Kevin & Lori Daniels

Merry Christmas!!

2009-12-03T12:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-29T19:28:00.000-08:00

The last week was wonderful!! Grandma and Grandpa were here for a visit. We had a great time playing, talking and just enjoying time together. Our kids were able to have Thanksgiving with all 4 grandparents-what a special thing! On Friday we went shopping (Kev & I were giddy, we went at 6AM-Kid Free)! On Saturday we spent the morning decorating the house. It has been 3 years since we were able to put most things out, so this year we put up every decoration that we own, I totally love it! The kids were so cute putting up the tree and the nativity scene. Then on Saturday night we drove 30 miles to Wakeeny for a Christmas parade, actually it ended up being a tree lighting, so it only lasted about 5 minutes. We were a bit disappointed, but had a good laugh! Today we decorated the church. It took about 3 hours, but it looks beautiful!

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy the Christmas Season!!

Yeah Kamryn!

2009-11-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

I realized this morning that I have forgotten to share an exciting milestone for Kamryn. When she turned one year old, she was developmentally at a 6 month level. She had physical therapy in our home once a week for 6 months. Well, as of October 22, Kamryn is done!! She is now at a 20 month old level in most areas. She advanced 14 months in just 6 months time! The physical therapist was very impressed by this. I just wanted to share with everyone how proud we are of her and her hard work! (Kevin posted a video of Kamryn walking on YouTube. It's very cute!)

Happy Halloween 2009!

2009-10-31T16:09:00.000-07:00

This Halloween was a very busy one for us. The festivities began Saturday the 24th with Trunk or Treat at the Rec Center.

Then on Tuesday, the kids and I went to a party at the Library with various games for them to play.

On Friday they went trick-or-treating at the stores downtown. We were very excited to have Grandma and Great-Grandma come and celebrate with us this weekend!

On Saturday we carved our pumpkin, trick-or-treated at the mall, and went to another Trunk or Treat at a local church.

The church also had games, a bouncy house and hot dogs. We finished the evening by visiting a few families from church. The kids ended up with SEVEN pounds of candy!! (3.5 pounds were sold to a dentist for $4 and sent to troops overseas). We had a very fun week!

Smoky Hill Bison Co.

2009-10-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Logan, Kamryn and Lori went to a pumpkin patch. Eight others from Hays Christian Church also went, along with Lori's mom, nephew and niece. The pumpkin patch had lots of fun things for kids of all ages. First we went down a huge slide that they had built onto the side of the hill. They also had a zip line that Jordan rode. While the others tackled the maze, we played on the various other activities; a sandbox filled with corn, a tire maze, a hay bale maze, a huge swing and a duck race. Later, we all rode on a tram out to the field to see the buffalo. The kids loved seeing the animals so up close. Next we went to another field area and shot a corn cannon and put small gourds and pumpkins into slingshots. The weather was beautiful and we had a great time. There are more pictures posted on Lori's Facebook page.

Wiggles & Giggles

2009-10-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

Logan and Kamryn have been in a Wiggles & Giggles class at the Rec. Center for the last couple of weeks. It has beeen a wonderful time of running and playing with all sorts of new things. Today they danced with streamers, threw beanbags and played with a parachute.

Everyone in the class knows who Logan is. In a class of very shy 2 and 3 year olds, Logan was front and center, ready to be first to do everything. Kamryn was pretty willing to try new things too. She joined right in, with many of the activities. Her favorite was to go under the parachute while the moms were shaking it.

We can't wait for the next class that the kids can sign up for!

Naptime Routine

2009-10-12T11:19:00.001-07:00

Everyday at naptime Kamryn, Logan and I read two books on the guest bed, I put Kamryn in her crib and then I return to tuck Logan in. This is a very special time because it is about the only time that Logan will let me cuddle with him. Sometimes we sing songs to each other, sometimes we talk about the day. Then he gets in the covers and gives me the biggest hug of the day. Today he decided to give me twelve kisses on my cheeks. Laughing, I told him "Enough." As I said it, I realized that there are never enough kisses from your child. I also realized how lucky I am that he wants to be silly and plaster me with kisses. Too soon, I'm afraid, he will no longer do that. Maybe the next time we are in church or at the store and he is being silly and very much acting his age, I will remember this and not wish so hard for him to be older.

Cottage Lane Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-03T17:41:00.000-07:00

Today we took a trip to a Pumpkin Patch. We saw goats, bunnies and chickens. Logan had fun going through a hay bale tunnel (on the scary side when you're 3). He also climbed on top of hay bales. We took a hay rack ride and walked all through the pumpkin patch. We had just read books about pumpkins, so it was neat for the kids to then see exactly what we had read about. There will be more pictures posted on Lori's Facebook account.

It's Fall!

2009-10-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

This week we have been learning about fall. We have been reading books, gathering leaves, looking at different kinds of seeds. We gathered leaves from our front yard to glue onto a paper plate to make a wreath. I had them color on the plate first, for a background. When I gave Kamryn hers, she did lots of coloring-on the table in the hole in the middle of the plate. (See pic.) Logan did a great job with his, he wanted to give up after gluing two leaves, but with some encouragement did finish the project.
I learned a lesson too-the kids have much more fun if I set up the activity and them let them do it on their own. So what if there is too much glue, it will dry. So what if he covers one leaf with another, that is how he wants it. So what if she wants to color on the table, it will wash. Once I sat back and let them do their own thing, we all had more fun.

Too Long without an Update

2009-09-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

I need to apologize for not posting anything in over a month!!

As an update: Kamryn is now walking!! Kevin has a video of her on his Facebook page. We had a wonderful visit at the end of August with Kev's parents (including a trip to Kansas City to watch the Seahawks beat the Chiefs in a pre-season game)! Logan is enrolled in a Wiggles & Giggles class at the Rec center. They run, dance, and play with balls, hoops, bean bags and parachutes. We have a great time going. We are finally back to a good routine! We took a couple of weeks between summer and now 'off,' so it feels going to be productive again.
Kevin is very busy with church. This is a great thing, a blessing- at the same time it can be a bit overwhelming with all that could be done. Please pray that he can be discerning about what things to be spending his time on.

