It's been awhile...

Okay so it has been awhile since I have blogged, but I have still been checking out everyone elses blogs. So I have been seeing all these cute templates and stuff, and I have been wanting a piece of the action. So baby I AM BACK and I gave it a little facelift, did some fun stuff, so now here are some pictures to play a little catch up since the last time I blogged.

We went to Los Alamos for Christmas. My family was together except my brother Guy and his family. It was a lot of fun and great to be together. The kids loved the snow and the great time with cousens!!










We did a little ice skating while we were there.





On MLK day we hiked Pinnical Peak with my sister's family. Lots of fun.







A few pictures of the kids.





...and for Aunt Julie, some Reesey pictures.
"I can almost sit up."

"I can sit up!"

"Okay...I can't sit up."

Reese's first rice ceral.


Reese with my dad.

Long day.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Reesey is 4 months old

I took Reese to the doctor this week for the 4 month check-up. She weighed 12 lbs. 7 oz (25%), and was 25 1/2 inches long (80%). She is long and lean like her dad. She had to have 4 shots, but was a total trooper. I am sure it helped having Asey right in her face saying "It's okay Reesey, it's okay Reesey. Don't cry!" Such a supportive big sister. Here is a recent picture of my little bug, and a really cute one of Jagen and Reese. Jagen loves to hold her and take care of her. They have quite the bond.

Really...We did move in!

I feel like I have been out of touch for quite some time, but trying to move in around the holidays has proved to be quite challenging. I thought I would post a couple pictures of the "move-in day" to prove that we really do have a new house and that we really have moved in after many long months of waiting. Just a reminder...visitors are ALWAYS welcome!!

"Reesey you are so cute!"

Reese, Asey and I were with my sister yesterday. We were driving and Terry and I were having a conversation. I could over hear Asey talking to Reese in the backseat. "Reesey you are so cute, I am going to share my stickers with you." What a nice big sister. So I look back to enjoy the moment, and well I ended up laughing. See for yourself.

So Close we can taste it!!

We are in the home stretch with the house. It is so exciting. The kids and I drive by every day to see what has changed. They are so excited, especially Tyce (he can't wait for his room and all of his stuff to get here)!! They have moved along quite quickly and J.D. and Super have gotten to be good friends, because we are out there so much and J.D. is always chatting with him. He is a good guy to make friends with. Basically all that is left are the sinks and toilets and the plumbing that goes with them, and the carpet...oh and the front yard. Well and a few little things here and there, but it really feels like a house now. We have our walk through next Tuesday and we are set to close on the 30th. All fingers are crossed. I took a couple of pictures when we were there yesterday.



It looks like a house!


Here is the kitchen and dining area.



Couple of shots of the backyard!

Smiles and Shots

The other morning Tyce walked in to the bedroom and started talking to Reese as she was waking up in her bed. She started flashing him the biggest grins. He was playing peek-a-boo with her and really had her going. It was so cute. So I snapped a couple of pictures. I love what Tyce said to me..."Mom when Reese smiles it makes me so happy!" Gotta love it!





Reese had her two month check up and had to have 4 shots, poor girl. She did not like it too much, but what kid does. She was pretty fussy the rest of the day. She weighed in at 10 lbs 11 oz, and was 231/2 inches. The doctor said she was doing great!

Reese is 2 Months

Reese was 2 months old on Sunday, and I can't believe it. Time flies! Here are a few cute pictures of my girlie.
(She is happiest when she first wakes up in the morning, hence the jammies. I take a lot of pictures like that.)

My thoughts

After this very lenghy blog session, and a long day I want to share a few thoughts

1. I am greatful for Tivo, I sure do miss it right now, and I don't know how I watched tv before we got it.
2. I am greatful for Costco, because it has cheaper gas. When you are driving as much as I am these days, this is a big deal.
3. I hate spelling! I always have and I always will. I was bad at it as a child and I am bad at it as an adult (as I'm sure you will see as you read my blog) with children trying to do it.
4. How in the heck do those teenagers text so darn fast? I am trying to pick up on the fine art of texting, and let me just say if you text me, plan on a good 10-15 minutes reponse time depending on the length of the response.
5. Go Diamondbacks. I live in Arizona now...gotta be a fan!!
6. Most of all I am really greatful for all my many blessings, joys and laughter in life.

