Grace's 18 Month Pictures

We took some pictures of Grace being 18 months old after we got moved to my parent's house.  It was kind of a last minute idea that day, but I loved how they turned out and seem to capture her personality right now very well!!

Getting "kisses" from Harley

Being attacked by Harley, the dog :)

And we're off….

Moving Day!

Saturday April 18th was moving day!  We would be closing on our house April 22, which was the following Wednesday, and unfortunately we still hadn't found a house yet. :(  So, this meant that we were going to be moving in with my parents!  We had rented a storage unit, so some things were going to storage, some things were going to my aunt and uncles', some stuff to my cousin's, some to Erik's parent's house and then some (the stuff that we would need immediately) to my parent's house.  Wow, that sounds really crazy, and quite frankly it was!  Packing was hard, as we had no idea how long we would be at my parent's and how long it would take us to find a house.  There were some obvious things that we wouldn't be needing, like stuff from our kitchen, because my parent's house is obviously fully furnished. :)  But then there were things we were trying to figure out where to send because we didn't know when we would be able to use them next.  We had been trying to take stuff out to the storage unit ourselves, things we knew we wouldn't be using, but it was hard, as we still had to live there, our kids still needed a few things to play with/do, and we still had to function in that home up until that Saturday.  I had tried to pack up as much as I could before hand, but lets be real, with three kids, 6 and under, packing can be a bit of a challenge. :)  So, even though I felt like we had quite a bit packed before hand, it seemed like things just kept coming out of the woodwork on moving day!  We were so blessed with the people who had offered to help us move.  My parents, Erik's parents, my two cousins and each of their families, my aunt and uncle, a friend from church, and a couple of Erik's coworkers from church all showed up that Saturday, what a blessing!!

I had told everyone we were going to start at 9:00 am, and by about 9:15 our piano was already out the door and loaded onto a truck!  The rest of the large furniture was also loaded and most of all the big stuff was gone by about 11.  We were then left with boxes and finishing putting all that little piddly stuff in boxes and making sure it got to the right spot.  Around noon, we all stopped for lunch and then kept going.  I brought Grace to my parent's house to take a nap around 2:00, and then stayed there with her while she slept and helped unload anything that came over there.  Erik directed the rest of the stuff out of our house and by about 3:30 most everything was gone!  Crazy!  There were a few odd and end things we had to get out that Erik took care of Sunday afternoon, and Monday.  Then Tuesday evening, we all went back over for one final walk through and good-bye to our first home!  Here are a few photos form the day!

One last picture in front of the sign!

Getting the truck ready to load

Out goes the piano

Kyler in the empty living room

Making a plan with the loaded trucks

There goes the swing set!  (Yes, we took that with!) :)

Empty back yard

The kids entertaining themselves :)

Lunch in the kitchen corner :)

Some of our helpers eating lunch

More helpers on lunch break :)

Moving crew :)

More moving crew :)

Rest of the moving crew :)

Last family photo at our house!

Bittersweet!

    

Grace is 18 Months!

How can this little one be 1 1/2 years old already!?  Grace turned 18 months old on April 17.  I obviously had her stats at her 18 month appointment, but forgot to have them write them down. :(  Grace continues to be a go with the flow girl.  Although, she is starting to get mad at her brother or sister if they take something away from her that she is playing with. :)  Grace loves to wear shoes around the house right now.  It seems like she is always wearing someones shoe, whether they are hers or not! :)  She also loves to be right in the middle of what everyone is doing.  She doesn't want to be left out of anything!  She is also not afraid to try and do something Kyler or Norah is doing.  Since it's been nice, and we have been able to be outside, we have a ladder on our swing set, and Grace was not afraid to try and climb right up there to the tree house like everyone else!  Grace also LOVES to swing.  We will be inside, and she will be looking out the window going, "Weeee?, Weeee?" meaning she wants to go out and swing. :)  Grace got her bottom left molar this last month, and is working on her top left molar.  She has both of her right molars already.  She is starting to say a few more words, she says mommy, dada, rah rah (for Norah), rah rah (for Kyler too, but doesn't have as much "r" sound), chee - ah (for cheese), juice and shoes (which sound very similar), and of course more.  I'm sure there are more but this is what I can remember right now. :)  She follows directions so well and I am continually amazed at all she understands even though she might not have as much to say. :)  Here are some pictures from the past month!

18 months old!

Funny face!

Just chillln' in the book basket!  

I don't know if you can see the light blue/black line under her right eye, but one day when I was packing, she grabbed a sharpie out of my back pocket…..praise the Lord I caught her after she had only written on her face and hands. :)

Grace loves to sit in this chair and rock

Climbing up the swing set….

