Our little "By cation" (vacation)

Brady had a couple days off so we decided to take a little "by cation" as Caden would say. We went to the Abe Martin Lodge. It has an indoor water park and is surrounded by awesome places to bike, hike, and just enjoy the outdoors. We met up with some friends on Thursday (Oct. 2nd) afternoon, got a bite to eat at a little hometown pizzeria, and then went back to the "lodge" for swimming. We swam most of the evening and then just hung out until people started falling asleep. The next morning we woke up and had a buffet breakfast followed by more swimming. The kids loved the pools and the water slide. Caden was big enough to go down himself which made the trip pretty memorable for him. He thought he was on top of the world, and I have to admit it was pretty fun and also a little sad watching him feel so independent. When it was time to check out of the lodge, we headed to a playground for the kids to play while we got the bikes ready for a little ride. We let Caden test out his bike skills, without training wheels, in a new area and then loaded both kids in the bike trailer for a little more intense ride. It was so beautiful! The weather couldn't have been better and the leaves were just starting to change showing the first signs of fall. After the ride we took the kids to the saddle barn where they got to ride ponies. They loved it and couldn't wait to tell Grandpa that they rode horsies. It was so fun to just get out and spend time together. With the kids it's almost like every experience is a new one and it sort of brings back that childlike excitement as we go out and have new experiences together. Here are a few pictures. I'm sad that I didn't get any of Brady at the pool, he was our photographer most of the time and I didn't get any to show just how beautiful it was there, of course we were more focused on our two favorite subjects...Caden and Kamrie.

Heading to try the slide

Caden, all by himself.

Going back for more

Morning at the "Lodge"

Waiting for his next turn.

More Excitement!!!

Well I guess It's about time to get the exciting news out to all of you who don't live close enough to me or an excited grandparent to have heard already...we are having another baby! I am almost 13 weeks along so that will give us a new little bundle to love around April 14th. We just started telling people a couple of weeks ago so the secret is out and now that I can share it I am more and more excited all the time. With the due date being to close to Brady's Humanitarian trip to Mexico, his boards, and Graduation we are expecting a really eventful spring, but we can't wait to experience it all. We will keep everyone updated on the progress.

In other exciting news...Caden scored his first goal in his last soccer game of the season today. After the first one he liked how if felt so much he did it again and almost a third time but the other team decided they didn't like all the scoring going on so they used their hands (sometimes the temptation is just too great, I can't really blame them). He was on top of the world! It has been really fun this season to see him progress from frustration because he wasn't sure what was going on, to excitment to just be close to the action, to actually engaging and scoring points.

We packed in the fun!!!

Since my last post we had a wonderful, fun-filled few days with Gma and Gpa Robbins. They arrived on Friday evening (Sept. 19th) and after the excitement of losing a piece of luggage during one of their flights, we kicked off the visit with pizza, a walk around the neighborhood, and flying RC airplanes. It's been a while since they have been here so it was really fun to just hang out and do some everyday stuff with them. During their visit we packed in just about as much fun as everyone could handle. We watched soccer games, had a picnic at the apple orchard, walked the canal and listened to Irish Fest, went to the zoo and the children's museum, and lets not forget, the reason for the trip... the COLTS game in the new stadium!!! The kids loved having Gma and Gpa around and Brady and I loved the company and the competition at Wacky 6. Thanks to Gma and Gpa for everything, we enjoyed the visit and hope we can do it again before we have to say goodbye to Indy.

Some adorable soccer shots of our favorite soccer star.

Right before the game sporting all our Colts' Blue and White

Some game shotsThe game didn't turn out quite like we had hoped (hence the big bottom lips in the next photo) the Colts lost 21 to 23 in the last 4 seconds of the game but... we all had a fantastic time.Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Steve and Connie for the great time. We love you and are always looking forward to another visit.

Update

I know, I know I just got a sweet little reprimand from my sister because I haven't posted anything in forever. That is all it took...I really can't even give any excuses or explanations for where we have been except that like everyone else we are managing to keep ourselves pretty busy. The summer is beginning to make it's way out and ever so slowly fall in creeping in. It has been absolutely beautiful. Because it's been so long and there is a ton to catch up I will just do a picture log of what we have been up to and after this I will try to do better.

I already posted the story about how both of our kids made their way into our lives and our hearts but as for the actual birthday celebrations, they got left out. So here are some snaps of the Batman Party

Caden got a skateboard for his b-day and he thought that he knew how to ride it good enough not to wear pads or shoes. He got pretty scraped up but he was really tough about it, and he is actually not bad at the whole skateboarding thing.

And the Butterfly Party

We had a ball on our little family trip to Chicago in August. Thank you Hannah and Brian for everything. We got to visit the Lincoln Park Zoo...

Millennium Park

and Navy Pier (but the camera batteries were dead that day)It was great to have some family time with Daddy, see some sites, and visit with good friends.



Caden also started soccer. He isn't sure if he loves it...well he likes the running around but he is still a little timid when it comes to getting in there and kicking the ball. He is really learning though and we love to watch him. Brady is helping coach the team and I think he has found his calling in life.

We visited the Children's Museum and dressed up like our favorite super hero friendsKamrie took a dance class from a great friend here and she did awesome. She loved dancing and she would show me her twirls, her plie', and her ballet positions all day on Monday after class. Thank you Miss Joy for such a fun introduction to dancing, we hopes she makes a great dancer someday.And finally the kids had their first day of school. They both go to the YMCA and they love it. Kamrie can't stop talking about all the fun she has and she can't wait to show me the crafts that they work on each time I go pick her up. Caden is thrilled to go and he is learning a lot about letters, reading, and eating healthy.

