Let's talk....

Is there something so big that you want to ask of God but you haven't yet, thinking it is too big?

I read this question today.

And now I'm thinking what my answer is.

Let's talk...how would you answer this.....

Snap shots

The Great Egg Hunt

Honey Wheat and Papa Tom joined us for the Annual Easter Egg Hunt at the George Bush Library. We had tons of fun! Above you can see us getting ready for the big day. We are scouting out the fields.

Sam took a moment to size up the competition. He proudly competed in the 0-3 age category!


Doesn't he look excited for the hunt below? lol. We'd taken about 200 pictures at this point!


Enjoying the loot!


Daddy helping Samuel find the eggs..


Honey Wheat encouraging Sam.


Everyone got into the action!


This may have been Sam's favorite part of the day. Papa let him dip his eggs in the fountain! Sam held on to two eggs all day long. I thought for sure he'd end up sleeping with them that night.

Bluebonnetts

Is this not the cutest picture ever??? On Easter Sunday the Kenley's visited Washington State Park and spent the day hiking, taking pictures, and enjoying the beautiful weather. It was a great day. If you've never seen the Bluebonnetts of Texas....you are missing out!

We did pick just one...apparently you can be arrested for this offense. Not being a native Texan, I had no idea. Thankfully, we avoided the law. :)


I love this picture of Sam and his Daddy.


More flowers...

Sam snoring

I'll update the blog later tonight with pictures. It's been a great week...We've had a visit from Honey Wheat and Papa Tom, an easter egg hunt, lots of fun at the park and celebrated the risen Christ on Easter Sunday. :) So check back tonight...

But I have to tell you the cutest story...mostly so I can remember it when Samuel is older. Last night it was about 9:30 p.m and WAAAYYY past Sam's bedtime. Scott and I were trying to put him down (but only half heartedly). Anyway, we both laid down on the floor and tried to coax Sam into coming and laying by us (I told you it was half heartedly). Anyway, I started to snore softly for effect. Sam was standing over us. I stopped for a second and all of the sudden he started making a snoring sound. It was SOOO cute. Scott and I just about died laughing. Of course, when we laugh (or kiss, but that's a different story) Sam started laughing. A huge belly laugh!

Fun times at the Kenley's!

I'm tired

Ok - no more updates tonight. I'm tired. :)

See you tomorrow!

Helping friends

Man, we have been busy!!! I forgot all the things we've been doing. I'm so thankful for digital cameras!

Last Sunday we helped our dear friends Courtney and Jason move into their new home. We are so excited for them.

Here is Scott consulting with Clayton on Ground Crew business. Have I ever told you about Clayton? I love him. He's a college kid that works for Scott and he's practically become part of our family. He's going to be a game warden and is graduating from A&M this semester. We are going to miss him. I did have a plan to marry him off to a local girl, but that hasn't worked out so well...I don't know any local girls of the marrying age. If you do, email me. As it stands now...he's going to be a great game warden. :)


Here is Sam helping secure the truck. He's such a big helper!




"Hey...where did everyone go???"

Pizza Night

I'd like to post a dozen pictures of Sam helping me make our pizza last Saturday. It was such a great day for us. He kept wanting to help and so I finally just put him on the countertop and gave him some "tools." He thought he was really mixing up a treat...until he tasted the flour and water mixture. Then, he decided he'd just wait for the good stuff.




Here's the end product. Uncle John happened to be at the house at just the right time so he ate with us. This was a real treat...as he'd a bona fide Italian. So...our pizza got an authentic stamp of approval.


I'm turning into a real nerd, but I love this pizza because I know exactly what's in it...No preservatives...I can list every ingredient. It may not be Papa John's, but it's a healthy alternative for my family. (Ok, can pizza be healthy...I'm looking at all that cheese...probably not?!?!) :)

Saturday bargain hunting

This is the Kenley family before we went shopping for our groceries. I'm now a coupon using and abusing woman...so we decided to take a picture with them for the record. We saved almost $25 on our groceries this week. For some great money saving ideas...check out moneysavingmom.com

So many blogs...so little time

We've been BUSY!!! It's going to take me all night to update. Just kidding. I'm an old person...we are in bed early.

