Spring Break 09

Riley requested that we head to the "mountain house" for spring break this year.  That is what he says when he wants to go to my parents home in North Carolina.  Unfortunately for him, they were going to be at their place in Kiawah, SC during that week so we spent the week there instead.  Better for me because it takes half the time to drive to Kiawah than to western NC.  Mom and Dad just redid their entire condo and it's so beautiful.  They did a fantastic job picking out new flooring, cabinets, counters, furniture, etc.  This was our first time seeing the place since it's been finished.  

Here are some pictures of our week with mom and dad (aka Nanny and Pappy).  Enjoy!

Every visit to Kiawah requires a trip (or 10) over the "alligator bridge" and then to the alligator hole by the golf course.  This time we got to see two gators by the golf course at the same time. 

Kendall enjoying her Nanny

For whatever reason, these two have created a special bond already.  She adores her Pappy and he's just as smitten with her.  Here she is kissing him - and he's LOVING it!

My dad has played this game with both of my kids and they love it.  It's called "Bump A Headie."

My parents bought Riley a new Dumpy because he busted the wheels off of his old one.  He pushes this truck all over the island.  This was taken on the golf course that my parents' place overlooks.  I was able to convince him to put his knees in Dumpy and ride him down the hill.  I have some great video of him wiping out at the bottom of the hill!

We took a trip to the playground to burn off some energy.

The tube slide is always a big hit.

Even Dumpy got in on the action!

Baby girl thinks she's a Big Girl

I made a strawberry smoothie for Riley - strawberry yogurt, strawberries, milk and a banana.  Kendall got to try it and she LOVED it.  She kept going back for more!

The Easter Bunny made a special trip to Kiawah for Easter.  Kendall found her first egg.

Then she found her basket.

Then she destroyed her basket!

Is it empty?

Almost every time we visit Kiawah, Riley gets to play with his friend Connor.  Connor is the grandson of my dad's best friend who moved to Johns Island.  They live about a half hour away from Kiawah.  Connor's grandpa (Ed) and my dad both worked for Cat in York, Pa.  Ed ran the Sumter, SC plant and my dad ran the Morganton, NC plant when they closed the York plant.  For those of you who were at our wedding, the old convertible my dad escorted us in from the church was Ed's.  

Riley and Kendall hanging out on the chair.

She's started clapping.  It almost seems intentional, but I'm not sure she's old enough for that yet.

Wanting a closer look at the camera.  Can you see her lopsided grin?  She has two top teeth on her left side, but none on her right side yet.

Getting ready to crawl.  It won't be long now.  She's been sitting up all by herself in her crib and I've even found her standing on her knees with her hands on the railing.  I guess I best be getting busy baby proofing the house.  She was checking out the electrical socket in Riley's room the other day too!

Click here to watch Kendall inhale her first smoothie

Click here to watch out takes of Riley and Dumpy...You will laugh out loud!

Off To See The Mouse!

Riley had off school on the Friday before his spring break started so he convinced Daddy to take the day off too.  When we asked Riley what he wanted to do on that day, he was quick to mention that he really wanted to go to Disney.  We originally planned to go just for the day (the beauty of season passes!), but Andy decided to check out hotels on Priceline.  We found a room at the Marriott for a good rate, so we ended up staying over night and spent two days there.  

We spent our first day at Magic Kingdom.  The kids were sporting their new Mickey shirts that I made for them.  The first thing we did was stop and get Kendall a Minnie hat of her own.  The two of them wore them throughout the park and looked so cute together!

Dad and Riley waiting to take the boat ride over to Tom Sawyer Island.  Riley loved running around the island and checking out the canons on the fort.

We decided to take Kendall's stroller instead of our Sit and Stand so that Kendall could lie flat and sleep if necessary.  To ease some of Riley's exhaustion, we took turns in the stroller and carried Kendall in our Baby Bjorn.  She loves being close to us and often falls asleep in it.  Her favorite is to be facing out and seeing everything that's going on.

Kendall making eyes at her Daddy.

I wish I knew what she was thinking when I snapped this picture!  I love the expression!

Sporting her new Minnie Mouse ears!