I am working at a daycare here in town. I'm working two hours a day in the infant room. It is by far the easiest job I have ever had. (Possibly only in comparison to my previous, very stressful job). The kids stay home with Kevin, watching movies, playing the computer and having a great time.

Life for us is good. We are enjoying the challenges and opportunities that we have here. We absolutely love our church family. We hope that you are enjoying the beauty of fall. I will try very hard to post updates more frequently.

Slow Sunday Evening

2009-08-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

Tonight the kids and I were on our own. Kevin was at youth group (three new girls joined from VBS!!) Anyway, the kids and I had fun-after dinner the three of us sat at the table. Logan on one side of me playing on the computer (almost completely by himself) and Kamryn sat on the other side coloring.

Studio Go! Game Show

2009-08-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

Today we had the closing program for an exciting week of Vacation Bible School. We had 23 children attend, with only 6 being regular attenders. We learned about Gideon (with Kev dressed up as "General Barley Bread"), Esther, Jesus raising from the dead, Peter and Annanias. The kids made some really fun crafts and had yummy snacks. I taught the preshcool and kindergarten class, and we had a great time. The curriculum had some very fun, creative ways to reinforce the theme for the day. We even had a game show each night, providing lots of opportunities for kids to come on stage and have fun. (One girl even won $5 in "Let's Make a Deal"). On the first night, the host picked a boy from my group to come up and answer questions, of course this led Logan to believe that he could come up on stage too. He knew the answers and was very vocal! For the closing program, Logan did the opening prayer.

Kevin led the music all week, including teaching the kids the actions to all of the songs. He did a great job! He was even able to get the older boys to participate-no easy feat. He also led the Jr./Sr. High time from 9-10 pm. We now have 3 girls who are very excited to come to youth group, along with two others that will probably come. This is an unexpected development, and we are praising God for it. Now the real work begins of maintaining relationships with the unchurched families that God has brought to us.

Geodesic Dome

2009-08-06T10:30:00.000-07:00

Today we built a Geodesic Dome out of newspapers. It took 100 sheets, in tubes of 4 to put it together. Our friend Madison helped. The whole thing took about an hour, and we are very happy with the results. I got the idea from Family Fun magazine.

Combine Demolition Derby

2009-07-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

Tonight we took the kids to the Combine Demolition Derby at the Ellis Co. Fair. We have been looking forward to this since we heard about it a couple of months ago. We always loved going to the Demo Derbies at the Evergreen State Fair, (with the School bus demos). We went with a group from church along with 7,000 others from the area who thought this would be fun. It was VERY fun! There were 10 combines in two heats (5 per heat) and then a final heat with 8 combines all bashing and crashing at once. We had a great time watching as well as fellowshipping with members of our church family.

A Busy but Fun Summer Day

2009-07-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

Today we did lots of fun activities. I saw some unusual and easy crafts in a magazine, so we decided to try them out. First we made "soap snakes" out of a water bottle, washcloth and dish soap. The kids thought they were pretty fun. Basically it makes thousands of tiny bubbles in one long snake shape. We also made "marble paper" by mixing food coloring into shaving cream and pressing paper onto it. They turned out very pretty, and smelling great! During nap I turned the backyard into a water park, with the pool, sprinkler and slide all getting wet. I hung a tarp on the clothesline and put our picnic table under it for shade and a dry place. We all had a great time and even the neighbor's grandson came over to play with the kids. In the evening we went to the Ellis Co. Fair. We looked at all of the exhibits, vendors and animals. Our favorite booth was that of the Sternberg Museum. They had SNAKES! Kevin and the kids enjoyed holding and touching them (yes, kids- Kamryn even touched them).

Another Trip to the Zoo

2009-07-08T17:11:00.001-07:00

Today the kids and I, along with two friends from church, went to the Great Bend Zoo. We went right after breakfast so that we would have plenty of time for the drive and all of the zoo before lunch. The kids all said that the Aquarium house and lions were their favorites. We spent much time with both. While we were watching the lions, one of the lionesses got up and walked right toward us. It was within two feet of us. (Close enough to raise your blood pressure, even with the fence). All of the animals seemed especially active today, which made it better for the kids. After the zoo we had a picnic in the park and then the kids played. We then stopped at the Goodwill to look for some things for VBS (which made Kev think I was crazy). But the kids were well behaved all day and I think they had a really good time.

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T12:07:00.001-07:00

Happy 4th of July! We have been looking forward to this day for months! We built a float for the parade in town to advertise our Vacation Bible School that will be in August. Our theme is "Studio Go!" Our float is a game show, complete with a host, two contestants, a large wheel, and our very own "Vanna." The kids were the audience. We had a great turn out, 22 adults helped build and decorate it. Then we all walked, handed out candy bags and threw small beach balls. It was SO fun! We were even more excited when we heard that we got 3rd place in the parade (out of 46 entries)!!! Tonight, Kev and I get to go to the main stage at the concert series to receive the prize on behalf of the church. We had a great time, it was well worth the hours of work that were put in to our float. The real results will come in August, when we see if our advertising has drawn any families to our VBS. We pray that it will.

Wild West Fest Carnival

2009-07-01T19:14:00.001-07:00

Tonight we took the kids to the carnival that is in town. The kids had fun riding some of the rides. Logan went on a big slide with an alligator on it (see photo). He also rode the boat ride and went in a fun house with mirrors and a maze. Also, we all rode the carousel together. Kamryn especially liked this! She was all smiles and laughs as she rode, and screamed when it was over.

Krispy Kremes

2009-06-29T18:18:00.000-07:00

Today Kevin went to Wichita with two friends from church. When he came home, he had a nice surprise. KRISPY KREME donuts! We were very excited. (Just one of the many things we miss). Both kids enjoyed the special treat!

Facebook

2009-06-27T20:51:00.001-07:00

Kevin and I are now actively on Facebook. If you are on Facebook, we want to be your friend. We have more pictures posted and it's just a fun way to stay connected. We look forward to hearing from you!

