Drywall and egg hunt #2 and #3

So we've had quite the fun weekend....super busy and super family oriented. We are all about traditions around here at the Kies house and we definitely put some in the books.  Saturday morning Eric and I got the kids up early to head to the 'member's only' Niabi zoo egg hunt. It was a bit chilly but we still had a blast and got to visit the animals for this first time this year. We were lucky enough to have Grandma Jean come along for the festivities too. She brought a bunch of fun Easter books, a new Mega BLOKS table, and trinkets for the kids to play with when we got home from the zoo so Eric and I could actually get our long run in TOGETHER....for the first time in months.  I could tell when I got home from my portion of the run ( Eric did about 11...I stopped about 9-10) that both kids had been having a blast playing with Grandma Jean...they were giggling profusely and grinning ear to ear! Thanks for coming over Grandma Jean. You are welcome anytime!! 

Maddox and Kennon looking at the gigantic lion.  They are working on the regular lion enclosure at Niabi so the lions are in where the tigers used to be and you can get a lot closer to them.  There are 3 lions in this, what appears to be, small enclosure.?? Not sure how that works but they were sure roaring a lot while we were there. 

Hat still big Jody....... :) ....although by the way she is eating she must be going to go through a growth spurt soon....

Kennon and Grandma Jean.... THANK YOU for joining us Grandma Jean!! We loved having you along for the festivities...and for the extra set of hands!! 

They gave out free bunny ears at this hunt!! Kennon didn't seem to mind wearing his....

.....Maddox on the other hand was not so thrilled and this was the only shot I got with them on her head. 

Votes on what animal this is......?? Tiger??  Kennon gave him a high FIVE and wasn't afraid of him..  Lots of Radio Flyer wagons at this shindig.  

There was even a real Easter bunny at the zoo.  KTK gave him a high five too.  Hey Grammy do you recognize that girl in the background?? I'm pretty sure she is someone you taught with from Sherrard......she hasn't aged a bit!!!

'Where's Kennon??'  :) LOL

Then Sunday morning Eric and I got the kids up early again to head to Grammy and Pap Dick's house for our third and final Easter celebration/hunt. But, this one included the Gillaspie and the Knowles family. We had such a good time and the weather cooperated a bit better giving us a nice sunny egg hunt.  I LOVE to see the cousins together. They played SOOOO well together sharing and enjoying each other's company. I don't think I heard anyone cry/fuss till they all started getting a little tired about nap time...but hey given the fact that they were all up before the sun was Sunday morning making it all the way till 2pm before they crashed was really quite good.  We got to meet Reid, whom Maddox adored and whom I got to snuggle with quite a bit.  He is a pretty good baby just doesn't like to get too far from his food source :)  He is a super eater!! We were sorry to read about the admission to the Children's Hospital today.  Hang in there Reid. You are in good hands!! Prayers going up for you and your loving parents Brooke and Tyler. We also celebrated Grammy's 66th birthday, a little early.  She starts her 3rd round of chemo today and is doing really well. This new chemo seems to be working/shrinking those tumors. Praise God!! We are so happy to have you back with us Grammy. Enjoy the pictures....

Egg hunt at Grammy and Papa Dick's....56 eggs to hunt for. PHEW>>>>Kennon, Carter, Maddox and cousin Hannah

'Don't fall into the drain hole Kennon'.......

'Oh good Grammy is here to pull me back up this big hill...!!'

'Thanks for the help Grammy...by the way....I love your hair and you look fabulous!!'  None of the kids even skipped a beat  ( or so it seemed to me) that Grammy's hair was not her normal brown color.  Same ol' Grammy!! We love the silver Grammy...... beautiful. 

Cousin Carter gathering up his eggs....I think this might have been a 'spill gather'. All three kids' baskets were overflowing with eggs and every time they bent over to get another a few would fall out. 

Aunt Diane, Carter, Uncle Tyler, Maddox

Carter's cheesy smile!!

Big Brother Carter James....now that's a nice smile Carter!! 

Maddox taking care of TWO babies.... baby David ( one of Tyler's old Cabbage Patch dolls that Grammy has and keeps at her house)....and new baby Reid taking a little snooze in his new rain forest bouncy seat. 

Maddox LOVED Reid and was constantly asking to hold him. She played with her babies  this morning covering them up moving them from upstairs to downstairs calling them by name. She is a baby doll girl right now and Reid solidifies that.

The adorable skirt she has on was from a garage sale in our neighborhood last summer...so cute. We like your outfit too Reid!! 

My little bunny....and a tired Daddy!

'ooooooh......'

Maddox Uncle Tyler and Carter opening some Easter gifts

Aunt Diane, Carter, Kennon and Eric....

Happy 66th Birthday Grammy

Ok....so any guesses what this cake is supposed to be?? No worries....if you have NO idea.  It is supposed to be a flower box ( like on the outside of a house).  I made the cake and then the kids helped me decorate it.  Needless to say some of the things I brought to decorate it didn't quite meet par..... hence the reason that most of the red 'flowers' look like red blobs. There is one good one in the back right...Just imagine they all look like that one!! Carter, Maddox, Kennon, Uncle Tyler and I had a good time decorating it nonetheless. I'd like to tell you the cake tasted good since it missed the mark in appearance....but  I fell down on that part of the deal too...it was rather dry!! I think we'll just go with HyVee cake next time!!  Lesson learned!! 

Maddox and Carter anxiously awaiting a piece of cake.... about half way through his piece, Carter asked very nicely if he could have some milk....!!  We all burst out laughing....yes Carter you can have some milk to wash down Aunt Laura's VERY DRY cake!!

 So the drywall dudes are working as I type this.  After they leave I'll head down and snap some pictures for you to see the new and improved Kies Basement. Your can really see the space now that the drywall is up.  They got the drywall in place last week and the mudder/tapper guys are working right now ( I think it is a separate crew...???) . Then the mud dries and they sand it and then do another coat of mud/tape and then one final sand ( I think that's the process.....don't quote me though).   I thought that mudding/tapping was going to be quiet but they sure have been banging and hammering down there quite a bit. The kids are still sleeping right on through it thank goodness... KTK 2 hours so far and MLK about an 1.5. Thursday AM we meet the interior designer to pick out paint colors. Moving right along....

Standing at the north end of the basement where the built ins are going to be looking south towards the bar at the right and the playroom at the end with the window. The doorway just beyond the bar is to the storage/shelving area. 

 Standing at the base of the steps looking towards the game area where the bay window is just directly under the kitchen table upstairs.  Media room to the left and the bar is on the back side of that wall in the foreground with the electrical switches. 

Standing at the south end of the media room looking towards the game area and playroom. The large doorway to the playroom will have French doors that will open out ( maybe a mistake....I asked for them to swing out despite the builder recommendation to swing in....we will see... it has to do with the pottery barn furniture we already have purchased to go along the east wall of the playroom. I was afraid if the doors swung in they would hit the shelving....and create a fun 'game' for the kids to make a loud bang noise.... But having them swing out reduces the actual space in the game area....we'll see)  

Standing in the doorway to the playroom looking North towards the media room. The built ins will be placed the entire length and width of the far north wall butting up against the fake sofit we had built in along the ceiling. 

Standing at the base of the steps looking right into the large closet and to the left into the bathroom. Exercise room not pictured, to the far right of the closet.