House basement starting tomorrow!

Not to be overshadowed by Elyse's first birthday (pictures coming after the family party tomorrow) the weather will break next week for them to start laying the block foundation! We have had a giant hole in the ground for about a month with daytime temperatures below freezing with the exception of a day to two here and there. I guess the mortar freezes to the metal mixer in when it is below 32 degrees. But tomorrow will be nice as will next week so we'll start getting somewhere!

Here is a bad representation of what the house will kinda-sorta look like:

http://images.familyhomeplans.com/plans/71057/71057-B600.jpg

And here is the floor plan but we will have some variations:

http://images.familyhomeplans.com/plans/71057/71057-1L.gif

We are eliminating the breakfast nook in the back of the kitchen with a straight wall (with cabinets and window there instead) and we will have an island where the left wall of the kitchen is. Also, the whole left wall of the house will go out 4 more feet (so the dining room will be 14' x 14') and the whole front of the house will be pushed out 2 feet so the bedrooms will be 12' x 12' and the family room will 16' x 26'. We got rid of the closets in the family room that jut out into the room, and we will have two sinks in the master bath. Most everything else will be the same. Stay tuned for more photos!!

Brynn + scissors = new hair cut

While decluttering the garage on New Year's Day, a load of stuff was brought into the house. Little did we know that a nice, sharp, pair of scissors was in the pile. Brynn made quick work of her haircutter skills:
Notice how the whole spot from bangs to back of hair is missing...and is nice and close to the scalp!

We're baaaack!

Yes, I know it's been a long time since we posted. Yes, we are still alive. You see, a virus corrupted our computer and we could only get access to the internet while the computer is in safe mode. But to have the camera connected and download pictures, I had to restart the computer in regular mode, transfer the pics, then restart in safe mode, and get the pics online. Seemed to be too much work to overcome. Plus, why have all those pictures on the hard drive if it was going to melt down? In any case, we upgraded the memory and reinstalled Windows so we are back in gear!

News to some, we are building a house! We bought a lot just before Thanksgiving...it is about three blocks from our current home in South Williamsport. We bought it from the builder who wants to build a home for the annual Parade of Homes this summer, but it's being built to our specifications. Since it's in the Parade, we get some perks that we would otherwise not pick or be able to afford. Such as, stone on the front of the house, a gas fireplace, a vaulted ceiling in the family room, remote controlled skylights in the kitchen, tile in the bathrooms and kitchen, plus the lawn will be seeded and landscaped for the Parade, and he is including appliances, too! It's a 1600 sq. ft. ranch home with a drive under basement. See the pics:



This is the lot before anyone did anything.













This was taken last week. Obviously, all the trees have been cleared, and most of the basement has been dug out. They should be pouring the footers this week. Stay tuned!

Vacation

So here's the vacation portion of our blog update. We won't tell you that we were actually on vacation in June and just now showing you. The pictures are as follows:

This is Jeremy talking with the mummified human remains at the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop along the pier in Seattle.











This is all of us on a little hike on Lake Cresent up to Marymere Falls, the first night of our camping segment of vacation.











This is Brynn fast asleep in the integrated car seat of the rental van. These seats are great in that we didn't need an extra car seat at $7 per day, but there was no where for Brynn to rest her head. So a pack of Pampers did the trick!









If you turn your head sideways, you can see Uncle Adam and Brynn in the root system of a giant tree in the Hoh Rainforest.











This is Brynn and cousin Kenley playing in the sand with Uncle Matt on the Washington Coast.














This is Uncle Jon in the 'Experience Music Project' which was sort of a Rock and Roll hall of fame/learn how to play music instruments and perform like a rock band, which we did.
















This is the group at the almost peak of the Storm King trail. We didn't proceed all the way to the top because it required scrambling and using a rope that was attached to a rock. We opted to stay alive instead of getting a slightly better picture.
























This is the newest addition to our pet family...just kidding. It's some really cute long-earred fox at the Washington zoo.











This is Jeremy with a moss hair wig.













This is all of us (minus Uncle Jon, the picture-taker) at a Seattle Mariners game the last night of the trip. Brynn had more fun in the kids section where there was a jungle gym...until she got bonked in the head by some girls knee. We left early since the children where in meltdown mode and the Mariners didn't look like they had any chance to win against the Marlins. Thanks to Uncle Matt for the Yankees hat for Elyse!






You would not believe this bird at the top of the mountain! It took a chip right out of Adam's hand...multiple times.

Check out the Madagascar hissing cockroach!





Brynn feeding the seagulls at Ivar's



The girls really enjoying the Seattle Aquarium












This is video of Miniature World in British Columbia. Regen and I went over for the day without the kids (except Elyse). The funniest part of the day was when the customs officers thought we were a part of a baby-smuggling ring asking where the father of the baby was, with a slightly unbelieving look in his eye when I told him he was back at the campground.

Some of Elyse's firsts

Here are some pics of some Elyse milestones: I got the monthly birthday picture idea from a friend (thanks, Kim!) but there is also first swing ride in May, first swim (at Kim's house) in June, first ride in the jumpy chair, oh, and Brynn's first re-visit to the jumpy chair which was too close to nap time.

Yes we are still alive

It's almost embarrassing how long it's been since we posted last. Let's just say that soccer season happened, a visit from family, then vacation, then more visits from friends and family, July 4th trip to NY, an out of town memorial service, and we're waiting to go to a funeral some time this week. Yup, nuts-o. Also, I got a new camera for my birthday and somehow taking the time to install the new software is a hugely daunting task. Oh yeah, and Jeremy just got called to be the Bishop of our ward three weeks ago.

So, lemme back up to our family visit in May. Everyone (Nate/Mandy, Matt/Regen, Jon, and all the kids) were actually all together for the first time since Elyse and Allison were born. We tried to get a picture of all the cousins together at Brandon Park (from L to R, Elyse, Brynn, Kenley, Edith, and Allison) and had fun visiting an alpaca farm




where Edie conned Nate into buying a stuffed animal 'paca. There was also lots of trampoline time and static electricity science experiments.





This is a picture with almost everyone: Nate with Edie, Mandy with Allison, Grandma Ruth with Brynn, Jon, Regen with Kenley, Grandpa, and Tracy with Elyse. Missing from photo are Matt (picture taker) and Jeremy (working).

More Elyse

Well, the phone has been ringing off the hook for more pictures of Elyse. She's doing really well, she slept for 7 hours last night, and this was AFTER barfing 2 times! Honestly, she is like 'ol Faithful sometimes the way it spews out. I don't remember Brynn like that at all some I'm wondering if Elyse is allergic to something I'm eating? Since she's already growing out of some things, I'm guessing she's okay so I won't worry about it too much. Brynn is doing great with her and has a lot of birthday (March 16) events coming up. We have a family party planned, we're working on a kiddie party, and we have tix to Sesame Street Live next week. I can't wait to see her face! There was also a surprise shower from Tracy's friends at church...and Ruth and Irene were both there...pics will be posted soon from that...here's the girls...

just sleeping away



so cute


Brynn doing a good job holding i.e. propping up, Elyse

nice t-shirt!

getting ready for the sunshine

Elyse and Great Grandma Knoebel