February 2011

Poop Episode
So one Saturday, the 5th of Feb to be precise.  I put Kennedy down for a nap about of 2:00.  She was tired.  We meet up with my mom, dad, Colton, and Jordyn for lunch.  Blake was out of town or at a work outdoor retailer type show.  But the main thing was he was GONE. 

It is about 5:00 pm.  I thought she would have been up by now.  But nope still she sleeping so I thought.  I wanted to run to The Children's Place.  They were having a pretty good sale.  About 5:30 I went to wake her up so she would go to bed later that night.  Well, she was up alright.  She was playing.  She was playing not with any toy, but with her poop.  GROSS is all I have to say.  I immediately called my mom for moral support.  She came really QUICK needless to say.  I wondered why she was so quiet.  My friend Whitney had this happen once with her twins.  But they did it at the same time.  YUCK.  So I felt I was prepared and my child would not do that.  Never think that way.  Anything is possibly. 

The pictures really do not jusitify all where the poop was.  It was in her finger nails, around her mouth (yuck - but she is still alive), caked in the Velcro of her shoes, blankets, and quilt.  As you can tell ALL OVER.
Let's say I am very thankful for the person who came up with the idea of disposable diapers.  Those people who use cloth diapers and have to clean them all the time are up in the night.  This is one area that I am not earth friendly. 

Early preparation for Halloween costumes

Any takers for her to be a Ghost?

Being Grandpa Bart
At my parent's house there is this picture of my dad in his shorts and cowboy boots.  I think Kennedy has sneaked a peek.  i will have to give her some fashion lessons as she gets older.

Snowmobiling Cabin

We were able to make it to the cabin on at least one snowmobile trip.  The snow when we got to cabin was quite deep.  Kennedy got a new helmet from my mom dad that she can wear either for snowmobiling or for the four wheeler.  Normally, I would prefer gender neutral on these type of items.  But after talking over with my mom and dad.  We figured the helmet would fit to her head and she would be wearing it still by the time the next child would need one. So we have quite awhile before that.  Plus since grandma and grandpa purchased it, we shouldn't be so picky.

Getting suited up to head in to the cabin.

Kennedy just "LOVES" her helmet.  I hope

she start to eventually like it. She will have

lots of opportunity to wear it in the future.

This is what the front of our cabin looked like when we arrived.

 Blake and Kennedy

Kennedy doesn't quite like the snow yet. 

Doesn't she look so happy?

 Remember the first picture of the snow. 

Yes, Blake dug the front door out. 



 Because the snow was so deep we have to enter from

the back.  Since it was before Blake dug the front

door out.  CRAZY MAN!

Kennedy and I enjoying the porch after Blake's

hard work.

 My mom.

 Kennedy

 Grandpa cleaning up the snow.  So our feet don't get wet later on.

Packin' up to head home.



January 2011

We were not to very eventful this month.  Kennedy and I made it to the Treehouse Museum and then  went to Reno. 

Treehouse Museum

 Riding like a professional.

I have a story with this picture.  Kennedy was playing on her own fine. 

She decided she wanted to get and take a chess piece.  Obviously, I would

not let her take it from the area.  She was still just playing.  Well, this little girl

any from about 5-7 came over and stole the chess piece from her.  Of course,

I jumped it and tried to explain.  This little girl wasn't having it.  And after I gave the

chess piece back to Kennedy, this little took it again.  Needless to say Kennedy and I

moved on to another area of the Treehouse.  Some people's kids.  Poor Kennedy 20

months had no idea what was happening.  She was a bit upset that this girl took her toy.

Then the last weekend of the month Kennedy and I tagged along with Blake to one of his shows he has to travel to in Reno for work.  It is called the Safari Club International.  This is a convention has safari guides come from all over the world to try and get people to come to their property.  I felt very out of place.  Not only because Blake and I were quite young, but also financially.  When we looked around at various hunts or items that were being sold, they were well out of my checkbook.  We walked pasted one gun and it was $150,000.  Yes, One hundred fifty thousand dollars.  The gun alone is whole more than my house.  I can't believe people pay that kind of money.  This show was amazing.  Just things one would not normally think of.  Here are some photos of the show.

Kennedy modeling her new chaps.

Grandpa Bart LOVED them.

Also while we were in Reno, Kennedy and I stopped by our good friends house Erik and Jaylssa.  They used to live in our ward.  Jaylssa and I became pretty good friends.  We sure miss them. 

Kennedy, Kaisha, and Erik (dude)

Kennedy liked the chairs not so much playing the Wii.

Random photos.

Daddy Daughter Time

 Uncle Kevin, Kennedy, and Gidget



 Kennedy and cousin Jet playing the piano.

Looking cool at daycare.

December 2010

Decemember is a wonderful time of year.  It is a great reminder of how we should be all year long.  Thinking of those before ourselves.  Here are some activites we did with our families throughout the month.

