Double Vision

Playdate

2012-01-10T08:29:00.000-08:00

Kellen had some friends come over for a playdate and they all sit so cute for a picture.

Apple Day

2012-01-09T06:26:00.000-08:00

Apples was our fall fun day.

Keep my commands and you will live, guard my teachings as the apple of you eye Proverbs 7:2

We started the morning with an apple and apple butter sandwich.

peeled and sliced some apples

played hide and seek with some apples

kicked some apples

First cutting experience

first glue experience

These are from Wal-Mart and work really well for beginners

Made an apple puzzle for Daddy

and an apple/cranberry cobbler

Dug for apple seeds

Then did some apple stamping

Daddy working on the puzzle

We had a busy day, but it was so much fun!! Can't wait for the next "fun day."

Santa Train

2011-12-29T07:13:00.000-08:00

Kellen loves trains, so when we heard about the Santa train we excited to go!

The night before we read books about trains, wore train pjs, and blew train whistles to prepare.

Our attempt at train pancakes for breakfast.

Thanks Grammie for the train shirt!!

Choo-Choo!!

Thanksgiving

2011-12-28T09:12:00.000-08:00

I know we should be posting about Christmas and we were on track for that before our computer came down with a virus that delayed some posts. Hopefully, we can finally get caught back up this week.

Over Thanksgiving we made some fun crafts with cousin John Paul

Gobble, Gobble

Snack time

My parent have some friends that have a clydesdale and were getting him out for a ride. When else would Kellen have the chance to ride a "big horse" as he kept calling it?

Build a Bear

2011-12-27T07:55:00.000-08:00

Kellen had the opportunity to go to his first Build-A-Bear birthday party. He loved it. Don't worry I didn't let him get a pink bear he was just holding it for a friend.

We made a cute little pilot named Scout

He was so proud!

After the bear making we headed over to the Miller's for dinner and a hayride around the neighborhood.

Sewing

2011-12-26T09:01:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my mom we have beening making Kellen some fun holiday shirts. I have never considered myself very crafty, but I think they turning out pretty cute.

C of O Homecoming

2011-12-25T17:56:00.000-08:00

We had the opportunity to catch up with some friends at College of the Ozarks Homecoming.

Kellen loved the jump houses

Former roomate Ashley and suite mate Sara-- love these girls!

It seems like just last year we were running around campus and Ashley was trying to help me decide what I would do with my life and now we were chasing after our children.

Future College of the Ozark students ( guess I can only speak for Kellen- but I hope Molly Scout is there too)

Corndogs!

2011-12-09T06:50:00.000-08:00

Do you need a good, quick, fall/winter treat? Try making these corndogs. All you need is some Jiffy mix and hotdogs.

K was pretty pleased with the fact that he could smash the hotdogs down into the batter. Plus, he ate a lot more than normal as he so was proud of himself for "making" his own dinner.

Halloween

2011-12-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

We borrowed this fish costume from Jill's mom and it was our hope that K would want to wear it for Halloween. We were sadly mistaken as he put it on, but he couldn't really see out of it, so we went with Plan B.

Bye, bye fishy --- Hello, Bob the Builder.

K was much happier in this outfit so we went with it.

We went several places but our favorite had to be a nursing home that is pretty close to our house. The majority of the residents were participating and K loved going up to each one and picked out the candy that he wanted.

We ended our night by coming back home and turning on our own porch light for others to come and trick-or-treat at our house. K was so excited every time the door bell rang as he was anxious to see what others were dressed up like. He loved handing out the candy to others but we think this will be the one and only year that we will be able to do this as next year he will probably catch on to the fact that he is giving away the same candy that he worked so hard to get earlier in the evening.

Don't judge -- 22 month olds don't need the candy.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

Rock and Roll- Number 5-- St. Louis

2011-12-06T06:55:00.000-08:00

This fall we made a trip back to St. Louis for our fifth marathon in the Rock and Roll series. We chose this race because we will take every chance that we can get to go back to one of our "hometowns". Although it's not really either of our hometowns we feel a special love for the city as we enjoyed so much about the city during Jill's four years of optometry school there. So we loaded up the car, picked up "Grannanny", and off we went.

We started off at the race expo. After four other races we finally wised up a bit and decided to take K in this hiking pack instead of trying to manuver a stroller through 30,000 people.

We visited Anheuser-Busch for the tour and so K could see the clydesdales. He liked seeing the horses and his second favorite thing was being able to ride the escalators towards the end of the tour.

K loved our lunch stop as it had live music. He danced the whole time and didn't take the time to eat.

The whole highlight of the trip for him was supposed to be the zoo. We had built this up so much and we had spent several weeks preparing him and teaching him about all of the animals. But...we carted him around so much that when we finally arrived at the zoo he couldn't even keep his eyes open.

Maybe we are bad parents but we let him catch a five minute power nap and then we woke him up.

He didn't seem to mind as he loved walking around and seeing all of the animals. It was a toss up between the elephant and the penguin as to which animal was his favorite. We would pick the penguins just because we liked to hear him say, "waddle, waddle, waddle."

Sunday was the race and we couldn't have asked for better weather. We were able to run the first eight miles together and so that added to the enjoyment level a bit. Overall, it was a good run and a great way to cap off the weekend.

Hiking

2011-11-30T06:15:00.000-08:00

During one of our trips to Cassville we went to Roaring River to hike. After all of these years of hiking there we actually found a new trail that we didn't even know was there. We weren't really planning on hiking and so we didn't have K's pack so it made the hike a bit more difficult as we just had to pass him back and forth to carry.

No matter who had him, we all had to understand that the stick came with him. It was his own little walking stick.

We made lots of stops along the way as K is at the age where he is interested in everything. We probably hiked for 30-45 minutes and the total number of "What's that?" more than doubled that.

Apple Butter Makin Days

2011-11-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of the highlights of the fall is returning back to Mt.Vernon for Apple Butter Making Days.

K started the weekend by riding this trike around everywhere. He was set on riding it as soon as he woke up, which you can see was accomplished as he still has on his pajamas.

K and John Paul were very excited about the parade. John Paul loved getting all of the candy and K loved the bands.

He would dance from beginning to end and he was more entertainment for us then the actual parade. There were a few times that he wanted to join in with them and march beside them so we had to keep him close by, but for the most part he just danced and gave everyone around us a good laugh.

We have to pick up our yearly supply of Apple Butter. It is cooked right on the square.

The weather was great during the weekend and we were glad that we were able to return home and enjoy ABMD.

We think that K liked everything about it, but we know for sure that he loved the "bounce house." Even though he may have been a bit young for it, he just went right in and did the best that he could. He loved it so much he started crying when we made him get out. He still asks to go back so that he can "bounce, bounce, bounce."

Fall Craft

2011-11-18T06:56:00.000-08:00

I love pinterest- This is just one little craft that I got from there. It was easy with a little mod podge and scrapbook paper. We enjoyed it on our front door this fall!

Apples

2011-11-11T06:54:00.000-08:00

One of the highlights of the Fall is heading to the orchard and getting apples. We were bummed this year as we found out that you can no longer pick them yourself, but it is still worth the visit.

We got these a few weeks ago and we only have a few left. Next year we will have to get four bags.

Kellens First Slumber Party

2011-11-08T05:39:00.000-08:00

K had is first slumber party with his friend Ava

They raced around-- Ava is coming around the corner

She is gaining on him

She is closing the gap

And it is a tie at the finish line!

They had fun jumping in his crib

One of the first times they weren't moving allowed us to snap a picture that isn't blurry. There wasn't many moments like this so we had to take advantage.

Building a fort!

and reading with flashlights.

We had a great time and can't wait for many more slumber parties.

Cook Out

2011-11-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

We recently had a wonderful family cook out in the back yard.

What is a cook out without smores?

Or a battery operated marshmallow toaster!!

Puerto Rico- Part 4

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Our fourth day was definitely the highlight of our trip. The meetings were over and so we were able to head out for an all day adventure. We meet up with our group and headed to another forest for some hiking, repelling, and zip lines.

The hike consisted of going up the river bed. The majority of the hike was over large rocks and through very rough terrain so we had to have on our safety gear and use ropes to help us climb.

Once we got up, we had to come down, so that is were the repelling came in. It was our first time to repel and what better time to experience then repelling down a 100 foot waterfall.

The first step was a bit scary but after that it was a great experience.

The last part of the adventure was three ziplines that were each about 300 yards long. If you look close you can see Jill ziplining across the jungle.

Overall, the trip was one that was full of adventure and unique experiences. For a trip that we were initially hesitant about, this was one that we will remember for a long time. It seemed like every day was a new experience and we are thankful that we were able to enjoy them all.

Puerto Rico - Part 3

2011-11-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

Some of the highlights of the trip was the fact that we were able to experience a lot of new foods and flavors. The unknown fact that we didn't know about Puerto Rico before going there is that every thing there is fried. We don't use the term "everything" loosely, because all meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, have something fried. This is a good thing for a meal or two but after a few days, we were looking for anything that resembled a fruit or a vegetable.

We visited this row of kiosk, also known as heart attack alley for lunch one day. It was 41 kiosk of anything and everything all stuck in deep fryers and sitting under heat lamps. Probably not the most sanitary place that we have ever eaten but hey - it's all about the experience.

