the kahlers

Boys and Girls

2011-07-10T20:25:00.000-07:00

We got together for a barbecue with Blake's friend Justus and his parents. We love spending time with them and, needless to say, the boys are in seventh heaven.
There's something so fun about boys hanging out with their buddies and just being boys. They are so full of energy, laughter and boy antics. Love it!

And then there's the girl. Although there were several ear-piercing shrieks of delight from Kendall as she poked her head in and out of their dog door, most of her afternoon was spent crafting sushi.

Summertime

2011-06-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

It's hot as blazes here - 100 degrees to be exact. We braved the heat for a little bit tonight post bath, to read and water the plants.

Just in case you were wondering, our home security is provided by Brinks :) Nice!

The sure sign that summer is here. Red geraniums always remind me of home!

The Light Saber Show

2011-06-30T21:30:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, welcome to dada's light saber show!

Nice

Nice skills...and nice boxers!

This is the end of the show. And, what is the giant lump next to Kendall? It's the "wall" made of pillows and blankets that serves as storm and firework "protection."

Toddler Toes

2011-06-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

This deserved to be blogged. Shortly after Aunt D introduced Kendall to nail polish, we gave her a little pedi at home. These are some pretty adorable little toes.

And, also that night...

Bath Times Gone By

2011-06-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

I figure since I stopped blogging a year ago, it would be appropriate for me to post photos from a year ago...right?! I've always loved these pics of Blake and Kendall in the bath together. They loved it! Now their water adventures are reserved for the pool. They're not the only ones who miss the group bath.

Grandpa Darrell's 65th

2010-04-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

A few pics from Grandpa's Birthday party last week. Happy Birthday!!!

St. Patty's Day

2010-03-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

Meghan and Chris have been enjoying all that St. Patty's day has to offer for several years now. This year, we decided to join in the festivities and head to the parade in the Old Market. It was freezing, but fab. Everyone got a bit squirrely when the parade stopped (word has it some unfortunate irish dancer girl fell and got hurt - that's brutal, especially when you're wearing 3000 ringlets on your head...).

Little Kendall

2009-09-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

During my blogging break, Kendall turned one, got baptized, started to walk and more. Sorry girlie, that I have not done a better job documenting.

That said, let me tell you a little bit about her now. If her personality today is any indication, she will grow up to be vivacious and driven with a delightful deep voice (okay, so her unique-sounding squeals are not so delightful on an airplane...).

We had Kendall's 15-month appointment when my mom was in town a week ago (so Kendall was just over 15 months). She is a little thing - 17th percentile in height and a mere 3rd percentile in weight. She's power-packed though, often seen hauling things around our kitchen that seem to be bigger than she is. Think, 2-liter soda bottles.

She loves pushing cars and trucks along (complete with sound effects), pulling books/DVD's/clothes out of their proper places and flinging them onto the floor. Fun game! She's also taken with containers that have lids and can be stacked. Tupperware=hours of entertainment.

She's a real talker with serious inflection and enthusiasm in her delivery. She says "hi!", "bye bye", "mama", "dada", "dee-dee" (Blakey & Binky), "ball", "bubba" (bubble), "ba-ba" a super cute "thank you". Kissing is one of her best talents. She loves to give them on the lips and will come at you with them smacking. Love it!

We're Back

2009-06-29T22:09:00.000-07:00

Yeah, "the kahlers" have had quite the blogging hiatus. "Why?" Well, as I look around our kitchen and living room with dishes and laundry aplenty, it certainly wasn't because we were doing housework...

We're back with slightly older kiddos and plenty of good stories. While we were out, Kendall turned one and into a funny little girly and Blake kept us smiling with his curiosity, observations and rapid growth.

I've got new gear and can finally load my pics onto the computer without going to sleep to find them loaded in the morning. Hallelujah...and thank you, Matt!

We hope all is well with you!!!

Here are some pics from the Summer Arts Festival this past weekend in downtown Omaha.

Kendall - loving the wagon and the camera

Blake - digging the waterfalls on the Gene Leahy Mall.

What Happens When

2009-03-10T19:49:00.001-07:00

Dada is on dressing duty...

Yep, that's little Kendall in Blake's Hulk T-shirt. She also made an appearance yesterday in Blake's camo 2 piece jammies.

Look Who Has...

2009-01-30T20:11:00.001-08:00

...Teeth

The Many Faces of 3

2009-01-18T21:10:00.001-08:00

Our little Blake is 3! I can't believe how much life has changed over the past three years and how much this little guy warms our hearts and cracks us up...every day. Blake is talkative and persuasive. For a long time, he has been popular at gatherings of women where his signature line, "Hello, Ladies" is always a hit. He has daddy to thank for his vast repertoire of one-liners.
Blake is often complimented on how polite he is, saying "thank you very much" enthusiastically, not only to family members but, you know, flight attendants, grocery store clerks, mailmen...you get the idea.
Blake loves his Superman jammies and many form-fitting versions with other characters. We love his cute little 3-year-old body while he wears them!
He has special memories and routines with each of his grandparents and talks about them all frequently. i.e. Are Nana and Grandpa coming over to see us? Are we going to Salt Lake City to see Grandma Sally and Grandpa John (usually here, he'll throw in Big Charwee, too). Is Grandma coming to pick me up? Hey, Grandpa Darrell!
Blake is so fortunate (and so are we) to have wonderful grandparents who go out of their way to make moments with Blake special.
He has a clear interest in music and can identify most bands/artists after he's heard them once or twice. He loves everything from Rihanna to The Eagles to Radiohead and much in between.
I could go on forever about this amazing little guy (and may in future posts), but for now, I wanted to share these fun post-nap, rosy-cheek, rosy-lip pics and a just a few thoughts.

Other Blake Favorites:

Cars/Trucks and other vehicles with Doors that Really Open
Electronic keyboards (thanks Grandpa and Grandpa)
The Fire Station and Fire Trucks (thanks Grandpa John)
"Baby Kendall Sister"
Story Massages
Berries
Grilled Cheese
Mac & Cheese
Fruit Snacks
Blue's Clues
the list goes on...

