The Sanfords

Bye Bye, Baby Tooth

2009-11-29T13:33:00.005-06:00

Keri lost her first tooth! I can't believe how fast she is growing!

Hanging by a thread...yuck!

She wiggled it all by herself:

Getting closer:Here it is!

I'm still getting used to seeing her with a hole in her mouth. The other bottom tooth is loose now, so I'm sure it will be out soon.

Keri was so excited about the tooth fairy, then changed her mind at bed time. All of a sudden, she got scared and asked me a million (well maybe not that many, but it sure felt like it) questions about the tooth fairy.

What does she look like?
How big is she?
How will she get under my pillow?
Will she wake Kendal up when she goes up the ladder?

and finally....

Can I just put my tooth under Daddy's pillow and let the tooth fairy put the money there?

Silly girl! So we let her put the tooth under Daddy's pillow. The tooth fairy did manage to put the money ($2.50) under Keri's pillow along with a note. She was pleasantly surprised when she woke up. Hopefully we won't have so much drama next time, but I won't count on it!

Dancing in the Street!

2009-11-28T22:26:00.001-06:00

Keri and I went to Georgetown's Lighting of the Square with Phil, Debbie, Granny, and Uncle Don. Kendal wasn't feeling well so she stayed at home with Daddy.

The night started with caroling on the steps of the courthouse, then Santa came to flip the switch and turn the lights on. Downtown Georgetown looks so pretty all lit up at night.

As we headed to our cars, we noticed there was a band playing in the street. I don't know who was excited most, Granny or Keri. They both danced to some Texas country music and had a blast. Keri kept dragging me in the street and trying to perform some "Dancing with the Stars" moves. She also danced with her Papa & Grandma and had so much fun.
We missed Kyle and Kendal, but I will admit that it was nice to get out and do something fun with just Keri. We don't get to do that as much as we used to and she deserves some one-on-one love! ;-)

Keri's Fall School Program

2009-11-17T20:15:00.003-06:00

Keri had her first school program! The theme was Thanksgiving and they sang cute songs like "Five Fat Turkeys Are We" and "I'm Thankful for so Many Things." Kyle had to work that night so I had the video camera and digital camera going at the same time.

Keri sang so loud and even moved her body to the beat a little. :) It really surprised me because she was so shy at her Pre-K graduation last May. I guess my big girl is starting to come out of her shell! (Well, in public....we all know what a nut-job she can be at home. lol!)

Keri is right up front in the white shirt:

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T23:05:00.004-05:00

The girls had a great Halloween and their costumes were super cute! Keri was Hannah Montana and Kendal was Minnie Mouse.

Kendal's Fall School Pictures

2009-10-28T19:42:00.009-05:00

Carving a Pumkin with Daddy

2009-10-27T19:42:00.000-05:00

Kyle and the girls carved a pumpkin tonight. We also watched It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on t.v.

Cleaning out the pumpkin guts...yuck!

Keri's turn:

Kendal's turn:

The final product:
Keri and Kendal showing off their jack-o-lanterns:

Happy Halloween!

More Softball

2009-10-24T19:42:00.002-05:00

Fall softball is almost over and Keri has really enjoyed the season. She played all the positions at least once, and has learned so much about the game. She asks Kyle almost every day to practice softball outside.

I have learned that children's sports are so intense at only 5 years old. We played a couple of teams that were really serious and very concerned about the score. I am glad that Keri was on a team that focused on the girls having fun and learning how to play the game. Keri loved playing with her two friends, Madison and Gracie. She also met some new friends that we will hopefully see again in the spring.

I wanted to share a couple of pictures of Keri in her uniform. She looked so cute in her little pants, belt, & cleats. :-)

Keri playing first base. Yep, she's looking they wrong way. lol!

Champ has been sick.

2009-10-21T19:42:00.003-05:00

I'm sure that most of you have heard, but I thought I would dedicate a post to Champ. :)

Champ has been really sick. He stopped eating his dog food, then got into some BBQ scraps off the grill in the back yard. He started vomiting and would not eat or drink anything. When we took him to the vet's office they were very concerned. His glucose levels were off the charts and he was spilling ketones into his urine. Blood tests revealed that Champ's diabetes had escalated to diabetes ketoacidosis and he had pancreatitis (thank you, BBQ). It is a serious form of diabetes that could be fatal. We left him at the animal hospital and they started an iv with an insulin drip in attempt to flush the ketones out of his system and get his blood sugar under control. After 3 days, he was feeling much better and was able to come home.

(He kept blinking w/the flash from the camera)

Champ had a follow-up visit a few days later and the vet was very impressed with his progress. His glucose was still really high, but he still looked so much better. We have increased his insulin amount and the outlook is good. The plan is to keep Champ on his feeding/insulin routine and keep him out of our food. He should have a great quality of life as long as we can keep his blood sugar under control. We do know that even with us monitoring him closely, this can happen again. We are very hopeful (and so is the vet) that he will continue to do well and stay in our family for a while longer.

School Project With Daddy

2009-10-06T21:46:00.007-05:00

Keri had to make a ship for a school project. Thankfully, Kyle was ALL over that! They worked together and made the cutest little ship I've ever seen. :)

Keri showing me her blue tongue:

Working hard.....

The final product...Keri decorated the large sail and Kyle decorated the small one:

First Softball Game!

2009-10-03T21:46:00.004-05:00

Keri had her first t-ball game! It was definitely one of the cutest things I have EVER seen. We forgot to have her practice batting and running bases with her helmet on, so her first at bat was kind of a disaster. The helmet is too big and they make them wear the ones with the mask on front. It was almost like she was lost once she got on base, bless her heart! It was still so super cute, and she had it down by her second at-bat. Most importantly, she had a BLAST! :-)

After the game, we went to Duke's and ate breakfast. I LOVE Saturday mornings like this!

Friday Night Lights

2009-10-03T09:45:00.004-05:00

We went to the Hendrickson Hawks football game Friday night against Lampasas to watch Uncle Chip's team. Keri and Kendal had a blast cheering them on and Kendal even learned the "DEFENSE" clap clap cheer! It was a great game and the Hawks won!
Kendal was so focused on her surroundings that I couldn't get her to look at the camera. Keri & Kendal in their matching t-shirts:
Daddy and Kendal after the game (she was all smiles!):

Mommy and Kendal:

Daddy & Keri:

Hawks win 55 to 23

My Classroom

2009-09-30T11:00:00.006-05:00

My preK class has gone really well so far! I spent all summer getting ready and have finally put the finishing touches on my room. I love spending my mornings with these 4 year-olds, even when they are being a little crazy. I have already seen improvements with some that couldn't even write their name a month ago, and now they have it mastered! I love to see the excitement on their faces when we introduce something new and fun. They don't even realize they are learning! I especially love their puzzled looks when they think I am doing something crazy, but it turns out to be something really neat and fun. One of their favorite parts of our week is our bible story time. They all love to learn the stories in the bible and are very interactive with the curriculum. Praise God! I have the best job ever! :)

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." - 2 Peter 3:18

Keri's First Softball Practice

2009-09-30T10:56:00.005-05:00

Keri was excited to see that two of her friends were on her softball team. One is her BFF Gracie that she met at the First Baptist MDO 3 years ago, and the other is Madison from daycare. Keri did really well and is going to have so much fun. Practice was cancelled yesterday, so we still won't know many details until Friday. Hopefully we will get a schedule and find out when they play their first game. :)

Keri's First Progress Report

2009-09-21T17:58:00.000-05:00

Future Red Raider?

