Hello Again!!!

I am sorry I haven't posted any blogs in over a month. My life has been crazy busy, with work, 2 kids and construction I haven't had time to think let alone write. On June 7th is my last day of work and I will be a stay at home mom starting on the 8th. I'm hoping to have more time to post a lot more often starting then. I have much to update with my family and projects around my house but that will have to wait till I'm done with work.

Easter and Spring Time

Happy Easter a few days late...

We had a really good Easter this year and Natalie loved finding Easter eggs.

which was good because she had to look for them at 3 houses. First she had an Easter egg hunt at her great grandparents, then at my parents and lastly at our house. When she was at our house she had to compete with the dogs (they wanted to eat the eggs). 

Charlie loves to swing at the park.

He also is getting so strong he can hold his head and stand as long as someone is there to balance him.  

Natalie loves to be outdoors.

Yes!!! That is my yard. Thanks to the warm winter the dogs ruined my grass.

Natalie at 20 months really likes to help out Grandpa plant potatoes 

and when it came time to trans plant my tomatoes Natalie was so eager to help out with putting soil into the containers.

 

a lot has been going on since my last post, like

going back to work and spring time.

I went back to work 2 weeks ago and then had last week off and am now back. 

It is really hard to be away from home all day. We leave around 7 am and get home around 6 pm (I say we because Jeff and I car pool). Its hard being away so long because I can't get the laundry done during the day. I cant have dinner ready by 6. I have so little time at home to get so much done and when I am home at night the kids are really crabby making it hard to get anything done. There are one or 2 kids hanging off me depending on if Jeff is busy or not. Its also hard because I don't have the kids stuff like a bouncy chair for Charlie or Natalie's toys. 

Jeff has been working a lot on the construction project when he has the time that is. He also got us new phones me an iPhone and him a Droid Charge.

Hank and Pepper are enjoying the warm weather they love being outside all day.

I will try and be better at posting more often its just a little hard with being so busy with kids, house work, yard work and life.

Spring Time and New Windows

Minnesota has had an early spring this year. It has been nice

not having snow or cold much of this March. Natalie is loving being able to go outside without a jacket.

On March 10th we went up to Jeff's grandparent's place to help cut down some trees. (Jeff's tough guy look and Charlie)

Little did we know that was the last time that we have seen snow this March because it has been so warm it has all melted.

We learned that Natalie Loves jumping in puddles!

Natalie also really likes to "garden" or just play in the dirt.

Charlie has been enjoying the weather also. He really likes it when I let him take naps in the stroller outside. He is growing so much. I put him on the scale when he was 5 weeks old and he was 12 lbs 0 oz . Charlie is a really easy little guy he, sleeps a lot and when he is awake he is a happy baby. 

I have been running around like crazy after 2 kids, 2 dogs and a husband.

I have my days down though so it is much easier to get stuff done now that I have gotten used to having 2 kids to take care of and I'm managing to keep the house picked up.

Jeff has been working non stop when he is home on the remodel job.

The dining room is almost ready to paint and the office has been gutted. On the 17th, Jeff and his dad Dale put in 2 new windows in the office.

It was a very exciting day for us!

Before, no windows on the North side of the office.(The office is right above Dale's truck)

As you may notice, we haven't quite finished painting the house brown yet. That will get done this Spring/Summer.

A picture in the middle of the process.

 The dogs were watching me take pictures so I took a picture of them.

Hank the the taller brown dog and Pepper is the shorter black dog.

and now for the finished product, our house with 2 more windows on the north side...

When the house is finished being painted it will look Amazing!!!

So much so that when we sell EVERYONE will want to buy it... at least I hope so

My life the last few weeks

Charlie is 3 weeks old and it feels like he has always been here with us.

Natalie loves to give Charlie kisses,

and she will say "I lobe Tarlie" 

Charlie is very strong and can lift his head up, he is also much more alert when he is awake. Most of the time he is sleeping though. 

Natalie has been getting 6 teeth in the last month so that has been

a fun challenge for us.

She is also talking more than ever. Every day she is learning new words. She is very helpful with Charlie and she has been helping to keep her toys picked up,

 she also has been helping set the table.

Natalie Loves to have people read to her especially when the books have animals in them. She loves her books just like her Mama.

Other stuff going on in our life Construction!!! 

As you know from my last post we are remodeling our dining room and soon to be starting the office.

Jeff and his family have been working hard and got a lot done in a week.

They gutted all the walls, then wired, added lights, put in 6" insulation, put up plastic over the insulation, put up sheet rock and did layer one of the tape and mud 

Before there wasn't any lights in this little alcove and now there is 2 and they are on a dimmer switch. Jeff is the best!!!

and this is a sneak peak and the light fixture we got. It will look better once the room is painted and is has its shades on.

Dinning Room Demo

Jeff and his brothers took apart the dinning room on Friday and Saturday. 

Jeff started by putting up a plastic wall between the living room and dinning room

Then he made a plastic door between the dinning room and the kitchen.

This blocks just about all of the dust from going in the house. There is still some that gets in the house but not much.

On Friday Jeff and His brother took down the plaster.

As you can see in this picture Tony Jeff's brother is showing off the wall without any plaster on it. Next step is to take down the lathes.

Saturday (day2) 

Jeff, Tony, Tom and Josh all worked hard to get all the lathes off so its down to the studs.

Jeff is Ready for work.

and here is the wall that tony was showing off before

and then the wall between the office and dinning room.

They also took up the pergo floors; thank goodness that's gone... we are going to put in oak floors once the walls are back up.

Charles Jeffrey Hoeft

Charlie was born at 12:10 PM on February 9, 2012

20 1/2" long 9 lbs 3 oz

He was a very fast delivery 7 min of pushing total. 

My Dr broke my water at 7:30 am 

We walked the halls from 8-9 am

When I got back to the room the nurse put me on pitocin 

an hour later I got the epidural and he was born 2 hours after that

Charlie is a happy baby and a good eater.

His big sister Natalie got to meet him yesterday 

She likes to look at Charlie but doesn't want to hold him.

Its really cute to see her with him

She likes to poke at his face. Good thing she is gentle when she pokes.

We will be going home today (Friday) after lunch 

So you will be able to visit us at home if you would like

Please call or text before you come out to make sure its a good time

Spring Fever

I got my new issue of Mother Earth News magazine in the mail yesterday and after looking through it I have a major case of spring fever. For starters they have a program called garden planner that will tell you when to plant seeds and help you design your garden. Using the nearest weather station to help you keep on top of your garden and will also keep your record for years so you can look back at them and see what you liked or didn't like about your garden.

From my understanding the program can be used on your computer or iPad.

The issue also had some books that sounded interesting to me

 I do not own Homegrown & Handmade but it is on my list for books to get.

I do own this book and I really like it. If you would like to borrow it let me know and I will see if we can arrange it.

The Milk book I do not have yet but I really want to get before Jeff and I move to a farm. This book doesn't have to do with Gardens but from what I hear dairy animals have the best milk in the spring when they get to eat fresh spring grass.

There are so many other books I could go on and on about but I will leave it at these three for now.