Baby Schultz :)

On Wednesday, my mom, Kennedy and I went to my first ultrasound. I thought I might be further along than I was, based on my cycle and symptoms, but turns out, I'm right where I should be. 7wks, 4 days. Here is a picture of "our little grain of rice" (that's the size of baby right now). I was so excited to see the little heartbeat!! It's crazy how much you can love someone you haven't even met yet :)

We're PREGNANT!!!!

I woke up on December 13th and realized, "I'm a week late. I better take a test just to put my mind at ease." I did some dishes for the two minute waiting time and walked back into the bathroom to check the test. Every time I take one, I keep it turned over until I'm ready to look. I flipped it very nonchalantly and to my surprise, it was a PLUS SIGN! I immediately started crying and thanking God!! I couldn't believe it! I have taken more tests than I can count. Whenever I'm even a few days late, I've thought I could be pregnant and would pee on a stick. Always negative. So this was a HUGE surprise! This all happened before 6am, so I waited for Jon to wake up to tell him. He was shocked too, but excited! We've been trying for the last year, even more so the last six months. I started to think maybe we were only to have one child, or maybe the Lord was leading us to adopt. I never gave up hope though. Praise God for His faithfulness!!! :)

As soon as I found out, I decided I wanted to surprise my family for Christmas. It was so hard to wait the 11/12 days but I knew I could do it. They were shocked, especially my mom and sister, Sarah. Just the night before, they were saying how maybe something is wrong with us and we should go to the doctor to check it out. I had to play it off ... "Yeah, maybe we should go." lol - SUCKERS! ;) It was so fun leading them on to believe I wasn't pregnant. Deceitful, I know, but I didn't want to give up the surprise early!! My mom's reaction on Christmas Eve was PRICELESS. She was beyond excited! I wrapped the pregnancy test and made her open it. The best part? ...she thought it was a THERMOMETER at first!!! ha! My mom text me that night and told me I gave her the best Christmas present ever :) I love her. Then Christmas day, we told Jon's family with Val opening the test. They were also very happy for us! I got everyone's reactions on video, including Kennedy's, and will be posting them very soon.

We had the most magical Christmas! We are so very blessed with the best family anyone could ask for. We hosted for my side on Christmas Eve and had a amazing time. My mom, dad, sisters, Aunt Mary, Uncle Danny and Ashley were all in attendance. We busted out our new table with the butterfly leaf and enjoyed great conversation and much laughter. I love them all so much. Christmas Day was at Chris and Rebecca's house. Another great time of good food and fellowship. I love them all :)

There's just one thing missing this Christmas... Grandma :( It was tough, her not being here, but I just kept focusing on all that we've been blessed with and the fact that I know I'll see her again. She would be so excited to know we're expecting... I wish I could share that with her. I love you, Grandma!!!!!!!!!!

New Family Traditions

This is the first year we started the Advent calendar with Kennedy. Every morning is a new inexpensive prize to retrieve from the door. We put a few different chapsticks in, a couple of small ornaments, a few chocolates, sillybands, stickers, erasers and I even filled a couple of days full of balls for her reward jar. She looks forward to it every single morning. First, she turns on our Christmas tree... then heads right for her 'daily door'. We have so much fun together!

We also made our very first gingerbread house this year! Jon did the brunt of the work, while Kennedy and I added all the candies. They were so cute together, going back and forth suggesting different candies for certain areas of the house. They did an awesome job together! Starting new family traditions are so much fun! :)

Reward Jar

Jon and I have been having a difficult time with Kennedy's attitude lately. 95% of the time, she is sweet, kind, loving, obedient, keeps us laughing and makes good choices. But the remaining 5% of the time, she exhibits naughty behavior, which includes an attitude, talking back and stomping of the feet. (I know, and she's only THREE!)

I decided that, although I felt I was consistent, I wasn't consistent enough and I gave her too much rope at times. SOOOO... almost all of the time when she is being naughty, I don't give her chances anymore. We go right to the punishment, which most times results in a spanking/time out depending on what she does. But the most important change we made was starting a reward jar (thanks to my good friend Julie!). Every time she cleans up without throwing a fit or waits for something patiently - just two of the many examples - she gets to put a ball in her jar. When the jar fills, she gets to pick a special place to go and spend the day with Mommy and Daddy. She decided immediately when we started (3 weeks ago) that she wants to go to Monkey Joe's! LET ME TELL YOU... her attitude has done a 180. I know she still tests us, but she's changed a lot. We do not bribe her with the balls by telling her, "If you're good, you get to put a ball in your jar!" We are just acknowledging when she makes good choices and OBEYS us. That is the BEST lesson you can teach your children. The Lord tells us that we need to obey our parents and I know she understands that now. Listening to your parents is important, but showing them that they are doing what God tells them to do, helps put things into perspective. The younger you teach them, the better! He put us in this position of authority over our children and it's a role we should never take for granted! :)

We're excited for the change we see in her and I continue to pray for wisdom and patience when parenting. Because let's face it, you can NEVER have enough of those two things!

Long Time, No Write

WOW. I am getting so bad at keeping up with this thing!!! I'll try to keep the updates short and sweet.

Halloween: OH BOY. This is the first year we took Kennedy trick-or-treating and it will be our last. We didn't feel the conviction of dressing her up (she was a GORGEOUS Belle and Max was her handsome prince!!) - but as soon as we started trick-or-treating, something inside of me didn't sit right. I hated that she had to ask for candy by saying 'trick-or-treat' and I had to shield her from the scary costumes. We went up two whole blocks and I brought her home. She told me two days later, "Mommy, I didn't like trick-or-treating because of the scary guys." WELL, that was conviction enough for me. No more trick-or-treating for us. As of now, I feel no conviction about her dressing up and attending a safe harvest party, but definitely NO trick-or-treating in the future.

A few weekends ago I went down to visit my friend, Marie. We had an AWESOME time together... shopping, eating, chatting -- AND REPEAT... :) I love her and I'm so thankful for sisters in Christ!!!!

Thanksgiving: We hosted for my mom, sisters, and Aunt Susie. It was our first time hosting and I'd say we knocked it out of the park! Great food and awesome company. :) The day after, Melissa and James hosted for his and her side - plus my Dad - which was also a great time! I loved that we got to be with everyone this year!!

I took pictures for a few more families and it was enjoyable (of course!). I HAVE to get my butt back to school soon. I would love to own/co-own a studio someday...

I have not baked in a long time, unfortunately. My grandma's blog ended before I finished my 30 recipes and I'm so disappointed in myself :( I feel like I let her down... I suck.

Well, Jon and I are really enjoying life together with our beautiful Kennedy - who is growing up way too fast. She's still enjoying school and loves reading/doing arts and crafts with me! We have a blast together :)

In a Nutshell

WOW! Where have I been?! It's been a month since my last post! We've been keeping busy, that's for sure.

