A New Year

Happy 2011! Is it just me or did 2010 fly by?? I'm not sure I remember a year going as fast as 2010 did. Wow.

2010 was a year I'll never forget.

We had our sweet McKenna, we moved into our new house, and we found out we're pregnant with our 2nd Little Miracle. I don't think we could ask for better!

Trippy's favorite spot...right in front of the fireplace

December 31, 2010 - 29 weeks, 2 days

To celebrate the new year, we had family & friends and their kids over in a nice family friendly environment...long ways from our New Years in the past! I thought I took more pictures than I did, so I'm missing quite a few people. Sorry!

here's Mercedes Barrs holding William, Corey Hudson holding Kenna, Brad, & Tim Bea with Tucker...all hanging out in the living room

the girl is just like her Momma, what can I say?

McKenna loves Tucker!

carseats lined the kitchen!

McKenna, William Barrs, & Brayden Samples!
McK - 8 months 3 weeks, William - 2 months 1 week,
Brayden - 1 month 3 weeks

Kenna has her hand down, but now Brayden isn't looking!

Babies on the way!
Stephanie is due Jan. 19th with Baby Girl Bea
(Avery Jean Bea was born 11:30pm last night! more to come when we meet her!!!)

Happy New Year Sweet Girl!!!

City Girl

My sister Lizzie moved out of my parents house on June 25 and headed to the big city of Chicago. She's living in an apartment in the Gold Coast area. We finally made it up for a visit over Winter Break...I know I know...took long enough! Along with visiting her apartment, we brought up a bunch of stuff she wasn't going to be able to bring on the train with her, and we also went to lunch at Grahamwich, a new restaurant opened by our favorite chef, Graham Elliot.

resting up for the big day

Brian & Momma loading up Beanie's stuff! ...and by 'stuff' I mean, kitchen table, 2 vases, coffee table, and nightstand... I think it would have been pretty funny to watch her try to take all of that on the train!

another reason for our visit...Brian putting the furniture together!
check out Lizzie's studio! isn't it cute?!
this is her bedroom/living room

Brian & Lizzie continuing the building process while Kenna climbs into one of the vases!
that whole wall is floor to ceiling windows!

view of the kitchen

Brian & Liz working on the chairs for the table.
Lizzie's walk-in closet leads you right to the bathroom.
(I forgot to take a picture of the bathroom)

Kenna eating her lunch on AB's floor. She loved it!

McK had fun playing in the big vase!

My big girl loves drinking from a big girl cup.
She always wants some of my drink and there's nobody I'd rather share with!

more Momma!

helping Dad with another chair

after Brian finished up building Lizzie's table and chairs, we headed out to Grahamwich for lunch! Lizzie snapped some pictures with her iPhone!

the place was packed! Here's Brian and Kenna (sleeping in her stroller) waiting for us to order.

trademark gdub

we had luck once more with a Graham Elliot sighting! Lizzie couldn't get her phone fast enough, so we got his back! We did talk to him though! So cool!

there wasn't a seat to be had at the restaurant, it was so busy, so here I am heading back to Lizzie's apartment Grahamwich in hand

Graham Elliot has outdone himself once again!
I had the Bahn Mi, Brian had the heavenly Grilled Cheese and Liz had the Pastrami Reuben all topped off with the absolutely delicious truffle popcorn and cheesy bacon ranch chips!

Hi AB! I love crawling all over your apartment!

this wall, perpindicular to the window wall, is covered in mirrors!
Kenna loved it!

Oh my goodness! I love you soooo much!

Thank you so much Liz for having us up for the day! We had a blast hanging out in your apartment and living the city life for the day. We wish we could make it downtown more often.

If you need something else built...let us know! :)

Love you so much!!!

A Very Merry

I love Christmas.

I mean, who doesn't? The only person I can really think of who doesn't feel my sentiments is the Grinch... well... and maybe my dad when we have to drive to Ohio... in blizzard like conditions.

This Christmas was extra special. It was McKenna's first.

There's nothing like a Baby's 1st Christmas. Another stocking added to the fireplace, fun new ornaments, cozy new jammie jams, and SANTA!

It was oh so wonderful!

McKenna's first trip to visit Santa at the mall and of course it was well attended by both sets of Grandparents. She sure is loved!

Christmas morning, tired eyes, Santa monkey jammie jams & Daddy!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

our independent girl crawling around the house

the gate used to be for Trippy...now it is for BOTH of our girls! Time to move it down to the bottom...we have a climber!!!

Brian cooking up his WitSkillet for Christmas breakfast

Santa surprised us with gifts in our car on Christmas Eve and McKenna got beads!
She loves beads!

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care

Look Trippy! I got a dolly in my stocking!

Christmas morning started out with opening up our stockings and gifts from Santa. My family came over for breakfast and more gifts. We enjoyed the Witskillet, cinnamon rolls, and mimosas!

McKenna got a new sled!

We got GranMom a new winter coat

Kenna got a Ball Popper from Aunt Krissy...

...and clothes from Aunt Beanie!

GP and GranMom got her an activity table...among MANY other things!

Aunt Mackie got Kenna clothes and fun toys like this balancing monkey

Kenna also got this walker/rider car from both Aunt Mackie and GP and GranMom, so she gets to have one at our house and one at their house!

Aunt Mackie and Kenna riding around the kitchen

I got a drawer for my Keurig pods! I love my Keurig!

and I love my sweet girl!

what a beautiful face

pretty Kenzie

Krissy & Momma

playing with GP

Looks like we're missing someone from Christmas! Lizzie was my photographer for the morning, so I don't have any pictures of her! ;( Sorry Beanie!!!

Later that day we headed to the Witkowski's for Christmas #2...

opening up one of her presents

Kevin ran out of tags, so he got creative!

Sabrina, Eric, and Uncle Doug

bath toys from Uncle Eric & Aunt Sabrina

We can't thank our families enough for everything they got us and our Kenna girl! McKenna was so spoiled this Christmas! She sure is one lucky girl! We have had a lot of fun playing with all of her new toys. She is at such a great age...she is interacting, playing, and pulling herself up on everything in sight.

From both my parents and Brian's parents, we received the logs to be placed into our gas fireplace. I think it might have been voted #1 gift. You know you're getting old when fireplace logs excite you! Brian's dad came over to help install them...and...well, Kenna wanted to help!

Brad, Megan, & Brayden got McKenna this really cool Vroom, Vroom toy (well, that's atleast what I call it!) McKenna loves trying to stop it from going round and round.

...and she's done! Kenna was a bit tired from the nonstop playing and she just layed right down on her doggie! Silly girl! Time for bed!

I hope each of you had as wonderful a Christmas holiday as we did.

I can't believe next year at this time, we'll be a family of 4!
(well...5...you can't forget Trippy!)