CONGRATULATIONS to my little sister, Chelsey!!!

Chels graduated college tonight with a degree in marketing.  I wish the best to her in her future career and I know that whatever career she lands, she will be nothing but amazing at it!  She is such a hard working, bright individual and I am so proud to be her big sister and be able to see her grow and change over the years :)

I wish I could have been there to see her walk in her cap and gown, but I am sending my love and cheers to Eau Claire, Wisconsin tonight!!

SNOW!  I was beginning to think we were going to have a (brown) Christmas, but mother nature did not let me down last night  :)  Everything is now snow covered and the sun is shining making it all sparkle today....how beautiful!  That's one thing that I don't miss about Minnesota....the lack of sun ALL winter long. 

We are lucky that we will have family to spend the holiday with as Derek's mom and dad, Elliot and Ashley, and Nathan are all coming out to visit.  Then, in January Derek, Kendall and I are all flying to Minnesota for a long weekend.  Lots of family time!!

Hope you are all wrapping up "wrapping presents" for Christmas!!  5 days left!!

Defense, defense, defense!!!

Reading?  Or babbling...

Kendall has now mastered the "art" of dunking...

Brrrrrrrrr!!  We woke up this morning to the temperature in our house at 53 degrees!!!  It's a good thing Kendall has a space heater in her room; she was nice and toasty!!  We, on the other hand, could see our breath in our room.  

Finally, at 9:30 this morning and after many apologies, our gas was turned back.  I forgave the gas man; afterall, it is the Christmas season  :)

Kendall and I headed out to top off some Christmas shopping and as 2:30 rolled around, Kendall was head bobbing in the shopping cart so I figured it was time to head home...

"Ho, ho, ho!"  Kendall has mastered the phrase that Santa says, but was less than impressed to see him today.  We headed to "Santa's Workshop and the North Pole" today with a friend from work and her two boys.  This is an amusement park for kids complete with Santa's house, workshop, personalized gift shops, reindeer, and many rides. 

Kendall's favorite ride was the choo choo train, but she did go on a few others as well.  She was having so much fun that 2:00 rolled around without lunch or a nap and you wouldn't have even known it!!

Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season...I try to take time each day to stop and remember just what Christmas is really about  :)

Love to you all.

It was another mommy and Kendall day as daddy had to work a wrestling tournament.  We shopped 'til we dropped, baked cookies and wrapped presents  :)

I did manage to find Miss Kendall unwrapping one of daddy's presents...

Kendall's idea of helping mom bake...

no    /noʊ/ Show Spelled [noh] adverb, adjective, noun, plural noes, nos, verb

1.  a negative used to express dissent, denial, or refusal, 

as in response to a question or request

2.  used to emphasize or introduce a negative statement):  

Not a single person came to the party, no, not a one.

3.  not in any degree or manner; not at all  

(used with a comparative): He is no better.

4.  not a (used before an adjective to convey the opposite of the  

adjective's meaning):  His recovery was no small miracle.

That's right.  Kendall has definitely established the word "no" as her number one choice in her vocabulary.  Whether it be actually saying the word "no" or shaking her head "no," she has mastered the form.  

Nobody said parenting was easy, as I am beginning to find out it is not.  Up until about a month ago, Kendall has been the easiest baby/toddler to raise.  As an infant, she was rarely fussy, ate well, slept through the night at 8 weeks, and hardly ever got sick.  Now as we enter her 18th month of life, she is beginning to challenge us.  She has learned that she is an independent human being and does not have a problem letting us know that!  Don't get me wrong, she is still a great kid....she is just giving us more of a run for our money!!

All things being said, I would never change my life for a million dollars.  Every day with Kendall is a new day and she is such a little ball of spunk and energy!  Derek and I are so blessed to have such a beautiful and healthy little girl.  :)

Helping mom cook  :)

Bath time!

Playing in the bath.

 

  Derek hiding from Kendall under the blanket.

.........AND the tree is up!!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!  It was the perfect day, with fresh snow on the ground, to get into the Christmas Spirit  :)  Kendall and I decorated the house while daddy reffed a wrestling tournament today!  Tomorrow, we are going to get our Christmas tree and decorate it as well.  Isn't it amazing how the smell of pine, twinkling Christmas lights, presents under the tree, Christmas music in the background, and sparkling white snow on the ground can make a person instantly in a good mood?

