Karys turns 2!!!!

Karys turned 2 this last Thursday, and we had a bunch of family and friends in town to celebrate on Friday night. It was so fun just to have everyone gathered together to celebrate our daughter. What a blessing it was for Rob and I to be able to look around the patio at the ppl who were gathered as well as to think of all the ppl not present and just truly be thankful for the number of ppl that truly care for and invest in the lives of our girls and/or in us. I think that is how you survive as a parent! Through your family, friends, community who walk the journey with you! So thank you all for being a part of that!
Anyway, Karys decided this year that she wanted Snow White on her birthday cake. Because mommy did not really want to do another princess party I convinced her, with some help of key library materials, that maybe she would like Veggie Tales. In the end i decided to put both on her cake....after all who ever said that the dwarfs couln't really be talking vegetables!

We celebrated on a beautiful evening, a little cool for the first days of September, on our back patio. Shared a meal, conversations, amazing cake, and then watched our little lady open gifts. That night we also shared our home with Doreen, Heather, Seth, Nathan, Amy and Jaydon...so fun to be full! I love it! Enough said though, enjoy the pics!
Uncle Seth and the cousins were folding thier hands for the pre-dinner meal...So cute to look out at the swingset and see this ;)
Rob and Justin in deep conversation...always a good conversation going on between these two
Sarah and Leah going through the line of yummy food! None of which I had to make ;) Gotta love a servant hearted husband and family!
The kiddie table...it wasn't very successful for any of them to sit together and eat, they all had to work on that.
Everyone on the patio enjoying the YUMMY food! rob did a great job with the chicken and had a whole crew to help with the rest ;)
Karys saying cheese with Bob, Larry, and Snow White

"How does it taste Karys?"

A birthday kiss from her big sister!

She blew out her candles all on her own! YAY!Grandma, Gracie, and Karys were all practicing thier butt busters! It was Karys' turn to go... Enjoying the evening with good company (Heather&Seth) and good coffee!Both of my grandmas made it to the party! That was SO special to me to have them there!Jeremy was telling my Dad all about his bear hunting trip he just got back from at 5am Friday!Karys had LOTS so helpers when it was time to open her presents!
Jeremy and Sarah tied a balloon to Leah's binki! So hilarious to watch her try to figure it out!Leah was walking all over the living room with this little cart...fun to see if she will be walking in a couple months in time for her 1st birthday!Tough little guy on a fuzzy pink horse! He loved playing on this! This pic is for you Chad!"Smile for Mommy, Baby!" Karys loved this little dolly from Auntie Sarah, Jeremy and LeahThe GREAT Grandmas with the GREAT Grandaughters...should have tried for this pic earlier in the evening I think...the b-day girl was all partied out!

What a Day!

