Weblog
Monday, 08 February 2010
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Blizzard 2010
The Blizzard... February 2010
Why do I keep posting about snow? Could it be because SNOW has determined what we do, where we can go, how long we can stay there, and how much milk, eggs, and bread we need to stock up on while at the grocery store? Church has been canceled for two weeks now and the boys have been out of school for nearly as long!
I was skeptical that we would really be hit with yet another monstrous storm this Winter. Folks kept saying days in advance that a big one was coming. I never really believed all the talk until I saw for myself that huge area of green, pink, and white covering the radar map. Yes, we were right in the path of what they were calling "The storm of the Century"!!!
The snow started falling around 5:00 a.m.(?) on Friday morning. It started slowly without a lot of accumulation until later that afternoon. We went to bed with it snowing and awoke to the snow still falling from the sky and piling up on every outdoor surface it could find!!
Finally, after about 36 hours(give or take a few minutes), it quit snowing!! We were buried under 15 to 20 inches of nasty, heavy snow(or pure, beautiful whiteness)... it all depended on how you chose to look at it!! And believe me, I flip-flopped between the two outlooks all weekend! :)
It's now Monday evening and there is more talk of snow!! The weatherman is saying 8 - 12 more inches for Tuesday and Wednesday! I am certain that we will have snow remains until the Fourth of July!!!!
Now for the pictures...
Sledding fun before it got too deep.
Heading out to scoop snow.
Up to the bottom of the swings.
This was Saturday at lunch and it was still snowing!
Then came the morning... Sunday morning after the snow, that is.
Is that really something other than gray clouds in the morning sky?
Looking out our sun room window on Sunday morning.
Bill was afraid the snow would slide off the roof and the huge icicles might break through the window.
Our drifted back yard.
Bill's smiling now... the snow has ended and the sun is shining! :)
These two, Jackson and Checkers, have spent hours out in the snow!! They go sledding, do some snow biking(yes, Jackson had me put his helmet on top of his toboggan today so he could ride), or just stomp around in the nearly waist high drifts. I have convinced Kennedy that the snow is too deep and too cold for him. He willingly stays inside where it's warm and naps or plays tractor. :)
Maybe my the next post will have pictures of Spring bulbs poking their heads above the leftover snow, but I wouldn't get your hopes up!!
So until Spring... hope you have enjoyed our Winter Wonderland.
Silver Lake... should be called Blue Lake on a day like today!
Have a blessed week... Connie Sue & family
Wednesday, 03 February 2010
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How much snow?
Just how much snow are they calling for???
I keep hearing crazy numbers... like 24 - 34 inches!!! I'm still skeptical, but with a winter like we've had here in Virginia, it is quite possible. We'll just wait 'till this weekend and see... nothing much we can do about it, right?
Until then, we will enjoy the snow that fell last Saturday, and the fresh whiteness that piled on top of that yesterday(Tuesday). It's becoming a pattern... every three days, we get a measurable snowfall!!
Here are some pictures of our snowy day...
I gave in and sled down our "super big hill" with Jackson this afternoon. "That was super fast, wasn't it mom?" "That snow was super cold when it hit our faces!" "Now we have a super long walk up the hill, don't we?" This pregnant woman is clearly not in "super" shape as I tried to keep up with my never-tiring, oldest son and his frisky dog! What fun memories...
Stay warm, stay home(if you get this "super" snow), and stay safe!!
Friday, 15 January 2010
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From ice-skating to a trip to the park!
2010...
"Hello!!" I know I haven't updated my Xanga blog in a while and I totally skipped a Christmas posting. I must upload too many pictures to my Facebook page because when I then think about adding them to Xanga, I feel they are "old" and have been seen by "all". :) So, I decided that I would save most of my photos and blog with them instead of just posting them on FB with a quick caption. I will try to post more often and keep you updated with our lives this way. And, yes, it will show up on FB whenever I blog here... so all will be happy! :)
We've have had the same snow on the ground(that I wrote about in my last post) for 4 weeks now!! I am tired of it, which may surprise you since I am such a snow lover. But seriously, who likes to look at dirty piles of snow along every road and edging every parking lot, spots of white and brown in every yard and field, and hard, slick patches that cause you to fall if you get too close? It has just been too cold for much melting to take place. We had sub-zero temps(well it felt like that) for that entire time.
