Zoo Field Trip

Thanks to Grammie Melanie for taking the little kiddos I was able to join Rachel on her field trip to the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines. We had a lot of fun and it was such a beautiful day!



This is Rachel's Kindergarten class. 12 boys and 9 girls.



Rachel's favorite was the Red Panda. He kinda looked like a mix between a fox and a raccoon not much like a panda or a bear. But he sure was cute.
I love the giraffes and their very long tongue!
We went with the first grade class also so these are a couple of Rachel's friends hatching out of a big egg.


Loading the bus for the drive home. What a fun day at the zoo!!

Geo Thermal

Here is the "finished" project. Not counting the flattening out of the dirt, smoothing and reseeding so we can have a nice yard out back. Much to the dismay of the kiddos as they really like to play in the dirt/mud! It truly amazes me how you can never fit back all of what you took out of the hole :)
Just for your information you can also run geo thermal in the bottom of a pond. I think it is a toss up on what is the easier way. Supposedly this takes less dirt work :) A pond is on my wish list but I wasn't thinking my back yard. I would prefer it in the front yard. I was informed yesterday when I quietly brought it up that "mom had to wait until she was 50 for that," I suppose that means it will go on my 50th birthday wish list. :) That is just fine! I am so grateful for all that has been given already!!

Don't forget to have at least one coffee time break in between especially if that is all you will get paid with. Thanks again for all the help everyone, it is greatly appreciated!

Lay it down in the hole, pray it doesn't cave in before you crawl out, cover with a small amount of dirt then run another roll over the top. You do this four times in four separate trenches. Praise the Lord no one got caved in on and it was finished in a day thanks to good help! Now we are waiting on the plumber to hook it up. Thank goodness it has been a pretty cool spring otherwise we would be cooked in our non air conditioned house. Oh the luxuries that get taking for granted!
This is the tubing that they use to run the water thru. It goes in the bottom of the very deep hole. On a wet Saturday BJ, Steve and some of his brothers spent most of the day zip tie-ing the pipes into the slinky that they are in these pics.


Here are a few pics of how huge a process putting Geo Thermal lines in the ground can be.
First dig a long, very deep hole. I would put the dimensions but I don't quite remember them, so next time you see one of the guys feel free to ask. All I know is that it was deep enough that the walls kept falling in.

Computer Problems

I think Stacy passed her computer problems to me. Just kidding. Anyway for some reason it will not let me post any pictures on our blog so I am going to be even more behind. Oh bummer!!
I will be trying at a different time of day here soon I hope so maybe that will make a difference.

Stay tuned :)

Easter

I was talking with my sister the other day about how when we grew up I never really remember doing anything much for Easter. I remember slightly one time when we got together with my aunts and uncles when I was little, maybe 8 and we found real hard boiled eggs that we colored, they did not have any candy in them :). One other time in Colorado when a kind older couple from our church invited all the children over for an egg hunt. We looked for eggs in about 5-6 inches of fresh wet spring snow. Otherwise, it was a day that we went to church and thanked Jesus for giving His life for us. I told my sister, I was so thankful to be in Iowa close to my kiddos grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins so that not only is it a day that we can reflect on all that Jesus did for us but we can celebrate as a big family that Jesus died for us and rose again so that we can be saved and have eternal life through Him!

But He was pierced with our transgressions
He was crushed for our iniquities,
the punishment that brought us

peace was upon Him,
and by His wounds we are healed!
Isaiah 53:5

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know
that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here; He has RISEN, just as He said.
Come and see the place where He lay.
Matthew 28:5

Thank You Jesus!!

Myrtle Beach

On the 10th of February BJ, Addi, my sister K her husband Ben and baby boy Zander, my mom and dad and brother Micah and I loaded up in our Excursion and drove 24 hours straight thru to Myrtle Beach South Carolina. Wow, what a long drive to tackle straight thru (I do not recommend it!). Once we got there we had a wonderful time! The weather was very nice 50s and 60s and the ocean was beautiful. It had been a long time since we had been to the ocean. And the older kiddos were a little bummed that they had to stay home and Addi got to see the ocean before they did.


Adalli had so much fun walking with bare feet in the sand and the waves and digging to find shells and rocks.


We went to Hunters Beach and they had a neat visitor and educational center. Addi could stick her fingers in and feel the fish and shells. She wasn't quite sure about it though. We had a wonderful time and recommend this place for sure.

Too Long!

Here it is almost two months past Johnathon's birthday and I am finally getting his Five year pic up. Lots has happened in the last couple months so I will try to get you somewhat up to date!




Johnathon is in preschool this year and really enjoying it! He loves helping dad with whatever he can as well, but his favorite is checking cows and calves. He is growing more and more each day. BJ and I are so thankful for such wonderful children!

Adalli is ONE!

Adalli Grace Boender is now one! I cannot believe how quickly that year went. What a blessing our little girl is to our family! She has been the happiest, most easy going and flexible baby I have ever had. Praise the Lord!
Adalli is getting very close to preferring walking over crawling, she loves to go upstairs and sit at the top and holler for some one to come get her, she claps, plays peek-a-boo, says dada, mama, bye bye, baby, uh oh and is really close to saying no.
We thank the Lord every day for each one of our healthy and busy children.

The Downstairs Part

This is our living room of the old house facing south. The color looks green but it is very much a coffee ice cream brown.

This is the only back bedroom of the old house on the south end. I am hoping to use it as a scrapbook/office room.
Our beautiful wood stove on a chunk of granite that BJ and I picked out. Our favorite thing to do as a family is to huddle up around it and visit about our day! Can't wait to be in the house so we can do it every night. Anyone is welcome to come and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee and snuggle by it whenever you please!
This is the beautiful kitchen. The counters and sink should be here in the next two weeks. Hooray.

Much Needed Updates (very long post ahead!)

I will go thru and try to explain each room so that you kind of get an idea of what we are doing. Keep in mind that the camera does not do the colors justice so you will just need to stop by or come for a weekend and use the guest bedroom and see the beautiful home that we have been truly blessed with!
This is BJ and my bedroom there will be a trim board that runs between the two colors when all is done.

Here is the boy's bedroom. They picked the color out themselves :) My mom says wear your sunglasses. We were blessed with so much help painting! Karl and Kristin did a wonderful job in the boy's room.

Rachel picked pink for her room and I think it looks beautiful! I have lots of great ideas for this room and so does she.
This is our attic that will be the play room and family room all in one. The ceiling will be car siding. I am looking forward to this room so much and so are the kiddos.

This color is also in the upstairs bathroom as well. I will get pics as soon as we get the vanity installed.
Here is the guest bedroom. Please feel free to stay anytime it works for you!



This is the upstairs hall way, landing and laundry room.


BJ sprayed all the primer and all the ceiling paint while someone rolled behind him to smooth things out. He was such a trooper! It is amazing how much paint falls on you. Thank you Kristin and Karl for sharing the sprayer that cut so much time!
This is the kitchen/living room/ and office-homework nook.

And last but not least the mudroom!