WOW.. It has been too long

Wow.. As I keep reading everyone else's blogs I realized that it has been ages since I have posted anything! Life is good at the Schreurs household. McKinley is in the 1st grade and is 7 years old and is loving school. She is doing a great job! Lexi is 5 and is attending one more year of pre-school. I can tell I made the right choice and she is loving it! And then there is Miss Avery.. My spitfire. She will be 3 on the 15th of this month.. She definitely keeps me going! I am still working at US Bank as a sales representative and Ryan is still self employed carpenter as well as many side jobs! He definitely keeps busy!

I think my last post was our new house. We moved in back in April, but now have made a lot of changes, we still have a lot to do; however progress is being made. We finally got our brick done and have front steps, so come by to check it out!

I thought I better post a few photos of the girls just to keep up! I hope everyone is doing well. Keep in touch!

The New House!!!!

I have promised everyone that I would get some photos out here of our house.. it is hard to take photos to truly show you what the house looks like.. but here are a few..

From the top down:

1) Avery's bedroom 2) Lexi's Bedroom 3) McKinley's Bedroom 4) Master Bath Vanity 5) Master Bath whirlpool 6) Master Bath shower w/ 1 of the 2 walk in closets 7) Master Bedroom (still hoping to get a bedroom set soon) 8) Guest Bath 9) Upstairs Living Room 10) Upstairs Dining Room 11) Kitchen 12)-14) These are photos of the office.

We still have a lot of small things to do.. When you ask Ryan the work seems never ending, but we are in and that is all that matters.. With time we'll get everything in order! Stop out and see us if you are in the area!

The Girls..

I said I would wait to send photos of the other two.. but since the last blog was mainly photos of Lexi, I couldn't keep the other two out.. Enjoy..

#1: Easter before Church
#2: The family photo at Easter
#3: Avery and Lexi
#4: McKinley and Lexi
#5: All 3.. Lexi, McKinley and Avery

So Much to Write About...

Sorry it has been so long since my last blog... Life with the Schreurs family has been very busy over the last month..
First.. April 15th.. We moved into our new house.. we love it; however it is a lot to get organized.. Thank goodness for my mom.. she has been here for the past couple of weeks trying to get us in shape! Can't wait for everyone to come see it!
On April 17th our family was saddened by the loss of our 4th child. I was 17 weeks along (2 days shy I guess) and went in for my normal Dr appt and we couldn't find a heartbeat. An ultrasound confirmed that we had lost the baby. What an emotional day for all of us. We keep telling ourselves that it happened for a reason.. which it is hard to except; however we know in our hearts that is the truth. We are very blessed with our 3 beautiful girls.. but will never forget our little angel. Since God has a plan for all of us, he will let us know if we will someday try for baby #4. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, prayers, cards, e-mails during this difficult time. We are blessed!
On April 23rd, I went with Lexi to the Circus.. What a beautiful day.. The photos are below..
Lexi's last day of pre-school was Thursday, April 30th.. She did such a great job singing at the concert.. A few photos below.. She thinks she is going to kindergarten next year, but with a June birthday we are going to have her go to pre-school one more year.. I know it won't hurt in the long run..

I will get photos of the other two girls shortly.. they are all growing up.. McKinley will be having her concert on Tuesday, May 5th (her dad's birthday) that will be fun to watch.. Avery is in the terrible two's.. but still wouldn't trade her for the world. McKinley is doing very well in kindergarten and she will have kindergarten graduation on May 29th.. it is so hard to believe I will have a first grader soon! Wow.. how time flies..

Starting April 18th.. we have had weddings every weekend.. our last one is May 16th.. (5 weekends in a row.. ) Then camping starts.. so I am sure as we get things settled in the house and camping starts, I will have more to blog...

I hope all is well with everyone!

Lambing 2009

The Schreurs girls with a baby lamb!
Grandpa and all of his helpers!

Brave Lexi!

