Lordy Lordy

Hi Everyone! I really hope you haven't given up on me. I am sorry this took me so long to do. I really think October-December are the busiest months of the year for our family. Starting in October we have our anniversary and Halloween. November is PKs birthday and Thanksgiving and then December is my birthday Christmas and Kai's birthday. So, I am sorry this is taken me awhile to get to you

So, as you can tell we have a lot go on. PK turned the big 37th this year I turned the big 33 and my baby Kai will turn 4 on the 28th. Man, how time flies. We have survived blizzards, 1st Christmas programs, flu for 3 of us. And I know there is a lot more that I am forgetting, but all in 2.5 months that is a lot!

All in all we have been good. As I mentioned the boys and I had the flu, so that was not fun at all. We had to miss out on 2 parties, but that is life and there is always next year. I tell you what it is so not fun have 2 little ones throwing up and you are feeling bad too. Thank goodness PK didn't get it....I am knocking on wood as I type :)

We are very excited about Christmas. The boys have talked nonstop about Santa and presents. Trust me they don't need anything, but we are buying a bunch of books and small things for them to open. This is be a fun fun year. We will be getting together with my side on Christmas day and then heading to Guttenberg on Saturday and then Dubuque for Borcherding Christmas on Sunday. Now if the weather would just cooperate with us.

The boys now have snow pants, boots, coats and hats and gloves. The park down the way has awesome hills, so we need to get out and start sledding. I guess we will probably pulling them on the sleds to get there. How much fun. Can't wait.

Well, day later and still trying to get this posted. We are waiting to see what the weather will bring. I have to post this. Everyone please be safe and don't travel if you don't have to.

Much love and lord I hope I post before or on Christmas! EK

PS sorry my add image button is working, so go to these links to see the boys:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/Thanksgiving09?authkey=Gv1sRgCJvOjvCbpNH3pwE#

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/Snow09?authkey=Gv1sRgCP7rk73rv9O_BQ#

Happy Belated Halloween

Hi Everyone...This is a happy belated Halloween and belated anniversary to my Grandparents. On that note I hope everyone had a great day. We did have a wonderful day. It was good weather and that helps out so much. We started out the day with an Iowa football win, but it was a stressful game. I have no clue what the hawks are doing to us, but at least we are still winning....9-0 baby! The boys are so funny...Kade was asleep, but Kai was having fun yelling GO HAWKS. I love that my boys are into sports...we watched the world series and they are asking for baseball or football, so it is fun that all watch the games together.

Another great note. My mother-in-law made it home from Madagascar. I was so very happy that the leader had a blackberry, so we were able to send Helene emails and pictures of the boys everyday. She was able to email us to let us know that she was ok and what she did for the day. So much fun and the technology that we live in. You gotta love it! And even better Helene is coming on Wednesday to watch the boys, so we get to hear all about her trip and give a huge hug.

Now onto the boys....I guess the reason for this blog. The boys are great. We so far have avoided the flu...I hope everyone is knocking on wood. We are battling with colds, but so far that isn't bad. All in all everything is the same. No really mile stones. Kai is still loving school and I was able to help with pumpkin painting at his Harvest party. So much fun to see him with other kids.Kade is still so excited to go to school...even though he isn't going yet. I think the best is hearing the boys talk to each other. Most of the time they are concerned about each other and the best right now if anyone sneezes they say bless you and if they sneeze we say bless you and then they say thank you. Cracks me up!

Ok this has taken way too long to post...here are pics of the boys. I now need to post bdaypictures of PK, so I will be back :o)

EK

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/Halloween2009#

1st Field Trip

I love being part of the firsts in my kids lives. The first crawl, walk, talking, teeth, day of school and now 1st field trip. Today Kai and his preschool class went to Hartman Reserve. I was lucky enough to join the experience. I also love that about my job being able to rearrange my schedule, so I will be able to be with the boys and to help the teachers. There are a lot of kids for only 3 teachers. We will take lots of pictures for all of you to enjoy. The field trip was fun, but the most exciting part was the bus ride. But the kids got to color leaves and make apple cider. But of course they all wanted to get on the bus. So, much fun. Upcoming events for school is a group picture and Harvest Party where I will help kids paint pumpkins.

