Valentine's Fun

Kennedy has such a love for all holidays!  I really enjoy anticipating them right along with her!    This year I gave Kennedy & Jeff a little something thing each day leading up to Valentine's Day, starting with February 1st.  I read about the idea at mommybydaycrafterbynight.com.  I borrowed some of her ideas and added some of my own!!!  Kennedy gets into it so much!  If her new mini valentine isn't sitting out in the morning she asks where it is! 

This first one is actually just for Jeff.  I got this cute tak3-out box at Michael's.  I used a Martha Stewart tutorial to make felt fortune cookies.  I then put in 10 "fortunes" which are actually 10 reasons why I love him!!! 

This was actually just a fun snack Kennedy and I made!  Crazy enough, I never got a picture of the final project! Sad, because they were so pretty!  We took them to our Super Bowl Party. I found the tutorial at prudentbaby.com

 

This was part of our dinner one evening.  Usually we just cut a circle and put an egg in the middle.  But today I made it a heart!

Another mini valentine!  I made Rice Krispie treats and formed them into balls. I was going to do hearts but was too lazy!  Then Kennedy's were dipped in pink and Jeff's in red!

And another mini Valentine!  

Christmas Recap #1

Christmas was pretty low key this year....I guess that is what the sickies will do.  Jeff, Quinn and I all passed around a flu bug.  So, the pictures are pretty ho-hum and I didn't take many.  Bummer.  Just felt too yucky.  


Christmas Eve was at our home with Jeff's sisters' family, Papa Lou, Aunt Barb, Cousin Michael and Great Papa Henry.  This was the night I felt the worst...I didn't even eat dinner.   
Here is Great Papa with Barbe and Zia...sleeping.

Jeff and Quinn watching others open gifts.

Lou got a photo of his mom and aunt...such a treasure.

Both Jeff and Lou got Cotton Bowl t-shirts. Go Cats!

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The next morning was just the four of us at home.   It was such a change from last year for Quinn.  She wasn't sitting up alone yet but this year she actually opened her own gifts!

This series of photos reminds me so much of Kennedy when she had her 2nd Christmas.  Papa Doug and Grandma Jodie got them ride on toys and both girls were thrilled!

Pretty cute, huh?

This is Kennedy opening her BIG gift from Santa.  A Nintendo DS!  Wonder if she liked it?

Hope you all had a blessed Christmas!   The rest of our Christmas photos will be in the next post!

Limo Ride with Santa

 Oh boy!!!!!!!!  I love surprises, don't you?!?!?

Along with two other families, we made the best memory a few weeks ago!   We split a limo ride tour of the Christmas lights in the city!  Looking at lights is a tradition for our family as I know it is for many others.  But this was just above and beyond!  My friend, Stephanie, decided we adults should wear ugly Christmas sweaters to add some fun!  Only, we couldn't find many! :(  So the men all wore t-shirts from the movie "A Christmas Story".  The gals found one for me and adorned it with additional gaudy ornaments and a big red bow!  I need to see if they got a picture of me!  All of us got Elf hats or reindeer headbands! And I made shirts for the kiddos.  You can see them in THIS POST.

 

Jeff and I hadn't told Kennedy about ANY of it!  We told her that morning that we had a BIG surprise for her after school!  After school we dropped Quinn off at Mema's house.  Mema accidentally mentioned a limo ride and Kennedy said "Umm...I don't think you were supposed to tell me that!"  But it was fine - Kennedy didn't know what a limo was!  I was giving her tiny hints on the ride to the plaza to meet up with our friends.  I told her things like: It holds 10 people.  We won't be in a building.  Two of your friends will be there.  I have only done this one time before, etc.  She loves surprises like me!

Well, my friend Stephanie had an additional surprise up her sleeve too!!  She was able to get Santa to come from the North Pole and take the limo ride with us!!!!!  I wish I could have seen Kennedy's face when the limo pulled up, the driver walked around and opened the door, and Santa bellowed "Ho Ho Ho Kennedy!" 

 Oh, and Santa brought gifts for everyone!  How cool is that!? Here is Nate opening his!

We ate some yummy homemade treats, drank hot cocoa, sang Christmas songs and saw some fabulous light displays!  We made a stop at Santa's Workshop.This is a spectacular display that a KC man has put up in his yard for 40 years!!  Here is a link to a website about it!!  Mike Babick's Display

So here are the kiddos in their festive shirts in front of the Grinch!

 There is even a sleigh in the front yard for photos!!!!!

 Here Santa is teaching Jeff to chuckle in a low "Ho Ho Ho!!!"

 And a last photo of  my little elf with Santa!

It was a truly awesome time!  I hope we can make it a yearly event!!!

In case any of you readers are in the KC metro area, here is a great resource for holiday lights in the area!

http://www.kansastravel.org/kansascitychristmasdisplays.htm

Quinn's 1st Birthday Party - Take 3

As I was editing photos from the party, I realized I didn't take many. :(  I only snapped Quinn with a few guests and only have a few of her opening gifts.  Bummer.  Thankfully some family members have sent me the photos they took at the party!  Phew!  But I am sharing the few I do have. 

Quinn's Grandpa & Grandma Janke made the trip down from Iowa!  Yippee!!!  (Doesn't she look tired in this photo?!)

 

Great Papa Henry came to help her celebrate!!!  Doesn't he look great for 96?!

Also in attendance were Grandma Lori, Great Grandpa Keith & Great Grandma Phyllis, Mema, Papa Lou, Aunt Kate, Uncle Jason and cousins Logan, Elijah and Zia. 

Kennedy and the boys were great help when it came time to open gifts!!!!  Quinn was actually quite interested in the presents!

 

This doll was a favorite of Quinn's - she was soooo taken with it!  She rocked it and rocked it and her face just lit up!!!  The doll has a magnetic soft binkie that she loves!

 

 

Finally it was cake time.  She was NOT interested. AT. ALL.  Jeff kept trying to put some in her mouth but she would spit it out!  He put her hands in the cake and she didn't like that either!  Oh well!!!  Maybe this will mean she won't have a sweet tooth like Kennedy and me!  *wink*

Thanks to all the family who came out to celebrate Miss Quinn's big day!  We still can't believe a full year has already come and gone since she entered our lives!  We love you to the moon and back sweet girl!!!

Made it to July!!!!!!

July 1st
Jeff, chilling before the fireworks! We went to Falcon Valley Golf Course where they have a little shindig before the 4th each year. Kennedy played on some inflatables, got her hair painted and had a snack. The fireworks were really nice - not too long. The years we stay in KC for the 4th we try to attend this event.

June 30th
Last day of swim lessons! Kennedy's teacher, Daryn, was signing her paperwork. Kennedy made it to the next level!!!!!! And she loved each day of her lessons!

June 29th
We tried a fun new project today! Sharpie tie dye!! I will be sharing more about this later!!!



June 28th
Today was a playdate with the mom's group from church. We met at Ernie Miller Park - a favorite spot of ours! I created some scavenger hunt things for the older kids and I think they enjoyed it! This is Anna and Kennedy crossing the creek!

June 27th
The master bathroom. This is the new tub preparing to be installed!


June 26th
Look how brave Kennedy is!!! She is making it through the laser light obstacle course!!! Ok, so those obviously aren't laser lights...just crepe paper! But it was fun to imagine!!! Even Dad and Mom gave it a try!



June 25th
Kennedy and I have been learning about worms! We were looking at a website to learn about a worm's body. Quinn decided she wanted to learn too!