All in a Row

2008-12-10T20:40:00.000-08:00

I should have made this post some time ago, because I took these pics when I was on maternity leave (probably 4 or 5 months ago now). Little Blake was lining up his cars so meticulously that I had to document it. Matt's mom fondly remembers Matt lining his cars up in the very same way as a little boy - quietly playing and totally immersing himself in this task. So cute. Like father, like son.

Some time ago Grandma Sally gave Blake the book Noisy City Day. Blake and I had read it several times when I noticed that he was saying the words along with me. So I started saying the first few words of each line and he had memorized and would repeat the rest. Now he can recite the whole book page by page (it helps that they rhyme and are totally memorable, i.e. Woof, Woof, On the Roof, Hear the Beat on the Street). Similar to the last story, my mom tells of how I once had my grandpa fooled that I could read after I "read" him my favorite Richard Scarry book. It's so amazing to see these little ones grow...

Christmas, Christmas Time is Here!

2008-12-10T20:21:00.001-08:00

The holidays have arrived and I love it! I'm especially fond of all the sparkles in this year's decorations. Glitter, glitter, everywhere! And what fun to decorate in our new house. Since my mom and sisters don't get to see it in person (and share the same love for holiday decorating), I'm posting a few photos...
It was so fun to put up decorations this year with my little helper Blake, who loves all the ornaments daddy got each year growing up. His favorites are the blue car with a tree on top, the Knicks basketball mouse and the pizza mouse. We put them where he can inspect them regularly :)

I also want to document the blingtastic Christmas Tree. Yep, it includes glitterballs, glittery feathers and jingley mirror strips.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T20:17:00.000-07:00

We had a very scary dino and a soft-as-can-be chick-a-dee this Halloween. Blake is at such a fun age for trick-or-treating. He has been pumped to put on his costume (for trick-or-treat night at the museum and tonight), which pretty much turns him into a plush toy. And, he had excellent manners as we went door to door, saying "thank you very much" to people who dropped delicious (especially for mommy) candy into his Elmo (Easter) basket.

We visited grandparents and then came back to our house where we were met by a serious stream of trick-or-treaters. There were quite a few trick-or-treaters at our old house and it was nothing compared to this neighborhood. Kiddos of all ages were cruising the neighborhood in swarms. Neighbors were hanging out serving parents popcorn and spiked hot chocolate. Good times!

Maverick

2008-10-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

Little Traveler

2008-10-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

Baby Kendall Sister (as Blake calls her) and I took a trip to Salt Lake City to visit my family. Kendall got to meet lots of people and take four flights. She traveled like a champ and made lots of friends along the way. I soaked up every second of SLC - yummy meals, shopping and catching up with friends. We can't wait to visit again soon!

Kendall with Grandma Sally in Angie's backyard. Horticulture degree really pays off when it comes to fabulous pots!

Me and baby girl!

Angie and Kendall at The Original Pancake House, where we enjoyed a delicious Dutch Baby, fresh fruit and yummy oatmeal.

Baby Kendall in a sleeper that I used to wear. Appropriate attire for hanging out with Grandpa John.

Kendall Ann with Grandma Ann. Kendall's middle name is after grandma (and my mom, Sally Ann, and me, Christina Ann!).

Kendall and Uncle Charlie in their newly painted dining room. Love it!

When Nana's Away...

2008-09-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

...Grandpa will play.
Bev has been in Sweden for two weeks and Grandpa Jeff needed to be documented rockin' two weeks of scruff. She got home tonight and he says it will be gone by morning. It lives on in the blogosphere.
I will say that their house was not nearly dirty enough while Nana was gone...he needed Matt and me to come make it look like a real bachelor pad.

4 Months

2008-09-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

We're fresh home from Kendall's 4-month visit to Dr. Davey. She's pretty much the next Shawn Johnson at 12 lbs. 13 oz (30th percentile) and 23 inches (11th percentile). This is one happy little girl, who loves to talk, smile and hang out with the crew. She was not so happy, though, when Dr. Davey checked out her ears and when she got her shots. Mad. Mad. Red Face Mad.
We'll see how she likes airplanes this weekend when the two of us head to Salt Lake City!

Millard Daze

2008-09-10T03:58:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we went to Millard Days - a little carnival celebrating Millard, a glorious suburb of Omaha. Grandma and grandpa, Chris, Meghan and Heidi joined in the fun, too. Millard Days can be daze inducing with its rides, games, ferris wheel opportunities and such...

Events of note:

Blake on a ride (second picture) - with a little Millard cutie - that started off fine, but ended bitterly - "I don't like it, get me off!!!!!!"
Meghan, Matt, Grandma Barb and me riding the "tornado" - why does it seem like childbirth changed my equilibrium?
Grandma and grandpa making out on the ferris wheel.

Our visit was punctuated by a trip to Millard's DQ. Nothin' better.

Weekend Happenings

2008-09-01T21:24:00.001-07:00

Blake got his first drum set! Check out those flames.

First game of the Husker season (our couch is appropriately colored).

Kendall spent time in the Bumbo with the snazzy new tray.

I took pictures!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Family

2008-09-01T21:00:00.001-07:00

Super Surprise

2008-09-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

Last week my dad drove one of his company's trucks from SLC to Springfield, Missouri and stopped off to see us on the way. It was totally unexpected because he's usually flying around the country, not driving (but it's no surprise to see him with a massive vehicle). He rumbled into our neighborhood around 11 p.m., so we woke Blake up to see the giant semi truck minus the trailer parked in our driveway. AWESOME!!! Blake was so excited to see Grandpa John and the big truck. He even got to "drive" the truck himself.

Little Kendall was just happy to see Grandpa John.

Blake's Awaaaaaaaaake

2008-08-24T21:22:00.001-07:00

Every morning promptly at 6:15 we hear Blake down the hall. "I'm Awaaaaaaaaaaaake," he calls, half singing, half screaming while spinning the guard on his doorknob. When either one of us gets to the door, bleary eyed, we open it up to find little Blake (usually in Superman pajamas), smiling with bedhead. "I just woke up from my nap!" he says and takes off (usually with binky in) to our room.

I keep thinking that I need to write down everything he says that's exceptionally funny (to us anyway), so I can make up for the fact that he has a baby book that has very little written in it (can I start doing a better job now that he's 2-1/2??). Here are a few recent highlights...

