Open House

So Kenzi's school had Open House on Thursday. It was funny in that I had to hang posters for PTA (Be a PTA board member!) and you could feel the anxiousness in the air before they let everyone in. But nonetheless, everyone seemed to have a good time and Kenzi was especially excited.

Here is what was at Kenzi's spot on her table.

This apparently is where the children can sit when it is time to read.

So the next class room we went to was the music room. I asked if Kenzi really hit her head with these tubes to which she said yes. Maybe that is why she runs in circles!!

This instrument looks a little less painful but it is definitely louder.
So there was a snack bar in the cafeteria to which I had Carter take Kenzi as I had to get back to the PTA table. It was a fun night and I was really happy to find how many people I recognized and knew. Later, Kari

Kenzi makes her own lunch!!!

So now that Kenzi is going to be a big sister She has made some strides towards maturing. One of the steps is that she decided that she would make her lunch. "Becuase big sisters need to know how to make their lunch!" So one miraculous morning, she woke up early eager to do so.

Here she is looking for the jam.

She is getting the frozen Go-Gurt and telling me it is cold.

This is the first time that she has put peanut butter on anything.

Her accomplisment! She was so proud of herself!

When my mom came to visit last she had Kenzi slice olives with a butter knife. I had not really thought about letting her use a knife beofre that but pretty much since then she uses it like a five year old would. Though everyday she gets better. She will be throwing them in no time!

I know this is not a life changing moment. However, I am so very thankful for Kenzi and am just amazed at how fast she is growing. I am even more thankful that she is SO excited to be a big sister! Enjoy! Kari

The rest of February...

So February seemed to have flown by in a blur! So here is the rest of the month!



Valentine's Day Party! Kenzi was so excited for her party and it is so GREAT that she gets excited that I come too. I really wonder how long that will last! But anywho, here is Kenzi handing out chocolate heart suckers to her classmates.
KEnzi digging to see what she got from her classmates. The children were beyond excited to open up the bags!

One of the parents had the brilliant idea of bringing chicken McNuggets. Every kid had them!

We brought a craft just in case the children had time after the valentines and food. And thank goodness. They were foam planes, which the kids seemed to like. Apparently Mackenzie thought it required some concentration!

And then... I thought maybe it wasn't such a good idea to do planes as the kids are running around the room and throwing the planes. And this is of course after the sugar!

Tuscon Arizona

So the REAL reason for the blur was our family traveled to Tucson Arizona on President's weekend. While we were there we went to the Children's museum. and Kenzi was in Heaven the whole time!
A life sized connect four.

A future "One of Texas' finest!"

Carter and Kenzi getting me ALL wet!

Kenzi going down the fireman's pole. The first time she was not to happy!

So it seemed that everytime I turn a corner in this place, I was saying "Oh I want a magnetic wall in our house! That is a great idea!" This was one of those moments!

Our artist. She is constantly bringing home pictures that she has painted or drawn for us.

The music room. Even Carter was getting into it. That is a flipflop he is using to cover PVC pipe. Pretty cool. Seriously things I had no idea about!

So probably the absolute CUTEST thing was they had a vets office. To which Kenzi jumped right in and made friends and helped sick animals. She even told Carter that his dog had to stay for ten days and have special food becuz it was struggling with his heart moving in his chest. Though the dog was all better when his ten days were up!

So in one of the rooms there was a pile of bean bags that I fell into and had to be pulled out of. But of course we had to have Kenzi take a picture first. Not bad, don't you think? I mean the picture taking!So hopefully this wasn't too long. Though you are probably most wondering about the visit with the birth mom. It went great and we are glad we made the trip. And the best part... She said she was still glad that she picked us! So not much time left until Steeler gets here! Thanks to everyone for the love and support! Later! Kari

100th Day of school

So earlier this month Mackenzie's kindergarten classes celebrated the 100th day of school. Mackenzie was so excited that in the morning when it was time to get out of bed and get ready for school she exclaimed "But I am already for school! I don't have to get dressed! I get to wear my pajamas!" Once I calmed her down she understood that getting ready for school meant all of the morning routine. She also got to take her unicorn to read to. So all in all, I think it was one of her favorite days! But of course I could not let her go to school looking like she rolled out of bed, hence the bows! Aren't her pj's cute?!?!? Enjoy! Kari

Sarasota & Jungle Gardens

So Kenzi and I met Carter in Sarasota for a trip to see Gram Mac. She was diagnosed with Astrocytoma. Which is an aggressive malignant brain tumor. We were able to see her before and after the surgery quite a bit. Needless to say that it was a stressful time for all of the family, we did what we could to take some breaks.

