'Eggs' and Insulation....now there's a combo for ya!

Waiting anxiously for the egg ( candy) hunt

So lots of fun things to report since my last post. We went as a family to the Bettendorf egg hunt Saturday morning. The weather was a bit chilly, but as everyone knows it was the BEST day that we had had in a long time so we loaded up and drove down the road to Crow Creek park for the festivities.  You can see there aren't that may eggs  ( a lot of labor to get the candy into the eggs) but the kids were happy to hunt for candy. They luckily had it sectioned off by ages. Kennon and Maddox got to hunt together in the 0 to 4 section. They both did pretty well.  Maddox had her moment of fear when they said GO and the crowd became loud and rushed onto the field but Eric was able to get her calmed down again and back into the 'game'. She does that in crowds.  Just a bit timid. The eggs we found out, after the fact as Maddox did get one, had coupons for free cones from DQ....note to self for next year :) LOL  

Monday I took KTK to the Children's Museum for a special solo trip ( thanks to the free passes from our buddies the Stegemanns' who moved up North).  It is Spring break this week for Bettendorf schools ( last week was Pleasant Valley break...our school district) so the museum is having special things each day. Monday the Niabi zoo brought animals and did a little presentation. We got to see 2 parrots, a box turtle, a skink ( I think....a lizard thing....), a python snake, an armadillo, and a bearcat. It was super fun and Kennon did really well till like the armadillo. The lady who was speaking was extremely interesting but completely oblivious to the fact that the average age of her crowd was 2!!!  10 minutes about a python is a bit much for a 2 year old.  But, after a break outside of the room KTK and I ran back in to see the cool bearcat.  Then we played a bit and headed to get Maddox from Church School.  We had one more pass to burn so I took Kennon back today and he had a ball. It was little less crowded today so he just leisurely ran from exhibit to exhibit and we had a nice time.  

This morning the insulation crew was here and gone by the time we got back from our busy morning.  Then the drywall delivery took place. I think the drywall gets put up between tomorrow and maybe into Friday.  Then the mudding and taping begins either Friday and/or into next week ( I don't have a good mental image of the construction calendar...but it is all layed out day by day specifically). Next week must be sanding and a 2nd coat of mud and then we have to have our paint colors picked out by next Friday April 5th as I think they start painting maybe the following week. PHEW....this project is flying by! I have to say Eric and I are getting SUUUPPPEERRR excited about it.  We can't wait for it to be done. It is going to be so sweet.  

Let's see what's new with the kiddos....they are both sleeping and napping really well this week, which is good because Eric and I both have colds. But, we are getting better especially with this nice warm sunny weather. Kennon is a talking fool and just this week is starting to string 2 to 3 words together unsolicited by Eric and I.  He says he wants an Elmo cake for his birthday and Maddox wants a Nemo for hers ( you know us....always talking about cake in some shape or fashion). However both of those words kinda sound the same when Kennon says them ( throw rainbow in there too....) so I'm not sure what we will actually end up with. But there WILL be cake of course for Kennon's party....and our new basement to show off :)

Work is crazy busy for me right now.  Upwards of 40 people waiting for physical therapy at a point last week. I have been picking up extra patients and worked last Saturday to help out ( and of course to make a little extra money for the basement).  Nice to have the option to do that. Hopefully by the time the warm weather gets here things will slow down as it will be time to play outside with the kids after I pick them up from Kcare, and maybe get in a run or two with the double BOB after work. Eric has been training hard for his half marathon coming up and I have decided that I MAY sign up for the quad city 1/2 on Mother's Day.  We will see how many long runs I can get in between now and then. We are certainly ready for Spring....as is everyone in the midwest. 

Have a great week and Happy Easter to all!! 

Before the festivities started Kennon became extremely interested in the blue grass in his bunny basket. It was strewn everywhere but kept him entertained.

Maddox and her famous head tilt pose.  I say 'gimme a pretty smile Maddox' and this is what I ALWAYS get. Some pictures I look at, I see me right away. This is one of them. Then others I don't think she looks like me at all.  

YES Jody....Hannah and Charlie's heads ARE bigger than my kids'. Although KTK's is fitting nicely now. Almost time to upgrade. 

Look Mom I found a frisbee

Maddox checkin' out her goodies. 

A nocturnal bearcat.  This 'little' guy sleeps during the day so he doesn't really have an outdoor exhibit at the zoo. They just wake him for special events like this one at the Children's Museum. He really looked like a cat with long whiskers and a long tail but with fur like a big ol' black furry bear. I've never seen one of these. Super cool. 

Ruby and Eduardo. Parrots from the Soloman Islands. 

KTK at the water table at the Children's Museum. Makin' the sound a boat makes....not sure what sound that is exactly. 

On the I74 bridge....sorry I just realized I forgot to edit/crop these pictures. 

Drivin' the John Deere Tractor

Giving a high FIVE to the Museum Fox that was there today

Back at the water table, day two  of the museum ( and yes he got a haircut today so his hair looks a bit different than the pictures from Monday)

Lowering in the 80 pound sheets of drywall....I don't envy them. But, at least it was a sunny day. 

They cut a 5 gallon bucket ( sorry Eric) in half and covered the edge of the egress window with it and used that as a guide to lower it down to the other guy standing in the basement.  They couldn't just carry the sheets down the steps inside the house as the sheets wound not make the 180 degree turn in the stairwell.  So this was the next best gig. 

60 sheets o' drywall

The insulation guys were here this morning, appropriately named 'Big Bear Insulation'  Hope it keeps us nice and warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Drywall stacked up to the left. 

