Wisconsin 2009

Here are a few favorites from our recent trip to Wisconsin for the Denton/Schwalbe reunion. There are so many more to choose from so I will probably put a slide show together real soon!

Here is Kendall on her 3rd plane ride & not wanting to get her picture taken!

Isaac's first plane ride
Loving having all kinds of attention!

Of course all of the kids loved the bubbles

Great-grandma Schwalbe

Beach Family (Minus Judd)

Cousins reunited.....Kendall's best friend Gabrielle

Isaac loving being on the saddle

We all enjoyed a few turns on the tire swing at Gma Schwalbe's

Ben having his second childhood

Isaac wasn't too sure of the swing

Self-explanatory

Lake Michigan was COLD!!

Kendall and Isaac with our nieces

Saying goodbye to Uncle Daniel was SUPER hard to do!

Milwaukee airport had an awesome playroom for kids

Isaac had to conk out!

Blog hop...3 things you didn't know about me

***OK.....wow 3 things that you didn't know about me is going to be pretty hard since I am very much an open book! But I am going to give it a try :-)

1. We just got back in from Wisconsin last night around 1100 & instead of helping my husband feed our children I am up here on the computer in blog land. :-) I also have to get us ready for a farewell party this afternoon that I am procrastinating on!
2. I was convinced to do a scholarship pageant in college even though I am terrified of speaking in public. (Did I mention there was between 2500 and 3000 people there?) If I can find a picture I will post it later.
3. I think that once the kids are grown up and I don't have to worry about orphaning them that I would like to sky dive!

This week, on TUESDAY, 7/14/09, the theme is THREE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ME (or US). You can express this with photos, writing or a combination. Here is a sample I did: http://www.mcklinkyblog.com/2009/07/mcklinky-photo-blog-for-july-14-2009-3.html ... Do not change any part of this code except for text that falls between (and includes) the opening and closing asterisks. Between the asterisks is where you place your content. DO NOT CREATE A NEW MCKLINKY LIST. WE ALL USE THE SAME LIST. DO NOT CHANGE THE LIST ID BELOW. Be sure to enter your own link to your own blog post as soon as the blog hop starts! Link directly to your blog post, not just your blog.***

MckLinky Blog Hop" src="http://www.mcklinky.com/images/MckLinkyBlogHop.jpg" width=300 longDesc="http://www.brentriggs.com" height=98>

Off to Cedarburg

We are out the door today and on our way to see our Schwalbe/Denton side of the family! We can't wait to see y'all!

Just in time.....

We got Bug's pictures before we leave for Wisconsin. I hope that these will tide our loyal family and friends over until we return!

Kendall's 3 year portraits

(and my personal favorite)

10 months old

I simply cannot believe that Isaac is already 10 months old. The time really does fly even if it doesn't feel like it at the time!
Isaac is currently sick. (He goes to the docotor today but we are thinking ear infection.) We leave tomorrow for Wisconsin so I can imagine that a flight with a baby with an ear infection is going to be crazy!
He says Dada, mum-ma, and a few other syllables. He has mastered crawling and is into everything! He likes to tool around in his walker and pull up on things but will not move his feet to walk unless he is in the walker!
Isaac still has 2.5 teeth. (That first one has still not descended!) He like his big sister LOVES to brush his teeth.
Speaking of his big sister, Isaac lights up when he sees Kendall. Heaven help her she is going to have a little shadow here in the not too distant future!
Besides all of that, Isaac has an adorable little dimple that comes out when he smiles or giggles.

The only pictures from the 4th of July weekend

Ben trying to keep the kids entertained

A family walk on Thursday before I doubled as one of the couch cushions for the weekend.
We started off the weekend trying to mail Bethany's birthday present....after 2 unsuccessful trips their faces kind of sum up what I wanted to do!

Blog hop

One of my favorite pictures of Ben and I

I was very resistant to starting this blog because I was afraid that it would be hard but it has become such a fun journey for me. I love my family and friends so this is a fun and easy way to show them that. (Not to mention we have family and friends flung far and wide due to the Marine Corp so it makes it easy to keep everyone updated.) This is my first time participating in the blog hop so bear with me!

This week, on TUESDAY, 7/7/09, the theme is A FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH. Post up one of your favorite photographs and a caption that tells the audience about it. Here is a sample: http://mcklinky.blogspot.com/2009/07/mcklinky-photo-blog-on-tuesday-sample.html Do not change any part of this snippet of code except for this paragraph only.... replace the text that falls between (and includes) the opening and closing asterisks. Be sure to enter your own link to your own blog hop post as soon as the blog hop starts!***

The blog slacker

Hey all!
So long time no post....I ended up being way sick this past weekend so I had to bow out gracefully of putting anything creative up here. I am feeling better but my poor little buddy is feeling under the weather now.
We had a low key 4th with me being down on the couch or in the bathroom. Ben's friend Jared had invited us to a BBQ that we were planning on going to but obviously fell through the cracks. We sat on the front porch and watched the fireworks in the distance. Kendall was super excited and has requested that she have them at her next birthday party. What a girl!
Speaking of that little gal, Kendall had her 3 year well check up today. She did great esp since she got her BP done for the first time and a few other things. The PA rocked! I absolutely loved her & I am super glad that they have started getting some fresh blood in there. Kendall is 38 inches tall (80%) and is 31 pounds (75%). Healthy as a horse!
Speaking of horses....hee,hee. The animals had their well check-ups today as well. Geronimo is tipping the scales at 122, Jordan at 77, and Kahlua at 13 pounds. Now that our circus visit is done we are extremely grateful!
Let's see what else.....hmmmm that has me stumped so I am going to sign off for now!

"The way we get by"

The Way We Get By - Trailer from The Way We Get By on Vimeo.

I just came across this and wanted to share the movie trailer. I am sure that y'all have seen the commericals of the airport where the troops are greeted with salutes, hugs, free phones, etc. This happens in Bangor, Maine & they are making a movie about it. I am not sure how the movie will be but I know that every time I see one of those commercials I cry. Hope you enjoy the trailer!

Giving Thanks

As I was just sitting out on the yard swing this morning holding Kendall in my lap, I was thinking how peaceful I felt. I came inside to tackle the mounds of laundry that we had left over from the beach last week & started to get grumpy. So then I thought about it and decided I was going to be Thankful today.....

Thankful for....

• laundry left over from fun times with my family
• packing to go and see Ben's family in less than a week
• cleaning up MANY toys because it means that my kids are happy
• crawling babies (even though he is into EVERYTHING now) because it means Isaac is healthy & hitting his milestones
• odds and ends left out by my husband because he is here and not deployed or detached somewhere
• And as always my family and friends because you guys rock!
  
  

Birthday party & ChickFilA

Kendall had a very happy and blessed birthday! Thank-you to all for your well wishes, cards, presents, coming to her party, and for just being awesome friends! Here are a few pictures from her special few days.....

On her actual birthday Kendall got her 3 year portraits taken. (I will post those when they are available.) When asked where she wanted to go for lunch, she immediately said "I know....ChickFilA!"

Enjoying ice cream
Of course we had to play at ChickFilA too!

The pinata at Kendall's party....isn't it amazing that whacking your favorite character is a big part of children's bday parties?

Concentrating hard on getting those candles out!

Poor girl was so cold from the pool!

I think that the adults enjoyed the bouncy house just as much if not more than the kids!

Ben got me in action....his were too blurry!

Kendall and I have put this puzzle together a few times now. Thanks Sarah, Judd, & girls!

The infamous Dora cake!

Kendall not happy to have her picture taken before church and her party!