Mmmmm yummy pudding!

Kendall loves her puppies!!

Happy DECEMBER!!!

We had a nice, relaxing week with my parents here...did a whole lot of Christmas shopping and way too much eating  :) 

Kendall seemed to be feeling a little under the weather this past week, a little more clingy and fussy than usual, but she still found time to get some laughs in.  I think Grandpa read every book she has times three this past week and Grandma taught her some new dance moves.  We'll definitely miss them until we see them again in January.   We are so blessed to have been able to spend Thanksgiving with them.

Grandma and Kendall

Grandpa and Kendall

Kendall at Firehouse Subs today

We even managed to find time for my mom to get a tattoo while they were here.  She chose a hibiscus flower on her lower leg.  It looks really neat!! 

The countdown is on....67 days until our FIRST nephew is expected to make his debut!!  We couldn't be more excited and look forward to buying some boyish things  :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

How blessed am I to have family to spend the holiday with.  We shared this day with my parents, Aunt Jaime and Uncle Lyle, and cousins Shelby, Travis, and Mallory.  

After we gorged ourselves into the "Turkey coma", we were able to spend some time outside working off the 10 pounds of food we just consumed.  It was again, another beautiful day today with highs in the upper 60s.  Grandma Diane was even able to break out her flip flops!!

I am thankful for so many things this year....

... a beautiful, healthy daughter
... a loving husband and daddy
... supportive and caring parents
... wonderful family and friends
... a healthy soon-to-be nephew!
... a job that I love
... and most of all, LIFE.  LIFE IS GRAND!!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.  Be thankful today and everday for all that you have because it is not always a guarantee  :)

Kendall enjoying the day outside today :)

While I worked today, Derek took Kendall to a small petting zoo of different types of Alpacas (which is a cousin to the llama) at the local community center.  Aftward, they headed to the park....of which Ms. Princess NEVER likes to leave  :)

After working tomorrow and Tuesday, I'll have completed my 4-12hr shifts in a row for the week and will be able to be off for a week while my parents are here for Thanksgiving.  We look forward and feel very fortunate to be able to have family here to spend the holiday with. 

Well, the fridge is stocked for Thanksgiving!!  Kendall and I headed out to the grocery store today to fill up the pantry and fridge since we will be hosting the best holiday of the year this year.  Thank goodness for coupons, as I saved $48.15 with them today!!!

It was a gorgeous day here today so we spent the afternoon outside waiting for daddy to come home from work.  Kendall has been quite the chatterbox the past few days and enjoys having conversations with her books and the dogs.  She has figured out where her bellybutton is and loves attempting to put her own clothes on.  She is such a riot!!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

Drawing with sidewalk chalk

"We love you daddy!!"

Smile pretty!!

I just had to post this for all you Viking and Packer fans!! Is this Kendall in 3 years???

Here are a couple videos of Kendall singing and dancing that I thought you all might enjoy.....

Here are some pictures that I uploaded of our day last weekend at Mr. Bigg's Family Fun Center.

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As I was pulling out of the parking lot of the hospital last night, I came across a little surprise....

 He was eating the grass right next to my car, not even acknowledging me!!  I came home and showed Derek and he says, "I'm not trying to one up you or anything, but take a look at this!"  And he shows me a picture that he took right outside of his office....

 'Tis the season for all you deer hunters!!!  Good luck and be careful out there  :)

It's been a busy week so I apologize for not updating sooner. Derek is reffing a wrestling tournament so Kendall and I headed to Mr. Biggs Fun Center today to expel some energy that Kendall has mounds of! There is a "little big town" there for little ones complete with a sand pit, jungle gyms, jumping tent, and many different themed rooms for make believe play. She had a great time running around and exploring :).

It is absolutely amazing how much Kendall has developed within these past few weeks. She now understands most of what we're saying, can point to objects if you ask her where something is. Her favorite is still reading books and now telling us what sounds animals make such as "moo", "quack quack" and "roar"!

