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We finally went out and bought a new mattress on Wednesday. I was joking with Chris because when my back was so bad a year ago, we had talked about getting a new mattress. We even went shopping for mattresses, the day after Thanksgiving last year, but we (meaning Chris) were not ready to spend the money and we (meaning Chris) didn't really find anything we liked. So instead of settling for something we weren't 100% sure of, we just let it go. That is until Chris' back is so out of whack, that we had to rush right out and buy a new mattress.


I'm not complaining, we really did need a new mattress and it's just funny how it worked out. When Chris' Aunt Beth was here in August, she was saying how much she loved their mattress. I called her and found out they had a Simmons Beautyrest. It turns out that that was the exact kind of mattress Chris has wanted to get. It has the pocketed coils and cuts down on feeling your bed buddy moving around.

I had the best sleep ever last night. It wasn't one of those get into bed and not wake up in the middle of the night sleeps (that never happens anymore). But I could roll over and have no pain. I got out of bed this morning and had absolutely no pain. It was awesome!!

I think Chris slept okay. His back is still sore but it's going to take more than one night to help his problems right now. He was up at 5 am this morning to head to Wilson Lake for Deer Camp. I didn't really wake up enough to ask him how he slept. But he was able to get his own socks on for the first time in a week and a half. He's making progress. He did say this evening when I talked to him on the phone, that he liked the bed but his back is still sore.

Well, it is late and I get my brand new bed all to myself tonight (with the exception of Oliver)!!!

Love, Amy

I Have My Internet Back!

Our DSL modem crashed last Wednesday night, therefore, I have not had internet for a week. I never knew how much I depended on the internet until I didn't have it. I pay all of our bills online, I do all of our banking online, we wanted to look at the online only sales for Lowes and Walmart on Thanksgiving Day and couldn't. Plus it is my only 2 hour retreat from laundry, cleaning, cooking, and taking care of Madi when she goes down for a nap. I admit it, I play on the computer almost everyday when Madi is asleep. I could get so much done around here, but I choose to relax. I am a computaholic.

Madi was supposed to have her 18 month checkup and shots on Monday morning. I didn't remember until 12:30, oops. So I immediately called the doctors office to reschedule. They take an hour and a half lunch everyday and close the office. I thought that was strange for a doctors office. Who gets an hour and a half for lunch, how nice. Her new appointment is for next Tuesday, so I will have all the new info on Madi then. It is exciting to see how much she has grown in the last three months. I am anxious to see what has changed because her last checkup she hadn't grown that much. Maybe it is because she is such a picky eater anymore. She is a good eater once I find something she will eat, which changes daily. She would eat hotdogs like crazy and then this week, she won't eat them anymore. Two meals now she has gathered them in her little fist and brings them to me. Green beans are the only vegetable, other than potatoes, that I can get her to eat. I had picked up a can of low or no sodium green beans at some time, I didn't think there would be much difference. Boy was I wrong. Since then, she doesn't want anything to do with green beans. She eats alot of fruit though. So at least she is getting some good foods.

Some of Madi's other new things going on right now...She finally broke through with that bothersome molar about two weeks ago but she is still drooling like crazy. She must be working on some more teeth, but I haven't seen any sign of any poking out in there. Not that she will let me feel in her mouth very well. She has a mouth full of teeth now and she has used them a couple of times. Last week we were playing and she runs away from Oliver and jumps into my arms. She then bit down into my shoulder. I pulled my sleeve up and she had torn through my skin with her two little front teeth and what made it worse is when I pulled her away from me it broke the skin even more. That hurt for two hours and it was right where the sleeve seam is and it was rubbing on it, quite painful.

She is also talking like crazy. You still can't understand what she is saying, but it is nonstop jabber all day. Her new thing is "no." Everything is no. I really don't think she knows what the meaning is. We were eating snack yesterday together and I said Madi do you want another bite of banana and she says no while she is coming at me with her mouth open. But it is cute when she seems to be thinking about it. I said Madi do want some milk. She stood there with her head cocked to one side and says, "Ummmmmmm, No." And she has the sweetest little voice. We are going to be in so much trouble when she does start talking. She also says, "Oh, whawasdat?" She loves airplanes and she heard one fly over the house and that's what she said. She also says cheeeeese. My camera comes out and she automatically says cheeeeese. Yesterday we were went to visit Great Grandma and Grandpa Helm, she was taking pictures and saying cheese with Betty's camera. It was so cute.

