Blizzard 2009!

Riley in the frontyard playing!

Shoveling and more shoveling!

3 hours later and I am really hating the snow and the cold, brrr....

All bundled up!

December has brought us snow and lots of it! We got at least 12inches if not more and then the wind started! It truly was a blizzard. They actually closed schools down for 2 days and then my work was closed for one of those days.

Movin' on! Our new place...

The kids bedroom, just need to add wall art!

It's amazing to have my own room again:)

One of my 2 1/2 bathrooms! This one is the main one on the upstairs floor.

Living room!

Kitchen! Cead Mile Falite...

It's been a month officially since the kids and I moved out on to our own. I have to tell you how exciting it has been and how lonely. WE had to establish our ne patterns all over again, like just the right time to get up in the morning and be out the door to go to daycare, school and work. The kids love there play room in the basement, and so do I since that is where all the toys live and I mean all of them. between 7:30p and 10p are my quite hours. And I enjoy them but miss having other adults around to vent or just discuss the day with. Also living on your own with 2 kids truly makes you grateful for any extra help you can get. Even though I confess to be super mommy alot, Parenting truly takes 2!

Dad's surgery-Triple Bypass!

Mom and Dad before Surgery.

Dad being prepped for Surgery!

Gotta love him!

They aren't nervous, well maybe a little:)

Trying to get some work done before the big surgery!

My dad has been having chest pain for the last couple of weeks and he went to the doctor and had some blood work done. The blood work came back elevated, so they had a chemical stress test ordered . That also didn't go so well. So on Wed, of last week Dad went in for an Angiogram. A couple hours later I recieved a frantic call from mom saying that they were taking dad by ambulance to another hospital in Des Moines that is considered the Heart Specialty hospital. We were then told that Dad would be undergoing a Triple Bypass. Which is a open heart surgery. Needless to say we were freaked out. My dad is 53. And this seemed way to much! On thursday he underwent the surgery, Dr. Pandhakar performed it. They harvested a vein from his right leg, left arm and used one from his chest. They then rerouted his arteries and closed him up. The surgeon said everything went very well. We then got moved to ICU. My mom wouldn't leave my dad's side and needed to sleep, so I stayed at night so she could go sleep in the waiting room, since they wouldn't let us sleep in the room with dad. For 2 days I ran on 2 hours of sleep. Now I remember why I don't work the night shift anymore. But I did get some major reading in:) Dad then got moved to Cardiac/Telementry unit and has steadily made progress. He will be coming home tomorrow. Yeah! I never want to go through that again. It's amazing how you look at life and the things that are the most important to you are relized when a person's mortality is at stake. I love my dad and am so glad that he is in my life!

Pumpkin Patch and the Corn Maze!

The hay ride, except it was dark!

This is the actual corn maze. It was awesome!

Saturday was a busy day for us, we also attended the Geisler Farm Pumpkin Patch with our ward singles group. The kids ran looking at pumlins or getting pulled in the wagon by "uncle Levi". We also did the corn maze that was incredibly hard. At one point Mckenzie and I got lost, she thought it was great fun, running around in the mud. Riley on the hand didn't like it so much once it got dark and he started to slip and slide in the mud. So "uncle" Levi carried him, until Riley got so scared and he peed on him. Levi took it very nicely, his girlfriend Nicole thought it was a great deterant, oops! We finally made it safely out, some a little drier than the rest. Hot Chocolate and Apple Cider was bought and then we went on the hay ride through the dark. Better watch out for those corndogs, they'll get ya! I'm pretty sure I have been banned form attending any more singles activites with my kids but we had a good time!

Disney LIVE!

Cinderella- I actually teared up when she sang the "the wish" song!

Buzz and I love these martians...

Tigger-bounce baby bounce!

Mickey Mobile-coolest car ever:)

Riley and his $8 drink!

Mckenzie or Tigger, could be the same!

Riley is saying, I'm #1!

Saturday the kids and I attended Disney LIVE! in Des Moines. The kids really enjoyed it. I was a little nervous about Mckenzie since we are in the "can't stand still" stage but she did pretty well. They really enjoyed the music and characters.

Home sweet home-our new place!

As of Nov 1st the kids and I will be on our own. We will be renting a 3 story-2 bedroom duplex in Huxley, which is only about 3 mins away from my parents. It has a pretty decent basement that is going to become the kids playroom. It also has a shower and the laundry room. Then is the main floor that is kitchen, living room and half bathroom. Upstairs contains the 2 bedrooms and full bathroom(tub only). It has a huge backyard and decent front yard. I am pretty excited that we get to take this on, if not feeling slightly insane. It will need some work, but I think it will nicely for the kids and I. I'm grateful I was able to stumble on it, because it allows Riley to stay in the same school district.

Bowling and Pool!

Stix-Pool!

Ankeny Lanes...

Last night I went out with my friend Jim, aka Jimmy to me! We went bowling, he used to be on a league and is actually a certified bowling coach. So he felt that it was his duty to help me out a little bit. My game is a little off! But by the 3rd game I was doing much better. I told him I was good on the Wii but I guess that doesn't count. He set the game up so I could achieve a 7/10 split, which is pretty much an impossible strike but I got it in! Of course I am leaving out that he went and stopped the game, went down the lane, and then proceeded to knock all the pins down except for the 7 and 10 spots. Then he set a bowling ball between them. I then took aim for the gutter with all my strength, which wasn't hard since the gutter and I are BFF's now. And presto I hit both pins! Yeah!!! I even got some cheers from the other people that were playing. Thanks Jim, a once in a life time expierence I'm sure. Then we headed out to play some pool. I got my mojo back pretty quick with that game. Smaller spaces are better for me. And cleaned the table at least once. All in all it was a fun night and I enjoyed myself. Friends are good to have!