Braggin' Time

What time is it?  Potty training time!!!

Yes, I am gong to brag.  It has only happened once.  But Kennedy gets it.  Kennedy is getting to about that age of potty training.  I was very anti about getting one of those little potty's for training.  I thought oh, she can just be a big girl and get on the big potty.  I didn't want her to be scared of the big potty when we went out to places, so before I would put her in the tub I would set her on the potty.  She didn't last long, but she was getting comfortable.  The weekend of the deer hunt, we did our nightly routine.  But this time while she was on the potty she reached for some toliet paper.  I gave it to her and she totally wiped.  She mimic the whole process.  I week or so went by,  and we all went to Wal-mart and we broke down and bought a potty.   I decided to brake down and by a potty because Kennedy is so small.  At the big potty her feet had probably 6 or more inches before she could touch the ground.  That being the case even astep stool would not help.  So the little potty.  Even when she sits on that one she still has two inches before her feet will tocuh the ground. 

Blake put it together and Kennedy tried it out.  She loved it.  She made me hand her some toliet paper and mimicking the motion but nothing in the potty.  The next morning nothing out of the ordinary, but I asked Blake to askeKennedy if she wanted to go on the potty.  And she did.  Blake took her in the bathroom and a few minutes later I hear ---- a Kristin, come here.  I went into the bathroom.  Blake was that from her last night.  I was like was what from last night?  Just then Kennedy stood up.  She went potty!!!  We were so excited.

It is amazing what makes  a parent happy.  It is the small things.  Needless to say, we are working with Kennedy to potty train. Nothing aggressive.  She on her own terms.  She is now starting to recognize that she has gone to the bathroom in her diaper and wants to be changed immediately.  Now we just need to her to tell us when she ready to go on the potty not after she has done it.  But slowly but surely.  I am crossing my fingers that she will be trained by 2.  But only time will tell.

I started writing this post back in the middle of November.  But since then Kennedy has gone on the potty 7 times #1 and once #2.  She has even gone several times at daycare.  I hope she continues to make progress. 



18 Months

Well Kennedy has hit 18 months old.  I can't say this enough, but man time sure flies.  OK I know you all are probably expecting pictures.  But they are coming.  I am on Blake's computer.  Mine is having a moment.  

I took Kennedy in for her 18 month appoint and all is very well.  She is growing but at Kennedy speed.  Her 18 month stats.

Height:  29 inches

(4% - and she has hit the charts again

finally. In between her 1 year appointment

and this 18 month appointment she has

gained 3 inches in height.  Which as you

know is a ton for Kennedy.)

Weight:  18 lbs.

(by the way dont fall off your chair. 

She is less than 1%.   As for weight she

still does not make the charts.  And since she

has not reached 20lbs.  She is still in her

infant seat.  HAHA)

I mention that she is still in her infant seat.  For those of you who don't know it is now recommended to keep you infant in their infant seat rear facing as long as possible.  Kennedy doesn't fight it, so I just leave her in it. And she does not meet the requirements to change.  But the other day I got thinking when she happened to fall asleep in her car seat that I have it pretty sweet still because - how many people still can carry their 18 month old in their car seat.  Most have already switched to their next car seat.  Nope not us. When she is asleep, we still have the convenience of just taking out the car seat.  I am getting used to taking her car sear every and this has been going on for 18 months now, her infant seat will be surely missed when we have to switch over to a bigger car seat.  

Cabin with the Stoker's

Okay, I know I know...but here comes all those blog entries that I should have been blogging about over the summer. 

First we headed to our cabin with Blake's family.  It was pretty fun.  We went up on a friday night and came home on a sunday.  Mark, Heidi, and Jet came up for the day on saturday.  Unfortunately, it wasn't the best weekend to be at the cabin.  It RAINED off and on the whole time.  But that is what makes all the trips to the cabin so fun.  They are usually very different.  

All the adult kid took the four wheelers for a ride to the top.  We raced off course.  That was one cold ride.  On the way back Ryan, Blake's oldest brother, thought it would be funny if we raced.  So I totally fell into his trap.  Hook-line-and-sinker.  As we raced, up a head there was a mud puddle that I did not see.  And he came into the puddle and got Blake and I muddy.  Well mostly Blake.  It was fun.  I tried to get him back but I just wasnt very good at hitting the puddle at the right time. 

Ryan & Liz

Liz

                     Heidi and Mark           Ryan and Liz

Later than night we played Minute to win it.  We had to roll three pieces of toliet paper up in towers all of different heights.  You had a minute to pick them all up.  Oh, by the way you had to do it with your mouth.  It was a bit tough, but way fun. 

