Belated Holiday Update...

Wow, it has been a while since I have been on here.  

I realize that I promised pictures from our holiday adventures in Idaho a while back and have yet to post them.  So in classic "better late than never" fashion, here they are...

 Uncle Jim taught Mary-Brenna "Opa!" Whenever she would raise her hands in the air, we all would as well.  At meal times she had complete control of the table.  It was so fun!

 Uncle Jim and Mary-Brenna made fast friends!

 Madison and Ryan standing in front of a tree of lights at the Botanical Gardens in Boise.

 The whole gang posing for a picture in the garden.

 Enjoying a good book with Grandma.

 Cousins... so fun!

 Say cheese Uncle Michael!

 Quick pic in the garden... Silly Michael.

 MBK and Uncle AJ!

 Trying to wake up with Uncle Michael.

 Sitting in Aunt Niecy's chair while watching Pooh.

 A chair just my size.

 Playing a game with Uncle.

Cuddle time with a movie.

We had a wonderful time on vacation at Christmas.  It was so great to see our family and get caught up with everyone again.  Wish we could have stayed longer, but it was a very memorable Christmas. 

Holiday Adventure and New Year Posts

Coming Soon...

Holiday in Idaho Adventures and Life with a very adventurous 1-Year Old Posts.

I have been terrible about posting and after a gentle nudge (thanks Mom) I am going to be posting pictures and stories soon.

Lots of Love,

Katie

New Christmas Stockings

From L to R: Mom, Mary-Brenna, Katie and Dad

This year, Mom and I decided that the family needed updated Christmas stockings.  For quite a few years now we have had a mismatched collection of stockings.  Some store bought and some homemade.  So this year we found fabric that we loved and decided to give the family a cohesive collection of stockings for our holiday celebrations.  I am really excited about these, I think they turned out really well.

Michael's Stocking

Belated Picture Update Part 2

So, I have been a total slacker.  I feel like I have been so busy as of late.  My brother and Oma came up to Alaska for a visit, which was awesome!  And Mary-Brenna has been growing like crazy.  She is now walking (video to come soon).  I am so glad she waited till Michael and Oma were here to see her walk for the first time by herself.  My little girl is getting so big so fast!  I cannot believe that she is almost one!  As for me, apart from having the pleasure of watching my daughter grow, I have been working a lot.  Such is the life of a substitute teacher (well teachers in general).  I have truly been blessed with consistent work, and am hoping that being so busy might lead to a full time job in the future (maybe next school year).  So enough chatter, here are the pictures I promised!

 Mary-Brenna enjoyed checking out the bear rug at Russ and Carmen's house!

 At Auntie Jay's new house Mary-Brenna practiced her drumming skills on Jay's bowls!  

So much fun!

 Here is the look right after a bath trying to get lotion out of the hair.  The troll!

 Living life with a lot of boy cousins means playing with light sabers!

 So happy to have Papa home!

 Playing a silly game with her toes and Papa!

 Playing outside with her Oma.

 Walking around the yard with Grandma.

 Oooh, trucks!

 Fun in Talkeetna, AK with Uncle Michael!

Laughing after a fun filled day!

Picture Update Part 1

I have a ton of pictures that I have uploaded to my computer, but sadly not all of them are edited.  Here is a very belated update, but a cute one none the less. 

Summer Adventures

Wow, what a summer.  We have had a great one that is for sure.  A little rainy all around, but it was spent with wonderful people.  Uncle Michael was home for the summer, and sadly he is back a school.  We aren't going to see him again till October, but that is going to be here before we know it.  We have missed Papa so much this summer.  He has been off in Afghanistan all this while and has missed his little granddaughter becoming mobile.  He is heading back to Alaska the first few days of September.  He is scheduled to leave Afghanistan on September 1st, but we will see how long it takes him to get home.  Those planes have been working hard all summer so there is bound to be some repairs needed on the way home.

We have been to some weddings this summer, and have one more coming up on Friday.  I am so excited for all my friends who have gotten married this summer.  I know that God has some great plans for them together.   Jaleen only has a few more days left as a unmarried lady and she has been doing a wonderful job maintaining her cool.  I am so honored to be a part of her wedding.

Mary-Brenna has had a lot of fun seeing people this summer and learning how to play with others.  Here are some of my favorite pictures from the summer!  

Mary-Brenna has discovered the joys of looking in a mirror.  She had a ton of fun at this one in particular.  She talked to and kissed this mirror for a good ten minutes!

Mary-Brenna had a great summer with Uncle Michael.  Here is a cute picture of them with Mary-Brenna in a beautiful sweater made by Ms. Janeen!

Mary-Brenna had a great time playing with her cousin Max the other day.  Here is a sweet moment between the two of them.

The Brown family came over the other day.  Miss Charlotte helped give Mary-Brenna a bottle before her nap.

After dinner with the Hunners and the Olsens, Mary-Brenna decided she had a lot of energy and climbed up the roof of the car.  Silly girl!  Thanks Mr. Ryan for keeping me safe up there!

Here is Mary-Brenna enjoying a bath.  Splashing is so much fun!

I am looking forward to some more adventures before snow comes!  Till next time!