*"Mama, can you move this couch so I can get my binky?" - uh, if you can say that, I don't know if you should have a binky...

*Today he was tapping the ottoman to his signature beat he uses for drums, kicking the back of car seats, whatever....I said, "is that your beat" he said, "it's the rhythm." Just one
instance of where his vocabulary seems better than mine.

*Matt drove up to Taco Bell with him in the car last week and as they pulled up to the drive-up menu Blake asked him to roll down his window, then proceeded to begin his order "um yes, can I have the..." and the employee said, "can you hold on for just a moment?"

*Blake's favorite thing to watch on TV right now is "The Mama Show" aka our wedding video. He sits there mesmerized, pointing out everyone in our family and asks to watch it multiple times a day. It's been especially appropriate since today we celebrated our 6-year anniversary.

Blessed Be

2008-08-18T22:11:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we celebrated Heidi Leigh's baptism. She wore the same dress and bonnet Meghan wore when she was baptized. Pretty cool. It was tough to get good shots of the actual ceremony because between 3 sets of grandparents and all the anxious aunts and uncles, we had quite the paparazzi fest. I just didn't throw enough elbows to get the position I needed for the best shots. These fun shots of Heidi beforehand will have to do!

Val and Tone (Godparents) Meghan, Chris, Heidi and priest of St. Stephen's

Meghan, Bob and Matt (always poking and prodding while posing)

Kiddos

2008-08-10T07:21:00.001-07:00

Where the Hell is Matt?

2008-08-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

Matt K. is at the All Points West music festival (and just called from Times Square). While he's watching Radiohead, Air and SIA, I'm kicking it in our living room, surrounded by laundry and Rolos. Not a good combo, seriously, what would you choose?
If you don't know the reference, check out the video at wherethehellismatt.com
This guy is dancing all over the world, Meghan and Chris introduced us to this video...pretty cool!

Music Man

2008-08-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

The other morning on the way to daycare, Blake heard music playing and asked, "is this Moby?" It was, and he had heard it just once or twice before. Amazing to me, as Matt still tests my music knowledge by asking me "who is this" and I am right probably 50% of the time.
Blake LOVES Coldplay, especially their new song, Viva La Vida, and requests them all the time. "I want Coldplay!"
He can also identify most Radiohead songs as "Radiohead," which makes for one proud papa. Blake hangs out in our family room with music blaring, swinging his guitar (ukulele) and dancing to the beat. Drums and piano top his chart of favorite toys.
What has inspired Blake's love of music? Hmmm. Dada's headed off to a music festival next week and is always sharing his new music and old favorites with Blake.
Grandpa Jeff plays real drums and guitar with Blake regularly. And, the little man attended lots of concerts (including U2, The Killers, Kathy Mattea and Marvin Hamlisch) in utero, where he would flip-flop in delight...kind of like he does now :)

Just a Few Short Days

2008-07-21T21:54:00.000-07:00

Until the nonstop cuddle/photo fest has to end. Maternity leave is complete in t-minus 2 days. We've had a good run, kid!

Trains and Towers

2008-07-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend we packed up the kiddos and took them to Lauritzen Gardens for Railroad Days. There were lots of model trains on display, a miniature train to ride and people all over wearing Union Pacific gear (UP is based in Omaha).

The garden also has a summer exhibition called Kidstructure, where local architects created interactive - way cool - structures for kids to enjoy. Blake checked out all of the Kidstructures and LOVED many of them. By the time we headed out of there, we were all feeling the heat, especially little Blakey who spent most of the time there running from place to place.

Blake operating a model train. Loving it

Cool structure all about bees. I just liked the super-sized daisies!

Peeping.

Dada and Blake waving from the top of one of the structures.

Blake powering through the dangling PVC.

Peeping.

One worn out kid - ready for lunch.

Two Months

2008-07-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

Kendall Ann is two months old!
At her 2 month well check she was 10 lbs. 11 oz. and 22 inches - just above 40th percentile in all areas. Gotta love Dr. Davey's picture pose. In his words, he and Kendall have the same "do."
She was not a fan of the four shots in her american thighs. I had to make an emergency call to Grandma Barb and ask her to make a run to Walgreens for Tylenol. A dropper full of Tylenol and lots of cuddling did the trick. I'll be better prepared at 4 months :)
That said, the smiling picture above was taken before she received her vaccinations.
At 2 months, Kendall smiles a lot, eats about every three hours, usually has at least one stretch of 4-hour sleep at night, is becoming a binky addict, has lots of hair coming in in the front (where the newborn hair fell out) and a patch of long hair that sticks straight up on the crown of her head, despises the car, loves it when daddy sings Flaming Lips, likes to fall asleep on mama and watch Big Brother Blake. We love this little lady!

Little Smiler

2008-07-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

Kendall's been "getting her smile on" for some time now and I'm just getting around to documenting it. She will smile in an instant and gaze at faces just waiting to be entertained so she can give more smiles (don't let that fool you, the girl also gets her squawk on:)).

The Warm Up

The "Hey, Let's Hang Out"

The 100%

Cuz

2008-07-13T20:32:00.000-07:00

Kendall and Heidi are less than one month apart. How fun to have a cousin so close in age - and live nearby. I have two girl cousins born in 1977 and we definitely have a special bond. Although we span the spectrum of haircolor (one redhead, one blonde and one brunette) and geographic location, I know we all share great memories of spending time together growing up. I have no doubt Kendall and Heidi will have wonderful memories together as well.

It's been fun for Meghan and I to have babies around the same time (especially so we could spend some of our maternity leave together playing spades, painting and most of all...feeding). These two will have lots of pictures taken together, I'm sure. Above are a few from their first session.

Grandpa John Truck

2008-07-12T10:04:00.001-07:00

Whenever Blake sees snowplows, semis or other large vehicles, he calls them "Grandpa John Trucks" and he regularly walks around talking about Grandma Sally and Grandpa John and taking a plane to see them in the "big city."
Grandpa John took a plane to visit us in the Big O a few weeks ago. He cooked yummy eggs with ham, hung mirrors in our bedrooms, fixed the back door, held Kendall lots, hung out with Blake and gave us a good dose of that great laugh. Thanks for coming to visit, dad!

