November

We celebrated Sydney's birthday at Red Lobster.  The girl loves shrimp!  Needless to say, she woke up in the middle of the night with a tummy ache "because I ate too much supper mommy"  she LOVES being 3!!! 

The kids with Brian and the buck he shot last weekend.  Keegan was very interested! 

Sydney is fascinated with this crazy sand.  Pretty much every night after super she begs to play with it! 

Keegan being a typical boy at supper time.  He is learning sign language for "all done" and "more".  He will play patty cake and also will oblige randomly at "so big"! 

We went and visited the Oberle twins before Thanksgiving.  Sydney was interested inThe babies at first and then quickly lost interest.  Keegan wanted to poke their faces all the time so he had to be diverted away right away!  

Which meant I got to snuggle both babies to myself for over an hour!!  So precious!  Hard to believe my babies were that small not that long ago too.  

Group shot of all the kiddos!  Easier said than done!!! 

Yikes!!!

Oops!  Turns out, I blinked and now it is almost Christmas.  Slow down time!  I nearby solemnly vow to make a more solid effort of updating this blog.  It should be easier now that I have two children sleeping through the night and eating table food (bye bye breast pump and hello freedom!!) So here are some pictures that I have taken in the last 5 months of our lives that I don't think we have shared with everyone.  

We pretty much spent our entire summer at the park down the street from our house.  Every night after work we would load up either the burley (which doubles as a double stroller) or both of the strollers and make the trek 2 blocks down the street and swing and slide to our hearts content.  

These two are really starting to appreciate each other.  Every night before they go to bed they give each other hugs and kisses.  It's super cute and makes me happy and proud to be their mama ;)


Our neighbors also have a swing set in their backyard.  On the nights that Brian would go golfing I would take the easy way out and just bring the kids to "Marco's park" (Marcus is the neighbor boy/Sydney's BFF).  Keegan would either love the swing or fall asleep in it.


Seems like these kids are probably up to no good right?  one of them probably pooped their pants :)



Our summer weekends consisted of this.  We took the boat either to Lake Vermillion or Lake Brandt and would just float.  Brian and I are both super excited for next summer when both of the kids will be more boater friendly.  Sydney is gearing up to do water sports next year, we are already talking to her about it so she will be comfortable doing it when the time comes!


A couple times this summer I took the kids to a big park at one of the Sioux Falls schools.  These kids just can't get enough!!


Sydney got her first pedicure this summer.  She and grandma Vickie had a nice conversation while getting their toes done.  She is officially addicted now.  Not only does she bring lotion to Brian almost every night and ask for a foot rub, but she told me the other day that she wanted to go back to the salon so "that guy" could cut her toenails.  I don't regret introducing this to her, now I have someone to encourage me to get more pedicures!!


Probably on our way to the park :)  right at the end of summer Keegan got big enough to ride in the wagon (at a slow pace).  He loved it!


This kid LOVES the bath.  I LOVE his butt.



Keegan is not a very clean eater.  But man, does he love food.  He officially eats just as much and sometimes more than his older sister.  He is definitely a boy!



I purposely park at the entrance at Hy-Vee that doesn't have these stupid carts.  One day, this cart was abandoned (probably by a smart mother) right inside the entrance.  Pushing this thing around the store was like trying to drive a semi.  I'm pretty sure I ran into at least 4 other carts in the store that day.  But Keegan was steering that wheel so hard and had a great time shopping.


Once this little boy learned how to stand up it's all he wanted to do.  I busted him standing in the stroller.


Keegan got his first haircut at the end of summer.  This is the best picture I could get.

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Keegs will only eat table food now.  He really appreciates when we have ribs.  Normally he does not sit in his hair chair very long before crying to get out.  But on rib night he will make an exception.  

The neighborhood down the road from us has a pond where geese gather.  Usually the geese are on the grass when we get to the pond and then get in the water when we approach.  The kids are fascinated with watching the geese swim.


Keegan found the tupperware cupboard (I helped him).  I'd rather pick up tupperware than cook supper with one hand.  We both win!


Sydney has discovered makeup.  On the weekends she will beg me to be able to do her makeup, so I get out some old eyeshadows and let her go to town.  She is such a girly girl at heart and i love it!!!



Surprise surprise.  When we go to target the cart is like a clown car.  We arrange who is sitting where or hanging where or standing where or walking where about every 30 seconds.  Still...we are at Target and we are happy shoppers.


I had to post this picture.  This is Keegan at his 9 month checkup.  Could he and Brian be any more identical in this picture?


My little pumpkin at the pumpkin patch.


Keegan's 2nd favorite meal...spaghetti!  Spaghetti night is automatically bath night.


We decided this year to just paint our pumpkins rather than carve them.  I think we made the right choice....painting pumpkins is actually very fun and I liked the way mine turned out!!!


