We are still HERE!!

Phew....well I have gotten way off the blog bandwagon. So sorry for those Kies Family followers who have been checking to continually see the 'Tinkerbell' post.   It just seems other things have been more important than the blog lately. I've also been on a bit of a photo hiatus!!  So as you glance through all the wooded family pictures I think you'll find some cute ones of the kids. We had our neighbor take these family photos last week.  I think most of them turned out great.  They are taken at the quarry just down the road from our house....I had no idea this great photo space existed.  I love how she was able to capture the reflection of the trees in the water.  The kids did a fairly good job of cooperating with Kim and she showered them with candy when they fulfilled her directions!!  Hey, it works!  My favorites are of both Kennon and Maddox together and solo. Great expressions on Kennon's face!!

Flowers from my garden...they are loving this cool fall weather!!  So pretty!! 

The next set of pictures are just sort of random ones. Eric and I were lucky enough to catch a Hawkeye game at Kinnick the end of September.  Thanks to Grandma Jean and Grandpa Jim for coming over to watch the kiddos!! They were even brave enough to take both the kids to the Family Museum for a special Dance Day AND they even made at stop at McD's for lunch before coming home for naps!! What a totally cool special treat. So glad they got to enjoy the day with them. Eric and I made a quick stop at Scheels as the game was a total blow out. I picked up these cute hair bands and have already gotten a fair amount of use out of mine. Maddox isn't so keen on hers..but I have started French braiding her hair quite a bit which she doesn't seem to mind.  It is just the right length to get two small ones in.   She is looking soooo old and is growing up. 

I think Kennon is thinking 'what is that silly thing on your head?'

But, to give him a little credit...he is fresh up from a nap here...!!  That kid loves his afternoon nap...sometimes 3 hours!

My favorite Quad City Art Fair, Riverssaince was the same weekend as the Hawkeye game as well as the same weekend that Eric and I decided to throw the Quad City Half Marathon into our schedule. After the 1/2, Maddox and I loaded up and headed for the fair while Kennon and Eric hit Lowe's for a guys trip. Maddox was exquisitely well behaved, enjoyed the sun, art and playground, danced with me to the live Jazz music, and painted in the kid's art tent. Kennon was apparently blessed with the same great attitude. Eric said he thought they were going to hire him as 'store manager' before they left. He just smiled and waved and greeted everyone that came near their shopping cart. I think it is really important to bank in 'solo' time with the kids. They really need to know they are each individually special.  

Maddox and I soaking up the 70 degree sun while she played her little heart out at the playground nearby the festival. I just sat and enjoyed the Jazz music and watcher her little smile as she found new friends to play with each time a new family come over. 

Random fun time in the tree house after nap!!

Not sure how many of you know but Great Grandma Berg was transferred from her assisted living facility to a nursing home back in mid September.   She is now on hospice but has been doing sort of ok  but seems is on the downhill slide the last couple of days per reports from Papa Dick.  The kids, Eric and I drove up to see her new abode ie ROOM a couple of weeks ago. Luckily it was a beautiful fall day AND there is a playground right behind the nursing home.  The kids had a ball but more importantly Great Grandma's face lit up when she saw the kids!!  She was so happy to see them.  We stayed till we had ridden every wheelchair and made a 100 laps up and down the hallway!!  The kids were good but the four walls of the building closed in rather quickly post the 1.5 hour mark or so.  The extremely friendly staff LOVED the energy of the kids and we even got to see the therapy dog!! We topped off the visit with a nice dinner with Papa Dick at California Pizza Kitchen. We are planning another trip up to visit Grandma this weekend!! She is going to be 94 the end of the month!! PHEW!