2009-09-19T13:14:00.002-05:00

Wreck 'em Tech!!

Fall-Like Weather!

2009-09-17T17:52:00.001-05:00

The much needed rain last weekend was great, but it messed up our weekend plans! We were on our way to Mimi's house when we got stuck in a huge thunderstorm & flooding in Salado. We had to turn around and come home. :( We plan to try that trip again very soon!

The weather has been awesome this week! What a nice break from the record-breaking heat this summer. Softball season is here and Keri is so excited...be on the lookout for t-ball pictures soon! We've been spending a lot of time outside and enjoying the cool breeze:

Already in the Principal's Office

2009-09-16T17:52:00.001-05:00

I was in the Principal's office, not Keri. I was going to write a long post ranting about what happened to Keri at school last week, but I think I will just give the short version. I have had time to calm down, and the situation has gotten much better. :)

Keri's teacher called me last Friday during her conference period to tell me that Keri had a rough morning. While they were waiting to go to class, another little boy said some horrible things to her. The things he said were very disturbing and really upset Keri. Thankfully, a couple of adults witnessed the conversation and the little boy was sent to the office. All this happened before school started while they were waiting in line in the gym.

Of course, I left work early and went straight to the Principal's office. I needed to make sure this would NEVER happen again. I actually felt bad for the little boy; he never should have even known about the things he was saying to my daughter. I knew that it probably wasn't even his fault. I was afraid that his parents would not take the situation seriously and that this would happen again...not just to Keri, but another child. The principal assured me that the situation would be handled and we were hopeful. She wrote an office referral, called his parents, and the little boy was already in the counselor's office.

When Keri came home from school on Monday, she told me that the little boy came up to her that morning with his Daddy and told her that he was sorry. Praise the Lord! I was so relieved to know that his parents knew what he did was wrong and made sure he apologized. On Tuesday, the principal had duty in the car-rider line and put Keri in the car. She told me that she felt confident that the situation was under control. The little boy's mother had been in her office and they were communicating over the phone as well. Another sigh of relief!

I knew that putting my child in school would be hard, but I certainly wasn't prepared for this! I have seen and experienced many unique situations being a teacher and knew that eventually something would happen. It is so different when you are the parent. When someone hurts or is mean to my baby (yes, she is still my baby) my mama bear instincts kick in. My rationale is definitely different in "mama" mode. Overall, I am pleased with how the situation was handled and feel much better now.

Keri? She was over it last Friday. She has such a forgiving heart and I am so proud of her. I love my sweet little girl so much!

And that my friends, is the short version! :)

Kendal's Favorite Song

2009-09-01T17:51:00.001-05:00

One of Kendal's Favorite songs is "I Worship You" by Mercy Me (a Christian band). Here are the lyrics:

I’ve been walking with a big grin
Singing with my eyes closed
Lifting up my hands
I’ve been lost in the moment
Sending up praises
Now I think I understand
When I open up
And let it flow
I feel Your touch and then I know

I can never live without it
And I’m never going to doubt it
Everyday it’s new, yeah
There’s nothing any better
I’ll be singing it forever
I worship You

I’m standing on the edge now
Looking to a new place
Going deeper still
The feeling is electric
The power and the glory
Just move me where You will
Cause you take the song and make it fly
Into my soul and that is why

Chorus

I just want to dive into Your grace
I want to feel Your presence, seek Your face
I just want to be where You are
I can never live without it
And I’m never going to doubt it
Everyday is new, yeah

Chorus

She loves to sing along with the song in the car. Here is a video I took of her singing while we were waiting in the car-rider line to pick Keri up from school:

All Clear!

2009-08-30T18:18:00.002-05:00

I forgot to share that i finally got the all-clear from the doctor's office. After 8 months of close monitoring, I had my final hCG screening a couple of weeks ago and the results were normal. I am so relieved that this miscarriage is finally over and more than ready to move on!

I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful support system. My husband, family, and friends have been so tolerant of my emotional mood swings since last Christmas. This has definitely been and continues to be a tough road for me, but I know that God is holding my hand every step of the way.

The future? We are trusting in God's plan for our family. We would love another child, but I learned from the last pregnancy that I am not the one in charge here. :) So I guess we'll see....

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13

Keri's first day of SCHOOL!

2009-08-24T18:21:00.004-05:00

Wow....I just can't believe that Keri is in kindergarten. She is such a big girl now.

We all got up early this morning to take Keri to school. She was so excited and couldn't wait to see Mrs. Perry and her classmates. She was so brave and didn't even cry. In fact, she practically kicked us out of the classroom. Kendal took it harder than anyone...she cried as we left the building saying "I want my Sissy. I want to go to big school." I was definitely a big change for us all.

Wake up sleepy-head...time for school!

Ready to go

She got her own jar of play dough and opened it herself.

Daddy helping put her name tag on

Kyle and Kendal stayed home while I went to get Keri this afternoon. Kindergarten is dismissed at 2:50 and the other grades are dismissed at 3:00. The school changed the drop off/pick up routine and car riders are done in the back of the building where there are not any parking spots. At 2:45, I parked at the front of the building and walked in to go find Keri (in the back, where I knew she was waiting). The principal encouraged me (and a few other parents) to drive to the back of the building and get my child in the car rider lane. I got in my car and made it to the back of the car rider line at 2:50. The line was soooooo long! I waited patiently for a while, then started to panic.

At 3:05, I had only moved a few car lengths and was getting very upset. All I could think about was how Keri had been waiting for 15 minutes for me to come and get her, and I wasn't there yet! At 3:11, there were still at least 25 cars in front of me (seriously) and I couldn't wait any longer. I whipped out of that line and drove back to the front of the building, parked my car and asked the first person with a badge where the kindergarten car riders were waiting. While trying to hide my panic and frustration, I explained what the principal told me 21 minutes earlier but I just could not wait any longer to get my child.

Then I started to cry. Oh yes....cry! That poor lady wrapped her arm around me and quickly walked me to my child. Keri was happy to see me and told me that she had a great day. I was so embarrassed that I cried, but could not imagine my child sitting outside waiting for me for over 20 minutes. I didn't want her to think that I forgot about her! I didn't think I was going to be one of those parents, but my mama bear instincts kicked it and I lost it, lol!