One of her many faces :)

Grace was not so sure about sitting in the box….

Just trying on mommy's slippers :)

Grace has been into sticking things inside her onesie…. :)

Matching sisters :)

More stuff in her onesie :)

 

Kyler's Birthday Parties

Kyler had two birthday parties this year.  The first one was the weekend of his actual birthday with our families.  Kyler's birthday fell on a Sunday this year, so it was fun to have a party the day before, so close to his actual birthday.  It was somewhat bittersweet as it would be the last birthday celebrated in our first home!  The party started about 5:30.  It was such a nice day out, which we were thankful for, so that people could enjoy being outside in the backyard too.  After everyone had arrived, we enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches, chips, cheesy potatoes, fruit and relishes.  After dinner, the kids went outside to play basketball and run around the yard, while the adults chatted inside.  We then called everyone in so that Kyler could open his presents.  After Kyer opened presents, we sang "Happy Birthday" and had cake and ice cream.  Kyler requested a Lego themed party this year, so his cake was the shape of a Lego. :)  After cake and ice cream, everyone enjoyed some more time chatting and playing, and then the party ended around 9:00.  As sad as it was knowing this would be the last birthday celebration in our house, it is also so exciting to think about the next party and all the space we will have to have people over!  Here are some pictures from Kyler's first "family" party.

All ready for his party!

A sibling photo :)

The LEGO cake!

Party decorations

Kids table :)

Henry and Geneva :)

Grace had to join the kids table :)

The game of basketball :)

The truck Henry made Kyler

Sweatshirt from Leah!

HUGE bag of gummy bears from Ben :)

Legos from Grandma Nadene and Grandpa Gary

Checking out one of his cards :)

Singing "Happy Birthday" :)

Enjoying cake!

Henry wiping Grace's face :)  The oldest and youngest at the party :)

Kyler with Henry and Geneva

The day after Kyler's "family" party was his official birthday.  It was on a Sunday this year, so we got up and got ready and headed to church.  After church we came home and had lunch and then the kids laid down for their rests.  As soon as they got up from their naps, Kyler had one present at our house to open, and then his other present was at my parent's house.  The present that was at my parent's was a battery operated gator.  A little background on this…..I have always thought the kids would have fun with one of those battery cars.  I thought that if we were going to get one, the kids are at the right age, and if we waited much longer, Kyler would almost be too big.  I looked online and narrowed it down to a gator, as it had two seats and I knew Norah would want to ride along, as well as Grace at some point.  I also knew that new gators are expensive…..more than I wanted to spend.  So I began watching Craigslist to see if I could find a gently used one, and I did, except it was in DSM.  Luckily for me, my brother is in DSM :), and he was willing to go and pick it up, store it for me in his apartment, and then haul it back here for me!  SO grateful for all his help!  So then it was stored at my parent's until the big day. :)  After Kyler opened his present at our house, we told him there was one more at Grandma and Grandpa's, as he knew we were heading there for dinner anyways.  So we headed to my parent's and then lead him outside to his birthday present from us.  After he played for a while, we then had dinner and cake to celebrate Mr. Kyler turning 6!  Here are a few pictures from the day!

Ready to open his present

An Olaf shirt!  Something he had been wanting :)

Coming out with his eyes closed….

Opening it….

Checking it out!

Going for a spin….

I feel like I have fast-forwarded about 10 years with this picture :)

Grace thought she needed a turn :)

Kyler's other birthday party was his "friend" party, however it wasn't until two weeks after his birthday, as we moved the weekend in between. :)  We invited a few close families and their kids over to celebrate Kyler's birthday.  Since we were kind of "homeless", we decided again to have his "kid" party at the Big House at church.  Kyler again wanted a Lego themed party.  The evening began about 5:30, and after everyone had arrived, we enjoyed a yummy supper of pizza casserole, salad, fruit, and chips.  After dinner, the kids played and did some crafts and activities for a while while the adults chatted. :)  A bit later, Kyler opened his presents and then we sang "Happy Birthday" and enjoyed cake and ice cream.  When we were finished, we enjoyed some more time hanging out, chatting and catching up.  Around 9:00, everyone headed home!  Here are some pictures from Kyler's "kid" party. :)

Kyler's Lego cupcakes :)

Ready for his party!

All ready!

The kids' table :)

Ready for presents

Checking out his volcano experiment

Opening another present

Ready for cupcakes!

Singing "Happy Birthday"

We are so thankful for everyone who helped us celebrate Kyler's birthday!  He was so blessed by all his wonderful gifts and all the people who came to support him.  It was so fun to watch him get so excited for his birthday as he continues to understand what it means. :)  Happy Birthday Kyler!