Putt Putt golfing

2009-06-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

On Friday night we went Putt-Putt golfing with a group from our church. Despite the heat (over 90 degrees) it was a very fun evening! Logan would hit the ball once, from the "tee" and then he would pick it up wherever it stopped and then put it right by the hole and hit it in. He had more fun going from hole to hole, watching all of his friends. After golfing, we all headed to Dairy Queen for ice cream and more fellowship time.

A fun way to beat the heat

2009-06-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

Last week the kids got a wading pool from Grandma and Grandpa. We have had a great time playing in it every afternoon. It is a fun way to stay cool on these super hot days. Logan loves going down the slide and has even been brave enough to go down on his stomach! Kamryn is very hesitant at first, but quickly begins laughing and splashing. On Monday we all played by the pool and then I grilled hamburgers. It was the perfect summer evening.
I am totally enjoying staying home with the kids and being able to do so much with them. I am so thankful that God has blessed us with this time. I am trying to make the most of it. Kevin has been very busy with church, camp and writing movie reviews and articles for the newspaper.
Kamryn has really started crawling now. Yesterday she crawled up the steps all by herself. She had never done that before. She is pulling herself up to everything. Her therapist thinks she will walk by the fourth of July! We'll let you know when she does! -I am a very proud mommy!

Happy Father's Day!!

2009-06-21T12:22:00.001-07:00

To all of the dads, grandpas and uncles in our lives. WE LOVE YOU! Thank you for all that you do! We hope that you have a wonderful, relaxing day!

10 Year Anniversary

2009-06-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

Playing at the Park

2009-06-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

Kamryn is taking after Logan in her fearlessness. While at the park she loves to swing high. She also likes to ride the merry-go-round and the teeter-totter. On the merry-go-round she makes me nervous, but she does a good job of holding on. (Don't worry, when she was standing up, she wasn't really moving).

Logan loves to run and climb and go down the slides. He is such a boy. I was busy with Kamryn and he had found a puddle, so he was throwing things in it. It's fun to be a kid with your kids!

Read Kevin's Articles Online!

2009-06-08T16:11:00.000-07:00

Kevin's ONE articles (the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance's monthly magazine) are now available online! Go to www.ourecma.com and click on the logo on the bottom right side of the page that says "read ONE online." My first articles appear in the March 2009 issue. New issues are published the last Sunday of each month. My column is titled Life Outside the Pews, but I have other articles in there, too.

Rolling Hills Zoo

2009-06-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina, KS. It was great!! The weather was totally perfect and we took a picnic lunch to eat (which provided a good break in the middle for the kids). We saw animals that we hadn't seen at other zoos: 5 rhinos, giraffes, dart frogs and an anteater.

The best part of the whole trip was when Logan and Kevin fed the giraffes. For only $1 you are allowed to feed the giraffes hay and pellets. At one point two giraffes came to eat, when they did Logan laughed and had the biggest smile. Logan said, "It licked me, it didn't bite!" It was such a special experience, it made the whole trip worthwhile! Another fun thing that this zoo has to offer is a tunnel in the bear's cage. You crawl in and can pop up inside the cage. There is a glass enclosure so that you can really be up close to the bear. (Of course while we were there, the bear was sleeping on the other side of a log, but we had fun in the tunnel anyway).

Sprinkler Fun

2009-06-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

Usually Logan is a boy who hates have on wet clothes, but he had a wonderful time when we let him run through the sprinkler. Now he can't get enough, he wants to run through every day.

Where's Kamryn?!?

2009-06-04T16:25:00.000-07:00

Who needs toys when there is toilet paper in the house??

Gage Park Fun

2009-05-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

Saturday we went to Gage Park in Topeka for McKenzie's (cousin) 3rd birthday party. After a fun party, we rode the miniature train and then the carosel. The day was beautiful and we had a great time!

Go Truck Go

2009-05-28T17:45:00.001-07:00

Tonight we went to "Go Truck Go," a free event here in Hays. There were 50 different kinds of vehicles. The kids were able to get inside to look around and sit in the driver's seat. They were even able to honk the horn. Logan sat in the school bus, a police car, a semi truck, a garbage truck, a tractor and army vehicles. Logan and Kamryn especially liked the garbage truck's horn. Both kids got into a race car-Kamryn loved it, she did NOT want to get out. We stayed until the very end, and were able to watch most of the vehicles leave-it was like a bonus parade.

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

After church on Sunday we drove to Topeka to pick up mom and then went to Grandma's to spend the night. It has been years since I spent the night at my grandma's house and it is truly a special thing to get to do. It brought back so many memories of staying with her and grandpa as a kid. My kids played with toys that my mom played with when she was little.
I love the tradition that my family has. We all go to the cemetary to put flowers on the graves of people in our family who have passed on. We know that they are not there, but it is a way to remember them and talk about them and really honor their memory. This was the first time that Kevin and I have been able to go in about 6 years and it was one of the things that I had really missed. I am very glad that we took the time to come together as a family this Memorial Day.

Grandma's Visit

2009-05-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

Grandma came to visit for 11 days! We had a great time! We went to Plainville and played at their park (see photo above). The climbing toy has three levels and from the top level are two slides that are very fast.
We went to Salina for shopping and spent the night in a hotel with a pool and water slide. Logan loved the slide! At first he went down on our laps, and then we let him go by himself! (Mommy at the top and daddy at the bottom, to catch him). He wore "wings" on his arms and had a tube around his tummy and had a great time in the water. I wish we had pictures of him at the pool!
We took another trip to the Great Bend Zoo. This time there were more animals- birds, lizards and snakes were put into small cages that had been empty the last time we were there. This time we were able to stay for a show in the main building and it was on snakes (perfect for daddy). This time Logan actually touched the snake (see photo below).
We had a great week and a half with grandma and were VERY sad when she had to go back home. We are already looking forward to the next trip!!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

To all of the moms and grandmas and aunts (related or otherwise) that we have in our lives, We Love You!! Thank you for all that you do!

