Kaitlyn's first field trip

Katey had her first field trip ever on October 1st. I had the pleasure of chaperoning her preschool trip to the pumpkin farm. I can't believe how quickly she is growing up right before our eyes. She was beaming a big smile all morning. Even though it was a cold, windy day she had so much fun walking around with her little friends, looking at the animals & pumpkins, and going on a hay ride. I had so much fun just watching her and snapping lots of pictures. It was a great day for us together!

Memories of a sweet September

I was so excited to catch 3 Cubs games in September!! Shawn, Kaitlyn, and I witnessed history for my favorite Cubbie Carlos Zambrano's no-hitter on 9-14 against the Astros. Even sweeter since it was at Miller Park. That was the most exciting game I've ever seen! Kaitlyn loves to watch "her Cubs". I have never seen a 3-year-old follow the game & players so much. Plus with hot dogs and cotton candy, how can she go wrong? Kelly chose a sleepover at Aunt Jenny's house instead. Huh???

Then my brother Tommy (decked out in the Brew Crew gear, such ungratefulness for Shawn's treat on the tickets...:) caught a Brewers-Cubs game on 9-27. No photos of that one, but I really enjoyed the extra time with him. I don't think we've ever done that before and it was very nice.

My last game was the following day 9-28 for the final season game, Cubs & Brewers again. Shawn and I took the girls (Kelly was a good sport today and humored us). Katey cheered the loudest, "Let's go Cubbies, let's go!" She was so funny.

So needless to say once the humiliating series after the Dodgers was done, I was in black and mourned for a few days. Then decided to boycott the rest of the playoffs & WS. Who likes Phil. or Tampa Bay anyway? Not me. Poor Katey is learning early on in her little life what it means to be a diehard fan. There's always next year!

Our Nana, saved by God's grace

Wow, what a week we have had. Our precious Nana, my mom has been in the hospital for one week today. Praise God who has given us more time with Nana and spared her life. Thank you to all who have prayed for a miracle healing for Mom. God is so good, He has answered so many prayers for Mom already.

I was thinking earlier about this time last Saturday evening, standing in the hospital emergency room with my dad, my sister, brother, and my grandmother scared out of our minds. I have never seen someone in so much pain, and since it was my dear mom my heart broke all the more.

I feel like these past 7 days have changed all of us. More gratefulness in our hearts, more awe of my parents' unending love & devotion to each other, more devotion to my siblings & grandparents. Our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has been tested... and strengthened.

An emergency, life-threatening surgery on one of the people you love most in this world has an unnerving, traumatic, reflective persuasion on your priorities. Mom has a long road to recovery ahead of her but I am so very thankful tonight that there WILL be a road to recovery.

Life is fragile. Handle with care. (and PRAYER)

The End of the Summer photos (I promise) & the Beginning of a new school year

First Day of School

My sweet little Katey is officially a preschooler! She loves getting up and dressed for school with backpack in hand. She tells us about her "fends" and her day with such excitement. It is incredibly fun to watch and listen to her but also makes me sad. Where did my little baby go?

Kelly started 3rd grade on 8-26. Thank God we are still in the same building. She is growing into such a beautiful, smart girl. I am so very proud of the person she is becoming.

Shawn's First Triathlon

We were very proud of our Daddy on 8-16-08. Shawn participated in his first ever triathlon in Pleasant Prairie. There were tons of people biking, swimming, and running. His friends Shawn and Rob joined him in the race. We were quite impressed with how well he did, great job Daddy!

Wisconsin State Fair 8-5-08

Our annual trip to the fair was so much fun, as always. The girls enjoyed the rides and the food! It was a hot, summer day... Kelly and I were lucky enough to go to the Corbin Blue and Vanessa Hudgens concert that night. We loved it! It was so much fun for Kel to see two of her favorite High School Musical stars in person.

Camping trip

We celebrated Aunt Jenny's birthday with a camping trip to Indian Trails in Pardeeville, WI. Our friend Michele and her family joined us, too. We had a great time relaxing in the sun, swimming in the lake, and hanging out together.

Six Flags with Kyle & Sam... our best buddies & cousins 7-30-08

Grandma & Grandpa Reed's golden anniversary

July 25-27 we drove down to Quincy for several very good reasons. First, to celebrate our dear Grandma & Grandpa Reed's 50th wedding anniversary. My mother-in-law Mary and her sibling thru a great celebration to honor Gr. & Gr. Many family members (which in the Reed family means tons of people!) and their friends came, they are an amazing couple who have lived out biblical marriage for many years. They encourage and challenge me to live out that kind of marriage every time I think of them.

Second, we drove down to meet our very special little cousin Garrett!!! He is so precious, Aunt Rachel & Uncle Blake's first baby. Katey was IN LOVE with him and had so much fun holding him and talking to him. She talked for the next few weeks about having her own little baby brother, yikes. Kelly, of course, loved him to pieces, too, who couldn't? The girls are thrilled to have a new baby cousin.

I love this photo of the girls with their great-grandparents.

Whenever these big Reed family reunions happen, the girls are reunited with some of their favorite cousins. Nichole, Ashley, and Amanda are close in age to our girls but live far away in Tennessee. It is so much fun to watch them always pick up right where they left off last time.