Grandpa again.. they are waiting to follow in his footsteps!

Each year the grandkids come out to our place to have photos with grandpa and the baby lambs.. each year it seems we continue to add a new grandchild so the photos continue to get a little more difficult to get everyone looking at the same time! Grandpa truly enjoys having the grandkids out to help him.. and the kids love it too!

Update

Wow.. it has been over a month since I last blogged.. I am sorry about that. We have so many things going on right now..

House update:
We are getting so close. I had tons of friends and family help the week and weekend of the 14th and we got all the painting done.. thanks everyone.. My mom came for a few days and did some major cleaning in the new house as well as some fun decorating on the girls' walls, and this weekend we started tiling and my brother in law got most of the lights in and hung.. Wow..

Tiling should be done tomorrow night and then the grout.. So next will be baseboard, hanging doors, installing cabinets.. all before April 6th as that is when our carpet will be here...

I know the famous question is.. when do we get to move in.. I don't have an exact date, but truly hoping for the end of April first part of May.. but if we have to hold off just a little. that is ok as I know the end is in sight!

Work has been busy too.. The girls still loving school.. McKinley is almost finished with her kindergarten year and has done an excellent job.. Lexi is almost done with pre-school.. we had pre-school screening last week and she did very well; however we are thinking we'll still have her attend one more year of pre-school.. she is probably ready, but we want to make sure so she isn't struggling later in life.. And Avery.. she is in the terrible 2's.. one minute she melt's my heart and the next she is in timeout.. but I wouldn't change a thing.. And as most of you know.. we are now truly adjusting to the fact that we will be adding another little one to the family in September.. We are 13 weeks along so have a long road ahead, but the girls are very excited.. It will be an adjustment for all of us.. but God grants us what we can handle and we are very excited now for this little one to join our family!

Other then that.. Life is good at the Schreurs house.. I certainly hope all is well with everyone else.. hopefully soon I can get a few pictures posted of the accomplishments of the house.. soon I would love to have everyone stop by to see what I have waited for almost a year!
Take care everyone.. Spring is here.. let's hope we see it start to warm up and stay!

Eight Things Tag.....

Eight
8 Favorite TV Shows:
1) American Idol
2) The Bachelor
3) Brothers and Sisters
4) Desperate Housewives
5) Grey's Anatomy
6) Oprah
7) Private Practice
8) CSI Miami

8 Favorite Dishes:
1) Pizza
2) Cheesy potatoes
3) Mac and Cheese
4) Spaghetti
5) BBQ's
6) Mashed Potatoes w/ sour cream
7) Tacos
8) Chicken Philly

8 things that happened yesterday:
1) Slept in until 8:00
2) Went to Denny's with Jodi and Tory (Grand Forks)
3) Drove back from Grand Forks
4) Stopped at Herbergers in Watertown
5) Got to get hugs from my nephew Gavin when we returned
6) Got lots of hugs from my girls when we picked them up
7) Took a nap with the girls
8) Had supper and off to bed.. a relaxing Sunday!

8 things I look forward to:
1) Moving into our new house
2) Losing 10 lbs (after the baby I guess)
3) My birthday
4) SUMMER
5) Watching my girls grow up..
6) Seeing where my career leads me
7) Weekends..
8) A family trip next year

8 things I love about Winter:
1) Christmas
2) New Years
3) Being snowed in
4) The beauty of the snow on the trees
5) Cuddling with the girls while watching Sponge bob or Dora
6) Sledding or playing in the snow if not too cold
7) Ryan being home more then the summers
8) Warmth inside...

8 things on my wish list:
1) Praying that baby #4 is healthy (since this is such a shock)
2) Having a very happy and healthy family
3) That my girls grow up to be beautiful and successful ladies!
4) That I never lose touch with my friends.. they are the best
5) That I stay best friends with Ryan
6) That my house is finished SOON!
7) Not to win the lottery, but that my family is satisfied and comfortable
8) To continue to be who I am.. and thank God each and every day for the blessings I have!

