Top 8 of 2008

Since today is New Years Eve I thought I would take a moment to reflect on this past year and all we have been through.

In no particular order here are the top 8 events of the year:

1. Kendall had surgery in January to get a tube put in her right ear.
2. Kendall had surgery AGAIN in May to get a tube put in her left ear.
3. Flying ALONE with Kendall to Switzerland.
4. Riding in a gondola in Venice, Italy.
5. My sister and her family moving to Georgia.
6. Sold the Jetta. (a/k/a Peppy)
7. Kendall got to ride a yellow school bus.
8. Kendall turning 2, Zander turning 10 and Keyan turning 13!!

Hope you and your family have a Safe and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas

WOW what a crazy time of year. Terry's parents were able to come down for the week of Christmas, which was nice because I would much rather be in sunny 80 degree Florida weather than cold Ohio weather! It was great to have them down to visit and to see Kendall. They haven't seen her since her birthday last year.

Christmas day was awesome! Kendall was so excited and did great opening presents. Santa brought her a tricycle and the boys got a tickets to a WWE Raw Live event for next weekend in Ft. Lauderdale. Yes you read that right we (Terry and I) are taking the boys to Ft. Lauderdale for a "wrestling" event. I'm sure that will be an exciting post!! Be on the lookout.

My parents came over for Christmas lunch and we spent most of the day outside enjoying the weather and playing with our new tricycle.

I don't have any pictures to post yet. Terry took the pictures on his camera and the cord to download the pics to the computer is at his job site in Texas. If I can't figure it out or find another cord it will have to wait till Terry heads back to Texas in a few weeks.

Now this is more like it!

Ahhhh it's great to live in Florida!!!



79 degrees in December the week before Christmas. While I know this won't last forever, I sure am enjoying it while it's here.....

Live Nativity and a School Bus

Over the weekend we took Kendall to a live Nativity that is put on by a church in Ponte Vedra. We had heard it was basically a replica of Bethlehem with live animals. WOW it was pretty amazing-but a little too crowded. They had a ton of church members in full costume, everything from the beggars to the soldiers on horseback. Kendall loved the animals. We saw horses, donkeys, ducks, birds, baby cows, baby pigs, and goats. She got to pet most of them too. I think the baby pig was her favorite. She was repeating, "Aww so tiny, so cute, aww baby pig."

However the HIGHLIGHT of the evening for Kendall was getting to ride a yellow school bus. She was SO EXCITED to finally ride a school bus. She is infatuated with school buses. She can spot one anywhere on the road. Funny thing is no matter how excited she was to ride the school but that night, I'm sure in 10 years when she has to ride the bus to school I'm thinking she won't be as excited....I'll have to remind her how cool she thought the were.

Kendallism

Terry: Kendall do you want to try to go potty or not?

Kendall: Not.

Terry and Karen: Hahahaha

Kendallism

Now that Kendall has turned into Chatty Cathy I'm going to start blogging about the crazy stuff that she comes up with so that we can look back and remember them. Hope you find then enjoyable as well.

Last night we were sitting at the dinner table enjoying a nice meal made by my wonderful husband. Kendall looks at me and points and says, "Mommy you're tiny." (For my own selfish reasons I'm interpreting that as "skinny") Then she looks at Terry and says, "Daddy you're big." Now I'm not going to interpret that one.....
;)

Surgery Update

Thanks for your prayers, the surgery went well and my sister is now at home recovering for the next 6-8 weeks. She is now stuck on the couch with a neck brace on a liquid diet, sounds exciting huh?

Holiday Play

Kendall had her school Holiday Play last night. Lets just say I had NO expectations going into this....I mean she still cries everyday when I drop her off at school.

So her class (since they are only 2) just came out on stage in matching tie-dyed shirts and reindeer headbands on with noise makers in their hands. They all sat across the front of the stage and the music began. Kendall and her friend Hailey were sitting next to each other. They were the only two up there that actually didn't freakout and cry. Kendall just sat there swaying back and forth to the music shaking her noise maker and holding her baby doll. She was so freaking cute!!! At the end when the audience started clapping she started clapping too. It was just precious.

