District Champs!!

We went to Abbie's basketball game on Saturday for the district championship & they won! Woohoo!! They play on Wednesday, and if then win they will play on Saturday. If they win on Saturday they will go to state! I'm so excited! Here's some pics from the day:

Jeremiah says "Go Bobbie!"


Here's Great Grandma, Great Aunt Naomi, and a sick Millie (she was wearing the cutest dress on Saturday until she got sick...poor kid!)


James, Jenna, (our online settler's buddies!) and Maddilyn:


Mason and Great Grandpa:


Check out these crazy warm-ups they are wearing!


I thought this was way too cute! So Abbie, who is this guy? Hmmm...??


Group Huddle:


and the question of the day is...where did those arm muscles come from? I think I need Abbie to be my personal trainer!


Go Team!


I didn't get any pics of Abbie actually playing (and she played quite a bit of the game) because Millie had no desire to just sit. She and I spent most of the game walking the track that ran around the gym! My dad took tons more pictures...and he has the group shot of those of us that were there! She had quite the crowd! I'm so proud of Abbie...and for playing Varsity as a Sophomore! You rock, girlie! Can't wait to hear how you guys do on Wednesday!

It's Thursday...

so that means it's a great TV night!! AI will reveal who got kicked off, Lost looks super exciting tonight...I always love the Kate episodes, & I've been watching Eli Stone.

So, who do you think is going home tonight on AI? For the guys, my bottom 3 are Garrett, Jason Yeager, & Danny. The girls...Amy Davis, & the first 2 that sang. I think I liked the guys better than the girls this week. Who do you think are going home?

I had plans of having a much needed "mommy night" tonight, but I think I'll wait for a night that isn't such a good TV night! :) Plus, it's freezing & it's supposed to snow & sleet tonight...sounds like a good night to stay in my pj's, drink coffee, and watch TV!

Here are some layouts I haven't posted on here yet.






Well, Mason just walked in and he's soaking wet from his nap! Gotta run!

This is so true...

Have you ever seen this video?



I think Tyler should start doing his counseling like this! :)

There are times I need to tell myself "Stop it!"

I won!

Remember the pink layout about Millie from a couple of days ago? Well, I won the Pink Week Template Challenge! :) I won a Wacom Bamboo Tablet and it should be arriving at my house in a couple of days!

Pretty cool, huh? Thanks Miriam and team!! :) Also...Miriam and I are talking about having me do some photography challenges with her site. I'm excited to work along side of her! I need to keep pushing myself to learn more with my photography & this seems like a great opportunity!

Speaking of photography...wanna see what I'm drooling over?

It's the Canon XSI...it has 12 megapixels & it seems like a great camera. It isn't released until April, but I'm reading everything I can on it. I have been wanting the 40d, but it is still out of my price range (not that this is much better!) I'll also need a speedlite flash, a 50mm lens, and I'd like a 70-300mm lens, but I'll just have to get it all piece by piece. Hopefully I'll get to do some photo sessions this spring so I can save for some new fun stuff! After I get my camera setup, I'm going to save for some lights so I can do some studio stuff. Woohoo! (It's all still a big dream, but a girl's gotta dream, right? I just keep waiting for a few grand to fall from the sky!)

Here's a few new layouts for you guys!







Today is shaping up to be a busy day...Tyler has a missions board meeting, and then a church board meeting tonight. So, that means I have no breaks until he gets home. I feel a Starbucks night coming on soon! :) I'm looking forward to American Idol, though!

exhausted.

We had a good evening last night! Tyler gave me a sweet card & a starbucks gift card. I am ready for a good "kid free" night to just sit, read People magazine, and drink coffee. ahhh...sounds really good right about now!

I had my hair cut & colored...I had several inches cut off & it feels good! After I got home, we took the kids to Monicals for the heart shaped pizza. The kids really had fun...but the pizza really didn't look much like a heart! We enjoyed our blob shaped pizza, though!





After we got home, we ran in the door to watch Lost. Is anyone else scratching their head and saying "Whoa! Didn't see that one coming?!?" I guessed right on who the next person is on the Oceanic Six, but I sure didn't expect the person at the end! I won't say anything else if you guys haven't watched it yet. And...I highly recommend renting the DVD series and watching seasons 1-3 and get caught up. Such an amazing show! My head is still trying to make sense of everything from last night...which I'm sure won't really happen until 2010 when the show ends! I missed Survivor last night...any updates on what happened? I'm still not 100% sure that I'm going to be a diehard survivor fan this season. It still remains to be seen!