Read on and check out all the new posts.

JUST FOR FUN!

Here are a few pictures of Reese. She growing and changing so quickly. She is a wonderful baby and brings us so much fun and love!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Out with the old, In with the new...house.

After much worry,tears, and money we finally closed on our house in California. I talked J.D. into driving us ALL back to California to close on the house and deal with the movers. So we made a quick trip September 14-18th. It was so much fun to see everyone and to introduce Reese to all our good friends in Fresno. The kids enjoyed being with their friends. It was such a great visit. We sure did love our time in Fresno!!

Fun game of b-ball with the guys.








All the kids for one last night in the house.










Tyce and Asey playing on the moving truck.








The kids infront of the house.









SOLD!







To share a little about our new house here in Arizona. We are building a home in Gilbert, Arizona. I am very excited. It is 2500 Sq Ft and a loft for the kids to call their own. And the very best part of all is the laundry is upstairs!!! Yes!! So we have been taking pictures to show the progress. We are going to close on October 31st. We can't wait. Let us know if you will be down our way, our door is always open.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

J.D. is famous!

Well ... in Mesa, Arizona that is.

Most of you know that J.D.'s new job is for the city of Mesa. He deals with the public facilities. A few weeks ago he was in the paper and I had to include it, because the picture is too funny. They are getting a new marquee at the convention center/ampitheater that he oversees, so the small town paper wanted to talk with him about the big purchase. Click on the little question mark icon below to see the article and a GREAT picture of J.D.'s head.





While on the topic of J.D. I must share a couple of pictures of Ripley.

Around 5:00 every night Ripley goes to the window to wait for J.D. to get home.
Look at the pathetic little pup. He rests his chin on the window seel. Those two have a bond that I just don't understand, hence why he is still part of our family.

Reese Kennedy Dockstader

The story of Reese!

I went into labor at about 3:30am on the morning of August 14th. I layed in bed timing the contractions and finally told J.D. that I was in labor around 5:00am. I was nervious to tell him, life was still a little undecided and it was the first day of school for the kids, and we were hoping we had a few more days to pull things together. I was very worried about the kids getting to school on the first day at a new school. J.D. was so excited and confident that it would all work out just fine. So J.D. made the kids lunches and took Asey and headed to school to drop the kids off, and my sister came to pick me up to take me to the hospital. When we got there they took me right in. J.D. made it to the hospital and my sister and he tag teamed and she took Asey for us. Long story short after an epidural and a few hours the Dr. broke my water and I went from a 6 to a 10 in 20 minutes and Reese was born 18 minutes after that. She is such a great baby! She fits in perfect with the Dockstader crew. Jagen is the best helper, and always willing to hold Reese. Tyce's first question was "Who decided it was going to be a girl? I thought we wanted a boy!" , but he has adjusted and is going to be quite the protective brother to his three sisters. As for Asey, well in her own words "I just love that little baby. She is so cute!!!" So that is how Reese joined our family in a nutshell.

Most of you that will read this hopefully got our birth announcement, and to answer your question...I made the tee shirt with an iron on that I printing off the computer.

The First Day of School

I know it is alittle late to be posting these pictures, but better late than never.

To fill everyone in on how it all worked out: I went into labor early the morning of August 14th. The kids were supposed to start school that morning too. So I was worried. I layed in bed planning to take them to the first day of school with J.D. and then head to he hospital. Well, it became evident that I needed to head straight to the hospital. I didn't want the talk to be "Hey the new kids mom had her baby in the parking lot this morning." Consequently, I had the mommy guilts, nothing had been smooth about getting the school year started. They started a week after everyone else, at a very big new school, with no mom around, but they did awesome. So I don't know what I was worried about. Things worked out and thank heavens kids are strong! So anyways here are the first day of school pictures from San Tan Elementary home of the scorpions - "Where we sting with pride!"






I

It's A....GIRL!

Reese Kennedy Dockstader
August 14, 2007
7 lbs. 5 oz 20 inches

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com