl. They actually liked it. I was quite surprised.

So, here are the pics!

Kaden and Hailey at Aunt Patty's Condo

I think they'll remember the bus ride more than anything else. It was the cheapest thing on the whole trip.

They were so excited by the alligator at the Field Museum. The only things they wanted to see were the dinosaur bones and the "owleegator."

Here are the kids with "Sue". Kaden calls him "ti-anos wex dinosaur." They loved looking at the fighting elephants, but neither would take their picture with them.

Happy Halloween!!!!!

2008-11-02T20:33:00.002-06:00

Hello all! We had a fun Halloween. So, we're in a new neighborhood, and we were so excited about trick-or-treating in our new neighborhood. We go out around 6:00, and there is NO ONE with lights on up and down our street! I couldn't believe it! So, we ended up going to Grandma and Grandpa DuVall's neighborhood and the kids had a BLAST! They actually went up to strangers' doors and said, "trick or treat!" For those of you who are thinking it was all Hailey, think again! The little man Kaden actually talked to strangers!

Hailey and Kaden decided to dress up as their bedtime story selves: A knight named "Sir Kaden" and "Princess Hailey." Every night when we tuck the kids into bed, they want stories about their fictional selves. They're so cute!

Finally - Sold for REAL!!!!!!

2008-10-31T13:28:00.014-05:00

Well, that's it! It's finally FINALLY over! We no longer own two houses. The chapter of our lives of living cramped and being on top of each other is over.

Here's a tribute to the house we used to call home.

Winter: It really was quite beautiful when snow covered. That and you didn't feel the potholes quite as much ;)

Kaden and Hailey's first day home

Kaden and Hailey's first Halloween

Their first Thanksgiving

Their first Christmas: They couldn't go to Oshkosh because of Kaden's surgery.

Their baptism - Aunt Patty with her niece and nephew

The place they fell in love with books and music

The dining room where they learned to love (or usually throw up in Kaden's case) baby food.

The home where they learned to crawl: They loved looking out the window to the yard.

The deck where they learned about bubbles

Their first birthday party: and the bathroom that smelled like chocolate for a week!

The living room where they learned to walk

The bathroom where they learned to go potty

The home where they had their first Easter egg hunt

Mayfair Drive: We will always think fondly of you. You were a good home. We won't miss you, but we'll cherish the memories!

It's pumpkin time!

2008-10-18T19:04:00.004-05:00

Dan and Amy invited us over for pumpkin carving. We all had so much fun! Here are a few pics from our pumpkin patch visit and our carving extravaganza!

This was taken at the Apple Barn. They love riding in the cart! They each picked out their own pumpkins: big and small.

Here are the kids cleaning out the pumpkins. Hailey LOVED it! She kept transferring pumpkin goop from one pumpkin to another!

Kaden's favorite part was throwing the goop away! We were all giggling as he kept picking it all up and throwing it away.

We got a kick out of using the stencils to make the pretty pictures on the pumpkins! Thanks for introducing them to us Amy!!! We'll be heading to Meijer and Target the day after Halloween to buy our own!

SOLD!!!! - (hopefully)

2008-10-14T15:22:00.003-05:00

Well....
We have entered into contract to sell our "other" house. FINALLY!!! We potentially close on or before December 1. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes smoothly and this one won't back out! :)

Going to the Zoo

2008-10-04T19:24:00.010-05:00

So, it was a mommy and kids weekend. Michael went with his dad to Wisconsin to go to the Packers game. Go Pack Go! After thinking a lot in the past week, I realized that the kids were probably getting bored being at home all the time. So, this weekend, we decided to go to the Zoo! Now, we just stayed in town, and all we have is the Henson Robinson Zoo. The nice thing about the zoo is that today, it was free! Anyway, while the animal diversity is limited, they have some fun features.

They have a "petting zoo" of horses, donkeys, and goats. The goats are friendly, and you can feed them. Kaden actually got one of his toys he won stolen by the goats!

Hailey got her face painted. She really enjoyed that. She thought she was just the cutest thing ever!

Kaden really got into feeding the ducks while he waited ever so patiently for Hailey.

All in all it was a successful afternoon! We were there for almost 2 hours. Considering the size of the zoo (quite small) and the Australian exhibit was closed, we were there for quite a long time!

What a couple of weeks!!!

2008-09-30T17:30:00.002-05:00

First, we move. Next my mom has open heart surgery. Then Michael has to go to Wisconsin on business. Finally. A normal week.

Well, just when I think life should be getting back to normal. We feel like we are pretty close to being moved in. Only the storage area and the garage aren't fully unpacked. I finally felt like I was going to have a normal week. Then... Kaden splits his head open at school!

He decided he didn't need to listen to his teachers and ran ahead to go to the playground. Well... you ever heard the saying, "don't let the door hit you in the a$$, well, it didn't hit him there, but rather smacked him right in the face!

He had to get his head glued, and we were in staristrips for 3 days. Now, did I remember to get a picture? Not so much. But, apparently he was quite the pickle when it came time to have the injury cleaned and fixed, he threw a LARGE fit. Apparently it took a couple of people to hold him down.

I have to say, thank God for Michael! He was able to pick the kids up, take them to the doctor, get Kaden's head fixed, and then take them to the sitter's. I have to say, I don't think I have ever been quite so nervous!

What a couple of weeks!

All Settled In (sort of!)

2008-09-18T20:46:00.064-05:00

Well, 2 weeks, 1 open heart surgery, and 2 sick kids later, we're pretty well settled in; well, sort of. We have a new garage door, but right now, only one of us can park in the garage because we still haven't gotten rid of all the boxes, among other things!