My little trick or treaters.  Sydney finally understood what Halloween was about and LOVED trick or treating!  She did two full streets this year!  I had to carry her about 2 blocks home because she was so tired.  Then for her 1 treat that she got to eat on Halloween night she picked a Pixie Stick.  Of course!  She was running laps in the house about 10 minutes later.  Good thing for the extra hour of sleep that night!  Oh yeah, can someone tell Keegan that he needs to get on the correct time zone again?  I'm sick of waking up at 5:45 AM to someone singing in his crib and banging on the walls!


Sydney in acting on Halloween night.


Keegan loves to play with all the Halloween candy.  every once in a while he gets to have an M&M, but mostly he thinks these are just toys.


We had Brian's sister take Sydney's 3 year pictures when we were back in Chamberlain for Pheasant hunting.  Such a sweetheart.

Well...the challenge is on!  Even though we are going into holiday season I hope I can keep up with the blog on a more timely matter.  Until next time, Laura

Keegan is growing up

Keegan's baby days are flying by!  He is growing up so fast!  Slow down time!!

He no longer requires his car seat to ride in a stroller.  Just strap him in and go!  

I LOVE this picture of these two crazy kids.  I feel like they are already laughing at their mom behind my back.  Hopefully they always have this much fun together! 

Keegan has been sleeping without the nap nanny for a couple weeks now!  He is doing pretty good, but still not sleeping through the night.  I think he is getting ready to eat some baby food soon and maybe that will help him. Let's hope!! 

Big guy needs to wear a hat outside...he white little body will burn!  

He found his toes the other day.  Love when babies do that!! 

Speaking of big people food...he is testing out his high chair and seems to be ready!! 

Keegan is officially a roller from his back to his tummy.  He won't roll from his tummy to his back!  I thought that was the easy way?  He is just like his big sister!! 

Keegan and Brian are going to be best buds. They love messing around together.  Keegan loves his daddy! 

So proud of himself sitting on daddy's shoulders!  Big boy!! 

Amber & AJ's wedding

I thought I would share some pictures from our time spent in Austin, TX for Amber & AJ's wedding. We had so much fun!  The kids traveled so well, and behaved excellently also!  It was a great weekend overall!  

Sydney waiting for a plane at the airport...she was fascinated by them!  

Keegan didn't know what was going on.  

Sitting first class on the airplane.  

Keegan's first airplane ride ever!  So happy about it!  

2nd flight of the day.  First class again.  Sydney liked the pillows and blankets they gave out...and also the sprite!  

Keegan chilling out during his 2nd flight of the day. 

Our first day there...goofing around in the hotel

Of course we had to go to campus.  We stocked up on Texas gear for the entire family and had to take pictures with Bevo!!  

Met up for a delicious lunch of fried chicken with the bride and groom.  

And then after nap we went to the hotel pool while Brian golfed.  Sydney is a fish! 

Enjoying the Embassy Suites happy hour.  

Getting our nails done with the rest of the bridal party.  Sydney sat very still surprisingly!  

Brian finally put his clubs away and came to the hotel pool for some swimming fun!  

Teaching Sydney how to swim

She loved jumping in off the edge....just like every other kid! 

At rehearsal....Keegan chill in with Uncle Brady and cousin Jimmy

and meeting Great Aunt Shelly for the first time. 

Sydney practicing for the big day.  

Of course she was jumping down the stairs.  

Rehearsal dinner at Gueros.  yummy yummy!  

Dancing to the live music.

Dancing with aunt Amber

Riding the bus out to the wedding.  She had so much fun sitting next to Jimmy on the bus! 

Notice how calm the groom is behind her.  

Looking out the window of the bus.  

The dress is on and it is adorable!  

Proud mama

sleepy guy fell asleep during the reception

Messing around after the wedding

Dancing and having lots of fun!  

Keegan pooped out during the dance

The day after the wedding.  Eating at a BBQ place and snuggling with cousin Kim

Kimmy loves Keegan so much!  

more pics from the airport in SF...she had just gotten her backpack and was obsessed!  

Can't wait to get on the airplane and look inside her "pack pack"

This is our plane pulling up....this kind of freaked her out a little bit.  too big! 

Snoozing on the plane

Sydney took a nap too

More swimming!  

Hot tubbing the morning of the wedding.  Getting all relaxed for their big duties.  

photo shoot in front of the pool

Brian and his kiddos

Family pic!  the only one we got! 

Brian getting ready to begin the service

Father Big B!!

Sydney went back to pick up the petals she dropped earlier

Getting all danced out.  

Keegan chill in with Grandma Elaine while the girls got their nails and toenails done. 

Lovin on cousin Kim again!  

Giving mom some good snuggles too!  

Sydney and Jimmy goofing off!