We did get a video of it, but having some technical difficulties getting it to upload. Hopefully we can get that up and running soon. Kendall loves to watch the video over and over again on the TV. Not sure what that is all about....

Prayer Request

My sister is having surgery tomorrow morning. She is having two disks in her neck replaced and a plate installed to stabilize it all. I would appreciate your prayers that everything goes as planned.

Thanks:)

Castle

Today we took Kendall to her Doctor appointment at St. Vincents Hospital in Riverside. As we were driving down Park Street, Kendall yells...."Ohhh look a castle!! That is where Aurora lives!"



a/k/a Riverside Presbyterian Church

GO GATORS!

Thanksgiving 2008

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had. Terry was able to come home for the holiday (only for 48 hours, but hey we will take it). My sister and her family were in town too so it was a great family weekend. It was a great time eating and catching up with everyone and laughing at Kendall. She was in rare form and quite crazy.


What would Thanksgiving be without a little football....

Are you kidding me???

I'm sorry I though it was only mid November and that I lived in FLORIDA!

Beep Beep

I don't like to cook. Plain and simple. I would love it if we could eat out everyday and Kendall would act civilized in a restaurant.......but unfortunately neither of those two things are in my near future....so I do the next best thing-I cook just about everything in the microwave-which has been named "Beep Beep" by Kendall. The Beep Beep is quick and easy with minimal mess. Pretty much everything is made in the microwave which right there alone tells you what a nutrition/health nut I am. Good thing I still have a good metabolism. HAHAHA. (In my defense you can make some great veggies in the microwave) I'm especially bad about it when Terry is out of town and it is just me and Kendall. I guess I'm spoiled because when he is in town he cooks:)

I never knew how bad my microwave addition was till one night we were out playing with our friend Will next door and I told Kendall we needed to go inside and fix dinner. She quickly responded "Mommy cook in the Beep Beep" I quickly laughed it off as her just being silly. Later that evening Kendall was playing with her play kitchen and was messing around with the play Beep Beep. Putting bowls in, pushing the buttons, taking them back out, etc. I asked her what she was doing and she happily replied that she was, "Being like mommy and cooking in the Beep Beep."

Halloween 2008

We had quite an interesting Halloween. First Terry flew out Thursday afternoon for a few weeks for work and the Friday morning Kendall woke up crying (something she never does). She was whiny when I dropped her off and I told them to just give me a call if things get worse....well I got the call around 11 that she was just inconsolable and crying as if she were in pain. I was pretty sure by then she either had a UTI or bladder infection. I called and got an appointment for that afternoon. The tests came back inconclusive so they were going to do a culture overnight and would call me Saturday with the results (which were positive).

By the time we got home Kendall really wasn't in the trick-or-treating mood. My parents had already planned to came over to spend the evening with us. Kendall wanted no part of putting the costume on at first, I almost had to force her to put it on. Once she had it on she was a little better but still not really excited about trick-or-treating. We went up and down our street, but Kendall was more interested in seeing all the pumpkins and making sure there were no cars in the raod than getting any candy. By 9 she was done and went to bed. Pretty uneventful, but she made a really cute Minnie Mouse:)

Pumpkin Patch (again) and Pumpkin Carving

This past Saturday we had another trip to the Pumpkin Patch with Kendall, Zander and my parents. It is an annual tradition for my parents and the grandkids. Once again Kendall was running around like a mad woman but this time seemed to be more interested in the acorns laying on the ground than the pumpkins. She didn't even want to take one home. Maybe she has had a little pumpkin patch overload? I think this is the third or fourth visit this year.....

Here are a pic of her and Zander at the pumpkin patch, couldn't get them both to look at the same time.