After our last date night in Cedarburg, Sheena came all the way from California to see me. Well, not JUST to see me, but she did stay with us and that was a lot of fun! She was our first official house guest and I loved every minute of it! We stayed up very late every night either scrapbooking or just watching TV/talking. It was a blast. Then we left for Madison for our biannual scrapbook retreat. Sheena, Raven, Julie, Heidi, Lynne and I ate tons of junk, stayed up VERY late (in Sheena's case, she didn't even go to bed the first night) and enjoyed awesome fellowship. I lost some serious sleep that week, but it was worth every minute of it. I miss you, Sheena... come back soon! ;)

Kennedy started preschool and is thriving. Of course, my favorite part is hearing her tell me about her day. Last Thursday, she was teacher's helper and did very well! I'm not surprised... she is very detail oriented and task driven. I ordered her first Scholastic books a few weeks ago and that brought back a lot of memories. I used to LOVE coming home with that thin newspaper-like order form. My mom would always order me something out of it. It's weird to think I'm doing that for my child now. I feel OLD.

We started our 'Mommies of Blessings' group last month! Yes, we are no longer affiliated with MOPS, but we're bigger, better and God is more present than ever! We will meet once/month for our meetings, but will continue to try and meet for play dates as often as we can all get together. Last month, our first meeting took place at Anna's house and it was an awesome time of fellowship! We got to know each other on both spiritual and emotional levels. This Friday we meet at my house and a guest speaker will be talking about 'True Sisters - What Every Woman Needs'. I'm excited!

Last weekend, the three of us met up with Kim and Joe and drove to the pumpkin farm. It was a windy, but very sunny day! We got some cute pictures and picked three awesome pumpkins for carving. Now that Kennedy's older, I know she'll really enjoy cleaning out and carving them. I cherish every minute of family time that we get because I know she'll never be this age again. I want to soak it up!!

On Saturday, a friend of ours took some AMAZING family pictures of us. I love photographing for others, but it was a nice change being on the other side of the lens. It had been a year since our last family picture, so it NEEDED to be updated badly! We've all changed a lot, especially our sweet girl :) -- I will post them tomorrow!

On more of a sad note, I continue to struggle with the death of my grandma every single day. People say it gets easier after losing someone, but I find it has been the opposite for me... it's gotten harder. The other day I was driving with Kennedy and I looked over to the passenger seat and thought back to one of the last times she was in my car. She was released from the hospital and I was taking her to a doctor's appointment. She thanked me repeatedly because she felt she was inconveniencing me. WHAT?! I never EVER felt that way... I loved her more than anything and I wanted to do as much as I could for her! I pictured her tiny frame sitting next to me while I drove and I reached over to hold her hand like I did that day. Except she wasn't there... and my heart ached while tears ran violently down my cheeks. I so badly want to hold her hand again... to hug her... to talk to her. I don't necessarily ask God, WHY? I more so ask him, WHEN?. When will I be seeing her again? Because I can't wait to be reunited. For now, I need to continue to press in. God will continue to reveal Himself. Thank you, Lord, for the comfort and peace you bring. Although I have days where I break down and cry, I know who holds my life.

Our HOT Date!

Tonight, my dad so graciously took Kennedy while we headed up to Cedarburg for dinner at Anvil Pub and Grille. I've been there once before, but never with Jon, so I was excited to take him! He LOVED their food. In fact, he said he liked it so much, it made him want to write a review about it. Who says that?! He makes me laugh. Aside from their awesome food, the atmosphere is really what I love. We sat outside on their patio, along the river and listened to the Cedar Creek Waterfall as we ate... so amazing!

After dinner, we took a stroll through Cedarburg's historic downtown. The shops remind me of Door County. I LOVE IT! We went into this really great store where there were a lot of knickknacky types of things. It immediately reminded me of Grandma and I couldn't help but cry. That was hard. But after I pulled myself together, Jon spotted a really cool watch that looked like a bracelet. I always wanted a watch that looked more like an accessory. I tried it on and he bought it for me! What a sweetie. We walked another block and stopped at a confectionery store. We bought a few goodies for us and two chocolate covered strawberries for my dad (per his request). Then we headed to Cedarburg's scrapbook store - I just HAD to! Did a little damage there and walked back to our car.

What an AMAZINGLY romantic night. I love when we get to go out and just be us together. I love my husband more than anything. He seriously completes me, as corny as that sounds. He makes me a better person, while keeping me laughing throughout :)

I love you, baby. Thanks for an awesome night!!

First Day of Preschool!!!

I can't believe this day has come... Kennedy's first day of preschool!

We woke up like any other morning. Except this particular morning, I was pumped. It took a little time, but Jon eventually was excited too (he's not really a morning person). Kennedy ate breakfast, which consisted of yogurt, applesauce and one homemade chocolate chip pancake 'ala Daddy. We got dressed and headed out the door. Of course I already anticipated being 'Mamarazzi' ...also known as 'crazy moms who take WAY too many pictures of their children'. So with that said, I started my 65 pictures with a few in front of the house, one on the way to school and a few walking in the school door. Once inside, the beast was unleashed. I went crazy, but I didn't care. I was just thankful I didn't need a flash! That could've been really distracting.

If I haven't said it 10 times, I'll say it again... I am BEYOND impressed with this preschool. We got to stay and watch the teachers interact and go through how the children's day will go.

1. They start off tracing the first letter of their name with their finger (which is made out of sand paper). Name recognition is HUGE!

2. Then it's time to play. And this isn't just any old play... They have different areas ...dress up, house, blocks, train table, arts and crafts... great variety. It's very organized too - who doesn't like a little organization?! I love their philosophy too. 'Children learn by experience'. They will learn how to socialize with each other and problem solve as they play. This is more effective then sitting in a desk practicing their abc's all day.

3. After play, they learn the clean up song (not the typical song) and have that whole song to get the room picked up. Then they sit on their assigned carpet square in a circle while Miss Francine sings them a song.

4. Time to learn the weather! They all decide what the weather is like on that day and that picture gets puts up. They also learn left to right progression and patterns with pictures that hang on the wall.

5. They rotate classrooms each hour, still staying with Miss Francine. This new room has a ton of hands-on activities. There's a water table, different arts and crafts, sand shakers... and more! Some children learn by touching. I guess it never occurred to me that you can learn this way. Very cool.

6. The final 'class' they'll visit is a huge, open room that resembles an outdoor playground. It's equipped with tricycles and cars too, so they can work on their motor skills while getting out some energy!

7. The three and four year olds will meet together at the end and sing songs while they wait for their parents to pick them up.