Firecookies

2008-07-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

It's the most clever thing I've heard in a long time. If given a choice of firecrackers or firecookies, I'll take the latter every time. Blake gets to take credit - he mentioned watching the firecookies as we were arriving home on the 4th of July in the center of our neighborhood firecrackerfest.

Check out our little patriots (4th of July couture compliments of dear friend Kate Cavanaugh).

Angie & Charlie are Bloggers

2008-07-02T22:24:00.000-07:00

Yea, Angie and Charlie have a blog. Check it out here.

Speaking of Angie, here's a snippet of our conversation today while I was in search of acceptable (belly-covering) casual clothes at Old Navy.

me: How do you feel about a brown t-shirt with a gold dollar bill sign with wings?
ang: I don't feel good about it
me: either do I, but it's the only thing that looks good on

later...

me: How do you feel about a t-shirt with two pop-art girls on it and something that says "Fresh" in silver
ang: I feel good about it
me: Seriously, what if the "Fresh" is part of the girl's grill?
ang: it is?
me: no, but it could have been...

Gotta love sisters...

Heidi Pics

2008-07-02T22:13:00.000-07:00

So I did some newborn photos of our new niece, Heidi. Check out the slidelicious (sweet!) show below. How precious is she?

View on Slidelicious Create your own Slideshow

Go Aggies

2008-07-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been in touch with friends from Utah State and it's taking me back.

What a great time in life - what I wouldn't give to return for a few days and hang out on the 3rd floor of the TSC eating samples of Milky Way Midnight and talking about bringing Dave Matthews to campus or the drama of raising tuition.

There was nothing better than sitting in the front window of the AXO house chatting, watching the snow (and people and cars slipping on the ice) and getting ready to go to classes in the Animal Science building (yeah, they were communication classes). All you blogging Alpha Chi's, do you remember when we would make concoctions (i.e. huge glasses of ketchup and mustard) in the kitchen and chant as girls consumed them, get our groove on in the living room or sing in the bathroom? Remember the freaking crickets??? I love it!

It's funny looking back. I thought I was SOOO busy. Hmmm try having a 2-year-old and a full time job (yep, I'm about to add a 2-month-old to that mix).

Anyway, to all my Aggie peeps, these are for you!

Could Blake be a future Aggie???

Uncle Bob is an Aggie through and through. He supplied the t-shirt for Blake.

My sister Dani is currently an Aggie cheerleader. I'll see if I can get a pic of her stunting and post it...

Any Given Tuesday

2008-06-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

Highlights

2008-06-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

As I type, Blake is telling me desperately that we're locked out of the elevator (sounds a bit more like "alligator"), which is actually the bathroom where he has a shopping cart filled with a bunch of diapers, his police car and some coasters. I know this because we spent some quality time hanging out in the "elevator" together where I attempted unsuccessfully to cut his fingernails.
Now he's almost to the point of tears saying "Dada, you have to help us..." Time for me to open the bathroom :)

Recent Blakeisms:
"That's ree-dic-u-luss"
"Can I come, too?"
"(Insert Person's Name here) you come, too."
"Can we open it?"
"Can you fix it?"
"I need to go to the MUSEUM."
"I need to hold Baby Kendall."
"I need to have some chocolate chip." (this started when he discovered the giant bag of chocolate chips - a maternity leave necessity - at the bottom of the pantry)
"The (insert item here i.e. ladybug, lion, Bob the Builder) is talking to me. Yep, he is."

A few quick pics from the past several weeks...

Blake and Kendall - just hanging out.

Grandma Barb and Kendall enjoying some QT.

Dada's 31st birthday. Mine followed on June 15. Yep, we're officially "in our 30s" with two kids.

This is how we all feel about being 31.

Kendall kickin' it in her carseat.

Photos

2008-06-16T20:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a preview of the photos we had taken last week by Taylan Brooks Photography. Thanks to all our friends at the museum for the amazing gift!

Aunt Angie

2008-06-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

She hasn't even been gone for 6 hours and we miss her so much! Aunt Angie brought with her 5 days of love and kisses for Blake and Kendall, mad painting skills, fashion assistance, delicious meals, baked treats and a serious forehand for wii tennis.

Unfortunately, Omaha did not reciprocate with a lot of love - while Angie was here we spent some quality time in the basement because of severe weather (fun as it was).
We love you Aunt Ang and can't wait until you come back to visit

Baby Kendall

2008-06-11T15:20:00.001-07:00

My coworkers pitched in on a gift certificate for a local photographer and gave it to me at the great shower they threw before Kendall was born. It was the most amazing gift and surprise - instantly evoked waterworks :)
Sherry was here for 4 hours today taking, what I'm sure will be, lots of lovely photos. After she left, I was inspired to start playing around with the more advanced features on my camera using natural light (it's about freaking time!). Here's a sweet shot of little Kendall (wearing jammies I wore as a baby :)).

Heidi Leigh

2008-06-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

Meghan and Chris had a beautiful, healthy baby girl this morning around 8:30 a.m.
Heidi Leigh Gonzales is 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 20.5 inches with a head full of strawberry blonde hair. Precious.

Here's their blog.

It's Baby Time!

2008-05-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

A few quick pics...

Kendall Ann Kahler

Blake found the hospital bed nearly as interesting as his new baby sister.

Daddy showing off his new baby girl...and his guns.

Aunt Dani and Baby Kendall

Kendall enjoying time with Grandma Sally (who just left today). I don't know what we would have done without her here. Thank you, mom!

Baby Kendall

2008-05-21T19:42:00.000-07:00

She's here, she's here! After a much different birth experience this time around, we have a beautiful baby girl.
Kendall Ann Kahler
7 lbs. 2 oz.
19.5 inches
May 14, 2008, 2:48 a.m.

Belly Study

2008-03-21T08:49:00.001-07:00

So, I rarely post any pics of myself, but this one is excused because the pics are mainly of baby girl. Kinda cool, kinda creepy. Enjoy.
These are for Crappy, who was curious about if I was still alive and still pregnant. The answer is YES (8 months now) - just check out this bump! The last one of my face is to document that I survived the bout with a kidney stone (so far, anyway).