I hope everyone is staying healthy. Man, it is crazy how many sick people there are out there. I guess I find ourselves lucky since we have a smaller preschool, in home daycare and then the boys are usually with PK or me. We have stepped up the hand washing. Which is how the boys and I didn't get Paul's cold. Man, poor man was miserable.

Speaking of PK...he is staying busy at work and home and now he is training for a 1/2 marathon. I am not sure if he is signed up for one or just testing it out. So, our nights are very interesting. We are still trying to figure out how to get it all in, but so far so good. PK has started bowling every other Thursday with his coworkers and they are playing against another company. So, much for them. I guess PK is a good bowler.

I am doing good. I have been keeping busy, but I have also become a Pampered Chef consultant. So far I have 2 home shows set up and 3 online parties. I just hope I can mange all of this. But, I love the products and a nice way to make a little extra money. Wish me luck :o)

Kade is doing great. He has a little mean streak in him, but that keeps us all on our toes. He is a jabber jaws so not like his brother at his age...Oh and I am sitting and Kai LOVES everything. Lord he says that about 10 times a day. Too cute.

Please keep my mother-in-law in your thoughts. She is on her way to Madagascar right now on a mission trip. We are all so proud of her, but please send her good thoughts. We will also get to see most of the Kuempel & Brondyke family this weekend for our nieces confirmation. We are so very excited to see everyone.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/HartmanReserve09Preschool#

I hope everyone is staying healthy...Much love! EK

Little Things

Well, a lot but not a lot of things have happened since I posted last. A lot of football and a lot of fun. I guess 1st I should explain the pictures below. The bottom one is of the boys watching SpongeBob, but it was too cute how they are sitting close, but not touching and their blonde hair just cracks me up. The next one up is the day of the Iowa vs. Penn St. game. Well, UNI played 1st, so we were in UNI gear and we found an old shirt of Kade's and couldn't find the newer one, so I had to take a pic of the belly shirt. The next one up is...oh this is just way too funny. Kade will still sometimes sleep with his tag blanket. I had to take a pic of him with this certain tag....when he was bitty he would find this in the dark...we would feel each tag and pick this certain one out. Just way too funny! Then the top 2 pictures. I bought the Monsters vs. Alien DVD yesterday and decided we would sit downstairs and have a picnic and watch the movie. They loved it. Little things will make little people so happy.

Man, that is about all the excitement in our lives. I am telling you we are so boring. Kai is still loving preschool and it is so amazing on how he talks so much more. I love that he is trying to tell us about things that happens in his day. It takes us a bit to figure it out, but we finally figure it out. Kade is doing great he is talking up a storm and counting....but he always forgets the number 4...I always ask what he has against the number. Oh well. He will get it.

PK have already been to 2 IA games and plan on going to a couple of more. We have wonderful friends and family that always seem to help us out when we need a get away.

Well, it is about time to brush teeth and get to bed. Kai will be in school tomorrow. I hope this finds everyone happy and healthy. Much love! Kuempel Clan :o)

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/MovieNight09#

Iowa Football and Backyard Apples

Well, Kai has finished his 2nd week of preschool & so far all seems good. He loves to go to school and the teachers keep telling me they are in love with his smile. I talked to the lady that was in charge and she says that he is participating and interacts with all the kids. So, I am very happy that he is doing so good.

Kade is understanding more that Kai is going to school and he can't go yet, but I make it a point when I go pick Kai up from daycare and then drop him off...Deb knows I am coming and Kade is nowhere in sight. They are partners in crime, but I don't think that is a bad thing just yet.

We went to our 1st Iowa football game and it was against UNI. It was a hard pick on who to root for, but I am a true Iowa fan, but I am so happy that UNI came and gave it their all and really gave Iowa a run for their money. This weekend is Iowa vs. Iowa State. Come on HAWKS!!!! We will be heading next door to watch the game with our neighbors. I need to head out today to find a hawks flag and get some new gear for the boys.

So, the backyard apples. We have an apple tree and PK decided to try one and they taste really good. So, the boys were going to town on them. They are so funny. We were at the wing ding last night and I think those boys ran 10 miles. They really never stop, but it is so funny how I got asked all night if the blondes were mine...and yep they sure are....oh and they are big flirts. They had a group of 6 collage girls eating out of their hands. Man, I am in for a real treat when they get older.

I hope everyone enjoys their weekends. Love to you all!

EK, PK and the blondes!