Kennedy will attend Tues/Thurs 8:45-11:45am. Three hours, three different classes. I in no way feel that I have to defend my choice for sending her to a private preschool. With that said, I want the BEST for my child. What mother or father doesn't? I know that I cannot give Kennedy everything she needs on my own. She will be learning/interacting with others more than I could ever provide her with. I could tell from orientation back in March that this is an amazing place that she is going to thrive in. The teachers have over 40 years combined experience (between the three of them) and the actual schooling to provide Kennedy with the best preschool education. They LOVE those kids like I've never seen a teacher love and they truly work with each one on an individual basis. Because of course, not every child is the same :)

I am BEYOND excited for Kennedy!!! I'm so thankful to have found Loving Start Preschool!

Love

Our mini vacation was so amazing! After eating dinner Monday night at Moosejaw Pizza, we went into town for our Old Time photo shoot! Kennedy and I had on fancy dresses wile Jon looked handsome in his suit -- holding two Tommy guns. haha Kennedy was really looking forward to getting dressed up for the picture, but when she got in front of the camera, she would NOT smile. I don't know if the lights freaked her out or what, but we were not getting a smile out of her. It turned out adorable, regardless. In fact, it was the only picture we got all weekend of the three of us. It makes me sad we didn't get more together...

After our shoot, we walked through downtown Dells and stopped for some ice cream. It was a wonderful night together. We laughed, took fun pictures and spent real quality time with one another. No Blackberries, no computer. The next morning consisted of more water slides and a quick checkout. After riding the go karts and eating lunch, we headed home.

This weekend was amazing... did I say that already?! Jon and I were so in sync. We tag teamed everything! Whether it was making lunch for everyone while the other showered, or just simple things like throwing out the trash while the other washed up Kennedy. It was great... I LOVE teamwork! Not that we aren't a good team at home, but it was different this time. No one had to say a word, we just did it. I love my husband. I wish everyone got to see the side of him that I see everyday. Yes, he's still sarcastic at home, but he really is a sweetheart underneath it all. One of the main reasons I fell in love with him is because he always made me laugh. I'm so glad that he keeps me laughing daily.

I love you honey, and I love our little family we've made!! :)

First Family Vacation!

Kennedy and Jon are both napping in our room. I'm in one of the hotel's many hallways outside of O.P.'s Marketplace. I'm people watching as I write this. Some go into O.P.'s to buy a coffee drink, others come out with a bag of chips or overpriced condiments they may have forgotten to pack. $4.19 for a small bottle of Aunt Jemima's syrup?! Come on people, pack more carefully next time!

I'm sitting on a cute bench with my laptop in front of me. The Wilderness is a beautiful hotel/resort! There are endless things to do here. They have four outdoor waterparks and four indoor. Some are within walking distance, some we had to drive a few minutes to. There is a huge arcade/laser tag area, a few mini golf courses, shops, restaurants, kiddie play areas... the list goes on and on. I was here with my family when Kennedy was just a few weeks old and we didn't experience half of what this hotel offers.

I'm even more excited because this is our FIRST family vacation! I've taken Kennedy here, to Florida and California and Jon has been with me to California, but never just the THREE of us. It has been a wonderful day so far. We arrived and got checked in early! YIPPEE! After we unpacked some of our things, it was a quick lunch and then to our first waterpark! Kennedy was excited, but Jon and I weren't sure how she would react to the water slides. Turns out, we had nothing to worry about! I stood at the bottom of the slide as her and Daddy ventured down. Piece of cake. Then we climbed a bunch of stairs to a decent size slide. When we got up there, the lifeguard told us she had to go down alone. Oh no, I thought. Will she be too scared? It was a pretty big slide! I went down first so I could be at the bottom waiting for her. Holding my breath, I see this cute little girl come down with a half scared/half excited look on her face. I grabbed her and waited for a reaction.

"Was it fun?!" I asked.
She wiped the water from her face and exclaimed, "YEAH! LET'S DO IT AGAIN!!"

We were relieved! She was so brave. Within 20 minutes, she was asking to go down the biggest water slides by herself! How cool is our kid?! She couldn't get enough of the water. Jon said it's probably because she's old enough to enjoy it, but too young to know the dangers. I agree... she was FEARLESS!

Dinner was at the Thirsty Buffalo Saloon - part of the Wild West area of the hotel. We were impressed again by our sweet girl. When the waitress took our order, Kennedy asked, "Can I have a hot dog please?" Then she asked what she wanted to drink and Kennedy replied, "Chocolate milk, please.". She ordered all by herself for the first time! We didn't tell her what to get or prompt her. We were in awe. Our child has amazing manners too. Side note: I love blogging! I can brag about my kid all I want. haha!

After a wonderful night, Kennedy woke up this morning and was ready to go. She opened the curtains and said, "It's light out!" Like, let's go Mommy and Daddy! Our balcony overlooks one of the outdoor parks. She was ready to face those slides again. We drove a few minutes to the first indoor park, which included a wave pool and huge family water slide. By family, I mean the raft holds up to four at a time. I love those. Then we can experience the fun at the same time! Kennedy was a HUGE fan of the wave pool. She didn't want us to hold her or sit in a tube... just her little flotation device around chest/arms did fine. What a cutie!

Now we're off to dinner. I became acquainted with the area earlier in the day, so I think we'll venture off somewhere in the Dells. Maybe Moosejaw Pizza? Looks like a cool place to eat!

UPDATE: Attitude Adjustment

Thanks to all of my friends for the great advice on discipline. I chose to make her punishments separate. Great idea, Kim! So depending on what she does, I will stick to certain consequences. I also remind her that when she disobeys me, it hurts the Lord more than anything. Also great advice... thanks Apryl! I seem to have forgotten the most important part! She is a very smart girl and even if she doesn't FULLY grasp the concept, it will soon be ingrained in her head.

I feel like it is going well... the tantrums and talking back are slowing down. She flipped out today and was punished. THEN put herself in the corner. haha! I wanted to laugh. But the way she behaved was only because she was in great need of a nap. Praise God she is sleeping now! She needed it.

Attitude Adjustment

My daughter is a very smart little lady. She speaks very precisely, enunciating every word and you can tell she really thinks before speaks... something I'm still working on! She is respectful and kind to others -- except when she bullies her younger friend, Josie. Poor girl, haha. So here's the problem... lately, more than ever, her mouth is getting her in trouble. Just towards me, really. I don't even notice it much with Jon. JUST ME! I try not to freak out because I know she feeds off of that. I already see ME in her frustration... YIKES! I've rubbed off on my daughter the one way I didn't want! I have little patience and I can see that in her as well. So in order to fix her, I'm trying to fix me. I'm glad that I can admit where I'm going wrong and I'm able to act quickly because if she were 16 and I was trying to fix her behavior, I'd have a big problem on my hands!

