Terrific 2 or Terrible 2 You Choose

It's that time again.  It was Kennedy's birthday and she turned 2.  I know don't be surprised about how much I am blogging.  I only have 10 months worth of blogging to catch up.  I thought I should at least blog about the big day. 

It is so odd to think we have a 2 year old.  Most days she is pretty good, others she fits in the terrible 2's category.  I would say she hit the terrible 2's back in November.  Maybe she is just getting more of a personality.  Ya, that is it.  She is developing her personality.  She definitely knows what she wants and what she does not want.  Especially when it comes to telling daddy no (which is my favorite.) 

This sweet thing to...

This...not sure if you call her sweet any more.

First time I straightened her hair.

She is saying "Cheese".

Back view. 

Her hair is not very long here.  The Saturday before I had

my cousin Keri trim it up.  She took off about an inch from

the back. 

Blake doesn't like her hair like this.  He says it does not

look like his daughter.  She did look a bit different 

I would have to admit.

First I will start with her 2 years old doctor check-up.  All is well, except getting the shot.  This kid has a memory like you wouldn't believe.  The last time she got a shot was 6 months ago.  Who knew she would remember that long ago, since it is not in her normal routine.  You ask her where something is, next thing you know she comes around a corner with it in hand.  Kennedy is progressing as a toddler should.  Saying two - three word sentences, walking up stairs, throwing and kicking ball, starting to use a regular cup, and etc.  Good to know she is on track that way.  As far as her stats go, well, what can I say except Kennedy is Kennedy. 

Height:  31 inches (2%)

Yeah, she moved up 1%

Weight:  21.6 lbs (1%)

No change

Head:  18.75 (54%)

At least she is average in one area.

As far as Kennedy actual birthday not too much happened.  We were suppose to start playing softball in a co-ed league.  But this "wonderful" weather was not cooperating.  The game was cancelled.  Blake has been playing in a men's league in SLC, and those games were cancelled too.  We just hung out.  My cousin gave me the idea to run to the yummy sweets store where they sell gourmet cupcakes and such.  We did not make it.  My mom and dad stopped by.  So not a whole lot happened.  Because we were planning on having a softball game the family party was planned for Saturday. 

At daycare they had a little party with cupcakes.  Brenda her daycare provided took her to the store and let her pick out a little gift.  She chose a seahorse and mermaid.  She also got to pick out a balloon.  Brenda sent home the extra cupcakes.  After dinner since we didn't make it to the dessert store, we let her finish one of the cupcakes instead. 

The weather was terrible all week.  I was just praying for it to be good on Saturday for her party.  The forecast said the weather was supposed to be good, but we live in Utah.  It can change in a split second.  I remember bringing Kennedy home from the hospital.  The day before was great, but the days after not so great.  Last year was also the same.  Cold and rainy.  The weather this year ended up being good.  It hit about 70 earlier in the day.  I wasn't too worried then for her party later that evening.  We just had only family over.  Nothing fancy this year.  Just cupcakes and ice cream.  First off, we want to thank everyone for coming to Kennedy's party.  It is so nice for people to take time out of their day to come and celebrate Miss Kennedy in our family. 

Here are some photo's of the party.

Opening Gifts.

 

Her lips (a.k.a. chap stick)



 Her new ride and trailer. 

Isn't that just the cutest. I just had

to get the trailer for her.

 Her new kitchen.  Now she won't have to

use our entertainment center as her oven.

Cousin Jet with her.

 Trying to get in.

Playing softball with her new t-ball set

with her cousin Jordan and 

his friends Brock and Jake (twins). 

Throwing the ball. 

Kennedy and Jet Crusin'

The cupcakes.

My aunt Sharon and cousin Keri have much better

cupcakes.  Even my friend Michelle. 

she posts on her blog all kinds of cool cupcakes

she has made on her blog. 

Kennedy's cupcakes turned out good for the

occasion.  People just eat them any way right?

Next time, I will have to ask one of them to

make them for me or tell me their secret.



Make a wish.

My sister-in-law Jordyn being weird.

Bear Lake 2010 (Morris and Stoker Reunion)

July is the busy month for us.  Seems like we go to the cabin and then off to family reunions on Blake's side of the family.  My dad does not like to go to them.  Needless to say we didn't go.  I remember going to like 5 in the past 30 years of my life.  2 of them for the Lindsay side and the other 3 for the Huss side.  I am learning to like going to the reunions and catching up with Blake's family.  So much changes from reunion to reunion.  In people's lives they have either got married, had a baby, going a mission, or sadly someone has past on.

MORRIS REUNION

The first family reunion was the Morris Reunion which is at Bear Lake every year for a week at Ideal Beach (a.k.a. Sweet Water).

.

Blake goofing off.

                   

               My nephew Jordan

 

 Blake and Kennedy

 Blake and Kennedy

Blake, Kennedy,and Me

As you can tell I am not the best picture taker.  I really need to work on that. Sadly we were at Bear Lake and I think I took a total of 20 pictures between the two reunions.  Note to self - be a better photographer just to capture moments.