The great news is....Keri had an awesome day and is excited about going back tomorrow. It might take Mommy a little time to adjust. :-)

Corpus Trip

2009-08-16T16:43:00.006-05:00

We wanted to take a mini-vacation before school started so we loaded up and headed to Corpus Christi! We stayed with Kyle's Granny for a couple of nights and visited the Texas State Aquarium and of course, the BEACH! The girls had a great time and we enjoyed eating at Snoopy's. Here are a lot of pictures from our trip. Enjoy!

Checking out the sting rays at the Aquarium

Kyle was fascinated by this shark...lol

Waiting for the dolphin show

Still waiting....

This cheetah scared me!

It was SO hot outside, but we still had fun!

Keri LOVED the beach!

Yum....hot dogs!

Miss Thang (Ha!)

Keri wouldn't be still

Practicing For Fall Ball!

2009-08-13T23:44:00.003-05:00

Keri is excited about starting softball next month. We have signed her up in the 5U/6U t-ball league. We have been going to the softball field to practice batting, throwing, catching, and running bases. Keri really enjoys playing!

Keri's Room

2009-08-06T16:26:00.000-05:00

When Haleigh was here we painted Keri's room. Here are a few pictures of her room with the new bed & freshly painted walls.

Keri can swim!

2009-07-20T19:42:00.002-05:00

The videos aren't very good quality because they are from my phone...hopefully you can see them!

Girls jumping in the pool with floaties on:

Keri jumping in the pool and swimming without floaties:

Guess who's sleeping in a big-girl bed?!

2009-07-17T21:18:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder what Kendal would look like with straight hair?

2009-07-13T08:54:00.000-05:00

Haleigh got bored one night when she was here and decided to find out. She blow-dried her hair first and it looked so funny! Here are the pictures:
Cute....but I prefer the crazy curls. :-)

4th of July fun!

2009-07-08T15:24:00.007-05:00

I started this post at least 3 different times and have not been able to finish it! This time, you will just have to see our festivities in pictures. We had a great time! I'm off to clean house and do laundry. My normal Saturday routine...ick!

Alpine Trip

2009-07-02T15:00:00.003-05:00

Little Brody Mesker....isn't he precious?! :-)

We had lots of fun visiting with our friends in Alpine. We went to help Bobby and Liz move into an apartment; they are having a house built and it should be ready in October....so exciting!

We ate at La Castia the first night and it was so good! I always get the chicken fajita burrito that comes with a huge side of shredded cheese and a huge side of guacamole....yummy! I still crave their mexican food. We ate at all the Alpine classics, the Longhorn (under new ownership, not as good), the Reata, and of course La Casita one more time before we left. :)

We were busy moving most of the time we were there, but did stop at a couple of shops and the Sul Ross Bookstore. It was so nice to finally meet baby Brody and hang out with good friends. The girls had a great time with my dad and Sheila in Cisco. We are going to load up tomorrow and head back to Georgetown with Haleigh in-tow! She's coming to help me out at the daycare so I can get ready to teach the pre-K class next month. She will be with us for about 10 days, then plays in the 2009 Softball All-Stars game in Austin on the 14th. We have a busy week ahead!

Wii Fit....easy entertainment!

2009-06-28T23:15:00.000-05:00

These pictures are too funny!

Already having fun in Cisco!

2009-06-28T22:50:00.003-05:00

We got to Cisco this afternoon and Keri wanted to ride the go-kart first thing! Kendal rode with them at first and they went very slowly. Then Kyle let Keri drive....I was so nervous! He controlled the pedal and she had the steering wheel. She actually did a lot better than I thought she would (thank you, Barbie Jeep for all the practice)!

Kyle and I are leaving in the morning to head to Alpine. We are going to visit with Bobby, Liz and baby Brody for a few days, then come back to get the girls. On the road again.....

Father's Day Pictures

2009-06-21T17:31:00.006-05:00

Kyle had to go to work, so we tried to squeeze in Father's Day after he woke up (around 2 pm) but before he left for work (about 5:30 pm). Keri helped me make spaghetti for lunch, then she made a chocolate cake all by herself! The girls also colored their own wrapping paper and had so much fun! The girls sent Kyle off to work like they always do....pushing his car out of the driveway.

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T10:09:00.003-05:00

Here's a flashback to when Kyle first met his girls:

Kyle & Keri March 28, 2004

Kyle & Kendal December 22, 2006

Thank you for being such a wonderful Daddy to our girls.....they absolutely adore you (and so do I :-)). I hope you have a wonderful day!

Champ has Diabetes

2009-06-16T20:15:00.009-05:00

Poor little guy! We noticed that Champ had been acting strange for about 2 weeks and just didn't seem to get better, so we decided that he needed a check-up. He was drinking lots of water, having accidents in the house, and seemed very lethargic. My friend Stephanie used to work for a vet's office and was so nice to volunteer to take him in for me Monday morning.

Steph called to give me a little preview of what we were dealing with and it is definitely diabetes. His glucose levels were close to 500, normal is around 100. He does have cataracts that are caused by the diabetes. Dr. Kim called me around lunch time and we discussed options. To give Champ a good quality of life as close to normal as possible, we will have to change his diet (prescription dog food) and give him 2 insulin injections each day after meals.

Fortunately this is not a very expensive treatment plan, but will be a lot of work. I am definitely up for the challenge! We adopted Champ over 8 years ago in Ft. Davis, TX. He was our first baby and has been such a trooper (adding 2 little girly monsters to the family without his consent, lol!) and wonderful companion. We know that he will get better and we can maintain the diabetes to give him a good quality of life.

God has truly blessed us with wonderful friends and family. Thank you so much Steph for all your help, advice, & support. Kel - you're the best! Thanks for answering our phone calls (I know we were calling at the same time, ha!) and helping us sort through everything. You guys are the best!

Ready for Softball!

2009-06-16T17:26:00.004-05:00

Our Busy Weekend

2009-06-14T20:35:00.005-05:00

We had a very busy, very fun weekend! On Friday we went swimming at Grandma and Papa Sanford's house, then Kyle made hot dogs on grill at home. After that we went for a drive, got some ice cream, then parked at a park behind the Dell Diamond and watched fireworks after the Round Rock Express game. The girls really enjoyed that and it was super cheap entertainment!

I went to my friend Cassey's baby shower Saturday morning while Kyle stayed home with the girls. It was nice to visit with friends (fellow GPD wives and ladies from church) and have some adult time. Cassey's baby boy is due in a couple of weeks and we are so excited for her and Jamieson!

I got home in time for lunch and put Kendal down for a nap. After her nap we went to meet up with Nanny (my maternal grandmother) at her cousin's house right down the road in Sun City.