Here is what I do when her mouth gets out of hand - and by 'out of hand' I mean yelling 'NO!' at me or 'I DON'T WANT TO!' ...or really just throwing a screaming/kicking fit.

1. I warn her.
2. If she does it again, she gets put in a timeout. Timeout is in her room, sitting on her bed for 3 minutes or more.
3. Then she comes out and apologizes. I explain what she did wrong and forgive her for acting that way. We kiss and hug and it never gets brought up again.

Pretty textbook to me. Except when she does it again... and again. This does not happen everyday, thankfully. Just sporadically when she decides to push my buttons, usually resulting from lack of sleep on her behalf. I also know that food can trigger behaviors. The healthier the BETTER! Rather than processed junk, I've always tried to feed her 'natural' foods. Anyway, I'm consistent with her and the way she is disciplined. Jon is also on the same page, but like I said, it rarely happens with him.

Do I keep being consistent and hope she stops the behavior with age? Or should I try something new? Taking things away from her that really matter is my next step. I've done it before and it works. Should I bring it back and stay consistent with that?

Parents, I need your advice! HELP!

The Healing Garden

On Tuesday, I had to go to the hospital for the first time since Grandma passed. As I climbed the levels in the parking structure, my heart grew heavy. I parked the car and just cried. Walking to the elevator, through the halls, down the stairs, up another elevator, into the North building... I held it together pretty well. Maybe it was because grandma wasn't in that building long. Or maybe it was Kennedy, who picked out flowers for her auntie and proudly carried them all the way to her room. That gained a lot of attention. Everyone commented on how cute and helpful she was! A little old lady actually gave Kennedy $1 for 'being such a big helper'. She was very sweet! We had a nice visit with Melissa, who was recovering from gallbladder surgery.

Today we visited my dad, who had his knee replaced yesterday. I knew today would be hard. His room is located in the Patient Tower... the same building Grandma spent most of her time in during her hospital stay. We got to the main elevators of the Tower. I was ok thus far. We climbed to the 11th floor... oh no... she was on this floor during recovery at one point. I look up - whew! ...my dad's room is to the right. (Grandma's was on the left) We walked into his room and gave him hugs and kisses. As I approached the window and commented on what a beautiful view he had, I looked down and noticed that his room overlooked The Healing Garden. I buried my head in my hands and wept. The Healing Garden is a wonderful place patients can go to enjoy an abundance of live plants, fresh air and the sounds of trickling water. I took Grandma there on a cold February night, the day after her second surgery. We couldn't enjoy the outside area of the garden, but thoroughly enjoyed the inside.

It was a Tuesday night. I stopped at Kohl's on the way to the hospital and bought Grandma a few outfits and a pair of tennis shoes. Then I picked us up a couple of burritos from Chipotle. I'll never forget the look on her face when I arrived. She was so happy to see me. Happy because I bought her new clothes. Happy because she was going to eat something she had never eaten before... but most of all, happy because I was there. After we finished dinner, I made her try on all of her clothes. We put on a little fashion show right there in that hospital room. Her nurses loved it all! And boy, did she look adorable in everything! With her back pain and other issues, she lost a large amount of weight very quickly. Grandma always joked, "Well, one good thing came out of this mess... I finally lost the weight I'd been wanting to lose all these years!" She was so silly. We'd been trying to get down to The Healing Garden for some time, so I asked her if she wanted to go on a little adventure. She threw on a new outfit and we headed down to the 8th floor. Grandma LOVED plants, so this was right up her alley. She didn't get as excited as I had hoped, but I knew she was just exhausted from the surgery. We spent some time talking and time being still. I could tell she had a lot on her mind but I didn't pressure her to share her thoughts. I took a few pictures of her in front of the plants and we headed back to her room. She turned on a show and we both started dozing off. Around 10:30 I kissed her goodnight and told her I'd see her tomorrow.

After our visit with my dad, I decided to take a little detour... to The Healing Garden. Tears welled up in my eyes as soon as we opened the doors. I showed Kennedy exactly where Grandma Patty sat that day I wheeled her down. I cried and Kennedy consoled me the best way she knew how. "It's ok, Mommy." We went outside and enjoyed the rest of the garden. At that point, I was trying to catch my breath from crying. We made so many memories together, her and I. This was just a small one, but one that I hold in so close to me. I took a picture of Kennedy in the same spot Grandma sat. I cried. Then I sat next to her and we talked about Grandma. Another couple walked in and I hesitated, but then asked if he would take a picture of Kennedy and I in that spot. I balled my eyes out as we walked out...

I think about her constantly. Today was a very rough day for me and I selfishly wish she were still here. Not in pain, but here and healthy. Praise God that she is with the Lord, worshipping Him at this very moment. But I long for just one last hug from her... one where I have to bend down to reach her five foot frame. We'd squeeze the life out of each other. I just miss that.

I'm not sure why I decided to share this, but I know that writing helps me get through the hard times. Thanks for reading, and thanks for being there for me.

I love you, Grandma and I'll never stop thinking about you. Until we meet again...

Weathering the Storm

The storms the other day were pretty intense!! It all started on Thursday morning when Kennedy and I were driving home from Brookfield. It was a complete downpour on I-94. We were doing 40 MPH and I couldn't see 30 ft ahead of me. I'm a pretty aggressive driver and nothing scares me... but I started to pray out loud for the Lord to guide our car home safely. As I finished the prayer, Kennedy asked why I was praying. I told her and she said, "Oh.".

Of course my grandma came to mind immediately. She would've called me the night before to tell me that this storm was coming and to "BE CAREFUL Melissa! It's the other drivers I'm worried about.". And because she would've known I was going to be out and about during the storm, I would have received several calls reassuring herself that we were ok. I have to say, I missed those calls on Thursday... I truly missed them. Even though she was a worry wart, I know that she always had my best interest at heart. Nobody loved me like she did and I'll never have that again. Selfish, I know. My heart aches because she's gone and I just don't know how to fill that void. Look at that picture of us! This was taken the day I was born. From the moment I came out, she loved me more than anything... you can see it on her face. She had unconditional love that only the Father Himself gives us.

More storms hit us Thursday night. I drove home and took all the wrong ways... flooding was everywhere! After I finally walked in the door (double the time it usually takes me), Kennedy greeted me with the biggest smile! She exclaimed, "Mommy!! Jesus got you home safely!!!" Wow... that really made my day! She's so smart! I love that she pieces things together the way she does. We have the sweetest little girl and I wish Grandma were here to watch her grow up. I wanted to call her so badly to tell her what Kennedy just said... but I couldn't.

Hurting like this is an awful feeling. When does it get easier??

