She Jumps!

Aunt Barbara caught this awesome pic of Maggie jumping in to Bri. Thanks for sending along the pictures, makes me feel like I'm not really a 20 hour plane ride away!

Missing the gang from Down Under

Thursday I left the family and started my trip to Australia. I think it's been a few days but some how I made it down here and am enjoying the cool weather, cafes, and views of the Indian Ocean. But, I miss these guys:




My conference officially starts tonight, and I think I've slowly adjusted to the 14 odd hour time change. I've learned that everyone down here wears skinny jeans tucked into cool leather tight boots, and I stand out in my boot cut jeans and Dansko clogs. I ordered crepes thinking I would get the yummy thin things from Europe and was bummed to get some regular old Waffle House style pancakes.

I'm off to take a long walk along the ocean to burn off my crepe induced carbs. Ending with this pic taken yesterday of Maggie and gang kayaking up North. You think she'd miss me but while video conferencing she just gave me a quick "Hi Mom" and then went back to playing with her cousin. Keegan however gave a good cry when he realized the computer version of Mommy couldn't hold him.


I promised Maggie a Kangaroo, but this Rock Wallaby was cuter. I don't think she'll know the difference!

At the lake!

We pretty much spend any free time at the lake. Molly caught these pics when she was out visiting from Hong Kong. It's so fun to see Maggie jump in and go under!



And cute baby K of course too!

County Fair Baby!

So up here in Northern California, the 'Fair' is a big deal. We've lived here almost 4 years, and I always manage to skip it. Thanks to my good friend Kels, I was talked into going this year. I just hate large groups of people, it reminds me of Walmart in Oklahoma in my 20s... which is usually what you come across at a fair-like-environment! It ended up being super fun, and I had some world famous corn-dog which kept me full all the way through cocktail hour!

Here we are at the get go: Keegan in Maggie's old backpack for the first time. Waiting for Kelsey, Sadie and Josie to hit the fairgrounds:



After checking out 9 piglets eating dinner off a big 'ole mama pig, seeing sheep (smooth and fuzzy alike) goats, cows, and chickens, we hit my personal highlight. I used to favor myself as a Bud girl in my college days, and the only cheap beer in our fridge is Bud Light, so it was fun to see the official Budweiser Clydesdales! And the polka dot doggie too, from the super-bowl commercials! Here are the girls, unaware that they are with the Thunderbirds of horses!
Next was the racing cars. Maggie kept saying to Sadie "Sadie, it's bumpy!"
Then we went on the Dumbo ride. Kelsey has the pictures on her camera, since I had to ride with the girls because they were under 42 inches. Then the little ones hopped on this Australian Kangaroo adventure ride. They were so sweet and honestly happy!
So 3 hours past morning nap time, baby Kong melted into my backpack. Not bad.
More pictures to follow. A fun day with great friends.

They play together now!

So tonight I caught on tape the 2 munchkies playing together. First off is Mags feeding big K. She's my helper, especially when Bri is gone.

The second video got cut short. Maggie did this move like 30 times but my camera ran out of memory. I'm surprised they didn't head bonk!

With Papa

This week Nana was nice enough to come down and help with Maggie while I worked, because Maggie's day care was closed. I guess we were pretty busy because the only proof I have of the week is of Papa and baby Kong right before their departure!

Saying Blah blah Blah

Keegan loves to chatter- Lisa caught it on tape this weekend:

Triathlon!

One night I came home and Brian told me he'd signed me up for a sprint triathlon. How's that for post-baby motivation? So here are some pics of the event.


This is after the bike. Check out how cool the mountains and Donner lake are in the background!
I was trying to fix my hair and catch my breath. This crazy husband behind me kept yelling that I was spending too much time in transition!

Our family of four- check out how excited Keegan is!
We told Maggie she'd get a jelly bean if she'd smile for the camera. Good for the blog picture, not good for the dentist!
We usually do tri's with our pre-kid gang from North Carolina: Decoy, Hummer, Dog, the Rices... but this time we had the chance to race with Brian's best friend from high school, Jess. Both the guys came in under an hour which was their goal. How funny is it that they were the only 2 without wet suits! LOCALS!!!




Me feeling like a champ. Didn't feel so much like a champ the next morning! Who'll race with us next July? Can't beat the scenery OR the burning lungs!

SIX month stats!

Here's the big guy on our trip to Savannah. Prior to the trip he had his 6 month check up. He was 29.5 inches long, 18.6lbs, and his head was somewhere in the 70th percentile. He's off the charts for his length, and in the 70th percentile for his weight. It's kind of funny to me that he's only gained 8 lbs in his life, but I guess when you start out as a ten pound baby it's tough to maintain that 'weight class'! He's our super happy little guy, who loves to sit up, roll on to his tummy and get stuck, say "Dah Dah Dah", and giggle endlessly when Daddy tickles his ribs or Maggie is nearby. Maggie calls him Boo Boo bear, and sometimes just Keeg. She think it's cool she has nicknames for him. Happy 6 months baby K!

Triple Digit Heat...

It's gotten pretty hot here. So we filled up the pool and have been using it for entertainment. Mom, K, and Mags all outfitted in our SPF 50 shirts because I hate smearing on sunblock:



Keegan is Euchre's biggest fan. Like Euchre walks into the room and Keegan goes nuts. Here he is smiling at his bud. The fun thing is that when we had Maggie, Euchre (our true first baby) would get up and walk out of the room in disgust any time she was near him. With Keegan, Euchre just welcomes the attention since he is the one who gets ignored!