Tagged

2008-03-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

1. I am the last person anyone thought would actually do this (see thesauk.com for proof).
2. I love a good challenge and am super competitive, so Michele was probably thinking that if she called me out publicly, I'd actually post - she knows me too well...Michele, are you feeling that I could use some of your popcorn? I could :)
3. I love being a mama. Although, with a full+ time job, I often feel strapped for time, there's nothing like seeing my little Blakey grow and explore. Blakey kisses, hugs and calls out for mama are what it's all about!
4. I love photography and crafting, although I don't get much time to do it. I do check out cool blogs and am envious of the beautiful work.
5. I really enjoy working at Omaha Children's Museum. I have learned much about the importance of self-directed and interactive play, childhood development and parenting. I work with a fabulous, capable and dedicated group of people (who happen to be great cooks and a lot of fun as well).
6. I spent two days this week at the hospital in hopes of giving birth (not to a baby, to a kidney stone). The glorious time has not come, but I'm hoping that all the pain will head out and life will go on as before.
7. I have never been good at keeping house or managing monthly bills. I'm open to hearing any foolproof methods...
8. I think Dancing with the Stars in HD, kicks A@%!
9. I really miss hanging with the Domichels in Utah all the time. I really love the family I get to spend time with in Omaha.
10. I grew up clogging and ballroom dancing (explains my obsession with Dancing with the Stars) in Utah (explains my obsession with Utah culture).

I was tagged by Michele Sauk, I'm tagging Angie, Mykan, Lara, Rachel & Meghan!

Tagging Rules: ONCE YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED YOU HAVE TO WRITE A BLOG OF TEN WEIRD, RANDOM THINGS, FACTS OR HABITS ABOUT YOURSELF. AT THE END, YOU CHOOSE FIVE PEOPLE TO BE TAGGED, LISTING THEIR NAMES AND WHY YOU CHOSE THEM TO BE TAGGED. DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE THEM A COMMENT "YOU'RE IT" AND TO READ YOUR BLOG. YOU CAN'T TAG THE PERSON WHO TAGGED YOU. SINCE YOU CAN'T TAG THAT PERSON BACK, LET HIM OR HER KNOW WHEN YOU'VE POSTED YOUR BLOG SO HE OR SHE CAN READ YOUR ANSWERS.

Livin' It Up In Oak Hills

2008-02-02T19:44:00.000-08:00

Long time, no post...
We've been otherwise occupied with selling our house, packing up and moving in with the 'rents. Yes we are 30 years old and have a child and a dog and we've moved in with our parents. And, it's awesome. I don't know that we will ever want to leave.
I know when February 15 rolls around and we haul all of our stuff out of here we're going to miss the morning smoothies, yummy meals, help with Blake, the laundry fairy and the warm, loving atmosphere. We don't know if Blake will actually join us at our new house. We're quite sure he would prefer to stay here.
Anyway, Bev and Jeff have been so gracious letting us invade their home. And, Barb and Darrell have been equally as gracious housing our delightful dog, Knicki.
The new house - provided everything works out - is in Millard closer to day care than we've been and still a quick drive to all the grandparents' houses. I'll be able to post pics later...

What else is happening?
Well, I'm nearly 25 weeks along and expanding by the day. This girl likes to kick, punch and roll around in there...especially at 5 a.m. or during board meetings when I'm expected to sound intelligent. It's much more fun to burst out with mini giggles as she pops me one than answer questions about Omaha Children's Museum's marketing strategy, right? I've been enjoying prenatal yoga this time around, and I must say, it is a must do! A time to stretch, reflect and rejuvenate. During the first class I fell asleep while we were "visualizing" or doing a deep relaxation exercise. The best part about being pregnant is, it's totally excusable. The instructor said, "you must have needed it" with a knowing smile. I love it!
No, we don't have class in the great outdoors, but I had to spice this post up with something :)

It's A...

2007-12-25T08:46:00.000-08:00

Girl! And, multiple kewpie dolls in pink headbands all wrapped up with gender-neutral packaging is how we told our families for Christmas. Fun!!!
Our ultrasound last Tuesday confirmed that this markedly different pregnancy (namely less bacne and much crabbier) is going to result in the opposite sex. We're thrilled that baby girl looked healthy and happy in the ultrasound.
We're celebrating Christmas in Utah and have had a great time catching up with friends and watching Blake interact with my family. He calls for "Grandpa John" and his "Big Truck" frequently and loves Grandma and her oatmeal. More pics from Utah to come soon...
Merry Christmas!!!

A Lot Has Happened...

2007-11-18T20:20:00.000-08:00

...In the Past Few Months

I'll keep this brief. And, yes, that is Blake sticking a pregnancy test in his eye.

-We're expecting Baby K #2. Due date is May 16...for those of you doing the math...no, the baby will not be named Kingston, or Jamaica for that matter, but we'll pay our homage by returning to Sandals, Jamaica eventually.

-My sister Angie got married! Check out a beautiful pics of Angie and Charlie's glorious wet wedding www.dustontodd.blogspot.com.

-Our house is on the market. We need more space for Baby K #2. If you know of anyone looking for a house in Millard (Omaha neighborhood), send them our way.

-In order to prepare for our house to go on the market, my mom and her wonderful friend Jenee came to Omaha to help us "get ridiculous" and get the house ready to show.

-In the process of getting the house ready, Matt single-handedly moved about 30 boxes of stuff (Bob did help move out a bookshelf) and consequently hurt his back at basketball the following week.

-Meghan (Matt's sister) and Chris (her hubby) are expecting Baby G #1. Due early June. No, they were not with us on the trip to Jamaica.

-Blake is speaking in short sentences and says a heart-melting "Thank You, Mama." So precious.

-Our dog got sick with "hemorrhagic gastroenteritis" for the second time in 4 months. We were able to avert the $750 vet bill this time around. Unfortunately, we were not able to avoid some nasty accidents in the house. Nothing more nauseating in the first trimester...

-Sabrina and Mark got kicked off of Dancing with the Stars. What?!?!

Day at the Park

2007-10-18T04:53:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pics of us enjoying the final days of summer with Blake.