Baking with Tears

One of my very favorite recipes my grandma used to make was her banana bread. It is HANDS DOWN the best banana bread I've ever had. The first and last time I made it was about 5 years ago. It didn't taste exactly like hers and left me a little discouraged. Well I decided to try my hand at it again. My KitchenAid mixer has been a SAINT for baking, so I knew it would be a lot easier this time around. It turned out AMAZING!! I was so proud of myself. When I took that first bite, I actually had to hold back tears because all I thought about was her. I felt like she was there with me, it was the weirdest thing.

I get so much joy out of baking. It's the best feeling watching people enjoy something I make! It's the same exact feeling my grandma would get. She cooked and baked because she loved it, but also because she loved making people happy with her food. I finally get it after all these years! She would BEG me to let her teach me how to cook. I always told her 'no thanks'... she knew I hated it. Now I regret not taking her up on all those cooking lessons. I wish she could see me now... she'd be so proud of me. Now I just have to conquer that cooking thing...

Love you gma.

The Dentist

Most people know that when their child turns three, it's time to get those little teeth cleaned! Well, even though I work for a dentist, I was dreading Kennedy's first visit. I've seen kids come in and scream bloody murder. But I've also seen kids come in somewhat timid, but very cooperative. Kennedy was somewhere in between the two. She cooperated at first, putting on the glasses and patient napkin (bib). But that was only because I was in the chair, setting the example. When it was her turn to lay back, she freaked... "I wanna go hooooome!" and "I want Daddy!" Funny how they always want Daddy... like mommies are so DREADFUL! I told Mary Kay (our hygienist) that if she didn't mind listening to the screaming, I'd be totally fine with her going to town. We don't force kids to sit in the chair if they aren't comfortable, so she told me it was fine if we had to try again another day. This is exactly what I DIDN'T want. My daughter went from being excited about having her teeth cleaned, to completely melting down. At this point I was just embarrassed. This is the type of child that can be a bit frustrating for us. But when a well-behaved child enters the office, we rave about them for days. Why couldn't MY kid be that child?! I left the office feeling so discouraged.

Kennedy knew I was upset. About an hour later, she said in the sweetest voice, "Mommy, I'll be better for Mary Kay next time." That made me feel so good. I feel like she knew her behavior was inappropriate and that Mommy was disappointed.

Although my day didn't start off well, my mother-in-law brought up a great point. Sometimes we expect too much out of her because she's so smart. I need to remember she is only three. There are going to be times she acts like a three year old. I really feel like Jon and I do our absolute best to love and discipline her. I'm not saying we're perfect, but we're doing the best we can. One thing is for sure... Kennedy is a very independent little girl and she does things on her time. She NEVER holds back her feelings. I have no idea where she gets that from! haha!

I'm proud to be her mommy :)

4th of July FUN!

I look forward to the 4th of July every year! We always have a big family cookout after the parade. Then we watch the fireworks at night!

The parade was fun, minus the heat. No shade, plus 90 degrees, equals a lot of SWEAT! But the kids had a great time anyway. Kennedy made out like a bandit in the candy department. But I don't let her have any. She's a good kid, rarely asking. When she does ask and I say no, she says, "Yeah I can't have candy because it will break my teeth. That won't be good and mommy will be upset. Because she loves my teeth!!" lol! Seriously, this girl has a great memory. I told her that once and it stuck with her. Jon was at the rear of the parade, in the sweeper! That's right baby, OT! And boy did he look cute in that big piece of machinery... haha! Kennedy was so excited to see her daddy!! :)

After the parade, we all met back at my house for a cookout. My Aunt Linda, Uncle Rich, cousin Nikki and her whole family were all up from Florida... so that made for a really nice celebration. My mom, dad, Pete, and Brittany were also there. Yes, I said DAD. I will admit, I was a little nervous having him here with all of my mom's side, but everyone got along great! It was actually a little weird how great everyone was getting along, but I was THANKFUL nonetheless!! The adults played volleyball while the kids ran through the 'octopus' (a blow up toy that attaches to the hose and sprays water out of it). That was a HIT with the kids. Especially since it was close to 90 and very humid outside.

Every year we meet on top of St. Francis High School's hill so we can view St. Francis and Cudahy's fireworks at the same time. This also eliminates going down to Sheridan park and dealing with all the yahoos. The hill is more of a 'family friendly' fireworks viewing area. My family was there, along with Kim, Joe and the Browns... who are also family :) Kennedy and Max had a great time together, chasing one another. But they also enjoyed the fireworks too.

All-in-all, it really was a GREAT DAY! I love when family and friends get together... memories are made. I just wish Grandma were here to enjoy the holidays with us :( I love you!

Toy Story 3

Kennedy went to the theater for the very first time today! We took her to see Toy Story 3. We knew she'd LOVE it, considering she's pretty obsessed with all of the Toy Story movies right now. Then we got there and the cashier let Kennedy in for free! I don't know why, but we took the blessing. :)

The movie went well, although she was a bit fidgety throughout. At one point she stated that she was hungry so we slipped out to the concessions. I walked up and said to the lady, "What's the healthiest thing you have here?" She hesitated and said, "Water??" That made me laugh. Since Kennedy never has popcorn, I thought that would be a nice treat for her. She LOVED it.

The movie was cute. Not my favorite of the three movies, but cute. I found it to be a little dark. At one point, you think they're all going to burn up in flames! A bit harsh for a kids movie... but cute and Kennedy loved it!

Happy birthday, Grandma... I miss you!

Today my grandma would have celebrated her 70th birthday. It was a milestone she was really excited to achieve too. Unfortunately, complications from cancer took her life on March 15th, just a few months short. God wanted her before we were ready to give her up. I'm so thankful that we didn't have to see her suffer for very long. Seeing her in pain for three months was hard enough... I don't know how other families watch their loved ones suffer for years. I thank the Lord everyday for sparing her life. It could have been much worse for much longer! But I selfishly still wish she were here :(

When someone says they think about a person all the time, I wonder how often they come to mind. I think about my grandma ALL DAY LONG. Things constantly remind me of her. My house is filled with trinkets from her or that were hers, and my mind is filled with wonderful memories that I will never forget. When I sat down to write the Eulogy, I realized I could go on for days! We made a billion memories together. She was such a driving force in my life. Grandma gave me advice, whether I wanted it or not! She loved me more than I've seen anyone love another human being. I never felt like she had to prove her love, but she often told me that I was her heart. Or, "they are no competition". I don't know why she felt like she needed to always tell me, but I loved hearing it. And I reciprocated my love as often as I could. The last three months of her life were hard to watch, but also very important to me. I was able to spend almost everyday with her. We'd sit in her hospital room and play Farkle or eat orange sherbet. Talk about our day... our fears, our triumphs. I told her all the time how much she meant to me. Even if we didn't see eye-to-eye on certain things, I appreciated her counsel. Jon, Kennedy and I loved that woman like no other and we're just so appreciative of the time we had with her. Just ten minutes before she passed, when it looked like she could not respond, I asked her to squeeze my hand if she could hear me. And she did! That was so important to me because just minutes before that, I told her how much I loved and appreciated her... and how much I was going to miss her. I still cry every time she comes to mind. I just can't believe she's gone...