This year we let Zander pick out his own pumpkin to carve. When we got home it was time to carve the pumpkins. Zander was totally grossed out by the pumpkin innards, as I like to call them, but the deal was if he wanted to carve his own he had to do it all on his own.



We tried to get Kendall in on the action, but she wanted no part of that, she would throw her hands up and shout "Disgusting!"



but she did like taking the "lid" on and off.




Finally at the end of day we were able to light the pumpkins and appreciate the hard work. Zander did a really great job on his first pumpkin.

Here is Zander's scary skull pumpkin:




And Terry's scary skull pumpkin:

Conversations with Kendall

On Saturday morning when Kendall wakes up I usually go get her and bring her into our bed and we watch Playhouse Disney for about 30 mins before going downstairs for breakfast. This past Saturday the three of us were in bed watching tv and Kendall was laying between the two of us and we were watching tv and playing in the bed. Terry had a little scruff on his chin since he had not shaved in a few days. Kendall was rubbing his face and said, "Daddy you face dirty!" After we had a good laugh, she said, "Daddy go clean face." After another good laugh Terry got up and shaved his face and came back to bed. He asked Kendall if his face was clean now...she took her hand and rubbed it across his face and said, "You face is wet."

What a perceptive child we have.

Biker Chick

Oh I have wished my only girl to be a girly girl...some days I think she just might fulfill that wish...but mostly I am defeated and left with this....



We had pictures taken yesterday and out of the whole lot of them, I think this was actually the best one. She totally FREAKED out when we walked in and she saw another little boy getting his picture taken on the motorcycle. That is all she talked about the entire time so we gave in and let her take pics on it.

Look at the devilish little grin on her face....

Kendall's Second Birthday Party

We had Kendall's birthday party on Sunday. The party was later in the afternoon so we could try to get a good nap in before the festivities. While I was trying to get Kendall to eat some noodles for lunch Terry came home with the balloons. Kendall went CRAZY for the balloons. Had I known how excited she was about balloons I would have just gotten her a balloon bouquet for her birthday! She was laughing and oohing and aahing. She insisted on holding the balloons with one hand while shoveling the noodles in with the other (of course I didn't get a picture! ugh) After she finished eating she even wanted to take a nap with the balloons, so upstairs they went with us for a nap. She kept saying "Oh so pretty."

We had some family and great friends come to join us in celebrating the birthday girl. Kendall enjoyed having cupcakes-or as she calls them "happy birthday cakes"- again. While she was a little unsure about the candles (might have something to do with the fire prevention lessons they learned last week) her friend Taylor was more than happy to help out in blowing the candles out.

"Um Mom Fire is bad!"






Kendall got some great presents...some of her favorites-gaudy clip on earrings from daddy-that she had to wear all day and even to bed, alphabet fridge leap frog, Sleeping Beauty DVD, purple rain boots-that she also had to put on instantly and wouldn't take off-and the absolute favorite......BARBIE JEEP!!!

(she may not look it but she really was excited)

She was having a hard time figuring out how to push the gas peddle and actually hold it down to drive so we put Taylor in the driver seat and Kendall was the passenger. She seemed pretty content just to ride around.



Watch out Harley-move out of the way!



At the end of the party just after everyone left she finally had a melt down. I think she was way overstimulated. After a tantrum for a few minutes she was good to go.


While she is still learning how to actually push and hold down the gas peddle, she loves just opening the door and getting in and out of the Jeep. After everyone left she played for at least an hour getting in and out, buckling up and making sure her Minnie Mouse was also safely buckled in. She didn't even want to move anywhere, just get in and out.

This by far has been the quickest year! Just last year she was learning to walk and babbling and today she is running and talking up a storm! I am loving the stage she is in right now because she is changing and growing everyday. She makes us laugh daily and is the sweetest baby girl. I am looking forward to the next year as she continues to flourish from baby to a little girl. She already seems so old to me, I can't imagine how I'll feel next year.