We are looking forward to my parents coming out the week of Thanksgiving and are having my aunt and uncle over for our Thanksgiving Feast! I'm actually excited to cook the meal (which doesn't happen very often).

We hope all our family and friends are enjoying the beautiful weather back home! It's beautiful here today as well - sunny and in the 60s!

Thank you Leap Year for allowing 366 days at 29 years old!  Every year flies by faster than the last.  Today I spent my birthday hanging out with one cute little girl named Kendall.  What a great, relaxing birthday it was!  Besides, who wouldn't love hanging out with this cute little face....

We met Derek for lunch at the Olive Garden and then spent the afternoon running errands and getting things done around the house.  What a productive day it was!!  Now as I blog, I think about how thankful I am to have such a wonderful family.  I have the most supportive and loving husband and a beautiful, healthy baby.  God truly has blessed me :)

I always read that gender distinction in children does not develop until age 2-3.  Perhaps Kendall has become a little curious with this idea?  I'll let you look at the following pictures and form your own opinion...

I'll just add that Duke is a MALE boxer  :)

Happy Halloween!!!

We took Kendall out to our neighborhood recreation center for fun and games for the kids.  She enjoyed pumpkin bowling and "fishing" for candy.  Afterwards, we went to a couple houses on our street for a little trick-or-treating.  

Our little angel laughing!

Trick-or-treating with daddy (and a HUGE bucket!)

Pretty girl  :)

 Funny how we go to get Kendall's costume on and somehow her white tights that I bought just the other day disappeared!  Kendall has a sock drawer that I threw them in after I bought them.  Well, she also likes to empty out and throw each and every pair of socks that she owns, down the stairs almost on a daily basis.  We searched for those tights for a half hour with no luck, so we ended up with white and pink striped leggings (which you can't even see). 

I think Kendall enjoyed handing out candy to all the trick-or-treaters more so than receiving it herself, so we let her hand the candy to the kids when they came to the house.

As you can tell, she is into taking things out of places where they belong, ie. candy out of the candy bucket.  She has learned very fast, however, that when things are taken out of their place, they must be returned.  She is very good about putting things back where they belong (at least for a 16 month old!)

Hope everyone has a safe and happy halloween!!!

Today we spent the morning at the library and the afternoon at the park.  Kendall was pooped by the end of the day!  I even found her lying on the middle of the living room floor with her blankie at 7:30, ready for bed!!!

Although the day was busy, she still found the energy to be goofy in the bath tub  :)

Kendall being goofy this morning.

Happy baby tonight  :)

She even smiles now when I ask her to!

SNOW!!!  It snowed about six inches on Wednesday here.  Kendall looked at the snow like she'd never seen it before!!  (Obviously she doesn't remember).  It is supposed to be back up into the upper 60's by the weekend, so I'm sure it will all melt.  Nevertheless, I do like the snow.  However, I do NOT like the cold.  Kendall and I went out to run some errands today all bundled up, but it was actually really nice outside with the sun shining!  I'll take the 300+ days of the year that the sun shines in Colorado any day :)

Snow?

Derek took off for Iowa this morning for work until Sunday.  So it's just me and Kendall this weekend.  We picked up her Halloween costume today....check back on Monday night for pics :)  Kendall has been feeling a little under the weather the past few days with a runny nose and cough.  Despite not feeling so great, she still is full of spunk!! 

Enjoying bath time!!

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While we were in Minnesota two weeks ago, we had a get together with our high school basketball team.  It was good to see all the girls, their kids, and the coaches.  I can't begin to say how many times I wish I could go back and play one more game with those girls!

From left:  Alexis, Michaela, myself, Leah, Emily

Us girls with Coach Craig and Coach Rita

I learned so many things from basketball and from playing with these girls.  I learned that nothing is easy.  That life is never fair.  You have to work hard to reap the benefits.  But you should never give up, complain, or gripe about what you don't have because what you do have may not be there the next day.  I learned how to compromise and be a team player; that the game (life) is not just about one person.  Winning in basketball and in life is so much better when you have your teammates (family) by your side to enjoy it with.  :)