Kale gets bow-tied

Today while we were playing outside Payton said, "Mommy you member when we went to church and baby Kale got bow-tied?" What she meant to say was "baptized"!!! So cute! And, yes, he did get baptized this past weekend but I neglected to assign a member of the family to take photographs with our camera, so I have NONE! What a terrible mom, right? We did, however, get the entire event on video so at least we're covered there! It was a great evening with both sides of the family gathering - Kale will someday be able to express his gratitude, but until then, THANK YOU for your support!! We love you!

Happy 60th Birthday Dad!! (Grandpa John)

Basement Progress

Future site of the bedroom bathroom
Bedroom

Bar area

TV room back wall

Zach and Russ installing the speaker wires

Russ and his crew continue to work hard on the basement, spending many hours making lots of noise and dust! Soon it will all be done and we will be able to enjoy all of their hard work (and maybe Russ will get a summer break)!!!

Queen of the Morning

Love you just the same

Kale met Great Grandpa Marvin for the first time this past weekend. Grandpa is an intelligent, humorous, loveable man who has shown me great love in his lifetime. And although he isn't the same anymore, his love still is. As I gave him a hug before departing I said, "I love you grandpa," he responded by saying, "I love you just the same." I'm so grateful for all of my grandparents.....Happy Father's Day grandpa!

Random

This was much easier a few weeks ago! His belly isn't much of a flat surface so in case you can't read, it says "9 weeks"!

Happy 33rd Russ!

My little dress up diva!

Portraits and Tigers

I took the kids to get pictures taken as a surprise for Russ' birthday. He is a big Missouri Tigers fan, so we had to have a few in our Tiger outfits!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!! We love you!

Boddicker Sunday Funday

Which one is the wild one, you ask?? :)
Cuddling with Uncle Zach

Cuddling with Grandpa John

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family." - Anthony Brandt

Blame it on the Rain

Despite all of the rain Saturday, we still managed to find entertainment around here! We cut Payton's bangs, decorated ourselves (and some of the furniture) with stickers and discovered an old friend we had stored in the freezer for such the occasion! Good times!

June update

Look at those cheeks! Makes you want to squeeze them, doesn't it?? :)
Three generations: Russ, Grandpa Curt and Kale (with his mouth open; his mother should have taught him better than that) :)

Payton in her Dora hat getting ready to go watch some football (camp) with daddy...it was only a heat index of 98...why not stand outside, right?? :)

His eyes are turning brown! :)

Happy 3rd Birthday Kaelyn!

Remembering Grandma

My how three years go by so quickly.....here's what my lovely sister read at Grandma's memorial June 2007:

Grandma Berta
There is a quote by Charlie W. Shedd that says- “Some of the world’s best educators are grandparents.” I believe this to be so true. I consider myself extremely blessed to have learned some of life’s greatest lessons from one of my favorite people on earth, Grandma Berta. Today is a chance for us to celebrate her and say thank you for all the ways she has brightened our lives.
Unlike many people in this room, I only knew her for the last third of her life. In spite of that, this much I know for sure:
She was passionately devoted to her family and friends. Nothing else was as important to her as those she loved: her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Even though our family has not lived in Anthon since I was in elementary school, I learned this lesson even as a third grader just by watching her. Grandma Berta lived her life in service of others. She was always cooking up a storm or making a quilt for someone, and from that I gathered very early on in life that family and friends are what really matters.
Grandma Berta didn’t shy away from life’s challenges. Although her life was filled with the hardships of being widowed at a young age, and battling cancer for several years, grandma faced each obstacle with optimism, hope and tenacity. Even during her last months living in the nursing home, her positive attitude remained in tact. Through her example, I am reminded that a positive outlook really does make a big difference in any life curve thrown your direction.
Above all, Grandma Berta was just a fun, fun person to be around. Her joy for life afforded her one of life’s greatest gifts- to be lady who was much, much loved by others. Grandma didn’t know a stranger. Amazingly, she could and most oftentimes would strike up a conversation with anybody, anywhere. I remember growing up and Byron always asking her- “what chapter are you on?” whenever her questions and conversations were going on and on like the Energizer Bunny. Within the past couple of years, I gave a grandma a journal. Inside this journal were several questions asking her to reflect on her life. One of the questions in the journal asked her: “What do you think is your not-so-best quality?” To that question, grandma answered: “That she thought she talked too much.” Maybe, maybe not. Today, I choose to look at this quality of hers as a lesson- life is too short to know any strangers. Grandma took pride in taking the time to get to know others- something that has almost all but disappeared in the fast-paced day and age we live in. Something I can learn to do more of.
Each person who comes into our lives affects us in a unique way. Especially our grandparents. Today, I give thanks for the woman I am proud to call my grandmother. She has given to me some of life’s simplest, yet most meaningful gifts- the ones I carry within. Her love, laughter, fullness of life and the lessons she taught will stay with me always.

Peanut Butter Alice and the tank

Payton has been coming up with silly sayings as of late, and the most recent is "peanut butter Alice"....I have NO idea what it means or where it came from, but it is hilarious when she says it! The other night when Russ put her to bed, as he was leaving the room she said, "I appreciate it daddy!" Where does she come up with this stuff? I'd like to take credit and pretend that I walk around here saying "I appreciate it" to Russ all of the time (I do, honey, I just don't always say it) but I can't!


Mr. Kale has been battling some congestion for the past couple of days. After a few nights of continuously waking himself up to cough (and waking mommy too) I took him to the doctor. All is good; no fever and still a happy little man. I should rephrase that, happy BIG man as he now weighs 13 lbs. 4 oz!! He is a tank! We go back again in 2 weeks for the dreaded immunizations :(