We had a very nice visit with family and it was great to see Nanny. The house was not child-proof at all, so I tried to keep close tabs on the girls. After an hour, I was exhausted (everyone else was probably tired just watching them, lol!). Here are a few pictures from our visit.

(I was probably telling her to use her inside voice and keep her feet off the furniture :))

Kelly met us at our house to watch the girls so Kyle and I could go on a very much needed date night. The last time we went on a date was for our anniversary in December. Waaay to long!

Kyle and I went to eat at Antonio's in Round Rock and had a nice meal. I almost forgot what it was like to eat out without kids! Afterwards we decided to head over to Dave and Busters to play some games. Then we went to one of Kyle's co-workers' house to watch a fight (not sure which one). It was nice to visit with the other wives and have adult conversations. But I definitely enjoyed my time alone with Kyle most of all. It was so nice to be able to hang out and just enjoy each other's company.

We went to church Sunday morning and played in the yard most of the afternoon. The girls were so exhausted from the busy weekend that they crashed early Sunday night. I wish Kyle was off every weekend so we could enjoy more time together, but I am so grateful for the time that we do get to spend together as a family.

Missing camera!

2009-06-11T22:51:00.001-05:00

We have a very busy weekend ahead and I have no idea where my camera is....oh I better find it! Wish me luck!

Kyle's Fishing Trip

2009-06-06T09:24:00.003-05:00

Kyle and his Dad planned to go to Corpus this week for a fishing trip, but something is wrong with the boat. They went to Corpus anyway to stay with Granny and play some golf with Don. Kyle, Phil, and Don went out with a fishing guide on Thursday and caught some fish. Here are a few pictures from his trip.

Silly Girls

2009-05-31T12:26:00.004-05:00

It is so hard to get these little stinkers to cooperate for a picture! Anyway, here is my attempt to get a few pictures of the girls in their pretty dresses after church this morning.

10 Years

2009-05-31T10:17:00.004-05:00

We have been in Cisco this weekend for Haleigh's graduation. It's hard to believe that she was in 2nd grade when I graduated high school. I couldn't help but smile as I watched Mr. Whatley stand at the door and talk to each senior as they walked onto the gym floor. He was one of my favorite teachers in high school, and I remember him doing the same thing with our class. I just can't believe it has been 10 years....10 years! Our class reunion is scheduled for this September during homecoming. Boy, it makes me really feel like I am starting to get old. But at the same time, I think I am at a wonderful place in my life...so I guess getting older is not so bad after all.

The girls were a little antsy during the ceremony, but managed to sit still and quiet the whole time. Kyle held Kendal in his lap, and I held Keri in mine. It probably helped that he bribed them with chocolate ice cream if they would sit still and quiet. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Haleigh is going to play softball at Howard Payne and has already gotten a few academic scholarships. She seems ready to get out of Cisco (didn't we all?!) but still be close enough to home to come back whenever she wants. I think it will work out really well for her, and I am so proud of how far she has come all ready. She already has 30 college credit hours coming out of high school, that is quite an accomplishment!

Devin had a track meet Saturday morning and did really well. He got 2nd place in the 400 meter relay and 3rd place in the 100 meter dash.

We also went to the lake yesterday and rode the jet ski and the boat for a few hours. It was fun and the girls really enjoyed the water (well Kendal got a little scared).

It was a pretty busy weekend, but we all had fun. The girls love coming to visit my parents (maybe because they get desert after breakfast?!) and Haleigh and Devin. I wish we weren't so busy so we could visit all of our families around the state more often.

Camping!

2009-05-23T20:18:00.004-05:00

Well....kinda. Keri has been talking about going camping for weeks now. We plan to go soon, but it is hard when Kyle works every-other weekend. Hopefully we can make plans for sometime in June. When Keri mentioned camping again (for the billionth time), I thought it might be fun to camp in the living room this weekend. So we got the tent out of the attic and set up our own little campground. Kyle took tomorrow night off, so we are going to keep it up until Monday. Can't wait for the s'mores tomorrow night!

And she does it again....

2009-05-22T21:15:00.000-05:00

Kindergarten here we come!

2009-05-08T17:29:00.002-05:00

Short Update

2009-05-05T21:11:00.003-05:00

We have such a busy week, but I thought I would post a quick update.

Keri had her 5 year well-check yesterday. She now weighs 39 pounds! Her vision and hearing were perfect and she only had to get one shot. Kindergarten Round-Up is tomorrow and her pre-K graduation is Friday. This all seems to be happening so fast! She is really excited about all the new changes, such a big girl!

I had my monthly blood work done today and should get results tomorrow (pray for ZERO!). I am so ready to get this miscarriage over with. Who knew this process would take 8 months?! I think I will feel better once we get the all-clear in August and can really put it behind us. This monthly reminder makes it so hard to move on. I am putting my faith in God knowing there is a purpose behind all of this.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21

Check back this weekend for pictures of our pre-K graduate!

Red Poppy Festival

2009-05-03T09:20:00.001-05:00

We went the the annual Red Poppy Festival in Georgetown a couple of weekends ago. Again, I didn't get many pictures but the girls enjoyed the festivities. There were many activities for kids. Keri loved the slide and bounce houses. Kendal climbed right on the slide, but got scared when it was time to climb down. The weather was really nice and the girls were tired and ready for a nap when we got home.

Round Rock Express Game

2009-05-03T09:13:00.002-05:00

Kyle's work gave away tickets to a Round Rock Express game and we were glad to accept them! I didn't get many pictures, but the girls had a blast. The seats were really good (on the 1st base line), but we decided to take a blanket and sit in the berm. Keri and Kendal enjoyed hot dogs, cotton candy, skittles, and sprite. Thanks GPD!

Bowling

2009-05-03T08:54:00.001-05:00

We took the girls bowling a couple of weeks ago and they had so much fun! There was hardly anyone there, and it was so nice. We bowled, had a snack, then played some games before we left.

Kendal trying to decide which ball to use.

Look who WON! :-)

Guess who I caught playing with my camera?!

2009-04-14T19:16:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T22:58:00.000-05:00

Keri and Kendal had a great Easter! They had an egg hunt at the daycare last Thursday.

Keri's Class

Silly girl!

Having so much fun!

Kendal wasn't really sure what to do at first, but she caught on quickly.

We just can't control that crazy hair!

Easter morning: the Easter Bunny hid eggs in the house since it was rainy outside.

It turned out to be a beautiful day, so we hid eggs in the front yard later that afternoon.

Kyle's trip to Alpine

2009-04-11T09:40:00.000-05:00

Kyle had a great time visiting with his former college teammates and watching Sul Ross Baseball last weekend. He really enjoys going back there for a breath of fresh air. Kyle, Bobby, Brent, and Joe went to The Blues and said that nothing has changed! He met Sheila on his way home and picked up Keri. Here are a few pictures he took that weekend.