Jamaica Me Crazy

2007-09-16T19:29:00.000-07:00

**I wrote this post in August and am just now getting around to posting :)**

Matt surprised me with a trip to Jamaica for our 5th anniversary. We packed up our beach wear, gave our little man lots of goodbye kisses, dropped him off at Nana and Grandpa's and headed to Sandals Dunn's River on Jamaica's north side. It was glorious! We enjoyed awesome dinners, hanging out by the beach and in the pool, reading, eating nachos, dancing and massages. We had never been to an all-inclusive resort and it was just the break we needed from our always-busy lives in Omaha.
One afternoon, we went on a "party cruise" to Dunn's River Falls. The group of 20+ couples hopped off the catamaran, slipped on water socks and headed up the 600-foot falls single file, holding hands while guides led the way. The trip up the falls was beautiful and on either side of the water you could tell where Hurricane Dean had blown through the island, leaving plenty of branches and debris in his wake.

After 5 days of enjoying ourselves in Jamaica, we headed home, excited to see our little man. While we were gone he slept through the night for both sets of grandparents and even picked up a new word, "Bus." He greeted us with nearly 30 minutes of high-stepping, hugs and squeals. If you have to leave Jamaica, there's no better homecoming!

Omaha Stylie

2007-08-18T20:19:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post these photos for awhile. In July, my mom, sister Dani and her boyfriend Anthony, braved the 14-hour drive from Salt Lake City to come visit the Big O! We enjoyed time together hanging out, eating serious BBQ (courtesy of Anthony's serious grilling skills) and munching on Dani's delicious baked goodies. She made some outstanding bran muffins with applesauce frosting. Yum. Dani, if you're reading this, please send the recipe (I tried to find it myself and ended up with some muffins that were more than a little questionable).

Sals got Blake giggling multiple times and there were plenty of special moments on the go and at home. While Matt and I were at work, the gang visited some Omaha hot spots including Borsheim's (the world-famous jewelry store - think Bennifer in a private shopping room) and Omaha Children's Museum, of course!

Everyone got a kick out of Blake's obsession with the "PONE!!!" (phone of any kind) and his constant sign language requests for "more." More crackers, more sippy cup, more spinning in the chair...and, more daddy!!!

Road Trip

2007-07-31T18:22:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went to Matt's cousin's wedding in Rapid City, South Dakota. With an 8-plus hour trip, we decided to hit some of the tourist attractions along the way and let Blake stretch his legs.
First stop was the Mitchell Corn Palace. Yep, you got it, the place is covered in corn. We were hoping for corn innards too, but to our dismay, inside the corn palace was a gymnasium.
Next stop was Wall Drug. I don't know what's bigger, the store (which is more of a "complex" or "neighborhood") or the number of square feet occupied by their various billboards on the way in and out of town. Blake saw a robotic dinosaur, posed as a native american woman (see slide show) and ate some of a downright yummy hot fudge sundae. I sampled some of the free ice water that made Wall Drug famous.
Last stop, Mount Rushmore. I had heard that it was really tiny, so had low expectations as far as what we'd be able to see and was pleasantly surprised to get close enough to see a fair amount of detail. And, who knew that the original concept for the "Shrine to Democracy" included the presidents' bodies?
And, we really enjoyed Mati and Chad's wedding and catching up with members of Matt's family we don't get to see very often. Unfortunately, I didn't get pics because I spent a good portion of the reception watching Blake roll around in a frenzy on the hotel bed after giving him cold medicine. Note the label: May cause excitability in children...

Hawaii 3-0

2007-06-27T19:49:00.000-07:00

My turn to turn has come and gone. Now I'm 30. After multiple ice-cream-cake-filled celebrations in Omaha, I packed up my swimsuits (yep, post ice cream cake) and headed off to a glorious week-long stay in Hawaii with my mom and sisters. As an added bonus, we were joined by our Aunt Flora and Uncle Erik.

It was wonderful to spend quality time with the girls and get caught up sans our many men. While I was lounging on the beach, Matt was pulling double duty here in Omaha. When I got back, Blake was happy, the house was clean and my flowers were blooming. That was when I decided to tell Matt that the week-long girls vacation is becoming an annual tradition (just kidding).

In Hawaii we spent several days on Waikiki beach (next to an ancient surfer perv) and also visited a beach with huge waves where plenty of locals were surfing and boogie boarding (some with their dogs). Other highlights included seeing Knocked Up (I hadn't seen a movie in ages), Angie almost losing her bikini top in the Waimea Falls as we were posing for a picture, making porridge for supper in the condo, our quest to locate lululemon athletica and its ultimate fitness gear, finding and eating delicious shave ice at M. Matsumoto on the North Shore and sharing a yummy dinner and molten chocolate cake at Roy's. What a delight to be together and make so many wonderful memories. I can't wait for the next trip!

Oh yeah, I would be remiss if I did not mention my alter ego, who only shows up when people try to wake me up from restful sleep in Hawaii. The girls started to call her "Rare Animal." There are no pics of the animal at this point, and likely never will be...

The Big 3-0!

2007-05-27T19:36:00.001-07:00

Matt is 30! The birthday celebration began yesterday with Blake waking up at 6:10 a.m. raring to go. So, go we went, to Council Bluffs, Iowa, specifically to WalMart.
After I called all over town for weeks to find a Nintendo wii for Matt to no avail, he made a few calls (one to WalMart in Council Bluffs) and found out they had four. So we all hopped in the car and made the drive across the river. It was a glorious pilgrimage that resulted in pure joy for Matt and family and friends as they bowl, box and "wii" to their heart's content.
Later in the day, we went to Omaha's renowned Henry Doorly Zoo and walked through the aquarium - one of Blake's favorite places - and all the way up to Pachyderm Hill to see the elephants.
Matt grew up going to Henry Doorly Zoo all the time, doesn't that make him an expert in all that is captive animal related? Heck yeah, it does. So, I was asking questions of him incessantly.

"why are that elephant's tusks so much shorter?"
(answer: An elephant's tusks are really incisor teeth which keep growing throughout the elephant's life, although general wear and occasional breaks can keep their size in check. They are made from layers of dentine (ivory) which is very hard. Male (bull) tusks tend to be larger than female (cow) tusks although it is possible to find tuskless members of both sexes.