The Great Bend Zoo

2009-05-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

Today Lori and the kids went to the Great Bend Zoo. It is a smaller zoo, but we were pleasantly surprised by how many animals they have. They have many large cats, and you are able to get really close to all of the animals. The best part is that it is FREE!! We walked around the zoo a couple of times, and both kids really enjoyed the day. Since the animals were so close, even Kam was able to see most of them. Before we left, we asked if they had any snakes. The volunteer said "If he wants to see snakes, then by-golly he will see some snakes." She went to a closet and pulled out huge container with a big snake in it. (I even touched it! Eeek! -The things we do to show our kids bravery.) We look forward to going again this summer and taking daddy!

What a Cutie!

2009-05-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

Kamryn looked so cute and happy in this picture, I just had to share it with everyone. She is our happy little girl, so smiley and loving.

Candy For Breakfast!?!?

2009-04-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

Do you know what happens when you tell a certain 3 year-old that he can have candy the next day? That is the first thing on his mind when he wakes up! On Wednesday night we told Logan that he could not have a piece of candy, because it was too late. On Thursday morning when he woke up, he immediately was reaching for the candy bowl! What a memory!

Welcome to Logan!

2009-04-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

We decided to take a road trip on Kevin's day off. We pulled up Google Maps to see what is nearby and saw that there is a town named "Logan" about an hour away. So, we hopped in the car and went! It was a beautiful drive to the small town. Once there we made Logan pose in front of many signs and buildings bearing his name. We ate at the Cafe there-the BEST cheeseburgers EVER!!! If you are ever near there, you MUST have one! Come for a visit, we'll take you to Logan.

"Happy SPRING!"

2009-04-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!!

2009-04-12T13:37:00.000-07:00

Easter morning we had a Sunrise Service at a local
cemetery, then we went to breakfast at IHOP. We
then went home, where Logan found his hidden Easter Basket. After that we went to a wonderful service at church. As soon as church was over we drove to Aunt Elsie's house and had dinner with the family and Logan and his cousin Abby had an Easter Egg hunt. Logan kept yelling "I found one, I found one!" It was a very special day!

Easter Week Events

2009-04-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

The week leading up to Easter was very busy for our family. There were many activities in the community that we participated in. On Tuesday, April 7th we took the kids to an Easter party at the library. There was an Easter Bunny and a candy hunt. They read stories and sang fun songs. On Thursday the 9th we started the day at the Maundy Thursday breakfast at 6:30 am. It was put on by the Ministerial Alliance that Kevin participates in. A member of our church gave his testimony and it was very powerful. That afternoon, Lori, Logan and Kamryn went to a cookie decorating party (again at the library).

On Good Friday there was a Tre-Ore service from 12-3 pm. Six churches each took a section of Scripture and taught about it for 30 minutes. Our church taught about the mocking of Jesus. Kevin make a very powerful video illustrating the fact that Jesus is still being mocked today by popular comedians and celebrities. It was a very powerful presentation.

On Saturday morning we took the kids to the Easter Egg Hunt at Fort Hays State. There were SO many kids. Logan found 6 eggs. He ran right past the candy and focused on the eggs. That afternoon Lori and the kids went to a local farm where Logan was able to hold a bunny and a duckling. He also petted a rooster and a goat. Then he climbed on some Hay bales. We had a busy and fun week.

Let's Drive!!

2009-03-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

It's official. Kamryn is no longer a baby. She is now able to ride in a forward facing car seat. Gone are the days of lugging her in a heavy infant seat!! To celebrate, we took a drive in the country, enjoying the beauty of this area.

Jesus Loves Me!

2009-03-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

Logan has been asking us for weeks if he could sing on the stage at church. So, when we realized that all of his grandparents would be at church on Kamryn's birthday, we said yes. For two weeks, Logan practiced at home and at church for the big day. When that day came, he did a great job. He was not nervous at all. He played his guitar for a bit, and when Kevin encouraged him to sing, he said "This is the beginning." Then he played more and began to sing. When he was done, everyone clapped and he looked all around, even behind him-soaking in all of the attention.

If you would like to see the performance, Kevin has posted it on YouTube. Just search for "Logan Jesus Loves Me" and his should come up first.

Happy Birthday Party!!

2009-03-21T18:11:00.000-07:00

We had a "Mickey Mouse" party for the kids. Logan turned 3 and Kamryn turned 1. We were so excited that both sets of grandparents, Great-Grandma Hursh and their two cousins were able to attend. We were also very excited to have many of our new friends from Hays come to the celebration.

Day at the Museum

2009-03-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to the Sternberg Museum here in Hays. It is famous for its dinosaur displays. Logan is currently interested in learning about them, so he was very excited to go. At the same time, he didn't want to see the "loud" one (they have a life size T-Rex that roars). We watched the T-Rex three times from afar-then he was ready to watch it up close. It was neat to watch him face his fear and be brave.

The museum also has a "Discovery Room" that is very fun. They have live snakes, turtles, lizards and a room of nocturnal animals. The room also has an area for younger kids with puppets, books, blocks, and puzzles. Both kids spent much time in that area doing hands-on learning and exploring. (This posting was written by Lori.)

Kamryn's Long Locks

2009-03-17T18:12:00.000-07:00

It was time...

Kamryn's hair just had to be cut. She's growing up so fast!

Take a look at how long it was:

Daddy carefully made the cuts...

And this was the result:

The Fast Slide

2009-03-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

Monday we took Grandma to Salina to do some shopping and on Tuesday Logan was very excited to show Grandma the "fast slide" at the park.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN!!!

2009-03-15T13:51:00.000-07:00

We ended up going to Whiskey Creek for Logan's birthday dinner. They were so nice and sang to him! He also got to enjoy this great ice cream treat - and the rest of us were not shy about sharing with him! 3 years old - can you believe it???

Grandma Comes Bearing Gifts...LOTS!!

