Avery is 5 months old!!

I can't believe Avery is already 5 months old! So I'm a little late in posting it...no biggy, right? She's doing great and is noticing all of the wonderful things around her! This month she started rolling all over the place. She still loves her thumb and having her blankey close by to comfort her. Her sweet face makes us all smile and we love her so much! We're excited to share these holidays with her and look forward in all the things she will learn this month!

Here's a great family photo from the 2007 ALS walk . Looking at this picture makes me realize how blessed we are. We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! I'm sure I'll be posting new pictures this week!

Time at the Farm

Thanks Will, Cara, Jack, Josie, Kate and the Kennedy's for a wonderful time at the Farm this weekend!! We had a ball...especially Tanner!! Thanks for being such great friend's and for having us out for a visit!! Tanner LOVED feeding the cows, gathering eggs, going on hay rides, swimming in the hot tub, and playing with Jack and Josie!! What a blessing! I hope we can do that again sometime soon! The weather was absolutely gorgeous!! Hard to beleive it's the middle of November! Looking forward to the week ahead as we share in the season of Thanksgiving. Blessing's to all!

Wow...it's been a long time since I've written!! I guess that explains what being back to work has been like?!?! Actually, things have been really great! Work has been going very well and life is wonderful!! Even though we're busy, we're so blessed.

It's hard to believe Avery is 4 months old. She's been doing great in daycare. She is getting over a cold but thankfully it was nothing more. Tanner continues to love on his little sister. It's hard for him to stay out of her face...especially since she smiles non-stop when he's around her! Although this past month has been a busy one, it's been a great one. We're doing well and also received some awesome news! Kevin received an early acceptance into the PA (Physician Assistant) program at UT Southwestern and will start full time school in May of 2008! Praise the Lord! He is SO excited and we're all thrilled for him. We will keep you posted on the many things going on in our life in the coming months!

The ALS walk a few weeks back was a huge success!! Thanks for all of the prayers for Kevin's dad and family, as well as the support. It was a huge blessing!

I will update everyone soon with some new pictures! We dropped our digital camera a couple of weeks ago and are now in the process of purchasing a new one!! Bummer!! Until next time...blessings to all!

Back to work!

Well...today was my first day back at work and it went really well! After a few tears shed this morning saying good-bye to Avery...my wonderful friends made me feel welcome and loved. We had a great time sharing coffee and bagels together!! It was very nice. I was able to go feed Avery today and see her every 3 hours...and I truly enjoyed that. Elena, Keisha, and Sam took great care of her today and I am blessed knowing she's in such good hands. These were Tanner's same teacher's as well. And talk about Tanner...he was a proud big brother having Avery go to school with him in the same building!! So...a long day, but a very good one. I am so blessed and glad the first day back is over.

Avery at 13 weeks!

Well, it's already that time. Tomorrow I return to work after having 13 weeks off with my precious little girl. Avery is such a joy! She has a great smile just like her brother and is so sweet! She loves giving hugs! I'm torn as I head back to work to a job a love. But how I will truly miss our days together. I look forward to having Thursday's off and spending time with both Tanner and Avery! What blessings they are in our life!

We also had fun at the Children's Museum...as well as visiting Grandma and the house on Susie Court! Great memories!

More From San Antonio

Lot's of fun!!

Seaworld...Here We Come!

Well...we had a great time in San Antonio last weekend! We ALL enjoyed our trip and had a blast at Seaworld! Tanner and Kevin got up close and personal for all of the shows and got PLENTY wet!! Avery and I stayed back enjoying our view of them getting wet!! Tanner thought that was the best! He has talked nonstop about Shamu since our return and enjoyed his vacation quite a bit! Thanks to our wonderful friends Sam, Shannon, Connor and Daisy the dog!! We enjoyed it quite a bit and appreciate you opening your home to us!! It was also good to meet your friends from the scorpion family...although I'm hoping never to cross paths with them again!

Girl's Night out with Vivian!

We love you Viv!!

Fun times with the Warner's

Good times with our friends the Warner's and their kids, Landry and Caden.

Happy 20th Parke!

Tonight we had a great time celebrating Parke's 20th year in the Dallas Fire Department!! Good times had by all! I thought I had a recent picture of the Parke Mainz fam...but couldn't find one! Someone needs to send me one! Anywhoo...great time!! Way to go Parke! We're all proud of you!

Avery at 9 weeks!

Avery is growing bigger by the day! It's awesome watching her smile!! She's trying so hard to find her thumb!

Daddy and Tanner Fishing

Good time fishing the other night...although they didn't catch anything!! Fish must have been asleep! It was fun to watch Tanner!

Time with Friends

Well...we had a great week playing with friends!! Vivian and her two boys (Brett and Gavin) had a nice visit. Tanner enjoyed getting to see one of the very first friends he ever made!! It was a year ago that we, along with the Stewart's, made a trip up to Virginia to see the Gallavan's...and Tanner remembers it well!! He was excited to have Brett come for a visit! Along with our friends, the Stewart's and the Warner's, they swam, played hard, and ate a lot!! Of course they also got to stay up past their bedtime!!! I look forward in posting some pictures very soon!

Kevin is taking Tanner fishing tonight for the very first time!! Aunt Diana and Uncle David (Bubba) are camping this weekend and are looking forward in having Tanner out to fish! This should be fun!! They are going to surprise him with his very own fishing rod-and it's a CAR'S one...so you know he'll love it!

Well, 5 more weeks until I head back to work! I'm planning to start back on October 1st. It's been great so far...and tiresome, of course. But, definitely worth it all! I've been blessed to be able to take off as long as I have. I'm so glad it's worked out this well. Avery is doing better by the day, adjusting to her life here on earth. She spends more time awake each day and seems to sleep better every night...for the most part!

Kevin starts back to school this week on Tuesday's and Thursday's. Definitely better than being in school Monday-Thursday, like he was this summer. So, time with the family will be great! And I know he will think so, since he's also still working full time. What a ROCK he is!

Tanner is looking forward to his trip to Sea World in September! Actually, I think we're all looking forward to it! Even little Avery!! It should be a lot of fun for everyone! Kevin and Tanner went with some friends to the water park today! Nothing like beating the heat by being in some cool water! We plan to enjoy this week with our friends Vivian, Brett, and Gavin from Virginia! (Brian...wish you were here!) We miss them SO much, and look forward to this week with them...just hanging out.

Our Silly Boy

We have to share silly pictures of Tanner!! They always make us smile! He was showing his muscles to us in a few of them!! Of course he loves being silly...just like daddy!!

The ALS Walk, Saturday October 13th

Many of you know Kevin's family. His dad was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) in October of 2005. On October 13th, we will be walking for our second year in the Walk to D'Feet ALS in honor of Ed Mainz. We would love for all of you to join us for the walk if you can. We would also appreciate your support, financially and/or prayerfully. You can visit the ALS website as well as our link to the walk by visiting the link we have provided. This event is a really good way to raise awareness and money for ALS. We hope you can join us.

Fun with Friends!

We enjoyed a night out at the Rascal Flatts concert with Lawrence and Amanda!! Good times!!

Kiki's 30th Birthday!

We had a great time surprising Kiki for his 30th birthday!! Everyone had a wonderful time!

Indiana Family!

A few weeks ago my (Kelli) cousins from Indiana came for a visit! How we wished they lived here in Texas!! Ok...we'll take visits! It's better than nothing...but we don't see them often enough!!