Getting Closer ...

The house is moving along fast.  Since they haven't locked the doors yet we have been able to take Ava by a few times to walk around inside.  She is getting excited about the house and today when we went through she remembered which one was her room which she was very happy about.  We get our close date this week and it appears it will be right around the time we thought as Ryland continues to impress up with how fast they can put up a house!

Progress

Front of house

Back of house

Living Room

Piano Room

Well they are finally making progress on the house and are still on schedule for us to close the first part of August.  It is nice to finally "see" a product since we've been waiting a long time for them to start breaking ground.  Ava went by with me last week when just the foundation was in but she seemed excited to see the house which was a good sign.  She is done with her daycare now and Jon's sister Angie is watching her for the summer which is a huge help to my commute in the mornings and we appreciate it so much as we continue down this new journey!

House

We are finally moving forward with our house plans to build in Chanhassen, so we have finally told Ava the news and a few weeks back we took her to see the lot.  It was quite a muddy mess then and I'm sure after all this snow it won't look much better in the next couple of weeks.  The tentative dig date is May 14th but we will find out this week if plans have changed.  Stay tuned for updates!

Easter 2013

Found her basket!

Showing the loot :)

New Twins hat so she's just like Papa

Found the eggs with money at Aunt Mary's

BFF's

Cousins

 

We spent Easter in Northfield this year.  Ava had a blast looking for her basket at our new "home" and found it behind Mam's (Donna's) couch downstairs.  We also still had the ever popular egg hunt at Aunt Mary's this year after a delicious brunch.  Due to the wonderful Spring we've been having the eggs couldn't be hidden in the yard as usual but instead had to be lined up along the sidewalk so the kids wouldn't get wet.  Either way, Ava didn't mind as she found 2 eggs with money :)  Of course she had to feed her piggy when we got home!  And all the Pumper cousins were there which was extra special, the last picture was our best attempt and I think it turned out great!



Christmas 2012

Ava had "the best Christmas ever" - that's a direct quote.  We spent the holidays in St. Cloud this year and had a couple fun filled days of seeing family and of course opening presents.  Ava had to leave Santa a note at our house since we weren't going to be here to let him know she was at her Grandma's.  She was so worried that Santa wouldn't know where we were but Santa did bring her one gift to her Grandma's and left her a note letting Ava know her gifts were waiting for her at home.  Once she heard that she was ready to open more gifts on Christmas Day :)  I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked as I was watching Ava's eye light up with every gift and the pure magic in her eyes was all I could watch!  Love her to pieces!

Santa 2012

 

Happy Halloween

Duluth

 

 Audrey

 William watching the magician (his face was priceless)

 

Our best attempt at a group photo (these are always the best)



 

Ava's first face painting

 

 

 

Last weekend the Skaudis family invited us to meet them in Duluth to take a train ride to a secret pumpkin patch.  We were so excited to see them!  The train ride was a blast, secret pumpkin patch wasn't so secret :) but the kids had fun getting to pick out their very own pumpkin to take back with us on the train.  We had a delicious lunch with them at Blackwoods, where the moms were able to catch up and then we parted ways.  After lunch the fog had burned off and since Ava had never been down by the Lakewalk we ventured down as a family to see what mama loves the most about Duluth.  A big ship was even leaving the harbor while we were down there.  Love, love, love it up there!  Thanks for planning our visit Skaudis family! 

Weekend with the Skaudis Family

We spent a beautiful weekend up north with the Skaudis family.  They were so generous to open their house to us for a couple of days and let us relax and enjoy the lake and fed us VERY well.  As I always say, wish we lived closer so we could see each other more often!  The kids couldn't get along any better and it's always so good to catch up with my good, good friend Amanda.  Thanks again Amanda, Darin, William, Audrey & Nora!