Finally on sunday morning the boys convinced Robyn to ride a four wheeler by her self.  Jim and her headed out.  I think she had more fun than she would like to admit. 

Other random photos from the weekend.

Nephew Jordan 

 Niece Brooke

Ryan and Liz and Jim and Robyn borught their maltese dogs with them. 

Here is Payzlee patiently waiting for her raw hyde from one of

the maltese.

 Kaitlyn (niece), Robyn, & Kennedy

 Robyn having some zzz's

 Mark, Brooke, Katilyn, Jordan, & Ryan

Nephew Jet

Another one bites the Dust!

Which by the way is a great Queen's song. But any who, another year has gone by. In years past my birthday was all about me. But I have hit a milestone. (Not over the hill, but that is surely now fast approaching.) But birthdays are just another day. At least that is what Blake says. Blake and I combined our birthdays and Christmas this year to update the family room with a new tv and entertainment center. I have come to realize that life isn't all about me it is about those around you who you love and that love you. That is all one needs. Love!

I didn't do much today. Just went to work and then had the family over for cake and ice cream. Got some gift cards and money to put towards a new camera which is in the mail. Nohing fancy just a point and shoot. I don't have the patience to learn much more than that. They do take great pictures but for my use the point and shoot will do just great.
Oh did i mention the best gift of all. I woke up sick.

Again another one down another gone another bites the dust.

WE ARE ALIVE

Hello to all who read our blog.  Yes we are alive.  Often I wonder "were my parents this busy when they were my age?" Sometimes I feel it is almost like we hurry up to get somewhere to just hurry up and leave.  Rather than enjoy where we are at.  Do any of you feel like that on occassion? 

I have talked to several people and have asked them that same question "were our parents this busy when they were our age?"  And they say no our parents were not this busy. But when I get this discussion going the answer is usally the same of how did we get to the CrAZy busy we are.  And their responses are all about the same, is that we have done it to ourselves.   

I remember running here and there and everywhere when I was tumbling and Colton was playing 30 million sports.  But I don't remember going a million miles an hour all the time like I do now.  Which scares me.  Cause if I run this much now and Kennedy isn't in any activities yet, man I am really going to be pulling my hair out in a few years.  It just seem like yesterday when Kennedy was just born.  But now she is 16 months old.  And is such a cutie pie developing a great little personality.

Well you may ask what have we been upto over the summer.  Well we went camping lots.  Because it is relatively inexpensive.  We went to our cabin several times.  We even were able to get Blake's family up there.  We also went to Bear Lake.  And lastly we went with my parents with the horses and the trailer house.  Man,  I am cool camping in a tent.  But staying in the trailer with Kennedy is a whole heck of a lot easier.  The best part about camping for me is I finally got to ride my horse Chance.  He has had some feet problems over the last couple of years.  My dad finally found something to help.  He was a champ.  We rode him at the cabin and up by Henry's Fork.  We even got Kennedy on with me and she rode around with him.  

Blake also drew out on a limited entry archery elk tag this year.  He was pretty PUMPED.  I think that is all he thought about until the hunt started.  Well he was lucky and harvested a 6x6 bull elk.  It is pretty nice.  Let's just say nice enough to mount it.  So now I will have some new decor in my house in about 6-8 months from now.  YIPPEE!!!

But on a sad note at just last Sunday we had to put ole' Chance down.  I got the call from my dad last sunday morning that he though Chance was dying and I better come to say my good-byes.  Before my dad could finish what he was saying, I jumped out of bed, left Blake and Kennedy and headed down to my parents.  We don't know what was wrong.  He just couldn't get up.  We had the vet come out and checked him out.  But he couldn't explain it.  We think he may have had a stroke.  He was so calm and not in any pain.  He was 22 years old.  We thought he had a few more years in him. But when it is your time it is your time.  We had a group of 4 horses that were the best.  They didn't fight.  They just all got along so well.  Chance was the last of the 4.  So now they are all together running free.  But to look on the positive side my dad is already looking and getting another horse.  Which I hope works out.  And I was totally shocked.  Because after our last horse Star was put down, he said he wasn't going to replace another horse when the next one died.  But I guess things have changed.   It is amazing how attached one can become to an animal.  They are such a great part of a family.  I don't know what I would do with out them.  

I will have to post some pictures later of some of our trips and random pictures.  But I haven't even downloaded them to the computer.  So hopefully at the end of the week or even next sunday.  I have to keep you all insuspense until then. 