I sit here, changed. Before Grandma passed away, she'd tell me that I needed to start taking care of myself. She was worried I would develop diabetes... a disease that is prevalent in our family. I told her I'd lose weight when I was ready. Well April 26th came around and I decided it was time for a change. Since then, I've been eating healthy and exercising almost daily. I've lost 20 lbs so far and I'm feeling GREAT! Also, our church has gone through some changes that has made me seek God more and more. Some Sundays are still very hard for me though. When I worship God, she comes to mind. She LOVED singing, especially for God. She loved to hear me sing and was so proud of me. Grandma also loved to cook and bake. I, unfortunately, did not inherit those genes. So for me to be baking from SCRATCH is unheard of! It's a lot of work, but a lot of fun! I'm actually picking up my very own KitchenAid stand mixer tomorrow. Of course she came to mind immediately. She ALWAYS wanted one, but would talk herself out of it every time due to lack of storage in her kitchen. I know it sounds weird, but every time I use it I'm going to think of her. I know she would be so proud of me...

Kennedy has changed in the last three and a half months. She is potty trained for one. That's a HUGE deal. Grandma and I were waiting for that day for sooooo long! On April 23rd, she decided it was time to hop on the potty... and she never looked back. She turned THREE on May 9th and is turning into a little girl right before our eyes! Kennedy is so kind, nurturing and filled with love. She has a mind as sharp as a tack! Don't promise her anything if you aren't willing to go through with it, she NEVER forgets! Kennedy communicates like no other three year old... telling me her feelings, using descriptive words and similes. It's hard for her to hold in her feelings... I have no idea where she got that from. haha! But most importantly, she loves Jesus. A few nights ago, I was cuddling with her and we just finished praying. She started asking about Grandma Patty. She said, "We're going to see her when her back feels better." I told her that we wouldn't see her for a long time. "Because she's with Jesus?" -- yes. "Oh she's not in pain anymore." Nope! She's healed! Then she said that Jesus was far away and I told her that she could call on Him whenever, He's ALWAYS there for us. It was really awesome... because right before that she prayed that He would heal her knees. God is so good.

There are many times during the day I would love to just pick up the phone and call her. Every time I look at my phone, I see the picture of her and Kennedy. Since she has been gone, I find myself in situations where I need her advice. She always knew what to do. I miss her more than anything... and I love her with my whole heart. She touched so many lives while she was here and I know that God has her doing some pretty amazing things in heaven.

I can't wait to see you again, Grandma. I love you.

California: The End

We left Ninny and Papa's at 4:16am... one minute behind schedule already. It was a long drive back to LAX and I didn't get a wink of sleep. Poor Zack and Sheena... it's such a pain to get people back to that airport. Long drive, traffic, the crazy Grapevine! As we drove out of the Grapevine, Zack fell asleep and Sheena realized she had no idea where we were! Uh oh. We stopped at a gas station because I had to pee. That was pretty disgusting. Then she turned on the GPS... finally, we'll get back on track now! Nope. There were a few more wrong turns and by now I was pretty car sick. My nerves were starting to take over and I felt the chunks of puke in the back of my throat. We made it to the airport 51 minutes before my plane's departure. I gave Zack and Sheena a hug and told them I loved them. Zack showed me the time and said, "You need to run." I didn't think I was going to make it and tears started to roll down my cheeks. Once I made it to the front of the line to check my bags, it was 44 minutes to take off. The kind lady (note my sarcasm) informed me that my bags might not make it on the plane because technically the need to be checked 45 minutes prior to departure. Really lady?! One minute?? So I told her thank you and hauled to the security line. Thank the Lord, it was not too long... but I was sweating. After taking off my shoes (definitely the worst part of security), we literally ran to our gate. Poor Kennedy... she kept crying, "Mommy, I can't ruuuuun!" I felt horrible :( But I knew if we didn't run, we may not make it on that plane! And of course our gate was at the very end of the ALL of the gates. We made it, with minutes to spare. Once we got on the plane and her car seat was installed, I literally wiped the sweat from my face in relief.

She didn't fall asleep until one hour before landing. Albeit, in my arms. Poor kid, she was exhausted. Jon met us at security and escorted us to our carousel. We missed him a ton! After 10 minutes went by, I started to doubt that our bags made it. But then five minutes later, they popped up. Thank God! I thought to myself, "Would I still be praising God if they didn't come?" Something we all need to work on at times. God is good, no matter the circumstance! Needless to say, I was relieved they made it.

Our trip in a nutshell: amazing. I would definitely consider moving to California. But it would take some MAJOR prayer. God would have to make it VERY clear that this would be our next place of dwelling. I mean literally, He would have to write it on the wall for me. It would be pretty amazing if it did happen, though. I miss the Searcys a lot. And It would be nice to be closer to the Eichlers. They are ALWAYS a lot of fun to be with! I think about how much fun Kennedy would have too. She bonded with Ethan, Grace and Taylor like no other the past week. To be constantly entertained... who wouldn't want that?! When Jon asked her what her favorite part of California was, she responded, "Taylor." Awwwwwwww, my heart just melted when I heard that!! Don't get me wrong, we broke up a lot of fights, but overall they were all so good.

Thank you Zack, Sheena, Pastor David and Cindy, for making our trip a really fantastic one. We are so blessed to have you in our lives. We'll be back to visit... hopefully sooner than later! This time Jon will be with me :) We love you guys!!!!

Day EIGHT: Family Fun!

Today was our last full day of vacation. After I packed everything at Zack and Sheena's, we all left for Bakersfield to hang out with Ninny and Papa. As soon as we got there, we put our suits on and headed for their pool. I needed to come back with SOME color... otherwise people would never believe I was in California! After all the kids were done swimming, Sheena and I stayed in the pool to continue working on our tan. We had some nice, quiet adult time. That was few and far between this week!

After an amazing dinner of tri tip (an Eichler specialty), Cindy drove me to their church to show me around. It's a pretty big church that also includes a Christian school (PK3-8th grade). As soon as I heard Pastor David rehearsing with his worship team I was overcome with emotion. You can see God moving in the Eichler's lives and I'm so happy for them!! This is the place God has called them to be and I was fortunate enough to see it firsthand.