Speaking of fans...I LOVE American Idol and I'm really happy with the top 24! I am loving Brooke White. She's my fave right now...I think. I'll probably have a new fave next week! :) I was just so glad that whiney Josiah didn't make it to the top 24. And, while we're talking reality shows...anyone else a project runway fan? I'm really excited to see their collections! I'm sure Christian's will be "fierce!" His clothes are amazing! And, I'd love for Jillian to be my personal seamstress! I promise I'm not a TV Junkie! :)

Ok, I totally got off track with my tv shows...I meant to tell you about the rest of the night! About 1am, Mason crawls into our bed. Then, around 2, Millie starts sobbing and Tyler tries to snuggle with her in the papasan chair and she wasn't having it. She wanted Mommy! So, he brings her to our bed...Tyler, Millie, me, and then Mason. Lucky me is sandwiched between 2 kids that can't lay still when they are trying to sleep. They are kicking me, Millie is climbing on me, Mason starts giggling and finally at 2:45 & I had it. I told Tyler that he needs to take Mason back to his bed...and Mason FLIPPED out! He and Tyler went to lay down in his bed & I finally got Millie where she was almost asleep. Tyler walked into our room, which woke her up and she started sobbing again. He said that Mason wouldn't sleep with him, so he's just letting him try to calm down & fall asleep on his own. It's like 3:30 at this point. I am ready to just jump in our van and drive far, far away. I finally got Millie to fall asleep & we all finally crashed a little after 4 this morning. Mason comes in our room at 6:20 saying "Mommy, I'm wet!" and my day began. I seriously feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck! It's the feeling you have after working at a lock-in. I'm just hoping everyone takes long naps around here...and I may help myself to another cup of coffee! We are all going to bed early tonight (and don't tell Tyler, but I'm thinking it's his morning to get up with the kids tomorrow & I'm going to catch a few extra minutes of sleep!)

I was going through my photos the other night & I don't think I've ever shared this one on here. Brooklyn is stunningly beautiful...and this picture just feels so whimsical! I love how it turned out! Pretty cool playground pic, huh?


Have a wonderful weekend everyone! (and aren't you proud of all of my blogging? I'm having a lot of fun doing it again!)

Dear Tyler...

Thanks for being such an amazing husband and daddy to the kids. We are truly blessed to have you in our lives! I'm so thankful for you!

Love,
Kellie

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! We're taking it pretty easy around here today. After I get done babysitting, I'm going to get my hair cut and highlighted (which I told Tyler that can just be my gift...haircolor is expensive!) After I get home, we're taking the kids and going to Monical's Pizza. Since we've had kids, we don't go out anywhere fancy on Valentine's Day...we try to go somewhere fun as a family. The past couple of years we've done Monicals. They make the pizza in the shape of a heart for Vday, and yes, I know it sounds corny, but it's kind of fun! After we get home, we'll watch Lost & then I may attempt to make a heart shaped cookie pizza. But, we may just save that for a weekend activity with the kiddos! :)

I made the kids CD Albums for Valentine's day. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how long it was going to take for Wal-Mart to do my prints, so they will get them this weekend instead of today. But, I'll show you guys how they are looking so far! Here's Mason's:



I used a CD template album by Janet Phillips & Gina Miller's I Wub You kit!

and here's Millie's:




Once they are printed, I'll cut them out and then modge podge them onto CD's. Then, I'll drill holes through the CD, add a binder ring, add some ribbons, and hopefully it will turn out cute! I'll post final pics once I get them done! I'm really happy with how they look so far! I think the kids will like looking at them (and in reality, the are probably more fun for me!) Poor Tyler is going to have to settle for some fun Illini pajama pants for Valentine's day! :) I bought them a couple of weeks ago & I've had sick kids the past few days, so I haven't been able to go anywhere!

Miriam Lima's Creative team has put on such an amazing week of challenges. I entered the template challenge today...we had to use the template & then 70% pink on our layout. I think I may have went pink overboard, but I'm really happy with how it turned out!


I hope all of you have a great Valentine's day!

xoxo

Not so Cinderella...

After my "little Cinderella" climbed off of my lap earlier, I heard the faint sound of splashing. Ugh...the kid is a magnet to the toilet! Definitely not a Cinderella moment!

and...I couldn't blog today without sharing a pic...so here's my little Cinderella.

Cinderella...

This song is soooo sweet! I think I'm going to have to have Millie and Tyler do a dancing photo shoot this spring so I can make a book using this song. It melts my heart!



My little Cinderella just crawled up in my lap with her tiara on. Ahhh...the sweet moments of motherhood!

Ninety Nine Balloons...

I've been wanting to share this link & project with you all for awhile now! :) I worked really hard and finished up volume one of Miles' scrapbook. I say volume one because I still have lots of pics that need scrapped...and I didn't want to be "done." I'm not ready to close that door yet. I had some help from some of my online friends (thank you Lauren Reid's team...I owe you guys so much!) They offered to help scrap some pages for me so I didn't have to do them all by myself. I'm thrilled with how it all came together! It's fun seeing my pages & theirs together...it just makes this book even more special! When the book arrived in the mail, I sat down and just took it all in. It felt like it was proof that he was here...there are times when it all feels so surreal. But, this book is proof that my baby was here...and he was an incredible inspiration for me & so many others!

Warning...tissues may be needed today.

