people who encourage us

For the last week and a half...the kids are getting dropped off at our new building project by the bus. I find a little spot for them and they work on homework and then it's movie time for them and work time for us. Donovan had all of last week off so we started our days there around 7:30 and stayed long into the evenings. Depending on how well the kids did.

We've had some people along the way who asked to come help....like Donovan's parents, my sister, and in the above picture Aunt Gloria. Wished I could have gotten more pictures of all of our fine help. We also had the huge blessing of having different people take Suzy for the entire day so we would be able to work "3 year old free." As in no distractions! :) Thanks Marlys, Mom, Arlene, & Charlotte! I know Suzy had way more fun being with friends & family rather than painting with us.

And then we got the call that our entire small group wanted a project and was willing to come and work, including bringing dinner!

What a huge boost...physically and emotionally to have this group there that evening. Rose cordinatted a meal and it was so very delicious. We are so blessed to have this small group in our life!

Al and Jake (2 pictures up) worked on plastic sheeting on the the basement walls, Ed and Jb worked on storage/canning shelves...with a little help from Mussie, Noah, and Ryan.
Donovan was working on everything in between....breathing in the paint fumes all the while.

Jason worked on electrical and putting up light fixtures.

Norm was helping on that project of lighting/electrical.

Here's the whole group...well almost....just a few couldn't be there. I love these people!!!

Here's the living room with the finial coat going on the ceiling. Thanks Ed for the use of the scaffolding.

In the midst of this crazy time in our life...came our annual Ikea trip to Chicago. I was feeling like I would need to sit this year out...but Donovan encouraged me to go. I didn't hesitate. It was one night of pure fun, laughter and girl time. Much time was spent eating, a little sleeping, building friendships, and quite a bit of shopping. :) All things I L.O.V.E.!!!

quote of the day comes from my step-mom who stopped in the night we had our small group there for the work night.
Khankeo: "Billie, (My dad) we gotta get a new small group...one that doesn't take their teeth out at night."

I think she'd like some canning/storage shelves made.

hand me a hammer will ya?

Because some of you asked....here we go onto our building project updates. I hate to bore you with more constructions pictures...but some relatives would like to see. Now mark my word the closer we get to the completion the less pictures you will see. Because I really expect that you will want to come in person to see the end result of our wild idea to build again. And hopefully you will bring baked treats when you come see the finished product. I'm just sayin'.

The stone was started on Thursday of this last week.

The electrical and plumbing are done, also the insulation is done. A crew came in and did the whole house last week. On Saturday Donovan, the kids and I did the insulated the garage ourselves..saving just a bit of cash. Drywall will be hung on Tuesday and the drywall mudding will start by Wednesday this week.

This is an open concept living room/kitchen. This area on the left will be the living/T.V. room. The windows to the very right will be where the kitchen table will be.

This is the area where the future kitchen will be. The window faces the front yard. The other side of the room will have room for a kitchen table with windows facing the backyard.

In our bedroom....looking in to the bathroom. Closet on the right and bathroom sink, commode, and shower on the left.

The place I can not wait to be the very first night we move in. I am a bath person. In fact I can probably count on one hand the # of showers I have taken in the last year. I know this fact of soaking in your dirt grosses some of you out...but I'm not sure why. I heart bath time so much. In fact most nights when we go to work over at the building site...I sit in the tub (seriously) and dream about the way it will be to have a soaking tub. Not to worry I leave all clothes on.

The back view of the house.

The back patio was also poured in the last couple of weeks. I look forward to hosting all of my blogging friends to a BBQ in the coming summer.....so how will I know to invite you if you don't comment?? Hmmm...good question!!

This is a bonus room over the garage that will be Suzy and Isabella's room.

The stairs going up to the girls' room....to the right is a small room that will be a home for lockers that Donovan's is building. These lockers will store...hats, backpacks, mittens, coats, boots, etc. To the right of this room would be the stairs going to the basement.

This is not the entire tour....I'm baiting you...if you want to see the rest...well you have to give me a call. :) Tee hee....

Quote of the day:
At supper the other night.
Donovan: "this soup is worthy of every accolade."
Jack: "aren't you being a little dramatic right now?"

Well...well...well...Jack's heard that phrase before...mostly because he seems to be the most dramatic in this family.

Some pictures Jack took on Saturday......

There were some trees that were blocking the view when we sat on our front porch....so on Saturday we went over for a little mini work day. I took along a lunch and for the first time we had a meal in our new kitchen.

I set up some saw horses and a piece of plywood for the table top and threw an old sleeping bag over the top for a table cloth. This is the same spot our kitchen table will someday go. I admit it was a little hard to even leave that day. I just wanted to move in. Patience is not my best virtue.

I love the view out the back windows. I love watching the kids play on the giant dirt hills, love watching them explore the woods, and Isabella loves to roller blade in the cul-de-sac. It's so quiet there and just so fun to dream of how it will be. This is such a huge blessing.

Here are Suzanna and William enjoying dessert looking out the front porch window watching their dad clear the last of the trees.