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/BackyardApples09#

Kade Surviving Without Kai...Barely

So, today was the 1st day that Kade and I dropped off Kai...which means Kai got to go to school and Kade got to hang out with Mom...I guess I am not as fun as I thought. 1st thing once we told Kai this morning that he was going to school he got on his shoes and got in the truck. Thank god our house alarms beeps when someone leaves the door. I went to the garage and there Kai is...crazy bed hair, shoes, underwear and his long sleeve shirt he slept in. He wasn't happy when I pulled him out and tried to explain we had an hour and a half until school.

When it was finally time to go....we got in the car and went to school. We were in line waiting to drop Kai off, so I got him unhooked from his car seat and his teacher arrived at the car door and I was like....is that your teacher and Kai got so excited and went right with her. But then Kadewas trying to undo his car seat straps and was like I go to skool mom I go to skool. As I pulled away Kade is BAWLING!!!! and I mean bawling NO KAI...NO KAI...NO KAI. Lord have mercy.

So, I finally got him calmed down and we ran errands and got Bob P books AKA Sponge Bob. Now for the last hour I have hear Kai skool Mom...Kai skool Mom, so I think when we pick Kai up from school Kade is going to be happy.

Much Love from one tired Mama!!!!

Preschool Part 2

Well, I got to pick up my baby Kai from Preschool. It is so funny. We have signs in our cars to know which child belongs to us. Then the teacher walks them out. I love it! He was so happy to see me and the teacher said it was a good day. And we will be back on Thursday. All I can say it is going to be a long running around school year, but I am so excited. I took him back to Deb's and I had to go in and take pictures on how Kade reacted on Kai finally coming back. He was excited. It will be interesting next year because Kade is so excited to go to school.

Well, Thanks for letting me share my 1st day of preschool as a mom :O).

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/KaiS1stDayOfPreschoolSep109?authkey=Gv1sRgCKe-1-Gw3JOqIA#

1st Day of Preschool Part 1

Well, we made into the school with no tears. I am very proud of him. I walked him up and he was good. I didn't cry and neither did he until the little boy in front of him started crying then he looked at me like oh crap. Thank God the teacher took his hand and said lets go get Kai something to play with.

I will let you know how it goes picking him up. My Land!!!! my baby is in preschool.

Love to all! EK

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/KaiS1stDayOfPreschoolSep109?authkey=Gv1sRgCKe-1-Gw3JOqIA#

Football Time!

I am not sure how anyone could not like football....but I LOVE IT! PK, the boys and I went to friends house this last Saturday to kick off the Football season. So fun to see all of our tailgate and football friends and even better to meet news ones. We will be going to IA city this coming Friday-Sunday for the Iowa vs. UNI game. Thanks to Grandmas that are helping us out. But, you know the boys will be over the moon to see you both.

Big news in the Kuempel house....Kai is starting preschool tomorrow. Yep. He will got Tuesday and Thursday from 9-11:30. We are very excited, but also nervous that he will cry or I will cry (I really don't plan on it). This will also be interesting since the boys will be split up. But this is so great because on Thursdays I don't normally work, so that means I will have one on one time with my little Kade. Which has never happened before. I have a feeling it is going to be a lot of where is Kai...where is Kai....where is Kai, but we will get him used to it. I promise to take pictures and let you all know how it turns out.

Nothing much else is going on. Kai and Kade have more energy then we know what to do with. The people's house that we stayed at on Saturday their little guy will be 3 in February and his demeanor is so laid back compared to the boys. I could take Dylan home and have a calm day. But I also like the excitement that the boys bring to my life.

I hope this finds everyone happy and healthy. Much love! EK

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/BoysNakedPool09?authkey=Gv1sRgCJm-yIHD_MD6_QE#

Good Friends

Ok....Here are a couple of pics. I accidentaly deleted the blog that I typed. It was a full book. I am tired for the night, so I will be back to post the blog. Just a quick look at the boys. This is from 2 Sundays ago. We had the neighbors over and we played in the pool all day. A lot of fun and so glad to have great neighbors.

Kai will be done with swim lessons tomorrow and I am very proud of him about hanging to finish them out. We had a couple of rough days, but it was cold and he doesn't have too much fat on him. I can vouch from him since I have to get in the pool with him every lesson, but we have had a lot of fun one on one time.

We have gotten to go to the pool more and Kade is going to be a fish in no time. He has no fear so I need to stick close to him. I hope next summer will be more like swimming weather...we will be getting season passes.