One night we were able to go on a nighttime kayak tour. In Puerto Rico there is a body of water that has some microorganisms in it that will glow if there is movement around them. So you paddle out through this huge tunnel of mangrove trees to the lake, and once there you stick your paddles in and it is like a glow stick everywhere around you. There are only about five places in the world where this can be experienced and it was really cool.

It is completely dark and the only thing that guides you is a small light on the boat in front of you. Needless to say there were some pretty crazy times as we are not the best paddlers in the world, but we still made it through it and were still smiling at the end.

Puerto Rico- Part 2

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

Our hotel was only minutes away from El Yunque. El Yunque is the only rain forest located in the US or its territories so it was definitely on the to-do-list.

We found several trails to hike and the majority of them had waterfalls.

We spent one day hiking on our own, then we convinced others from our group to join us. It ended up being a much longer hike than expected so they will probably never go back with us. Regardless of the length it was worth it as we were able to make it to the highest point in the rain forest. It was an overcast day so the view was limited but we were up there long enough to see a break in the clouds and see the entire island.

After a long day of hiking we headed back into San Juan. There happened to be a street festival going on so we were able to still around a bit after dinner.

Puerto Rico-Day 1

2011-10-30T21:59:00.000-07:00

This summer we were able to take a trip to Puerto Rico. The trip was a part business part pleasure as we went with my job for our planning retreat but we were also able to stay an extra day to do some extra sight-seeing. Puerto Rico is not a location that we had ever thought about traveling to but we were pleasantly surprised with the trip.

We landed at the airport and instantly went to the San Cristobal Fort in Old San Juan. The fort is right along the coastline and offers great views of the city.

We spent the rest of the day walking around Old San Juan and enjoyed an early dinner there as well. It was a fairly long travel day but we felt like we were able to get the most out of our time there.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-27T06:39:00.000-07:00

We had the opportunity to go Farmland Adventures with some long time college friends that we don't see often enough.

K loved the pony rides

Tamarah, Uriah, Naomi and Kellen enjoyed a baby goat

Runing through the maze

Wordless Wednesday - Multi-tasking

2011-10-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

Fall Snacks

2011-10-25T07:38:00.000-07:00

I love cooking with K. These were fun little snacks we made. He loved opening the wrappers.

And eating the chocolate as well!

Escape Artist

2011-10-24T06:13:00.000-07:00

So the other day K kept saying outside, outside. I told him we would go in just a little bit when it warmed up. Well I guess that wasn't good enough because when I came back to the living room this is what I found.

I guess he decided to take matters into his own hand and just go through the window!

Bug Day

2011-10-20T09:15:00.000-07:00

I stayed up a little late the night before preparing, but I couldn't wait to start our first monthly fun day-Bug Day!!

Breakfast was a mini caterpillar pancake/grape and butterfly

How cute is that face!!

He loved every bite

Then we hopped like a grasshopper

Found all the bugs on our shirt

Followed the bug trail

Played hide a seek with them for probably 20 times.

Ran with our bug back pack

I cut a 2 liter and filled it with bugs and borrowed one of daddies socks for a litte game. At first he was a little hesitant to stick in arm down the get the bugs out.

But it didn't take long for him to love it!

Then we matched them with their "friend"

We listened to bug sounds

Made a fingerprint ladybug

Lunch was a centipede, ants on a log, and a spider

Matching game

Caterpillar painting

Dinner - butterfly sandwich

Well I hope that K loved the day as much as I did planning and participating.

I can't wait for the next one.

Wordless Wednesday-Hiking

2011-10-19T06:17:00.000-07:00

Branson Weekend

2011-10-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

We love Branson!! We had a great weekend in Branson about a month ago. We started will a little fun through the sun roof.

Eating breakfast at the lodge.

Then it was off to White Water for some family fun in the sun.

All ready for the rides!

Here is another picture because it is so cute!

Snack time

After a great nap we headed to dinner at a little german restaurant with a beautiful view of Table Rock Lake.

What is a trip to Branson without the fountains at the Landing?

You would think that after living in Branson for 4 years during college and then as many trips as we have made since that we have tried almost everything, but this was a first at Billy Gail's Cafe.

Kellen loved the jelly-I think that he got it all out

But to be sure he licked it as well

They are known for the huge pancakes!

After a great breakfast we headed to Silver Dollar City

Kellen rode the frogs with mommie

Then with Daddie

Rode the catipillar with mommie

then with Daddie

Can you find Mark?

Well as you see we had a busy but great weekend in Branson. Can't wait to go back!

Mow Mow!!!

2011-10-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

We have almost completed the mowing season and while most guys are thankful for the break, Kellen is going to be quite upset. There wasn't a day that went by this summer where he didn't want to go outside and use his mower.

I am glad that he likes to mow and I look forward to turning this task over to him sometime in the next 10 years.

Chicken Coop

2011-10-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

This summer we were able to go to Branson and spend the weekend with Josh, Sarah, and Bryson. We loved getting to see them and just spend some time relaxing away from home.

While we were there Josh was able to share his new project/hobby with us -- a chicken coop. The coop itself was very elaborate with more bells and whistles than the chickens probably desearve, but we were very impressed with Josh's attention to detail and craftsmanship.

We took some time to really inspect it as we have high hopes of one day living in an area where we could have a coop of our own. Right now we don't think our neighbors would appreciate it quite as much as we would and so we will just have to be patient and study up on http://www.backyardchickens.com/.

Still Playing Catch Up

2011-10-10T10:24:00.000-07:00

Still playing catch up with our blog posts, here are some pictures that capture the fun we had at the Springdale Aquatic Center this summer. I guess you can tell that Kellen loves the water!

Cousins

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Kellen does not get to see his cousins as much as we would like for him to, but when they are together they certainly enjoy each others company. With four boys, four years old or younger, everyone is kept on high alert when we all get together but it generally works out with only a minor accident or two. The boys play hard and keep busy running around and getting the maximum out of their time together, but then sometimes they will surprise you as they will sit down and and enjoy a book with grandma before bedtime. The calm moments don't happen that often so we relish them and use the time as an opportunity to catch our breath as we know that with all of the cousins together it is probably just the calm before the storm.

Thursday Fun Day

2011-10-06T06:45:00.000-07:00

Thursdays are my full day off with Kellen so I want to document some of the fun activities we do on those days. This was one from a couple of weeks ago, we started off the day with reading and dancing.

Next, was a little watercolor painting. He started painting on the paper

then he moved on to his hands!

We worked on our colors and sorting,

and then made some bread -- I have new love for breadmakers

Then I thought we would try to make macaroni necklaces, however I think that he is a little young for that craft, but he enjoyed running through it dragging the string!

It was certainly a busy day but we love every minute of our Thursdays together.

Wordless Wednesday-Wagon Style

2011-10-05T06:58:00.000-07:00

Bike Rides

2011-10-04T06:01:00.000-07:00

Bike rides have been one of our favorite summer/fall activities. A few Saturday's ago we had a wonderful time when Papa and Grammie were visiting and joined us on the bikes! We started at our house and rode about 6 miles to the first park. We have to stop at every park along the way as Kellen gets very excited when he sees all of the slides and swings. Kellen had fun running around for a while, then it was off again. We made another quick park stop and then stopped at the Fayetteville Farmers Market. We had a great little sandwich and strawberry muffin at a local bakery and enjoyed the wonderful weather and time together. Grammie was getting a little concerned at this point because we were about 15 miles from home but after a little pep talk we were on our way back. On our way back home we made a lunch stop at Mellow Mushroom and one more park stop. It was an unforgettable day and we hope to have many more great rides!

Love Summer Veggies

2011-09-21T06:10:00.000-07:00

K is turning into quite the chef. He loves to cut up all of his veggies, put them in a pot, and then stir them all up.

At first this was a two person job as we would have to hold the veggie but he is becoming more independent and wants to do this all by himself now.

During the summer our house is filled to the brim with all of the goodness form the garden. A few years ago we tried to have a small garden of our own but after a not so successful attempt we decided we don't have room for one and we are gone just enough that we can't be consistent on the watering requirement. No matter what the excuse we know that our garden never produced the quality of what we receive from our parents and grandparents gardens. We know that we don't tell them enough but we are certainly appreciative of all of their efforts and can't imagine a summer going by without the veggies.

My Sweet Boy

2011-09-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

I just love this age!!!

Poooool!

2011-09-16T06:57:00.000-07:00

We set a new record for the number of days above 100 degrees this summer so many hours were spent outside in the pool. Some mornings Kellen would wake up and the first word out of his mouth was pool, othertimes he would wait about five minutes but we knew it was coming. Pool, pool, pool, pool and on and on it went until we would eventually wear down and take him outside to the pool.

He loved every minute of it and by the end of the summer he was a pro at swiming and the slides.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-14T06:58:00.000-07:00

4th of July

2011-09-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

We know we are so behind on this little blog, but thankfully life has been keeping us busy, and we now have lots of things to update on!! So here we go on a series of posts to catch up. First on the list is July 4th, we had a great one just enjoying family time together.

Now that Kellen is getting older I can't wait to make lots of cute food stuff.

I think he enjoyed this one especially the blueberries!