The cold temps caused many lakes and ponds in the area to freeze, much to the delight of ice-skaters in the area!! I would have LOVED to have gotten on skates to carve a few figure-eights of my own and jump triple axles but knew it was to the best interest of my unborn child that I stay off those thin blades of metal for this year. So, I took Jackson out in the cold twice for him to skate. He loves it and does exceptionally well for a 4 year old!!! Both times he did not want to leave and would have stayed for (more) hours if he could have. We must buy him his own pair of skates for next winter. Thanks to his cousin, Antonia(6), for sharing her little white skates with him. :)
This little pond is in Sparkling Spring's, close to my sister Gloria's house. And, this night was FREEZING cold and pitch black(dark) in the mountains. Jackson had a great time and stayed warm, but Kennedy and I didn't last out there too long. Thankfully we were able to warm up at my sister's while the more hearty souls zoomed over the small pond by light of flashlights and a blazing fire which served as a heat source, hot-dog roaster, and deterrent to any and all bear and coyote in the area!!
Our multi-purpose fire!
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Second time ice-skating... daytime which was a lot more desirable but still super cold!!
cousin Cheyenne, Grandmom, cousin Hannah, Aunt Gloria, and Jackson
Look at him go! :)
Today, a week later, we enjoyed a fifty plus degree day and warm sunshine!! The boys and I have been cooped up indoors for far too long and I have put on more pounds than I should have(for 19 weeks along) with little to no exercise all winter. So, we decided that a trip to Wildwood Park was in order. We donned old shoes(knowing that we'd no doubt end up hiking in mud & that left-over snow I told you about) and headed to the park after picking Jackson up from Pre-school. It was quite warm and all we needed were sweatshirts and sunshine to keep us comfortable. The boys played on the swings/play ground for a while and then we headed to the hiking trail that winds through the woods next to North River. Part of the river was frozen and Jackson was happy to walk on the ice. Kennedy on the other hand decided to stay on solid ground with his mom. :)
I now have a slight case of "Spring fever"!! But the reality is that it's only the middle of January with plenty more winter days left to come. I think we will visit the park again though... soon... regardless what the calendar says. ;)
And last but not least... my dear hubby shot himself a "trophy buck" on New Year's Day!! Yes, it's getting mounted and yes, it's going in my house!!!!! =)
The big 150 pound(field-dressed) 8-pointer!!
With his dad & hunting partner that day.
"Happy New Year" and may God richly bless you and yours in 2010!!
~Connie Sue and family
A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye.
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I’ve played the friend.
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year!
Edgar Guest
Sunday, 20 December 2009
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The BIG Snow
"Snow of the Decade"
We are currently snowed in here in Virginia! It all started on Friday evening around 4:00. The boys and I watched with excitement as the ground turned white. Bill and I watched the news that evening with skepticism... could we, would we, really get the 2 feet of snow the weather forecasters said were heading our way???
We woke up to about a foot on Saturday morning and the snow was coming down heavily. We all knew that it wasn't stopping anytime soon!! Bill had one thing on his mind after he had his coffee, that is. :) He was itching to get into the big 4X4 John Deere and do some snow pushing!! The boys and I wanted to go out, too. So, after many warm layers, neck scarves, gloves, and snow boots we headed out into the blizzard-like conditions. We had fun riding around in the tractor, trying in vain to clear our steep driveway. It was snowing and blowing and didn't take long for tracks to be covered as more of the white stuff piled up.
Bill then decided to feed a round bale of hay to the cows on the hill. I followed on foot, taking pictures of the beauty around as I went. Had to get some photos of the cows getting blanketed in snow and of the "men" in their big green tractor. :)
It kept snowing all day... bringing the total to right at two feet. It is hard to get an accurate measurement with the drifting and blowing that we also had. I found drifts that measure a good three feet or more!!