We met our friends the Wentlands at the Quad City Balloon festival the last weekend in September. It was too windy for the balloons to actually launch but they still blew several of them up for the balloon glow as it got dark.  The kids really got a kick out of them and enjoyed playing with the Wentlands and some of their neighbors.  Little Kennon was a crazy fool kicking their football around...yes kicking.... he kinda had the wrong ball but he didn't seem to mind. The kid is SOOO much more sports inclined than Maddox. Speaking of Maddox and sports.... she has her last soccer game this weekend.  I"m sure she isn't too sad ;)  But she has actually improved.  Her last game she threw the ball in a couple of times ( you know you have to throw it in when it goes out of bounds....or at least I think that is one of the rules...) and she did actually kick it once or twice as well.  Eric has remained a sort of assistant coach and is out on the field with Coach Ken the entire game. This has inevitably helped Maddox to be less fearful.  We are really proud of her and praise her for stickin' it out!!  Way to go Maddox. .......but look out next year....Kennon is gonna run the ball all over the field!! 

I snapped this picture at the park after I picked the kids up from Kindercare a couple of weeks ago. It was a beautiful day and the sun was just right. I just love his little toothy/tongued smile!!

So I have jumped on the Frozen Yogurt bandwagon....and the kids have benefited from my love as well. We have our favorite spot called Peachwave!! It is really close to the house and always has some of our favorite flavors. Kennon really has no idea of all the choices of candies behind that wall!! For now he is happy to just have whatever Maddox gets which is sprinkles gummy bears and usually a gummy worm...depending on her mood.  Although really Kennon is happy with spinkles. He doesn't seem to be all that interested in those frozen hard  gummy things ( I'm with you Kennon!!).  Kennon always asks for chocolate and Maddox vanilla. Speaking of worms...my daughter who doesn't like to get dirty came to the slider on Monday with a dirty hand FULL of worms asking to bring them inside!!! WHAT.... what happened to my Maddox? She loves worms! and doesn't seem to mind to get her hands dirty to explore them.  I happily gave her a napkin to put them on and shoooed her outside. She was as happy as a lark....worms and all!

Eric and Uncle Brian

Last weekend we added an annual St. Louis trip to our race calendar. Sunday Eric, Brian and I ran the inaugural Go! St. Louis Halloween Half Marathon. It was a fun race and definitely a 'MUST' for next year.  We love to go to St. Louis and are already planning our Spring trip for the Go! St. Louis Family weekend half.  Maddox and Kennon love to visit with Aunt Diane, Uncle Brian, and Cousin Hannah. This year we took a trip to the 'Lehigh Lane' corn patch ( ie Ed and Kathy's garden...Ed and Kathy are Brian and Diane's fabulous neighbors).  They let Diane hide a couple of pumpkins for the kids to find as well as we got to pick apples and pears right off their trees!  The kids had a blast! We only chuckled when Maddox asked why there was a price tag on her pumpkin she had just picked from the pumpkin patch??  Don't get much past her anymore. Anyhow we had a great weekend!! Thanks to the Gillaspies for hosting us as usual and congrats to Eric on his blazing time and to Uncle Brian for taking more than 15 minutes off of his last 1/2 marathon time.  I however blew out my hamstring during my last 11 mile training run a couple of weeks ago so I brought up the rear but was still really happy with my time! 

On our way home from St. Louis we stopped in Keokuk to see Grandma Doris. The kids are always happy to see Grandma Doris and ride her red tricycle and play with her old metal type John Deere tractors. Kennon must have crawled more than a mile around her circle type home.  We got to see Aunt Lora, Aunt Lori, Uncle Jim, Uncle Brian and most importantly cousin Kelby!!!  Kelby is almost the same age as cousin Hannah and Maddox worships the 'older girls'!!  So glad we were able to see everyone!! I didn't get any pictures of the kids with Grandma Doris but the above and below grasses are from a park nearby Doris' house.  I LOVE the color and am already thinking where I can put them in our landscaping. Doris has a HUGE flower bed up a Rand Park ( the main park in town near her house) that she is sort of in charge of. She showed me all her work and we talked about how to prepare all the plants for the winter.  I could have stayed there chatting all morning about all the different and familiar plants but the scream of Kennon from the playground area lured me away :) 

Kennon finding his pumpkin in the pumpkin ( IE corn stalk) patch!!

Uncle Brian and Maddox and her find.

