July 2011

The time has come for our trip to Africa.  Man it seems like a long time coming.  But it is finally here.  From those of you who don't know, but Blake's boss for Christmas 2010 gave us a trip to South Africa.  I have a whole post about the trip.  That will be in a separate post.  I tried to keep an accurate entry for each day we were there, since as you can see I have not been very good about posting very timely.  But we are getting there.

We had some help packing, in fact I think she would have tried to stow-away if she could.  We tried to get as packed as much as we could before leaving on 7 July.  With the 4th of July so close and both families liking to do so much we tried not to spread ourselves too thin.  We managed and were able to go to the cabin and have a day in the sun.

POTTY TRAINING UPDATE
Potty training is going okay for the most part.  I finally was brave enough to make the switch from pull-ups to panties during the day.  Time wise she will have been in panties 2 weeks prior to us leaving.  I hope it goes well.  Kennedy in reality hasn't had too many accidents.  Only 1 or 2 maybe a week.  Hope she keeps doing good.

Since we packed as much as we could we went to the cabin for a couple of nights. 

Kennedy with her helmet.  She didn't cry 

this time.  BONUS.  Snowmobiling she

didn't like it too much.  It is so big.  Helmets 

start at the age of 3.  Utah law requires anyone

under 18 to wear a helmet while riding on an ATV, etc. 

 Riding Mr. B.  Kennedy still doesn't quite love them enough

to go on a ride out of the drive of the cabin.  Maybe next year.

Earlier in the morning after breakfast my dad and Blake saddled the horses up.  I rode Mr. B since last September we put Chance down.  It is a bit weird without him.  I now understand when people lose just that little bit of enjoyment when their pride and joy isn't around any more.  Still love riding.  Wish I had more time.  I look back and wonder how my parents ran my brother and me around while still making time for the horses.  They are a 24/7 operation.  Not like an ATV that you only have to feed when you use them.

The horses were saddled and we ready to hit the trail.  I really wanted Kennedy to come, but by the time the horses were saddled she had fallen asleep.  Which in hindsight was a good thing.  My dad was leading and he was riding Blackjack.  He has been working with her for about 2 years now training her to be a mountain horse.  Blake rode Bobby Jo, I rode Mr. B while leading Maudie.  Usually my dad rides and leads another horse.  But today he wanted me too.  We got off the rode and went on the trail that my dad has taken me on since I was a kid.  No surprises right.  Well, along the trail a tree got Blake's hat.  He was at the end of the horse train.  So we sat and waited.  I was in front.  The trail here is cut into the side hill of the mountain.  The slope is not gradual slope, it slope probably 20% grade.  It is steep in other words.  As my dad and I are waiting for Blake, next thing I know his horse has stumbled, lost her balance I am not sure.  But I can tell you there was not enough room on the trail to stand side-by-side.  My dad grabs my horses lead rope and down the hill Blackjack and he slide.  (just a bit scary.)  They land just about 3 - 5 feet below me.  My dad gets to a point so he doesn't keep going with her, has his feet out of the stirrups and tries to step uphill.  Just then Blackjack tries to stand up and steps on my dad's lower leg.  (not finding this out till we got back to the cabin.)  As Blackjack stands she gets into goes down the hill further into a willow bush.  My dad has her lead rope or some reins.  She looked as if she was ready to give up and just roll down the mountain.  Just then my dad says, "DON'T YOU ROLL! Because if you do, you ain't coming out."  The reason she wouldn't probably be coming out is that she was only about 5 feet from the creek.  If she would have rolled, she could have hurt her back and possibly as she came a round broke one or more of her legs.  If her one or more of her legs were broke no getting her up to move.  Fortunately, she did not roll and needless to say it was a bit edgy and scary.  Blackjack got her whits about herself and managed to walked to the creek.  My dad walked down to her and got her lead ropes and walked her back up the trail.