So today was a very special day for both our girls. First of all it was Karys' 2nd birthday! She was so fun to watch today, because she just loved telling ppl it was her birthday and her face just lit up when ppl called to talk to her. Especially the calls she got from all three aunties ;) I really think she felt special today; however, her day got off to a rough start when we left Gracie at preschool (the other reason it was such a big day for us!) I have really been worried, not like upset stomach worried just like questioning worried, about how Gracie's first day of preschool would go. I was pretty convinced she and I would both part ways this morning and tears would be shed on both of our behalfs. That wasn't the case though. She was very tenative, kept asking "Mommy can you come with me" "No Gracie I can't, but Mrs. Kinney and Mrs Stoll will both be there with you." "Mommy, can Karys come with me?" "Sure she can come with us to drop you off and then she will come home with Mommy." "Mommy, I asked Karys and she said that she wanted to stay."So this questioning went on until we were walking into school. Once she knew that neither of us were staying I think she just resigned the idea in her head that maybe we would, and got a little frustrated. She hung up her bag, washed her hands, gave me and AWESOME hug and kiss and just said, "Bye mom" in a very defeated voice...like fine you are making me stay, I guess I will do it. ANd then walked over to join the other kids making necklaces. Here is where the surprise came, neither Gracie or I cried, but as we were leaving Karys ran back to the room 2x crying "Stay with Gracie!" She cried in the car, and even patted her car seat and said, "Mommy, Gracie not here." It was so sad to watch her miss her sister. They have just become such good friends in the past couple weeks, the fighting has really lessened and I can actually leave the room and work on things for periods of time and they play so well! Especially with thier babies ;)
So to celebrate Karys, and to distract her for a little while, we headed off on an adventure. We bought her a special Care Bear cookie...she said "I care bear" b/c we call her that sometimes ;), we brought Doughnuts to church to share, we played at the park and had the whole thing all to ourselves, and we went to the store to pick out a special present for Gracie to celebrate her doing so well her 1st day of school (a pencil and stickers).
Then it was off to pick up Gracie! She smiled coming out of the classroom and Mrs. Kinney said she had a GREAT day! She said she was very quiet, but that she was sure it would come the more Gracie warmed up to it. Karys was able to give Gracie her present before we got in the van and we took some more pictures. Gracie was so greatful for the present. She kept telling Karys how nice that was of her to do that and "Thank you!" It was so cute, and you would think so even more if you could hear her say it, but Karys would just say "your welcome, Gracie...good job at school." Amidst all of that, I asked Gracie if she liked it and wanted to go back. I got two affirmitave answers to the questions so that was exciting....but that was the most I got...she talked about that pencil and stickers all the way home! She didn't dispose much of anything else about her day...a couple things to Rob when we got home, but that was about it! I think it will be so fun to watch and see how she changes and grows just by learning to follow instructions in a group and just getting the chance to interact and be around other kids ;)
Grandma Doreen also came for the day and we were able to celebrate both hers and Karys birthday at Pizza Ranch tonight! Every kids fav place to eat right?!?! I think we are all looking forward to tomorrow night when lots of family and friends will be getting together over at our house to CELEBRATE Karys and just have some good fellowship together! More to come on that!

Kindermusik

Well the business of fall is starting and activities are working on getting into full swing! This morning we went to Kendermusik for the first time this year. Gracie got to go for the spring part of last year and just loved it! All of the songs, actions, instruments, and interactions were so good for her and really started the process of getting her to open up a little bit and develop her personality.

She was a little hesitant this morning when I told her we were going...she is a little anxious about starting pre-school tomorrow and thought at first I was going to bring her to Kindermusik too and just drop her off. But when she heard that not only I was giong but that Karys was also old enough to go too she was so pumped! "Karys, you are going to love it! Are you so excited you are old enough to go?"

It was great watching them sing songs together and interacting. I am so excited that we are all going to have this to do together! Now for all of you reading just pray that tomorrow goes well! Pre-school is from 9-11:30 tomorrow morning, so we will see how Gracie does with that!

Golfing with Dad

Monday night we all decided to venture out to the golf course and ride along in the cart with Rob while he played 9 holes of golf. The girls were pumped b/c we had only really been out to the golf course one other time this summer with Rob and that time we just walked with the stroller. This time we were able to drive the cart and ride along. It was a REALLY windy night so we all found hats and wore them to try and keep our hair under control. As soon as we got out of the van Karys' took off through the parking lot. I managed to catch it b4 it got too far ;) She spent a while holding onto it but eventually took it off. Gracies was the perfect fit and stayed on the entire time!

It felt good to get out and swing the ball but I think Rob was golfing under a lot of different conditions this night....three ladies watching every swing, the crazy wind, rushing b/c ppl were letting us play through....but hopefully he had as much fun as we did!
The girls faces were priceless as they watched the hundreds of birds flying through the sky! It is crazy to think they are already beginning to group up for the big migration south. Gracie told me today she really wanted it to snow....really!!! I am definitely not ready for that yet, and what happened to my California baby!
The girls were so intent on keeping score and writing on the score card. Everytime we stopped they would say "Get out, Mom" and assume thier posts at the scorer's table!
They were so good and just had so much fun keeping score, driving, and cheering for daddy! The stuff that comes out of thier mouths is just hilarious and just so innocent and heartfelt sometimes! I love nights like this as a family!
A BEAUTIFUL picture of Gracie! I just feel like this captures so much of her! She loves to giggle and laugh and is just really starting to come out of her shell and develop such a personality! She freely gives hugs and kisses and has such a care free and tender heart! Hard to believe she goes to pre-school this week! AHHHHH!Rob lining up his shot on one of the final holes....still holding out for him to join the PGA circuit ;) I just realized this summer how much those crazy good golfers make!!! I think he could make the cut!