2009-03-14T13:39:00.000-07:00

Logan & Kamryn both got dress-up things from Grandma, and here they are both modeling for the camera! Grandma ended up bringing 4 packed suitcases - mostly full of treasurers for the grandkids!

Now Arriving in Hays...

2009-03-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

Grandma came to visit!! We were so excited to pick her up from the airport, and Logan actually took this picture. She gets to stay for just over a week, but we tried to keep her longer! We think that Grandma and Grandpa should just move here, but they haven't been totally convinced as of yet! Thankfully we have a number of grandparents in our church to help spoil the kids! We look forward to a fun visit!

My Favorite Girls!!

2009-03-09T13:17:00.000-07:00

We are fortunate to live very close to a number of great parks. Mommy takes the kids there during the week each day when the weather cooperates, and on this trip Daddy got to go, too! This picture says it all!

Logan Loves the Lime Light

2009-03-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

We were at our marriage group on Sunday and Logan (along with some of his friends) discovered that the microphones were still on. They had quite a time singing/yelling/laughing for us all! It was very cute to see all the kids up there. The marriage group was good, too :-)

Visit to Topeka

2009-03-06T13:02:00.000-08:00

On the weekend of March 4, Lori and the kids went to Topeka to visit Grandma Esther and Grandpa Charlie. They had a great time. That same weekend Kevin went to a church leadership conference in Bucklin. The conference was about "thinking next" when it comes to church planning and growth. It was a really beneficial conference for those of us from the church who were able to attend.

You may notice a flurry of blog activity today - I am finally trying to get caught up!

American Idol Cuts

2009-03-03T17:32:00.000-08:00

Howdy! This week has so far been a week of sickness for us here at the Daniels' house. Kamryn has been fighting a cold for a few days, Logan was sick yesterday and Daddy has been sick today. Hopefully tomorrow won't be Mommy's turn!

We did take the scissors to Logan's noggin last night, though, and we took off a TON of hair! (When we swept it up it looked like a little topee on the floor!) He did a great job sitting still the whole time. Logan was also on day 4 today, but had a small accident. He is doing so great with the potty training - he hasn't had a number two accident for so long that we don't even remember the last time!

Logan has also started really liking American Idol (as we do), and he says "This is American Idol" with the same inflections as Ryan Seacrest! It is so funny! And, whenever he sees a Ford, he calls it an American Idol car! Who says advertising doesn't work?

Kamryn has started playing catch with us this week! It is so cute. She goes to throw the ball and there's no telling when she will release the ball, so you've got to be quick on your feet if you want to catch it!

Afternoon Shower & Space Chimps

2009-03-01T16:55:00.000-08:00

Today was an interesting day. Church went really well and we had some great company over for dinner after. Then Logan and Kamryn took their naps. Pretty normal, right? Well, when Logan got up, he wanted to watch a movie. And the movie that he and Mommy picked at the library? Space Chimps. I know what you're thinking - I was thinking the same thing. But then we turned it on and I couldn't stop watching it! It actually turned out to be pretty good. I use the word "good" very loosely, but it was entertaining.

But then the title of this post includes "afternoon shower." Kamryn and Mommy were laying down together watching TV when Mommy realized that Kamryn needed her diaper changed. Then she realized that ... well ... she took an afternoon shower :-) She probably will get after me for posting this, but I found it quite hilarious! :-)

Logan has developed a new sport: hide from Daddy and run around in his "undies!" He also picked up on the phrase "Crash & Burn, Dude!" when we were playing cars in his room. He is such a cool kid! And Kamryn is getting very close to being able to stand on her own! In other milestone news, Logan has grown in the 7 weeks we have been here - he can now reach the light pull in the basement without standing on his chair! Life marches on!

2 Days & 4 Teeth Later

2009-02-23T19:54:00.000-08:00

Well, Logan just finished day two of his new dry streak and he is very much looking forward to his day three treat!

Kamryn now has 4 teeth (I may have said that before, but now we have a good photo!) She is getting so big! The picture was taken right after she ate, so her face is a bit dirty!

The weekend was good. We had Mike Schrage, a missionary, speak Sunday and had a potluck after the service. He spent 20 years in Africa and it was great to see photos and hear stories from his work there along with the work he is now doing from his office in Joplin.

We also went to the Fort Hays State basketball game. It was Logan & Kamryn's first b-ball game and Logan really enjoyed it. He even went up to the Tiger mascot and gave him a high 5! That's a big step from the last time he came up close with a mascot! And thanks to our friends Billie and Bubba, the tickets were free!

THREE DAYS!!!

2009-02-20T15:31:00.000-08:00

THREE DAYS IN A ROW!!! Logan has been dry with no accidents for three days in a row!! Hallelujah! We are so excited! For his 3 days prize he got to go to Sonic and get a sundae. He was super excited. There is also a prize for the 2nd 3 days and a prize for 1 week. We want to keep encouraging him as much as possible! Ah, these are the days! PTL!! :-)

My Apologies

2009-02-18T16:59:00.000-08:00

Hi Everybody! Let me start with an apology for not updating this in a while. Things have been very hectic this past few weeks as we settle into our life here in Hays. In addition, my computer now has a new hard drive, and I'm just getting things back to normal. So, a few updates:

Kamryn: She now has FOUR teeth!! Yep, the little girl is growing up. As for crawling, though? Nope! But that doesn't mean she is not mobile! She sits on her bottom and scoots herself all over the place. The other day she actually had carpet burns from scooting so much and so fast!

Logan: Logan is doing much better with the potty training now. In fact, today he went the whole day with no accidents! That is a first for him, so he got a special treat. He is very much looking forward to his birthday party next month, which will be Mickey Mouse (and other Disney characters). He is also looking forward to seeing everybody! Invitations will be mailed next week, but know that you are all invited!

Lori is really enjoying being at home with the kids, though she is going to have to find at least a part-time job for now. She is doing lesson plans with the kids every day, and when it has been warm enough they walk to one of the parks that is nearby.