Brian and I went out to lunch today- he took the day off and was the official 'nanny'. He and K had a fun day watching the Tour D' France and splitting a captain and coke!

So we went to Seattle...

almost a month ago. Here is a shot of us in our pajamas as we were leaving. The 2 moms, who first met playing soccer at the Academy like more than 15 years ago. Jen and I made it through basic training together, a lot of drama on our crazy soccer teams through out the years, pilot training, and now are both super happy being moms. Except she's now a superstar mom. Who is a pro photographer (when I have time I'll post more of her awesome pictures she got of our kids) and also a seamstress who makes neato bibs, tanks, and dipers personalized for kids, and knows how to decorate a house- all things I have not and probably never will figure out. Thanks guys for hosting us!



Taken by Jen:

A few more Summer Shots

When Mike and Jen came up we went to this awesome spot on the Yuba River. The dogs loved swimming and Keegan had his own little rock that kind of had a pool in it!



So this shot is a remake of the brothers and dogs at Woodlake. Molly is trying to find the archived pic and I'll post them side by side so we can see how everyone has changed in the last 4 years. One of the brothers has gotten more gray hair, I'm not saying which one!


Here is Keegan at the parade on the 4th with his Hat from Hong Kong. Oh the irony.



Maggie and her best playmate, Nana. While the rest of us played Mexican Train, Nana would play 'farm' with Maggie in a 3 foot play area behind the couch! Thanks Nana!

On the 3rd of July, we Keegan was baptized! All family from Bri's side made it in- we were just missing Godmother Lisa! Mike did an awesome job fulfilling all the duties:



Keegan trying to get the candle from Mike:



Preggers Katie (yeah, it's a BOY!) and Molly (flew in from HONG KONG!) with Mags and me:


The whole gang. This is the most beautiful Catholic Church with views of Lake Tahoe behind the altar. Aunt Barbara, Rich, and the whole Darmody gang made it up too!



Just the 4 of us:



Next up: pics from the 4th! Here was the view from our get together at Donner lake!

Father's Day

We hit the mountains with our good friends and the kids got to play at Sand Pond, but it was still a bit too cold for hard core swimming: Dad's and babies



oops, bad editing. Keegan in the bumbo while I slave away in the kitchen:


Gap girls in the water



Back at home with Papa and Dad celebrating father's day



The Dads and Maggie hit the lake for a good kayak!

The Morning After...

After seeing so many of her buds in Big Girl Beds we finally gave in. Here is Mag's bed- the way SHE made it.





So, the morning after the word is that she STAYED in her bed until we went and got her! Yeah!

On the Road

So it's road trip time. Here is the happy guy who does pretty well on the road:




And then... there's Maggie. Who screams for a TREAT every 2 minutes and seems to do everything in her power to keep Keegan awake. So for 2 days now she hasn't napped, and she ALWAYS naps. We put her in the hotel room all nice and dark for her first nap in a 'big girl bed' because the pack and play hadn't showed up. About an hour later we heard a bit of noise, so we thought she'd had a decent nap. Bri turned on the lights and this is what that little elf was doing in the dark: trying to completely strip the beds and move around all the pillows! Honest these beds had looked GOOD before:




So, and hour after swimming in the hotel pool, our little fire engine finally ran out. YEAH.

TWELVE years ago....

28 May 1997 was the day we both graduated... finalizing a pretty rough 4 years at the Academy. While we were there everyone said "It's not a great place to be, but it's a great place to be FROM". 12 years later, I'm still just glad it's over. We had to wear our parade outfit which included tight white pants which don't show in this picture.  If highly requested though, I might be able to find a picture of them...  Here we are on graduation day, merely dating, not knowing that 12 years later we'll have 2 fun kids and still like each other a lot (and yes my eyebrows are for real as is Bri's hair). Check the date out on the bottom corner of the picture for accuracy:



And here we are that night- I think we went to a place called maybe the Golden Bee? At that shwanky hotel in downtown Colorado Springs the Broadmoor? Our graduation was a bit of a let-down as the weather was bad so the Thunderbirds only made one pass, and because they were re-doing the football stadium we actually had to sit in the stands! I do remember though that the Thunderbirds were at the Golden Bee that night and I learned that they really aren't that cool!!! One of them even tried to hit on my little sister! HA!



Whew! Still can't believe it's been 12 years since we went through that circus!

Driveway Golf

Because when kids are napping inside you can't just go play a round of golf... we settled for a competetive round of driveway putt-putt at the Mulloys. Billy was the victor with his official hole in one. Here we are checking out the action:


Our cute boy with a great smile




We took Mags roller skating- she LOVED it. I planned on roller skating too, but luckily the check out person let me know I could just walk next to her. I made it almost one lap, and it was TOUGH! Brian then took over for the remaining 10 laps she probably did!


Uncle Billy and Keegan! Billy totally took over as uncle down at the Village and entertained our little monkey for a couple of hours! THANKS


Newly preggers Katie with her tiny little bump. Maggie is so excited to have a new cousin and wants to name it "You". creative



Nana and Keegan at the driveway party.