Kellyn

Kellyn has many names around our house.  K (how Ryan and I refer to her in text messages and e-mails), Baby K, and "Kennan" as Aric likes to call her.  Kellyn is such a delight and adds so much to our family. 

She has a different demeanor than Aric.  Kellyn is more dramatic, definitely a girl through and through, and adores her older brother and daddy.  She likes to sing and dance, breaking out in both randomly when the mood strikes.  She can often be found wearing things on her head; Daddy's hats, blankets, towels, clothes, bowls and Tupperware from the kitchen, or anything else deemed worthy to go on her head.

 

She enjoys playing with baby dolls.  At daycare she will wait until the "real" baby is moved out of a bouncy chair or swing and use the vacated space for her baby doll.  At home she has claimed an infant seat I'm trying to get rid of as a suitable place for her baby doll.  Kellyn plays with it so much I am half thinking we should probably keep it.

We are grateful to have her in our family.  I am thankful that despite all of the complications I had with her during pregnancy, God blessed us with such a beautiful, healthy little girl.

The Kitchen Part 2

I've been working on the kitchen for the kids over the last couple of weeks.  It's almost done, which is good, since it will be ready in time for Christmas.  More importantly it will free up some of my time to sort, pack and get things ready for our upcoming move. 

My parents gave me this kitchen one year for Christmas.  I have many fond memories of this kitchen and some not so fond memories.  My parents love to tell the story of how I would dip my cups into the pitcher of tea in the fridge so I would have some real "food" to play with.  When they told me not to play with the tea, I switched over to sugar.  They soon discovered that and told me to stay out of the sugar.  I moved on to toothpaste.  At their wits end, since I was obeying them and just being extremely creative, they enacted their most memorable punishment on me.  They threw a blanket over my kitchen, tied a rope around it and turned it to face the wall for two weeks (at least I think it was two weeks).  I vividly remember the kitchen facing the wall, wrapped in a blanket and rope.  Needless to say, I quit playing with all food and non-food items and occupied myself with my plastic play food.  While I hope my kids don't try to play with food items or toothpaste, I do hope they make many enjoyable memories with the kitchen.

Here is a sneak peek at how my project is progressing.  I have a couple of finishing touches to complete and then it should be ready.

Self Destruct

When we were younger my brother, Rudy, loved to watch The Lion King. Every day after school he would insert the tape into the VCR and remain glued to the TV screen for the next 89 minutes. My brother, Ryan, and I were soon sick of watching the Lion King ad nauseum. Finally one day, Ryan, being quite devious, concocted a scheme to make the madness stop. He explained to Rudy that movies self destruct if they are watched 25 times. Rudy, horrified that the movie had already been viewed 24 times, never watched the tape again. Problem solved. (Actually I don't think any of us have watched The Lion King since.)

Fast forward to present day...

Aric received Toy Story 3 two weeks ago as a gift from Rudy. The other day my friend, Laura, was over for dinner. She was sitting at the table with Aric, who was watching Toy Story 3, yet again. At the scene where the toys are at the garbage dump facing their doom, Aric reached over to hold Laura's hand, just as the toys reached out to hold each other's hands. He then closed his eyes, mimicking the toys, and awaited their his impending doom.

That was the point when I realized Toy Story 3 needs to self-destruct.

Family Photos

This year I really wanted to have family photos taken of us but I was adamant about not having them taken in a portrait studio.  I wanted something fun and candid that captured our family just as we are.  While we don't always never coordinate our outfits, we do like to have fun with each other outside in our front yard.  I think my friend, Cristen, truly captured some fun, intimate moments of our family. 

The Kitchen Part 1

When I came back from visiting my parents I brought home everything including the kitchen sink.

I didn't take a great before photo of it (you'll have to excuse that adorable boy in the foreground), but I brought home the kitchen that I played with when I was little.  I have many fond memories of that kitchen and I am thankful that my parents saved it and carted it around with them all of these years.  (I'm sure they're happy to be rid of it and never have to move it again.)

I have been busy working on it to refinish it.  My goal is to have it done in time to give it to the kids for Christmas.  They played with it while at my parent's house and both enjoyed it.  Aric has seen it disassembled in the other room and has asked to play with it numerous times.

I'm pretty excited about it and hope the visions in my head match the finished project. I know that no matter how it turns out the kids will enjoy it just as much as I did.

Now and Then

A couple of days ago Kellyn decided to take on an entertainment center.  It was no contest.  The entertainment center definitely won.

Here's Aric at about the same age:

His was a little more spectacular looking.  He was playing outside and fell on the concrete.