It's been a great week. We've made more homemade bread...homemade pizza tested by a bona fide I-talian (read that with a thick Texas accent)...hunted easter eggs...gone bargain shopping..and played with our grandparents. I've been off this week and Sam and I played together all day...every day. The house is a wreck and nothing has gotten done, but we've made some amazing memories.

Pictures to come....

Jen

Spring Cleaning

In my attempt to become more "green" I have started becoming aware of the chemical cleaners in our homes. Sam climbs, crawls and tastes almost anything he can and I hate the idea of spraying chemicals on things that he'll eventually get his hands on. Plus, there bad for us. Really bad.

So...I've taken the plunge. I've bought the empty bottles and I'm making my own products. I think an additional blessing is that this will be a more frugal way to clean my home. And who doesn't like to save money?!?!?

Here's a couple of recipies to check out...Let me know what success you have with them.

Herbal Appliance Degreaser (taken from The Naturally Clean Home)

2 cups warm water1/4 cup
Murphy's
10 drops of citrus oil or lavender oil

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Mix well.

To clean, spray surface and scrub with a sponge. Wipe off with a towel or cloth.*depending upon how big your spray bottle is, you could double this recipe.

All-purpose Spray

2 cups warm water
2 tablespoon of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Magic Soap
2 tablespoons of white vinegar
4 drops of patchouli oil
4 drops of orange oil

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle.

For more great ideas...check out this blog:

yonderwayfarm.blogspot.com

She updates with lots of great ideas almost daily!

Happy Cleaning!

Dance Class

This morning Sam and I went to Mainly Music at the church. It's a program for preschoolers and their parents. We had a blast! Basically we sing songs and dance around the room. I didn't know if Sam would get into it or not, but he's got some moves! He made is way to the center of the room and started feeling the groove...It was at that moment that I knew he had a little of his mother in him!

Here is Sam in action...I wish I had taken the video camera so that you could have really seen him going strong...



Now the little booger is conked out in his crib. I have a feeling he'll take a long nap this afteroon!

"Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp."
Psalm 149:3

An update on Sam

Sam is now repeating words.
This is huge. Up to now he's been mostly babbling...which is right on track developmentally, but I've noticed lately that he's really connecting words with their meaning. For example, if I say "where is Lady Bird?" he will go to the door and point to her outside. If I say to him, "Sam, you need to eat your banana" he will find the banana and eat it. Well, eat it or mash it into his hair. It's really all the same thing to a 1 year old! :)
Well, tonight I said "Sam, where is Dada?" and he went over to Scott. Then I said, "Sam, say Dada" and my son....my genius of a son whispered..."Dada." We went CRAZY!!!! Shouts of excitement and joy...a true celebration. Well, then Sam got excited and started saying "Dada" super loud!
Too cute!

Thank you Better Homes and Garden

Well, tonight was homemade bread take 2. And ladies and gentlemen, we hit the jackpot.

How do I know?

Scott wanted to eat the entire loaf.

My first try was edible, but definately not good. It was heavy and tasted floury...Is that even a word?

Tonight's loaf was light and airy. The kind of bread that makes your heart happy and your hips wider.

It was good...my husband asked for seconds. This is a good night.

And I owe it all to the cookbook you see above.

This is a must have for any kitchen. I love it...my mother in law gave it to me and it may be one of my all time favorite gifts ever.

We are going to a wedding this weekend. And you guessed it. We're taking a copy of this cookbook for the bride.

She's going to love it. And her new husband is definately going to love it!

Lady Bird's playdate

This past weekend while the family traveled to Oklahoma, Lady Bird Kenley had a playdate. Well, a playdate with purpose. We're hoping to turn Lady Bird into a momma...and so we found her a papa. Ok...this post is obviously not for children!

Rocky Rocconi was selected from the swarm of dogs making application. Ok, he was the only one interested, but that is NOT the point.

