Kai turns 3

Well, it has been a crazy Christmas week and my baby turned 3.  Where does the time go?  We spent Christmas eve with my mom and the kids had a blast.  They got this huge pop up tent fire truck/school bus and rocking chairs.  Still sad that Andrea and her family couldn't make it, but we hope to see them soon.  We made it to my sister and brother in laws for Christmas day and got to see PK's parents and our nieces.  So nice of them to open their house up to us.  We really had a great time.  We were suppose to head back to Dubuque Friday evening and got about 30 miles out and had to turn around because the fog was so bad.  Kade isn't much of a car rider, so very stressful for PK to drive in the fog and then I was stressed trying to keep the little guy quiet while PK could concentrate on the road.  We made it back home and then home bound due to the weather until yesterday.  That was a big day for us.  Kai turned 3.  We went to chuck e cheese for the 1st time and we all had a blast and will do it again real soon.  All I can say is Thank God that Hy-Vee makes small cakes.  I love them :)  Well, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and we will all be getting ready for New Years.

Much love....Paul, Erica, Kai, Kade and Koda Kuempel :)

Check out more pics:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/Kais3rdBday2008#

Christmas Eve...Safe Travel

I hope this 1st of 2 or more posts finds everyone well.  We have finished our 1st Christmas gathering.  1st of all very sad.  My sister Andrea and her family couldn't make it due to weather and a bad roads.  I am very sad about this, but very thankful they stayed home and safe.  That is all that matters.  PK and I had to work this morning, but not long and then we made it to my Dad's house for gifts and great food.  It was so nice to be able to hang out with him.  Now...around 5 we will be heading over to my mom's house to hang out.  The weather will depend on if we will be able to head out of town to the other gatherings.  If you do head out please travel safe and don't take unnecessary chances.  Not worth it.

Here are some pics of the kids oh and PK painted most of our bedroom.  The green is what we are painting it.

Merry Christmas from the Kuempel Family in CF :)

check out more photos at: 

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/GrandpaXmasEve2008#

Iowa Winter Weather

Ok...not sure why we live in Iowa.  You are going to see this post a lot from me.  I guess I never really minded the snow, cold and even the ice.  But, now with 2 little ones and coats and car seats and ice...so on and so on.  We had our 1st bad winter storm this week.  I had a really busy day and the boys were in daycare, so everyone was safe, but I always worry when we are on the roads with them.  Crazy people out there.  Well, I am done working for the week and we are suppose to get another storm coming through tomorrow.  I will be dropping the boys off to Grandma's house in the morning to make cookies and I am going to finish up the rest of my Christmas shopping.  Then I am hopeful that we will make it home in time to snuggle in for the day.  

We are excited we will be meeting up with friends from out of town this weekend.  We hope to spend some time catching up about life and kids.  Oh another great thing...I finally got our Christmas cards, to I get them out as soon as possible.  Of course here are some pictures of the boys.

Much love! EK....stay safe on the roads.

Peaceful Friday

All I can say it is 6:43 on a Friday night and both of my boys are sleeping.  It really doesn't get any better then that.  We have had a heck of a day.  Business has been great and busy, so I had to go in for a couple of hours today...which is great since the boys got to go and play with their friends.  PK has been busier then ever and the boys have been crazy.  Man, what a life we lead.  We have Christmas cards on order, so bear with us and the wait.  As soon as I get them I will send them out.  It is always interesting trying to get the boys to sit still and smile.  I will post a couple of attempts.  I think that is about all for now.  We will be cheering on the UNI Panthers tomorrow hoping that they will get to the finals for football.  It should be a great game.  Everyone have a great weekend :)

Much Love.....EK 

Polar Express/Birthday

Happy Thursday! I hope you are all having a great week. I know the Kuempel family in CF are. We are having a fantastic day. We made it to Boone without any problems last night. I guess we weren't sure what it was going to be like, but we were very happy. Kai LOVED the train & I think we should have left Kade at home, but lesson learned. It was about an hour and 1/2 ride and there were little girls doing the reading and trying to keep us entertained, but one downfall it was very cold. As my friend Jen would say...the meat locker on wheels. We had cookies and warm chocolate....really wasn't hot, but still very good. 1/2 way through the ride we stopped at the north pole and Santa came on the train w/the bells. Very happy that Kai didn't freak out. I wish we would have been able to do it during the day, but still very good. We had a much more peaceful ride to Boone then to Des Moines. Thank God for technology. Oh I have to laugh...I will post this picture of Kai bugging this lady for about 1/2 hour showing her his Polar Express book and saying Train...it's a Train. She was very nice. It was so funny :) Thanks to Jen for taking pictures....due to our cameras battery was about dead. I am also going to post a couple of pictures of the flowers my sister and her family got me and some chocolates a couple of PK'scoworkers got for me. Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes. More Later-EK :)
oh and if you go to this link you will be able to view more Polar Express pictures.
http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/PolarExpressTrain#
After I started this post...I got the best present of the night...well I guess 2. My wonderful husband bought me a new camera. I am so very excited! Now there will be a lot more pictures to come. The second great gift....our boys are asleep and it is 7:45 pm.

