my brother...

Today he turns 33....CRAZY!

I ruined one of his birthday's....I think it was his 21st birthday....he woke up to a note that looked something like this....

Russ,

I am sick of picking up all your crap.

Clean it up before you go to bed.

Love, Carey

Yeah, that is for real...On his birthday I said, "I am sick of picking up all your crap"

I scored major sister points on that day....Way to ruin a birthday Carey.

This time I won't ruin his birthday, I'll just let him remember the one I did ruin.

Russ, I love you, I love seeing you love on your family, I love seeing how you provide for them.  Thank you for protecting me when I was a kid and watching out for me.  You are the best big brother a girl could have...

Today....

Abby woke up babbling in her crib...Loved that.

A present in the mail!

From Sam and Elli!

Nursery

Abby went in the nursery at church for the first time today!  She was a champ and fell right asleep in the swing...

She isn't a huge cuddler...

Except when it comes to cuddling with daddy....

Happy Father's Day

Abby is blessed with a pretty incredible daddy....

For Father's Day this year Steve was surprised with....
1. Some "Dad's Root Beer"  (see picture)

2. Some books to read to Abby
3. A blanket for Abby using his old uniforms
4. and....Tickets to a TIGERS GAME at COORS FIELD!  The tigers got killed, but it was still fun to be there...We went on Friday.  The game on Sunday (real father's day) Tigers beat the Rockies...so, I guess that counts, right?

Talking to Friends

Corbin came over one  night for about 20 minutes and he loved talking to Abby.  I haven't quite figured out how to  edit videos, but if you fast forward about 30-40 seconds you will hear them talking to one another!  It's hilarious!

Thankful for a morning at home

Today it is rainy and cold outside and these mornings I am so glad to be at home, drinking my coffee and waiting for the sweet baby to wake up....While I am waiting, I figured I would download my iphone pictures and update the blog....

On a walk with some friends, Abby is loving her carrier....

At the eye doctor with daddy...Abby's eyes are perfect!

A rock star

Happy as can be!

 Her new blanket!

So proud to be "sitting up"

At Salsa Brava...We had a showing on our house and had to be "out of the house" from 5:30-6:30.  So, for dinner we split a plate at Salsa Brava.  When the waitress came to bring us our check she said, "Oh, to let you know, your bill has been taken care of.  Someone saw you in uniform and wanted to thank you for your service, I don't know who they are, but my manager told me to let you know everything is taken care of so enjoy your night..."  Wow, we were so blessed! Thank you random stranger!  You have no idea how much that made our night!

Abby didn't get any chips and salsa but she LOVED Daddys thumb.

A buy one get one free for father's day from Qdoba...Plus, two free military drinks!  Dinner for $6!

Abby is up now, currently tooting in my lap....Guess I better go change her diaper!

Babbles

I think is is more for us than for her...She always talks when I do this and it cracks me up!

She laughs!

Paintball

Thanks James for getting married, the guys had so much fun!

She holds things

If Abby had a best friend, it would probably be Alice.  Whenever Abby goes over there Alice "gives" her all her favorite things...Like, when they are in the car together and Abby is crying, Alice tries to soothe her by giving her a pacifier, a baby doll, or her water cup.  Abby is happy to have friends as sweet as Alice.

This day, Alice thought Abby would enjoy all her cups.  Melissa captured the pictures of Abby HOLDING the cups!  She now holds toys and we have proof!  Pretty soon I won't be able to eat dinner with her on my lap because she will be grabbing everything!

Pacifier and rolling over

Yesterday Abby was crying in her crib...I went to go check on her and found her rolled over on her tummy!  (We always put her down on her back....)

Today at Melissa's she held a cup up to her face like she was drinking....

She also put her pacifier in her mouth by herself.

And, we read FIVE books before bed.

This kid is learning like crazy!

Just a few things....

Since Abby has been born we have been monitoring her closely to make sure she is doing "everything a baby is supposed to do..."

To let you know....
1. At the NICU they were worried she wouldn't be moving her left side like she should....she is moving it just fine now.
2. The PT was worried about her looking to the left as she preferred to look to the right, she looks to both sides now.
3. Her PT was also worried about her because she was "clenching"  She held her hands in tight to her body...Now she extends them just fine.
4. We were worried about her eyes as she was cross eyed when she was born...She also seemed to have one eye "lag behind"...We went to the eye doctor today and her eyes are perfect.

It is incredible to me to see the ways she is growing and developing and see how strong she is.  God really knew what he was doing when he made this baby girl....

Delicious Scones

Figured I would share here..

Simple Scones

8 cups all purpose flour

1 1/3 cups sugar

1 Tbsp and 1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp soda

2 cups unsalted butter, FROZEN

2 cups sour cream (I use non fat flavored or unflavored yogurt)

4 large eggs

2 cups dried fruit or chips

1) Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 400 F.

2) In a medium bowl, mix flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Grate butter into flour mixture on the large holes of a box grater; use your fingers to work in butter (mixture should resemble coarse meal), then stir in raisins.

3)  In a small bowl, whisk sour cream and egg until smooth.

