Floor Joists

Yesterday Kelly and the guys came and worked and they put in all of the floor joists. Next step is the OSB floor. Tonight we have to paint the floor to help protect it from rain and warping. It shouldn't be too hard, it's not like we have to be careful:) Kelly has 3 more days worth of work at the other house and then he is all ours! YAY!

For the last week we have been crazy busy. Monday, I took the kids to the pool in Bloomfield and then they stayed the night with Jenn. Tuesday, I had a meeting in KV for school, started home and Vance calls and asked me to rake hay. I've raked hay lots of times for my day, but he always hooked it up, pointed me in the right direction, and put it in gear. I had to do all of those things myself, but I felt really good about accomplishing it! After I finished, I went to Bloomfield and got the kids and then headed back to the hayfield. Vance had lots of help, so I just watched and rode along. Then yesterday, I took the kids to story hour at the library....Bronson too. Cindy kindly offered to watch my kids while I raked more hay. She fed them lunch and let them go swimming. After I picked them up, I went home and mowed part of the yard, did laundry, and cleaned b/c someone was coming to look at our house. Last night, I went to my mom and dad's b/c it was my dad's birthday. We had supper and cake and homeade ice cream. YUM.

Today, we are going to the Ottumwa Beach. We are meeting Cindy and the Cohagans, and taking Bronson of course! Hope this weekend slows down a little!

It's a Family Tradition

On Saturday, the kids and Vance and I went out to Vance's grandparents home to bale hay. Vance was going to help his brother Stanley and then bring some bales home for himself. When we got there it was Gerald, Stanley, Lori, and Ryan....whew....i was definitely safe from helping! I had my mom with me and decided to pack up the china from Vance's grandma. I am very excited about having room to display it at our new house.

Colby got to help run the hayrack and Emma rode in the tractor. After one load, I took Emma back home and she had a nap while I did laundry. Vance and Colby didn't get home until 10:00. I am very proud of Colby for his strong work ethic and grateful that Vance is instilling good values early on. Square baleing is becoming a thing of the past and it's neat to see families hang on to that tradition.

On Sunday, Corin and Steve met us at the farm after church and brought pizza for lunch. They wanted to see our basement and Steve was going to help Vance bale hay again. THANKS STEVE....better you than me. It was 90 degrees out, so Corin and I brought Emma and Levi back to our house for a nap and had a good chat. Levi tried on some heels and had a lesson on hair brushing...pictures soon. I love playing with someone else's baby and then sending them home. Levi is so much fun to play with b/c he will come to me willingly and he laughs and giggles. He also has quite the becoming lion roar that everyone needs to hear. Another busy weekend, can't wait to see what tomorrow brings:)

THANKS CORIN AND STEVE FOR LUNCH AND STEVE'S MANLY MUSCLES!!!...MUCH APPRECIATED!

The Basement

It's official...we now have a basement. Yesterday, the kids and I got up and went to the farm at 7:00. They were already pouring the floors and the Shaw boys were there. We had lots of fun watching the process and all their various tools. The boys were excellent, just watching. The Shaw's had to leave for work/baby sitter, but we stayed all morning...watching, helping, running errands. The kids had to clean out the stock trailer to go get our windows, and I ran the the lumberyard and cleaned out Vance's truck. If any of you have ever seen that, it's not an easy feat. Around 1:00 I took the kids home for a nap and did laundry, checked email, updated the blog, etc.

Delmar got the skid loader stuck, imagine that in all that mud!
So, then we got a call that the window truck was suck in K.C. and wouldn't be here till the morning. Great after all the arranging, the kids were at my mom's and Vance and I were ready to head out. An hour later, we got another call...Stand by, Renae was on the phone and she was going to get that truck unloaded:) THANKS RENAE!!! So, another 45 minutes went by and then we got the call to head south, the truck was coming. Vance and I got into Columbia around 8:00, loaded the windows, and headed home. I am very excited to see them, they are beautiful. We also need to thank Bruce, the truck driver, who helped load the last two. They are 6X6 feet and VERY heavy. Then, Erin and Trenton stayed up til 11:30 to help us unload them, b/c I knew I could not unload those two heavy ones. It went very quickly with so much help!


Finished floors, I think Kelly is going to start framing in the walk out part of the basement tomorrow. YAY!!!
The kids trying out the new egress window well. They both climbed out with no help, so it's worth it!

Today, I ordered the garage doors and the door from garage to house and from garage to outside. It all gets overwhelming, but excited. I also filled Vance's truck and two gas cans up with gas. First time I experienced the $100.00 max on gas. Then you pay and continue filling...UGHHHH! I also got more pallets to stack hay on, went and got the kids from my sister, and of course took pictures.

Vance is baling hay tonight and I'm going to KV for curves, groceries, and birthday presents. I'm excited to see what tomorrow brings!

P.S. throughout all of this I cannot fail to recognized the people that continuously help us! Thanks you for....

watching my kids: Bree, mom, Jenn, Lauren

answering my questions (there's a lot): lumberyard, Kelly, my husband, Renae

using your muscles to our benefit: Jared, Trenton, Chance

Just being a sounding block to listen to my excited chatter!!

THANKS...YOU ARE APPRECIATED!!!

Big Helper

So, today when I got to the farm, I expected to see my boys working, but not this!

Colby was up on the hay wagon, just pulling bales like he was 15 years old. He was very proud of himself and thought that him and his dad had had loads of fun today. I think it is great for him to have such a strong desire to help at this young of an age. How many children would be strong enough to pull a bale at the age of 6, let alone have the desire. I know when I teach, so many kids talk about this game or that...and never even step outside. Colby likes to play games too, but we encourage him to be outside and limit his time.