Back together again

2009-04-05T20:11:00.000-05:00

Keri had so much fun visiting with Papa, Sheila, Haleigh & Devin! Kendal sure was glad to see her Sissy this evening. We are about to sit down & watch Dancing With the Stars, but I wanted to share a couple of pictures of them together tonight.

Trying on their Easter dresses

More to come later

2009-04-04T15:32:00.000-05:00

I know it took me a while to update with pictures from Keri's party....sorry! We have been pretty busy the past couple of weeks. We went to Cisco last weekend to visit my dad and Sheila and to watch Haleigh play softball. So far they are undefeated in district, hopefully the Lady Loboes will go far this season! The Sul Ross baseball team played in Brownwood so Kyle went to the games and I stayed with my family in Cisco. We had a lot of fun visiting and just hanging out at the house. We celebrated Keri's birthday on Saturday with a cake and a few presents. The pictures are on my camera and Kyle has it right now.

Keri stayed in Cisco for the week and will come home on Sunday. It has been so quiet around here and I think Kendal is starting to get lonely. She keeps asking where her Sissy is. Kyle made the long drive to Alpine on Thursday and is staying with our friends Bobby and Liz. A few other guys he played baseball with are there too. I'm sure he is having a great time visiting with them and watching baseball. He will pick Keri up tomorrow on his way home. I have been cleaning out closets and reorganizing this weekend. I guess I have spring fever!

I will update hopefully tomorrow night with pictures from Cisco and Kyle's trip to Alpine. Kendal is napping now, so I am going to take advantage and catch up on some recorded shows on the DVR.

Happy 5th Birthday Keri Nicole

2009-03-28T14:00:00.000-05:00

March 28

2004

2005 - 1 year old

2006 - 2 years old

2007 - 3 years old

2008 - 4 years old

2009 - 5 years old

Keri,

I can't believe you are already 5 years old! Time has gone by so fast and you have grown from a sweet little baby to a wonderful little girl. I am so proud of the little person you are and love watching you grow and learn every day. You continue to amaze me with your spunky personality and passion for life. I see so much of your Daddy in your spirit and love watching you two play together. We have all grown so much individually and as a family over the past 5 years and I can't wait to see what's next for us. This is a big year for you, Keri. You will start kindergarten in August and I know you are ready! Pre-K graduation is in just 4 weeks.

I thank God every day for bringing you into my life. The moment you were born I prayed to have the strength, wisdom, and guidance to be the best mommy for you....the love came instantly. You have been such a blessing to so many of the people that love you and are such an amazing little girl. I know that you will continue to blossom and I will do my best to guide you the best way possible. I love you so much baby girl, Happy Birthday!

All my love,
Mommy

Keri's Birthday Party

2009-03-22T20:39:00.001-05:00

Keri's Birthday party was so much fun! We had it at Pump It Up in Round Rock and everyone had a blast. Here are some pictures of the big day (some of them are a little blurry, the kids were moving around like crazy!):

Keri and Madison crashing at the bottom of the slide

Keri and her BFF Gracie

Keri coming down the slide on the obstacle course

Birthday Girl! (what a goofy face)

Kendal had fun too

The crew
Somehow we missed Meredith for the group picture, but she was there too!

The Birthday Princess sitting in her royal chair The cake and cupcakes that mommy made

Cheese!

Keri's friendsOpening presents

Why I love my job....

2009-03-21T10:45:00.000-05:00

Meet Bowan:

His mommy works at the daycare with me. I am working in the infant room again and absolutely LOVE it!!! I know what it's like to have to leave your children at daycare and how hard it is; so I feel truly blessed to be able to care for and love these babies while their parents are at work.

I love that I can go to work and have my children in the same building with me. I am there anytime they need me. I plan to go back to teaching when all of our children are all in school (whenever that will be...hoping for #3 after we get the all-clear), but am so excited about my job situation right now. When Keri starts Kindergarten in August, I am going to teach the pre-K class at the daycare. My hours will be from 8-2 so I will be able to take Keri to school and pick her up, while still being with Kendal all day. Could it get any better?! I am excited about having a classroom again and going through the curriculum and planning out the next school year.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." - Psalm 118:1

Kendal is sick again

2009-03-18T18:55:00.001-05:00

My poor sick baby! Kendal has croup again with a fever over 102 degrees all day. She is on an antibiotic, oral steroids, and breathing treatments (we actually started those a week ago trying to prevent this from happening). Please pray that she gets better soon, it makes me so nervous when she has breathing issues.

St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T21:01:00.000-05:00

We have had such beautiful weather this week! We were low on kids at the daycare, so I got to go home early and enjoy the day with my family. I didn't get any pictures of the girls together with their festive shirts, but here are a few of them playing in the front yard.

Keri's "house"

2009-03-08T21:29:00.000-05:00

I love that the girls are using their imagination when they play. Keri made her own little house in the corner of our living room. She had so much fun gathering toys from her room, using blankets as beds, and using the furniture as her walls. I love to see her face light up when she thinks of another idea and runs to her room to get another toy. She used the coffee table as her dining room table and placed her chairs around it. She even used a pillow from the couch as her television. Its the small things that we do at home that are so much fun! Here are a couple pictures of the house she made last weekend:

Playground Fun

2009-03-08T20:43:00.000-05:00

Never a dull moment....

2009-03-04T23:03:00.000-06:00

Well, I just got home from the Emergency Room with Keri. Right at bed time she decided to put a bead (from a broken bracelet) in her ear. She shoved it in even further when she tried to get it out. When she first came to me she told me that Kendal put the bead in her ear.....yeah right! I tried to get it out with tweezers, but it was stuck perfectly in the canal and I was afraid I would push it in even more.

I called Kyle (who was at work) and he said he would meet me at the ER. So I loaded both girls in the truck, dropped Kendal off at Stephanie's house, and met him there.....all at 9:00 p.m. The doctor was not sure if/how they were going to get the bead out without damaging her ear drum. Tweezers would not work because the bead is perfectly round and hard to grasp. They tried to numb the ear with drops and suction the bead out, but that did not work. Finally, they used a syringe to put warm water in her ear and the bead just floated to the surface. I am so glad they were able to get it out without having to refer us to the ENT.

OK, I'm off to check on the girls.....I just put them to bed at 11:00. Tomorrow morning should be lots of fun! Here are a few pictures I took with my phone:

Sick Girls

2009-03-03T21:48:00.001-06:00

This is what my bed looks like tonight:Both girls are sick. We tried to go to daycare today, but were sent home when we got there. Keri had a low-grade fever this morning and was complaining of a sore throat. I thought Kendal had another sinus infection (icky nose, cough, low-grade fever, fussy). When we got to the doctor both girls' throats were red. The swab test confirmed that they both have strep....doesn't that sound fun?! I made a quick trip to the store to pick up their prescription and stock up on sprite, popsicles, jello, and oatmeal. We spent the rest of the day napping and laying around. They barely ate dinner then both curled up in or bed. We will be home tomorrow. I hope they start to feel better soon!