The framer came back to put back in the egress window that had to be taken out to allow the sheets to fit through.  Unfortunately ( or fortunately however you want to look at it) the framer's crew broke the plastic frame of the original window  a couple of weeks ago when they were here framing so the picture above is the framer putting in a BRAND NEW WINDOW for us free of charge.  BONUS!  And yes....he does have a Cyclone's shirt on...but we still let him in. In fact his framing company is called Cyclone Framing. Our contractor, Ryan, graduated from ISU. 

Lights, speaker systems and digging....wait digging??? you say??.....YEP that's right!

So it has been full speed ahead with the basement this week.  We had Monday free but then Tuesday the electric guy ( whom we know...which was nice), the plumbing guy and the electronics guy all came!!  It was a crazy busy house and TONS of work got done. We had a few more major decisions to make... ( I thought all those were made....but I was mistaken...I could NEVER build an entire house....!!) related to the lighting and switches etc but I think we are still on full speed ahead.  I"ll label the pictures as best as I can.  From Eric and I's standpoint it all looks great and everything is coming together. I"m sure from the pics it may look a little questionable.  We are gonna LLLOOOOOVVVVEEE this basement.  This coming week the insulation goes in and some other things ( I haven't checked the calendar lately). The flooring and granite counter tops are on order as well as the cabinets for the wet bar and built ins which have proven to be a bit difficult to get worked out but we were finally able to come to a decision with the manufacturer and our contractor.  I find it odd that we had to DIG in our basement. But, the shower drain and shower vent needed to be moved into the actual wall of the bathroom rather than IN the bathroom as well as the drain vent for the bathroom sink.  Pretty amazing what they are able to do!! Enjoy the pics!!

Our new shower ( it has a big piece of cardboard in the base to keep debris from going down the drain during the construction process)

New can lights  ( 2 with light bulbs actually lit and  2 on the right with no light bulbs). The blue and white wiring at the base of the uprights is the wiring for the speakers/sound system. The yellow wiring and little black boxes are the outlets. They had to break into the drywall to get them where we/they wanted them and to ensure there were enough in the room. 

The newly run sink vent with hot and cold water and the new water line to the toilet. 

Our entire foyer and walking pathway to the garage door is covered in cardboard and plastic to protect the floors. It serves as a FABULOUS track for Kennon's trucks and tractors ( and keeps my floors from getting scratched up by the toys as well!! )  The protection goes all the way to the garage door as they will soon start construction upstairs to build in a locker system in our back hallway!  

Demolition of the concrete to move the sink vent. 

Demolition of the concrete to move the shower drain and shower vent. 

New vent placed ( the horizontal pipe in front of the grey water heater) for the sink in the wet bar. Lots of new piping to get this accomplished. 

Water lines in for the bathroom.  Concrete drying. 

Hot and cold water run to the wet bar ( little white tubes in front of the grey water heater)

Two new can lights right at the base of the steps and to light the large closet at the right of the steps. 

4 new can lights added to the exercise room. 

10 new can lights added to the basement open area.  4 in the media room. 4 in the game area and 2 over the bar.  We will have no shortage of light in the basement  ( a minor problem with our first floor family room and kitchen area). I am standing where the builts ins are going to be in the basement looking out to the 5th bedroom and wet bar. 

Maddox and I took advantage of the Family Museum on Saturday.  Kennon came down with the awful throw up flu Friday afternoon/evening so we left him at home with Dad ( sorry boys mom and daughter date.....which we really needed!!) The Family Museum has been undergoing renovation lately and there are a lot of cool new exhibits. In fact so cool we are going to get a membership.  Maddox had a BALL and we even got our hands stamped to make a second trip after her afternoon nap ( which I am really refusing to give up even though some days it is only like an hour long....but others 2.5 hours.....we'll keep on with it for now)  They have an AWESOME indoor water table and a replica of the I74 green bridge that we go over to visit Eric at work.  She had a great time.  We opted out of the St. Patrick's Day parade this year as it was a bit cold especially for the sick little guy but we were sure to celebrate with green pancakes.  The kids had fun making them. I thought KTK was over his stomach bug by then but the next day he had a little diarrhea. Not sure if he was still battling the flu or it was the GREEN pancakes....note to self for next year!  Kennon is fine now although has picked up a cold....ugh.....we are ready for SPRING!!

Kennon is really turning into a little independent guy. Today he climbed up in the van and then managed to climb up into his seat and get turned around all by himself. A first!  He is talking up a storm and even introduced me to Cade one of his classmates this afternoon. I was shocked that he said his name completely unsolicited when I asked him who his friend was. I think he is a smart little cookie. Yesterday I took Maddox and Kennon to Chipotle ( Maddox was trippin' for a burrito as we didn't get our normal fix before church with KTK having the stomach bug).  I turned onto Elmore about 500 feet before the store and I hear this 'burrito store' ......phrase from the back seat as plain as day and with much enthusiasm in his voice.  He was super happy to be gnabbin' a burrito too!!  The kids love that place and eat like champs dancin' in their high chairs to the loud music. Tonight he started saying 'I don't like this'  I"m pretty sure he learned that at school this week !!  He was applying it to everything at dinner tonight. I think it's cute now but probably won't be by......oh..... Sunday!!

Maddox sliding down the new slide at the Family Museum

Maddox on the I74 bridge

Maddox playing with the gigantic train table. 

Making green pancakes for St. Patrick's Day

Green pancakes and eggs with spinach, feta, and tomatoes for dinner! 

We see this look from Kennon quite often. It is his 'I'm not real happy and I'm probably going to throw something, or push my plate away or throw my milk on the floor' look. 

Happy face