PK is busy at work and he just had his annual Fork and Keyboard tournament, so the wives and their kids got to spend the day with us while everyone was golfing. IA football season will be starting so we will get to spend more time with them, so I can't wait GO HAWKS!

Well, the boys are in bed...I am so tired from a long day at work. PK just got back from walking Kdog. I am going to head in for the night.

Love to you all!

EK

Swimming

Well, life never seems to slow down in our house. It feels like it is nonstop, but that is such a nice thing to have. We are truly blessed to have our family, house, jobs and epically our health. The boys are active as ever and I really don't think they ever run out of energy. It is harder and harder to keep up with them, but we try our best.

Big event in our family. My mom got remarried. There was a nice small wedding and a fun reception. All we want is both my parents to be happy. The kids had a fun time and ran around like crazy. We got to hang out with Andrea and her family. It is always nice when the boys get to play together.

Well, from the title you can see something with swimming is involved. Kai started swimming lessons. I think I either started him too late or in an advanced class. The 1st day didn't go well at all, but then today went really good. It is hard for me to see since I have swam forever, but I have to remember he is 3 and a 1/2. We will catch on and all I want is for him to have fun and today he did and he really learned a lot. The worst is Kai has so many scarps and bruises, so I really hope everyone knows he plays hard!

Well, I moved into my new office and it is going well, but I need to decorate more, but I LOVE having my own space. PK is still busy and coming up he will have is work golf outing, so that means I get to see my dear friends from North Liberty and Marion and best of all.....the boys will all play together. Maybe water park that day?

I hope this finds you all happy and healthy.

New Exciting Things

Since I haven't written in awhile some things have changed in our house. My baby got baptized and he turned 2! Ok can't get over that he is 2!!! We had a wonderful day. I am truly grateful for the Brondykes and Tom for getting up so early to be a part of Kade's day. Scott and Diane are Kade's godparents and we are so very thankful to them for taking on the role. Kade had a wonderful birthday with a Lighting McQueen cake and also hanging out with his cousins.

The boys are great. Kade is starting to throw tantrums, but what can you do he is 2. Kai is talking more clearly and we catch him counting and start counting with him. He is so smart :) Kai is also getting good at hitting a ball. And Kade is good about shooting hoops. Bedtimes are still a pain, but I really hope that will get better soon.

PK is still busy at work and now I need to find some house projects to start him on. I have some great news. I will be moving into a new office space. I am very excited I have tripled my space and I will be working all by myself. So very excited. I am painting and getting a wall built. My good friend & her mom are coming up on Friday to help me decorate....well, you can say just decorate. I am so bad at it, so I really need their help. I will post pictures when it is all said and done. I hope everyone had a great 4th!

Much love!

EK, Koda and the Boys!

Since I haven't written in awhile some things have changed in our house. My baby got baptized and he turned 2! Ok can't get over that he is 2!!! We had a wonderful day. I am truly grateful for the Brondykes and Tom for getting up so early to be a part of Kade's day. Scott and Diane are Kade's godparents and we are so very thankful to them for taking on the role. Kade had a wonderful birthday with a Lighting McQueen cake and also hanging out with his cousins.

The

Slacker Again

Well, I am back and I will do better this time around. Well, I say that, but you know I will slack again. At least I am trying. Well, The weather hasn't been the greatest, but right now I am sitting on our deck under our deck sail typing this up. You know it is bad when PK asks how the blog is coming. Lord...I'm trying.

I am trying to think about what is new in the Kuempel house. Really nothing much. The boys are getting crazy big and our baby will be 2 at the end of the month. Man, does time fly or what. I guess I will start off with Kade. He is talking up a storm and he has to do everything Kai does. So, that is always interesting. No potty training yet, but we will start here soon. He always wants to go on the potty because Kai and the other daycare kids can do it, so I hope it will be an easy thing. He is talking so much and I think his favorite words are truck and mine. He is also amazing with a soccer ball. I can't wait to see if this will be a sport he will like. So much fun watching your kids grow and the new things they find and do.

Kai....well, he is going to be a giant I have decided. He is so tall....he is going to catch me in no time at the rate he is growing. A girl next door kept saying that is was like we just pulled our kids off the beach somewhere with their blonde hair. Too funny! Kai is doing great with potty training...almost no accidents. He is talking more and being a pistol at the same time. He loves to talk back and say shhhh, so that means Kade does the same thing. Oh well....they are little boys. We all pray they grow out of it. We have also learned that we have to buy everything the same because they always want what the other one has. I am not sure if that will ever stop.