I am having a lot of fun, but am struggling with how to spend my time. There is a lot to be done, so I am praying for wisdom concerning as to what I should personally be doing, what can/should be delegated and what can be dropped altogether. I have also written my first column piece for the local paper and am very excited to hear the feedback. I have also been given the nickname "Boss" by Ken (aka The General) :-)

It has been a really rich time for us these past few weeks, and we are so enjoying getting to know the church family that God has blessed us with here. It truly is a blessing for us to be here.

I am going to teach Lori how to update the blog, but we still are down to just one computer right now, but hopefully between the two of us we can keep the photos and blog entries coming!

Fridge In!!

2009-01-25T06:45:00.000-08:00

After hours of work, John, Kenneth & Gary were successful at getting our fridge in the slot that was too small! I'm not sure what all they did, but there were power tools involved! Lori is extremely excited about having her fridge back!

This weekend we went to Salina to get some things, and then had dinner with Nick, Connie and Christian. It was a lot of fun. They are big game players so we are going to have to get together for a game night with them and some of the other families that we are learning love games!

We also went to prayer meeting last night which was a good time for a small group of us to come together to praise and petition the Lord for this church, community and nation. There are many needs and many who are hurting in our church but it is comforting to know that the Lord is in control and that He uses all things for His glory. If you have any prayer needs, please email me so that we can go before the Lord on your behalf.

Shorts in January!

2009-01-23T07:09:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it, but Logan and I actually wore shorts yesterday! It was nearly 70 degrees and sunny, so we took the opportunity to pull out the summer clothes early. Today is a different story, though, as the arctic front is supposed to be coming in.

Logan is doing a lot better these past few days as far as getting adjusted. We are working on getting us all on a routine and that helps a great deal. He likes being able to get out of his room and come in to our bed in the mornings. Mommy's not a huge fan because she can't always go back to sleep after, but it doesn't bother me as I don't have that problem!

Last night we had some friends over for dinner and it was great to see the kids continue to warm up to the new church family. Gary and Pat came over yesterday afternoon so that Gary could help me drill a hole through the floor in the house. The hole was already there, but it needed to be just a bit bigger. I ended up breaking off my drill bit in there, so Gary came over to the rescue. He was able to get the hole larger, but it also cost him a drill bit of his own. Now the hole is drilled, the cable is through, and all is well! While Gary and I worked on the hole, Pat and Lori played with the kids. Again, it's great getting to know our new church family!

For today we just plan on staying warm. We'll probably head over to Salina tomorrow to do some shopping. Gary and Kenneth are coming over this morning to see if they can get Lori's fridge into the opening that is 1/4" too small. Pat had a good idea, so we'll see if it works out. I'm confident that between the General and Gary the fridge will be in there no problem!

I'm just finishing up my first sermon for Sunday. It is a narrative sermon based on Philippians 2:1-8. It's called "Be Humble As Christ Jesus Was Humble." I'm really looking forward to it.

Hays Daily News Article Link

2009-01-23T06:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to the news story that was in the Hays Daily about our arrival in Hays:
http://www.hdnews.net/faithstory/Daniels-010909

What a Weekend...

2009-01-19T17:53:00.001-08:00

It's now Monday night and the kids are getting ready for bed...and so are me and Mommy! These past few days have been flurries of activity. We said good-bye to my parents on Saturday morning and then Lori's parents and grandma drove in Saturday around noon. Then my birthday was jam-packed on Sunday because it was also our first Sunday at our new church! The service went really well and we are looking forward to next Sunday when I preach. Lori's parents took us to IHOP for lunch, and I would still be there eating the all-you-can-eat pancakes if I could!

Today was another windy day in Kansas, but we still took the kids out for a walk. Logan rode his trike and we pulled Kamryn in the wagon. We walked to a park around the corner and enjoyed the swings, slide and digger thingie. We also checked out the Hays Library today and checked out some books for the kids.

For tomorrow, we have the Dish Network installer coming and I'm supposed to try to pick out a cell phone company for us. We'll see if that happens, but it will be nice to have television again!

First Tooth...Is that Funny?

2009-01-15T16:19:00.000-08:00

Kamryn had her first tooth poke through today! She obviously has a lot to go, but hopefully the teething process will be easier now. (I'm not really sure how that works, though!) Another milestone is that tonight is my first official act as pastor of HCC: I have an elder/overseer meeting. I'm looking forward to getting started on the work of ministry here in Hays.

Logan was funny tonight - We were talking about birthdays and I asked him whose birthday it is on Sunday (mine), and he told me that it was his. I told him it was mine and I asked him if he and Grandma had bought me something at Wal-Mart. Grandma quickly spoke up that it was a secret, and then Logan blurted out, "It's candles!!" We all started laughing and then Logan just kept shouting it out, "It's candles!! It's candles!!" We couldn't stop laughing, and he kept shouting it! Then as we quieted down, he asked, "Is that funny?" So cute!!

Settling In

2009-01-14T08:10:00.000-08:00

Wow - it was very odd yesterday not being "plugged in" to the Internet! This morning I am at a coffee shop drinking my hot chocolate, blogging and checking email. And there's some stuff I'm doing for the house utilities, too, but that's not really important compared to email, right? :-)

These past few days have been very busy! We have been unpacking boxes like crazy and they seem to have multiplied! And my previous comments about packing tape? I really dislike it now! It has been great to be here in Hays, though. Many people have stopped by to say hello, and it's great getting to know people. The gifts from the congregation have continued, and now some meals are being provided. We feel so welcome and wanted! We have a love for the group of people that God has brought us to, and we haven't even had our first Sunday!

Logan is adjusting pretty well. He hasn't been too shy around all the new people and he likes his new room. We are going to get some glow in the dark animals to put on his ceiling. There are already some stars up there, but he wants some dinosaurs, so the search continues!

For today, the plan is to get the utilities changed to our name, get some pictures hung, and get the furniture arranged in the last few rooms. Then I have all my books to unpack, which could take a day in and of itself! I have my first meeting tomorrow night with the elders/overseers, so we are jumping right in. Our phone and Internet are supposed to be installed tomorrow, so hopefully I will be emailing and blogging from home tomorrow!

