Piggy Piggy

I have to admit I am guilty about spoiling our boys. I don't mean to do this, but man they are just so dang cute. They have been getting into having pennies or money right now, so PK said that we need to get piggy banks for them. I am like hey they have monkey ones at target for cheap. Well, I looked at them and they were small, so I was on a hunt to find another piggy bank for our boys and i found the cutest ones. I LOVE them. Kade got to pick which one he wanted since he just pooped in the potty (ok we have had some tough challenges with him and the pooping in the potty). So, he picked the baseball pig and Kai was happy with the football pig. How cute are they! I am going go to go broke feeding the pigs. Oh well that is why we aren't having more kids we will just spoil the crap out of these 2.

Highlights of the weekend. My mom's birthday was on Saturday....we got her a card and her favorite peeps. Lord that lady and her peeps. Grandpa and Grandma Kuempel came to see us today. So very exciting to see them. We had a low key dinner and just love time with them. We miss them so very much, but very thankful for them in our lives. Oh I think Grandpa went a little broke feeding the pigs too. So, everyone coming to the Kuempel house bring your change you will have happy little boys! Oh and the biggest highlight YEP....UNI beats Kansas putting us in the sweet sixteen. Man, those boys are on fire. Lets just say there was a lot of yelling and some crazy words said in our house. I called my sister and of course she was crying....you gotta know Andrea....love her to death, but this was a HUGE thing for Cedar Falls and all the Alumni out there...including PK and Andrea. I am just am born and raised in CF, so I guess that goes for something. Man, if we won this whole thing there might be riots on the hill....

I think that is about all the news I have right now. I hope this finds everyone happy and healthy. Much love from PK, EK, KPK and KEK...oh and Koda :o)

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/Mar212010#

Easter...whoa

I am looking at the pictures to the right of the blog and these pictures were taken last Easter of our family and then of the boys. I am so quoting PK and saying that time is going way too fast or can you believe that was a year ago. We have officially been in our house for a year. That is another big WHOA! We are so truly blessed to have an amazing family, house and good health. We can't be more thankful. The house thing is going good. We still need to decorate, but it is coming along slowly. I look back at our other house and just think...there is no way we could do that now. The boys have so much energy and being cooped up inside during bad weather doesn't help, but at least this house a ton more room to run and let me tell you...quote from Kade....I'm running in a circles mom. And the whole upstairs is the race track. And I truly think that PK and I are full time referees someone is either crying or whining or tattling. I know it will get better but lord can it be sooner rather then later. But all in all they always stick up for each other oh and their latest thing is sleeping in each other's bed. Well, they start that way and then one either leaves or we come in and move them because they are naughty. Kai is the funniest....I will come in and talk to them and Kai will say....I am sleeping with my Kade. Lord it is never a dull moment.

We are all so excited for spring....grilling, picnics, park and swimming. I hope to spend as much time outside as we can. I need to start looking for outside toys and a picnic table. I know bubbles are the #1 toy, but they can be messy since the boys love to spill them everywhere. All I can say is poor PK....this drives him insane.

I am going to post this quick because another couple of weeks have gone by and I have more information and more pics. Sorry I am so far behind. Love to you all!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/March52010#

Time....

Man, time flies. I love that the boys are getting older and bigger, but then I am so sad that it is going by too fast. Oh well, life is life right, so we just have to make the best of everyday and do the most we can. I can't say enough how happy I am I get to be home with the boys on Thursday and Fridays. Yep they are trying some times, but I get to laugh and smile at to precious lives that PK and I have created. What could be better? Their personalities are changing everyday and it is so fun to watch. Trust me there are battles but we can get through anything.....i guess laughing all the way right :o) I know my mom smiles because I know my sister and I put her through the same things. As I have said before pay backs aren't always fun. I have found out that Kade has my temper to the T. Lord he is going to be a tough one...trust me Kai is no bed of roses.

Ok onto the highlights that have happened in our very boring lives. Well, the weather still sucks, so we haven't done a lot outside. We are so looking forward to spring/summer. But thank god the boys seem to be playing better together and will go downstairs to play without mom or dad. Thank goodness for daycare and they at least get out of our house and gets to play with their friends. Another thing about daycare friends is now our boys are crazy about mickey mouse. It is so funny hearing Kade trying to sing some of the songs. I tell you that boy cracks me up.

Kai is doing great at school....when he does go. What I mean by that is with our crappy crazy weather we get a lot of late starts (which means no preschool) or school is cancelled, so I am very bummed when he doesn't get to go. He is telling us more and more what he is doing in school and he LOVEs his teachers. Way too cute. He tells us what snacks they had and of course if someone pushed him. He is counting to 15 and can say the whole alphabet. What a cute little man we have.

Now little man Kade. He is doing great with potty training. We hope to be out of diapers all together here soon. He is getting so big and very opinionated. Oh well that is life with a 21/2 year old. He is counting and saying his ABCs thanks to his big brother. Which is a huge blessing.

Kai is going through another growth spurt. He is eating about every 2 hours. 10 pieces of toast yesterday. Yep the boys ate a 1/2 of loaf of bread for breakfast. I might be in trouble in a couple of years. PK better keep working.

Well, I hope everyone is healthy and happy. I need to give a shout out to Tom Kuempel...Happy Birthday on the 4th. I know you were sick, but you are loved by all of us. I hope to post more often, but bear with me times gets busy with 2 jobs, a house, a husband, a dog and 2 crazy busy boys. I am not complaining trust me :o)

Love to you all! EK

Spring????

It is really sad that we consider a heatwave at 30 degrees! I have never wanted Spring so bad. I am so happy to be out of the negative digits. It was a trying time since we didn't leave the house much with the boys. Way too cold and I really hate bundling up the boys to go out. So, we stuck by home and either went to daycare or school.

Ok on to the boys. Same ole same ole here. Kai is still loving school and I had to register both him and Kade for next year. Time is really flying by. I know Kade will beside himself next year because he will get to go to school like Kai. Makes me so happy and so sad at the same time. Kai is learning a lot and talks all the time. We went the route this year of the learning games and man, we are going through batteries like no other. I am so happy that both of them are excited about learning. Kai is really catching on. He is still very shy, but I hope he will get over that. Oh and he is also going through a HUGE growth spurt and is going to eat me out of house and home. I think he eats every hour...oh and he isn't getting any bigger in the waist it is all leg. I am kinda scared to see how tall he is going to be. Oh Kai also celebrated his 4th birthday. We just had a small party at home for him, but we had a bigger one at Paul's aunt and uncles house. What a lot of fun to share milestones with your family.

Now onto baby Kade...who really isn't a baby anymore, but really still is our baby. He is growing and talking and really getting into potty training. Some days are way better then others. Thank goodness we have an awesome daycare lady and she is on a mission with him. I am like thank god! Nothing is really going on with Kade. He talks all the time and I mean all the time. I guess you all know where he gets that from :o) He is learning a lot for the educational toys and also from his big brother. But man can they fight at times. You get 2 of everything and they still fight over the 1 toy. Kade was a lot of fun(well, I should say both boys) this Christmas. They got into Santa coming, but Kai was made that Santa ate his cookies. Gotta love kids.

Nothing much going on with PK and me. We are keeping busy both with work and these 2 lil guys. Koda is great but she is ready for warmer weather and getting outside. I think we all are.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ekuempel/Christmas2009#

Much love!

EK and the boys.

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