That is about it.. Feel free to add to your 8 if you want! It truly makes you think!

Tagged... A New Game...

I've been tagged to play along with this game...
Here are the rules:
1) Go to your documents/pictures file on your computer
2) Go to your 6th file
3) Go to your 6th picture
4) Post and blog about it
5) Tag 6 people to do the same
6) Smile

Wow.. when Tif asked me to do this, I too was nervous at what I would find. I did realize that I need to clean out my files as the picture above is from Halloween of 2006 with Great Great Grandma Schreurs. She passed away this last year at the age of 104 (I think).. what a neat lady. Each year the girls would go to the Nursing home to have their photo.. This definitely brings back memories..
I will tag: Tammy, Kristen, Becky, Kitsie, Jina, and anyone else that wants to play along!

Late Post from Christmas...

Grandpa, Avery and one of the horses (Not sure which one)
Grandpa and the girls.. posing.. I think the horse wanted some attention!

The girls posing!

Grandpa and the girls.. They each got hat and mittens from Grandpa!
Wow.. thank goodness I got a new camera.. can you see all the water spots in these photos.. TERRIBLE! The girls truly enjoyed going to Iowa and getting to pet the horses. My dad has 4 palamino horses that all look a like, so that is why I couldn't tell you which one was which in the photos. It was nice to get down to Iowa for a few days over the Holidays!

My Girls...

Avery: 2
Lexi: 4

McKinley: 6

McKinley, Avery and Lexi

I just recently got a new camera, so it has been fun taking photos.. We just had bath night and we took a few photos of the girls.. It is amazing how big they are getting. It also amazes me at how different each of them look and their different personalities! They certainly keep me going each and everyday!

Awards Banquet in Arizona

Monday night.. All dressed up!
The Schreurs and Boerbooms on Tuesday night...

Holly Jo and Jamie...

The girls having a good time!

Ryan and I the last night in Arizona at our Awards Banquet!

Ryan trying the water slide out.. he needs help I think!

This was in the Omaha airport before our flight.. we had to have a pre-flight drink!

Ryan and I as well as the Boerbooms and Bednareks took off on Friday morning, the 16th to head to Arizona for our annual Awards Banquet for US Bank. We stayed at the Fairmont Princess Resort in Scottsdale.. It was beautiful.. Friday night we were able to spend sometime wih the Boerboom's relative and had a great meal.. (Thank you) After the meal, we drove back to Don and Cilla's condo.. wow what a nice place.. (Thanks Don and Cilla). On Saturday morning we had tee times at the Starfire Golf Course and golfed 18 holes.. It was a very nice course and a lot of fun! (I golfed a 53 and a 61.. which isn't bad considering July was probably the last time I got to golf) After golf we headed to our resort to meet up with the rest of the US Bank family and dealers. Saturday night was a welcome reception.. I stayed out too late that night.. Sunday was a complete free day.. I stayed by the pool the entire day.. No tan lines what so ever.. I was bummed. Monday and Tuesday I had meetings all day; however Ryan was able to have a lot of free time. Monday was a little shopping and then hanging by the pool..and then dinner and drinks that night. Tuesday Ryan met up with Patrick Brown (Daynica Drake's husband) and went golfing with Patrick's friend and two of Ryan's friends.. they certainly had a great time! We had our awards banquet on Tuesday night and more dinner and drinks as well. It was an early Wednesday morning, getting up at 4:45.. We arrived in Marshall around 4:30 that afternoon and it was a lot of fun to see the girls after 5 days.

(Thanks to my Mom, Jodi, Shawna, Darice, David and Diane for helping with the girls while we were gone as well as the house.. we are lucky to have such awesome people in our lives)

I forgot to mention that the weather was 79-80 all 5 days that we were there.. so it was REALLY hard to come back to Minnesota.. It is -8 today.. UGH..