A Tirp To Iowa and Addition Updates

But first bragging time. Of course I made my stop at the Leonard motel to see the girls. Shelby has grown a ton in just a few weeks.
Here she is smiling at Daddy

And a touching family time reading books....

From Northern MN to Central Iowa. My cousin Shelly and her family live in Iowa and their daughter Krystin got married last weekend. Not that the wedding wasn't wonderful but the best part of the trip was spending the drive down and back (about 10 hours total) in the car with my Uncle Eddie who is my mom's brother. It was just he and I and I picked his brain the entire time. We talked about their lives as kids (they were poor as could be), about my Grandpa committing suicide (Ed and his brother found him) and just life in general. It was a great informative trip.
Here is the wedding party. Krystin was gorgeous and her husband Chad (who is behind her right arm) has been her best friend forever.

My cousin Jane and her husband Barry


And my cousins (two of Eddie's girls) Kim and Kari. Not to worry Sharon and Kelly, I wont post the pictures that I took of you guys...nice gal that I am.

One of the best moments of the night for me was to see the sincere affection that both Krystin and her brother Ryan have for their parents. They are not afraid to display that affection and it was touching to watch.

OK on to the addition. The upper walls are poured, the roof is on and the windows are in in the upper level. This past week's task was to pour the cement for the patio out back as well as color and stamp it.

Here Dan is spreading the color (he used three colors) on the still damp patio


He then uses a trowel to work the powder color into the cement
And getting ready to 'stamp' design into the cement. If you look closely you can see the color swirls.
We are using a random pattern (the basement floor is colored and stamped as well) however you can stamp cement in almost any imaginable pattern. For instance you can have it look as if it is layed brick or do a deck to look like wood planking. Yet another very interesting piece of this project.


Here it is from the back of the house. I love the retaining walls. They and the entire house will be stuccoed next spring.
Lookin nice from the side. Dear Mary notice that I have way less plants back here. They seem to have disappeared. Ah well I will just have to design new I guess.
We haven't yet opened up the wall between the existing house and the addition. We will be insulating the ceiling next week and will them be able to open it up. More as we go:)