PK is busier then ever, but has to take some vacation days before the month is out, so I hope he will be doing some painting and maybe getting a deck built or something.

I am doing good. Busy with work and the kids. Nothing much new with that.

Please keep the Meyer/Atherton/Sutton family in your prayers. My friend Carrie and her family was in the boat that exploded in Florida Mother's day weekend. Carrie just got released from the hospital, but the rest of the family is still there. This has made me realize that I need to remember to keep in touch with friends and family life is too short.

Here are some pictures of the boys.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/Sprinkler09?authkey=Gv1sRgCPCxx_2nmYK5iwE#

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/KadeRain09#

Truly Blessed

Happy Friday to one and all!  I hope your day is treating your great.  I know mine is.  My best friend is heading off to Vegas with her mom, aunt & sister.  I am very jealous, but so happy that she is getting away.  Safe travels to them.

I have to brag about a great life that I live.  I might complain a lot, but I am truly blessed to only have to work 3 days and be with my boys the rest of the time.  We are currently enjoying the weather outside.  We ran errands this morning and got home in time for lunch...hot dogs and chips on the deck.  Blowing bubbles and playing in the sandbox.  As you know we will be having baths tonight to rid the dirt.  I was able to get all my flowers planted...I am very excited about that.  I am thinking about doing more tulips in the front.  They are just so pretty.  But, man the weeds are insane!

Nothing really new to update you on the kids.  Just a lot of outside play, a lot of scraps and bruises and the whole peeing outside bit.  That is a lot of fun to turn around and to see a full moon.  Oh well the life of a little boy who wants to pee in the grass.  Kade is talking up a storm, but the funny thing is he doesn't really say the full word just the beginning...oh well he is talking and we are trying to understand him.  Kai is talking a lot and we catch him counting...he is our shy guy.  We will be signing him up for preschool this fall.  So exciting and man does time goes by so fast!

Oh another great thing.  We got our kitchen cabinet up, our big tv hung downstairs and our entertainment center up.  Man, we are coming a long.  Now we need to get our bedroom stuff done.  Oh well....we are doing well for not being here all that long.  I will post pictures since some won't be here for awhile.

I hope all the moms have a wonderful day!  I might be able to call each and everyone of you but you are all good moms!

Much love!  Erica, Paul, Kai, Kade & Koda girl.

Thomas The Train

Well, I am typing to you on another rainy day in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  I so need to change the background of my blog to rain if I can find one.  I hope this finds everyone well.

Our fun news is we went to see Thomas the Train and friends live on stage last night.  I didn't really know what to expect, but I am so happy that we went.  Our first surprise was walking up the stairs to go into the Mcleod center (our UNI basketball area) our friend Katy yelled down at us.  Katy and her son Dylan were there and they live in Marion and one more crazy thing they are coming to our house on Saturday.  What are the odds?  Anyway...we got our tickets and we went into see the show.  The boys were just excited to see the sign.  Well, we settled in and the show started....It was so loud, so I kinda think Kai was freaked out.  He ended up sitting on my lap for the 1st part.  Yeah I love how you have to pay for 4 seats because you really only use 2 oh well.  So, we all loved the show.  It was about 1.5 hours long and they took an intermission 1/2 way through (with little kids you really don't need an intermission).  Finally Kai started to understand the whole thing and get used to it and really loved the show.  Oh Kade had a couple of moments where he wanted down, but he was so very tired.  All in all we are so happy we went.  What a fun experience.

Any plans for the weekend?  Well, we are hosting a Cinco De Mayo party for 2 other couples and there will be 2 other boys here.  We are very excited!  We are so lucky to have good friends and now be able to have more of them over at once.  Now if it were just nice out this Saturday.....that would be even better.  Our next goal is to get our garden started.  I need to buy the plants and I think my in-laws are going to come and help us with that, but I am growing a lot of weeds out there, so I at least know that something will grow.  I also need to plant some flowers and plants this year...lord have mercy....I have never done this before, so any advice would be helpful.  Well, PK needs to get up and off to work (long hours lately) and I need to get my boys up and moving.

more pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/ThomasTheTrainShow#

Much love to you all!

EK