Finally... over 24 hours after the storm started the snow finally ceased to fall from the sky. We awoke on Sunday morning to a blanket of white beauty!!!
Enjoy the snowy pictures... enjoy the gorgeousness of God's pure, white snow!!
Sunday morning sunrise!
Church was canceled... due to roads like this! The state finally plowed it "open" at 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
Sledding down the big snowbank left by the tractor.
Kennedy's way was to scoot on his bottom. :)
Playing "King of the Mountain".
Now we are looking forward to a "Leftover" White Christmas!!!
Blessings, Connie Sue and the rest of the family
Thursday, 10 December 2009
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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
Our first snow, Christmas preparations, and family pictures!!!
The boys and I awoke with great excitement last Saturday(Dec. 5). I'm leaving Bill out because he's not a fan of the white stuff and he was off hunting that morning. :) Jackson came out of his room, looked out the window, and said, "WOW!!". Kennedy also climbed on the sofa, jabbered & waved his hands in a downward "snow-falling" motion, and smiled as he gazed out at the deepening snow. They wanted to go out and play right away. But, I knew that I wanted to go with them to take pictures, so I convinced them to wait 'till it got a bit "higher"(as Jackson would say). It snowed nearly all day, but the last 4-5 hours didn't amount to much. When it was all said and done, we had 3 - 4 inches on the ground. Reports were that others around the valley got up to 8 inches... wish we could have gotten a bit more. But, I was happy with this lovely snow!!! Enjoy the pictures...
Jackson with his first snowball... it packed beautifully!
Kennedy on the steps, happy to have some snow!
Jackson and I made this snowman while Kennedy napped. Don't you love his evergreen mustache? Unfortunately though, it met an untimely end... not due to the warmth of the next day's sun, but due to Checkers(our dog) deciding that he didn't care for "Frosty" the minute Jackson and I walked away. :(
Loving the sled!
Sunday afternoon sledding fun with "daddy"!
Dad & Kennedy in the snow!
Jackson's snow bear that he made the day the snow was quickly melting away! Jackson warned Checkers to stay away from this snow creation and he did. All that is left is a puddle containing two black stones, a withered carrot, and a sogged neck scarf and toboggan. Guess I need to go clean that up. :)
Decking the halls and wrapping the gifts...
Jackson's stocking...
Kennedy's stocking... and they can hardly wait 'till I put something into them. :)
Christmas cookie/candy exchange with my family!
I have been so out of the mood to bake this year. But, I agreed to bake a dozen goodies for all so I could bring home a delicious assortment for my freezer. I also want to make fudge(Bill's favorite) and I have a batch of cut-out cookie dough chilling in the fridge as I type. I want to get those rolled out, cut, and baked today. Jackson and I will icing/decorate those tomorrow or Saturday. :)
Family Christmas pictures...
Merry Christmas to all... may you find a blessing from God as you prepare for and celebrate the birth of our Savior!!!
~Connie Sue and family
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Hello... we are still here and doing pretty well. Sorry I've been missing-in-action. I've had plenty of "down-time" to update, problem being though that I was literally "down" during those times. Thankfully the full-time nausea(morning sickness) that I had starting at six weeks finally let up at 11 weeks. It still comes and goes, but I am able to keep most of my meals down now and I am finally able to cook again. My poor family had to endure many evenings when I was too sick to move off the sofa and they ate grilled cheese sandwiches, canned soup, and even cold cereal without too much complaining! I am now at 12 weeks and am so thankful that I am feeling better!!!!
So, this is a catch-up post of what else has been going on the past 6 weeks.
Sunrise and seagull over the Chesapeake Bay.
My siblings, their spouses, and Bill & I took my parents deep-sea fishing the last of October. We had surprised my dad on his 60th birthday(in August) by planning a fishing trip for just the adults in the family.
