The calm before the virus

Hello, I thought I would take a few minutes a post some new pictures of the girls. We've had a pretty yucky week around here, with each one of us having some type of virus. But prior to the girls getting sick, and then passing it to me and Brian..we decided to let them play in the pool... Bella is the other little girl in the pictures; shes almost 9 mths old and I watch her 3 to 4 days a week...

Here are a couple of pictures and outtakes trying to get a good one of the both of them..if you only knew how hard that was!!

We have STANLEY

Tonight the Detroit Red Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins to bring the Stanley Cup back home to Detroit. We were in our room watching the after party when everyone was drinking from the Stanley Cup and Kara left and went into her room....



She looked at me and said "Cup" and then started to drink from it and clapping. I taught her to say "DETROIT" ...It was a great moment to capture in photos!!!

CONGRATS TO THE DETROIT RED WINGS!! WAY TO GO BOYS!!!

Sunday, we took the girls to the Toledo Zoo. We got up early, and arrived as the zoo opened, we got a great parking spot and was able to enjoy alot of the zoo before it got busy (after lunch). I had found on their website that they do picnic lunches that you can preorder. I thought for the $34 I would give it a try. I was amazed at the time the put into them. The Adult lunches came with A lunch meat sandwich on a sub type bun, a cup of coleslaw, a bag of chips, large sodas, and a cup of fresh fruit. The Girls lunch came with a lunch meat sandwich on white bread, and then they got their own little souvenir's lunch boxes to bring home and they had raisins; juice box; and a bag of pretzels. (I have pictures of that in the slide show). We also ran into Brian's Sister and Nephew at the zoo... and Jenna said "Who let Tina in the zoo?" The Girls also got caricature pictures drawn.


Kara was overly tired and wasn't in the best mood, so I think hers isn't as reflect of her and Jenna's is. We spent five hours there and was not able to get to the gorilla portion of the zoo, so I think we are going to go back soon. After everything was said and done, we were able to put our admission towards a membership, so now we can go as often as we like for free. We asked Jenna what her favorite part of the zoo was and she said "My favorite part of the zoo, was spending the entire day with my family"....that sums up my feelings too.

We've got friends from low places...well southern places

I don't know how many of you know the history of me and Brian, and since this blog isn't about the two of us I will keep it real short. We worked together at Best Buy back in 1996 & 1997 and started dating in Feb 97'. While working at Best Buy we had friends who were also dating Scott & Brenda. After leaving Best Buy we lost touch with them, never forgot about them..but just lost touch. Through the mircle of modern technology IE: Facebook. We were reconnected w/ them about two months ago, they have since then gotten married also, and had two beautiful girls 3 Year Old Ameila and 8 month old Mikayla. Scott was able to make a quick trip to MI for a couple of days over the holiday..even though we missed Brenda...he and the girls met us for lunch. We had a great time with them and can't wait until they are up again!

Beware I can now transfer video!!

I just got a new computer which allows me to take videos from my camcorder and transfer them to my computer.... here is the 1st of what I can only imagine as many installments.

Jenna meeting Kara Jean at the hospital the day she was born. March 19, 2006

Kites!

I have come to the conclusion that the most expensive toys aren't always the best...check out how much we had with $5 kites from Wal-mart!!

Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let's go fly a kite
And send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite
Let's go fly a kite!

Congrats Uncle Jim

My older brother Jim got married this weekend..and we are very glad that Glennda (My new sister in law) and Mary Kate (my new niece..now I have 2) are in the family!!!!

My mom had to miss the wedding due to a nagging cough and cold, but us kids got a chance to get our picture took with my dad.... heres a picture of the last formal family picture of us three kids and then the one from the wedding..

lft to right (Tommy, Jimmy, Me, and Dad)


lft to right (Dad, Mom, Tommy, Jimmy, and Me)
I would say this was taken 1978ish

(sorry the boys will always be Tommy and Jimmy..It takes effort to refer to them otherwise)

Spring is in the air....

Girls are made of
Sugar and Spice
and EVERYTHING nice
That's what little girls are made of!!!

With yet another gorgeous, I thought I would take more pictures of the girls playing outside. Both of my girls think that outside is the best, and seeing them enjoy it the way they are, Mommy is thinking its not so bad. Kara I think could swing on the swing for hours, while Jenna is lucky to stay with a toy for a minute. It just proves that no to kids are the same, (even if the same ingredients went into the recipe) Brian and I are going to work on some spring yard cleaning this Sunday if the Weather holds up, so next week the girls can enjoy more of their yard!!

06, 07 and 08

I thought it would be fun to put in pictures from the last three Aprils..

2006

Jenna 3 1/2 yrs old; Kara 1 Month

2007

Jenna 4 1/2 yrs old; Kara 14 Months Old

2008

Jenna 5 1/2 yrs old; Kara 2 Yrs Old

Springtime!!

Today was a beautiful day, and both girls wanted to go outside. So when Brian called to let me know he was on his way home from work, we thought we would go out and wait for daddy! Turned out to be a wonderful thing. Both girls enjoyed themselves. Sorry there isn't alot of pictures of them looking at the camera..but like Jenna said "I don't want to take pictures mommy, I want to play."

Happy Easter

Good Morning, while I have everything started downstairs for dinner tonight I thought I would take the time and go ahead and post the pictures of the girls Easter morning.

The girls are going to have an Easter Egg hunt this afternoon once our company gets here..it will be Jenna, Kara and Chris & Kristen's son James (3 yrs old) and Melissa and Marks daughter Ashlee (1 yr old) decorating their Easter pales and then finding the eggs I am sure pictures will be taken and posted here afterwards! I hope everyone has a blessed and wonderful Easter.


Take the time to enjoy the time with the family & friends who by heart are family!!

Comparison Shoot!!! Kara Jean

March 2006 - Kara Jean Newborn

March 2007 - Kara Jean 1st Birthday Party

March 2008 - Kara Jean 2nd Birthday Party

Thank You!

I would like to Thank all of Kara's vistors that came today to help her celebrate her 2nd birthday... Grammy, Papa, Mammaw, Pappaw, Aunt Tina, Kristen, Chris, James, Kerry, Dave, Grace and Aunt Kathy. We enjoyed spending time with all of you and Thank you so much for all the fun gifts!!! Here is the slide show from today!!