A Step Forward

Part of the process of getting ready for the new baby is getting Kara out of her crib and into a toddler bed. Instead of going straight to the toddler bed, we decided to let her stay in the crib, but with the rail instead of the entire side.

Here she is sleeping in her crib for the last time.

Helping daddy disassemble the side of the crib.

What her bed looks like with just a rail and not the entire side.

She was so excited that she could climb in and out by herself. And, much to our surprise, after laying her down last night, we only had to go back four times to tell her to get back in bed. We were expecting to go back many, many more times than that.

Our sweet little girl

First I want to share with you the sweet moment that happened this morning. Out of the blue, Kara came up to me, grabbed my hand and said, "Pray." So, I said a quick little prayer with her, and when I said, "amen" she said "amen" then walked away. It melted my heart.

~

Today I gave Kara a quick little trim on her bangs.

She was starting to look a little shaggy.

Before

After

It looks a little crooked in the pictures, but I promise its straight.

She has some blonder hairs up front that don't show up well in pictures.

Christmas Trip 2009

Charlie says, "Please take me with you."

Helping mommy pick out which toys to take on our trip.
Watching Wheel of Fortune while mommy packs.

Finally, we're on our way to Colorado!

Just think, only 15 more years and Kara will drive us home for Christmas!

Kara got to meet her cousin Kindel for the first time.

What a cutie he is!

Gabe and Kara at G.G.'s house.

Fighting over the same toy.

(Click on it to make it bigger and look at the horrible expression on Kara's face!!)

Fireplace at Grandpa and Ya-Ya's house.

Gabe tossing the ball to Kara.

Alyssa showing Kara the deer. Kara saw them and said, "horse."

Daddy and Kara relaxing after a big dinner.

Grandpa telling the kids to be gentle with the doggy.

Kara loved to rip the paper off the presents. She even helped others unwrap their presents.

She LOVED this monkey. He has a belly-button...

.... and he makes a great pillow.

Grandpa and Ya-Ya had a train that went around the fireplace. Every time it would come into view Kara would squeal, "I see it!!"

Grandma and her grandkids and great-grandkids.

(Kara loves babies!)

Unwrapping more presents the next day.

Playing on the slide.

Kara's Christmas dress.

Sorry that its sideways. I can't seem to fix it either.

Kara refused to sit on the same chair as Gabe. So here's as close as we could get to a getting a picture of the cousins in their Christmas clothes on Sunday after church.

Kindel trying out Gabes 4-wheeler.

~

More presents were waiting for us as soon as we got to Papa Steve and Mama Lynn's house.

First, Papa read the Christmas story to us.

The presents are fun, but popping the bubbles on the bubble wrap is AWESOME!!

The way that Kara is standing in this picture makes her look older than she is.

Papa Steve swinging Kara.

Uncle Brandon reading to the girls.

Getting a horsey ride from Papa Steve.

Two pregnant sisters. 18 Weeks and 25 weeks.

Papa Steve and Kara.

Mama Lynn and Kara.

Sitting on the "time-out" bench.

She wasn't in trouble, she just liked to sit there.

Preston and Abby snuggling.

Getting ready to go play in the snow!

Papa and Kara headed out to go sledding.

Abby, Emma and Kara sledding. Notice the matching hats!

Rachel, Becky, Sleeping Isaiah and Sarah.

Preston and Kara.

Uncle Michael and Kara.

Amazing! They are all sitting still at the same time.

Kara's a little stubborn and didn't want to have her snack at the table with the others.

Silly Emma playing in her pillow.

For christmas, Kara was given some hair-ties. She would hold them to her head and say, "pretty." However, within a few seconds of putting her hair up she would pull it back out.

Abby and Emma wanted "baby-tummies" too.

Because of some accidents on I-70 our 29 hour trip turned into a 35 hour trip. We spent lots of time sitting and waiting. Kara got a little bored.

You can't see it very well in this picture, but cars were backed up for miles. At one point we were at a complete stand still for over an hour.

Finally we made it to the hotel in Denver.

Catching a ride on the luggage carrier.

Apparently while we were gone it snowed 18 inches... with wind. Some of the drifts are chest deep or deeper. Here's our backyard when we got home.

Kara and daddy making a mad dash to the front door. Look how deep the snow is!!

Mommy has the keys! Stop taking pictures and let us in!!

Kara was so excited to get to see Charlie that she wouldn't stop to take off her jacket, or get her diaper changed.