STOKER REUNION

For the Stoker reunion we stayed at Rendezvous Beach.  The Reunion included about a 1 mile hike to this lake with Blake, Kennedy and I.  It is a glacier.  The water was a bit cold to the touch.  However, there were some CRAZY folks that were swinging in the lake.  People had put a rope in one of the branches of an old tree with a knot at the end of the rope.  The line for the rope had like 20 people in it.  I was not going to  get in line to swing into the water. 

The Stoker reunion is always changing locations.  I think that is one of the things I like about this reunion cause you get to see and visit different places.  Each sibling takes a turn hosting.  Along with their family decide where they want to hold the reunion.  Some of the places have included Lava Hot Springs, Salt Lake City, Palisades, Panguitch Lake, Mesa Verde, and Bear Lake.  I have now been in the family long enough that they have rotated through all of Blake's aunts and his dad.  We are starting over.  Can't wait to see where we go in the coming years. 

Blake, Kennedy, and Me

Blake, Kennedy, Robyn (Blake's mom), my niece Kaitlyn

Kevin (Blake's brother) and Kennedy

Kennedy playing under the dinning table in the trailer.

When you stay at the Ideal Beach obviously you don't need a trailer, but for the Stoker reunion I really didn't want to tent it with miss Kennedy.  We had to drive home for a reception anyway.  So we picked the trailer up from my parents and then headed back to Bear Lake.  There sure was a lot of driving involved.  We probably should have called and asked if we could just park it while we were already up there the previous days.  I didn't think the resort would really appreciate having the fifth wheel there.  It all worked out and we were happy. 

4th of July 2010

Typically every year we go the the cabin for the 4th of July.  This year not much happened compared to the year before.  We have my dad the "MIGHTY HUNTER" with his harvest.  Okay it was really a nuisance. 

Yes next to my dad is a badger.  Not a friendly critter. Instead of living underneath the cabin he now lives inside the cabin.  We have since named him Dodger the Badger. 

This 4th of July 2010 was cool.  The water was very high from the spring run off.  We saw some beavers that I had rarely seen much in the prior years.  It reminded me of when I was a kid.  It seemed liked we were there every weekend with my mom and dad's friends Dave and Dana and their kids. Or my aunt and uncle Sharon and Lew and their girls.  The families have now expanded.  I am now bringing my family along with my bro and his wife and my cousins and their husbands and those of us who have kids.   

This 4th of July was also sad now looking back.  Who knew this would be one of the last times my horse Chance would make it up there.  Here is my good ole boy Chance.  I sure loved riding him.  I was very comfortable with him.  Not only just on short rides around the cabin, but on long pack trips with my dad.  I got to the point I would tie a knot in the reins.  Then I would put them on the saddle horn and away we went.

Myself, Kennedy, and Chance

 Blake, myself, Kennedy, and Chance

 My dad, myself, Kennedy, and Chance

My aunt and uncle (Sharon & Lew) 

 sleepy Keri (cousin) - is like 8 month prego and can't get comf\ortable

 Kennedy's new do

Front/top shot 

Kennedy, Blake, and Payzlee 

Kennedy and Me 

This is Kennedy's hair after I took it out for the night.  My mom held her while I took out

all those little rubber bands.  She wasn't a happy "camper".  No pun intended.

All-in-all the cabin is a fun quick get-a-way.  I wish my grandma and grandpa Lindsay could see how much we enjoy and are thankful for what they did.  My how they would be so amazed to see what my dad has done to help improve it.  Through out the summer he along with Blake and my dad's brother Curtis built a much needed new deck.  It is huge compared to what we used to have.  In my opinion way nice.  When you think of  a cabin these days, it is basically a second/summer home.  For those of you who have not been to our cabin is VERY rustic.  I love it.  Not that we want to get it way dirty, but you don't feel like you have to take a shower when you come in every time to make sure you don't get anything dirty.  Maybe in the future we will make more improvements.  But for now the place is GREAT!

10 Year Class Reunion

Well, I had my 10 year class reunion last June.  (Nothing like posting in a timely manner.) It was fun to see everyone.  Man how time flies.  We all have changed so much.  People in 10 years are able to accomplish so much.  One had a Law degree, one even had their 5th child on the way, and other lives in China.  I can say that I have gone to school and achieved my degree, even traveled out of the country (not to live just vacation), but I am lacking in the child department with only one.  We hope to increase that one day.  (I am not hinting that anything will happen to so.) 

Barbi, Cambria, Michelle, Kristie, myself, and Kirsten

Only to wonder where we will be in another 10 years from now.  Some of us may have kids getting married, off to missions, or even in college.  Now that is weird to think about.  Hopefully we will be able to accomplish more dreams.  Reunions often make one reflect on where they have come from and where they are going.  I have had some pretty cool and amazing things happen not to mention some not so good things.  You take the good with the bad and press forward.  One of my favorite saying is "if everyone put all their troubles in a pile, you will still walk away with your own.  Because everyone's elses troubles will seem a little harder to make it through."

I wish everyone from the class of 2000 best of luck in the coming years.

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