LONG update- part 1

First, let me start out by telling you about my night last night. I spent and hour and a half typing/updating this blog. After I FINALLY got it done, I tried to publish it and POOF. It was gone. I was very disappointed, and since it was 11:15, I thought I'd just go to bed instead of typing it all again!

I think I say this in all my blogs. WHERE DOES THE TIME GO??? It seems to go very fast!

Delaney has begun to have a new found obsession with tags like her sister did as a baby. She will play with toys, only to be pleasantly surprised that they have a tag on them, which she loves to play with. Granny made her a few taggie blankets like Kenna has and she LOVES them. Here she is playing with them!

So, I just realized that this entire blog will be about Christmas. On the 23rd, we had our Christmas with the Greg, Cathy, Ang, Matt, and the kids........

This kids fell in love with watching the train under the Christmas tree. It was adorable because it isn't very often that all the kids- age 5mths to 12- all are interested in the same thing!

It has been a tradition in the Dee house (at least since I have been around), that we have dinner at Greg and Cathy's house, then all pile in the cars to go look at the beautifully decorated house in Emerald Lake, then one of the cars gets "lost" (usually the moms), and when we all meet up again at the house, SANTA has come! The past few years, the dads have taken the kids out and we stay to clean up the dishes. While washing the dishes, we hear sleigh bells, and when we go back to the living room, there are presents under the tree. BUT, we have yet to actually catch the jolly elf in the act. He is too fast. Here are the kid's stockings

It is difficult to get the expressions on the kids faces when they come in the door and see the presents. We attempted to get a picture of them by the tree but it was very difficult to get them all looking the same direction and smiling when there were tons of presents behind them!

Kenna got a chest of princess dresses from Angela and Matt- which was perfectly appropriate since she loves to dress up.

Delaney even got in to the unwrapping- with Daddy's help of course!

Greg and Cathy got the girls matching outfits. It wasn't long before she and Tay were modeling theirs!

Taylor holding Delaney

On Christmas eve, we had a difficult time getting Kenna dresses. She insisted on having the perfect dress to wear to church! I realized that the only picture I took was Delaney being content in her carseat with her Christmas dress on and her COLTS hat. I'm such a bad mommy. I didn't get any pictures of Kenna, the girls together or the family! Just this one. Only one!

After we got home, and when we were putting Kenna to get. She wanted me to come in to sing to her. As she was getting out of bed, she became tangled in her blankets (we think) and fell forward, hitting her face on the end of the bed. She got a great black eye for Christmas!

With this being the first year Kenna really understood Christmas and santa, we needed everything to be perfect. Me being new at this whole thing, FORGOT the cookies. Thank goodness for fundraiser frozen cookie dough- and its a good thing that santa likes coconut pecan cookies! The other issue to had was milk. We had run out of milk and the only thing I had was vanilla soymilk. Santa will drink soymilk, right? WRONG. "Santa" asked me WHAT WAS THAT? And insisted that I have "real" milk next year- he also requested DeBrands chocolates!

Kenna had a great time putting the cookies and "milk" out for santa. She insisted that they be on a stool right next to the tree so he wouldn't miss them!

Santa also left a nice note for Kenna about her cookies and milk! She is STILL talking about the fact that he only took one bite of the last cookie. Next year, he'd better eat them ALL!!

I was pleasantly surprised that Kenna didn't wake up at 3am and want to open presents. We actually had to wake her up! She wouldn't let us turn on the lights so some of these pictures are a bit fuzzy

Opening stockings

Delaney got some banana puffs to eat when she gets a bit bigger. MMMMMMM

One thing Kenna really wanted for Christmas was princess make-up and she was sure to tell all the santas that she saw that she wanted it. Luckily we were able to find it. Included in the princess make-up is "lips" (lip gloss) and fingernail polish. She is getting surprisingly good (for a 3 year old) at painting her own fingernails!

Another thing Kenna got that she really enjoys is a 3 1/2 ft tall ballerina doll. She also got a ballerina leotard. She LOVES her ballerina and dances around the living room with her often!