If you'd like to view the book, click here! When you open the link, click "view photo book" at the bottom of the page. You don't have to register to view it.

Stephanie on Lauren Reid's team, posted a link to a video called "Ninety Nine Balloons." I watched it and it just spoke volumes to me...and I could relate on so many levels to this family. I just wanted to share their amazing story with you, too. You can watch it here. It's 6 minutes...but so worth viewing!! I imagine that little Eliot & little Miles are good buddies in Heaven!

It's so hard to believe that Mason & Miles are already 3 years old! On their birthday, we took Mason to Miles' grave & we let go three balloons for Miles since they turned three. When Mason got out of the van, he walked up to Miles' grave and said "This is Miles?" We told him that this is a place we go to remember Miles...but that Miles lives up in heaven with Jesus, and that we were going to send him some balloons for his birthday. When Mason let go of a balloon, he would say "Happy Birthday Miles!" Before he let go his last balloon, the 3 of us sang happy birthday to Mason and Miles & then we watched the last balloon float away. It was such a sweet, tender moment between the 3 of us. (then we booked it back to the van because it was like 10 degrees & so bitterly cold!)

Thank you for all of your love and support...our family is so grateful!

Would the sickies please go away?

I am SO ready for spring!! I am tired of the colds & the yuckies! Mason had diarrhea Saturday night/Sunday morning so we stayed home from church. He never ran a fever, so I don't know if it was just something he ate or just some weird belly bug...but I'm glad he's over it! (He had diarrhea last weekend, too...I don't want to make this a weekly thing!) Tyler has a yucky cold...which last night turned into fever/chills. He's snuggled up in bed this morning. Millie & I are good so far! :) Did I mention I'm ready for spring? I keep telling Tyler "Let's move to Florida!" I am longing for open windows, playing outside, and not having to dress like we live in the arctic! Shorts & Sundresses are way more fun!

We had a fun day (before the diarrhea) on Saturday. We met up with Travis & Wendy & the kids for lunch at Taco Bell (Maybe Taco Bell's what caused Mason's issues?) It was so good to see them...even if just for an hour! Mason adores "Bwookwyn Isaiah." After lunch, we headed to visit baby Cohen Hollis. He's so cute! I always forget just how little newborns are...and Mason & Miles were like 1/3 his weight! (and can you believe I forgot to take pics while I was there?!?) I loved getting to snuggle with him!

I'm going to post a few layouts before my morning gets really crazy around here!






Have a happy Monday! I'm going to disinfect my house! :)

Lost...

Anyone else watch Lost last night? Tyler decided to watch the Illini game last night instead of Lost, so I have no one to discuss it with! AHH!! I'm making him watch it online today (and I'm going to have to watch it again...it's making my head spin!) I LOVE this show! It always keeps me guessing & just when you think you have something figured out...whammo!...they change it up! Polar bears in the desert? Ghostbuster? What's up with Ben? AHHH!! Thursday can't come soon enough!

I watched Survivor last night...not sure if it will be that great of a season, but it could be interesting. What was up with Johnny Fairplay last night? He definitely threw everyone for a loop at tribal council!

Ok, enough TV talk! Guess what we're doing tomorrow? We're going to visit Johnny & Jessica & I get to hold their sweet baby boy!!! Welcome to the world little Cohen! We can't wait to meet you!

Michelle...the link for the Settlers game online is www.games.AsoBrain.com It's called Xplorers on there, but it's the same! You'll love it...and it's FREE!

Here's a few more new layouts:






Have a great weekend everyone!

Boo!!

I thought I might catch some people off guard and blog today! :) I've honestly thought about just giving it up...it's so hard to keep up with when I'm trying to babysit & keep some order to my home. But, it really takes less than 5 minutes, so I need to quit whining and give it a try! So, please e-mail me when it's been awhile and tell me to get busy blogging! I can't promise anything...but I'm shooting for at least once a week!

Life has been NUTS in the Penn house. We've been sick (ear infections, sinus infections, respiratory infections...fun, stuff!) but everyone is finally feeling better! Mason is now 3 years old & is still a John Deere fanatic!

Millie is doing great...she's sassy & full of attitude & is really starting to talk alot! (and she's screaming at me right now saying "Drink, drink!")

Tyler & I are addicted to playing Settlers of Catan. James got us hooked on it over Christmas & we LOVE it! We've been playing online at night...we're such dorks! :)

I have tons of layouts to share (and only a few minutes before the baby I watch wakes up) so I'll get busy posting them:

These first few are proof that Mason is nuts:




He's full of personality!

Here's some new layouts of the little princess! :) Not necessarily new pictures, but some pictures that I finally scrapped!






and a few more (just because it's been so stinkin' long since I shared anything!)





I still have tons of layouts I haven't shared yet, so I'll try to be better & share more often!

I've gotta say, it feels good to finally post to this blog! (even though I've filled 2 sippies, wiped a rear, settled a few arguments during this post! :) Man, my day is so busy!)