So let's see what else is happening!!  We have made it through a couple of colds/fevers both of which impacted our weekend plans  ( had to skip our planned Hawkeye game with the Knowles family and had to delay our St. Louis trip by one day). But, we are doing well now. I just expect that between like October and March at any moments notice we'll be sick in some fashion.... the beauty of a daycare center.   Kennon is really developing a little personality.  He is very mischievous and gives us these little devilish grins every now and then. He definitely knows how to push his big sis's buttons.  They play totally well some times and other times not so well. We had a new TV installed today in the basement so I"m looking forward to pulling out all the toys they haven't seen in a while and hanging out in the basement for shows and football games!! Work for me is still crazy busy and really a drag lately. In fact we are moving towards me not working at VNA hopefully in the very near future.  It has gotten really pretty bad.  Kennon and Maddox are really loving Church School.  Maddox got to make homemade applesauce today. Her teacher told me as I waited to pick her up today that she was the best operator of the apple, peeler, corer slicer thingy. She said the other kids had a hard time turning the handle but she jumped in and went to town!!  She has been doing a special cooking class at Kindercare too.  Last week they made pumpkin soup!! It is just like 5 kids and a teacher and pull out special deal on Friday mornings. She loves to cook.  Kennon....well.....all's I'll say is we are still in the thick of potty training......and still doing a lot of laundry!! Enough said.  You'll get it soon buddy!! 

Maddox's Tinkerbell 4th Birthday Party



Maddox got a light up/singing Tinkerbell birthday card from Aunt Kelly!! She absolutely loved it and by the end of the night had actually learned the words to the entire song. ( and so had we :)  Kennon thought it was pretty cool.  That Aunt Kelly knows just the right stuff to purchase. 



Boy did we have a fabulously great weekend and the weather was SO perfect for all the festivities.  The Knowles family joined us Friday evening so the cousins got to get their groove on Friday night and play around a bit together. We managed to get all 4 kids down and then Tyler, Brooke, Eric and I were able to enjoy in some good ol' adult conversation and adult beverages!!   ( after Brooke and I hand crafted the Tinkerbell wings) . I am so thankful they are close by to be able to get together so easily now.  Love my little bro and what a special friend I have in Brooke.  Most of you know we had decided on the Tinkerbell theme for Maddox's party, directed by Maddox.  Before we went to bed Friday night we started talking about Tinkerbell visiting the Kies house (  this was sort of ploy to get them to go to bed and maybe Tinkerbell would come in the middle of the night). So after we got the kids down Brooke and I put together the wings for the Pin the Wings on Tinkerbell game. I am not crafty and Brooke claims she isn't either but I'd say our wings turned out pretty darn cute. We positioned them high above the kitchen table and when the kids woke up Saturday morning they were excited to see that 'Tinkerbell' HAD been thereto deliver the wings!! They were super excited.  We loaded up for Maddox's soccer game. I was hoping that having Aunt Brooke, Carter and Uncle Tyler present would sort of coax Maddox into playing the game but she is going to take her own sweet time with that part of her soccer experience. She does great during all the drills but then just gets scared for the game part. She did actually keep her feet on the ground during the game this week as compared to week one where she spent much of the game time up in Eric's arms. So hey, we are making progress.  Tinkerbell came again while the kids were taking their much needed afternoon naps.  She spread her Fairy dust on the table in letters  shaped to spell MADDOX!   It was pretty cool and the kids were excited to see she had visited again.  I kinda felt at that point that a Grand Entrance from someone dressed as Tinkerbell would have put the icing on the cake but I didn't really formulate that in my plan ahead of time.  As it was, the kids had a good time playing Pin the Wings on Tinkerbell,  hot potato, reading books with Aunt Diane and eating pizza and cake. We had the neighbor girl Priya over to join in the festivities.  It seemed like everyone had a great time.  Thanks to all the travelers who made the trip over and showered Maddox with wonderful Princess themed gifts. We are so lucky to have everyone so close by to join us.  

Aunt Diane playing Hot Potato with Maddox Priya and Carter..!! The kids have been loving that game...  what a good choice Pap Dick.  

Hot Potato

Our homemade Pin the Wings on Tinkerbell game. If you look closely you can see Tinkerbell under the wings!!   Aunt Brooke and I put together the wings Friday evening after the kids went to bed but we have Aunt Diane to thank for the great idea of pipe cleaner and tooling wings!! 