There are some shops by Gram Mac's house that has this cool fountain which Kenzi loved. Hence the fun pose! Gotta love that girl!

We went to the Jungle Gardens in Sarasota one day. This picture was before we got into the exhibit. Kenzi was all in!

Ms. Attitude is her name and apparently she lives up to it!

"No Daddy it really isn't going to be OK! That thing is LOUD!"

Take it fast mom!

And this is about where Kenzi was completely OUT! The rest of the day she was on edge. She wouldn't even try to feed to Flamingos!

OK, here Kenzi had a great time throwing in food for the Koi fish. She pretty much wanted to stay here and have lunch!

Me feeding the Flamingos while telling Kenzi to calm down after she ran about 15 feet away. Carter and I thought it was very cool. It actually tickled. Come to find out Kenzi was only used to the Flamingos behind the fences!

Kenzi chilling with me while Carter feeds the Flamingos.

Carter had one Flamingo scratching his back! He loved it so much that he wanted to bring a Flamingo home for a pet. Kenzi was NOT OK with that!

Family picture along the trail. We totally look like we are in a Jungle, right?

A bird show that Kenzi still needed to sit in the last row to watch. Though she thought it was fun and laughed at everything. She didn't want to get too close!

I totally would get a bird like this if it were remotely feasible! They are very cool!

Not to withhold information... Gram Mac recovered well from her surgery and now is home. She has a day and a night nurse and will be starting Chemo/radiation shortly. The conversations with her have been great and she is very lucid. So we are hoping that things will trend positively and I want to thank ALL of our family and friends who have kept us in your prayers! We feel your love and so appreciate the strength you are to us! Kari

A Snow day!

So we got our first snow of the winter season. It is always exciting when we get it. Though it is cold, people seem to get happy until it has been around too long. Which is about day 3! Kenzi was actually bummed that it did not snow on Christmas. She even said that today felt like Christmas. After church we changed our clothes and went outside to which Kenzi did not waste any time hitting me with a snowball.

The self portrait that we took because I always have to get pictures of those involved. Like my hair?
Kenzi making the requisite snow angel. To which she graciously did until I got the camera back to take a picture!

The requisite snowman and this time Kenzi helped. I told her that I would stop working when she stopped working. That is why it is smaller. Plus usually Carter does most of the work and heavy lifting. We missed you honey!

So after we got cold in the snow we came in and had hot chocolate and I put some more of the Christmas decorations away. I found this prezzi that Kenzi got from Gram Mac and asked her if she wanted to do it. She LOVES these things!

The top of the jewelry box done, now there are only four sides left! After dinner with our friends tonight she kept bugging me to continue on it, to which I had to say no. It was her bedtime. She did not like that at all, but what else is new! Anything to stall!

It is suppose to get into the teens tonight and possibly snow some more tomorrow. Kenzi got excited when Carter and I were talking possible snow day for the school. I had to remind her it was a maybe. We will see. Enjoy and talk to y'all later! Kari

Highlights of Christmas

So I know it is really Happy New Year, but I know y'all want to see Christmas! So Enjoy!

Our annual tradition of a family picture with the tree and our pjs. Unfortunately, you can't see, but Gramma B got to pick this year as she helps to make pjs for Kenzi and she got pants with hockey playing penguins! Pretty perfect right? And they are so comfy!

Kenzi ripping through her first present from Santa.

Dax guarding her prezzi from Santa while watching Georgia go to town on hers!

As previously said, Georgia going to town and not caring what we are doing!

"My Pillow Pet!" "It's so fluffy!"

Two of my most favorite people. If you look really hard at Kenzi's knee you can see the skating penguin!

It turned out to be a very Perry Christmas. Doesn't she look adorable! She received a few Phineas and Ferb shirts.

Carter trying to put together Kenzi's Zhu Zhu pet maze. It was not easy and Carter posted on FB those that package said toys have a special place you know where set aside for them! Though I have to say that this is pretty great from a parental point of view. The Guinea pigs are confined. No feeding or cleaning up after them! Win, win, win!

Thanks for reading! Later! Kari