I could write a book about that weekend and all the tales of our fishing day. But, I won't spend that much time and you may get bored with tales of my brothers each fighting a huge "rockfish" simultaneously off opposite sides of the boat only to figure out that their lines had possibly gotten tangled underneath and they were fighting each other!! Or how the captain would toss chum(ground fish heads & guts) off the sides to draw in the big fish, but instead he had the whole lot of us nearly tossing our cookies at the sight of it. By-the-way, no one "got sick", thanks to the motion sickness patches we all wore. In fact, that was the only day in the past 6 weeks that I haven't "gotten sick". Maybe I should have gotten a two-month supply of them and wore them 24/7 throughout the worst of this pregnancy. :)
Dinner at a nice Lowry's Seafood Restaurant the night before. My sister and her hubby from PA(along with their two youngest children) joined us that evening and surprised us all!! Well, my sister Gloria knew they were coming. The looks on my dad & mom's faces were priceless when they walked through the door!! :)
Kim(sil), Janessa, me & Laurie, Cheryl, Nancy(sil), Gloria, baby Amara, and my mom
My dad reeling in a big one!
Mom's big rockfish(striper)!
I'm the only one of us that didn't bring in a "striper", but I have the bragging rights of catching the biggest "blue" that day!! :)
Me and my "big blue"!
Bill's biggest catch!
Eber(bil) with the biggest catch of the day, I think!
Gulls on a bridge on the way home.
Little "Bob the Builder".
Bill's nice 8-point he harvested with muzzle-loader earlier this season.
Big toys for little boys.
Kennedy and Granddaddy R. watching Jackson and Uncle Dale S. combine the soybeans.
Playing in the agriculture lime... I hope it didn't hurt them! They were filthy dirty though!!
Thanksgiving Thoughts Mom is in the kitchen,
And when I take a look,
I’m glad I’m not a turkey
That’s she's about to cook!Thanksgiving Every Day The table is brimming with good things to eat;
We're surrounded by family and friends; what a treat.
The feelings that fill us today can’t be beat;
It’s Thanksgiving Day, and it all feels complete.But other days, sometimes things don’t seem so fine;
Those days are not polished and don’t seem to shine.
It's then in our minds, we forget all the good,
And think of the things we would get, if we could.On days when our thinking causes us dread,
If we could remember, it’s all in our head,
And not let our minds take our gratitude away,
Then we'd make every day like Thanksgiving Day.By Karl Fuchs "Blessed be the God and Father
Happy Thanksgiving, friends!!
of our Lord Jesus Christ
who according to His great mercy
has caused us to be born again
to a living hope
through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead."
I Peter 1:4 NASB
~Connie Sue & family
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
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Exciting news!
"Before I formed you in the womb I
knew you, before you were born I set
you apart."
Jeremiah 1:5
I know that most of my Xanga "friends" are also my Facebook "friends". But, I have a few readers who aren't on FB. So, this update is for you. :)
We are expecting Baby #3!!!
Yes, we are so happy and have "seen" the little Miracle inside me twice on the ultrasound screen. All looks well and things are going great. I'm only eight weeks along, early I know, but we had to tell. I mean, who can keep a secret like that when you have 24/7 morning sickness and live in the bathroom or on the sofa while at home. It was so bad this time that I went to see my doctor yesterday and got a prescription for Zofran, a medication to combat nausea. It has helped, although it wears off before I can take another dose. But, it has really made a difference for those several hours, especially first thing in the morning!
So, here he/she is!!!
At 6 weeks, 4 days
The boys are excited, well Jackson is anyway! He loves babies and had been praying that God would have a "baby in Heaven" for our family. :)
Due date: June 10, 2010
"For you created my inmost being; you
knit me together in my mother's womb. I
praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful.
All the days ordained for me were written in
your book before one of them came to be."
Psalms 139:13,14 & 16
Sunday, 11 October 2009
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Life at our house...
Fall is here and the month of October is half way through(well, almost)! It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner and the festivities of Christmas will be close to it's heels. I'm excited for the holidays!!