Congrats, ABC...That was horrible!!!!

2009-03-02T23:00:00.000-06:00

Really? I watch this crap?! I thought about deleting my previous post, but thought I would humor Kyle on this one. He was right this time.........

The Bachelor Finale Tonight!

2009-03-02T17:40:00.001-06:00

I am sooo excited about watching The Bachelor tonight. Kyle can't stand it! He gets so annoyed when I watch this show because it's fake, the girls are sleazy, they never stay together......blah, blah, blah! I don't care....I am really into this season. This show is supposed to be "The most dramatic finale in Bachelor history." That guy just cracks me up because he says that about every episode. I wonder which girl he will choose.....we will find out soon!

This is what happens when you skip your Sunday nap...

2009-03-01T19:27:00.000-06:00

7:00 p.m.

I found it!

2009-02-28T14:12:00.001-06:00

Well...actually Keri found my camera in her closet. Don't know how it got there, but I'm sure I could guess!

Real quick...the girls are napping so I am going to lay down too, but I wanted to share a couple of pictures.

Keri in her Cinderella nightgown. It fits her little princess personality perfectly. She wants to sleep in that thing every night!

Here's Kendal Mae from this morning. Look at all those curls!!!

I can't find my camera!!

2009-02-28T09:23:00.001-06:00

Ahhh...it's driving me crazy! I was finally ready to sit down and update the blog this morning, but now my camera is missing. I used it 2 days ago to take pictures of Keri in her nightgown...so I know it is somewhere in this house. Hopefully I will find it when I clean today.

Little update.....This month went by so fast! The girls had a fun Valentine's party at school and went to see Sesame Street Live with Grandma and Papa on the 14th. Kendal went to a new allergist last week. The appointment went really well. We increased her dosage of Zyrtec and will schedule a new skin test for sometime next month. Hopefully we can find out what is causing all her nasal symptoms that make her so sick. The doctor wants us to be more proactive with using the nebulizer meds (Albuterol and Pulmicort) as a preventative. Her skin is starting to flare up again, so we are dealing with that as well.

I am also starting to plan Keri's birthday party. I can't believe she will be 5 years old next month and will start Kindergarten in August! I am amazed with how much she has grown physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually over the past 5 years. She is such a bright, beautiful, vibrant, loving, caring, emotional ball of energy....and I love it!!!

Kyle has been working a lot this month. The overtime is nice, but we sure miss him at home. I wish he would work the day-shift, but he has NO interest in doing that right now. He prefers the night-shift activity for now and I would rather him enjoy his job...so we will continue this routine for now. Shift work does give enough time off that we get to spend a couple of nights together during the week and usually every other weekend...depending on the overtime, trainings, meetings, and court dates that come up. I've had to reschedule his dentist appointment 3 times this month!!!

I have been doing pretty good. Things have been a little crazy at work....as usual, but I absolutely love my job! I am so blessed to be able to work at the same place my girls are and I LOVE being in the infant room with all the little babies. I go back to the doctor for labs to check my hCG levels next Wednesday. I have been pretty tired and nauseated the past couple of weeks, so I am wondering if they might be going up again. The symptoms could also be from my medicine but we will know for sure next week.

Well, I guess that's it for now. This small update turned into a long one! I'm going to start my Saturday chores and hopefully find my camera. I'll post pictures later.

Valentine's Day

2009-02-16T17:19:00.000-06:00

Keri did such a great job writing on her friends' valentines. I wrote the child's name on the envelope and she wrote it on the card then wrote her name. I was so proud of her! The girls had ice cream parties at daycare and had a blast! I got to visit each room for a few minutes and got a couple of pictures. Enjoy!

I finally get a break!

2009-02-08T19:41:00.000-06:00

I forgot to post that my hCG levels were down to 5 this week. Technically, they are supposed to be below 5 before I could go from weekly checks to every 4 weeks. Thankfully, my doctor decided that we could wait 4 weeks until we check them again. I am looking forward to getting back to a normal routine and not having to make that dreaded trip every Wednesday at lunch time. At least another part of this miscarriage is behind us. For the next 6 months I will go every 4 weeks to get my hCG level tested. It is supposed to stay below 5, preferably at zero during that time. If it goes up it could be so many things....but we just won't even think about that. We are taking every precaution and praying that everything goes smoothly from now on. What a journey this has been!

"The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation." - Psalm 118:14

Superbowl fun with friends

2009-02-07T21:21:00.001-06:00

I know I'm a little late, but had to share! Our friends, the Robbins came over to eat/snack and watch the Superbowl with us last Sunday. We had a really nice time and enjoyed the game. The girls played so well together as usual. Kyle took the night off (he had training all week), but some of his friends on duty stopped by to eat and watch some of the game. Steph's sister Tess was in town and was so good with the girls, especially Keri. They had so much fun. Here are a couple of pictures of the girls on Keri's bed that night.

Kendal, Keri, Tess, & Meredith

Cupid's Chase

2009-02-07T20:58:00.001-06:00

My friend Stephanie asked me (last night!) if I wanted to do the Cupid's Chase 6k run/walk race with her. She usually does it with our friend Cassey, but Cassey went to Houston for the weekend to be with her father-in-law who just had heart surgery. Cassey already registered and paid so I just wore her shirt & number and pretended to be her. The weather was perfect this morning, just right for a nice walk......that's right we WALKED. I am so out of shape! This race did motivate me to want to exercise more.

Anyway, we left the kids at home and had a nice time. Sometimes as a mom you forget what it is like to have an adult conversation without any interruptions. We did not take any pictures; I did take my camera but decided that I looked too scary with pinkeye and severe allergies (my face is so swollen). So here are some pictures of Steph, Cassey, and baby Meredith from the race last year.

Steph is on the right wearing sunglasses and Cassey is pushing Meredith in the stroller

Steph pushing Meredith and Cassey

Thanks for inviting me Steph, it was fun! Cassey will be pushing her own stroller next year!! :-)

Oh the joys of working with children!

2009-02-05T21:05:00.001-06:00

I had to leave work this morning to go to the doctor for Pinkeye....boy was I annoyed! I hate to take time off work for something as minor as pinkeye, but it is extremely contagious so it had to be done. This has been a crazy week (I know, I always say that!). I went to the dentist on Tuesday, then to the ob/gyn on Wednesday for my weekly labs, and finally to the family doctor today for pinkeye. Seriously.....I am going to meet my deductible sooner than I thought!

