Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a Fabulous Thanksgiving this year. Grandma Debi came to visit and it was just us - but we had a meal for 30 I think! The leftovers have been great! Here's just a few pics from our weekend. We did Thanksgiving day here at the house and then put up Christmas decorations up that night. On Friday we had our annual trip to Churchill Downs to watch the horses. Emma loved it and had a great time running around the suite and yelling "go go go" as the horses ran by. There was even a visit by Santa - but we hid behind Grandma's leg and wouldn't get close enough to sit on his lap! Later that night we went over to Collin's birthday party - Happy 1st Birthday Collin! We spent the rest of the weekend hanging out around the house and getting in the Christmas spirit! Enjoy the photos and hope you had a Great Thanksgiving!

Chase's day at the track - so relaxed!

Emma reading her ticket - I don't think it was a winner :-)

Chase and Mommy

Zach and Grandma Debi

Zach, Emma and Grandma Debi at Churchill Downs

Emma and Zach checking out the horses

Emma and Chase - I can't belive how big he is!

Doesn't everyone ride thier horse with thier potty seat around their head??? (No worries - it hasn't been used so it's clean...we're showing all signs of getting ready to potty train but we're not pushing it yet!)

Baptism and Fall Trip Home

Our Family after Chase's Baptism - too bad this is the only time he decided to cry!

Beautiful Boy! His outfit was so cute!


Crazy Girl Emma - she was such a good girl all day!

We just got back from a trip back home for Chase's baptism and to see our family and friends. It was a great trip and a great Baptism.

We started out by taking a detour to Des Moines to meet little Tyler who was a month early! We got to see him in the NICU - but can't wait to see him again at Christmas when we'll be able to hold him! Aunt Al and Uncle Drew even let us stay a night with them - which was the 1st time we had seen their new house and it's beautiful!

Emma playing at the NICU while visiting Baby Tyler

Chase and Great Grandma Pete

Then we headed back to Iowa to my parent's house for Baptism and some harvesting fun! We got to see all the fam and friends and had Chase's baptism on Sunday. It went GREAT! Chase slept through most of church and never cried. Emma made the rounds and I think sat with each and every person in both of our families (which means 3 different rows of people jumping for her!) She was very good and excited to spend a little time with everyone! After church we headed to Halland Village to have some lunch and play. Emma tried her best to wear everyone out playing out in the leaves. She had a ball!

Emma in the leaves

After that we spent some quality time with Grandma Denise at the house and made several trips to see Grandpa Knute in the combine. Great-Grandma Pete came over a few times to play with the kids and Grandma Denise even kept both kids while Aunt Carrie, Zach and I took in a round of golf. This was my 1st real golf outing and I have to say I didn't do too bad. Lost "just a little pride" (right Carrie) a few times when missing the ball - but not too shabby!

Carrie and Val golfing

Chase and Papa Knute out combining

Emma is a True Farmer! She's got Grandpa wrapped around her little finger!

Emma and Papa Knute - don't they look cute in their pink cowboy hats!

Then we headed to KC to spend some time with Zach's family and meet up with some KC friends. Grandma Debi babysat Emma so we could meet up with Brad, Paula and Bob one night. We went to see Grace at her dorm in Warrensburg and then out to eat at our favorite place - Heroes! Thanks for all the great company guys - we miss you all! And then a little more time with Grandma Debi before we headed back home. And the best part of the whole trip - on 8+ hour drive home we only had to stop once! The kids were great so we made great time on the way home!

Emma and Maddy falling off the chair at Heroes - oops!

No wonder these 2 like each other - they look just a like don't they?

Looking Oh So Cute!

Hope you enjoyed the pics of our trip as much as we enjoyed the week! We miss everyone already and we can't wait for Christmas! I'll post more pictures from our trip another day - we took a ton!

Halloween - a little late...

Before Trick-or-treating - we're excited!!!

Okay - so it's mid-November and I'm just getting around to posting Halloween. There's been a lot going on lately!

She loved this singing skeleton


Daddy and Emma before Trick-or-treating

At the Zoo

Hope you enjoy our Halloween pics! We took Emma to the zoo to trick-or-treat a few weeks earlier and then on Halloween we took her to our local business trick-or-treating here in J-town at noon and then around the neighborhood (to only about 8-10 houses) that night. The rest of the night she helped dad hand out candy to all the other kids. She was too cute - Zach told her only to hand out 2 pieces...and she did! 2 pieces to each kid who came up - she was such a big girl. And then told everyone hi, bye-bye, happy halloween and all that stuff! She's growing up!

Emma at her school Halloween party



At the Zoo -we could hardly drag her away from those fish!

Chase the skeleton - he looked so cute!!!

That's it - time to go home! What a great Halloween!

Welcome Baby Tyler John Newman!

Congrats Al and Andrew - and WELCOME baby Tyler John Newman!!!

Today I was planning on posting Halloween pictures - but baby Tyler decided to come into our world early so it's only right that this post is about him!

We're so excited for Aunt Al and Uncle Drew to have their 1st baby! Tyler John was born about a month early! He is 6 lbs 1 oz and is 19 3/4 inches long. He was born at 3:02 AM on November 3rd in Des Moines, IA.

Baby Tyler is spending a little time in the NICU being monitored and with a little oxygen I think - but everyone says he looks healthy and strong!

Congrats Aunt Al and Uncle Drew from all of us here! Emma and Chase can't wait to meet thier new cousin!

Chase is 2 months old

We went to the doctor last week for Chase's 2 month check up. He is 10 lbs and 14 oz and is 22+inches long. What a big boy! He is quickly growing out of his newborn outfits and fits perfectly in his 0-3 month outfits. Which is great because we have a TON of clothes for him at this age thanks to my good friend Renee!

Emma is doing great and is a WONDERFUL child (my mom says if I tell everyone that she's being good that she WILL be good). No really - she is a good girl - but we've definately hit the terrible 2's! She knows what she wants -but can't always express it or can't get it herself. Which makes her angry and then the tantrums come! We're working on being more consistent in her punishments - but it's been tough since she has ample time to be bad while I'm feeding Chase and can't punish her in the moment. I think she's figured out that's when she can be at her worst and get away with it! Smart kid!

Other than that life is good - Emma was a Turkey for Halloween - we'll post more pics of that later!

Making Strides for Breast Cancer

Zach and I at the Making Strides walk at Waterfront Park

Yesterday was the ACS's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Louisville. The weather was beautiful and we had a great 5K walk over the 2nd Street bridge (over the Ohio River) and through downtown. The kids and I walked with Kelly and Zach and Naomi volunteered for the walk. Renee and Collin were suposed to walk with us but Collin ended up getting sick Sunday morning - hope you're feeling better baby Collin! We earned quite a bit of money for this great cause and had a very nice day supporting the fight against breast cancer.

Chase slept through the 1st mile and then I ended up feeding him a bottle and carrying him the rest of the way - boy my back is feeling it!

Emma was a trooper - lots to look at for her!

For those of you who might not know - my mom is a 10 year survivor and my Grandma Pete is a 9 year survivor. So this cause is near and dear to our hearts. We plan on being involved in this event each year so if you're in town - come walk with us next year! And a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who donated to our team this year. We really do appreciate it!

Great Pumpkin Contest of 2009

Okay - we broke all the rules this year. I used a stencil, Zach used our name and well - Emma didn't break any rules so I guess she wins this year! And Chase is just lucky he's not IN a pumpkin - although - I've got another week and if I find the right pumpkin - it's on!

Hope you enjoy our pumpkins - we had a great time doing them this year with Emma!