To Infinity and Beyond...!

On October 30th we had our first of what we hope will be Cole's Annual Birthday/Halloween party. When we found out I was pregnant with Cole and he was due on October 25th we had visions of Halloween Birthday parties for him. When the little bugger took so long to come and arrived on November 3rd we weren't sure Halloween parties would work. Much to our happiness it was a great idea and will be our new tradition.

We had about 25 adults and kids, all in costume, come for the party. It's awesome to see Grandparents, parents, kids, single people in their 30's all dressed up. Some great costumes were seen. Miss Piggy was my personal favorite and I didn't get a picture of her. Sorry Vanessa!

Here are a few highlights from the party!

Buzz & Woody

Sister Virgina, Wonder Woman and Princess Jazmine Woody & Fairy Princess Emily (Kid's Nanny)
Father Al and Alea (dressed as a Huskers Fan, okay so not everyone dressed up!)

Woody & Cowgirl Sara enjoying birthday cupcakes!
The next evening we set out to go Trick or Treating. The kids got dressed up in their costumes (which now had a few stains on them) to head out. I was really excited to go with Cole this year as last year I missed the fun being home with our tiny newborn Kenleigh. It started out great and then we realized that as we left each house, a group of older kids in very scary masks were always walking up. By about the 4th house Cole was so scared of the kids and their masks that he asked to go home. We tried to get a few good pics of the kids before it all went to heck. Action shot of WonderWoman! Wondering if her super powers can break down the gate?

Howdy Pardner!

It was a great party, a great Halloween and makes us look forward to all of the fun we will have in future as the kids get older!

Fall in the Northwest

I always loved fall in the northwest. Beautiful leaves, cooler weather, boots and sweaters. My dad always loved it too. He passed away early in the morning on September 30, 2010 which turned out to be just a perfect fall day, one he would have loved to see.

When I rushed to Seattle on a moments notice late last month I never would have imagine I would end up spending 2 1/2 weeks there. Among the difficult times during the trip there were good ones too. I thought I would post a few pictures of the fun times.

We met up with Amy and her 2 kids to go to the Pumpkin Patch one day. Cole was in heaven! Grace is 9 years old and her and Cole hit it off instantly. They had so much fun on a big slide that they had at the patch.

I think the look on his face explains it all...heaven!

Just a couple BFF's trying to look happy during a sad time in life.

Speaking of BFF's, did I mention these 2 were?

Anyone else have a 3 year old that they can't get to smile "normal?"

Sis was excited to wear her boots, too!

He took a piece of my heart with him...

Charles W. "Bill" Fromhold

August 11, 1942 - September 30, 2010

12 month stats

I forgot to post Kenleigh's 12 month stats. This is really more for my memory than for anyone else...but if you are comparing, yes...she's a big girl!

Weight: 24lb 8.5oz -- 90th

Height: 30.5 inches -- 90th

Head: 17 3/4 inches -- 50th

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Tall, chunky and ... I won't say it! Love my girl!!

Has anyone seen my baby?

Still playing catch up here...so, Miss K is now 1! I look at this precious little girl and realize she is no longer a baby. I am baby-less! She is walking, talking (says Mama, Dada, Bye Bye, Uh Oh, Ball) and chug-a-lugs her milk like such a big girl. It's gone too fast!

Celebrations started on her big day, September 8th. We took her to the standard Blubaum birthday location...Red Robin! Obviously her brother got to pick her birthday place. Sis enjoyed an ice cream sundae in celebration of turning 1. Here she is wanting more sundae!We came home and opened presents, correction, Cole opened her presents. She enjoyed watching him open them and then played with the paper. She got a pink vacuum, a baby doll and stroller and a bunch of other fun, fun toys! Here she is looking down checking on her baby.

Oh, and trying to get mommy's carpet clean (it's a lost cause, Kenleigh!)!

That Saturday was her party...ladybug themed! We even dressed up the birthday girl in theme with her party. Here she is with Renee. The wings lasted about 40 minutes, I was impressed!

I have raved before about my girlfriend Rachel and the amazing job she does with cakes and cupcakes. She went above and beyond again this party with these cupcakes. Adorable and delicious! Thank you Rachel for sharing your talents with us!

Mommy and the birthday girl...who was apparently reaching for a balloon, or something better than me!

Kiss this!

We always start celebrating holidays too soon. Halloween is no different. The Halloween jammies have been brought out! I love Cole in these...they are just so Cole!

Happy College Football Season...Go Cougs! Wait, who dressed these children?

So far behind...

Not even sure at this point how far to go back, I am so behind in blogging!

I was in Seattle in early August spending some time with Dad...this is what Cole wore while I was gone. WTH?

Miss K turned 11 months on August 8th...I think this is her funniest monthly photo yet. She is cracking up and if you look closely you can see her 2 little bottom teeth!

On August 9th we packed up the family and headed to Sunriver, OR for a week long vacation with my sisters family and our friend Catherine's family. The 3 of us spent our childhood vacationing together in Sunriver so it was so wonderful to come full circle and take our families together. We rented a house and had 6 adults and 7 kids...ages 6 months - 4 years old. Holy cow! It went a lot better than we thought it would. We committed to going again in 2011 while we were still there in 2010. Such a great trip!

Here is Sis trying on her new Abby helmet before we left. Don't mind the giant pacifier.

We rode bikes, went to the park, the bounce house, the pool and just had a great fun week. We also made 2 special trips to Goody's for ice cream. You can just tell how much Cole hated it.

One night we went to go see Michael John perform his great live music. We grew up going to see him on vacation in Sunriver, so seeing him brought back so many fun memories for my sister and I. Speaking of sisters...here we are. Sorry Kris, didn't crop out the ice cream. :)

Here are Ryan and Catherine and one of their three little ones. Miss Addie, so cute! Addison is 3 months younger than Cole.

Somehow I cannot figure out how to get videos from my cell phone onto my computer and post them on my blog (techies out there, please assist). Because I don't have the video as proof...you will just have to believe me that Miss K is walking! She started right when we got back from vacation and she is mastering it fast! She beat her deadline of walking by 1 year...but only by about 3 weeks. Good job Sis!

Look at this sweet baby!
Okay, I think that is it for August. Onto September...

Goodbye my friend...

I am out of date on this post, but wanted to share the very sad news that our friend Fletcher is now in heaven. He left us on Friday, August 6th. His kidney's were failing and he just wasn't getting better. Shawn was with him the whole time to hold his paw and say goodbye. He was one loved kitty, even his pet sitter Melinda made a trip to the vet to say her goodbye's. Fletcher has always been the profile picture on her Facebook account for her business.

What a cat! The stories go on forever as does our love for the little guy. We always said he had 19 not 9 lives. He lived them all to the fullest. From when Shawn found him in his backyard in November 2002 until the day he left us those 2 were the best of friends. Shawn saved Fletch, but I really think it went both ways. We aren't sure what to do with ourselves at 6am and 6pm (normal blood sugar/insulin time). If you ever end up with a diabetic animal...give us a call. We are experts after 7 years with one.

Here are some pictures with Fletch on August 6th.

We just returned from a week in Sunriver, OR (the reason this posting is late) and Shawn, the kids and I were on a bike ride one morning. We were riding for quite awhile when out of no where an all black cat, same size/frame as Fletcher ran across the bike path in front of us. We were both silent for a moment and then both said out loud that we just knew that was Fletch, letting us know he is okay and at peace.

Will post pictures (what few we took!) from our vacation this week.