Potty Training Update

2009-01-29T19:19:00.000-06:00

So far, so good! I am really proud of Kendal. Potty training has gone a lot better than I thought it would. She has only had 2 accidents this week. Here are a couple of reports from daycare.

Not quite zero

2009-01-29T18:35:00.000-06:00

My doctor called with the weekly test results (I went in yesterday), and the hCG count is now down to 9. I'll admit....I am a little disappointed. I was really hoping they would be zero so I wouldn't have to go again next week. I've been to that office every week since December 23 and am really ready for a break. I guess it is just depressing to have that reminder every week.

OK, so there's my pity party! This week has been a little crazy, but we still have so much to be thankful for. I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday!

"But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." - Romans 8:25

I Love Saturdays!

2009-01-24T12:17:00.000-06:00

My girls are so much fun! I love that we have a day to just hang out at the house and do fun things. Keri is cracking me up with this outfit!!It is a change from her usual skirts and princess dresses (which I'm sure she will be wearing within the hour). Kendal had to join in, too. She always wants to do what Keri does.Please excuse her half-nakedness. She spilled Keri's chocolate milk all over her clothes (that I JUST put on her) and spots on Keri's pants, its a good thing I haven't started the laundry yet. I better get back to my girls. I'll post an update on the potty training later.

Movie Night

2009-01-24T11:59:00.000-06:00

We took Keri and Kendal to Blockbuster last night and let them pick out a movie for us to watch at home. They chose The Incredibles. We all got in our pajamas and curled up on the couch with blankets and popcorn.

Of course, when we got home Kyle noticed that the same movie was on The Disney Channel. Go figure! At least we got to watch it without commercial interruptions. It was a pretty good movie, the girls seemed to like it. There were a few parts that I thought were a little inappropriate for kids (a suicide attempt?! Mr. Incredible did save him, though!). We had a great night and the girls thought it was so much fun!

hCG Update

2009-01-24T11:40:00.000-06:00

My weekly test showed that my hCG levels are down to 17. I was hoping they would be zero, but anything in the downward direction is good news. So I will go back again next week, which will hopefully be my last week. Once the hCG levels reach zero, I only have to get them tested once every 4 weeks until July. We are praying that they reach zero and stay there until late summer. Hopefully by then we can get the all-clear and put this pregnancy behind us, what a journey it has been!

Potty Training

2009-01-18T20:42:00.000-06:00

We have officially started potty training Kendal. Her teacher introduced the potty at school and it is usually hit or miss. She does go at least once during the day. Yesterday, I put her in panties and started the training! We now have a sticker chart up in the bathroom and are even giving her a small reward for going. She gets one piece of candy (like 1 skittle or 1 m&m) for going #1 and 2 pieces for going #2. I didn't want Keri to feel left out, so she gets whatever Kendal gets when she goes. Great deal for Keri, she gets candy and doesn't even have to do anything...though she has been a pretty good cheerleader for Kendal. I am still putting her in diapers at nap time and night time (I don't see the point in Pull-Ups, they feel just like a diaper), but she is in panties the rest of the day. We went through 6 pairs yesterday and only 2 pair today. She still is not telling me if she needs to go, but is very happy to sit on the potty when I tell her to (usually ever 30 minutes to an hour). I make her sit there until she goes; she just sings and sings until she is done. Her songs of choice are "ABC's," "Old Mac Donald" and her favorite, "If You're Happy and You Know It."

I am not really sure if she is completely ready, but they are really pushing it at daycare. She has been dry after nap time for a couple of weeks and going when she wakes up. I told her teacher that once we started we are going all the way...so I am sending 5 pairs of panties and 5 pairs of pants to daycare tomorrow (hope that's enough). Her teacher should have lots of fun with that, but hey...she asked for it!

So there you have it, all you ever wanted to know about our potty training experience so far...and more!

Levels are going down!

2009-01-17T22:55:00.000-06:00

Just a quick update.....I went for my weekly hCG test and my levels went down! They were 158 last week and are down to 41 this week. I am hoping they will be 0 next week, since my body is still showing some pregnancy signs (haven't I been nauseated long enough?!). I go back on Wednesday for another blood-draw and should know by Thursday. I am definitely looking forward to feeling normal again.

Hot Chocolate!

2009-01-10T22:55:00.000-06:00

Ohhhh boy, we made a HUGE mess with hot chocolate tonight! Papa and Grandma Sanford got the girls Disney Princess hot chocolate packages with matching mugs for Christmas. Keri wanted to try it out tonight, so I gave in. Of course, Kendal had to have some too.

First of all, here is a picture of the girls from this morning after their bath. I just wanted to prove that I DID fix Kendal's hair today. I swear, that hair of hers has a mind of its own:

Keri is THRILLED about taking more pictures:

Good stuff!

And this my friends, is what happens when Mommy takes a potty break. I was gone for 60 seconds and Kendal made a HUGE mess all over herself, the kitchen floor, and the carpet. Where was Kyle, you ask? In the recliner 3 feet away.

We laughed and Kyle suggested I take a picture. Then I put the girls in the tub, Kyle cleaned the carpet, and Champ cleaned the kitchen floor. Keri and Kendal loved their special treat tonight!!!!

Breakfast for Daddy

2009-01-10T21:58:00.000-06:00

Keri and I have been talking all week about making breakfast for Daddy Saturday morning. I got a new electric griddle for Christmas and wanted to test it out. Keri was such a great helper!
Stirring the pancakes:
Little Miss Attitude! Kyle says she looks like me in this picture.....no way!

Last picture, I promise!
Kendal slept in today (thanks to the 2 year molars coming through, she was up many times last night) but wanted to take a picture with Daddy. This is what her hair looks like first thing in the morning.

Pathology Results

2009-01-07T22:41:00.000-06:00

I went to the Dr for my follow-up appointment today. I'm glad Kyle went with me because it was a lot of information to absorb.

The pathology results confirmed the doctor's suspicions that it was in-fact a partial molar pregnancy. She said that she hasn't seen anyone with a molar/partial molar pregnancy in 2-3 years, it is that uncommon! I'm not going to try & explain what that is because it is pretty complicated, but here is the info on the March of Dimes website if you are interested (you may have to click on the question: What is a molar pregnancy?): http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1189.asp#head7

I have to go back in for more follow-ups than I expected. She did a full-panel blood work up today and I have to go in for blood work to check my hCG levels every week. I will go weekly until the levels drop below 5, then I will go every 4 weeks. My hCG levels will be monitored closely for at least 6 months.

There is a small chance that the molar tissue can grow back, then I would have to have another D & C. There is also a chance that the molar cells could grow back cancerous. That is why it is so important to monitor my hCG levels so closely.

