getting settled and having fun!

so i feel like we're getting settled here quicker than i thought we would, especially with two little guys running around!  when we had to settle in to our ankeny house, we had no children running around, granted i was super-pregnant and probably not moving very quickly, but we really could work as late/loud as we wanted to then... and this time, it's different -- not bad, just different.  :-)  i think both jake and i are understanding why homeowner's (especially those who have kids) have LISTS of things to do/improve... because not everything can be done right away, as much as we want them to!  so we're trying to get as much done while the sun is up, doing what we can while it's down, but enjoying our boys and life, as well!  

but something we discovered that needs to go on the top of the list -- make a few extra house keys so that we have one on ALL of our keychains.  we got back from church this morning to discover the van keys that we grabbed were our "spare set" and didn't have a house key attached... so the boys and i played in the back of the van (oh so fun!) while wonderman jake got into the house.  how you ask?  through the kitchen window, which is facing our backyard and high enough that we haven't worried about locking it -- but apparently we should, because it only took him about 5-6 minutes to crawl up onto the picnic table and hoist himself through the window!

jake wiggled through the bottom half of this window - sort of wish i had been
standing in the backyard to see this happen!  afraid my giggling would have been a
distraction and maybe a frustration though... so probably better i was playing in the van.  :-} 

don't have pics of our house to post yet - would like to get a few more things closer to done!  so here are quick shots of us "settling" in!  

The boys discovered a new hiding/hang-out place -- one of the kitchen cabinets.
and they both fit in there with the door closed, if you can imagine that!  

This is the grossest thing I've seen in a long time... not sure what it is...  but it
lives in our backyard and comes out usually in the afternoon. It's fat, gray and
waddles low to the ground. This guy is not cool and not welcome. :-(

We painted pumpkins yesterday!  Roman voted for painting rather than carving. Josiah painted one mini pumpkin and before we could stop him, had the brush in his mouth and a mouthful of red paint. (FYI, apple barrel paint is mainly water, so says Poison Control. Not to worry if your child gets a little in their mouth.)

Boys hanging out on the couch - this is what I get
when I ask them to look at me and say cheese. 

Me and the boys on the couch - more fun!

Roman enjoying a cookie treat courtesy of Great-Grandpa & Great-Grandma Wenger!
They were our surprise visitors this week.  Roman was excited about
 the puppies they had in the back of their van, but was sad when he
checked the back of our van to find no puppies.  Sorry, bud.  Someday... 

...and josiah enjoying his treat, too!