Christmas with Grandpa Bill and Uncle Doug

Linley loves her new maltese
Thayer's new Hummer

Yeah Strawberry Shortcake...her look is priceless

Cowboy and Cowgirl

Cosens' Christmas

We braved the weather Wednesday morning and made it down to Fort Scott to spend Christmas with my family. Despite several members being sick, my post-op recovery, the blizzard like conditions, we couldn't have had a better time with everyone.

Aunt Meg's back in KS
She has not put her Leapster down

Kip and Linley Christmas morning

Thayer hiding his numerous monster trucks

Showing off what was in their stockings

Santa's visit.

He ate all but 1 cookie and left a note
Brought Linley her Barbie 4 wheeler,

and Thayer's ATV, as he calls them.

1 big baby boy=abdominal hernia

Shortly after Thayer was born my once cute in belly button never went back in. Of course I thought it was just from my belly being stretched to it's limit with a big baby. Little did I realize it was a hernia and it wouldn't go away without surgical repair. It never bothered me much until recently when I had started running again and it was tender to the touch. A girl I work with looked at it and instantly stated it looked like a hernia because she had had a few. A hernia!! I'm only 28 and I thought I was in pretty darn good shape for having 2 kids. Well it didn't get better and was hindering me from exercising, so I made an appointment with a surgeon. Last Tuesday I went in for a minor procedure to repair my hernia and now post op look like I am 3 months pregnant!!! I don't remember signing up for this. Apparently the swelling will get better but not for 2 more weeks. At least surgery went well and my belly button is now back to being an iney(sp?).

Goodbye Diapers...Hello Briefs:)

This past week I had been home more than normal due to our office being closed, which sparked me to push the potty training with Thayer. Well after 4 days he is officially out of diapers!! I did not think I would ever get this excited about potty training, but the relief of not having to carry extras or making late night runs to the grocery store for diapers...makes me smile. Oh and the fact that we'll be saving money. I have to admit I am a wee bit sad, my baby is no longer a baby anymore. Guess I'll just have to hold out on my 2 younger sisters to fill my baby void.

Santa & Sleigh Ride

This year we started a new Christmas tradition; a visit to Santa, sleigh ride down Poyntz, and pizza with the Dunlaps. We had a great time. Linley sat on Santa's lap without any hesitation this year, Thayer on the otherhand wants to wait til next year. The sleigh ride was quite entertaining. The kiddos were silly and had to wave at every car that passed. Pizza at AJ's finished off our night and we can't wait til next year. On a side note, we have started potty training with Thayer and so far he's doing better than either of us expected. There are still accidents, but he is recognizing when he has to go which is a huge step!! I am so ready to be done with diapers.

Work Christmas Trip to KC

Due to the nasty weather that hit the Midwest on Monday night, our work Christmas trip to Chicago got cancelled. Instead we headed to KC Wednesday afternoon for some serious shopping and delicious food. We indulged ourselves at Cheesecake Factory after the mall and then headed back to our hotel for some great conversation. Thursday we got up and did some more shopping, braving the very cold temps, ate a late lunch and made it home in time to enjoy the evenings with our families. I absolutely love everyone I work with and can not believe how blessed my life is right now. Thanks girls and Dr. Barth for allowing me to be part of your team!

Brittany & I at the hotel
Denise & Cheryl at Cheesecake Factory

Carol, Joan & I at Cheesecake Factory

KSU Men's BB

We were fortunate to get last minute tickets to the Men's BB game last night against Fort Hays State. It turned out to be a good game even though it should have probably been a blow out on KSU's part. The kids got their popcorn and pop along with plenty of Willie sightings from our seats. All in all it was a great family night and KSU won!

We're ready for Santa.

Thanksgiving 2009

This year we had 3 Thanksgiving dinners to attend and our first stop was Fort Scott with my family. The kids thoroughly enjoyed playing with the baby kittens, Ava and Sadie(dogs), playing hide and seek with their Aunt Maeci, and spending time with Papa and Nana. My mom, 2 of my sisters and I braved Walmart on black Friday. Thankfully we got a start on our Christmas shopping but we've got a ways to go before we are finished. Saturday we headed back for Thanksgiving dinner #2 with Kip's mom and family. Finally today we finished Thanksgiving dinner #3 with his dad's family. Even though I am beyond full of turkey, side dishes and dessert, we are very fortunate to be surrounded by family that we can spend the holidays with. The pictures are just a snapshot of our wonderful weekend.