My doctor said that she expects everything to go well, but it is important to be extra cautious. I am a little nervous about the whole process, but am optimistic that my levels will go down and stay down without any further problems. Of course I have learned through all of this that I am not really the one in charge; God had a different plan for us right now. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:13

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers.

Keri is home!

2009-01-04T21:29:00.001-06:00

Everything is back to normal at the Sanford house. Keri spent a week with my Dad & Sheila and it was so quiet around here. She had a great time (as usual) and got to watch Aunt Haleigh play lots of basketball. I was really starting to miss my girl, so I was definitely ready for her to come home. I can tell that Kendal missed her, too. She went in Keri's room and called out for "Sissy!" many times every day. Kendal enjoyed the one-on-one time but was really missing her Sissy. We have already gotten back into our routine since we go back to work and school tomorrow. Here are a few pictures from Keri's first night back:

Bath time:
Brushing their teeth:
Yea! Sissy's back:

All tucked in & watching a movie (Do you see what Kendal is doing with that puppy? She is rubbing the tail between her toes. She cracks me up with that thing!):
Sacked out....it's good to be home:

2009-01-03T01:00:00.000-06:00

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

"Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." - Psalm 143:8

Please Pray for this Family

2008-12-30T22:24:00.000-06:00

An officer was injured on Kyle's shift last night. He is married and has a 7 month old baby. Click Here to read the story. Phil (Kyle's Dad) was interviewed by the local news. Here is a link to the video (it is in the middle of the screen and will appear after a short commercial clip):

http://www.keyetv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=21797@keye.dayport.com&navCatId=5

ETA: The link does not take you directly to Phil's interview. You have to look on the left side and click on the headline that says "Georgetown Community Supports Injured Officer."

Happy Anniversary to Us!

2008-12-27T17:08:00.001-06:00

I can't believe we have been married for 5 years, already! We don't really have plans for today. My parents took us out for Mexican food earlier and it was really good. We will probably try to see the movie Marley and Me New Year's Eve. We might order take out and rent a movie tonight, I could really use some down-time.

Happy Anniversary, Kyle. I'm looking forward to many more years together. Love you!!!

2003

2008

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

2008-12-27T16:33:00.000-06:00

Papa Caraway, Sheila, Haleigh and Devin came to visit yesterday. It has been so windy here the past couple of days, so Papa decided to buy a kite. The girls had lots of fun watching Devin fly the kite. It didn't last too long though because Haleigh let it fly right into a tree! Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. Then Keri decided to show off her new bike riding skills and practice some baseball. Keri asked yesterday if she could go home with them, so we packed her bags this afternoon and she headed off to Cisco for the week. She will love getting some one-on-one attention for a while. It will probably make things a little easier for us next week. I love when my parents come for a visit, we always have a great time and the girls love spending time with them. Here are a few pictures taken with the NEW camera.

Getting ready:
Girls in deep discussion:
Devin flying the kite:
Do you see any resemblance?
They were running up and down the hill:
Keri's new Barbie bike:
Papa helping Kendal with her new bike:
What a swing!

Christmas

2008-12-27T16:22:00.000-06:00

Christmas went really well. The girls were excited to see what Santa brought them. We opened presents at home then headed to Grandma and Papa Sanford's house for more presents and Christmas dinner. Aunt Kelly and Uncle Chip were there with us, too. Dinner was wonderful and the day was relaxing and low-key. Kyle had to go to work at 6:00 that night, so I took the girls home and we watched Mickey's Christmas Carol together. All in all, it was a good Christmas.

Wow, look what Santa brought:

Christmas snow globe from Nanny:

Someone ate candy from her stocking:

Oh, and I got a new camera for Christmas!!! Thank you, Kyle!

Sad News

2008-12-23T17:01:00.000-06:00

We found out this afternoon that we lost the baby. I was supposed to be 13 weeks pregnant today. The baby measured much smaller and there was no heartbeat. My body is not showing any signs of having a natural miscarriage, so we have scheduled a surgical D & C for Tuesday. It has been a lot to take in, especially 2 days before Christmas. We are very strong spiritually and know that God has a plan for us and our family. It will take a while for me to recover emotionally, but I know that we have been very blessed. I thank God now more than ever for our 2 beautiful, healthy girls.

Our Christmas festivities will continue as scheduled. I want to focus on making this Christmas special for Keri and Kendal. I might break out in tears a few times a day, but I am determined to keep our life as normal as we can through this for them.

Happy 2nd Birthday Kendal Mae!!!

2008-12-22T22:04:00.000-06:00

Time sure does fly when you are having fun! Happy Birthday baby girl, we love you!!!

2006

2007

2008

Family Party

2008-12-21T21:53:00.000-06:00

We had family over this afternoon to celebrate Kendal's birthday. She seemed a little overwhelmed having everyone over at the same time, but really enjoyed all the company.

She will have cake will all her friends at daycare tomorrow on her real birthday. I have always worried that we would not be able to focus on her birthday because of Christmas being so close, but think we have done a great job celebrating this year. It has definitely been easier than I thought (I wonder how that will change when she gets older and more expensive?!). Thanks to everyone who came and celebrated with us!

Playhouse Disney

2008-12-20T11:07:00.000-06:00

Well, we survived the busy week......though there is still much more to come. Kendal ended up getting pretty sick on Tuesday and is still recovering. She had hand, foot, and mouth disease (thanks to another little girl at daycare :)) but it has already cleared up. The main concern is that she has couup again and is on breathing treatments. Kendal gets croup a lot so we are very familiar with the treatment plan. I stayed home with her on Tuesday and half of Wednesday, then Kyle was home with her Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday. She was feeling much better by Friday, so we went ahead and took the girls to Playhouse Disney Live! (Sorry about the photo quality, I put a new camera on my Christmas list.) Check out Kendal's crazy hair!

They had so much fun dancing and singing. I think it was a great early birthday present for Kendal!

Busy Week

2008-12-15T19:56:00.000-06:00

There are so many things going on this week! The girls' daycare Christmas parties and book exchange are on Wednesday; we have a teacher luncheon on Thursday, and Pajama Day on Friday. I am most excited about taking Keri and Kendal to the Playhouse Disney Live! show Friday afternoon. It will be an early birthday present for Kendal. I just know they are going to LOVE it!

We will have Kendal's birthday party on Sunday after church. We will have family over for hamburgers, hot dogs, and cake. She is going to love spending time with everyone. I can't believe my baby will be 2 years old on Monday. Time really does go by too fast.

Fall School Pictures

2008-12-11T19:09:00.000-06:00

Here are the girls' fall pictures. I thought they turned out pretty good. Kendal's hair was kind of nuts. I'm still trying to learn how to tame it. :) The first two are my favorites. You can tell that Kendal is saying "Cheese!" in the last picture.

Trying this again

2008-12-08T14:24:00.000-06:00

Here goes my second attempt at blogging! I plan to keep up with it this time. Check back later for more.......