Not much to tell you about on the house. There has been no progress made on it for a week and a half. I am getting very frustrated. I vent to Chris but all that does is put added stress on him, so I am now trying to bite my tongue. I can say as of last Friday, we started framing and working on the house ourselves four weeks ago. We have made tremendous progress on the house in such a short period of time. But it is still very frustrating that the house looks the same as it did last Monday. I have stopped going out and looking at it, it doesn't help.

Chris hurt his back about two weeks ago, just did to much working at the house one weekend. But it hasn't been getting better, it has been getting worse. Wednesday he came home early and was in so much pain. He couldn't sit, couldn't stand, all he could do was lay down. We went to a "Chiropractor" that afternoon and that was a joke. This guy doesn't do adjustments. He puts you on machines that are supposed to do the same thing as a regular Chiropractor would do. We ended up leaving two hours later and Chris left feeling worse than when we went in. He was so excited for the long weekend, to really be able to get some work done on the house. And he ended up laying around all weekend. He didn't even get to go shopping with us the day after Thanksgiving (which he loves). But at least this way we didn't have to try and take Madi out. I think that would have been a disaster. He is slowly starting to feel better this week and is even talking about going out to deer camp Thursday and Friday. He was going to skip it this year, but he has the hunting-need-to-kill-a-deer-sleep-outside-in-the-freezing-cold-in-a-tent-with-five-other-men-spend-three-nights-butchering-meat itch. (That's the technical term.) He just can't give up all those fun times at deer camp.

Must get Madi up, she was up at 3:40 am so I let her sleep in a little. Probably a big mistake.
Love, Amy

My Thankful List

I was tagged by Laura Stiffler.

The rules:
Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
Share seven random and/or weird things about yourself.
Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
Let those people know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.

I am going to change the rules a bit. Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I thought I would share what I am thankful for. (Plus, I don't know seven bloggers)

1. I am thankful for my husband. He is a hard worker and great provider for our family. Without him we wouldn't have the things we do.

2. I am thankful for my daughter. She is the most important thing in my life. Everything we do is for her, with her in mind.

3. I am thankful for the chance to stay home with Madi. I have had the opportunity to watch her grow and change the last year and a half. Being home and able to experience these changes as they occur has been a blessing.

4. I am thankful for our parents. They have helped us in so many ways, especially these last two years. I can't imagine life without them.

5. I am thankful for our family. We have the best family ever. Everyone is always there for each other, for good and bad times, offering support. What a way to experience life when you get to share it with the people that mean the most to you.

6. I am thankful for everyone who has come to help us with the house. Everyone who has come out is giving up their weekends and time with their families to help us. It has been an awful big help having them there.

7. The most important person I am thankful for is God. Without God, I wouldn't have all these wonderful people to be thankful for. Sometimes the holidays can turn into what are we giving for presents, who are we giving presents to, and how are we going to divide spending time with everyone. But the real reason for the holidays is to celebrate Jesus' birthday. And I pray that I can keep that into perspective this holiday season.

Now all of my blog readers, TAG YOUR IT!! Leave a comment and let us know what you are thankful for.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!! And be careful shopping on Friday.
Love, Amy

Weekend Work

My to do list from last week was a bit ambitious after seeing what actually got done this weekend. All of the electrical work is complete. We had 4-5 electricians out this weekend helping get it done. The plumbing is half way done. All the tubs are set and vented and all the pvc piping has been run. We need to finish putting the supply lines, hot and cold water pipes, in the house. We had two plumbers out working this weekend. Chris will finish getting the rest of the plumbing done himself. Heating and air was not installed this weekend, but Chris was able to get all the duct work made and the holes cut in the floor for the vents this week. This week they also got the garage doors hung and the stairs going downstairs completed.

The outside of the house went very slow this weekend. The soffit and siding on the front side of the house is all that was completed this weekend. I don't know if it was because it was a new kind of material that they hadn't worked with before or the people we had outside just didn't know what they were doing so it took longer. But we were hoping to get the house weather tight this weekend. After today it is supposed to be bitter cold outside with chances of rain and snow.

This week's to do list (in this order):
1. Finish siding and soffit
2. Finish plumbing
3. Hang insulation

If we can get the outside done this week, they can then come inside and get insulation up and be able to start drywalling.






Water manifold, Electrical box, telephone and cable.



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Christmas is 36 days away. I had to look that stat up, I am not keeping track. But I knew Christmas was coming because of all the toy commercials on tv. I have seen some very strange toys for children being advertised.