Kennedy will turn three in December... wow, my baby will be three!! Jackson is looking forward to having him move to the bunk beds and sharing a room with his little brother. I said that we will wait 'till Kennedy's three and maybe a little after. I'm in no hurry to get him out of his crib and the comfort & closeness of the nursery. But, they grow up and babies turn into big boys, at least mine surely have. :)
Kennedy is mostly potty trained. Well, we're still having issues with number "2", if you know what I mean. But, he stays dry all day and sometimes all night, too. I am not stressing at all... he'll get there!! He is still in the evaluation/meeting part of the speech therapy process. I think we have just one more meeting to talk about the help he needs and then he'll start the "real" sessions. He had one session at John Wayland Elementary where he went off with the speech therapist all by himself. I was so proud of him for not clinging to me and wanting to drag me along. He acted like such a big boy as he walked beside her down the long hallway... it was so cute to watch!!! :) I am anxious to get him started and watch(hear) the progress that I know he will make!!
Jackson is loving school!! He comes home with the cutest projects and fun stories to tell. He has learned about Ants, Bears, Camping, and Dinosaurs and goes around the house practicing those letter sounds and points them out in books, etc. I am very happy with the social skills he has acquired as well. He is a bit reserved when it comes to meeting strangers... children & adults. I can see such a change in him as he has broadened his world of friends and has let other adults(besides mom & dad) be in charge. And, yes, this mama has adjusted to(and enjoys) the early mornings, getting breakfast, dressing little boys, and heading out the door at 8:00 a.m. three days a week.
Now... a few pictures from the past several weeks.
Making potato chips with my family.
Kennedy enjoying the fresh chips!
Trying my hand at the frying.
Jackson helping "Grandmom" slice up the spuds.
Cute little Alana... Heidi & Anthony's baby girl.
The bathroom before Jackson and I grabbed the paintbrushes.
He sat on that little stool for 2 hours and had a great time painting.
Our freshly painted and updated bathroom!
Sunday afternoon on Skyline Drive.
A view of part of the Shenandoah Valley.
Looking the other direction into Greene County.
Somebody needs to go to bed. :)
My brother's produce stand in it's Fall splendor.
Autumn bake sale at Montezuma Produce.
Blessings to you this week and always...
~Connie Sue & family
Sunday, 20 September 2009
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Photo shoot
Wildwood Park Photo Shoot
I have two picture frames that set on a shelf in my dining room. They hold two photos... one of each of my little boys. But, they are outdated. By a year to be exact!! Now, I know that I have taken enough photos throughout the past year to put a new one in there each month. But, it just didn't happen that way and who orders a 5X7 size photo on a regular basis? Anyway, I thought that Wildwood Park in Bridgewater would be the perfect setting to a frame-worthy photo of my little guys.
Last Sunday evening was the perfect evening for a picnic and photography session in the park. I pre-warned the boys(mainly Jackson) ahead of time that I wanted to get some pictures of them. He is not into this photography thing his mom always does. :) I have a tough time getting a normal face from him. Thankfully Kennedy has recently been setting so cutely while saying, "Cheese, cheese" with the cutest look on his face. So, after some food and fun on the playground we went "hiking" in hopes of catching some impromptu photos as well as a few posed ones. They actually cooperated fairly well and I came home with more than enough pictures to fill my two frames.
So... here they are. Jackson even grabbed the camera to take a few of Bill & I. He loves to do it and almost turns the camera around too quickly as he happily shares with Bill and I the "good one" that's on the little window. :)
Random photos from the month of September... so far!
These two are inseparable!! While his little brother naps in the afternoons, Jackson is outside with his best pal, Checkers. It is so cute to see them play around... boy waving a stick or riding his bike and dog shadowing close behind or licking him for attention!! They will even lie down under a shade tree and rest. I seriously thought they were both asleep the other day... but then they both jumped up to find the next activity or cat to pester. :)
AutumnCharlotte L. Riser
When the trees their summer splendor
Change to raiment red and gold,
When the summer moon turns mellow,
And the nights are getting cold;
When the squirrels hide their acorns,
And the woodchucks disappear;
Then we know that it is autumn,
Loveliest season of the year.
Happy Fall!!! Enjoy the cooler temps and nights that are worthy of warm blankets and cups of hot chocolate. (I know, sounds like Winter... my favorite season and it's on its way my friends!!!) :)
Blessings, Connie Sue & family
Wednesday, 02 September 2009
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Jackson goes to school!