Meanwhile, Mr. B and Maudie are getting a bit antsy.  And since I am leading Maudie she should be behind me right, nope.  In all of this she managed to get in front of me.  As I look ahead a tree has fallen right on the trail.  The tree trunk is too big for the the horses to step over.  My dad had handed Blackjack off to Blake and he came and grabbed Maudie.  Me being used to Chance didn't keep good head control of Mr. B, which was very bad.  Because as my dad was walking up leading Maudie, Mr. B decided to follow very closely.  The tension in the air is tight because of what just happened.  I remember my dad saying you want to get me killed.  I pulled my head out and got serious.  As Mr. B started going up, Blake brought his horse forward.  Well since I wasn't suppose to go and just waiting on the hill wasn't a good idea, Mr. B ended up sliding down the mountain into the horses below.  I then I had back Mr. B up VERY quickly so Blake and his horses didn't do the same thing down the mountain into the creek.  We had to go about about 20-30 feet of this tree trunk to get around.  After we got around we took a breather for the horses and us (sigh.)  

We continued on our ride because my dad didn't want Blackjack to think it was acceptable to act like that and then her reward be to turnaround and go home.  We got to the top and started to work our way down the mountain.  My dad did not want to deal with the down tree on the way back, so we took another trail.  My dad was leading with Blackjack, Blake on Bobby Jo leading Maudie, and me bringing up the end.  I thought it seemed weird and we got half way down the mountain and my dad says "I'm getting off and going to walk Blackjack."  Blake was like I better get off too.  So I asked "do I need to get off?"  It wasn't that steep in my mind.  My dad has taken me into some harry stuff and this would not be one of those times.  Mostly because of where he has taken me, I never know how bad it is until I told someone what happen or where we went on a ride.  Plus I have come off this mountain this way many times before.  Next, thing I know Blackjack has lost her balance and began sliding down the hill.  I want to say she even rolled once.  Away she went and my dad let go of the lead rope.  Fortunately there was a tree that stopped her.  When she stood up, she was shaking like a scared dog with it tail between it legs.  As she did this my dad was just starting to switch back down the hill so we didn't go just straight down.  Blake was actually closer to Blackjack. He threw my dad the two horses leads he had and he went to get Blackjack.  I started my switch back and my dad his.  Just then he unhooked Maudie's lead rope and let her pick her way down the trail.  I past my dad, as I did he also let Bobby Jo go.  Blake started making his way to the bottom with Blackjack and were down first.  Again we took a slight break.  As we were waiting I asked my dad if he could tell she was going to something weird again.  He said "her breathing started to change and didn't want anything bad to happen to either one of them."  Also the few weeks prior to this when I went with my dad riding I was leading while riding Mr. B.  But I just wasn't leading one horse, but two.  I then said "this is why you had me lead last time to because you haven't been to trusting of Blackjack."  He said "yup."

We got back to the cabin in one piece considering all that happened on our adventurous ride.  Now after all this I am glad Kennedy fell asleep.  She would have made the situations worse because she would have been crying and scaring the horses or we could have had some people seriously hurt.  

Getting ready for a ATV ride. 

Kennedy being the photographer. 

Maybe we should invest a kid tough camera.

 Grandpa and Grandma

 Aunt Sharon and Uncle Lew 

Kennedy "wanting" help with the laundry. 

Playing in the closet.

The morning of the 4th of July we headed down the Stoker's for a party.  We had some brunch and then the kids played on the trampoline and in the water.



 Kennedy, Cousin Mason, Cousin Ellie, and Cousin Jordan

 Majority of all the grand kids

Brooke, Brayden, MaKayla, Kamryn, (Sarah) Ellie,

Brinley, Mason, Kennedy, Kaitlyn, and Jordyn.
Sarah was lucky to be in the picture.  Kamryn
wasn't being too cooperative.

All the 2 year old cousins.

Mason (July 2009), Kennedy (May 2009),

Avery (March 2009), Tyler (Dec 2008)

Kennedy is the size of the 1 year old cousins. 

The ones her age tower over her. 

Good things come in small packages.  Right?

 Kennedy taking more pictures.

 Kennedy watching fireworks.

Kennedy's first sparkler.

I don't have lots in between of what took place in the month since we were gone.  But we brought Kennedy a couple of souvenirs.  This is her baby.  Let me tell you what in trying to find a baby in Africa.  Not easy. 