What a perk to have the builder as your uncle and he lets you use the bobcat to haul the trees! Thanks Dave! Don't worry, the kids aren't driving the bob cat...just eating their dessert there.
There were some low bushes/evergreen type trees to the left of the house that Donovan cleared out that day. The view is much better now. I look forward to sitting on that front porch someday watching the kids ride bike and roller skate.

And here is the siding color we are going with. We had a sample of this siding picked out...but were so excited to see a house that had it up. It's so hard to pick colors from small samples. Donovan is on the porch with the man that is re-siding this house...getting advice and tips.

Thank you for ALL the great comments on
'this' blog post. I've never in the history of my blog had that MANY comments! Plus there were some of you that left messages on Facebook. It was so fun to read your great ideas and advice and see all these readers come out of the woodwork. So thank you! I hope if you picked blue you won't hold it against me. :)

git-r-done little buddy git-r-done

If you're already sick of construction pictures please fast forward this post by 5 pictures. Sorry, but it's the biggest thing going on right now in our lives and we are totally giddy about it. Somehow my 7 year old turned into a gangster...or whatever that pose is in the above picture. It cracks me up.
This is the some day to be a driveway in the above picture.

Here is an overview of the setting. Donovan estimates that we cleared about 250 or so trees. I was so worried that it would lose the feeling of being in a woods after we started burning that enormous pile of trees. But after all the clearing is done to make room for the house and septic...there is still lots of trees for our monkeys to play in.

Future office in the basement window.

So fun for them to tromp around in the tunnels and dirt.

It's amazing. Just an amazing process!

This little girl started a story time at our local library on Wednesday. Embarrassing as it is this blogger friend did not have my camera. But here she poses for you after we get back. With her movie.

Suzanna is entering the silly face phase. She has such a sweet smile..but oh so hard to capture when I pull out the camera.
So library time...surprised me. I took Suzanna for the first time and she went. She was so shy going by herself. When Isabella and Jack were little I neverrrr went. It seemed so very exhausting to lug the diapers, wipes, nursing pads, blankets, extra change of clothes, car seat, and everything else that stage requires. That was that season. Last fall some friends along with William, Suzy and I went every week. I loved it. I was in a new season of mom-hood. I had 2 in school and didn't need diapers, etc. Thankfully everyone was done nursing as well. But the rule is you have to be 3...so Suzy didn't qualify. Now this fall she does. So crazy this little one can trot off by herself for 30 minutes and be in story time.

And yesterday.....

A family tradition....sweet talking all the grandmas into helping with all my work. I think this is the 8th year in a row for these grandma's helping me make sauce.

How fun to spend a day together working. 4 bushels would've taken me all week to complete by myself.

Suzy's attempt at taking a picture.

Another attempt by the 3 year old.

The finished product...almost too hot to eat.

The git-r-done crew! Amazing all the apples were washed and cut up my noon!!! We've got some awesome grandparents I tell you!!!
My tally for the day? 88 quarts!

quote of the day:
Yesterday while I was doing my hair & getting ready.....
Suzy: "Daddy can you just take me to Grandmas? Mom takes to long to get ready."

new things I like

Here is some recaps of our last couple of weeks. My kids started school on August 21st. Isabella started a new school and so far as adjusted well. Isabella started 4th grade this year! Here she is with her little friend Whitney who started 5th grade.

Jack is in the 2nd grade now. I love his new teacher Ms. Hughes. She seems like a really great match for Jack and his personality.

And William...ahhhh...the new kindergartner this year! He loves this school stuff. He has been waiting for years to follow his siblings off to school. On the first day of school he prayed at breakfast...."Thank you Lord I can go to school today!"

Taken that first morning of school. I'm so thankful for all 3 of my children's teachers this year. Each has such a great heart for kids and seems like such great matches for them. What a crazy thing to come home to Donovan and Suzy...waiting for me...and then Donovan off to work and just me and Suzy. Suzy and I almost didn't know what to do with ourselves just me and her that first day of school. Just kidding! Something new I love...just us 2. After we put the wash on the line that morning we went on a walk around the lake. Just us 2! Amazingly enough I don't think I've ever taken her on a walk just by herself! Suzy sang the whole way on our walk, it was so sweet. I think with this move to our cabin...she has been needing a little extra and now I can give her the one on one she's been needing.
And finally home from school. Poor Jack was in tears by the time he got off the bus! He was afraid that the bus driver didn't know where we lived, because it took so long on that first day. Jack and William were on the bus for almost an hour. And since we moved he didn't know our new address to tell her. Now the bus ride takes about 25 minutes.

Also over the last couple of weeks we've met some pretty sweet new little babies...

My friend Brooke had a little baby boy, Jaxon. Love this little pumpkin.

So does Suzy....Jaxon was 5 1/2 weeks early. Such a sweet little boy.


We also got to meet another new baby, a little girl.....

Luca Bella...sweet sweet blue eyes. I love how she has her hand on her chin...trying to figure me out.

Luca is my friend Sherri's little girl. It was so fun to see Luca and her big sister Kaiya last week.

Also here is a quick pic of the new project brewing.....

Things are moving along...more pictures to upload but it will have to come another night. It's been fun to check up on the building site evenings and see what works been done for the day.

Quote of the day...
today from Suzy
"Mom, I love being here with you."
melt. melt. melt.