Seattle Part 2

2011-08-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

After spending a few days in Portland we headed up I-5 to Seattle. Not to ramble here at the start but I-5 has to be one of the worst highways in America. It was so busy and conjested that it what should have been a three hour trip lasted closer to five. Not a good way to travel when Kellen is a little bit under the weather and we had already made plans to meet Davin in Seattle, but as always, we had to adjust to things that were outside of our control and make the best of it.

We finally made it to Seattle and had to make a quick stop at the expo to pick up the race packet. Then we were able to track Davin down and catch up for dinner and the rest of the evening. Seattle has a great waterfront area and so we ate and walked along the piers, checking out as much as we could.

While we didn't want it to rain the entire time that we were there we were excited about some rain. We can't imagine going to the Norhwest and not experiencing any rain.

One of the must-do's was to visit Pike's Place Market. On Friday night we got into town a bit too late to really see the market but we wanted to get a picture of this sign so we went and walked around anyway.

The next day we were up early so we could make it to the race on time. Jill and Kellen dropeed us off and then met us at the finish line a couple of hours later. The run was one of my favorite this far as the majority of the route was along a waterfront and it didn't seem as crowded as some of the others that we have completed.

We met up with Jill and Kellen at Safeco Field -- home of the Seattle Seahawks.

The rest of the time in Seatlle was a blur as we went from place to place. Everything in Seattle seems to be within a few miles of each other and so we were able to squeeze everything in. We spent time at Pike's Place Market, the Space Needle, the Ballard Locks, Olympic Sculpture Park, Pioneer Square, the flagship REI store, Discovery Park, and took a ferry ride to Bainbridge island.

Davin added to, and may have taken from, the gum wall.

Kellen loved the fresh flowers at Pike's Place Market.

Going to so many places required us to keep a frantic pace that may have been even more difficult that the run but we were able to get everything done and enjoyed every minute of it.

Rock and Roll Number 4 Portland/Seattle

2011-08-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

We decided to combine race #4 with a trip to the Northwest to see some wonderful friends. Ashley, Jill's college roommate, and her husband Jeff and daughter Molly Scout moved out to Portland over a year ago and so we decided to make that the first leg of our trip. We flew into Portland a few days before the race so that we could spend some time with the Weston's.

Our first day there we took Molly Scout and Kellen to the Portland Children's Musuem. Each room had it's own theme and it was a spot that the kids could really get down and play as we had no worries about them messing anything up.

One of Kellen's favorite rooms was the Construction Zone. They had a lot of trucks and loaders that were just his size and since the material was chopped up rubber peices there was no mess or worries about him handling it. I'm pretty sure that we spent more time in this room than in all the other rooms combined.

One of the highlights of the Portland area was our trip to Multnomah Falls. The waterfall is located about 30 minutes outside of Portland but it is certainly worth the trip. The falls are 611 feet tall and so it was difficult to get the whole thing in the picture frame so that others can see the magnitude of it. In this picture you can see the bridge above and there was a paved path that made it easy to get to.

Molly Scout and Kellen loved hiking as well. We only let them do the short walks as their little legs wear out pretty quickly.

In addition to seeing the main waterfall we also went on a longer hike while there. This hike started out a little rough as Kellen wasn't feeling well and fought us a bit as he was getting into his backpack. But once we got further up the mountain we were able to see the water flowing down and the lush surroundings and he settles down a bit. The mountains are glacier topped so as they start to melt off the water rushes down. Of course Kellen and I had to stick our hands in the water and it was freezing cold. He wanted just to sit there and play in it all day but it was so cold we just had to dip our fingers in and then move on. The rest of the trail was just as much fun though as everything was so lush and there was so much vegitation it made us feel like we were in a rain forrest.

One of the other highlights of the trip was visiting Jeff's job but I'm not sure if we can post pictures or not so we will err on the side of caution. He works for SAWSTOP and you can check out the video of their company http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3mzhvMgrLE. I freely admit that I am not the most handy, industrial, or knowledgable about tools but no matter what your experience level is, this is one awesome product. Jeff was gracious enough to let us come to his work and I even had the chance to test the product out. By far, one of the coolest things that I have seen, so it was awesome just to see how it worked. Again, I'm not the crafty, woodworking type, but this was certainly something that I would want to have.

Overall, we loved our three days in Portland and are so thankful for Ashley's, Molly Scout's and Jeff's hospitality. They were great, the area was great, and we can't wait to make a return trip to the area.

Happy 7 Year Anniversary

2011-08-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

June 5th was our anniversary and Mark suprised me with a short little get-away to Eureka Springs. His mom was already watching K for the day and when I got home from work, my bags were packed and we headed out.

For many years we have talked about staying at a Bed & Breakfast but it just never worked out. But Eureka Springs is full of B & B's and so this was a perfect opportunity to try our first one. We were pleasantly surprised at the whole experience as the accomidations were very nice and it was great to just walk downstairs and have a four course breakfast already prepared.

While there we were also able to enjoy shopping and just spending some quality time together. The uniqeness of Eureka Springs is something that we always enjoy as they certainly have some specialty stores that carry items that can't be found just everywhere.

We really enjoyed our little get-away and although it was only one night it was a great way to celebrate a fantastic seven years together.

Our parents are always glad for us to take these little get-aways too as that means that they get to watch K. Mark's mom watched him on Friday and then on Saturday

our prarents met and he spent the rest of the day with Grammie. We went to pick him up but we had to make a quick trip to the fish hatchery first as K loves to go and feed the fish.

Sandbox

2011-07-15T06:30:00.001-07:00

Although it has been blazing hot the last few weeks K still tries to spend as much time outside as he can and one of his favorite places to play is in his sandbox.

This usually results in sand covering him from head to toe

and it is not uncommon for a ton of sand to end up out of the box but isn't that what playing in a sandbox is all about.

Kellen's First Trip to Silver Dollar City

2011-07-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years we have certainly spent our fair share of time at Silver Dollar City. However, this trip was our first experience with K and so it was certainly a different experience. Gone are the days of riding the roller coasters, water rides, etc. and instead we are now drawn to the hopping grasshoppers and various animals on the carousel. Everything seemed to happen at a much slower pace as we were intent on making sure that K had a good time and that in turn made for a pretty relaxing day. We weren't rushing from one area to another but instead we just made it to what we could and all enjoyed taking our turns helping him explore his new surroundings.

We are always appreciative of grandparents who just want to spend time with K and are willing to try anything to make him happy. (even if that means squeezing into a ride that is not meant for anyone over 36" tall)

Although this is as close as we got to an adult ride all day, we wouldn't have changed anything about the trip and we look forward to being able to return a couple more times this summer.

Meeting Mr. Potato Head

2011-07-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

We Love Blueberries!!

2011-07-12T06:58:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite things of the summer is to pick blueberries. We love eating them, but there is something refreshing about picking them right off the bush. This was Kellen's second experience with this Robertson tradition and he definitely is a fan as well.

A couple of times we were trying to find him and he was just hidden under a bush stuffing them in his mouth.

K loved helping Grammie pick the berries at the top of the bushes.

Love this picture!!

We are not sure if he was helping Papa or just eating all of the blueberries out of his bucket; regardless, we know that he is a fan of "bu-ber-eees".

Grandparent Fun

2011-07-11T06:34:00.000-07:00

Grammie showing K the trout at Roaring River State Park

Papa driving K around and around

Pa will eat whatever K will feed him-- even plastic tomatos!

Grandma on the other hand is not sure about the plastic tomato.

Catching Up--Mother's Day

2011-07-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

Trying to catch up on a little blogging, but shouldn't it be Mothers Day everyday!!

We had a nice one visiting family.

Kellen started out just looking at the water

Then started throwing a few rocks in.

And then the next time with looked Papa had his shoes off and he was wading in the water!

We love great-grandparents getting to spend time with Kellen.

I can go by......

2011-07-07T06:35:00.000-07:00

Trike,

Jogging Stroller,

Hiking Backpack,

Wagon,

Car,

and finally...

Bike.

I haven't decided which one is my favorite yet but I am excited to keep trying them all out! -- K

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

Rock and Roll Number 3-- Nashville

2011-06-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

We headed to the Country Music Capitol of the World to complete leg three of the 2011 Marathon Challenge. When we were selecting races for the year we knew that we wanted to participate in the Country Music race because we had never been to Nashville and because we had heard so many good things about the race. Obviously word had spread to others as well as there were over 33,000 runners signed up.

Since this was our first trip to Nashville we decided to take an extra day and a half off so that we could make sure and get everything in. This turned out not to be a problem though as we found that we were able to quickly hit what we had been told were the highlights of Nashville. We felt like we were able to experience the city fairly well in a day and so we then started looking at the surrounding areas. One of the best things that we found on Saturday after the race was a small festival being held in Franklin, about 20 minutes outside of Nashville. It was great to be able to enjoy the small town and visit the small specialty shops as well as the booths at the town fair.