Cupcakes with friends

Kendall enjoyed some cupcakes with her friends at school on her birthday. She was allowed to wear a birthday hat all day long since it was her special day.

Kendall Turns TWO!

Today my baby turns TWO! I can hardly believe it. She has really blossomed the last two months. She is quite the talker and becoming a little person and leaving the baby stage. Here are few pics from this morning. We, of course, had a birthday choco donut with two candles. She loves it when you sing the Happy Birthday Song to her. For the last month we have been working on the "Kendall how old are you? I'm 2" dialogue and she just about has it. It is so cute. I'm going to try to get it on video...if she lets me.


"YEAH I'm Two-sing to me!"

How cute is she in her "2" Tshirt with that Tutu? (I made it last night) I wasn't sure she was going to let me take the Tutu off to go to school, but I finally talked her into in.





"Sorry I have to take a very important call"



We are having cupcakes at school this afternoon and her party on Sunday with the family. Check back next week for pictures of the Birthday Weekend....

Pumpkin Patch 2008

Last weekend Terry and I took Kendall to the Pumpkin Patch at a church down the street from the house. They just received their delivery and had a great selection of pumpkins. She had a blast and was screaming, PUMPKIN! OH LOOK PUMPKIN! OH LOOK NOTHER PUMPKIN over and over.

There was only one other family there so it was great to be able to just let her run free.


My "Baby Pumkin"


Of course she tried to pick up every pumpkin.


Unfortunately she didn't care too much for the photo set up.....oh well. Maybe next year.

Just for Fun....

Okay, I have tagged me to post 7 things about myself that you may or may not know about me. So here's my list:

1. I had my belly pierced for almost 9 years. I had it done in college with my roommate Megan, I guess it was my act of "rebellion." My parents didn't know for years (or at least I don't think they did)!! I finally took it out when I got pregnant. Hey at least it wasn't a tattoo!!

2. I grew up a Georgia Bulldog Fan....I know can you believe it?!?!

3. I HATE lizards. If I know there is one in the house I can't sleep till it has been caught and released outside.

4. I'm allergic to Ibuprofen. I get facial swelling especially around my eyes-nothing serious but enough to be a nuisance.

6. I listen to Martha Stewart radio on Sirius Satellite ALL DAY LONG, I absolutely love it-cooking, planting, entertaining, crafting, etc.- but the crazy thing is I don't enjoy cooking, kill everything I ever plant, would much rather go to a party then host my own, and can barely sew a button on. Go figure.

7. I am a magazine addict...I have a subscription to about 6 different magazines and always want more. The magazine clutter around the house is getting out of control. I hate to toss them because I might need an article out of it one day...you know some recipe (that I'll never cook), some craft/household decoration (that I'll never make), or some parenting solution (that will never work on my child).

Too good to be true...

Terry got the dreaded phone call last night...he left this morning for Mexico for a few days. Dang he has only been home a little over a week. At least this is a short trip (3-4 days). Next on the agenda (assuming there are no major issues before the end of the month) Texas for about 5 weeks.

Test

Okay, I don't usually do these "internet tests" they are usually wierd and off base but had some time to kill so I decided to go ahead and see what it said. I clicked to see how accurate the Career Test would be for me and I gotta say, I'm pretty shocked at how right it came out. It said:

Your personality type:

Quiet, kind and conscientious. Can be depended on to follow through. Usually puts the needs of others above their own needs. Stable and practical, they value security and traditions. Well-developed sense of space and function. Rich inner world of observations about people. Extremely perceptive of other's feelings. Interested in serving others.

Careers that could fit you includes:

Interior decorators, designers, nurses, administrators, managers, secretaries, child care/early childhood development, social work, counselors, paralegals, clergy, office managers, shopkeepers, bookkeepers, homemakers, gardeners, clerical supervisors, curators, family practice physicians, health service workers, librarians, medical technologists, typists

I would love for you to take the test and tell me how accurate - or not - it was for you!

http://www.41q.com/

Finally home (for now)

Terry came home this weekend:) We sure did miss him and were bummed we didn't get to visit this time but it is getting pretty cold over there so maybe I'm not so bummed after all.....

