Oh! Should I even write? It has been too long. We have finally moved to Las Cruces, NM and have had so many troubles with the sellers and different problems. Aargh! We are enjoying nice weather and the house though, and now just need our house in Minot to sell!

We had a lovely time in Utah while in route to NM. Thanks to Mom and Dad and other family! We had so much fun visiting. Now we are getting used to things here. It feels like a huge city compared to Minot. We love our pecan trees. Grace is talking more and more all the time, and we love to hear her excitedly call out "Pecan" every time she finds one. She loves eating them. We are not huge fans of the cockroaches however. They are so big and creepy!

Grace turned 2 a couple of days after we got here and Abel just turned 7. They are growing so fast. All the kids are loving to find fossils in the rock wall and Kimmy is growing and smiling more every day. She is a super baby! Ben is working for the NRO (basically spy satellites), and can't tell me about anything at work except that it is awesome! He is enjoying being there, even though the schedule is pretty tough.

We miss all our friends in Minot, but we won't miss the weather. We'll think of you Minotians often!

Here are a few random pictures.

Sweet sisters

Abel's birthday. Notice all the missing teeth.

Cute Kimmy




Sweet sisters again. Look closely and you'll see Kimmy under Grace's arm. We had a scare one day looking for Grace. I finally went in my room and saw a foot hanging out of Kimmy's bassinet. I then panicked for Kimmy's safety, but she was fine. Grace had gotten tired and just climbed in the bassinet with Kimmy and fallen asleep. It has happened several more times since, but we try to keep her out for Kimmy's sake. But it is great that Grace loves her sister.

Ah, brothers!

Our drive in New Mexico - a nice welcome from a double rainbow.

Ah, brothers again. Don't ask.

Benny and cousin Lily

Grace's birthday. Thanks aunt Tara for the cake!

Grace got a rocking horse for her birthday.

Fun with cousins

Benny and Kimmy. He loves her!

Sweet gal

Daddy and daughter

Pictures

To update, here's a few pictures which I have neglected putting here from over the summer. We were also very blessed this cold winter to have a warm visit from our dear friends, the Chandler's. William was baptized while they were here and it was wonderful. We are going to be selling our house soon and moving to Las Cruces, NM in April. And of course, here are some pictures of Kimmy, too. She is doing much better every day and will hopefully be coming home in the next few days! Now we just need Mama's blood pressure to go down. Thank you all for your prayers.

Come home soon, Kimmy!

Paper? Who needs paper?

Looks like trouble- Abel, with his friend, Eldon McKay

Got Snow? We'd love to share.

Pumpkin Patch

Are you supposed to be helping me to sleep daddy?


Utah trip-Yellowstone trip

This was on the child's menu!

On the water front

Dallin and Benny at the falls.

sweet.

Baby #7 arrived

Kimberly Vera Schlenske was born January 15 2010 at 1:32 AM. She weighed in at 8 # 2 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. She has had some breathing complications and remains in the hospital under good care. Pictures will be here soon.

Unveiling

It seems it is time to reveal the long hard work we have done on our home. There are still a few minor things that we need to do, but 99% is done and we are very pleased to present some before and after photos for your enjoyment. Interior pictures will come later because we still have some work to do on the inside.

Before:

And after...

Announcement

Well, today was the day the last piece of siding was put on our house! Woohoo! And the other announcement, for those of you who may not know, we are expecting baby number seven. Woohoo!!! This summer has been a whirlwind of work and activities. And we've been loving it. Since I last wrote, our house is finished with siding, as aforementioned, we planted a tree and many flowers and bushes, a big back deck was added, a patio added to the front and the upstairs bathroom completely gutted. Also, Little Benjamin Walker turned 3. I am going to hold off on putting any detailed pictures of our house on here, so as to enhance anticipation for the picture with all the details. We still have to add lights, doorbells and such and then we can take a final picture. But here are some fun pictures along the way.

Benny- happy on his birthday

Happy is the man with his power tools!

Happy is Grace, climbing and getting dirty

Happy are the boys playing t-ball

Happy are we, planting trees

Happy for a new deck!

Maybe excessively happy!?

Family is happiness