But she loves her new baby.

Just as we got home we were just in time for the Stoker Family reunion.  Glad it was only in Salt Lake or we would not have attended I don't think.

 Kennedy at the Living Aquarium

Kennedy playing at the park.

 Kennedy the size of a new baby penguin.

Kennedy taking another picture. 

Me next to a mommy penguin.

Pretty Scarlet birds.

Kennedy at the Tracy Aviary Bird Refugee. 

 Kennedy and Me

Kennedy downing the dessert with the Blue frosting. 

Jordan, Brooke, Kennedy, and Kaitlyn picking raspberries at Stoker's. 

June 2011

The first of June didn't start out too well.  Kennedy for just over a week had been fighting a fever, really seems since her 2 year old checkup appointment.  Over the past week she would fever, but the fever usually broke.  The highest that it had got was roughly 100.0.  Not anything to rush to the doctor.  Just some meds to help break and she is good right?   Finally, it spiked to 102.5 degrees.  I was a bit worried.  I called the doc first thing in the morning and waited for them to call since it was before they opened.  In the meantime what does one do to help a fever go down, but give their child ice cream in a cool bath.  (Hey, I am a first time mom.)  Kennedy's cheeks were so rosie and you could tell that she did not feel the best. 

We got to the doctor and he did a rapid strep test.  As the doc was asking all her symptoms and such I said I was concerned since her temperature spiked to 102.5.  His reply was "oh, we usually don't get too concerned until it reaches 103.0."  In my simple mind it was only half a degree off.  But I learned something new.  As we waited for the results Kennedy decided to check in the exam table.



The doctor came back in told me that the rapid test came back negative.  But also he said that there was another little boy in his office with some of the same symptoms that Kennedy had and his test came back negative as well.  They would culture the swabs over the weekend and I could call back Monday to get the results.

I called back to the doctor's office Monday morning.  It took awhile for them to call me back.  I asked the nurse if I could get the results of Kennedy's culture and she said she was a bit confused.  I recapped what happened Friday.  Then she said she was confused because they usually don't culture a POSITIVE (yes, POSITIVE) rapid strep test.  I asked so you are telling me that her test came back positive on Friday and I am just finding out Kennedy does have strep.  The nurse apologized and IMMEDIATELY called in a prescription.  I had strep back in March and if Kennedy's throat felt like sharp pieces of glass in her throat all weekend - poor girl.  The nurse also told me that the little boy that also was tested for strep that his culture came back positive too.  I wonder if there was some unfortunate human mistake that someone looked at the wrong test results of Kennedy and the little boy's.  Life happens.  But this is the second time this year I have left a doctor's office of Kennedy have strep.  Also in March she has test positive for strep but I was never informed.  Glad she was okay. 

Kennedy likes to help "clean" the house with me.  This is her idea of vacuuming. 

Kennedy has started to like playing dress up.  Well, she found some "dress-up" clothes alright.  And she tried them all on.  And when I mean all I mean all.  Let your imagination wonder, but not too far...



Needless to say I have moved them.  But then a few weeks later she found them again.  Again, I have since moved them .  She has not found them since. 

Also this month Kennedy went back to the doctor.  Since May from her 2 year old checkup she has been 3 times.  This time she had some going on with her foot.  We play softball on Thursday nights.  My friend Kenzie is an RN.  I showed her Kennedy's foot and was like what do I do.  She said when I get home put some peroxide on it and draw a line with a marker on to see if the infection is spreading.  I did just that when we got home.  The next morning the infection had spread.  I called the doc and they got her in.  My mom took her cause the last two Fridays I have had off I have made plans to go riding horses with my dad.  Now, it being literally 2 weeks since her last visit.  The doc was unsure what it was on her foot.  It was a bacteria of some sort, possiblely staph.  He didn't write a prescription right away cause  their computers were down and didn't want to give Kennedy the same prescription for her strep.  Her last dose was only the day before. I had to call the doctor' when I got back and they called in a prescription.  The infection went away.  Again, another learning point for Kristin.  Very educational month as far as health goes. 