This first toy has been around awhile, I think they may have had a version of it when I was younger, but still a little disturbing. This toy is the Baby Alive doll. Here is part of the description from the Hasbro web site: "the doll that “eats” and “poops” like a real baby!" The doll will even tell your child when she needs her diaper changed, “Uh-oh, I made a stinky!” I am sorry if anyone thinks this doll is fun for their own children. It is recommended for children 3 and older. A three year old still doesn't clean up after themselves, so why would a parent give their child a doll that they have to feed and then change it's diapers. And this doll is $50!!! I know this gives children imaginative, real life play. But whatever happened to just a regular doll and let kids make things up as they play.

The second new toy is the Rescue Pets: Train and Play Puppy. The description says, "He drinks water from his bottle, burps, then lifts his leg and wets." I saw this commercial and I thought this was the worst advertisment and toy ever. The dog actually lifts its leg and pees. AWFUL!

Have a great week!
Love, Amy

House Update

This last week we have made quite a progress on the house. The roof has been sheeted and shingled and is complete. The concrete guys came back out and capped the front porch. This weekend we finished sheeting the outside walls. We got the house wrapped. All the windows and doors have been installed, with the exception of the garage doors. And all the framing on the inside is now complete.

We had a little ordering mishap on the windows. The big front window and the window in the master bedroom were ordered at the wrong size. Which meant that our framing openings were not right. It could have been fixed, but not an easy fix. So, the window that was meant for the master fit in the opening in the livingroom. And they just had to brace the roof in the bedroom and cut a larger opening and install a larger header for the window that was supposed to be in the livingroom to go in the bedroom. I decided to just switch the two windows and only brace one time instead of having to brace in two places and cut two larger openings. It just made less work and I am actually really glad we switched the two. It looks great.

This week the to do list looks like this:
1. Heating and air installed.
2. Stairway downstairs installed.
3. Finish framing for garage doors.
4. Start on siding.
5. Install electrical.
6. Install plumbing.

That's an ambitious list, we'll see how much of it actually gets done this week. But it would be nice to at least get the utilities in. If we can get those three things done this week, we can get insulation in and start drywalling next week. So, that's the goal.

Last week Chris and I went and ordered the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. I am so excited to get those in. I just want to see them. I can't wait. But I have to, 5-6 weeks!! I guess that will be my Christmas present this year. They should be in the week before Christmas. Chris is going to make the countertops. Otherwise, it would be another 2-3 weeks after the cabinets are installed before getting the countertops. Chris made our countertops at our old house on Kansas and did an awesome job, so I know these are going to turn out just as nice. Chris also got all the plumbing fixtures ordered: toilets, master bath tub, faucets, piping and fittings.





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Madi went to her first football game Friday night. She had so much fun! We were going to just stand near the endzone and watch and let her run around. But she started walking up to the stands so we thought we would try sitting with some friends of ours. She did great! We sat in the parents section, so you can only imagine how loud it was. Madi joined right in with the rest of them. She was yelling and cheering and clapping. One of the moms gave her a towel that they wave. So she would wave her towel and cheer with her hands. It was alot of fun. We got there right at half time, which was probably perfect, she didn't have to sit through the whole game. The Mustang's won and will be playing in Wichita on Friday for Sub-state. Go Jordan!!!

Have a great week!
Love, Amy

Family Update...Finally!

Madilyn does not stop. That girl is a ball of energy and I can't keep up. She is constantly moving and talking. I have to schedule our outings according to how much time she has had to play and run or the trip out of the house will be a disaster. What is nice now, I can load her up and we can go out to the new house and she can run all she wants. I don't have to worry about the street, I don't really need to bring any toys because she occupies herself with sand or the neighbors dogs or any tool that is lying around. But she is the funnest person to be around...most days!

She has been working on her fourth molar for the last two weeks. It will just poke through and then go back down. I wish it would just come in and be over with. She can be a little grumpy and whinny, especially when things aren't going her way. But I know this will pass as soon as that tooth comes in...we battled this a couple months ago with one of the other molars.

Madi jabbers all day long. Most of it is her own language and I wish I knew what she is saying because she can go into a rather lengthy conversation. Every so often you'll hear a mommy or daddy in her ramblings. The other night she got into trouble and she started jabbering (whining) to Chris and it sounded like she was saying "Mommy meany, Mommy meany." Chris and I laughed so hard, it was so funny. Some of her words include:
1. Olie (Oliver, our dog)
2. Macky (all trucks are Macky, from her favorite movie "Cars")
3. Snacky
4. Peas (Please)
5. Ank you (Thank you, or it will be sing-song of jabber that sounds like thank you)
6. Trator or Daddy trator (because Chris has a tractor)
7. Weady (Ready, when she wants to do something)
8. Minky (Binky, she calls out to it if she can't find it)
9. Mickey (Mouse)
10. "Oh, I see" and points to whatever.
She also says cracker, wee, wow, baby, Eddie (her stuffed animal), ball, duck, and she says the sounds of quite a few animals and things especially when she sees them.