Grammie did a lot of this (chasing after Kellen)
Neat old print shop in Downtown Nashville

Sunday was a day that was reserved for travel as we had to make the 8 hour trek home. If you live anywhere in the Midwest then you know that we have been inundated with rain lately and on this day it certainly felt as if we were dumped on for hours on end. After stopping over for lunch in Memphis we were packing up for the last 5 hour stretch when we were greeted with the tornado sirens and the warning that they may close the bridge on I-40. So we loaded up as quickly as we could and then drove right into the storm. For the next five hours we were in a constant rain storm and our conversation was often interrupted so that we could listen to the emergency warnings on the radio but we all made it home in one piece and we are thankful that we were able to check off yet another race.

Great ribs in Memphis

What a great day!!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-01T07:06:00.000-07:00

Oklahoma is OK!!-- Bar Induction Ceremony

2011-05-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

It’s not very often that we are able to take off mid-week for an adventure but we recently had an opportunity to travel to Oklahoma City for a Bar Induction Ceremony. We were gone just a little over twenty four hours but we squeezed a lot in that very short amount of time.

We started the night with the best pizza from "The Wedge" if you are ever in Oklahoma City you must try it.

They have a nice area called Bricktown to walk around

Congratulations Daddy!!

It was a challenge to keep little man still during this part - but he did great thanks to lots of animal crackers and pretzals.

What a cute little man!!

If you have ever traveled with Jill then you know that she researches and is able to find some great things to do. On this trip she may have reached an all-time high as she found a museum on homing pigeons. At first, I was very hesitant and was thinking of about a hundred other things that we could have been doing instead --- but then as we started learning more and more about the birds it quickly became an experience that we will never forget. By no means is this a comprehensive list of what we learned but we will provide some highlights:

· People buy pigeons and pay to have them trained so that they may race against one another – the typical cost for this training can be several thousand dollars.

· Pigeons can sell for as much as $75,000 or even more depending on their ancestry. The highest priced Homing Pigeon was sold for $225,000.

· Racing Homing Pigeons have been clocked flying 92.5 mph average speed on a 400 mile race.

· Pigeons are the only bird in the world that do not have to lift their head to swallow water.

Kellen loved all the birds!

Arn't they so clean looking?-- for a bird

3rd Annual Branson Getaway

2011-05-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

It’s always nice to get away with friends. Recently we were able to take advantage of an open weekend at my aunt and uncle’s rental in Branson for our 3rd annual getaway. So we loaded up four families, with all of their baby/toddler items and took over the place. Thankfully it is large enough for everyone to have their own space and for the kids to run as wild as they would like to. However, we had five kids, all under the age of two, so even with all of the space it is understandable why the place was a madhouse at times but overall the weekend was a great success.

2011 Crew -- Amazing to see how this group will grow in the future!!

Flashback to 2009

Flashback to 2010

Home sweet Home

2011-04-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

We are very blessed as we live relatively close to our parents/families. Thankfully, we don’t have to suffer through six hour car rides to visit and we are not limited to seeing them only on major holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas but no matter how often we see them, there is always a sense that we could use more time with them. It seems like every time we see them we never have enough time to squeeze in everything we want to do and we always leave on Sunday afternoon wishing we could just have a few more hours together.

As K is getting older and appreciating his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins even more, it seems like he is beginning to feel the same way. It is great to see him acknowledge who they are and even though he doesn’t get to see his cousins as often as we would like, it is evident that they love to spend time together as they all quickly warm up to one another and almost immediately team-up to destroy anything in their path.

Playing in the farm equipment

Jumping with daddy- Mommy a little nervous!

So we will continue to try and make it home as often as possible and even though we know that our return trips will never be frequent enough to satisfy our parents, they should know that we would like to make them more often as well. Clean and snuggling before bed

3 boys in a tub! Being carted around by Grammie!!!

Rock and Roll Number 2

2011-03-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was spent in Dallas completing the second leg of a six (or maybe) seven leg journey. For the past couple of years Davin and I have discussed completing multiple marathons and half marathons in the Rock-and Roll series. We love to do the runs and after several years of running in local or regional runs we thought that it would be cool to make this year’s runs more of a destination run or enjoy some places that we haven’t been before. Not that Dallas really fits into those categories but in order to get in six races we needed to have some that we were within driving distance to help keep some of the cost down. So we loaded up the families and headed to The Big D for the weekend. The majority of Saturday was spent enjoying various spots around Uptown. Although we have been to Dallas a couple of times before we never took the time to visit this area but it was pretty cool. We enjoyed riding the trolley around, visiting a few of the shops, and then found a little local place where we had a great lunch. We also found a great yogurt shop that was so good that we had to visit it twice. We then met up with the Hicks family and enjoyed the rest of the evening with them.

As you can see we love Red Mango!!!

"I am fully hydrated but I want some FOOD!"

Having fun on the trolley!!

Kellen's tent/he slept great under it!!

On the road ready to cheer on our Da da's (can you see litte P in the mirror)

Hanging out near the finish line

Lake Tahoe We Love You

2011-03-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

While we are not ones who think of ourselves to be drawn to extravagant or costly things, as a couple our one indulgence is definitely vacations. It is all too common for us to say, “So where do we want to go on our next vacation.” Honestly, that may not even be truthful as we usually have about three or four trips booked and in the works when we start talking about getting ready for the fifth. We certainly love us some travel. All that buildup to explain that we just returned from Lake Tahoe and a wonderful ski vacation that has to rank up there with some of the finest vacations we have been on. It was our first post-child trip and so that certainly played into the enjoyment, and not because we didn’t think or miss the little guy every second, but it was great for us to be able to get away and just enjoy each other and some of the most beautiful surroundings that are out there.

The views were spectacular!!!

We had a couple of great days of skiing.

Missing Kellen at 10,000 feet.

First views going up the gondala

Goodbye Tahoe!!!

Thank goodness for great grandparents! While we probably don’t say it enough, Jill and I both are blessed with wonderful parents. They do so much for us and support us in so many ways, but they also care so deeply about Kellen that it is ridiculous. This was again evident as they both stepped up and volunteered to watch K for a few days and he loved every minute of it. A big THANK YOU to the grandparents.

Happy Trout Day!!!

2011-02-28T16:19:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to bring this important holiday to everyone's attention. In Jill's hometown the take their fishing serious as they dismiss school for the day so that everyone can spend the day at the river. So get out and fish a little bit in honor of Trout Day!

More blog to come later as Jill and I are headed to our first vacation without Kellen. We know that he is in good hands as he will be having his own personal vacation and will be spending time with both sets of Grandparents. That said, we know that he may be a handful when we get back, but we wouldn't have it any other way and we give both sets of grandparents our full permission to do what they want, when they want, and however they want.

Not necessarily because we want to grant this permission, but because we know they will do whatever they want anway so we might as well not even fight it.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

Pace of Life

2011-02-15T15:45:00.000-08:00

With the help of some 60 degree days we have finally dug ourselves out of the snow. We were expecting 2-4 inches last Wednesday and instead we woke up to 6 inches and after a morning and afternoon of continuous snow, we finally ended up with about 22 inches. Although we have grown accustomed to the “dustings” that are generally received in our area, we welcomed this snow and while others may have had a bit of cabin fever we found that it was a good break and allowed us some much needed down time. Right now it seems like we were going 100 miles an hour in every direction and so it is very unlikely that we were going to get a break any other way and so we welcomed the white stuff. Since we couldn’t go anywhere, it made us stop, collect ourselves and just enjoy the time that we had. We know that it shouldn’t take 22 inches of snow to make us slow down a little bit but we will continue to work on that.

Unfortunately it seems like were picked up right where we left off before the storm and so we have resumed our 100 miles an hour pace. Due to this we will be posting pictures from the last two weeks tomorrow, later this week, or certainly by Kellen’s second birthday. Remember, we’re working on slowing down a bit. We didn’t say that we had it figured out; we’re just taking things one step at a time, and hoping for loads of grace along the way.

Enjoying our Snow Days!

2011-02-02T10:09:00.000-08:00

We are about 24 hours behind on the blog update but we are blaming the ice/snow storm that hit our area on Tuesday. We are enjoying our snow days and hope to get a longer post completed by the end of the week. Until then we will continue to enjoy the extra play time with K, reading our books and lounging around, the extra hours that have allowed us to start our spring cleaning early, and just enjoying the break in the normal routine.