First, we made ginger bread houses at Keri and Darren's house. 

Kennedy is helping Sharon.

Keri building her house. 

Keri (right) and Megan (left)

Sharon is working on her house the correct way.  I mean that she

is using frosting on the edges to hold the seems together.  Where

as the rest of us used a little bit of  cheating.  We hot glued the sides

together.  Keri had such a great idea.   I will be doing that more often.

My finished house.  Mine WON!

The ginger bread village.

In November Kennedy turned 18 months.  Last year I waited until December to get her pictures done since it is so close for getting Christmas pictures.  So I just combine the two.  Kennedy is not the most photogenic.

This is what we got.  

I love how she is going to link the fake snowball.

Showing the snowball love.

This picture really tells how much

she loves her picture taken. 

She must get that from her father.

The favorite mother I am had a second round of pictures the same day with the Stoker cousins.



Jordan, Jet, Katilyn, Brooke, Kennedy

Blake's Grandma Bev likes to get everyone together for breakfast.  The whole family is there - aunt, uncle, cousins and their families, mom and dad, and Blake's brothers.  In total there is 35 people and counting.  It sometimes is a bit much and slightly chaotic.  I am used to being with only about 10 people.  That is including grandparents, cousins, and aunt and uncle on my mom's side of the family.  When we get together with my dad's side of the family the count is pretty much the same.  Being of all the years of small families, being with Blake's family is an adjustment.  It is getting better, but there are days that I still get a bit dazed and confused with all that is going on.  It is getting better.  

Kennedy loving getting her picture taken.

Blake's cousins and grandparents.

Scott, Angie, Dave, Greg, Ryan, Blake, Jeff, and Kevin

Grandma Bev and Grandpa Jack.

Moving closer to Chrismtas Eve.

Blake and I with our families have hopefully finally figured out a schedule in order to spend quality time with  each of them on the holiday.  In reality Salt Lake is not far away, but 40 minutes of driving time makes you miss quite a bit of either party.  We have decided that on Christmas Eve we are alternating each year which family we are with and the next year we see the other.  It has worked out well the last two years.  Christmas day is still a bit tricky.  On Christmas day we have been typically been seeing my family in the morning and Blake's in the afternoon.  We have not worked out all the kinks, but I think we are well on our way.  Blake and I have the understanding that as long as we see one family in the morning and the other in the afternoon/early evening, then we have accomplished our goal.  

Kennedy posing

Playing with Great Grandma Connie

Christmas Day

I don't think knew what to think by the time you had her presents, Blake and mine presents in our small living room.  Another reason to hopefully one day have a bigger house.  That way we are not so confined.  However that being said, it is nice being comfy and cozy.



She loves feeding her new baby. 

She even was telling the baby to shh..shh...

Kennedy said she was crying.  "Baby cryin'."

Kennedy is such a girl.  She wanted to

try on everything.  For fun we did.

She has a pair of new pj's, sweatshirt, and

a pair of snowboots. 

She also got some new panties.

She wanted to try them on. 

They were like 5 sizes too big.

We also go her set now to go snowmobiling.  She has new new winter coat and matching snow

bibs and her snowmobile/ATV helmet on.  Do you know how hard it is to get a  full face helmet on

a child?  Not easy.  But it was accomplished as you can see.   The bad part of helmets for child is that

they only start for a child of about the age of 3.  But they make this cool next brace thing to strap

underneath the helmet since their necks are not strong enough to hold their heads up.

Visiting my aunt and uncle's house Christmas Morning.

My dad and uncle enjoying quality family time.  haha

My mom and her sister gave their granddaughters matching dresses for christmas to go get their pictures taken.  My daycare provider takes this time off to spend time with her children without the daycare kids.  I then have to find other people to watch Kennedy for me while I still have to work.  One of the days my mom took and made an appointment at Target to get Kennedy and Ellie's picture.  Remember when I said Kennedy was not photogenic.  While the photographer was taking pictures it seemed either Ellie or Kennedy was not happy.  Target was running behind which did not help matters.  By the time they were done with the session it only took I think my mom said an hour and a half.  I am glad I was not there.  I did warn my mom that pictures are not a joyous time.  See below. 

Kennedy and Ellie.  Ellie was not happy in this picture.

This may look like Ellie is smiling, but

she is really crying.

After they finally finished they went to Jason's Deli.  My mom sent me this picture while I was working with the caption - "This sums up my day".

Family Picture.  I am going to try to have one each year.  My aunt gave us a really cool photo album.  Now I just have to print some pictures off.  Being digital I have found I dont print pictures.

Kennedy laying with Payzlee.



We gave Kennedy this little sled.  We decided that it would be easier if Payzlee pulled her

around instead.  Kennedy loved it.  I am not so sure if Payzlee loved it though.  She was a

 good sport.  Kennedy only lasted about 10 minutes.  Therefore Payzlee wasn't too tired.