Welcomed in Hays

2009-01-12T07:46:00.000-08:00

It is our second full day in Hays, and we are excited to hear that our moving trailer will be arriving today. It will be a lot of work to unload, but we have help on the way! I think that I finally feel rested today after that long road trip. I did meet one of the Hays Police Officers, though! We were going on a tour of the city and I did not see the one way sign... He was very nice and said that he read about me coming in the paper. (We hope to be able to find a paper from that day.) Anyway, he welcomed me to town and sent me on my way!

Speaking of being welcomed, when we arrived at the parsonage there were gifts of food, toys for the kids, a new plant and more waiting for us! The church members gave us some things to help start off our life here in Hays, and boy, do we feel welcome! It was so nice and unexpected. Not only did they provide these things, though, they were thoughtful enough to place child covers on all of the outlets. We feel so blessed to be joining a congregation that is so warm and welcoming. I can't wait to see them again this week and introduce them to my family. God is Good!!

We're in Hays!!

2009-01-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

We rolled into Hays tonight around 11:30 and drove by the church. They have changed the sign to say "Minister Kevin Daniels"!! It's really official!! We are looking forward to a good night's sleep tonight, and it was nice not having to take in the Road Atlas! Lori, Mom, Kamryn, and Logan fly into Hays tomorrow afternoon so it will be fun to take them around the town.

Our trip was truly blessed as we ran into ZERO road construction delays, ZERO weather delays (once we got out of the flooded Seattle area), and ZERO traffic delays (again, after we left Seattle). Can you believe that we drove from Seattle to Kansas during the second week of January and had NO weather delays??? God is so GOOD!!

Logan's First Coffee Shop

2009-01-09T21:58:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I forgot to write about Logan's first trip to a coffee shop with Daddy! (OK - so the photo has nothing to do with it - here he is helping Grandma make donuts!) It was on our "extra" day that we had since we couldn't leave the area due to flooding, and we took Log to get his haircut. His prize for sitting still and being a "big boy" was a cookie. So we dropped off Mommy and Kamryn so that Mommy could get a manicure (the last one of her gift certificate from the ladies at church), and we went to Cutter's Point. It was so fun! We ordered a hot chocolate ("not too hot") with whipped cream and Log got to pick out a cookie for us to share. We got our drink and sat down by the fireplace and just hung out. It was a special time for us and I look forward to more coffee shop type time with my son (and my daughter, too!) I love being a dad!!!

Utah

2009-01-09T21:55:00.000-08:00

Ogden, Utah...what a great place to stay! We are tired, the van needs gas, and here lies a town! It's a perfect fit!

Wenatchee, Sweet Wenatchee

2009-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

We stopped for the night here in Wenatchee. It took 4 hours to get here from Seattle, as there was traffic. The worst traffic was actually closer to 405, and after that it was smooth sailing, save the occasional semi. We used a ton of wiper fluid due to the sheer volume of dirt that was flying up at us. Anyway, it is midnight, so I am going to bed!

Flooded In

2009-01-08T10:35:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that I am actually writing this, but there is currently no way out of Western Washington! All of the major roads are flooded out, and all of the back roads are also flooded. We could go all the way up to Canada and over, but that is it! Hopefully one of the roads will open up today now that the rain is slowing/stopping. If not, we won't be able to leave until tomorrow, which tightens our schedule up considerably. Lori, the kids, and Grandma fly into Hays on Sunday, so hopefully we will get there before they do! For now, though, we wait...

Wagons, Ho!

2009-01-04T19:37:00.001-08:00

So do we really need that wagon?? Apparently, yes! Lori and I went out in the snow, in the dark, to the trailer that was already full, and tried to squeeze in one last thing...Logan's wagon. We certainly put on a show for the neighbors trying to do it! We finally got it in there, but good grief! We better use that wagon every day for the rest of the kids' lives! When Kamryn gets married I'm just going to pull her in the wagon down the aisle :-)

Today when we were at the store, either Mommy or Grandma asked Logan if he wanted something. His response was, "Is it on sale?" I guess we've gotten Logan in that bargain-hunter mindset early!

Tomorrow is errand running day, but Lori and I might go see a movie since Grandma has Monday off to be with the kids. Of course, everything is contingent on the snow stopping! I can't believe how much snow we have gotten up here this year. They say the most since 1990. My Dad and I leave on Thursday for Kansas, so hopefully it will clear up before then.

NO MORE PACKING TAPE!!!

2009-01-03T19:36:00.000-08:00

Please, please, please...do NOT mention the words "packing tape"!! We are exhausted tonight after loading our 28 foot semi-truck trailer today. Thankfully we had a good amount of help, but boy are we sore! And we have to unload all this next week! If anyone wants to fly out to Kansas to help us unload, we can give you a place to stay and a meal or two :-) I'll do another update tomorrow - I am going to sleep!!

Helping Kamryn

2008-12-28T19:47:00.001-08:00

This was just too cute not to post... Lori and I have been working with Kamryn to help her crawl, and tonight Logan tried to help, too!

Dear Friends

2008-12-28T19:14:00.001-08:00

It is a very exciting thing to think about: we are going to be in Hays two weeks from today! It is also sad to be saying good-bye to our friends and family here in Seattle. On Christmas Eve we attended two services: one at Valley View and one at Faith. At both churches we were greeted with warm hugs, kind words and well wishes for our ministry in Hays. It was very special for us to visit with many of you as you share in our excitement for Hays. It is good to be reminded that we are loved and cared for by so many here. It has truly been a great honor for us to serve at Valley View over these past years and the relationships that we have forged here will be with us for many years to come. We hope to attend Valley View next Sunday, our last Sunday in Kent, but we will see some of you on Saturday at 9 am when we load the moving truck!

The Perfect Christmas

2008-12-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

Christmas this year was absolutely perfect! We woke up and gathered around our tree to open the presents, and Logan was very excited! He hadn't really understood what presents were until the moment when he opened his first one. Then he wanted to open ALL of the presents - regardless of who they belonged to! After we all opened our gifts Mommy and Logan made cinnamon rolls for us all and we played with Logan's new Disney Bingo game.