One night we had some friends Jeremy and Connie with their kids over for dinner.  (BTW - Jeremy is the man who lined Blake and I up.)  After dinner the kids wanted to play outside.  We took Kennedy's new car and trailer outside.  Brooklyn wanted to drive and that left the open spot of the trailer.  Glad Kennedy's small.



Towards the end of the month Blake's buddy Rick asked him to fish in a fishing tournament with him at Strawberry Reservoir.  They did okay, but we had more fun with us all fishing all together.

 Kennedy on our way to Strawberry.  It is so fun now that she faces forward.

 Rick and Kennedy

 Blake and Kennedy getting ready to fish from the deck

at the lodge we stayed at.

 Kennedy's first time sleeping in her new sleeping back.

She is getting to be such a big girl.

 Rick and his wife Kaily have a little girl that is

almost 3 months old. I guess not only can a

stroller be used to carry the baby, but all

your fishing gear too.  A little redneck.  We had

a good laugh.

 Kennedy and Dad fishing.

 Kennedy lost interest real quick.  Fishing from

the shore was a bit rough.  It was really windy.

We got skunked. 

Dad and Kennedy headed back to head home.

May 2011

Sometime ago back in November I posted about Kennedy wanted to potty train.  I was thinking she was going to get this.  I was like WOW!  This is too good to be true.  I was talking with my sister-in-law Liz telling her how Kennedy was doing.  She said her niece did the same thing.  But she ended up taking 10 months.  I was like "oh, no Kennedy has got it."  I think I jinxed myself.  We are now to May, 6 months later.  The only thing is 18 months is rather young in Kennedy's defense to be completely potty trained.  She was on a good track of understanding what needed to take place. 

Now we are to May.  Around Kennedy's birthday she finally decided she wanted to wear "panties".   I was not ready for the mess so I just had her in pull-ups.  Since she was going to daycare too, I didn't feel comfortable if Kennedy had accidents very often at the sitters.  The first week went great.  If I remember correctly I think she had really only about 3-4 accidents for the whole week.  However, the next week was a different story.  She treated her pull-ups like she was in a diaper.  Kennedy and I had a talk.  I told her if she was going to treat her pull-ups like a diaper, then I was going to put diapers back on.  She said that she wanted  her "panties".  So we tried it again.  We are now wearing "panties".  Hopefully in no time she will be wearing really panties. 

My question to you are pull-ups good or bad?  I have decided they are definitely more of a convenience for the parents.  That way if the child had an accident you don't have to clean up too much.  But does the child to begin to understand what they are suppose to do if they are wet?  Or should a parent just skip the whole pull-up scene and go straight to panties/underwear?  I think it really depend on what kinda time you have to dedicate to potty training with your child.  I felt with Kennedy it wasn't too bad using pull-ups.  My work day is a 9 hour day.  Stay at home moms have an advantage in this department of the potty training going very smooth and quick.  After I thought about it, she may have got a bit confused.  But she day by day she did a little bit better. 

Any thoughts?

Kennedy had her 2nd birthday.  I posted those pictures already.

We just went up for the afternoon to the cabin for Memorial Day, since it was cold.  And when we got there this is what we saw. 

SNOW

This is SPRING, not WINTER.  But we had fun.  It was also VERY pretty with just the light dusting on top. 

 Kennedy and Jordyn

 Me and Jordyn

My DORKIE brother Colton

We also went to Blake's parents for his dad's birthday.  After the festivities, Brooke decided to pull the kids around on a blanket on the floor. 

Brooke pulling the kids - Kaitlyn, Kennedy, and Jordan.

They giggled and laughed so much.  

My car also during the month of May needed a little tender loving car.  I was quite upset because that meant I had to get the back of my car repainted and detailed.  However, the guy that did my detail work has since past away.  So I had to have the paint shop locate a person that still free paints on vehicles verses using the vinyl stripping. 

Because the paint repair shop did not know if the paint would continue to flake as they fixed it, their suggestion was to start from scratch.  So that is what they did.  The gentleman that did my detail did a great job.  There are some things that I can tell are different, but at first glance all is well.