Painting, painting and painting...

Today we started painting and it looks great! It is quite the process, but will sure look nice. I am very pleased with our color selections and can't wait to see what they look like when we are done. We just might get to move in next week ;0) My mom and Amy Fiala helped me paint today and Richard got the day off (well I guess if you call chasing around the boys a day off that is what he did). My dad came and helped paint the ceiling (Thanks Dad). Jonah and Elijah "helped" paint a little and I wish I had a picture of it. They were pretty proud of their short strokes and didn't seem to mind the mess or stress they left for me. Maybe I can get a shot tomorrow. Anyway, I better head to bed so I can hit Starbucks in the am and get to it!

Although, as nice as the paint looks the floors look a million times better! Richard (and Dad and Nate) did such a great job!

I did get a pic of them helping!

Here is the first coat of red in the living room ;0)

What can brown do for you? The first coat of brown in our room

Timeless beach in our kitchen!

To Stain or not to Stain?

To stain or not to stain? That has been the question. We wanted dark floors but fell in love with the "natural" wood look. So the answer is...not to stain. I will post pictures later. It will be beautiful and I can't wait to paint! I am proud that Richard let me finish sanding the edges in the bedrooms and hallway! (**I think it is because I wasn't doing a good enough job sweeping actually**) If you know Richard well enough you are laughing right now because you know it is true!!!

Either way it will be beautiful and fun because it is ours. Isn't it funny though how buying the house is the cheap part? I can't say I honestly have every really enjoyed Menards or Lowes until now. I could walk through almost every isle and dream of things I could buy for our new home. (I am still waiting on the light fixtures Stephanie). I also have never appreciated the fact that money doesn't grow on trees (thanks for that lesson dad) quite as much until now.

We love visitors and would love for you to come by. If you wait a week you might even get to sit

down on something and have a treat ;0)

The floors ready for??? The first coat of Poly

Sanding away

Richard has been busy sanding all day today and is making amazing progress! He had a few bumps in the road this morning with machines not working as well as he'd hoped, but after a quick run to a new store, he was able to get back into it. Nate Fiala and my dad have also been helping and such a blessing! Amy (Nate's wife) even brought the boys supper. We have such great friends ;0)

I was able to spend the day with the boys, my mom and sister. (Thanks Richard for working so hard and letting me hang out with them). The boys have been doing well despite all the changes, transitions, and parents MIA, but it was wonderful to be able to spend the day giving them a little mom time. My family has been loving/spoiling them of course, but I think they are ready for their own beds again and some new space. Please pray for the next week to go quickly and smothly as we finish up with the floors and painting before we can actually move in.

Here are some pics of the progress! Way to go boys!

Some pictures of OUR "home improvements"

Before pic of the living room (Sorry its blurry)

Before pic of our bedroom and looking down the hall

The first peek at the beautiful hardwood floors under the carpet!

We had lots of help along the way

Halling out carpet....and beautiful floors!

Ready, Set, Go...

Thanks to all who prayed for this morning to go well. The closing went very well and we couldn't have been happier with all our financial friends at Gate City Federal. We got into the house and it is still so surreal. We were just giddy with excitment to make it our own. We have also been overwhelmed by the neighborhood and how wonderful everyone is. It sounds like a community within itself and we are excited to get our house liveable and get to know some of these great neighbors.

We also had lots of help today from my parents, sister Laura, and our great friends Nate and Amy Fiala. We didn't waste any time either, we ripped out the carpet and found some beautiful hardwood floors that Richard can't wait to refinish! Amy helped me discover some interesting things behind the wallpaper in the kitchen too! We have lots to do still and will be working on it for at least a week before we can move in and then it will be endless projects I am sure. It sure does feel good though to have our "own" home. I am going to attempt to post some pictures, but for some reason it doesn't always work so well. We're trying to take pictures of the progress so we'll have to put them up at the end at least. Until then, I am one tired girl!

Tomorrow's the big day

So tomorrow we close on our 1st house!  We are walking through tonight with our Realtor (Chris Horn if you ever need one he is excellent!) and then finalize everything tomorrow! Hurray!  Then we will be busy getting our house ready to move into.  Once we get all settled we would love visitors (even if you live in Iowa).  

I had orientation stuff today for Altru and it felt pretty weird.  I got my name badge, parking permit (that was free and my walk is even shorter than from Lot 43 for you Iowans weird huh), passed all the health screening, and occupational test, filled out and signed a million papers and will start officially on monday.  I had a 45 minute break between sessions and wished I could have gone to the Java House for a Iced German Chocolate Mocha, but they unfortunately (or fortunately for my bank account) had nothing of the sort.  It was also pretty weird working during the day. That will take some getting used to.

We miss Iowa lots, but we are looking forward to getting into our new home and doing what we want.  Love to you all and I might be M.I.A. for awhile during the whole moving, painting, floor remodeling, etc.  Check back for pics of the process!

Finally Home?!?!

We made it to ND on Thursday night after about 12 hours of driving! The boys did great and we only had a few moments of insanity in the car, a few emergency potty breaks, and a couple well deserved stretch/food breaks. Richard drove the extremely comfortable truck and I got the boys. We dropped Irene (Richard's mom) off in MN for a vacation from her vacation. Thanks Irene for all your hard work! We enjoyed your company, help, and grandma time! We hope you can finally relax though after your crazy weeks with the Iowa (I mean ND) Dafoe's.