 

Look Who's One!

K - I am a little late in this post.  But i am finally getting to it.  I have found that it is much easier for me to blog about once a month. 

Last month our little cutie turned 1. 

It is amazing how fast time has gone this past year.  To look from where we have come to where we are, I thought I would have pulled my hair out by now.  Working full time, a mother full time, a wife full time, a housekeeper full time, and the list goes on.  But the best job I have is being a mother. 

Just over a year ago Blake and I were very blessed with Kennedy Jade.  She weighed 6 lbs 15 oz and 19 1/2 inches long and I can't forget her hair that was jet black and about an inch and a half long.  You always worry if you will be able to provide for them.  But she has not had a day go by that she went naked some where.  So that is a good thing.  She was always very well feed.  I nursed her till 5 weeks old and I had enough of that.  Plus she wasn't the best at it.  So I pumped for the next 8 months.  I produced so much milk, many in my family called me a cow.  Now Kennedy is turning 13 months and is still on breast milk.  I have so much milk in the freezer, I think she will be drinking it until she is 15-16 months old.  Maybe even a month longer.  Here is a picture of our freezer in March when I quit pumping.  Most people fill their freezer with food, such as beef, chicken, pork, and veggies, etc.  But not here at the Stoker household, it is milk. 

Kennedy has had many milestones this past year.  She began rolling over at 4 months, got her two bottom teeth and started crawling and pulling herself up at 7 months, but didn't officially crawl until 8 months.  She started taking a step here or there, but nothing consistent at 11 1/2 months and starting walking the week of her birthday.  She also had a top tooth break through.  And she now has the second top tooth and a side top tooth coming in as well.  She is progressing well.  The doctor was a little worried about her size at her 9 month appointment.  Because she only gained a pound and grew an inch.  But  for her 1 year appointment things were looking better. 

Her status:

Weight:  16 lbs. (less than 1%)

Height:  26.5 (less than 1%)

Head:  17 3/4 in (54%) 

She loves her Payzlee and going for rides on her.  She loves being flipped (YEAH for me, tumbling here she comes.) She loves to play with her Little People Farm, bang on the wall or anything she can hit that will make noise.   

A couple of days after her birthday we had a big party for her.  I went a little overboard, but how often does your baby turn 1.  Once!  Don't worry every party from here on out will not be this elaborate.  Too much work.  We had a lot of great people come.  But we were missing a few.  But they were definitely there in spirit.  One for sure wasn't there was Blake's grandpa Jack.  He had been in the hospital earlier that week.  But his grandma came up.  Which we really appreciated.  And we also appreciate Blake's aunt Shauna, because she was with grandpa Jack while Grandma Bev came to the party. 

Proud Daddy

Grandma Stoker

Margie, Al, Grandpa Stoker, Jeff (to the left)  (to the right)  Great Grandma Connie, Megan, and Garrett

  

up to the right the cooks, Blake and Kevin

To the left Bryce, Savannah, Saige, Whitney, and Brooke

All tuckered out from partyin'!

Blake got a four wheeler in May and he figured Kennedy needed one of her own too.  This was her "big" surprise gift from us for her b-day.  One day she will probably want a real one.  What have we got ourselves into.  She actually can even push the button to make it move. 

Broc (Kennedy's brother from a different mother)

Up to the left - this was the first time she feel asleep in her high chair.  Couldn't resist.  And then that was her the next morning with her crazy hair. 

Graduation

I just wanted to let everyone know that Blake is finally done with school.  He graduate  April 23, 2010 from Weber State University.  Kennedy and I are so PROUD of him and his accomplishment and many other people too.  But in Blake's words "IT'S OVER!  SCHOOL IS OUT FORVER!"

WEBER STATE, WEBER STATE, WEBER STATE --

GREAT, GREAT, GREAT!  GO WILDCATS.

me, Kennedy, Blake, and my mom Karen

Blake, Kennedy, and Al

Jim (Blake's dad), Kennedy, Blake, and Robyn (Blake's mom)

For those of you who don't know, Al is who Blake works for selling all the many products that he represents for hunting, camping, etc.  You name it there is a line that he represents. 