Just before Tony opened his big present - his new Garmin- mom and dad showed up with muffins for us! It was a lovely surprise! Now for the Garmin story- Tony had a garmin which functioned perfectly and he used often when he travels for his job. Unfortunately, the week before Christmas he was parked at his office downtown, some decided they needed a Garmin too. After a broken window, hole in the door panel, 4 trips to 2 different body shops, 50 calls between the insurance companies and the body shops, a rental car, a new garmin and a dead car battery later, we finally have the car back. All because someone wanted to sell it for probably 50 bucks. I told Tony that if it came down to it, I would have written someone a $50 check to avoid the hassle!!

After we were finished opening presents at our house, we headed for the Knafel Christmas!

A tradition at the Knafel house is to take our pictures in front of the tree. After already having 2 Christmases, Kenna was too preoccupied with which presents were hers than smiling for the camera!

Nana and Papa with the kiddos

Granny with the kiddos

This year, Kari bought the kids all jammies to wear to have their picture taken. It was adorable! I think this needs to be a new tradition. There was something about them all having jammies on that made it very much cuter! (but again, difficult to get them all looking the same direction at the same time!)

Another tradition is that both the bible story of Jesus' birth as well as 'twas the night before Christmas is read. Papa read Twas the Night Before Christmas with Kenna and Nana read the bible story. It was a tradition when I was young to listen to the bible story when we had Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Knafel. I remember being young and listening to someone read the story, then as I grew up , I remember reading (or trying to read) the story myself and having help with the "big" words. (Notice Kenna is wearing the tutu. It was all we could do to get her into regular clothes for our picture, then jammies for the kids' picture) It is important that they kids know the true meaning of Christmas. Although it is rigthfully confusing to a 3 year old. WE open presents on Jesus' birthday? Isn't it usually the other way around? That is how birthday parties work, right?

Granny got a leopard print jacket for Christmas, which she modeled beautifully!

I think this is a great picture of Grandma. She is holding a shirt we got her.

Andrew loved his John Deere hat and toolbelt he got. It was hilarious to see him strut around like a big boy!

Dad has been working on his man-building for quite some time. Mom found a sign for him, which appropriately said "garage mahal".

Mom's big present was a laptop computer- which was appropriate since they were still in the stone age of desktop computers!

I hope I didn't miss anything since this is the SECOND time I've typed up this blog. I have TONS more pictures to catch up to date so I will probably be posting another blog in the near future!

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Conversations with Kenna

Tony (in the car looking at her lunch menu for daycare)- Kenna, it looks like you are having walking tacos for lunchon Friday

Kenna: (after a long silence)- Do we eat their legs???

I can't believe it has been so long since I have updated the blog. Time sure flies around the holidays! Delaney is 5 months old already! WOW. We took her to the doctor on Thursday. She was 13lb 2oz and was 25.5in long. She is in the 25 percentile for weight and the 75th of length.... So tall and skinny like Daddy! Darcy told us that we can start giving her baby food (although we have already tried rice cereal and oatmeal. I also gave her a little bite of cornbread last weekend!)

This was her first time trying peas. Judging by the look on her face, it wasn't her favorite thing!

And it didn't get any better if she tried to do it herself!

I took Delaney's 5 month picture with her lamb. We had Kenna pictures taken with this hat when she was a baby too.

Today Dad, Tony and Tim got out the snowmobile. Oh how that brought back childhood memories for me! Dad used to pull Kari and I around the yard on the sled. Tony and I were trying to remember when they had it out last. The last time I can remember was 4 years ago when I was pregnant for Kenna. Of course I couldn't ride it.... Before that they had it out right around the time that Tony and I were married 5 years ago!

Kenna and mommy getting ready for the ride!

I think Kenna was a little nervous about the ride. The snowmobile is pretty loud and of course smells like gas. Anyone that knoes Kenna, knows that she is pretty nervous around loud noises. She did pretty well for her first time! She didn't fight it or anything!!

Next was Andrew's turn. He hopped right on with me and and grabbed the handles! He was ready to drive! It was hilarious!

Papa got the sled all hooked up and pulled Kenna and I around a few times so she could get used to the idea. She was all ready for Bubba to ride with her. They LOVED it!

Lots of fun!!

Wow, I have a lot to get caught up on. It has been about a week and a half since I've posted pictures and there is a lot to update on! Hold on to your computer!!