We are looking forward to spending the weekend with my mom's side of the family who are here for my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary party! We are doing lots of sleeping, realxing and getting ready for our closing date on Thursday the 24th.  I am hoping to update this week as we prepare for the next round of craziness (getting our house ready for moving in).  Thanks for all who prayed and helped us get here. It feels quite strange being here as we keep thinking we have to hurry and fit lots in during our "visit to ND" before we have to go back to Iowa.  Only, this time we aren't going back!  This is exciting and sad at the same time and I am sure it won't feel real until we are in our new place ;0)

Obeying is never easy

This will just be a quick post cause I wanted to share this story before I forget...

  We were overwhelmed Wednesday with the number of people who showed up to help us load our moving truck (Thanks Andy and the surprise helpers, Pete, Mike, the Lothamers, and Lori for taking the boys all day).  After getting all our stuff in the truck after only a few hours we spent the rest of the day cleaning our place (Thanks Kate, Will and Irene) and were able to relax that evening eating pizza by the pool(Thanks Hawthornes), swimming, and sharing our last few moments in Iowa City with a few of our closest friends.  It was emotionally overwhelming to attempt to say goodbye to these two couples and although we parted with tears and "see you soon" I felt as though I have left part of my heart in Iowa City.

Back to my story...

When I picked the boys up at a wonderful friends' house who had watched them all day for us so we could pack and clean without little helpers, I left the Kirk's house sobbing.  Jonah and Elijah told me not to cry and asked if I was ok. (I love these boys)  I told them I was sad to leave all our friends in Iowa City, but that we would see them again and it was ok to be sad and cry.  They asked me every minute for the rest of our short trip home if I was done crying and if I needed a hug. (again I love these two).  

After lots of tears wed night and little sleep we are attempting to eat breakfast at the hotel and make it through the morning without more tears, when Jonah lost it as we were headed back up to the room.  Jonah has been so excited to move to Grand Forks and be closer to Grandma and Grandpa for the last few months and has rarely shown any sadness during the whole packing/moving process.  However, on the floor of the hotel breakfast area he began sobbing and crying out "I don't want to go to Grand Forks. I don't want to leave my friends here and make new friends. I want my old house back. I don't want a new house."  What was left of my heart broke at this point and through blurry eyes I scooped him up and held him close.  Once I collected myself I attempted to explain to Jonah that his dad and I had prayed for a long time about where God wanted us to be and we felt He wanted us to move to Grand Forks.  I told him that I was sad that we were leaving our friends in Iowa City and it was ok to be sad and to cry but we still needed to obey God and move.  I told him that obeying God isn't easy, just like it isn't easy for him to obey Richard and I, but we still need to do that.  He still wasn't so sure about this, but his sobbing stopped and he let me carry him back to the room.  

Obeying God is rarely easy and I don't think I will ever forget my son on that hotel floor reaffirming that fact in my mind.  However, I look forward to watching God's plan for us unfold as we continue to obey Him. 

Here are some fun pics from our moving adventures

 Elijah "Helping" us pack

Jonah "helping" take down his bed

The boys in the makeshift bedroom for our last night in our place in Iowa City, waving goodbye!

Least favorites

First of all I want to say I have many updates and notes and memoirs I have started and will post at a later date related to the last few weeks as we have had to say goodbye to so many amazing friends who have showed us so much love and support that we are overwhelmed and have cried so much we might not be able to do it ever again!  

Second, I want to state for the record that I HATE packing just as much as I HATE saying goodbye (which if Jonah could read this I would have to chose a different word to express my utter distaste for these two things because we just had a discussion about using the word hate). But, since he can't I am going to use it just a few more times.  Why can't the last few days of moving be enjoyable and relaxing?  Why must they be filled with broken hearts, raging emotions, floods of tears, and stress?  I want to say I am looking forward to getting to Grand Forks so we can be done with all this craziness, but that means I will be gone from here and starting the whole process all over and will express my dislike (not hate, for you Jonah) of UNpacking!  

Third of all, I am very thankful to all who are and have been helping us move, pack, watch the boys, etc....and for loving us despite our departure date lurking in the near future.  Plus, you might want to hire out my mother-in-law (she is an expert packer and has done so much for us). Thanks Irene!  My own mother came down to help us earlier and helped us make quite a dent, but I am afraid once her grandsons get to Grand Forks she will be unavailable to help you pack ;0)

For now I must get back to work, but I do look forward to sweet reunions, long distance phone calls from friends, emails and even snail mail!  Love to you all and check back soon for some fun memories.

-Bitter packer

Bathroom mess up

For all you who love funny stories about our boys...here is a good one!

Richard gave the boys a bath last night (I have such a wonderful husband) and went downstairs to get something. When he came back up, he found Jonah standing in the tub gagging and Elijah outside of the tub on the carpet squatting next to a large terd and a small puddle of pee. Elijah was very proud of what he had done by "himself" and Richard could hardly keep from peeing himself he was laughing so hard. Richard quickly cleaned up and saved Jonah from losing his supper.

Hopefully next time Elijah can make it to the toilet! (wishfull thinking I know)