4) Using a fork, stir sour cream mixture into flour mixture until large dough clumps form. Use your hands to press the dough against the bowl into a ball. (The dough will be sticky in places, and there may not seem to be enough liquid at first, but as you press, the dough will come together.)

5)  Place on a lightly floured surface and pat into a 7- to 8-inch circle about 3/4-inch thick. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tsp. of sugar. Use a sharp knife to cut into 8 triangles; place on a cookie sheet (preferably lined with parchment paper), about 1 inch apart. Bake until golden, about 15 to 17 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and serve warm or at room temperature.

Flavoring options:

Cranberry-Orange Scones:  Follow the recipe for Simple Scones, adding a generous tablespoon of finely grated orange rind (zest) to the dry ingredients and substituting dried cranberries for the raisins.

Lemon-Blueberry Scones:  Follow the recipe for Simple Scones, adding a generous tablespoon of finely grated lemon rind (zest) to the dry ingredients and substituting dried blueberries for the raisins.

Cranberry or Cherry-Almond Scones:   Follow the recipe for Simple Scones, adding 1 tsp. almond extract to the sour cream mixture and substituting dried cherries or cranberries for the raisins.

Chocolate Chip Scones:  Follow the recipe for Simple Scones, adding 2 cups of chocolate chips for the raisins.

A couple notes from parents....

So Sarah read a book tonight about second grade. Everywhere the teachers name was in story she changed it to mrs. Klenke, :)



For igniting such a FIRE in Mason to read and write!!! He stays up until his eyes BURN... (He says..) Reading and writing...and "pulling" things out of sentences! He is on a MAD...mission to finish his Brain Quest 1st grade notebook..and says he will stay up until its done by tomorrow! OMG... Thus...he was late today!!
You were such....a WONDERFUL teacher to him!! We are SO... grateful and blessed you were his teacher this year! I was so amazed how well you handled this year with all you had going on in your life... And what a blessing Mrs. Van Wie was to you.. Your absolutely right..,she didn't miss a beat. Mason is going to have a hard time saying good bye to you tomorrow..so I will be prepared with lots of kleenex as he's a crier.. :(::::



Carey - The XXXX  family and the school will miss you!  You have been a blessing to Kayla!!!

I have to tell you a cute story.  We were eating out the other night and Kayla had a menu/color sheet she was working on while we were waiting for our meal.  The instructions said " Draw a picture of a treasure".  She started drawing a picture of a lady. 
Taylor asked her " Kayla, what are you drawing?" 
Kayla said" A picture of Mrs. Klenke, because it says draw a picture of a teacher"
Taylor said (in good old older sister corrective way :>) “ Kayla that says treasure, not teacher”
Without skipping a beat, Kayla quickly replied”  Taylor, she is both my teacher and a treasure to me so I can draw her picture here”

Jesse and I thought this was really cute and reflective of what a wonderful influence and teacher you have been on Kayla.  You will be truly missed!

Not a Teacher Anymore

Well, I officially resigned from my job....although my "job" is no longer a teacher, I will still teach...

I will tutor kids.
I will teach Abby everyday.
I will continue to learn.
I will continue to tell pre-teen kids at Barnes and Noble that it is inappropriate to be looking at the sex books.
I will correct kids when they don't address adults properly.
I will teach kids how to hold the door open for others.


Really, to sum it all up, I will call kids out on their junk...It takes a community to raise a child and I will do that.  Sorry for those of you who are offended by this :)  Also, I want others to do this for me...So, when Abby is a teenager doing inappropriate things (which, by the way, she won't be), you better call her out on it if I am not there!

One of my littles on the last day of school....With Pam, the best person to job share with...

A note that made my day

just a note to say again - you are a fabulous mama!

i love how you balance the routine with going with the flow.

i love how chill you are about the little things that aren't all that important, but put a lot of effort into the ones that do.

and i love how you've been seeking out ways to keep your marriage growing and good.

 

i am so dad gum thankful for you i don't have the words!

and i love abby!!

(when my days are low, I look at this...Thank you friend).

4 months old

Our sweet girl is four months old already!  It is hard to believe it has gone by so quickly.

A few "Abby things"
1. She is almost too long for her swing.

2. She loves being outside with the wind blowing on her face.

3. She is starting to laugh.

4. She started playing in her new "discovery center" and loves it!

5. Her cheeks are super chubby and so are her legs

6. She eats about every 4 hours

7. She is starting to grab toys

She has her 4 month check up tomorrow, an eye appointment on Friday (her pediatrician recommended it based on her history), and her last neurologist appointment in COS on Thursday.  It is a big week of doctor's appointments.  

And now for picture overload...I love this kid!

Happy Anniversary!

For our anniversary we were blessed by the Boltons who watched Abby and we headed over to HIKE THE INCLINE!

Happy Anniversary Babe!

You can call him Captain!

Steve's commander saying some pretty awesome stuff about Steve's career and accomplishments....

 Pinning on new rank!

 A picture with the baby :) She dressed up for the occasion.

 Taking the oath.

After his promotion we had some military friends come over and celebrate with us.  It was a fun BBQ and Abby was tuckered out!