Boots

My mom and I did a little shopping over the weekend. We stopped in at Payless to check out some shoes. They had some pleather knee boots for toddlers and of course I had to try them on Kendall...big mistake, she LOVED them and it was not easy getting them off. I decided to hold of on getting them...for now. We'll see about maybe getting them later. She was so funny walking around in the store with them on and her Gator dress.....




(These were taken on my phone so not the best quality)

Week 4
UF v Tennessee
OSU v Troy

Keyan-Play Ball

This weekend I was able to go to the boys Pop Warner game for the first time this season. My parents had Kendall so I was able to go kid free and actually watch the game. It pretty much rained most of Zander's game and I didn't get any good shots. I was able to get a few at Keyan's game.

Here is the progression:

Coach can I get in the game:


Okay Hinson your in:


Getting ready for the play: (I think he was playing Defensive Tackle...if there is such a thing. Okay I love football, just not too sure on the positions an stuff like that)


You think you can stop me, take that:



I don't have a picture of the take down but Keyan made a great tackle! It's tough to take pics and watch the game at the same time.

It was a great time and they both played really hard. Can't wait till the next game. GO BEARS!

Breakthrough

WOW, we had a total breakthrough this morning at drop off. We got out of the car, she wanted to walk on her own (and not hold my hand) tried to open all the heavy metal doors herself (needed a little help with that one) marched right down the hall to her class and waited for me to open the door. I opened the door she walked in took her backpack off and hung it on her peg. Her two little girlfriends ran over to give her a good morning hug, she turned around gave me a hug and kiss and a "bye-bye moma", took her friends hands and walked off to the breakfast table. She didn't even look back....THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED...no tears, no whines, nothing but cool and total confidence. I was in shock and so proud of my little big girl.


Let's just hope this wasn't a fluke and she doesn't freak out tomorrow morning...

Potty!!!

Kendall will turn two in 4 weeks and we have been trying to introduce her to the potty. She seems to be on a pretty good schedule and often wakes up from naps and in the morning totally dry. I went out bought her two different types of pottys to use at home, but she has shown no interest in them, but she does love the potty book that makes the toilet flushing sound. Oh and she just loves to come in and check you out when you are on the potty and talk about the potty and try to flush while you are on the potty and pull all the toilet paper off the roll.....but that is about it.

In her new "big girl class" they are starting to introduce them to potty training as well. They now have them stand up during diaper changes and there is a little potty that they are encouraged to use/sit on if they like during diaper changes. The teachers have been telling me how much Kendall loves to sit on the potty and is really interested in it, meanwhile I'm thinking to myself, are they sure they are talking about the right kid. The one who won't even acknowledge the various pottys at home and pretty much ignores me when I try to talk about it.....

Well I went to pick her up from school yesterday and there was a smiley sticker on her chart...Kendall went tee-tee in the potty!!! I was so excited, gave her a big hug and a high five. I asked her about it and she totally ignored me.

She definitely has selective hearing...a trait she must have picked up from her dad...

Road Trip #2-part two

We had a great weekend visiting the Blecker and Parrish families. Kendall did fantastic on the car ride-but wouldn't sleep on the way there or the way home. I'm starting to think she has an aversion to sleeping in the car. When I was a kid I would be asleep before we backed out of the driveway.....

But she was great and it was a good time. Sorry no pictures but the camera is at home. Will try to post a picture of Kendall in her Ohio State gear later tonight.....too bad it didn't help the team. Ugh what a sad game. For once I was glad Terry was out of town so we didn't have to watch the game together.