Rock and Roll Marathon Number 1

2011-01-18T13:07:00.000-08:00

How awesome is it to be able to wear shorts outside in January. This is certainly not common when we are usually subject to temperatures in the 20’s and 30’s but this past weekend we were able to go to Phoenix and we were certainly blessed as we were greeted with some wonderful 70 degree days.
This was the first trip that Kellen has taken on an airplane and so our anticipation levels rose a bit but we could not have asked for a better traveler. Maybe it was the extra seat that we had between us, or the fact that he had so many people around him to interact with, but he loved the flights. Jill and I learned many things as well as this was our first attempt at packing all of his stuff, getting through security with a child, and toting a car seat and stroller through the airport. One of the most important things that we learned is to check the airport that you are arriving at as we now know that Phoenix has their international airport, Sky Harbor, but they also have a smaller regional airport as well. In this case we arrived at the Phoenix/Mesa airport. So we were forced to make some adjustments to our rental car plans and it made for a late night arrival at our hotel but the lesson was learned and will not be forgotten.
We spent some time in downtown Phoenix on Friday as we had to pick up a race packet and visit the expo. Just being back in a large city was great as there is a certain energy level that is created in that environment. We love to explore and since we have been to Phoenix before we were set on making sure that we found new restaurants and places to go to. The majority of the day Friday was spent in the downtown area but we did find some time to relax a bit and it was warm enough that Kellen was able to in the pool.
Saturday was spent visiting the farmers market and shops in Scottsdale, taking Kellen to a train park, and then exploring more of Tempe. It was a busy day for all of us but with the wonderful weather it was one of those days that made us want to stay outside and do as much as we could possible squeeze in.
Sunday morning was an early start as we were up at 5:30 getting ready for the race and packing up a bit. Because the marathon was a point-to-point run Jill had to drop me off in Phoenix and then we would meet up again at the finish line in Tempe. Jill and Kellen were already up and going and so they went out for breakfast and then did a terrific job navigating the city so that I was able to see them a couple of times during the run. As one could expect, it was mass confusion at the finish as there were 30,000 runners and even more spectators, but after Jill and Kellen survived a parking dilemma we were able to meet up. The rest of the day was a blur as we had to quickly get back to our hotel to pack up and check out, drive to the airport, and once again battle through all of the check-in procedures. We made it with a few minutes to spare but that seems to be a way of life for us now and one that we fully embrace as we wouldn’t want our experiences to be shortchanged in any way.

Cheering Daddy On!!

Happy 1st Birthday Kellen

2011-01-04T08:10:00.000-08:00

It’s really hard for us to believe that Kellen is one. Pre-Children it was very common for us to hear parents say that it goes by so fast, but the reality of it is that you can never fully understand what they are talking about until you experience it for yourself. Whether it is because your to-do-list grows sevenfold, you lose out on some sleep, or play more than before, the days are certainly a blur. K has certainly added a few wrinkles here or there and over the course of the year we have become more versed in all things baby but we can’t imagine missing out on the blessing that he has been. Some highlights from his first year include:
1.) He has always been a good sleeper. It seemed like from the first night that we were at home he would sleep through the night. The rare exceptions were on those nights when Grandma would come and stay with us and on a couple of those nights he would decide he needed a couple more minutes/hours in the rocking chair.
2.) The boy can eat. Whether it’s milk, cereal, or meatballs, he always has an appetite. We don’t know if it’s common for a one year old to eat more food than his parents but we lean heavily on the old adage, “he is a growing boy.”
3.) He is mobile. We were never anxious for K to start walking so early as we knew that this would simply mean another layer of defense would be needed around our house. However, moving everything out of his reach and trying to stay one step ahead has definitely picked up over the last two months as he has really started getting this walking/running thing down.
4.) He loves to go. Whether it’s a ride in the jogging stroller or a trip around the grocery store in the shopping cart, he is always jazzed up about being on the move. As the year has progressed he has started adding his own flare by waving to anyone and everyone that he sees and passes by.
On Friday we were able to get together with family and friends and celebrate Kellen’s first birthday. This was the culmination of a lot of planning on Jill’s part but she did a wonderful job and made the day really special and enjoyable not only for K but for others as well. We hope you enjoy some pictures from the celebration.

Welcome!!

Fun game of how many nails are in the jar-- Believe it or not but the winner hit it on the head exactly!

He enjoyed his first sweets.

Hopefully group pictures will improve in the future

Kellen's new favorite place in the house

Wonderful christian friends to celebrate with!

Guys having a nail driving contest

What a great day!!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-21T11:49:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we made a trip up to SW Missouri to celebrate Christmas with the Roberston/Hopkins side of the family. While the time always seems to go by fast we were able to squeeze quite a bit in. We spent Saturday trading Christmas presents and eating way too much food, but we always enjoy seeing everyone and wish that we were able to get together more often.

This year we decided to keep Christmas stress free, so we decided to give “As-Seen-On-TV” gifts.

Kellen didn’t understand everything that was going on but he did seem to really enjoy ripping all of the presents open.

We didn't send christmas cards this year but hope everyone has a wonderful time and here is our blog card to you!!

May your holiday be merry and bright!!!

Merry Christmas from Mark, Jill, and Kellen!!!

Thanksgiving/White Rock Half Marathon

2010-12-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

While we never have enough time at Thanksgiving we are blessed that our families only live 45 minutes apart. This allows us to split time between both of our families and while it leads to some hectic days, we wouldn’t have it any other way. The four days are a blur as we travel the country to parents and grandparents houses and what seems to be everywhere in between, but this is certainly one of our favorite times of the year. The days are spent focusing on our families and although we probably get to see them more often than others who have to travel greater distances do, this time always makes us reflect and realize how thankful we truly are for great families. This was K’s first Thanksgiving and he certainly enjoyed being one of the centers of attention as he and his other cousins split some time being loved on by all of the grandparents.

Best Farm Hand

First Horse Ride!!

Precious

First Tricycle Ride

Jill's first real homeade apple pie!

We headed to Dallas last weekend for a brief weekend get-a-way. We were able to get out of town a little early on Friday and although it was a 5 ½ hour drive, K did really well in the car and he didn’t seem to mind being in his car seat for the extended period of time. It certainly helped that Leta, one of his “Gran-Nannies”, was in the back to help entertain him as he had to endure the carseat a little longer than we intended since all of the road construction in Dallas confused our Garmin to no end. After circling on the same road four times and two calls to the hotel we abandoned the new technology and instead relied on Jill’s hunch that “we should turn down this road.” Amazingly, it worked.

We were blessed with beautiful weather on Saturday and we spent the majority of the morning visiting some of the attractions at Fair Park. K loved the aquarium the most but he also seemed to enjoy the large stuffed animals in the Natural Sciences building and the butterfly house as well. The rest of the day was spent shopping in various areas around Dallas.

On Sunday, Jill and I headed to Fair Park again to participate in the White Rock ½ Marathon. We have completed a handful of runs over the last few years but this was by far the largest that we have ever participated in. With close to 20,000 runners it was certainly a festive event and one that Leta and K could enjoy as it was large enough that it was televised live. This allowed them to watch it from the warmth of the hotel room instead of bundling up and enduring the cold air for a couple of hours.

The run itself was great as it took us through downtown, the Highland Park area, and then back around Fair Park. We were both able to enjoy running together and were satisfied with our runs and so this was certainly one of our favorites and one that we will consider doing again in a few years.

Playing boo with Grammie!!

Our congratulations sign from Kellen and Grammie

Hello from the Robertson Family

2010-11-16T13:14:00.000-08:00

No excuses. We made a commitment to be more diligent about our blogging and that lasted all of three months. But then it ended. Honestly, we quickly lost focus on blogging because it always ranked very low on our priority list and although it still does, we understand that it is a good way for our friends and family who are not close to stay connected to what we are doing – or more importantly for many of them, what K is doing. So we will renew our commitment but this time with more realistic expectations. If you choose to follow us and catch the updates then mark your calendars for the first and third Tuesdays of the month as we will make updates on those days. Granted we may get a little wild and crazy from time to time and have multiple postings in a week but don’t expect that. Instead treat it as a sweet surprise and savor the moment if that happens as additional postings will be a far stretch for our Type A personalities.
· Disclaimer – We will try our best to include some photos and shorter entries over the next few weeks but again, those should not be considered as the norm. They are simply our way of showing what we have been doing instead of blogging and proving that K is in fact 10 months old instead of frozen in time as a three month old.

Three Month Pictures

2010-04-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

We continue to run about a month behind but we are certainly improving on the frequency of the posts. At the three month stage it seemed like K made changes every day. Whether it was by adding a larger smile, lifting his head up higher during tummy time, or tracking his favorite finger puppet "Gladys" from side to side, lots of changes were made.

To mark the occasion, Ruthie was able to get some great shots of him and we even tossed in a couple of family shots. We are very thankful for her willingness to help us capture the moments and if anyone here in NWA is looking for a photographer check out her blog at http://www.ruthephotography.blogspot.com/

Two Months Old

2010-03-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

K celebrated his 2 month birthday in early March so we are a bit late in posting the picture. Thankfully, he survived the shots at the doctor's office without too many tears being shed and I think that we are all glad to have that part over with. We're not that big on the measurements that they give as we know that they often don't predict as much as parents are led to believe, but nonetheless, we were pretty shocked to find out that K is taller than 98% of his peers. We'll see how it goes from here but based on the results I am anticipating the basketball scholarship letters to start rolling in.

Smiley Face

2010-03-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

K has started to smile! At first he would just wrinkle up one side of his mouth, then he advanced to smiling when he was having a "poo break", but now we have advanced to the full fledged smile. Hopefully we can keep him happy and give him multiple opportunities to share this wonderful smile with us.

Baby Parade!!

2010-03-17T14:33:00.000-07:00

After spending the first couple of months indoors with K, Jill and I were pretty anxious to get him outside. Thankfully we didn't have to wait that long due to a couple of unseasonably warm days late last week. K sent the word to all of his lady friends and asked them to join him for a "group date" at the park.

The strollers certainly hide them well, but there are three girls that came along. That's right, the buggy in the middle is filled with twin girls.

All of the fathers went for run before meeting up with the Baby Parade. Our wives had no real sympathy for our post-workout aches and pains and somehow we still ended up pushing the strollers.