" I don't want to be a big boy."

Recently we started trying potty training again with Thayer and this is a conversation we had.

Me-"Thayer, don't you want to try going on your soccer potty?"( trying to convince him)
Thayer-"No mom, I don't want to."
Me-"If you do you can wear underwear like Linley, Mommy and Daddy."( still trying)
Thayer-"I said I don't want to."(not going as I had planned)
Linley-"Don't you want to be a big boy like Daddy?"(she thinks she can do better than I can)
Thayer-"No, I'm not a big boy."( he's still not buying the coolness of using the toilet)
Thayer-"Mommy, why don't Daddy wear diapers?'
Me-"Because...they don't make diapers that big."(such a white lie, but this kiddo is working every corner)
Linley-"Daddy would look silly in diapers:)"( I'm beginning to lose it)
Thayer-"I don't want to be a big boy!" (stomps off and I lose...this battle is yet to be over)

Halloween 2009

Cutest candy giver

Pocahontas, Snow White and my 2 superhero's

Trick or treating in my parents neighborhood

Supergirl and Buzz Lightyear...to the rescue

This year we took the kids down to my stomping grounds, Fort Scott for Halloween. Ufortunately Thayer and I woke up Saturday morning not feeling the greatest. After some cough medicine and much needed rest, we were almost up to par. Linley had a great time helping 2 of my sisters get ready for Halloween parties. Kip and I took her out trick or treating early while Thayer slept. She enjoyed handing out candy at my parent's house, which gets so many trick or treaters that they run out of candy every year. Thayer did venture out but
wasn't into it as much as Linley. Sunday was such a beautiful day that we grilled for lunch and the kids got to sit on Uncle Dustin's 3 wheeler...Thayer was in heaven. Between the candy meltdowns and some of us not feeling the best, I think it is safe to say we had our fill and are glad Halloween is over!

Dressing up is fun to do!

Superhero's to the Rescue...

I took the kids trick or treating in Aggieville tonight and boy did they make out with a huge stash. Kip met up with us just in time to watch the Homecoming parade and enjoy Chipotle afterwards. This week KSU has had Homecoming festivities going on and will end tomorrow with the home game against Colorado. We will be attending the game and hope the kids make it without getting too wiggly.

Waddell and Reed

A few months back I was asked to be part of a marathon relay team. For those of you who don't know I ran a half marathon a year after Thayer was born and it wreaked havoc on my body. Thus I had not been running much and found other ways to incorporate cardio in my workout routine. I was nervous about committing to run a leg for the relay but I also thought this would be my chance to see if my body could take running again. After weeks of training and slowly getting back into running, I felt really good about this race. Friday afternoon we left for KC and graciously my sister offered up her house for us to stay in:) A dinner at Macaroni Grill and crazy conversations with the girls and we were all geared up for a great race Sat. morning. The weather was perfect, a little chilly but little wind and no rain. Our team ran amazing and came in with a time of 3:33. We finished 7th out of 107 teams and I was so grateful these gals took a chance on me and allowed me to be part of their team...it was awesome!

Aunt Lauren's Bday!

While we were in Fort Scott we also helped my sister Lauren celebrate her bday with some delicious food and cake. We are so fortunate that most of our family lives nearby and the kids are close to their aunts and uncles. Happy 20th Lauren!

Pumpkin Patch

We made the trip down to visit my family. While we were in Fort Scott we took the kids to a local pumpkin patch and came back with 4 pumpkins to carve. The kids enjoyed themselves in the bounce house, corn crib, corn maze as well as taking a ride on a mini tractor train. It was a perfect day out Saturday and KSU ended up with a win!!

Change in our house.

We purchased a bunk bed for the kids off craigslist this past week. It has been the best purchase. We let them each pick out their own bedspread along with wall stickers that help make the space their own. They had a blast putting the stickers up and both slept in their own bunk all night long!! Pictures to come soon. I have to admit I slept with one ear open due to Linley having the upper bunk, but we pretty much barracaded her with pillows. For any of you parents that are debating whether or not to purchase a set of bunk beds, it was the best decision on our end!

Livingroom Jam Sessions.

Rockstars in the making.