When the guys returned from practice, we played Golf (a fun card game). I had a BLAST. There was great conversation filled with a ton of laughter. And even though I came in second-to-last, I still beat Papa! That alone made my night :)

Around midnight, I said my goodbyes to Ninny and Papa. They both offered encouraging words and lots of love! They are so amazing. Then I dragged my butt to bed... 3:30am would come fast!

Day SEVEN: Cake!

We had to pick out a day where we had nothing planned. "Doing this cake will take hours!" Sheena said. I didn't believe her.

I told her before I came to visit that I wanted to make a really cool cake with her. She let me pick out the cake flavor, filling, colors and design. Karly came over and we started it around two o'clock. We made the cake and froze it a few days earlier, but still had a lot of work ahead of us. They both made the fondant and frosting. I stuck to the easy stuff! I helped ice, fill and stack the cake, color the fondant and put it together. We made vanilla cake with buttercream frosting and filled it with fresh strawberries. It turned out BEAUTIFUL and delicious!!! I was pretty excited about it. And I was glad it turned out good enough for the girls to use on their 'We Do Cakes' Facebook page!

Sheena made cavatinni for dinner (a Searcy specialty) and we ate the cake for dessert. The kids LOVED it!! Kennedy practically licked her plate clean! It was another awesome day of our vacation! :)

Day SIX: Family

Happy Father's Day to my dad, Jon and all the daddies out there! Dads are such an important part of a child's life, especially little girls. Jon, you make our daughter feel secure, important, and above all LOVED. She adores you. Thank you for being such a wonderful, hands on daddy! I'm sorry we didn't get to spend your day together, but we'll make it up to you when we get home... promise! :) We love you!!!!

The kids sat with us in church service today. Kennedy has never done that, so I was a little concerned it would be too long for her. After Pastor Bill said his final prayer, Kennedy asked me if it was done. I said yes and she said, "Mommy!!! I be patient!!!" She's ADORABLE! Kennedy was such a good girl -- I was proud! :) After church, we headed out for lunch. And where else do you go have lunch while in California?! IN-N-OUT, OF COURSE! It was delicious and as a result of that, I feel like a big fatty. Oh well. I'm on vacation... I'll get back on track with eating healthy and working out when I get home.

After lunch, the Eichlers came over to spend Father's Day with the family. While the kiddos were napping, we played a card game called Golf. Pastor won, OF COURSE! haha Sooo much fun. Then we ate an awesome meal... thanks Sheen, your tacos were fabulous! Dinner was followed by great conversation. I knew I missed Pastor David and Cindy, but I had no idea how much until I was able to spend all this time with them. I miss their love for the lost, their ministry together, and their passion for God! They were a HUGE part of Changing Lives and literally changing lives in the past six years. So many people came to Christ while they were serving at our church. Personally, they discipled me and treated us like their own family. I am eternally thankful for them. Thanks for making our vacation this week even better! I loved spending every minute with you! We love you both soooo much :)

After a great day like that, who wouldn't think about moving here?? It's a great place to raise a family and we already have amazing friends here to share our live with! So far my sister Sarah, the Browns, Joneses and us are all in! Hmm, who else wants to move with us??? ;)

Day FIVE: Cupcakes!

It was another relaxing day with the Searcys! After Disney, we spent the night with the Eichlers (again, because it's closer than going all the way home). We had to leave in the early morning so Zack could make it to a worship practice. Sheena and I hung out at home with the kids until 2pm, when we headed to the church to make Sesame Street cupcakes. I didn't think Sheena was going to let me be so hands-on, but she let me do everything! I had a lot of fun decorating these... they're adorable. Now that I have the skills, I'm going to Michaels to get a few supplies so I can make them for Josie's birthday party too! :)

After dinner, we got out the water slide so the kids could have some fun! They had a BLAST and I was able to get some really cute pictures. Oh, and I never took a shower today... I'm disgusting, I know ;) Great day --- CHECK!

Disneyland!!

Day FOUR: Disneyland!!!

We exited Disneyland Drive at 8:45am and I was pretty excited! Kennedy and I have never been to Disneyland, so this was going to be quite the experience for us. Zack told us it would take about a half hour from the time you park your car until you walk through the gate. I didn't believe him until we got there and I saw just how many people were there. A tram takes you from the parking garage to the gates, where we purchased our tickets for the day. $134 later, we were in!

From the moment we walked into the park, it was beautiful everywhere you looked. Beautiful, ornate buildings, landscaping like no other, bright colors everywhere... and don't even get me started on the cleanliness of the park. It was amazingly clean! Hundreds of workers, constantly cleaning up after everyone. I felt right at home. We started off on the kiddie rides... Snow White, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Dumbo and of course the carousel. Kennedy was a little scared on Snow White and Pinocchio because of the "scary people". But she LOVED the Dumbo ride (Which she complained about not wanting to go on the entire 25 minutes of waiting.) But as soon as it started, she was ALL SMILES! The carousel was another hit! Then we moved on the meet the Princesses. Knowing that we had a wait ahead of us, we gave the kids their lunch in line. That and a few potty breaks later, we met Arial, Tiana and Mulan. Kennedy had been looking forward to meeting them for months, but as soon as we got up close, she was scared! I'll admit I was so disappointed. I wanted this to be the most amazing experience for her! She was more excited after she met them, unfortunately. So the pictures don't show it, but I know she loved meeting them. :) Next up was the Buzz Lightyear ride. It was soooo much fun!! You sit in these two-person carts that move on a track. You each have a gun that you shoot at targets with. Each target gains you individual points. The entire ride is in the dark and everything is lit up in black lights. Kennedy did pretty well and LOVED shooting Zurg. When we got off she shouted, "Mommy!! I shot ZURG!!!!!" Since this ride was such a hit with all of us, we decided to go on a few more times... each time comparing points. Papa won every time of course, except the last time. Zack took us all with 300,000 points! Too fun.

