Yawn

 The new blog-hog is giving everybody a big yawn, Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve 2011

Sitting in her new favorite chair somebody is ready for Santa to show up. I personally am really looking forward to today as we celebrate this awesome season. Hanging out with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Dalene going to church and finishing with pizza dinner. Everything is right in the world!

This Year's Dress

Yes Christmas like everything else in Kaylene's life demmands performance and subtly!

Hot Dog It's Christmas!

Here we are trimming the tree and getting ready for the big jolly guy. Yes we will give into the whole Santa myth, why, cause its fun. The bottom pic is Kaylene getting ready for Thanksgiving, she looks more and more like a little girl everyday. Well, let's face it...she is a little girl.

Great Wolf Lodge

It was cold and rainy and Jolene had an extra vacation day. We figured it was time to go to the Great Wolf Lodge water theme park. And it was a perfect choice for a bad weather weekend. Its hard to describe the amount of things you can do, BUT I will say its the closest the northwest comes to Disneyland. An awesome choice for any two year old and her family.

Trunk or Treat

Happy Halloween! and so far its been a great one. Our Church this year did a version of Halloween that I just loved called trunk or treat. Basically, you deck out the back of your vehicle and circle it around the other parked trunks in the church parking lot. Then kids and families walk around gazing at the spectacles and ask for candy. We loved it! Above is our very fast ladybug, if you aren't fast enough you will miss her.

Pig Tails

Well its about time, right? For today's play date I asked Kim if she could help Kaylene with her hair. The request was for pig tails and don't they look awesome. More importantly, Kaylene loves them! What a funny little girl.

Goodbye Chava

Yesterday, Chava passed away. Bad day. Can you believe we had Chava for 13 1/2 years, what an amazing dog! Chava taught us a lot of things, but I think most importantly she taught us to be less selfish. She was the ground work for a future family and she set a tone for both Kaylene and baby number two. She did not struggle much in the end and passed away with very little pain. Thank you Chava for letting us be your owners, there will never be another dog like you.

Let's start this Party!

For the best cousin ever, Happy Birthday!

Highlights

The following post has nothing to do with the above video with the exception of all the general goofiness that comes out of Kaylene. Anyway, I need to write the following down so I don't forget what it was like to be a small family.

Last night while cruising around the neighborhood and a quick trip to Trader Joe's, Kaylene was getting antsy in her car seat (nothing new). Jolene found a discarded Sandra Boyton book in the back seat "Barnyard Dance" and proceeded to give it to Kaykes. She refused. At which point Jolene opened up the book and began to sing the words. We all know Jolene has some minor (or major) musical talent and began to rhythmically rap the song like a square dance caller.

Yes I was driving, but I had to jump in, I began to beat the dashboard with my hand. It was a very hollow steady thump thump thump. And ya know, it sounded pretty good. Well, good enough for a small jam session in the car. And our target audience LOVED it. She began to clap her hands and bounce her head back and forth. She kept on repeating again, again and AGAIN. We did it so many times that Jolene became winded and my hand began to hurt.

It was awesome.

Jolene commented that this time will not last forever and very shortly Kaylene will be rolling her eyes at her very corny parents, but for now, we have her right where we want her. Here is to future jam sessions!

We need a name!

So we know its a girl and we think we might have a name, BUT we are open to any suggestions. No name is off the table! Some before and after reactions up above (enjoy).

Happy Birthday...Aunt Dalene

Kim just sent these...

This past weekend we went to the "new to me" Remlinger Farms, its not as boring as it once was. Pony rides, Canoe Adventures and Crazy cars (more on that come). Also, a bonus picture from Renton River Days, try to guess what that "burger" is made of, oh it was so tasty!

Dalene and Kaylene

It's time we had a picture of these two. Aunt Dalane and Kaylene had a blast at Luther Burbank park this past week. Fun picture!

The City and my Nephew

My sister is in town and she shares my fathers photographic eye. Pretty awesome picture wouldn't you say! there are some many things I love about this picture.

Grandma's Miracle Bread

About this time every year Grandma Norma makes the most wonderful zucchini bread. Just after lunch today, Kaylene and I took part in this heavenly delight. In my recollection, my mother has never missed fired once on making this awesome sugar bread. Thank you Grandma we can taste your love in every bite!

More Ducks

Kaylene, keeps asking for this video. Duck, again. Duck, again...please. For your further enjoyment and Kaylene's.

Renton River Days

So, we celebrated Renton River Days this year and watched them fill the Cedar River with rubber ducks. I love the look on Kaylene's face - How many do you think I can catch and take home? Would Mother let me have 53? Where would they live? Yeah, I need to get down in that water NOW!

Whoa... 2 years old

Yup, she is two and she is wonderful. Who knew being a parent would be so awesome! I never thought I could love something so much. oh, and she LOVED the Red Robin birthday song.

Vacation Hawaii - Back in Seattle tomorrow

Here they are! Augie and Kaylene on the final night of the trip, as you can tell they have bonded as cousins. The same effect was felt by the whole family, what an amazing trip!

New Cut

There was a request for a new haircut shot. Well, its shorter, but the girl needs to grow more hair!

Cup Kaykes

Last night was family desert night, we decided to try something new. Yup, you guessed it, Cupcake Royal. Kaylene slowly devoured two of the cakes, while her mother and I just giggled through the entire experience.

Jolene Insists!

Its time to put up a new photo, anyway, here is the CBC hiking group. Despite all of the rain lately, we have had some pretty amazing hikes. Both of these were taken from the top of Tiger Mountain, but taken from different Tiger peaks.

Peaceful

What a very very very busy weekend, this girl went all out. Anyway, we got stuck in traffic last night and this was the result. She is so wonderful and we are very thankful to have her!

The latest happenings with the young Kidney's

My latest batch of cellphone pics, enjoy!

Tuesday Hikes!

Your typical weekly adventure!

Wheee

Kaylene is a swinger! It was a sunny Saturday and we quickly drove to the park (like all people living in Seattle). She sees the swing and its all over, nothing can convince her there is anything else. We try the slide, she runs to the swing, we try the monkey bars, she runs to the swing, heck, we tried Canadian geese, NOPE, swing! go Kaylene go.

Time to Read

She loves to "read", basically, she sits down and babbles about the words and images. BUT, she is reading. Hopefully, we are fostering a good habit.

Red Thing

Who knew, hours of enjoyment...

Dinner at the Tsai's

We eat with the Tsai's quite a bit and this Sunday was no exception. Pat made some of the thickest steaks we have had in some time. Thick, juicy and wonderful, anyway, enjoy the girls "sharing" a chair.

Snacking

It's been our afternoon tradition to watch an hour of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, we both love it (for different reasons). I know I have said no TV during the day, but this show gets an exception. Donald, Mickey, Pluto and Goofy are great pals and come to this parents rescue. So enjoy the photos and have a Hotdog Day!