Our First Day with the Babysitter

Today was Kieran's first day with the babysitter who is going to see us through this month. Her name is Barbara and is very nice. She has a little boy who seems to really enjoy playing with Kieran which is nice. This is the first time he has been with anyone who wasn't a member of the family or a family friend. Mommy was nervous and anxious to get her hands on Peanut. We got home and crashed hard, LOL and enjoyed some well-deserved naptime. Now we are waiting on Jared to get home so we can enjoy the evening! I am really liking this new schedule!!

The Rehearsal and Big Event!!

Saturday night, Laura's family invited the wedding party out to their house for wedding rehearsal with their pastor. They live in a very nice, secluded home near Ryan and Laura's house. It was very nice and quiet--definately some welcome peace before the festivities! Kieran was able to play with Cousin Jack again and his friends including two cute Puggles named Snuggles and Puggles. Laura's Dad Larry cooked a fantastic dinner for everyone and we all had a nice time.

More pics from the Pre-Wedding Action :)

K actually sported a hat during a walk!! Kieran driving the ice cream truck...yay!

K and Daddy lookin' at the fishies! "I didn't do it..."

I just wanna touch 'em, Daddy!!

You will all have to forgive me because I'm still learning the ropes of blogging....my pics are all jumbled. The wedding page will be a hoot, LOL!!

Wedding Pre-Game

Kisses from Jack

This last weekend Jared, Kieran, and I traveled up to the KC area for Ryan and Laura's wedding. We stopped off for lunch at Casa Ramos in Emporia (I totally recommend it to anyone who wants some bitchin' Mexican food!!). The three of us also stopped by Ottawa and visited Grandpa Frank and Grammy Elaine for a bit. It was nice to see them both!! We got to spend the evening on Friday with Laura, Ryan, and Stephen (Jared's cousin from Dallas). Kieran was reunited with his "cousin" Jack the Pug and had a blast with him as you can see from the pics I am posting. I don't know who was more excited--Kieran or Jack!!

Saturday morning Laura cooked an awesome breakfast for us all and we all kinda split ways for the morning to run different errands and such. Jared, Kieran and I did a little sightseeing and visited Bass Pro Shops and Independence Center Mall up in Independence, Mo. Kieran got to ride in an ice cream truck at the mall and did not freak out, which was slightly worrying since that was what he did when Grandma Jeanne tried it six months or so ago...

September 11, 2001

Eight years ago I was sleeping with the sunshine beating down on my face as I was working the night shift back then. My Mom came into my room and told me that I needed to get up. She said she thought it was the end of the world. "Someone flew a plane into the World Trade Center." Naturally I was in shock and disbelief and it honestly took a minute for what she said to sink in. I went downstairs, looking out at the blue sky through the window in the living room. On ABC they showed pictures of the smoke billowing from the first tower. Mom and I just watched and listened, trying to make sense of it. Not too much longer we were watching when the second plane hit. It was then that it really sunk in. We were under attack. It was unbelievable. More and more pictures and footage became available as time went on. It was all we could talk about. Later that night when I went to work, my friend Jennifer picked me up and we talked about it all the way to Springfield. They even locked us down in our building so we couldn't be hurt. Some people didn't even come to work. A couple of nights later, they instituted a strict dress code which didn't allow us to wear anything which showed an affiliation with anything like a sports team.

My patriotism ran deep before September 11, 2001 and it was made even deeper by the attacks on New York, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania. I am proud to be an American. I am proud of those who died before us so we can live in this world. I am proud of those fighting to keep us safe everyday. God willing, something like this will never happen again. I just pray for all the people affected by those attacks.