Gloria's maiden voyage...

This weekend we took our first trip in Gloria our VW Camper Bus.  We had been waiting for Knox to be old enough and for the weather to be warm enough and the stars finally aligned.  Isla & I came along until bedtime and then we drove home.  I didn't think camping with an infant sounded even remotely enjoyable so I volunteered to bow out early.  Kyle & Knox stuck it out for the long haul and made it through the night though!  Knox did great on his first overnight in the bus and it was a success!! I think there will be many more family camping trips in our future.

We went to Krause Springs which is about an hour west of Austin.  It was pretty and there were lots of fellow campers there so that made it a fun, festive environment for Knox's first camping trip.  Here are some pics of our trip:

Krause Springs 

Krause Springs Pool

Gloria in all her glory 

Knox eating his dinner at the table 

Knox & Isla playing in the camping bin 

Knox's first camp whiz :)

Isla's first camp bottle

-Stacie

hiatus...

Well, it has been awhile.  Truth be told, I very rarely get the chance to sit at the computer so posting a blog is not high on the "to do" list.  But, now that Isla is getting a little bigger I think I will have more time to update our blog.

Isla is almost 6 months- the time is flying by! She's already gotten two teeth, is sitting up and playing with toys.  We're getting ready to start solid foods in a few weeks. I just can't believe how much faster it is going with her than it went with Knox.

Since I last posted, we've pretty much just been getting through each day as it comes! Having two has been a huge adjustment for me and I am just finally feeling like my head is getting above water.

A few weeks ago, Kyle's mom came to visit for her Spring Break. It was so fun for her to be here and get to hang out with Knox & Isla that week.  The weather was unseasonably cold for her visit, but we still managed to get out and do some fun stuff while she was here.

Knox is getting into "playing" soccer

Knox & Isla with their Easter basket

We recently discovered an Austin gem called "Kiddie Acres".  It's a very small children's 

theme park that is like stepping back in time to the 1970's.  It's only about 10 minutes

 from our house and Knox LOVES it!  We've had fun taking him a few times and letting

 him ride all the rides.  

Knox at Kiddie Acres

Airplanes at Kiddie Acres

Carousel at Kiddie Acres

I have tried to replicate the photo shoots that I did with Knox with Isla.  I did one with him 

when he was about 6 months old sitting by our fence outside.  This week when I had a few

 minutes I took her outside and snapped a few of her sweet little face.  She's got some spunk!  

-Stacie 

Baby girl is 3 months old...

Our little lady is 3 months now.  She is sweet, sweet, sweet and spends all day smiling and laughing.  We are seriously lucky to have her and are both just completely smitten with this girl.  I didn't realize until now that the phrase "falling head over heels in love" doesn't just apply to romantic love- it can also apply to the children that God blesses you with in your life :)

a short photo story

I thought I would share some photos to describe my life right now...

Knox suffering through pigtails because his sister's hair is too short...

Me dragging Knox to the car because he wouldn't come like I asked him too...a definite low for the day...

The aftermath of Knox banging his head on the ground because he was angry...

Deacon watching tv...

My little family and our VW bus obsession...

What happens when your 2 year old gets bored and decides to put on sister's leggings...

the little sweetie that is killing my softly with those blue eyes...

this cat will not stop talking as long as you'll listen...i am afraid for myself in 2 years...

siblings watching a Disney movie sharing a blanket...

Well, that is what things have been like around here lately...in a photo nutshell life is good :)

-Stacie

A white Christmas...

I can't believe that it is already January and the holidays are over! Kyle & I had such a wonderful Christmas this year.  We got to celebrate together with our little family here in Austin and then we headed to Spokane to celebrate with Kyle's family.

Last Christmas when we flew to Spokane for the holidays we had a bit of a travel snafu and ended up getting stuck in Denver with snow, flying at 2am to Seattle and driving across the Snoqualmie Pass in a rental van with 8 other strangers to get us to Spokane all with a 13 month old! After that experience, we decided that we wouldn't fly through Denver again in the winter. So, we booked our flights through Phoenix and called it good.  However, when we showed up at the airport at 5 am on December 27th we were informed that our flight to Phoenix had been canceled due to weather! An ice storm! What are the odds?  It worked out fine thank goodness...we got rerouted through Minneapolis and even got to fly first class from Minneapolis to Spokane.  Not too shabby! Still, winter flying with children is always a bit of an adventure.  Both of them did great though and we arrived in Spokane without any majors snafus.

Our week was great- we just hung out with Kyle's family and relaxed. We also watched the entire season 2 of Homeland- aMazing! And of course, Knox had a blast with his cousin Marek who is exactly one year older than him.  He even got to go sledding for the first time.  He wasn't too sure at first, but he ended up liking it.  All in all, it was a great Christmas and we're sad to get back to the reality of life without vacation!

Knox wearing his cousin McKenna's snow suit...

this is a photo for his future wife for sure!  

Such a cutie

Uncle Kyle and the boys

Knox & Me sledding

the whole clan

Nana with all her grandkids

looks like Marek has Knox in a headlock- ha!

Kyle & Sally doing his VW bus puzzle that he got for his B'day 

playing at the Children's museum

Grandsons- they almost look like little twins!

My baby girl 

Mckenna- the sweetest little girl you'll ever meet!! 

-Stacie

a brief hiatus

It has been awhile since I last blogged.  Mostly because we now have two children,  but also because I have early on-set of technology inability and haven't been able to get any pictures uploaded on the blog- and who wants to read a blog post with no pictures?  Poor Knox is really going to have his work cut out for him in 20 years with his dear old mom.  Only 31 and I can't operate a computer- imagine how bad it will get...

Well, nothing too terribly exciting has been happening around here. Isla is just about 8 weeks old and we are still adjusting to life with two children and what that means for us.  Really it just means no time to yourself and less rest.  But we're adjusting.  Isla is an exceptionally good baby (our only complaint is that she screams in the car- ALWAYS) and that makes going anywhere very unpleasant. But other than that minor snafu she really is a wonderfully easy baby.  Thank the good Lord for that!  

Here are some pictures of our life over the last month: 

Knox thinks it's funny to wear Kyle's ski helmet around

I promise that he asked to wear this bow- really

Some time with Dad

Knox has been my little cookie helper this holiday season and surprisingly enough he is actually helpful! 

We drove out to Elgin to cut down our family Christmas tree

the men with the tree :)

Here are some of the pictures from our family photo shoot that didn't make the Christmas card cut: 

Knox in what he calls "Knox Bus"

i love this one!

three generations :) 

Daddy & Daughter- so sweet

my little lady

 We're spending Christmas in Austin this year because of little Isla. But we're excited to be heading out to Spokane next Friday for a week with Kyle's family. Fingers crossed for an airplane trip with 2 children!  We'll definitely post again after that trip for an update.

-Stacie