So to catch you up, Blake and I didn't see eye to eye about walking for graduation.  I don't think I bothered him too much for a decision, but he still had not made a decision the wednesday before graduation.  His mom and dad wanted to be
there as well as my parents.  I called his mom earlier in the week giving her a heads up just in case to take work off.  I asked Blake again wednesday and his answer was still no he wasn't walking.  But I knew if he didn't he would regard it.  It is now thursday morning and I asked him for the final time.  By now he told me I had to decide.  Now I felt guilty.  Because if I decide he goes, he is not happy, but if I decide he doesn't go, then I am not happy.  It isn't like you get a do-over later on.  There are a few things in life you only get to do once and college graduation is one of them.  I went to work called his mom and  my mom to figure out what to do.  Then later that night Blake get's a phone call from Al.  And he says to Blake "so what time is your graduation?  Because if I know Kristin, you are walking."  So he walked.  He was all smiles and every one was happy.  Blake doesn't like lots of attention.  He is very humble in that way.  Me on the other hand, I am the complete opposite.  So we go together. 

CONGRATULATIONS BLAKE and WAY TO GO!!

Professor Steven Eichmeier and Blak

Viva Las Vegas - Girl's Only Weekend

Again, playing catch up.  I am almost caught up.  GREAT!  Any who...

Viva Las Vegas -  

So one day my really good friend, Whitney, calls me and says "do you want to go see your husband?"  I was like I see Blake every day.  Then she said "no...your other husband."  I was like heck ya, "When?"  She said next weekend.  (This is back at the end of January.)  I said "sure count me in."  For those of you who didn't know I had another husband - you are think oh my gosh what has happened and probably wondering who it is.  Well, he is known by a few names, King George or Georgeous George.  And for those of you who are not country fans (shame on you) it is GEORGE STRAIT.  He is so HOT!  Just a tad bit of info - George doesn't even know he is my husband.  haha. 

Whitney told me all I needed was money for food, activities during the day (aka - shopping), and to get a ticket.  I had the money, but no ticket.  I had to buy one.  Whitney and Blake both help me look online to see if any were available.  And there were.  YEAH!  Whitney had a place to stay and she said she would drive.  Now, this is very uncharacteristic of me just to up and head out of town.  Because I like every thing to be pre-planned.  Not this spur of the moment kind of stuff.  But it was a nice get away. 

The trip was short.  We headed down after work on a friday and came back on Sunday.  Blake was out of town as well.  So I "twisted" my mom's arm to see if she would watch Kennedy and I had to twist my dad's arm to watch Payzlee.  They both agreed.  Payzlee isn't a bad dog, she just manages to pull the dog bed out of the kennel and tear down the door.  What do you expect when a dog gets bored?  

 We got to Vegas about 10:00 than night, found the hotel, got settled, and off too bed.  We were so excited cause we both could see in and not have to get up to feed our children.  But the funny thing is your body gets in a routine and you have no choice of what time you get up.  Your internal alarm clock gets you up early no matter what.   

We got ready and hit the strip.  It was raining.  Not bad, but if you didn't have an umbrella you wished you would of had one.  Which one of us wished we would have.  haha. Neither of us had one.  So at one of the dorky stores that carries everything we bought an umbrella. 

After we shopped for a bit we headed back to the room and took a nap so we could stay up to watch the concert.  I am not a night owl.  So if you want me to stay up, I need a nap.  The concert was at MGM.  On our may to MGM, we stopped at a few locations. 

Harley Davidson Restaurant

M&M Factory

We made our way through the crowds to MGM.  We headed to our seats.  The other artists that came with George was; LeAnn Woolmack and Reba.  Oh boy was I even more excited to see the show. 

LeAnn Woolmack came out on stage first.  I love her CD's, but I wasn't too impressed with her in concert.  It is like she just walked or stood.  Okay, I know that sounds dumb, because those of you that have seen George he does the same thing.  But he is HOT!!  He can just stand there. 

Next, was Reba.  Man does she put on a GREAT show.  I would see her again in a heart beat.  She was so fun to watch.  I thought I used to not really care for her music, but the older I get I like her lots more.  During her performance Barbara Jean came out from her show Reba.  She was hilarious.  Whitney and I got the biggest kick out of her.  And to finish up her, she did the most awesome performance of her song Fancy.  She did a quick wardrobe change, and came out in  a taxi.  And an old looking one from about the 50's I believe.  It looked like the one from the music video.  Then she got out and she was is this sexy red dress.

After Reba performed, the best part of the show was about to start.  It was GEORGE.  And he looked as good as ever.  He sang various songs through his career.  Personally my favorites are his older stuff, like "Easy Come, Easy Go" or "Fireman" or "Ocean Front Property".  All classics of his.  And he performed some of his more current songs.   

All in all it was a GREAT weekend!  Well deserved for the both of us.  Thanks for asking me to go Whitney.