Visit with Grandma and Grandpa Great

On Monday, we were in Lennox for the morning so we called up my Grandma Norma and Grandpa Kenny to see if there were going to be around and we could bring all the girls over to visit. They thankfully were, and Grandma thankfully had some of her AMAZING cookies to share with us as well! I think Karys tried to get three of them down when mom and dad weren't looking! It was great to see the girls interact with my grandma....they loved playing with her "costume" jewelry and sitting on her lap. They even talked about the cookies and the beads later that afternoon. God is just so good, and I see that in family design. The girls are so blessed to have so many great grandparents, and I am amazed at how they just accept all of them and are so excited to call them grandma/grandpa and are just drawn to one more person who loves them so much! What wisdom lies throughout generations, what legacy lies in ours.....we so hope to continue that legacy of love, family devotion, and faith.
Dad helping to get the ladies all situated for the big photo...what a task it always is to get everyone looking and smiling in the right direction at the right time! They were so eager to crawl up on Grandma's lap!
Gracie holding Leah...she still calls her a big wiggle worm! Let's see how this works out in a couple of months when Leah is big enough to walk away.
Karys had to have a turn to, but it won't be long before they are the same size! Karys just loves having someone younger to try out all the things Gracie does to her.
Here they are looking a little more comfortable and a little bit happier....for now anyway!

Checking out the grapes that Grandpa Kenny is growing out back on the side of his shed. He uses these mainly for the homemade wine that he makes....i think?
Rob and Karys going in deep to find the grapes....
Everyone was out in the yard to check out the grapes and the flowers
The girls both got to taste one...they are not qutie ripe yet and were still pretty bitter. Karys ate hers with only a little face, while Gracie quickly spit in out right into the grass with an awesome face that I would have loved to catch on camera!
The girls posing for a pic by the pink flowers that matched Karys' pants....Gracie was bummed b/c we couldn't find any blue flowers to take a pic by that would match her pants ;) Nice hair Karys!

LifeLight Festival 2008

We headed out to LifeLight on Sunday evening with family and friends to take in the Natalie Grant and Casting Crowns concerts. It was fun to reminisce about it since last year Sarah was pregnant and the year before I was pregnant when we went! I actually went into active labor out at the LifeLight festival 2 years ago during the Casting Crowns concert on that Sat. night. I ended up in an ambulance for a while and in L&D in Sioux falls that night. I always get stuck though at 4-5cm so I ended up going home to OC and walking in that hospital forever and finally being given Pitocin that Monday morning to bring Karys out! Wow...crazy to think she will be two this week! That is an entirely different blog in itself!

So anyway, we had a great time! The music was great and although it was windy the weather really held out to make it into a really nice evening! We did have the opportunity to go back stage during the Crowns concert but by the time they took the stage it was well after 10pm and all three girls (Gracie, Karys, and Leah were all sleeping). Guess so is the season of life we are in ;) Maybe next year!

Sarah, Rob, Grant and Baby Jaydon all hanging out taking in the GOOD music & GOOD friends!
Our self portrait...we reall faired pretty well this weekend. At one point with 4 kids around us (Gracie, Karys, Leah and Jaydon) I remember Rob looking at me saying, "Is this really what you want life to be?" He giggled....so did I....I guess only God will know and HE will probably be laughing the hardest ;)
Just a pic of Karys cashed out on the ground before Natalie Grant had even finished. Rob and I actually tag teamed during the Crowns concert to take a girl out who came flying around the corner and almost stepped on Karys' head. The lengths you will go to protect you kid I guess ;)
Our friends Amy, Grant, and Baby Jaydon. It was Jaydon's first LifeLight and he slept through the entire thing! He loved it!