Aprons!!

Because my husband has taught me how to milk a birthday, I'm going to talk, yet again, about my birthday! And technically, it's still my birthday week...I don't do a birthday MONTH like some of us...so I think it's fair that I slip this post in. Anyway, I wanted to show off one of my favorite presents that Crafty Connie made. Side note: You will find Crafty Connie's picture next to the word "crafty" in the dictionary. Why I wasn't blessed with this superhuman gene is beyond me. Sigh. Most of you probably wouldn't get too excited about getting matching aprons for you and the little one, but I was beside myself when I opened the package and saw my prize! You see, I'm not all that domesticated (yet), so having one of the many uniforms that fit a stay-at-home mom is sheer bliss for me. Strike that. I'm not fond of all of the uniforms...could do without the maid one...but when it comes to aprons I'm in love. I know, I have weird obsessions lately. Take for example my obsession with Tori Spelling. Where did that come from? I couldn't stand her when she was Donna Martin on Beverly Hills 90210 and have always thought she looks like a horse, but now that she's a mom and I'm a mom I can't do without her weekly reality show. Call me a lamo, but tis true, I heart Tori. Back to the aprons. Below, you will find KD walking the catwalk sportin' one of these gems. You laugh now, but you won't be laughing when aprons are the new black.

Birthday Dinner

As they say, another one bites the dust. Yep, and according to one of the birthday cards I got, I'd be dead if I were a dog. Glad I'm no Fido. Anyway, we met up with our good friends, the Keiths, for a little birthday dinner. Jamie and I have been through so much together, so celebrating another birthday with her was a piece of cake...literally...ha! Her and I have been anatomy lab partners, roommates, a maid of honor, best of friends and now we're sharing motherhood together. The people you meet, the choices you make...life has dealt us some good cards. May 32 be just as good, if not better, than the last 31.

Jamie, Scott and Kenzie The dads and their girls

The moms and their girls

Nonnie and Popeye

Three generations

Time Travel Tuesday

Well, two years ago today I was turning the big 3-0. This is a pic from my surprise birthday party that Brandon threw for me. Ah, how so much has changed in two years. I'll still have a bottle in my hand as I celebrate...it'll just be a different kind of bottle this time. Cheers!

Wicked

Ingredients for a fun-filled night:

• Four fabulous people
• Two pitchers of sangria
• Five cups of sweat
• Three directionally challenged backseat drivers
• One Wicked performance

Mom and Jen (Also known as Kennedy's godmother)

Me and Joy
Joy, Mom, Me, Jen

Blooper

It's been three days now and I'm FINALLY done perusing through all of Kennedy's pictures. Let's just say I'm single-handedly keeping Shutterfly in business. Phew. Glad that's over. However, I did find myself a little treasure. You with me when I say this one speaks for itself? Yum.

Time Travel Tuesday

Does anyone know the fastest way to get into downtown LA? I do, I do. It's easy, take the bus lane. Yeah, it's great, you bypass everyone and everything. It's even better when you don't realize you're doing it. That's how our trip to the USC/NE game started off two years ago. Now, does anyone know how to get underneath Pete Carroll's skin? What do you know, I have the answer to this one too! Again, another easy one. Simply ride the elevator with him and a few USC players wearing nothing but Nebraska gear, smile, nod, even tell him happy birthday and then just as the doors are opening shout "Go Huskers!" and run like a little girl. Now, I'm not typically the tattletale type, but, Pete, if you're still looking for that guy and you name the right price, I might just know where you can find him.

Brandon, Me, Mom, Maurie, Doug

Picture Game

Thanks to Kaylan for tagging me in a picture game. Those of you who know me know that I don't usually participate in these things, but this one seems easy enough and I hate to risk being called a party pooper, fun Nazi, what have you.

Here's what you do:
1. Open the 4th picture folder on your computer.
2. Open the 4th picture and post it on your blog.
3. Explain the picture.
4. Tag people to do the same

Um, looks like this was family picture day at the Hokenstad household. I think Doug was in town and playing photographer. I'm not sure who looks more uncomfortable Brandon or Marley.

Now, I'll turn it over to Lisa, Jay and Betsy...consider yourself tagged.

