I have no clue what I am doing...

Wanting to keep up with the Jones's, or in this case the Schoutens's and Naone's, I decided to start my own blog - I am sure it will serve only as my own personal source of amusement rather than anything substantive - but you can't blame me for trying! That being said, I guess we can start with what has to have been arguably the most amazing year, both good and bad! First, we closed on our new home. A week later we got married. Life was blissful and settling in when nearly everything was lost in "the fire" back in January. As if that wasn't hard enough on Katie, she found out her Dad was being stationed in Iraq a month later. After drawn out negotiations with the insurance company (which is my euphamism for hounding them relentlessly to do their jobs) we finally bgan to see a light at the end ofthe tunnel - construction finally beginning last month. Over the ensuing weeks I will start to post all the fabulous and frightening pictures up to the minute. We will also start posting stuff about the exciting goings on in Gilberts, Illinois and in our lives as a family. It can only get better in other words!!! We hope you enjoy.