First day for Jackson...
Our little boy is growing up! To be honest, this mom has looked forward to his first day of school since he was born. Maybe the teacher in me is coming out and getting excited about this learning process, experience, journey that we embarked on today. It's true that I never thought that I would send him off at the young age of 4 1/2. But, here we are... parents of a child in school!! :)
He is in Pre-K at Blue Ridge Christian School in Bridgewater. Bill's three youngest siblings attended there as elementary students. We don't know yet if we will continue his education at this particular private school. But, it is very reputable as a Christian school and a Christian-based education is at the top of the list to further our childrens' social, academic, and most importantly spiritual growth. And, since most private schools don't offer transportation... the fact that it is a seven minute drive from home is a wonderful bonus!!!
So when I opened the door to a certain little boy's room this morning at 7:15, he rolled out of bed very excited and with no hesitation for his first day(morning) at school. (His schedule is three mornings a week from 8:30 - 11:20.) I had asked him the evening before what he wanted for breakfast that next morning. He could have asked for pancakes, bacon, an egg sandwich, cold cereal, etc.... you name it and I would have made it for him. But, he wanted a bowl of Quaker apple cinnamon oatmeal and a miniature bagel with cream cheese. "Breakfast of champions"... I mean first time preschoolers!! :)
After a shower(yes, he chose to shower in the morning before school; must get that from his mom), getting dressed in his new striped blue and white shirt, jeans, and shiny white sneakers, and throwing his red backpack across his shoulders like any seasoned scholar would do, we headed out the door. And, yes, we were on time and even little brother Kennedy was dressed, hair combed, Cheerios eaten, and ready to go!!
I still wasn't 100% positive that the rest of the morning would go without a hitch. We had tried to prepare him the past several weeks about school and how we would be leaving him there. He would always ask me, "How long 'till you come pick me up?" He was just making sure that we indeed would come back to bring him home again!!
After arriving, he excitedly showed Kennedy around his classroom. I almost think that Kennedy would have stayed there if given the chance. Now, that would have caused this mama to cry for sure. :) He happily posed for a few more pictures and after a hug for little brother and a kiss for mama... we were gone and he stayed there with a smile on his face!!!
I'll admit, although I didn't shed a tear from my eyes, there was a *lump and tear* in my heart as I buckled a lone little two year into the car and started for home. Kennedy was quiet the entire seven minutes to the house. Hmm... I wondered what he was thinking all alone in the backseat!!
Nearly three hours later, I buckled an excited Kennedy into his seat and we headed back the seven minute drive to pick up his big brother from school. I was looking forward to getting him, too. I was anxiously waiting to hear how things went and what stories my little 4 1/2 year old had to tell. He had a huge smile on his face as Mrs. Heatwole handed him over to me in the carpool line. I was greeted with a big hug and lots of jabber about animal crackers and peaches for snack, finger painting and how he couldn't bring his picture home today because it had to dry, and how they played outdoors on the "small" play area because the "big" one was for the older children. :)
And now for the traditional "first day of school" pictures...
Pulse
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"If God is for us, who can be against us?"
billandconnier
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- Name: Connie Sue
- Country: United States
- State: Virginia
- Metro: Charlottesville
- Birthday: 2/19/1979
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 1/15/2008
About Me
-
I am first and foremost a Christian. Without Jesus in my life, I wouldn't be where I am today! He has blessed me so much! I have a loving husband who is also a wonderful dad to our two boys. We've been married for 5 1/2 years.(May 22, 2004) Our firstborn is William Jackson III. He was named after his dad and Bill's late Grandfather. His birth date is March 17, 2005. He is very independent, loves to ride bike, and spend time with his dad. He is his little brother's protector. Kennedy Michael was given to us 21 months later. His birth date is December 15, 2006. He is a smiley, happy boy who loves his tractors, runs for dad to get him when he comes home from work, and adores his big brother. We are so excited and looking forward to the birth of baby #3 in June, 2010! ...Lord willing...
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