Not quite ready for the Jumper

Okay. So the box reads 4 months to 25 lbs. I look at Kennedy and then look at my numbers. Kennedy is three months, two weeks and two days old. Now, I know she's a few weeks shy of the four-month mark, but I'm thinking she can totally pull this off and defy what the box says. So I put the little booger in her new toy jumper. Despite her feet being a good inch off the ground, she's doing great and holding her own. Such a big girl! See, I knew the box didn't know what it was talking about, she's totally ready for this. But wait, then it happened. Sure enough, her neck muscles went weak, she lost all awareness of her arms and she made a deer-in-a-headlight plunge forward. S-t-u-c-k, stuck. She wasn't feeling defeated, though. No, she made good use of her situation and began to suck away on the jumper like it was what she had intended on doing all along. She's going to be a glass-half-full girl for sure!

Miya

We had Dr. Conte and Michele over for dinner last night. How can you not enjoy yourself when you have such great company, DESSERT, the wine is flowing, the conversation is borderline earmuff material and America's Got Talent is on to keep you entertained just in case a story about mouse turds in bed doesn't interest you. Curious yet?

Now, let's talk about Miya. Why Brandon lets her kiss him on the lips, let alone face, is beyond me. Nasty, gross, dirty boy. Anyway, the point of this post was going to be about Miya and her upward climb in the weight area. And here I thought humans were the only ones to gain weight in a time of crisis. It seems that she's still a little depressed that she is no longer mom's baby a.k.a. number one. I'm afraid to say it, but, yes, the truth is she's been replaced. I know, I never thought I would do it or say it, but Miya became a dog on April 3. As a result, what used to be a dainty little long-haired dachshund has now become a baby sea lion. I'm not sure what we're going to do to whip her back into shape or get her out of this funk. It's clear she really doesn't care for Kennedy...evidenced by her putting a paw on Kennedy's forehead and then looking away when I got Kennedy close to her. And if you've never seen a dog give a baby the stink eye, then come to our house. Did I hear somebody say Cesar Millan? Lord knows we could use him here to help with Marley.

Gene and Michele
Miya

Vomit

Baby Sea Lion

Time Travel Tuesday

Three years ago tomorrow we were back in Nebraska under a big white tent in Doug's backyard. Not everyone got to help us celebrate our wedding in March, so we decided to have a reception back home. No wedding jitters, no worries about getting down the aisle without tripping or stumbling over our vows. Nope, just some cake in the face, great food (kudos to Doug), awesome friends, a little humidity and fun.

Turn up your volume for this one

Brandon got Kennedy to crack up using the classic fart sound. She's obviously his child. This video is somewhat long, but watch a few seconds and see if you can do it without smiling.

Eight Hours

It finally happened, Kennedy slept through the night! If she was old enough, we'd be going out for ice cream today. I'm sure I'm jinxing myself as we speak, but if it can happen once, it can happen again. My only question is, "why am I still so tired?"

Time Travel Tuesday

My mom and I were looking at this picture the other day, comparing Kennedy's hair with mine. She said I'm a little over a year here. The stud behind me is my brother Jay...the one I was bragging about in the last post.

Beautiful

Thanks again to Uncle Jay for taking such beautiful pictures of Kennedy. We love you.

Lots of love for KD

Brandon, Michelle and Kennedy

So everyone has been asking when they're going to see some shots of mom and dad with Kennedy, so here you go. I'll warn you now that Brandon and I hadn't planned on being in any pictures, which is why we look so lovely.

Fourth of July

What a great weekend we had! My brother Jay and Kennedy's Godfather Earl were here to help us celebrate the 4th. We swam, watched movies, grilled out, watched fireworks, sat in the hot tub, laid around, and really just relaxed.

For those of you who don't know Jay, he's a photographer for a newspaper in CA. While the rest of us had our heads toward the sky watching the fireworks, his creative mind was at work finding places where you wouldn't think to find a firework display...on the ground and in water. This first picture is a reflection of the fireworks off our pool. Brandon and I are to the left watching what's happening in the sky, oblivious to the natural art that's going on next to us.

Earl and Kennedy