We have most of the house unpacked, except for most of what was in our storage units. I'll try to get a side by side of the before and after shots.

You'll have to excuse my pics and captions. I'm still trying to figure out how to get it all to work!

Here's the Kitchen

The Dining Room

Living Room

Kaden's Room

Hailey's Room

The Guest Room

Basement play area

Believe it or not, the boxes are storage for the toys right now. It's really organized. The kids know where everything is!

Storage Area:

No, the pictures are not in the wrong spot.

It seems that storage has gotten worse since we've moved in!

Here are a couple of cute shots of the kids!

First day of school

2008-09-12T22:18:00.013-05:00

Well, the kids officially started pre-k this week. I have to say I think I was more upset about it than Kaden was! And for those of you who know Kaden, you know that he gets upset whenever his routine changes. Thank goodness they were excited. It made the first day easy on them.

All morning they were sooooo excited!

They were so proud of their backpacks too!

We got to school, and in traditional fashion, Kaden began to pout.

We got to the hall where we drop off the kids. Hailey would take a picture with her class sign, the purple butterfly! Good thing she loves butterflies.

Kaden on the otherhand, wouldn't take a picture. So, I got him in the crowd.All in all, they had a good day. They seemed to have fun, and they really like story time. Should we be surprised by this? Anyway, here are a last few pics of their first day.

Things I love, and not so much

2008-09-08T12:47:00.004-05:00

So, with the house about 1/2 unpacked, I am back to work. It was weird getting ready this morning. I have realized that I'm going to need to get black-out curtains for Hailey's room and make sure the guest room shades are closed. She came bounding into our bedroom at 5:30 this morning! I couldn't believe it. Luckily she just wanted to sleep with us. I hope this doesn't become a habbit. At the old house, she never did this.

So, I've discovered some tricky things with regards to the new (really old) house.

Hot air REALLY does rise. The second floor is rather uncomfortable at night.
The master bath doesn't have ventillation - note to self... put on make-up and clothes last, and somewhere else!
Elliot will always come in the house with muddy paws - We need mulch!
You have to turn the faucets all the way to hot to get the hot water started - then back to middle for a nice warm shower.
Wood floors get dust bunnies faster than carpet.
The windows are hard to open and close. I always feel like I'm going to break one.

Here are some things I LOVE about the new house:

The park is just down the street from the house - within walking distance. So is the pool!
I can shower in the master bath!
The kids each have their own rooms but still love to play in each other's room.
The wood floor is easier to clean than carpet.
The pantry... enough said.
The master bedroom - I don't feel like the king-side bed swallows the room!
There are no toys in the living room, family room and kitchen unless I want them there!
If the kids spill during meal time, I don't have to worry about the carpet. There is none!
We have stairs. I get to work out without leaving home!
I will have a place to put the tredmill from Joyce and Jerry's house in our spare room!
I can see the kids anywhere in the backyard while I cook!
The family room windows are the ones that open inward so I can clean them from the inside!
Michael and I have an office where we can put all our work and craft stuff! There's so much storage there we have lots of room left over!
The kids have their own space in the basement. I just need to create some sort of system to organize their stuff to make play more effective.

That's all for now. We're off to Preschool tonight! The kids have open house. They'll see their classrooms, see their teachers (again) and put their stuff in their cubbies!

School starts Wednesday!

Libby

Hurricane Gustaf rolled into town, and so did we!

2008-09-05T20:21:00.000-05:00

Moving day has come and gone, and it just so happens that it coincided with the remnants of Hurricane Gustaf! All I have to say is THANK GOD FOR MOVERS!!!!!!

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the rain, the movers, or my husband and father-in-law (THANK YOU BOB!!!!), or my sister (GOD BLESS PATTY!!!!) but I do have pictures of the aftermath. Here we go!

This is the kitchen - lots of kitchen type stuff, like lamp shades, and weed eater string... typical, huh?

The formal living room - let's play 20 questions for what's in the bag. Your guess is as good as mine.

Hailey's room, now that it's finished is cotton candy pink!

Master bedroom - yes, that is pink you see on the walls too. Thank god, not for long!

Here we see the basement playroom. And it's already destroyed! Are we surprised? Of course not!

Well, we are at the end of the second day in the house. Tomorrow is another adventure! We still have to go clean the other house because we're still trying to sell it. Pray for a good open house this weekend!

Countdown.... 3...2...1...time to move!

2008-09-02T23:04:00.000-05:00

By popular demand, I've decided to post on blogger because there are so many who want updated pictures and news about the DuVall family. So, here we go!

We are less than 36 hours away from closing on the new house, and while amazingly calm right now, I feel like things are 2 shakes away from falling apart. Thank God for family. Because of them, we are able to move while the kids are taken care of, Elliot is safe, and (sigh) I'm not losing my mind, completely.

It's amazing. As much as I HATE our current house, I'm actually going to miss it. Michael asks me yesterday if I'm going to miss the house, and I replied with a resounding, "NO!!!" Now, less than 24 hours later, and thinking that we only have one more day and one more night in the house, I have decided that, while I won't miss the neighborhood, I'll miss the house.

I mean we brought the twins home to this house. They took their first steps in this house. We got Petey and Elliot in this house. Almost all of our firsts were in this house.

I know we'll have a whole set of new firsts, and they will give us all new memories, but it's going to be hard to let go that the kids aren't coming home in their car seats to this house. It's hard to think they won't be crawling for the first time or saying their first words in this house. They will be good, cherished memories. That's for certain.