So there it is, in a nutshell what we have been up to the last couple of months. We are doing great and really looking forward to a visit from our grandma and grandpa next week. We can't wait to see you.

Kamrie Jo

As I sat writing the post for Caden's Birthday I was amazed at the flood of thoughts and emotions that came rushing back as I remembered and even relived, to an extent, the events of the wonderful day he joined our family, so I decided to do the same thing for little blessing #2. Going back to August 2006...throughout this pregnancy I had been planning on trying a "traditional" birth despite the c-section we endured to get Caden here. My doctor was willing to try as long as he didn't see any red flags and so we proceeded with that thought in mind until about a month before my due date. My doctor and one of his partners saw some potential risks of an "unusually thin uterus" that they weren't comfortable with so instead of causing complications that would make for an "exciting arrival" like Caden's we decided to try to make this one a little more low key. We scheduled a c-section for 10 days before my due date which would make the new "birthday" August 16, 2006. My parents flew in late on the 14th so they could be a part of the entire event this time and we were thrilled to have them. The Indiana State Fair was going on so the night before our precious baby arrived we entertained ourselves with animal barns, fair food, music, the world's largest boar, and an adorable litter of new piglets. Caden had a ball at the fair with grandma and grandpa despite the call to posion control earlier that day because he had gotten into grandma's bag and taken some of her thyroid medicine. The next morning I was scheduled to arrive at the hospital at 6am and we would likely have a baby girl shortly after 8am. Brady and my dad gave me a blessing of comfort so that I could hopefully get some sleep for the big day ahead. We stayed up late that night chatting and after everyone else went to bed I just laid with Caden as he slept and loved him. After all, that was the last night he was going to be my only baby, it was a pretty emotional thing for me (but then again so was moving him from my room to the crib when he was a few months old, then moving him from the crib to a big boy bed...these little milestones really get me). The next morning I woke up early, took a shower, and got myself ready to go meet our baby girl. This time things went very smooth...it was sort of like going on a little vacation and coming home with a baby. We checked into the hospital just like a hotel and were led to a comfy little room where I got changed and they started the IV drip.

Of course right away I started to freeze so I got a pile of the nice warm blankets that they get right from the warmer. It seemed like from that point everything went in slow motion. I answered tons of questions for paperwork and just relaxed as much as possible. After what seemed like an entire day of sitting there my parents arrived with Caden right around 8am, the surgery was scheduled to start then, but things were a little behind so I got to see them first. I held Caden and watched Calliou while Brady changed into the "daddy gear." Not long after the rest of the family arrived, the nurse came and wheeled me away...there were hugs lots of hugs and kisses and a whole lot of anticipation as I left the room to get started. The anaesthesiologist had a little trouble poking me in the right spot but my legs soon started tingling and I started to feel warm (my favorite part of the epidural). Brady was then allowed to come in, the drape went up, and Dr. Boothe started the show. I'm not sure how long it took before it started but I got really dizzy and had really intense chest pain that went up into my neck and down my arm. I immediately started thinking..."oh great here goes the excitement." Brady could tell something was wrong and asked me if I was okay, I told him I was fine but then I started to cry, I thought I was having a heart attack. The anaesthesiologist asked what was going on, I told him what hurt and soon had me feeling much better after some minor adjustments. I'm still not sure what the heart attack symptoms were all about but I was really glad when they subsided and I was able to listen to the doctor's and nurses chat calmly as they delivered my healthy baby girl. She arrived in all her glory at 8:58am, she was 7 lbs 4 oz. and 20.5 in. long. As the nurse took my whimpering little one from the doctor over to the table where they do all the measurements and clean them up a bit, I caught my very first glimpse of my beautiful little girl. She was absolutely perfect in every way!

They got her stats, wrapped her up tight, and brought her to Brady and I. Right away I noticed she had the most adorable dimples...I love dimples and they were definitely one of the very first things I noticed and loved about her. As Dr. Boothe stitched me up we continued to ogle and fall in love with our new little princess. She didn't have a name quite yet...Brady kind of liked the last minute naming situation with Caden so we left that for later. They kept her right with me this time so as soon as I was out of recovery the rest of the family could come in and meet our newest addition. Caden wasn't sure what to think but Grandma and Grandpa fell in love instantly just like we did.

The next couple of days, we picked out names and hung around the hospital relaxing and recovering. Mom and Dad brought Caden in everyday to see little sis and play on mom's bed so we were never lonely.


Kamrie was a great sleeper right from the start and an even better eater. We got to bring our little Kamrie Jo home on August 19th, 2006 (Grandpa's birthday) it was a wonderful day...and each and every one since she has filled with the joy that her special little spirit brings. We love her so much and can't imagine that there was a time when she wasn't a part of our lives...our family would be empty without her. Sure she packs a little drama and a whole lot of attitude but we wouldn't have it any other way. Happy Birthday little one...we love you.

So we have found one of our favorite photographer teams ever. They live in Utah and we proudly call them Grandpa and Grandma. Grandpa Steve (Brady's dad) has a huge interest in photography so he likes to practice on us, aren't we lucky. And Grandma Connie (Brady's mom) is a great Photographer's assistant. She is always there to make sure things look just right(which you need with two little kids) and she gives lots of fun posing options to try out. These are the results of a little photo shoot we had while we were there. We think they turned out great. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!!! We love you!!!