Time to update

Apparently having a kiddo impacts the amount of time there is to update the blog. Especially now that she wants to play with mommy and daddy. :) and we are taking full advantage of playing all the time b/c I know the day will come where playing and hanging out with her parents will no longer be cool.

Anyway, our lives are busy and the end of 2011 was a hard one. My paternal grandfather had a cancer scare. He had colon cancer and had surgery to remove it. Praise the Lord the doc was able to get it all and there was no further treatment needed. He will have to have regular check ups and he is still working on getting back to his original strength but over all I think he is doing pretty well.

The beginning of December my cousin's husband of only 6 weeks passed away in a car accident in Hendersonville. I can't even begin to explain the hurt and sadness still in my family.

The same day John's grandmother fell and broke her wrist and elbow. She had to have surgery and pins put it. She had been in a rehabilitation nursing home-like facility since. She did get some good news from the doc this week in she will be getting a lighter cast that is removable.

All of that to say that lately I have been learning a lot about relying on God and trusting that he is with me EVERY step of the way. He goes before me and prepares my path. He know exactly what I am going to face and promises to face it with me. It is SO hard to remember that sometimes in the midst of heartache, hurt and stress. Even so, there is always something there to remind me. Yesterday this was one of those things that He gave me as a reminder. Listen to this song and be reminded that God is with you in every moment!

4th of July

We were in Little Rock for the day...there was some shopping, homemade ice cream and lots of playing with Kelsey.


Grandma Laney had found this toddler stampers for her to play with. It didn't take her long to figure them out and love them.

Riding on her toy

Photo shoot outside

She doesn't like to look at the camera anymore

As good as it got for the family pic

She looks WAY too big here!!!

Trip to Arkansas

We took the long weekend over the 4th and flew to Arkansas to spend some time with John's family. It was busy, but a great trip. We were able to see ALOT of friends in family while in V@n Buren to see John's grandmother.


Waiting in the airport for the plane.

Playing in PMom's yard (believe me in only lasted a few minutes b/c it was way too hot)


She was playing with Gramps. He would take a pillow from her and she though it was so funny.

She loved this shape shorter while we were there. She would try to put the shape in a hole and all of us would say yes or no. She would get excited when she would get it right.

This was the first time we had been back to V@n Buren since John's grandfather passed away right after Kelsey was born. We were able to go see his headstone and the cemetery and Kelsey helped John put a flag there for the 4th.

We tried to have a little photo session with the family, but as you can see K didn't want to.

unless she was in my lap.

We love the water!

I have mentioned before Kelsey's love for water....well here is some proof. We took her to the pool one Saturday morning, before many other people were there and just let her go. She would run in, go under one of the water spouts, run out screaming to me and then do it all over again. This was also the first (and only) day that we have attempted the ponytail. I knew that her hair wasn't long enough, but we tried anyway.


Testing the water out

Running to tell me that she went under the water

Laughing b/c she did it again

Just went under the fountain

Father's Day

Yes, a little past due!

Kelsey was sick the entire week before Father's Day, so we took the opportunity to get out of the house. She still wasn't 100%, but we were all a little stir crazy at this point.

We went to a sub shop and got sandwiches and took them to a local park. After lunch we let K play for a little while. She had a blast. She was so happy to be outside and to get to play after being inside for a week.

Swinging is lots of fun!

Miss Priss

This is the best picture we got for Father's Day. She wasn't having it.

Happy Bday Graham

This post is from June, but I am trying to catch up.

Our really good friends, Chad and Julie, had their son's first bday at the park. We were so excited to be able to celebrate with them! Graham is such a good little boy and we love him very much. The party was Mickey Mouse themed and so cute! Kelsey enjoyed it and it was fun to see her around some other kiddos. She acts like a big kid when around them.

Graham didn't know what to think about the cake, but I love this pic of his lip!

There was a little water park/feature at the park. Kelsey, of course, LOVED it. This child would play in water ALL DAY LONG if she could. The pool has become a must on the weekends this summer!

The fountains would come and go. This one was off and K was confused. Right about that time it came back on and she got it. She just laughed and kept running around.

Random Happenings...

Kelsey's favorite things lately....


Mommy's high heels...really any shoes, but this one is the cutest!

Mommy's bracelets. This is almost an every morning thing now.

Popsicles! This was when she was very sick. This was the ONLY thing to make her smile.

Coloring...she loves it. I just got her a magnad**dle at a consignment sale that is a huge hit!

We love the park!

Kelsey would just play and run all day if we let her. But there does come a time where we have to go home.


Playing peek-a-boo

She looks so big!

Playing at the Park

John's parents came a couple of weeks ago after they had a trip to Iowa. We were happy to have them here and took advantage of the great weather that weekend. We went to the park on Saturday afternoon for a picnic and some play time. Kelsey even learned how to smell the flowers while we were there.

Just b/c I like the picture

This girl loves to slide and has NO fear!

Lately

Kelsey continues to learn SO much....there are lots of new words and she is putting lots of things together now. It amazes me how she learns so much! Here some pic of new activities.


Talking on the phone. She loves it!

Using her vacuum like Mommy

WE LOVE STICKERS!!