Finally

I wonder if you are all as excited as we are for the Polar Express.  Well, the weather has been a little hairy, but my friend in Ankeny has kept me posted and I think we are good to go.  I finally found Thomas pjs for Kai...too bad I don't have matching jammies, but what can you do?  PK had the day off and got the kitchen trim done and I had to work on a couple of people...too funny one of my clients got stuck in Ankeny.....I was thinking...I am going to be trying to get there.  What are the odds.  We are going to be heading out around 3 to get the boys from daycare and thanks to god.....the dvd player situation is solved.  I hope to get a lot of pics, so stay tuned.

Have a good night and stay warm :)

Freezing and Tired!!!

All I can say is thank god for Monday and work.  Weekends wear me out!  Well, nothing new happened this weekend besides putting up the Christmas tree and lights.  Oh and I so wasn't ready for snow and the cold!  I am not sure why I live in Iowa.  We sure can't wait till Wednesday to go ride the train.  That is Kai's official new favorite movie.  So, I really hope he digs this whole train thing.  I think he is going to freak, but PK might be right that he might be overwhelmed and I am not sure what Kade will do.  We will keep you posted on that.  I am now on the hunt for matching jammies and I so hope to get a Christmas photo out of this trip.  Wish me luck there.  Well, here are some pics of the boys.  It is so funny how everyone thinks that Kai looks like PK (which he does) but if you know my sister you will totally see Kai and Andrea as the same.  I hope this finds everyone healthy and warm.  I will try to post after the train ride.  Much love! EK

Turkey Day :)

I am sorry...I didn't get pictures of the boys or family for Thanksgiving.  We traveled to Des Moines to hang out with my mom and her side of the family.  It was a lot of fun, but testing our sanehood on the drive there and back.  Kai has been great in the car, but Kade on the other hand...not the best.  It didn't help that one of the dual dvd players was broken (that will be taken care of before our next long car ride!).  We made it to Des Moines and had a great lunch with aunts, uncles, cousins and second cousins.  We had a lot of fun and a great ornament exchange.  Then we were able to stop and see my aunt on my dad's side and my grandparents.  We are so lucky it all worked out the way it did.  We made it home Thanksgiving night all in one piece.  PK has the day off with us tomorrow, so it should be a great day.  More tomorrow or this weekend :)  Much love!

Outside

Isn't it strange....it is 45 degrees here and it feels like a heatwave.  Well, not really, but if you live in Iowa you know what I mean.  We have had an interesting weekend, but a nice one.  We are starting to get over our colds.  I had a great plan yesterday...we all headed to Sam's club to try the thanksgiving foods.  It was very good, but everyone and their brother had the same idea.  We ending up buying some things...it all worked out.  Then we got home and everyone took a naps...so very nice.  That brings us to today....the heatwave of 45 degrees...we all went outside and played.  PK was doing leaves and the boys wanted to run around.  So, we all ran off some energy and then inside for baths.  Well, the bad thing is we now don't have power....At least I will still be able to save this blog.  It takes awhile to post this blog w/2 boys, a dog and a husband.  So, now we have restored power and all doing our own thing.  PK is having a potluck at work tomorrow, so I am trying to get food ready for that.  As of now daycare is in session, so the boys will be back to a schedule and then off to Des Moines for Thanksgiving.  Oh and our other fun news.....we got tickets to the Santa Express in Boone.  We are very excited.  We are going Wednesday December 3rd @ 6 pm.  The boys wear their jammies and they all eat cookies and drink hot coco while riding the train and listening the Polar Express.  Thank you Misty for telling me about this :)  I went out today and got the book and the movie, so the boys and us we start reading the book and watch the movie.  I hope to get some good pictures.  Oh and another fun thing our friends (the Goemann's) will be meeting us there.  You never know this might be a yearly thing.  What fun memories.  Ok...if I don't get to post before Thanksgiving.  Everyone have a great Thanksgiving and be thankful for all that you have and the people you love :)  

Travel Safe!!!!  Paul, Erica, Kai, Kade and Koda