Awesome Pictures of our Little Man!

2010-03-04T20:26:00.000-08:00

We wanted to share some of the pictures that were recently taken of K and his room. We are super excited about the pictures because they turned out so good and now we have some more pictures of him at about the two month mark.

All of the pictures were taken by Ruthie, who is helping watch K at the clinic since Jill went back to work four days a week. Ruthie has been a huge blessing and while the transition back to work is one that continues to be a struggle and one that we continue to pray through, it is at least comforting to know that K is being well cared for.

We are very thankful that the room came together so well and we couldn't be happier with it. I know I had some doubts when Jill told me we were going to use the same color on the wall. I really questioned if flat and satin would really make that much difference --- but as you can see by how it turned out, I should just keep my mouth shut and trust her.

We tried to time the pictures so that we would be able to get some of K when he was asleep and some when he was awake. But once again K continues to teach us that planning and him do not really go together. He woke up while Ruthie was taking some quick shots of the room and once he's up ---- he's up!

We were even able to get in some good family shots.

Thank's again Ruthie - We love them all!

HAPPY BELATED TROUT DAY!!!

2010-03-02T20:09:00.000-08:00

K wanted to celebrate Trout Day, March 1, with the rest of Cassville, MO. This is the one day where the towns population (2741) is tripled and flooded with fisherman coming to Roaring River State Park to throw their line in at the opening siren. While the event may seem uneventful to some, all the kids in town have the date circled on their calendars as this is treated as a "town holiday" and school is let out for the day. Apparently K is going to participate when he gets older as he was up and ready to go at 5:30 just so that he could encourage his fellow fishermen.

The First Month

2010-03-01T17:36:00.001-08:00

We have done our best to make sure and track Kellen's growth over the past month. With this being our first child we have been amazed at the weekly changes that have taken place.

At this point he wasn't too sure about sitting up and he also wasn't too sure about the character next to him.

Our sign kind of hides some of his body and so it makes it difficult to see how much he has grown but he has made it back to his birth weight and has started adjusting to the life of sleep, eat, play. His play time usually consists of about five minutes and then he falls asleep and starts the three hour cycle all over again. Man, what a tough life!

Although this large outfit hides his weight gain well, our visit to the doctor confirmed our suspicions -- K quickly shot passed his birth weight and gained two pounds since his first visit. Our doctor said that this was a little more than most boys but she was put a positive spin on it by saying she was encouraged and confident that he was getting enough to eat.

The end of the month resulted in enough head strength and growth so that he could be moved out of the corner for his picture. Although he couldn't sit up like this for a long stretch of time, we were impressed that he sat up long enough for us to snap some quick pictures.

Introducing Kellen Brady Robertson

2010-02-02T18:26:00.000-08:00

Ok, so if we didn’t already have the title of “world’s worst blog updaters” we know that the title is now officially ours. It has been a month since Kellen joined our family and while it has certainly been busy, we probably could have spared a moment or two to update everyone. One giant apology to the grandparents, family, and friends who have been asking for an update and more importantly for pictures – but here you go.
Jill and I started our (more hers than mine) delivery experience late on Wednesday night as she woke me up by calmly saying, “I think my water just broke.” Not the panic that I expected and certainly not the level of certainty that I expected, but after getting up and doing some last minute preparations we headed to the hospital. Three hours later we were out of the triage area and in our own room with the nurses saying that we better take advantage of our last opportunity to catch some shut-eye. We were able to fade in and out of sleep for a couple of hours until the doctor came in around 6:00. He confirmed that we were definitely going to be leaving with a baby and so we called our parents and from there the morning quickly progressed. Nurses continued to check on Jill and we met with the anesthesiologist, but Kellen confirmed that we will no longer be able to plan as much as we would like, as he came prior to Jill getting the epidural.
Kellen was born at 11:27 a.m on Thursday, December 31, 2009. He weighed 7 lbs 6 oz and was 20.5 inches long.

Both sets of grandparents were waiting outside of the room and rushed in as soon as we gave them the green light.

The first night was filled with feedings and sleeping. He must have known how tired we were as he was calm and allowed us to get some much needed rest.
We stayed at the hospital for approximately 30 hours and then we were out the door. It’s still hard to believe that they just give you five minutes of instruction and then trust that you are capable enough to handle the rest. We’re not saying that we’re not capable, but think about it ----- the whole process just seems a little crazy.

Again, sorry for the lack of updates but we have made it our February 1 resolution (we seem to be a month behind on everything) to update more often. We will work our way back a bit and catch you all up on what filled our lives between September and December and try as well as try a bit harder to keep current and add some more recent updates as well. After all, no one wants to have the title of “world’s worst blog updaters.”

Hawaii -- Our BabyMoon

2009-10-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

Now that we tell people that we are expecting our first child they seem very excited but there excitement is often followed by comments like, “Your lives are sure going to change,” “You better get in all your fun now”, or “Get some sleep, you’re going to need it.“Not all together the most comforting of comments but we are sure that they were all shared with good intentions as we realize that many changes are coming our way. So how did we react to their words of wisdom? We went to Maui! Not that we weren’t already planning another vacation for the year but this is one that we had on our pre-children to–do–list and so we made some last minute adjustments and snuck it in just barely under the wire.

While most people think of Hawaii as this great relaxing place, our first several days there resembled anything but peace and tranquility. Yes, the island was beautiful, but it was somewhat of a blur for the first five days. We wanted to do and see it all and I am confident that we certainly did that. We traveled to every corner of the island and while Maui is not that big of an island, we can proudly say that we traveled on every major road, and quite of the few of the less developed ones, on the island. Needless to say that although we questioned whether or not we could function without a rental car when we were planning the trip, the 850 miles that were driven in the eight day period confirmed that we definitely made the right decision.

Overall the biggest surprise to me over the first five days is that my wife was able to do it all. For those of you who know her well you know she is certainly a Type A personality who wants to check everything off of her list, but I thought that the pregnancy might change her approach on how we vacation. I was wrong! It was not uncommon for us to be in bed by 10 but up at 3 so that we could start the day and get to where we needed to be at (she did find time to sneak in a nap or two along the way but that is not really all that unusual even when she isn’t pregnant). Whether it be a sunrise on the top of the volcano, an early morning snorkeling trip, or at the airport for an early flight to Oahu, she was always ready to go. In fact one of the most common things heard over the course of our trip had to have been, “Was she pregnant?” This was usually heard as Jill hiked past someone, or as they caught a glimpse of her as she buzzed by. Again, she continues to amaze me!

In an attempt to reward ourselves for our first five days of non-stop activities we scheduled the last three days of our trip to focus on our tans! That’s right, our focus was on nothing but relaxing. This was the peace and tranquility that we had heard so much about. We traveled a short distance to another part of the island and spent our day’s pool/oceanside and our nights enjoying great restaurants. Our biggest task over the last three days was to sneak in a ukulele lesson, but other than that we could be found lounging around or walking along the beaches.

Overall, we know that this is our last vacation without a child, but we are certain that we made the most of it. And to all those who tell me how much sleep I am going to lose out on, my only response is – it can’t be any more than what I lost during our vacation to Hawaii.

Loved this infinity pool!!!

We had great meals and views!

What trip to Hawaii is complete without Ukulele lessons

Waterfall along the road to Hana

Hula Trees

One of our favorite memories was hiking through a bamboo forest.

We got up one morning at 2:30 am to see the sunrise on Haleakala Crater

It was 32 degrees on top of the old volcano

Loved the shaved ice!!

Top of Diamond Head in Honolulu

Waikiki Beach

Oil still leaking out of the Pearl Harbor Memorial

Did I tell you we loved the shaved ice?

Snorkling with sea turtles

Old Lahaina Luau

Sunsets were beautiful!

Hiking in the rainforest

It was a wonderful trip!!!

Big Announcement

2009-08-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

Jill and I have always been a big fan of JUMBLE and so we thought this was an appropriate way to make the big announcement to our Small Group at Church. Although I wanted to shoot off a huge confetti canon my wife was there to control me and keep me in check. (I am sure that the custodial staff is breathing a big sigh of relief). But, with a similar announcement coming about every other week from someone else in the class, we thought that we needed to do something different because as soon as someone says “We have an announcement…” all the girls start shrieking and the guys stand up to shake hands as it is the basic assumption that the couple is pregnant. So instead, we decided to do the JUMBLE to announce our news. And while I don’t know if it was the chocolate brownie cupcakes or the announcement itself that made everyone excited, we were certainly ecstatic to share the news and excited of what is to come.

If you haven't unscrambled the above Jumble then scroll on down for the answer.

CHICAGO!!!

2009-08-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

Chicago – July 4th
We decided to take advantage of the holiday weekend and took a trip to Chicago over the 4th of July weekend. Although the trip was a bit against our nature as it was somewhat of a last minute decision, it still worked out really well. We were able to squeeze in another day in the city because of the holiday, it was Taste of Chicago week, we were able to watch the fireworks display with 1,000,000 other people along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, and we were able to get Cubs tickets. All great events and happenings that we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy unless we went on that particular weekend and so it turned out to be some great timing.
In addition, to the special events that were happening that week we were also able to take in all of the tourist attractions that the city has to offer. We spent time in a couple of the museums, went to the Shed aquarium, looked over the city from the top of the Sears and Hancock towers, went to Lincoln Park zoo, visited “the Bean”, walked up and down Michigan avenue, spent time at the Navy Pier, and saw Jersey Boys. Needless to say we squeezed in a lot in the four days that we were there and the time went by very fast but it was a great weekend getaway that couldn’t have turned out better even if we had planned it a year in advance!