Road Trip #2

This weekend Kendall and I are off to Atlanta once again. This time we get to visit with one of my bestest friends, Melissa, and her new baby Abram (f/k/a Squirt-see link on left for pictures of the cutie). Check out this super cute bib and burp cloth set Abram will be getting when we arrive (once again made by the fabulous Pinky Blues-see link on left). I am so excited to meet him-and to see Melissa and Ira too.




We will also get a chance to visit with my sister and her family. My niece, Taylor, turned 12 this week!! Goodness I can remember rushing home from college after my science lab class to come see her in the hosptial...ugh feeling really old right about now...

But back to the point....it is just the two of us (plus Princess pillow of course)....alone...in a car for 5-6 hours....Lord Help Me. I'm hoping she gets lots of energy out today at school and will sleep for a bit in the car. I've got a bag full of snacks and treats hoping to make her happy. I'm even thinking about going and picking up the new Mickey Mouse Disney Clubhouse DVD for the ride-I was trying to hold out and get it for her birthday next month but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Check back early next week to see if we (meaning I) survived the trip and to see Kendall in her Ohio State outfit that I have all picked out for Saturday to wish them a little good luck-'cause they are going to need it!!


Week 3
Gators Bye Week
OSU v USC-showdown in the coliseum

The Beast

In a previous post I mentioned "The Beast" for those of you that don't know let me introduce you to The Beast...may he (she?) rest in peace.... (I know that I do now that I don't have to listen to suped up exhaust-but that is just me)




Double click on the photo to check out those cool flames on the side...

love you honey...but I really like the Goat better than the Beast-even if I don't know how to drive it.

Please don't ask where we get the names for our cars, we are a little crazy that way.

Just Because

UF- #1 Party School

Here is the weekly update of Kendall in her game day gear...this week sporting her Florida Gator dress (made lovingly by Pinky Blues-see link on left). I spent almost 30 mins trying to get a picture of her, but she was way too interested in her SHARK book, she would barely even look at me. I think she is on her way to prove that not only is Florida the #1 Party School but encourages scholastics as well, at a very early age.


"What you want me to smile? Can't you see that I'm busy here lady...I'm trying to learn about Sharks."


Looking at Harley off to the side....."Hey is she still there with that stupid camera?"

Week 2
Gators v Miami
OSU v Ohio

Bye Bye Peppy

Last week before Terry left we had a neighborhood yard sale...only my husband would sell my FIRST CAR at a yard sale. Needless to say we won the prize for largest item sold. It was a great first car (well first car the I bought myself) right out of college (after I totaled the one my parents bought me in high school). We went from Florida to Virginia to Rhode Island and back to Florida again. Oh the road trips from Virginia to Florida we took in Peppy.

I think I might still be driving that thing if the Beast (a.k.a. Terry's Mustang) didn't die....well maybe not, it was 9 years old with 130k miles with no working air
conditioning.....but at least she still looks great on the outside. She is now the loyal transportation provider for a young girl starting St. JohnsCommunity College. Good Luck. We'll will miss you Peppy.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Our FAVORITE time of year is finally here....COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!!!! This is a very serious and fun time in the Hinson household. Our rivalry wasn't such a big deal at first since we never thought Florida and Ohio would play each other...that was until the National Championship Game in 2007. Of course we had to go to the game and needless to say it was a long flight home from Arizona for Terry...but that is in the past and we are looking to the future. That includes ringing in the New Year in Miami where this years National Championship Game will be played....at least the trip home for Terry won't be nearly as long but unfortunately just as painful.

Love you honey. (Go Gators!)

To be fair we have to alternate outfits for Kendall to make sure we are both fairly represented. Since Terry is getting ready to go out of town again for a few weeks (and will miss the OSU v USC game!) I let Kendall wear her Ohio State outfit first, but that is OK since now she can wear her Gator gear on actual game day. So check back every Friday/Saturday for our weekly College Football fashion show.




Week 1
Gators v Hawaii
OSU v Youngstown State




I also got some new bloomers for Kendall made to go with her Gator/Ohio wardrobe. They are super cute...thanks Kathy!!!