A long day at Hollywood Studios.  Poor Riley got jipped on the Toy Story ride.  We went there first because it usually is hard to get a fast pass for it.  There was an hour wait, so we decided to bite the bullet and wait it out.  It was a frustrating wait...Numerous people cut in front of us in line - the newest trick is to say you're meeting up with your group who is way up the line.  Then some kid puked inside the building where you weave through like a mouse trying to find the cheese.  Then we get up to the front of the line, ready to pick up our 3D glasses, and they tell us that the ride is being shut down.  No fast pass, no compensation, just utter frustration.  The next fast pass wasn't until 7pm...For those of you familiar with fast passes at Disney, that means, you can't get another fast pass until that one expires.  Needless to say, Andy complained and we ended up with fast passes to the Tower of Terror and Star Wars instead.  Riley LOVED the Star Wars ride, but mom and dad both get sick while on it so he only got to do it once.  I was also able to finally convince him to ride the Tower of Terror with me (he was scared of the spider webs in the library where you see the video!)  The boy was hooked!  He couldn't wait to go on it again, and again, and again for a total of 5 times!  It's his new favorite ride.  Although, Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom rated pretty high as well.

Kendall was a happy girl the entire time we were there.  She is so flexible and just enjoyed herself and being outside in the beautiful weather. 

Our very own Sleeping Beauty!

How We Spend Our Afternoons in Florida

After baby girl's afternoon nap, we usually try to all go outside together for a walk...Penton included.  Riley calls this stroller our "golf cart."  Why, I don't know, but the kids love it.  Kendall will lean forward and gnaw on the bar in front of her!  Crazy girl!  

She loves being outside.  It can change her mood instantly.  So you can imagine that with all her teething (she's got a lop-sided grin right now - top two left teeth are in and still waiting on the top right) that we spend a lot of time outside.  When we get back to our house, we often stop at our swing set and play until it's time to make dinner.  The weather in Florida is wonderful this time of year and we're trying to enjoy it as much as we can before the Africa hot summer arrives!

Lunch at Joe's Crab Shack

Libby & Kendall

Lainey & Kendall

Lainey, Kendall and Garrett

Matt's got crabs!

Matt, Lori and Kendall

We met the Meeks family at Joe's Crab Shack for lunch last weekend.  We had a great time.  Libby danced with the waitresses, while Lainey, Garrett and Riley all played on the playground and the parents got to enjoy some adult conversation.  We were hoping to sit outside and eat our lunch while looking out over the ocean, but it was so windy we were afraid our lunches would blow back into the ocean!  We are so blessed to have become such good friends with Matt and Lori.  They are wonderful people and hope we continue to get to spend a lot of time with them.

I Can't Wait Until I Get My New Tooth!

Kendall has gotten 4 teeth already...#5 is taking it's good all time.  She's got her two bottom, top left center, and her top left lateral.  The top right center should be making an appearance sometime soon - at least we all hope!  Here are some pics of Kendall getting some relief from teething pain.  

Enjoying some frozen peas....

A frozen teething biscuit...

Kendall's Big Day!

Pappy & Nanny Hershock and their grandbabies

The Chunkos

 

Proud Pappy

Mommy & Daddy and baby Kendall

Kendall's new favorite bib!

Sunday, March 15th, 2009 is the day we publicly dedicated Kendall to the Lord at East Pointe Church.  We were so fortunate to have my parents in town for her special day.  They came up front with us for the dedication.  It was really special for all of us.  She was a perfect little angel that morning despite the fact that tooth #4 is getting ready to make an appearance.  Kendall received a NT bible and a bib that says EPC and I Love My Pastor! on it.  Pastor Kevin is too funny!  We are so blessed with such an awesome church to attend and we love our pastors too!

Listen While You Work...

While Riley and I were outside in the yard working on putting some edging around our front flower garden, we were listening to the radio.  I put a country station on and we were singing along to the songs we knew.  A song came on that said "...I'm working for a livin'" and Riley shouts "Hey Mom!  This is a God song!"  I said "It is?"  He said, "Yeah, it said I'm working for Heaven."  

I love it!

Sleeping Beauty

I went in to check on Kendall the other day and couldn't get over how much she's grown.  I always think that it's easiest to see how big my children are while they are asleep.  You can use their crib to compare their size.  Miss Kendall is growing like a weed these days.  She's so precious while she's asleep so I thought I'd share this with you.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

In preparation of the spring season, Riley and I decided to prepare the flower beds.  We cut back old growth and hauled the waste out back to the woods via his little Radio Flyer wagon for compost.  This is the first time I allowed him to trip the "cutters."  He was very careful and the event did NOT end in a trip to the ER.  He is such a Momma's Helper and I am grateful for it.