Sears Tower

"The Bean" at Millennium Park

Navy Pier

One of the big highlights of the trip were these cinnamon rolls!! Words cannot describe how delicious they were~!

Waiting on the "L"
Fireworks on Lake Michigan

The crowd after the fireworks-- Don't look Mom and Dad

An owl pellet dissection at the Museum of Science and Industry

Night at the ballpark

Lincoln Park Zoo

John Hancock Building

Taste of Chicago

Largest T-Rex
Field Museum

Shed Aquarium

Picking Blueberries

2009-08-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite summer activites for the last couple of years has been picking blueberries. This year my parents had some friends that had to many for them to pick so we got to enjoy them. John Paul enjoyed the day as well, even though he did not like to eat them at all!!

Yum-- Fresh blueberry muffins

Treasured Friendships!

2009-07-10T10:49:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, we were able to reconnect with friends from our time at College of the Ozarks. We celebrated pregnancies, old memories, and the times ahead. These friends have been so special to us, and will always be an important part of our lives.

It is not that easy to have four busy boys look at the camera!

The Whole Group!!

Running of the Squirrels

2009-06-29T14:07:00.000-07:00

As a sporadic runner I enjoy getting my monthly copy of Runner’s World and checking out all of the world-class races in exotic locations such as New York, Chicago, London, etc. I usually spend a couple of minutes trying to convince myself to get into enough shape to complete the race and start to think about how cool a particular race may be to run in, but thoughts of entering usually pass pretty quickly as I move on to other things. Well, after scanning the May issue there was one race listed that could not be passed up. It was none other than the “Running of the Squirrels.”
This race was to be held in Marionville, MO and I couldn’t believe a race hosted in a town of 500 (with two of those residents being my Grandparents) would be listed in Runner’s World. So I quickly tried to encourage all of my family members to take part and to chase after the infamous “White Squirrel Medal” -- which is only handed out to the top three finishers in each age category. It is much better to suffer through something together than to go at it alone and it seems like my family is always willing to jump right in and try new things and so the challenge was made. And they did not disappoint. I am proud to say our family members represented 16 out of the 150 or so participants. Some of us ran, some walked, and some did a combination of both, but we all survived, got a t-shirt out of it, and most importantly we had a great time doing the event together.

Austin and Ethan enjoyed the Saturday morning stroll.

Great Weekend in St Louis

2009-06-26T06:18:00.001-07:00

Looking for a chance to get away on a short trip during Memorial Day we decided to make the trip north to St. Louis. It’s hard to believe that it has been five years since we have been there and quite frankly we were somewhat disappointed that we have allowed so much time to pass prior to making a return trip. The last time we were in the city Jill had just finished school, we were both packing up all of our belongings, and we were putting the finishing touches on our wedding plans. Needless to say we probably didn’t take enough time to take in all of the final moments and didn’t enjoy our exit as much as we should have. So we were thankful to get the chance to visit the city and visit some of our favorite spots.

Our weekend was spent bouncing from one activity to another but we were able to squeeze a lot into the three day period. We were able to revisit some of our old favorites like the zoo, the Loop, the shops in St. Charles, and Busch Stadium (although this was our first visit to the new stadium). We were also able to revisit some of Jill’s old apartments and the school. Although the city has changed some while we have been away, it still provides that comfort level and feels a little bit like home. The trip itself brought back a lot of memories and specific events that happened while we were there and l it made us miss the “city-life” a bit.

Shakespeare in the Park

Historical Downtown St. Charles

Great Italian Restaurant in "the Hill"

Fun at the Zoo

Breakfast at Rooster

A walk down memory lane of my old street and apartment

No trip is complete without a root beer float from Fitz's

Grand Canyon Adventure

2009-06-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

As has been the new established tradition of our vacations, we were up very early packing all of the last minute additions and making sure that we had everything ready for our vacation. One of the things that we failed to realize was how difficult it would be to pack for our trip. This trip itself was unlike any other that we have ever taken simply because of the activities that we were going to do along the way. For example, how hard is it pack for the beach? Swimsuit, t-shirt, swimsuit, flip-flops, one nice shirt, and finally -- another swimsuit. Not that difficult! But for this trip we had to pack all of our hiking gear, clothes for about 3 different climates (I never realized how much different the weather is from Northern Arizona to Southern Arizona), and if you don’t know my wife, please understand that she tends to over pack a bit. Just as a reference point, she usually packs at least two bags when we go to our parents’ house for the weekend. Needless to say, our packing took some effort but we were able to get all of our stuff squeezed in.

Phoenix
We have decided that it is always best to take the earliest flight available so that we have a full day to enjoy; however, that means getting up at the crack of dawn and getting out the door. Although we had many vacation “Yea moments” our first occurred at the airport. Remember, as mentioned above, we had a difficult time packing and we are always concerned about those weight limits. Well, all of our bags made the cut! It was extremely close as one registered at exactly 50 pounds but thankfully we didn’t have to sit and reshuffle things from bag to bag while in the airport. Upon arrival at Phoenix, we made our way to get the rental car (free upgrade from economy to mid-size – Yea Moment!) and then we were off. Thanks to Jill the researcher and our Garmin we were able to navigate the city like locals. So our day in Phoenix consisted of some great food at some hometown restaurants, taking in an Arizona Diamondback’s game, and doing some true touristy things like visiting the art district and downtown Scottsdale.

Diamondback's Baseball Game

SEDONA
We ended our first day of vacation by making the short two hour drive from Phoenix to Sedona and while it was a bit of a struggle since we started to feel the effects of gaining (and using) the two extra hours in our day, it was definitely worth it to be able to wake up in Sedona instead of having to spend the daylight hours in the car. As a reward for the late-night travels we were able to sleep in a bit and then we hit the ground running. Our time in Sedona consisted of doing some smaller hikes of the 3 – 4 mile variety and taking the opportunity to enjoy the town of Sedona and some of the surrounding areas. The area itself is pretty amazing and lends itself to multiple photo opportunities (as evidenced by the multiple memory cards that we went through). Each day was unique as we were always able to get outside and perform some physical activity, but we also made sure that there was plenty of relaxation time so that we could window shop at Jerome or downtown Sedona, or we could just sit by the pool or the hotel’s great outdoor fireplaces.

Red Rock State Park

Neat shopping spot with local artists

Favorite Dinner Spot-- It was so beautiful and it was like we had it to ourselves!!

They marked at the trails with these pile of rocks

Jerome-- Old Mining/Ghost Town

Grand Canyon
The majority of our trip was focused on the Grand Canyon and it certainly didn’t disappoint. We left Sedona early in the morning as we wanted to make it to the Grand Canyon in time to enjoy the sun setting over the canyon. We went up a scenic highway to Flagstaff and as we traveled we continued to watch the temperature plummet as we got closer and closer. Again, we failed to realize that the temperature could fluctuate as much as twenty degrees between Sedona and the Grand Canyon and so we left in shorts but by the time that we made it into the National Park we were bundled up in about three layers of clothes. Regardless of how hot or cold it ever is the experience of actually being there is definitely worth it!

We spent a couple of hours traveling from lookout point to lookout point and I think that we took about 200 pictures in an attempt to capture how massive it actually is.

Thankfully Jill was able to negotiate our way into a room at the park and that saved us a lot of travel time and hassle. The room itself was very small and we had community bathrooms but it was great to be able to stay at the park.

The next morning was met with a little bit of nervousness and great anticipation as we realized that we had to hike nine miles down to the base of the canyon. Everything that we had read said that we needed to start at five or six in the morning but we delayed that a bit as we didn’t want to get down to the bottom to early, We decided to check out some of the other lookout points that morning and then we started our decent at about 11:00. We had our bags packed to the gills and we knew that the hike itself was going to take at least five hours. As we went down into the canyon we were able to experience things that very few people every get to experience. We shared the trail with about six other people and it was after about the two mile mark that we realized that we were doing something that very few people do.

At the top about ready to start down!

Mule Crossing

We were able to take our time and really enjoy each other’s company on the trail but as much as we enjoyed the hike down, we also enjoyed reaching the bottom. The hike itself was not too difficult but anytime that you experience a 7000 foot change in elevation you are probably going to be a bit tired. In addition, the bottom of the canyon is about 20 degrees warmer than the top and so by the time that we reached the bottom our backs were drenched with sweat and we were ready for a break.

Pretty steep right here-- glad neither of us is afraid of heights

Looking ahead to all the switchbacks

First glimpse of the Colorado River

Bridge we crossed to get across the Colorado

We quickly set up camp and rested for the remainder of the evening. We enjoyed our time at the base as we were able to recharge physically and we were able to enjoy a great night of sleep with the relaxing sounds of the Colorado River right outside of our tent door.