"why are the elephants separated in that area?"
(answer: from what I've read, it appears that they are separated to keep them from fighting)

Apparently we both have some studying up to do, from what I understand, these questions will be coming from Blake sooner than later :)

The birthday celebration continued last night as we met up with friends and family at a grill/bar where the Ultimate Fighting Championship was going on. We aren't into UFC, but we got into it last night and payed homage to Omaha and Salt Lake City, both of which were represented by fighters.
Today, we partied with both sides of Matt's family. At Barb and Darrell's we enjoyed delicious barbecued beef sandwiches and cupcakes (despite Matt's request for beef stroganoff and hot dogs. Later, Bev and Jeff accommodated Matt's request for grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese. Chocolate pudding has been a 30th birthday weekend staple - delivered by his mom and Darrell yesterday and served in place of cake at Matt's dad and Bev's today. Yum.
Wacky times always ensue, and today was no exception with a very special gift of Butter Bread, Elvis Style with Peanut Butter and Bananas wrapped up for Matt (no wonder the dogs were sniffing it prior to gift opening) from Meghan and Chris and a giant container of Tootsie Rolls from Bev and Jeff. This immediately prompted a Tootsie eating contest, which Matt won by a good 30 seconds.
Blake has had a great time with family this weekend, especially bonking Godfather Bob on the head with balloons then falling on the floor in hysterics. We're looking forward to tomorrow when Michele Sauk and her family will join us for the evening on their way to Salt Lake City. Woo hoo!

Pretty, Pretty Baby Face

2007-04-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

This is Juliet - daughter of Alix and Trent Bryant. Isn't she sweet? I took photos of their new family in SLC.

Kings of the Playground

2007-03-27T19:26:00.000-07:00

We've been taking advantage of the beautiful weather over the past few weeks. After all of Omaha hibernated following the "Blizzard of 2007," signs of life are reappearing. Plants are budding, kids are playing and it is glorious! At two different playgrounds, my boys proclaimed themselves Kings of the Playground! Matt and Blake broke in the swings and the slide and we all tested out the creaky teeter-totter.

In other Omaha news, we're no longer part of the Honda Element Club. Last week the lease on the Element was up and it went back to the Honda dealership (we did shed a few tears about no longer having a rubber floor and totally stain proof fabrics - obviously a good choice for us:)). We replaced it with a Subaru Outback Wagon. It's Matt's car (another good choice considering my driving, backing and bumping record), but I drove it over the weekend and it is SWEET!!!

Little Blake has been sick with a cold and aggravated by four teeth making their way through on top. But he keeps us highly entertained, busy and loved (with his signature open-mouth kisses). Blake and I are heading to SLC for Easter. Four plane trips alone? Yikes! I'm sure I'll appreciate Matt's constant help more than ever upon my return.

Elmo's World

2007-02-26T20:36:00.000-08:00

This past weekend Elmo and Blake met at Omaha Children's Museum. Kevin Clash, the puppeteer of Elmo visited the museum for a benefit dinner for grown ups and morning story time for kids. It was a fun-filled, totally exhausting weekend. One of the perks of the job is prime access for Blake - in this case it meant a little one on one time with the famous red monster.

Matt also got some alone time with Kevin Clash at dinner. He was clearly fascinated that Kevin did the voice of Splinter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie and asked him several questions about it. The third or fourth question was prefaced by, "I'm sorry to keep asking you about the ninja turtles, but..." I love my hubby! He was so great to join me at the dinner and to bring Blake to the story time despite my constant running around.
Elmo is one popular guy. At the story time several hundred 3 and 4 year olds were sitting behind a piece of masking tape on the floor. It was all they could do to keep from rushing the stage. At one point, one little guy did take off for the stage and I had to try and coax him down. Only feet away from Elmo, he very firmly told me he did not want to leave the stage. I had to pick him up and deliver him to mom in the audience. Working events at the children's museum is entertaining in an entirely different way!

Check out the last photo, you can actually see Kevin Clash's head with his microphone...

Snow Day

2007-02-18T18:35:00.000-08:00

Blake, Knicki and I got to enjoy a snow day last Tuesday. The museum was closed because of the weather, so we spent some quality time together after Blake and Matt's big trip to Salt Lake City (they went together to see my family and Matt and my dad went to the Jazz/Knicks game...).

Blake was in the tub and I was strangely inspired to cut his hair - it was becoming quite the little mullet. I thought I was doing a standout job until I accidentally snipped a chunk of hair that didn't need to go. Oh well, he looks a little "military" on one side - hopefully it will grow back quickly.
At one point Blake and Knick were peering out the front door together, checking out the snow in the neighborhood. It's clear they're going to be great pals. Blake has taken to holding Knicki's bone for her while she gnaws on the opposite end. Disgusting, but cute.

Also, I wanted to post a picture of Blake walking. He's starting to get around pretty well. Much of the time he looks like a drunken sailor, but he's becoming bolder and sturdier each day.

Science Center In A Box

2007-01-28T06:30:00.000-08:00

This Friday and Saturday, the museum opens its second renovated area, the Charlie Campbell Science and Technology Center. It's a wonderful space for kids to become active participants in science with a giant ball machine that kids operate and watch balls travel through tubes and on tracks. A Science Showplace houses live science presentations and experiments and an Inventor's Workshop, inspired by da Vinci's sketchbooks, is a place where kids can tinker with gadgets and build their own structures with KAPLA blocks - they're very cool.

We've been working hard to get a press kit put together and are thrilled to deliver "Charlie Campbell Science and Technology Centers in box" tomorrow! They have miniature items representing what's happening in the space. Our designer, Matt Orand (work Matt), has done such a fabulous job with the graphics, I had to post. This isn't very crisp and we're still making some copy edits, but gives you an idea of how fun everything looks!
Yesterday, Matt (hubby Matt) brought Blake to the museum while the children from The Lion King were doing an autograph session. It was a zoo (no pun intended)! Anyway, I think Blake is growing to like the museum more and more - he was shaking his little buns on a rocking horse. I'll post pics soon...

