A Perfect Fall Day

Many things about our trip to Lincoln to spend time with family were, shall we say less than perfect...

 

we couldn't go to Roca Pumpkin Patch because it was too cold...

my boys wouldn't nap...

Kristi gets a call from the doctor that confirms strept throat in all her kids...

Pete throws up...

Kristi doesn't get to run the race that she had been planning...

TJ comes down with strept...

I get a migraine...

Dominic splits his lip open, not once but twice...

 

But this...

 

this day was PERFECT.

 

 

The sun was shining, leaves were falling, and the kids got to run around and be kids.

 

 

It was the perfect ending to a not-so-perfect weekend.

 

Baby GIRL Kastl

Yes, you read that right...the word Girl...and Kastl...together...finally!

 

We are having a baby girl!  Isn't she beautiful!

 

Jarod and I went in for the ultrasound not knowing if we would find out.  In the waiting room he said to me that he didn't really care to know.  I, on the other hand, was leaning towards finding out.  It was too exciting knowing that in minutes I would be able to know a little bit more about this precious person that I was carrying inside me.  But to honor Jarod, I decided not to find out...that is until I was lying on the table and the ultrasound tech told us to turn away.  I looked at Jarod and he must have read the desire in my eyes because he said, "oh just go ahead and find out.  You know you want to!"

 

We were both unprepared for what she was about to show us.  When she said the word girl, we both were in disbelief.  I assumed we would keep having boys, like his mom did, and the rest of the Kastl women have done.  But God has blessed us with a little girl.  I'm a little nervous but at the same time excited.  What will a girl be like?  How will she change the dynamics of our family?  How will her  two older brothers treat her?  So many questions and so much to think about.  But for now I will relax and watch the beauty of God's plan unfold before our eyes.   

 

We are so excited to meet you baby girl and look forward to the blessings you will bring to our lives.

A Polka Dot Party

Dominic's 1st birthday party was held on the Krenk farm at our annual family camping trip.  It was the first weekend in October and of course was the coldest day of the fall.  But everyone braved the cold and came out to wish Dominic a happy birthday (all except Aunt Carla and cousin Corbyn.  He was just too little and not feeling well to be out in the cold.)

Here we are singing Happy Birthday to Dominic and you can see Andrew starting to tear up.  He got so sad that Dominic was getting all the attention!

I had so much fun with this cake.  It turned out just the way it was supposed to...a polka dot cake for a polka dot party!

 

Thank you everyone for humoring me and wearing the party hats that I spent hours making.  Oh the things we moms do for our children!

The kids had fun exploring around the farm, but it was so cold that the moms left with the kids around dusk and left the guys to brave the 20 degree weather all night long! 

 

Happy Birthday sweet Dominic.  You are loved!

Our Bathroom Project

For a long time Jarod and I have been talking about redoing our master bathroom.  So this summer we finally went ahead and did it.  After getting a quote for what it would cost to have it completely done for us, my wonderful DIY husband made a list of all the things that we could do ourselves.  The biggest on the list was tiling the whole shower and bathroom floor.  He assured me that he could do it, despite my reservations.  I kept saying at different points through the process, "You know, I'm fine with calling someone to do it for us".  But no, he persisted and did an awesome job!  I am so pleased with how everything turned out.  Our list of things we did ourselves included...

primed and painted the cabinets,

installed new lighting,

painted the walls,

tiled the shower and floor,

painted and installed new baseboard and trim,

 put a frame around the existing mirror...

I think that about covers it. 



 

We hired out all the demolition of the old bathroom, plumbing, new countertop, faucets, shower base and glass door.

 

Since we did so much of the work ourselves we saved a lot of money, but our construction lasted over two months!  We didn't realize how much needed to be done and all the steps that took forever.  And with Jarod working every other weekend we didn't have a lot of time to devote to it all at once.  But it's done now and I couldn't be happier.

Jarod did such a good job with the tiling.  If you come over he will point out all the imperfections that are noticeable to only him.  But he's just being modest.

 

I always forget to take a before picture...so here are some midway pictures.

The cabinets were an oak color.  You can see the old linoleum, cream walls, countertop and sinks.

Jarod got lots of help along the way from Andrew who always wants to be doing what dad is doing.