Yummy- Dinner from a bag

We were up shortly after sunrise as we had to tear down our camp and prepare for the 12 mile hike back up. The hike itself was a lot different than the hike down as the areas that we traveled through were much different than the other side of the canyon. During the trip up we faced a lot of steep inclines and switchbacks that were not quite as evident on our way down. Thankfully there was water available at the halfway mark as we had already went through one camelback and we had to take more snack breaks just to keep our energy levels up. After six hours we were able to realize the full effect of our accomplishment as we finally reached the top. Our muscles were a bit sore and we were definitely ready to be off of the trail but we were also convinced that this was certainly a trip that we will repeat again in the future.

Looking back to see how far we have come

Almost to the top!!

Scottsdale
We were able to make our way back to Scottsdale after hiking up the canyon and although it felt good to sit and rest, it was also a bit difficult to be confined to the car for a couple of hours. We rewarded ourselves and our bodies by checking into our hotel and instantly finding the hot-tub. Our muscles, however limited they may be, were refreshed as we enjoyed a relaxing soak to end the day.
The next morning we were able to get our second wind and we decided to take a bike ride around the city. Our hotel had some bicycles that we could use and so we decided that it would be nice to go and pick up our breakfast. We found out that Scottsdale has some great trails and that the neighborhoods are all connected. The trails provide great access to everything and make it very easy to get around. We spent a couple of hours riding around, picked up breakfast, and then headed back to the pool to enjoy the day. It was great to be able to relax on our last day and just do as we wished with no real plans or agenda but to enjoy our last few hours before heading back home.

Packing, Packing, Packing

2009-04-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

The last couple of nights have been spent packing for our Arizona trip that starts tomorrow. We are so excited to just get away, explore a new area and hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It is amazing how much extra stuff you have to take when you are camping/backpacking. A tent, 2 sleeping bags, 2 sleeping mats, 2 hiking poles, 2 backpacks, just to name a little of the gear. Did I mention that we each have to carry a gallon of water as well, that is 9 pounds of water!! It is going to be a great adventure!! Happy Trails!!

The Big Catch Up !!!

2009-04-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

I know I am one of the worst blogger's, but life has kept me pretty busy the last couple of months. Here are some pictures and stories to catch you up to speed about what we have been doing .

In February, Jill went to Kansas City for continuing education. It was great to see old classmates and roommates. We reminisced on school and all the adventures we had while living in St. Louis. It was nice to catch up with these friend and fellow optometrists, that I will always have a special bond with.

Trip to Branson

In an attempt to escape and forget some of the weekly grind in March we decided to head to one of our favorite places – Branson. Now, we realize that some people may only see Branson as a destination for individuals over 55, people who have a deep love for Country music, or for those who can’t afford to travel anywhere else – but to us it is so much more. Since we both went to college there it is a town that provides many memories and it is a place that we feel totally comfortable and relaxed at. What made this trip even better was that we were able to take along some great friends and just hang out together. We didn’t go with any intention to do any of the normal touristy stuff but instead our purpose was simply to spend time with our friends.

I know that some may not be able to believe that we went somewhere without a plan in place, but I am proud to say that this was a weekend where we simply “flew by the seat of our pants.” We arrived on Friday night and after going to dinner at The Landing we headed out to the condo where we spent the majority of the weekend. With the exception of some light shopping on Saturday we simply stayed at the condo and filled our time playing games, watching movies, and playing the Wii.

Overall, it was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable weekends that one could have asked for and although it may be more and more difficult for us to pull something like this off in the future, we can only hope that we are able to share a similar experience on an annual basis.

Playing Video Games

Going Shopping!
Stacy beating me at boxing!

Not sure what he was acting out now-- but had fun with Gestures

Heading off for a Saturday morning run in the rain!

Nerts

The two Mark's were proud of their bed-making ability!

Visiting Family – Austin/Ethan
It is amazing how quickly children can change in a three month period. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to see our nephews as much as we would like but when we do it is evident that they are all growing up very quickly. It seems like they double or triple in size and all of the sudden we realize that we are saying things like “Oh, he is soooo big,” or “He sure is growing like a weed.” You know those crazy clichés that we always frowned at when we heard them from Aunt Betty – but now they oddly seem like the right thing to say.
This was the first time that we were able to meet Ethan and since we are both “baby hogs” I knew that I would be in weekend battle with Jill. Thankfully, she always chose to hold him after he was finished eating and so after he spit up on her a couple of times I had secured as much Ethan time as I wanted and was able to gracefully sweep in a take him off her hands as she was performing a necessary wardrobe change. The times holding Ethan reminded me that it was not very long ago that we were doing the same with Austin and it made me realize that we have to appreciate the time that we have with them, however limited that it may be.
One of the greatest things that I learned this weekend is that Austin runs the show. Not to imply that his parents can’t or don’t control him, but he has an overwhelming personality that enables him to get away with anything – especially with Paw. He will be mischievously doing something, get caught, but then look at you with his best “I can’t be in trouble” face and all you can do is laugh at him and move on. While playing with him you quickly appreciate the energy that you have and you have to learn how to capitalize on the 15 second breaks that come throughout the day, mainly because you are fearful that it may be your last.

Sweet Ethan

Austin loves posing for the camera

Playing with Uncle Mark

Tulsa Trip
We have been to Tulsa four or five time since we have lived in NWA but this day trip definitely ranked up there as one of the best. We kick started our wonderful morning with an enormous breakfast at “The Blue Dome Diner.” Thanks to Jill’s pre-trip research she was able to find this local joint that may be worth the hour and a half drive by itself. It was the type of place we love to go to because it was filled with locals, had a unique atmosphere that you would definitely not find at a chain restaurant, and they served you so much food that you would gain about 10 pounds if you didn’t share portions. From there the day just continued to get better as we took the time to explore some of Tulsa’s parks and then the gardens at The Philbrook Museum. We couldn’t have asked for a better day weather wise as it felt like the first real day of spring. It was great to spend the majority of the day outside (somehow we still ended up in a furniture store and did some “light shopping”) and thankfully we were able to survive two scavenger hunts which made this trip even more memorable.
Scavenger Hunt #1 – As we were driving through a busy intersection Jill stuck her hand out the window to check the temperature as she pulled her hand back in, somehow she scraped a ring that her mother had given her along the window trim and caused the stone to fall out. As she is screaming in fear, I instantly begin to think of how I am going to get ran over as she is going to ask me to go out and find the stone that we now are certain is in the middle of the road. Thankfully we were able to compose ourselves and after a frantic search of the car we were very happy to discover that the stone somehow bounced back into the car and landed in the backseat floorboard.
Scavenger Hunt #2 – As we were leaving the park Jill and I decided that we should take one final picture together (just in case the first 20 didn’t turn out). However, as Jill went to freshen up her lipstick she noticed that she had lost her lipstick. The last time she remembered having it was while we were on the other side of the park. So we got in the car and drove over to begin our second hunt of the day. Jill hopped out and started the search as I just continued to circle the park and encourage her from the car. Feeling that we had forever lost the valuable tube of lipstick we made one final pass through on our way to the car. Lo and behold Jill looked over at the base of a tree, (a tree that I am not confident that we were even around) and there it sat with a beam of sunlight pointing right at it. Ok, so maybe I made up the beam of sunlight stuff, but thankfully we did conquer scavenger hunt #2 and life can go on as the lipstick has been found.

Philbrook Museum

WOW -- Did you make it to the end???

I promise to TRY to blog more regularly from here on out!!

Singing in the Rain

2009-02-09T13:16:00.000-08:00

I Love a Rainy Day!!

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass it is learning to dance in the rain."

Nephew Number Three

2009-02-05T09:44:00.000-08:00

Mark's sister and brother-in-law had their second beautiful boy, Ethan, on December 30th. He suprised everyone by coming a couple of weeks early as he wasn’t due until late January. Thankfully the early delivery did not come with any adverse effects and he has been a great baby brother/son/nephew/grandchild for the last month. But please keep him (and his parents) in your prayers right now as he is currently in the hospital recovering from a minor setback. Although doctors say that he is on the road to recovery and we hope that he will get to come home today or sometime this weekend, we still know that they would appreciate the prayers.

Winter Wonderland

2009-02-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

Wednesday morning was so pretty!!

Some of our sad trees-- But I am happy the report that most of them were very flexible and have popped back up.

Mark and I enjoyed the ice storm we had last week, even with the power out for about 24 hours we tried to make the best of it. Tuesday was a great day full of rain/sleet. I have always enjoyed rainy days and it was nice to be at home and catch up on things around the house. Once the power went out, I have to admit I got a little stir crazy. Thankfully, we got it back the next day and enjoyed the rest of the week at home.

Mark was mesmerized by all the tree limbs toppling to the ground. I think that he almost got whiplash from trying to see it all. It was amazing to see something so beautiful but still know that it was very dangerous and could be completely devastating to some people. Even with all the down trees and limbs, I couldn’t help thinking it was a beautiful winter wonderland.

On Sunday our preacher taught on John 15:2, and now this storm will always be a great way for me to remember this verse. My take away was that when you are going through difficult times it is your responsibility to distinguish what God is trying to accomplish because sometimes the difficulties come as discipline, but other times, and more often than not, it is because God is pruning you for something bigger.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does
bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:2

How we spent Tuesday night without power