About a week and a half ago, we went up for a sleepover at Camp Creech (aka Aunt Di and Uncle Rick's). Tony was doing an audit in the area so it just made sense to have a sleepover with Aunt Di, Uncle Rick and the doggies. Aunt Di and Kenna decided to make chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.... MMMMMM

Our mini vacation had an.. interesting.... end. I began having problems with my contacts/eyes and Aunt Di had some pain in her ribs from coughing so we both ended up needing to go to the doctor. But we still had lots of fun!

The next day Lori, Katherine and I (both from work) had a mini retreat to plan for the upcoming year. We got a great deal accomplished during the day! The fun part was that we were able to bring the girls with us- Izzy and Delaney!

I promise the opposite colors (Izzy in purple with her pink Bumbo and Delaney in pink with her purple bumbo) were not planned, but the girlies sure looked adorable! Izzy was born 4 days before Delaney so we are pretty sure they are going to be good friends!

I love this picture how they are staring at eachother!

Last weekend a group of nurses from the NICU and their daughters/granddaughters went out for a little girls day. We bought tickets to see the Sleeping Beauty ballet at the Scottish Rite. Kenna knows the story of Sleeping Beauty VERY well, and let me just say that it wasn't a Disney production. We took Caroline and Taylor for Caroline's birthday. The girls were mesmerized by the beautiful dresses, dancing and music, however 2 hours was a bit too much for Kenna to handle.

Besides the priceless look Kenna had on her face when she first saw the ballerina, actually MEETING one of them was probably the highlight of Kenna's night. She LOVED being right next to a real ballerina! It looks like ballet classes may be something in the near future for us!

Last Sunday we had our Thanksgiving at the Knafel house. Mom wrapped the kids' pieces to their nativity sets and used them as props for our picture taking (the kids did get to open them up later!)

I think our pictures turned out pretty good for having to fight with the kids to keep them from opening the presents!

We even got a good family picture!

For Thanksgiving day, we went to Ohio to see Tony's family. The girls were perfect in the car on the way there. Delaney MAYBE cried for a total of 3 minutes for the entire 3 hour drive. We had rigged up the small TV in the back seat to Kenna could watch movies (which she loved)

Our first night at Grandma Dee's house, Delaney discovered her feet. And the fact that they can reach her mouth! Ha ha

Our first Thanksgiving in Ohio was at Tony's Aunt Reeny's house for lunch, then we went to his Aunt Amy's house for dinner. At Amy's house there was another baby. She and Delaney had fun staring at each other!

Amy and Delaney

Grandma Dee, Uncle Bobby and Delaney

On our way home, we made a pit stop at the outlet mall. While I fed Delaney, Daddy and Kenna managed to find her a new ballerina skirt and a pair of wings. Of course Kenna had to try them on when we got home. She then found the program from the ballet and was telling me that she wanted to look like the ballerina in the book.

And every girl needs to make sure her outfit looks perfect in the mirror, right?

I love this one. What a beautiful girl!

Thankful

Today I'm thankful for:

- The two blessings that God has given me who are asleep upstairs
- An amazing husband and father to our kids
- My parents, grandparents, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins and all extended family
- Having had two thanksgiving dinners today and one last Sunday with amazing families
- A safe place to raise my girls
- Kenna's jokes she told me in the car today
- Hugs and kisses from my family
- Delaney's tiny hand resting on my cheek as I rock her to sleep
- A husband who sings to our kids
- Being able to watch Delaney learn new things- rolling over, finding her hands and feet, starting to try to scoot across the floor, etc
- A job that allows me to be home with my family more than I'm at work
- Kenna telling me she loves me before she goes to bed
- Being able to watch Kenna kiss her sister
- Smiles from both of my girls
- Watching Delaney's eye slowly close as we rock
- Listening to Kenna sing "Jesus loves the little children" as we ate thanksgiving dinner
- Listening to Kenna sing "Over the river and through the woods to grandma's house we go" as we drove to Gma Dee's house
- The fact that my girls have both been held by their 4 great-grandmas, and 1 great grandpa (Kenna was held by 2)
- That my girls know all their grandparents

And I know there are MANY more things I'm forgetting. I think I could go on and on all night.........

4 months old already!