I started this post before she got up this morning, since then she can now open doors. She shut our bedroom door while we were getting ready this morning and she went over and opened it, like she knew what she was doing. I then shut it behind her and she opened it and grinned and laughed at us when she came in the bedroom. She is also mocking everything we do and say. This is gross, but funny. Chris got up and cleared his throat and she did the same thing, then he spit and she stood there and made a spitting sound and then laughed, she is such a ham. We really have to watch what we say and do around her now!

I got Madi a potty chair two weeks ago. She doesn't use it yet, but she has learned to sit on it right and she knows to sit on it when we go into the bathroom. The reason I got it is because she has been telling me yucky and then she will pull on her diaper. I have been changing her everytime she does this so she will continue to tell me when she needs her pants changed. But I thought if we have it and she can get used to it, maybe she will have an easy potty training experience. (I can only hope!)

There is so much that changes with her and she just amazes us sometimes. I am so happy that I am able to stay home with her and get to experience these things with her. It truly has been a blessing to be able to do this, and I wouldn't want to do it any other way. I am looking forward to being in our new house and having more kids some day and really living life differently out there. I can't wait!!

Chris has been working like a mad man lately. Between his work and working out at the house, he has had no down time. The only plus right now is that it is getting dark so early and he doesn't have lights wired in the house yet, so he is able to come home at a decent time and have supper and spend time with Madi.

Dan is doing great after his open heart surgery. Tuesday the doctor released him to all restrictions!!! He is losing weight really well and his chest is firm and healed around the scar. The doctor was really impressed at his progress. He even said he could go deer hunting at the end of the month.

I better get busy, Chris wants me to go work at the house today. I will post an update on our progress from this weekend. We are supposed to have a bunch of people out helping this weekend again. Hopefully we can have it weather sealed before the rain forecasted on Monday!!

Love, Amy

"It Looks Like a House"

Everyday we have been working on the house, someone says "It's starting to look like a house." We can now finally say, "It looks like a house!"

Saturday was spent finishing the outside framing on the garage and sheeting the outside walls. It was nice once they got the sheeting done. It was a little windy and chilly Saturday, made for a nice wind break.

Sunday morning was spent finishing the framing on the walls inside. After lunch, we started setting the roof trusses. At 12:30, we picked up the first truss and set the last truss at 6:30. We would have had just enough light if it hadn't been for the time change. But the last five trusses were set with floodlights and truck lights lit. And we had perfect weather to set the trusses. It was warm yesterday and just a breeze blowing. You can blame us for the 40 mph wind today. It's making up for yesterday!

Madi and I drove out this morning to get pictures of the roof done. I was so afraid to come over the hill and see roof trusses on the ground. But they held perfectly!

Thank you to everyone who has been out to help the last couple of weeks. Also thank you to our parents for helping watch Madi. It has been a huge weight lifted off me. Otherwise, I would not have been able to help. We still have a long way to go. And once the sheeting is down on the roof and windows and doors are installed, weather won't be so much of a factor.

Coming up:
1. Front porch concrete should be finished this week. (No more death hole!)
2. Complete sheeting on front porch.
3. Sheet the roof.
4. Install windows and doors.
Stay tuned for updates and pics. (And I should have a Madi post coming up soon!)

Love, Amy

Happy Halloween!!

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween. Madi did pretty good. She got scared a couple of times, seeing some pretty scary costumes. And she didn't really understand what we were doing, she just wanted suckers all night.

Madi was up too late last night and up too early this morning. She is a grump today and very whinny. (Back from my fourth break since starting this...Madi couldn't get a toy out of the toy box.) Little things like that send her into tears when she hasn't had enough sleep. Early nap time today.

More pics on the progress of the house. Chris and I were out the last two days helping Jon during the day. Yesterday, Bob and one of Chris' employees came out to help and we got a lot done. All the outside walls are up, except around the garage, and the bathroom, pantry, and hallway area behind the garage are framed. The next two nights they should be able to finish the rest of the interior walls. Saturday we will be ready to put the roof trusses up. It is going fast.

I need to get busy. Laundry has been piling up.
Love, Amy