Tinkerbell left Fairy Dust in the shape of 'Maddox' on the kitchen table while the kids were all taking their naps!!

Maddox's favorite food: Orange Melon ( cantaloupe ) and TRI colored pasta

Maddox's favorite toy:  Baby Doll and stroller 

Maddox's favorite color: Pink Purple and Yellow

Maddox's favorite past time: Dancing and twirling in the living room with your little brother to Friday Night Dance Party music

What does Maddox want to be when she grows up: Tinkerbell or Cinderella

Maddox, you continue to surprise us each day with your thoughtfulness and occasional kind loving actions to your friends and little brother Kennon.   You are very sensitive and need lots of re assurance in new situations. We are excited to see you learn the new game of soccer but are not surprised by your timid  and fearful personality for the majority of the game.  You still take afternoon naps usually about 1 to 2 hours long and if you don't get your nap...LOOK OUT...you can be kind of crabby.  You hate to be woken up ( by your brother) in the middle of your sleep cycle. You are a great sleeper and require a lot of sleep.  Your teachers at Kindercare tell us you are 'so smart' and well behaved.  You make us laugh each time you and your brother dance and twirl like crazy fools  around the living room.  You love to read books to your baby dolls and to your little brother Kennon and display lots of 'teacher like' qualities.  We love you to pieces Maddox and are excited to see what you have in store for your next year of life. Happy 4th Birthday. 

Kennon getting his hand on a little frosting before the cutting of the cake!

Kennon had his first official DRY day at Kindercare yesterday. We were happy to learn that there are a couple of boys that have now started potty training.  So the teachers said that will help!!  He has been totally waking up dry in the morning WITHOUT waking him at 2am to go now. I usually just wake him up when I go to bed about 10.30pm and then he makes it the rest of the night waking about 5:30-6 yelling in the hallway ( also waking up Maddox...gggrrrr) 'Daddy I have to go potty'. Eric wakes from a dead sleep and rushes down to help into onto the potty.  We are so proud of him!!  He is a talking fool.  Just in the last week he is literally stringing together  5 to 6 words at a time and is really finding his own in communicating with us.  He and Maddox are starting to play in the basement SOLO while I am upstairs WITHOUT pulling each other's hair out.  They play school and baby doll with Kennon being the baby doll and Maddox being the mom, of course.  She even helped him go poop today....not sure how all that went down but they were both so excited to run upstairs to tell me that  Kennon had told Maddox he needed to go poop and she apparently helped him fulfill the task in the basement toilet unbeknownst to me.  Uncertain how the whole wiping experience worked itself out but I didn't see any carnage so they must have handled it ok.  

All the cousins....Maddox baby Reid, Hannah, Kennon and Carter

We got back the kids pre-school professional pictures taken by Our Savior. If you'd like to see them go to www.kristingeertsphotography.com  Click on the 'full screen' link that is in the bottom left. Then go to 'proofing' top left.  Enter the password as below and then click on submit.    Oddly enough when Maddox and I were going through her class a boy on her soccer team named Carter showed up!! Carter is the coach's son and he TOO, despite being the coach's son, is pretty timid.  Maddox must not play with Carter at Our Savior all that much because she doesn't mention him and she did not even realize he was on her team....which is not surprising given the fact that both Carter and Maddox are generally hanging on their parents' legs :)  You'll figure it out soon guys!! 

Maddox's class password    MWAM6

Kennons's class password  MW4 

I think both of their pictures turned out pretty cute. 

So I got the advantage of Aunt Brooke's FLASH on her good camera.  Need to either get our good camera fixed or upgrade to a new one. The Iphone just doesn't take very good indoor pics. I think Maddox looks a ton like I did at her age in this picture  Reid looking a little hesitant...

Had to put this one in because I love CARTER's expression!! So funny! 

Maddox on the way to Church School on her birthday day. She got to decorate the yellow crown they sent home with her last week.  I tried to get her to write her own name and put a '4' but alls she really wanted to do was put stickers all over it!!