Last night we decided to try to give Delaney her first rice cereal with a spoon. She was not a huge fan, but didn't hate it as much as Kenna did! Delaney has had cereal in her bottle for a few weeks but this was our first experience with a spoon!

Wow, I can't believe my little sweetie is already 4 months old! She is just amazing!

Decided to snap a bunch of pictures of the girls this evening. Here are some!

Funny conversations with Kenna:

1st one

Kenna: Mommy, are policemen mean?

Me: No, police men are good. Like Papa

Kenna: Do policemen save us?

Me: Yes, they can save us if something is wrong.

Kenna: Police men are boys. Girls are not boys. So girls are not policemen

2nd one:

Me: (in the car) Kenna, it is starting to rain, do you hear it on the window?

Kenna: When there is thunder and lightning and you get scared, you can get out of bed and go get mommy and daddy. Then you go to that other place

Me: What other place?

Kenna: Nana and Papas. (She was remembering about 3 months ago when it stormed and we went to mom and dad's because there was a tornado warning)

3rd one:

Kenna: Mommy, when there is thunder and lightning, it is just God. He takes all the thunder and lightning like this (clenches her first), and throws it like this. Then if you get scared, you get out of bed and get mommy and daddy

Lots going on!

Wow, I haven't posted for a few weeks and have quite a bit to talk about. The other night we went to the mall and I found the most adorable bow for Delaney's hair (or I guess lack of it). She looks so cute with it on!

Friday night we went to Menards. Kenna was fascinated by all the Christmas lights. She especially liked the nativity scenes. She had to have Daddy lift her on his shoulders so she could see baby Jesus.

Last night we went to the Komet's game with Greg, Cathy, Ang, Matt and the kids. Delaney was pretty interested in the players skating all over the ice, but REALLY hated it when they scored and the blew the loud horn. She got a huge frown on her face and started to cry. It was so sad

This was after the Komets scored. The girls kept their fingers in their ears for a while.

Delaney and I awaiting the runners of the Marathon. The Veterans Marathon was this past Saturday in CC. The route of the marathon went down Keiser Rd past Mom and Dad's house. We had muffins, donuts and warm drinks as we sat in our lawn chairs awaiting the first runners to come through. Their house was at about the 8 mile marker. We had a lot of fun cheering on the runners, although felt a little like "couch potatoes" as we sat and watched! Couch potatoes included: Dad, Mom, Aunt Di, Uncle Rick, Kari, Tim, Andrew, Granny, Me, Tony, Kenna and Delaney.

We even got to see an hang glider fly over

I was a little disturbed by this guy. He didn't have any shoes on. I can't imagine how painful it is to run on a country road with no shoes. Even worse, how dirty would your feet be at the end of the race?!?!? EWWWWWW

This is Delaney's first time in the exersaucer at home. She loved being able to look at all the toys surrounding her. She is still working on her strength at holding up her head so her play periods in the exersaucer don't always last too long.

Last week Ashley and Abbie came over to play. The girls went in Kenna's room and when they came out, they looked like this. Adorable! I'm a little shocked that Kenna shared her dresses that well, she is usually pretty protective of them. A girl has to watch out for her fancy dresses, right?!

We also had fun playing with pla-doh. I found some old cookie cutters and plastic knives for them to play with. They had a great time!

Delaney modeling her cute bow and her "Ta-Da- cuteness has arrived" onesie that Mom got for her. Everyone at the daycare said how adorable it was! I think so but I'm a little partial........

Cute conversations with Kenna:

First one:

Kenna: Mommy, is that the wedding (pointing to the church)

Me: No, that is a church. That is where you have a wedding

Kenna: I want to be a bride

Me: You will have to talk to Daddy about that

Kenna: I want to marry Daddy

Second one:

Kenna: (kneeling in the living room praying) Dear God. I love my mommy very much. And I love my friends. I love to go outside too. But Jesus it out there up high. But I can't go up there because there are no stairs. Amen

Third one:

(On our way to get Kenna's 2nd H1N1 shot)

Kenna: Mommy, when we go to the doctor is the nurse gonna shot me?

Me: Yes, but it will be real quick and will be over really fast

Kenna: (crying) I don't want the nurse to shot me. I want the nurse to shot Delaney and I will just watch