Toob

2007-01-19T22:08:00.001-08:00

I couldn't resist posting this photo of Blake and Matt watching tube (specifically Subterranean on MTV2) together. Peas in a pod.

He's One, He's One!

2007-01-19T21:50:00.000-08:00

Blake Matthew turned one-year-old on January 7. He celebrated in style...twice. The first party was at Nana Bev and Grandpa Jeff's where Godfather Bob and Blake celebrated together. At the "Bob Celebration" one year ago my water broke - not in a small way - while we were playing Apples to Apples. This year Bob and Blake blew out their candles together (or, I should say, Bob blew them out for them both). Blake LOVED Nana Bev's chocolate cake.

Blake's second celebration was at home with yummy (as you can see) cake - not quite as tasty as Nana Bev's, but this one sported a Batman candle.

We stripped him down and let him go to town. Grandma and Grandpa Stuedemann brought over presents, including a Little People Farm (complete with DVD with songs by Aaron Neville - HOT) and a John Deere farm equipment set. Our little guy has everything he needs to prepare for adulthood in Nebraska! I suppose the bibs he was wearing on his b-day were appropriate.

After cake, we gave Blake a quick bath and dressed him in his new form fitting jammies (Also HOT) and he spent a while dancing to Towa Tei in the living room. That seems to be his new gig. He lifts up his arm and waves his hand while we bounce around in synch.

Happy Birthday little man! It's been such a joy to have you here! We can only imagine what this year will bring and how crazy you'll get with cake next year...
My only question, what's up with one-year-old tantrums?

Christmas in the Promised Land

2007-01-06T20:39:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick recap of our annual Christmas trip to Salt Lake City (that was the deal, live in Omaha, spend Christmas is SLC). Our flight from Omaha on Frontier was canceled because of the blizzard in Denver and we spent several hours one evening figuring out how we were going to get to Utah. I-80 was closed, Frontier couldn't get us out until Christmas Day (even from other cities) and spending Christmas in Omaha would have been met with ex-communication from the family. Thank goodness for Sally's Skymiles - we were able to get tickets out of Omaha (only two days after our original flight) and arrive in Utah a few days before Christmas.

We got to spend time with the fam, Michele and Alix (and children in the flesh and the womb), Tiff and we went to a gathering at Charlie's (Angie's boyfriend), where everyone enjoyed a great Jazz game, delicious nachos and good company.
On Christmas day, Blake was showered in Elmo gifts. An Elmo Throne, programmable talking Elmo (who now says Blake's name randomly throughout the day from the Pack n' Play) and Dress Me Elmo (Matt's calling him Touch Me, Feel Me Elmo), which is even more special because the real Elmo (Kevin Clash) is coming to the children's museum next month. Would it be strange if I asked him to sign the Touch Me, Feel Me Elmo??

Other highlights:
-Blake's blankies from Angie and Dani
-Dani's gift-opening session
-Dad rubbing down the "turkey guy"
-Angie's many thoughtful gifts including "minGnocchi's with Grandma Ann: The DVD"
-Finding out that Hoopa is prego
-The Christmas Eve service at St. James
-Meeting Tiff's boyfriend
-Blake's Christmas Jammies (and Santa hat)
-Several sleepless nights in the alternately freezing and sweltering basement

It was a wonderful first Christmas for Blake and we look forward to enjoying the holidays in Utah for years to come.

Rubber Ducky

2006-12-05T19:18:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in a really long time, so wanted to put up a pic of our little man as he nears 11 months. His personality develops more and more each day. He's totally into music - Daddy prefers to play Radiohead and mommy spices it up with a little Dan Zanes.
I can't believe how much he's changed over the past year. We're looking forward to spending some quality time in Utah with my family over Christmas! We're getting ready for the trip and contemplating a holiday tradition of family PJ's! If it happens, I'll definitely post.

Our Little Monkey

2006-10-31T21:00:00.000-08:00

Happy first Halloween little Blake!
Despite an ear and sinus infection, the Blakester managed to go Trick-or-Treating (or at least calling on his favorite people in Omaha). He was surprisingly happy dressed as a little monkey, complete with bulging belly, banana in pocket and curly tail. He even showed off his new trick - climbing up stairs - in costume.

Happy Birthday - Is that my bink?

2006-09-16T21:25:00.000-07:00

Grandpa Jeff is known for "enjoying" a good cigar - not usually smoking it. Little Blake is certain that it would work as a stand-in binky :)
With their coordinating outfits, Jeff and Blake are quite a pair. On Grandpa's 57th birthday, Blake got to practice for his big day in January.

Hallelujah!

2006-09-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

Little Blake was baptized Labor Day weekend. After squirming and squawking through the service, Pastor Kirk Ryckman took him and turned him toward the congregation. One look at all those faces and he was silent.
Meghan and Chris graciously hosted an after-party at their house and gave the Blakester a slew of Jesus themed gifts including Meghan's signature "Jesus Rocks" bib. Blake loves it!
All 6 grandparents were a part of the celebration and Blake (and Matt and I :)) loved the extra snuggles all weekend.
Godparents Bob and Ang were amazing as usual - it's clear that both of them love our guy very much.

We are blessed!

Aunt Ang and Rocket

2006-07-24T19:49:00.001-07:00

Aunt Ang loves the smell of the Blakester's hair. She sniffs it the same way she used to sniff her beloved Care Bear's butt.
Ang is teaching Blake how to walk...and how to scope out "hot property."

Giggle Monster

2006-07-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

Baby Blakester and Grandma Sals enjoy each other's company. Belly laughs and grabbing for the bill...

The Rockin' Jitterbuggy

2006-07-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

Blake loves the buggy. Just look at him go!

Let the blog begin!

2006-07-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

So, I've delayed getting the blog up and running and now I have no excuses.
Blake is sleeping through the night and we have a new digital camera!

This weekend Sal and Ang made a trip to Omaha and, among other things, we took them to Henry Doorly Zoo. "The Godfather" - Bob - came from Lincoln to join in the good times and all of us thoroughly enjoyed it!

Note Matt in the background of the pic with G-parents Bob and Angie.

Test

2005-12-18T04:05:00.000-08:00

This is test to see if the blog works, and if, in fact, we actually want to have a blog...