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Aric and Kellyn are enjoying their new picnic table.  It's fun to see them sitting across from each other playing together.

It brings back memories of this:

I hope Aric and Kellyn make just as many wonderful memories with that table.

It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing

You might have noticed that this was up the other day and gone soon after.  I took this post down because of misunderstandings, feeling like I couldn't truly share what was on my heart.  Frankly, my blog isn't just about photos and funny stories about my kids.  Sometimes my vulnerabilities and pain will come through and that's how I want it.  I want to be real and truthful.  I don't have a journal, THIS is my journal. 

I didn't grieve for my brother when I should have and after burying my brother I'm walking around with my emotions on my sleeve.  I'll work through them and not keep them so close to the surface, but right now for awhile they will spill over sometimes. 

I thought this post was forever lost because I didn't save it.  After some searching, I relocated it.  It just goes to show that nothing is truly gone from the Internet.

Dear Ryan

What to say... everything and nothing. It's been seven months today. (I hate the 9th, by the way, but I would hate any day it happened on.) Seven months and I miss you terribly, my heart is broken and I can't put the pieces back together. I'm not sure they'll ever go back together fully.  I was talking with Mom about how life is different now and won't ever be the same again.  We agreed that it just means you really meant something to all of us and we wouldn't want it any other way

We just came back this week from a trip to visit Dad, Mom, and Uncle Rudy "Unca Grudy" (as Aric likes to call him). It was good to get away, good to see all of them and good to talk about you. Don't worry it was all good, nothing bad.

The hardest part of the trip was that we buried you. Dad and Mom picked a wonderful place in a forest. It was beautiful and peaceful and I really think you would've like it. It was hard that day. Walking up the path to the spot they picked for you, I wanted to grab your ashes and run back to the house and put them back on the shelf. It was hard to let go of the last tangible part of you. It was intimate and simple just as you would've wanted. Afterwards we toasted you, reminisced and went out to dinner where Unca Grudy proceeded to teach Aric that it is perfectly okay to throw peanut shells at people at the dinner table.

The kids have your picnic table now. They love it.  Thanks for giving that to them.  I think they'll enjoy it as much as you and I did.  Last night I set it up behind the couch.  I had to relocate it after I discovered Kellyn had climbed on top of the table onto the back of the sofa and was stuck.  You would've laughed.

We also have your Legos.  Someday when the kids are old enough to play with them we'll sort through the bin and make all sorts of amazing things and talk about their Uncle Ryan.  I wish they could have grown up knowing you instead of knowing about you.

Dad and Mom gave me a gnome.  It was supposed to be my Elf on a Shelf, but I think it's just going to be my Gnome in our Home.  Because of you, we all have gnomes.  I guess you were correct in declaring they were invading, because they sure seem to be invading our homes.

I miss you more than you know.  I hope you knew how much you are loved.  Kiss my babies, tell them I love them and keep building those sandcastles in the clouds.

Tow Head Love

Lately one of Aric's favorite toys has been Mr Potato Head or "tow head".  Aric can usually be found with one and oftentimes wants to take one to bed with him at night.

Carefully arranging them.

Watching his new favorite movie with his "tow heads".  (I feel I must explain his crazy stance.  As I was taking the photo, Kellyn fell (not seen because she's below the coffee table).  Aric jumped and yelled out "oh no, Kennan fall.")

Kellyn trying to touch Aric's "tow heads".  Upon discovering this Aric yelled "oh no, Kennan touch my tow heads!"

Saving his "tow heads" from Kellyn.

Explore

We took the kids to a children's museum today.  I'm still not sure it if was worth the admission price, but they both had a good time there.

This was the first thing they made a bee-line for.  Kellyn actually screamed when I took her off of it and tried to run back several times.

Kids and water ALWAYS mix.

It was kind of neat that they could sit on the horse, though, neither one of them wanted to sit for very long.

Exploring in the cave.

This was another water table.  Aric enjoyed sending houses down river.

We played here quite awhile until enough other kids came along that we needed to move on ourselves.

Our next stop was the bubble room.  Aric liked shaking the bubble wand everywhere and basically just making a huge mess.

This was Kellyn's favorite place in the bubble room and possibly the entire museum.

Daddy making a big bubble around Aric.

Watching marbles spin round and round.

Aric enjoyed sitting in the cockpit and Kellyn was moon walking.

Or just trying to figure out how to get out of a moon crater.

Aric can recognize and name a triceratops.  The rest of them are just "dinosaurs".

The view out of an adobe hut.

Aric finally discovering the moonwalk.