Pollen, Pollen, Everywhere!

Riley and I decided to wash my car this past week since it was such a beautiful day.  We had so much fun squirting each other with the hose.  His favorite part was spraying the car and making it look shiny and new...well, newer.  It's hard to make a '97 Toyota 4Runner with over 176,000 miles.  It's a good vehicle and I wouldn't trade it...yet.  Someday I'll drive a new vehicle again, but for now, this one has been serving me well.  I got my car when we lived in upstate NY.  It survived the winters of the northeast and then it came with us to PA and now to FL.  I remember the day I got it:  Oct. 8, 1996.  Right off the ship from Japan!  My next vehicle will hopefully be a Toyota Highlander with 3rd row seating so I can carpool kids to and from school.  With Riley going to private school next year, we are going to try to make the 4Runner last until we're finished paying off Andy's Tundra...At least I'm not putting on the 50 miles a day like I was when I was working!  It's about 6 miles to the beach!  

There's A Monkey on My Back!

We are fortunate to live within 20 min. of the Jax Zoo.  We have annual passes so we can visit the zoo anytime of year for as long or as little as we choose.  Riley loves going to the zoo and seeing the animals, but he especially likes to ride the train and play at the Play Park.  During the warm weather months, they have a splash area for the kids that is so much fun for them.  The other day after I picked him up from school the weather was gorgeous, so I asked him if he wanted to spend the afternoon at the zoo.  He couldn't say yes fast enough.  

Some of you may remember how we use to call Riley "Monkey" when he was a toddler.  It was short for "Monkey Shine."  Well, now this picture is very appropriate.  There's a monkey on the monkey's back.  We weren't able to get close to the gorilla that they have at the zoo on this last trip, which was alright for Riley, since the last time we got to see him up close and personal, he scared Riley so much that Riley jumped and clung to my leg!

Care Packages from Wyoming

When Riley was born almost 5 years ago, Uncle Jason told Riley that he would buy him his first dirt bike.  Since then he's put some stipulations on that promise.  Jason says he'll buy him a dirt bike, but only if it's a Yamaha.  If you know Riley, only a Honda will do.  So Uncle Jason can breathe a sigh of relief since he's off the hook.  Daddy stepped up and bought the boy his Honda XR 50.  Uncle Jason and Aunt Lori wanted to help outfit Riley so he can be styling while raising cane in the neighborhood, so they sent him his birthday present early.  He's sporting the new FOX hat, which I think makes him look like a MX rider!  He also got the goggles (with tear offs), and FOX socks to wear with his boots.  Not to be left out, Kendall received a Jeremy McGrath (for those not familiar with supercross/motorcross, he was the best of the best- Andy and I got to see him race at Unadilla, NY) romper so she can look like the rest of us decked out in our riding gear.  For the first few days after Riley got his goggles, he was wearing them around the house ALL the time.  What a riot!

Hi Mom!

As much as I would like to say that my daughter is advanced and already knows how to wave, I can't...It looks like she was waving at me from inside her tent at the beach the other day, but I just got lucky when I snapped this picture.  

I'm lucky that going to the beach right now is not too difficult.  Kendall is content to just sit in her tent and play with her toys.  It will be interesting to see how things go once she starts to become mobile...She wants to crawl, but hasn't figured out how to do it yet.  She will lay on her belly and kick her legs and fuss that she hasn't moved anywhere.  Riley use to crawl all through the sand when he was a baby.  We'd find sand in his eyes, ears, mouth, you name it.  At least she's a pretty content child so I'm hoping that being sandy doesn't freak her out like it does some kids.

Pulling Our Hair Out

Kendall's latest past time is practicing her pincer grasp.  She's been picking up and eating puffs, Cheerios, bits of pancake, etc. off of her high chair tray.  She's also a master a pulling hair.  She loves to pull Mommy's hair as well as Momma's earrings.  Such a joy for Mom!  She found a new victim the other night at the table...

Come on Brother, let me touch your hair!

No way Sissy!

Ahh! She got me!

I don't have to like it, but since I love her so much, I'll let her touch my hair.

Kendall loving some attention from her Daddy.  He's lucky that he has got short hair.  She can't grab a handful of his locks!