Halloween Fun ~ 2009

Here are a mixture of pictures from our Halloween this year. Such a fun time!

Krue and Lauren's Kindergarten class all dressed up!

Our Fun Fourth Month With Kai

We have had such fun with Kai this month. Her personality is still as sweet as can be... but becoming more vocal, which is scary and exciting all at the same time. If we aren't paying attention to her, she lets us know with a loud squeal that she is still there. When she makes eye contact with someone she lets out a squeal that sounds like "Hi". It is too cute.

During the month of October we took Kai on a vacation to Florida. Erin Thiele went along as our nanny to help out and give Lee and I a bit of a break. It was so nice! Kai was a perfect angel on the trip. She just went with the flow and didn't complain at all..

Here are some pictures of Kai at 3 months old... what a mix of temperature changes!

Kai relaxing in Florida... 90 degree weather!

In the ocean for the first time!

Kai loves the water!

Sleeping after the dip in the ocean. So sweet!

Back home in Indiana... playing on her playmat.

Festive for Halloween, visiting Baba and Papa Joe.

Talking to Baba

Ready for cool weather.

Having so much fun at 3 months old!

Medeira Beach, Florida ~ 2009

When Kai was born, Lee and I decided that we wanted to take a mini-vacation together somewhere. We thought that when Kai was 3 months old it would be a good time to go somewhere... we would still take her with us, but take help, and leave the boys at home. That is exactly what we did and it turned out to be an unbelievable trip!

From October 8th thru the 12th we vacationed at Madeira Beach, Florida with our best friends, Neal and Melanie Blythe. We took along Erin Thiele as our nanny to help with Kai. What a fun group it was! Here are some pictures from the trip...

At the Detroit Airport early in the morning, ready to fly to Florida!

Erin and Kai at the airport.
Kai was such a good baby the entire trip!

Eating at Buba Gumps at John's Pass.

Mel posing with the Forrest Gump shoes.

Kai experiencing the ocean for the first time. She LOVED it!

"Kai" means ocean in Hawaiian.

Looking so little in Daddy's arms.

Lee, Kai and I

It was very special spending some one on one time with Kai.

The days were very hot... in the 90's every day with high humidity. We kept Kai in the shade and sprinkled with water. She was very comfortable!

This was our little table we sat at when it got too hot!

Loving Florida!

It was so nice to be able to go out with Neal and Mel every night and not have to worry about coming home for the kids. We had a ball together!

(I look so white in this picture compared to everyone else ... I really did get a tan!)

Our last evening at sunset.

The four of us getting ready to go to a very nice restaurant on the water.

Walking past John's Pass.

So happy we took this much needed vacation!

Thanks Mom and Dad for watching the boys!!! You are the best.

Having Fun With Our Little Kai - Third Month

This past month we have started to see Kai's personality develop. She is happy and content all of the time and loves to smile (especially at her mommy!) Kai is very ambitious... she has already rolled over from tummy to back and is grabbing things with great control. Kai loves to be held and walked around to look at things and people. One thing we have really noticed is her fascination with trees. She could look up at trees all day! The leaves blowing in the wind, the branches swaying... must be some great contrast against the sky. Isn't that funny?

At her last well baby check, Kai weighed 11.2 pounds. She is in the 50% for height and weight. She still looks pretty petite compared to other babies her age. Her eyes are really turning into a pretty blue and her hair is still curly and strawberry blond.

Kai's big brothers really take care of her... at times smothering her :) I have to say, "please stay out of her face", all of the time. They just want to squeeze and love on her. Krue and Kiefer love to get things for me to help out and their favorite job is putting her pacifier back in her mouth.

Kai is definitely a third child. She just goes with the flow... always riding in the car... attending taekwondo practice, football games, daddy's work, school, etc. I already feel like she is my little sidekick ;)

We just love our little girl!

Don't you just want to squeeze her?

Kai loves to watch the kids play.

Having fun on her play mat.

Aunt Ali meeting Kai for the first time!

Kai loved Ali!

Taking a bath in Baba's sink at the lake :)

Sweetie Pie

Talking to Mamaw

Kai LOVES her baths!

Kai and Mommy

"The Old Married Couple"

Lauren & Krue at 1 year old.

Lauren and Krue at 5 years old.

I just happened to take this picture of the two of them the other day and remembered that I took a similar picture of them when they were one. So cute.

Their kindergarten teacher told Melanie the other day that the teachers at school call them

"The Old Married Couple" :)

She said it is because Lauren will boss Krue around... Krue will take it for awhile... and then give it right back to her. Hilarious!

Gotta love these two.

Surrounded with Love...

They can't get enough of their little girl!

Lee's First Triathlon

On August 29th Lee took a stab at his very first triathlon. It is no surprise that he rocked it. Is there anything this guy can't do? Lee finished in 46 minutes and placed 9th out of 150 people! Here are some pictures from his triathlon debut...

Early morning walk with the boys down to the triathlon course.

Papa Sam, Kiefer, and Krue ready to cheer Daddy on!

It was a freezing morning. This picture captures how cold and windy it was!

The Swim

If you can't find Lee, he is the only tan stud in this picture :)

Transitioning to Bike

The Bike

The Run

The finish...

He did the entire thing in 46 minutes!!!

Lee's cheering section after the race.

Nice work, Leeroy. Just wait until I'm ready for my next triathlon. I'll smoke you (at least in the swim!)