After a few adult rides and some dinner, we got ready for Fantasmic! An AMAZING water/light show that included all the live characters as well. It BLEW ME AWAY! Zack taped it but I'm sure it won't do it justice. Then there were fireworks to Disney music. Amazing... just amazing. I had tears in my eyes after all of it. Took me back to when I was a kid watching all the great classics! After that, I headed into the biggest Disney store EVER. I was overwhelmed with awesome merchandise. But I had to be good. I didn't spend much at all :)

AMAZING day spent with AMAZING people. Thanks for making mine and Kennedy's trip so spectacular. I love you all more than you know! :)

Day THREE: Baking

We got up and out the door by noon and headed to the church kitchen, where Sheena and Karly bake their cakes. They had an order of 72 graduation cupcakes due by 5pm! Thinking we had a TON of time, we put in Toy Story 2 for the kids and got started. I was pretty excited to help, even though my reputation in the kitchen isn't the greatest. I threw in the ingredients and almost started the Kitchen Aid mixer when Sheena stopped me. Of course, I put the ingredients in the wrong mixer! Oh my... I should've left the kitchen at this point. We did let the girls decorate a couple extra cupcakes we made. That was the best part of the day! Except the clean up. Thanks Sheena, haha! I made a few other minor mistakes along the way and six hours later... three or four runs of Toy Story 2 and a couple of cranky girls, WAH LAH! CUPCAKES COMPLETE. (Most of the work done by the girls. I'm such an amateur... lol.) I definitely have even more respect for what they do. Starting a business is tough and getting it off the ground takes a lot of time, money and dedication. I could never do it! Nice work Sheena, I love you :)

After that busy afternoon, it only got crazier when we got home! We had to pack for Bakersfield (where Pastor and Cindy live), make dinner/clean up, and bathe the girls all as fast as possible! A little over an hour later, we were off! They decided we'd spend the night in Bakersfield because it's an hour closer to Disney, cutting down our drive time to 2.5 hours. Because it was after nine when we arrived, we went to bed almost immediately. It didn't leave us much time with the Eichler's or any with Ethan and Grace (they were already asleep), but I knew we had all day at Disney to catch up! :) Stay tuned.

Day TWO: Relaxing

We started off our day relaxing... Zack was at work and the girls played. Sheena and I hung out on the couch for a few hours and chatted about life. I missed her a lot! We finally got ready and out the door by 4pm to run some errands. They have a SUPER Target here!!! I'm in heaven. Enough said. Then to Kohl's where I ended up buying Kennedy a lot of play clothes for super cheap (thanks to a merchandise credit and gift card). No more grass stains on her Gap capris - woo hoo! We came home for dinner and then went to bible study. Zack led the class in a discussion on Lazarus and being healed. I got really emotional as he was discussing how God always wants healing. Sometimes it doesn't happen on our time or even in our lifetime. I was reminded of Grandma. Every minute of every day, something comes to mind that reminds me of her. She was ultimately healed and I thank God for sparing her life! Although she suffered for three months, it pales in comparison to how many YEARS some suffer. Of course at the same time, I selfishly wish she were here. At one point, I had to walk out of the study because I was crying so hard. Some days are harder than others. Today was a hard day.

Kennedy and I are LOVING our time with the Searcys. Yesterday, Sheena was showing me how to relax because 'that's what you do when you're on vacation!'. I need to clean though! It makes me feel like I'm at home. Plus I love feeling useful. She's also trying very hard to get us to move out here... haha! Apparently they know everyone in Tulare. A dentist, people who work for the City of Tulare... she cracks me up.

Stay tuned for some fun stuff coming up within the next two days!!

California: Day ONE

Our flight to LAX was ok, at best. I just had a few complaints...

The seats are meant for someone who tips the scales at 95lbs. I barely had enough room to breath! The 'snack' (this weird cookie thing) was pretty gross, although Kennedy loved it. Oh! And the bathrooms were ridiculous. In order for me to get Kennedy on the potty, I had to leave the door open and stand OUTSIDE of the bathroom. I asked the flight attendant first if she'd be offended if I did that. Of course she was totally fine with it. But the worst thing of all --- we got to board the plane early because I had a young child with a car seat to install. I got back to my assigned seat, installed the car seat (which took a few minutes and a little sweat), and got us both situated. Just as everyone was seated, a very sweet flight attendant came up to me and informed me that we weren't 'allowed' to be in those seats with a car seat. Some FAA rule that states a car seat can't be installed in front of an emergency exit. So while everyone was seated, I had to switch seats with another couple and reinstall the heavy sucker WHILE EVERYONE WATCHED. When we were finally good to go, I looked over and saw a guy smiling at me. I said "Nothing like making a scene, right?!" He laughed.

On the flip side, Kennedy was sooooooo good. Although she didn't sleep, I was very impressed with her behavior. And apparently, so were a few others. As we landed, people told me how well she did and how they didn't even hear her! I wasn't sure what to expect, seeing as how the first time she flew was at 19 months old. Another nice thing... because we had to move to different seats, the flight attendant was very accommodating the entire flight, asking us how we were doing - if we needed anything. I think she felt bad for us! At one point she even gave Kennedy AirTran 'wings'. Kennedy liked that!

We landed in LAX -- a CRAZY busy airport -- around 11am. I was carrying everything, including her heavy car seat. I had no hands to hold hers, so I was very nervous and told her to stay in front of me where I could see her. Of course that didn't work... she didn't know where we were going! Eventually I stopped to move everything around to free a hand. Finally, smooth sailing. Zack, Sheena and Taylor picked us up and we were on our way to Tulare! (about a three hour drive with traffic)

From the moment we walked in the door, the girls were BEST friends. Taylor headed straight for her dress up clothes where they could be 'Cinderella and Aurora'. Decked out in their princess gear and enough lip gloss on their lips to survive the next few winters, they played the night away. Sheena and I really enjoy watching them play so well together. This morning Kennedy woke up on Milwaukee time (5am) and couldn't wait for Taylor to get up and play with her! It was adorable. Their conversations are ADORABLE. Neither of them have 'girl' friends their age, so it's very sweet watching them interact. Sheena loves it so much, she keeps telling us to 'just move out here!!'. I love the Searcys :)

My Little Love Bug

Yesterday Kennedy and I went grocery shopping and she said she had a secret to tell me. So I leaned in and she whispered with a huge smile on her face, "Mommy, I love you a whole bunch!" Of course my heart melted right there in the store... what a sweetheart!! She loves to tell me secrets. "You're my best friend!" is another heart melter. Today she told me "I want to go for a walk!" She cracks me up!

Although she has a very big heart, a little attitude came with the package deal. I noticed she was pushing my buttons more often. I used to get really frustrated with her... but then I realized her anger and frustration comes out just like Mommy's does! EEEKS! We don't need two of me in this house! haha So I knew right away I had to stay calm and discipline in a different tone. Now instead of getting worked up, I explain in a calm manner that she needs to do "so and so". I give her a warning and tell her that next time she gets to sit on her bed for a three minute time out. I found that the time out on the bed works better than the corner. Then I come back and have her tell me why she was put in the time out. She apologizes, we hug and kiss, and then we go play again! My attitude changing really helped her attitude. Don't get me wrong, she still pushes my buttons! But she's getting better. Actually, I've noticed that she is whining more! I cannot handle whining. It's the WORST THING EVER. We're working on that too...

Every age has it's ups and downs. At three (for us anyway), there are way more ups then downs and I'm thankful for that! Kennedy is a caring, sweet, loving little girl and Jon and I are soooo proud of her!! We're so blessed! :)