Project "Backyard Playground"

Finally finished! Here it is in chronological order :)

And this is why we do it!

Now I gotta go play! :)

New Milestone!

Delilah started standing up on her own yesterday, without the help of furniture! She will take one to two steps at a time, but only if she knows she can make it to her destination. I think she can do it, she's just not comfortable enough yet to do it. She has got quite the personality on her though. She is very silly, she LOVES to sing and dance, and she could sit at the piano and play all day long. Anything involving music, and she's the happiest baby alive. She and Keegan play tag around the kitchen island, she makes a super silly face and just knows how funny she is. (This is my best attempt to catch the silly face on my camera phone - she snorts, squints her eyes, and bounces while making it - it's HILARIOUS!)

I can't believe she'll be one year old in a month and two days. It's just crazy how fast this year has flown by!

Our First House!

Sorry it took so long, and unfortunately this is only part of the house. The only rooms missing are Lila's room, the kids' bathroom, and the master bed and bath rooms. Enjoy!

Street view

Our garage is not connected to the house, but the roof is, so there is a covered walkway in the courtyard, which is behind the gate.

View from inside the courtyard looking at the gate

Courtyard - to the right is the garage and left is house.

View from the front door to the house

Family room

View from the front door

This is/will be our piano room (once we get it) but for now it's our "I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-that-yet-so-just-put-it-here" room

Front door/foyer and piano room

Kitchen! MAJOR upgrade from our last house. Double wall oven, an island, and about five times as much cabinet space!

Breakfast nook which we've made our dining room (the formal dining room is our piano room)

View from the foyer - the door next to the fridge is our laundry room and pantry :)

View from the foyer through the family room and into the hallway which connects the bedrooms

Opposite view

View from the master bedroom - the first cubby to the left is leading to the family room, kitchen, etc. and down the hall is the kids rooms and play room and kids bathroom

Keegan's room! Notice that drawing on the wall to the right? I said to Keegan "Now lets go show Daddy why you got into trouble today," expecting Jonas to discipline Keegan some more. Jonas walks in and says, "Wow, that actually looks kind of cool."

View from the window in Keegan's room - P.S. All of his furniture is the same furniture he has always had. I just painted it before we moved because we are doing his bedroom Lego themed! We still need to paint his walls and build his headboard (make out of Mega Blocks/Legos), but those primary colors are what we are sticking with :)

The door to the play room :)

Kid's play room - Hook 'em Horns!!

Back patio - attached to the family room

So that's the gist of it!! I will try to get the rest of the pics up soon. We are in the middle of renovating the backyard this weekend, putting a play ground up, so we'll be busy busy busy. :)

Father's Day Brought a Transformation!

Yesterday was Father's Day, and although Jonas had to work, big things were happening at the Schuster household. It's like Keegan woke up yesterday morning and decided that he was finally going to give up the diaper. He pee-peed nine times on the potty, and poo-pooed twice. He had only four accidents in his undies, one of which was outside (so does that really count?). He slept in a diaper last night but first thing this morning, took off his dry diaper and went pee pee on the potty and went straight for his big boy undies. He hasn't had an accident yet today (knock on wood), and we are VERY excited about this. I almost didn't want to post about it, fearing it would jinx all the progress he's made, but I just can't contain my excitement! I had been feeling really defeated, after several months of a dry diaper throughout the night (a sign of being ready for the big boy potty), and yesterday something just clicked with him. He loves to go on his big boy potty and I know he can tell how proud we are of him!

On the Father's Day note, I am so blessed to have Jonas in my life. He is a wonderful father to our children, I couldn't have picked anyone better! Also, I am blessed to have my own Dad, who has been there for me thick and thin, even when he didn't have to be. So - to all the wonderful men out there that stayed when they didn't have to and did and do support their loved ones fully, I hope you all had a fantastic Father's Day!!!!

Happy Birthday Colton!!

Today my little brother Colton turns 20 years old!! He is no longer a teenager, and I bet he's excited about that and next years birthday. :) Wishing him all the best for his big birthday!!

Happy Birthday Paityn!!

Today is my little sister Paityn's 17th birthday. I can't believe that she is already a legal adult in the state of Georgia. I can remember when she used to cry every night until she was allowed to watch Pocahontas, and when she cut her own hair as a little girl. Now she's driving around town and cutting class. Geez! Happy birthday Paityn, we love you!!!

Busy Busy!

So as many of you know, Jonas and I purchased our first house! We moved in 10 days ago and are still trying to get settled. We LOVE the house, we LOVE the neighborhood, it's amazing! I have yet to find my camera, but as soon as I do, I'll post pictures! I believe we have four boxes left until we're completely moved in haha. Sorry I haven't had much time to post!

Kids Update: Keegan has yet to make progress on the potty training. He has gone potty one time (on the potty) since moving here. We've got to get the ball rolling otherwise he won't be able to start school with his classmates in August! Delilah now has six teeth, four across the top and the same two on the bottom that started it all! She is starting to let go of things after she is

standing but is still pretty wobbly, still a little ways away from walking. She has started her

baby talk though, a lot of "baba"s and "gaga"s, I'm starting to work with her on Dada and Mama!

Here are a couple mobile uploads for you - more to come hopefully by the end of this week!

P.S. E-mail me (samantha.schuster829@gmail.com) if you would like our new address!