Hopefully, we'll have puppies in about 3 months. We'll know for sure in a couple of weeks when we take Lady Bird to the vet. But in the meantime, I think she had an awesome time at the Rocconi's. Here's an email that she sent me:

Mom,

I had a great weekend while ya'll were away. Thanks for letting me visit the Rocconis. We ran laps around the pool until we were tired, and then we jumped in for a swim. Rocky even showed me how to use the steps to get in and out of the pool. I missed you, but the time sure went by fast while I was playing with Rocky and Chester. Here are some pictures of us having a blast!

Ladybird


I think when word gets out that our dog can type emails...we are going to generate a lot of interests in her offspring!

Welcome home, dear Sippy Cup

This is a PSA for all parents...for people who think they may want to be parents...for people who are friends with parents...for people who have had parents. :) Ok, read that last one again.

Sunday we traveled back from Oklahoma. It's a 5 hour drive that usually turns into a 7 hour drive thanks to Samuel. We left my parents house around 1:30 p.m.

Immediately, I knew something was wrong. There was an odor. Not a distinct --we need to change a diaper odor--but an odor nonetheless.

Scott and I have been married for 3 years...It's not a terrible long time...but we've developed a pretty good friendship. We have seen each other through our worst moments (read...butt naked with the stomach flu, can't get off the bathroom floor, honey I think that's a piece of banana in my nose, pick out your favorite pistol and shoot me... moments).

So, when we started our trip we both naturally assummed that the smell was from our beloved.

We tried to ignore it. We smiled politely at each other. We tried to make conversation despite the stinging in our nostrils.

Yeah, right. We are like any other good married couple. We blamed each other.

"Scott, you reek. Unfortunately, you are going to have to ride on the top of the truck home."

"That of course would mean that you would have to drive without trying to kill us with your excellent road skills. I think for the safety of our family YOU are going to need to ride on the hood of the truck."

Then, like good parents, we blamed our kid.

"Sam, you stink. New diaper needed...pronto!"

It was only after we had pulled over and frantically stripped our kid that we realized...

The odor wasn't us.

And then it hit me. Like a ton of bricks. A ton of smelly bricks. Where was the Thomas the Train sippy cup? The red one that we used last weekend? The one that we both said was SOOOOO wonderful because it kept the milk cold? Oh, dear Lord...we prayed. We got down our knees. Right there on I-35...we begged. PLEASE God, don't let this be.

But it was.

The sippy cup that was lost had been found.

Angels rejoiced and two grown adults cried.

No, really...we cried.

Because there under the drivers seat was the source of the terrible smell.

The sippy cup.

We immediately discarded the substance found inside the cup - put it in a ziplock bag - put that ziplock bag in another ziplock bag - tied it to a pole and hung it outside of the truck for the rest of the ride home.

Then we took turns driving the rest of the way home with our heads hanging out of the truck!

Big News

There's a baby on the way!!!! Aunt Jodie and Uncle Bear are pregnant!

Ok, just Aunt Jodie is pregnant...not Uncle Bear.

We are so excited!

Baby Shupe should arrive this November! :)

The Party Goes On

When you turn one in the Kenley Family, you get to celebrate...REALLY celebrate. So, today we had Sam's second 1st birthday party....did you follow all that? This time the party was in Marlow and we celebrated at Honey Wheat and Papa Tom's with all of our family. MeeMaw, Nana and Pops drove over to party with us. Sam had so much fun!

This is probably not the best picture to start with, but this is Sam with Nannie. Nannie is Sam's great-great Grandmother.


Eating more cake...this time I was a lot smarter with this cake experience. So...Sam only got to take pictures with the icing. After that, it was cake only. No tummy aches tonight! :)



Opening presents with Mom and Dad.



This is four generations of Kenley's.


This was a sand box that Nana and Pops brought for Sam. It was so cute when Sam opened this present. The box is GIGANTIC and has a picture of two kids. Sam thought the kids had come to play and got so excited. He kept going over to them and talking at the box. Ok...maybe the story loses something in translation...it sounds a little weird now...my kid talking to a box. :)


The party is now officially....OVER!