After Bingo, we got bundled up and played in the snow. Logan had a blast going down his slide into the snow, and of course, Daddy had to tackle Logan and Mommy into the snow! When all was done, we were wet, cold, and exhausted from all the playing. It was way fun!

Next we loaded up into the truck and drove over to Grandma & Grandpa's house for dinner (and more presents!) Grandma made ham, potatoes, jello salad, and had lots of olives for us. Brian and Heather were able to join us and it was a great day. We stayed all day and just played and spent time with each other. It truly was a perfect family Christmas.

Long Night

2008-12-21T20:19:00.000-08:00

Last night was a doozy! Kamryn did not sleep most of the night and Daddy was up with her most of that time so that Mommy could sleep. Mommy took over at 7, and Daddy slept for a couple hours. Then it was on to packing and maintenance around the house. Grandpa came over and did a few projects and Grandma came to play with the kids. Lori had to drive over to the day care to make sure that no pipes burst, and tonight has had to call virtually every family to let them know they open at 9 tomorrow morning due to the snow. The forecast says we are to get another 3-6 inches overnight! Crazy, huh? Hope everyone is staying safe and staying warm! And by the way...nice Seahawks game today - good way to say good-bye to Holmgren.

Cookies for Breakfast??!!

2008-12-20T21:27:00.001-08:00

I guess just about anything goes when Logan spends the night at Grandma & Grandpa's house! This was his first sleepover and boy did they have fun! It sounds like he got to do anything he wanted last night (and is finding it hard to adjust to having rules again - but that is what grandparents are for: spoiling!)

It was a lot of fun for Daddy and Logan to pack his suitcase yesterday, and as you can see, he just threw everything in there and was set to go! It was sort of weird for Daddy and Mommy to go to bed without Logan in his room, but we were excited about sleeping in. Unfortunately, we both still woke up at 7:15! That's even a little early for Logan! We're glad that he got to do this and Grandpa and Grandma sure made the most of it! (And yes, he had cookies for breakfast and popcorn for lunch!)

The snow is coming in pretty hard right now, and we are having high winds along with it. We may be snowed in come the morning hours, but we will see!

2008-12-16T19:17:00.000-08:00

Hi All!
It seems that Logan has taken up a new hobby...taking photos! Here is just one of the many he has taken over these past few days. Surprisingly he has gotten rather good! Most are even in focus now, though who really wants another photo of the same wall?

Kamryn reached another milestone today - she has moved up to Stage 3 foods and had some Cheerios! Her baby teeth are right on the verge of coming in. She is growing up so quickly!

We are busily getting ready for the move to Kansas, and our packing seems never ending at this point - how did we get so much STUFF?? At least we are seeing progress... We aren't going to be selling our house, but instead we are going to rent. It seems that we bought the house in a good market and now...well, not so much. So renting is really our only viable option. If you know someone who needs a nice 3 bedroom place... :-)

Unfortunately, we regret to inform you, our friends and family, that Christmas cards will not be mailed this year. I know, that totally ruins Christmas for many of you, but alas, there will be a something coming to your real mail box in January! That's all for now!

Hello, Seabond!

2008-12-13T23:30:00.000-08:00

"Hello, Seabond!" Has become a bit of a family joke. It started while watching Wheel of Fortune (part of Logan's nightly routine!), and the commercial for Seabond came on. When it was over, Logan and Daddy went to see Mommy and said, "Hello, Seabond!" Logan thought that was absolutely hilarious! But you can't say it to him - "I'm not Seabond! Mommy and Kamryn."

Another great Logan moment was tonight during our family devotions. Logan wanted to sing songs so we sang A LOT of them! He sang to us Zacheaus and Jesus Loves Me on his own. How precious it is to hear praises to the Lord from the mouth of a child! On a sillier note, we sang "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," and we were trying to see if Logan understood the message behind that song. So I asked him who takes care of him, but he really didn't understand the question. Trying to help him get to the point, I asked him, "Who gets you dressed in the morning?" His answer: Jesus. Lori couldn't stop from laughing! She asked Logan what time Jesus came over to help him get dressed...of course, he didn't get the sarcasm.

On a Kamryn note, she is doing really well. She sits up most of the time now, but she is not able to sit up on her own. She has no interest in crawling - she hates to be on her tummy. Nor does she want to pull up on things or scoot anywhere. Her teeth are about to pop through, so she is in a bit of pain at times.

If you didn't already know, we are all moving to Kansas where I have accepted the position of senior pastor at Hays Christian Church. We are looking forward to this next step in our ministry journey and ask that you join us in prayer in regard to selling/renting our house, selling my car, getting Lori a job in Kansas, the logistics of the move, and the emotional toll of the transition.

That's all for now! I'll try to post more often - sorry!!

2008-12-09T18:07:00.001-08:00

New Van!!

2008-11-13T20:02:00.001-08:00

Last night we made the leap and bought a new (to us) minivan! Out of all of us, I think Lori is the most excited! Here's a few pics! Nothing else is really going on right now, but we are going on some sort of a road trip this weekend!

Car's Totaled

2008-11-05T16:47:00.001-08:00

Well, it's official...Lori's car is totalled. So we're looking for a new vehicle, and thinking that we might take a jump to the minivan. We feel like we're a bit young for a minivan, but it is the practical move. (Besides - Lori is the on who will be driving it most of the time!) So, if anyone knows of a good deal... :-) The kids are cute as usual, but no real happenings these past few days. There is some news on the job search, so be sure to check out that blog, too.

First Puff & Trick-or-Treating

2008-11-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

Kamryn's having her first "puffs" treat today, and Logan helped her out a bit! On a serious note, Lori was in a car accident on Friday, so please pray for her. She is sore, but otherwise is alright. Her car, on the other hand is most likely totaled. We are very thankful that she is OK.

Friday night we did go trick-or-treating, and Logan really had a blast! I took him to the neighbor's house just for one, but then he wanted to keep going. We would go to the door and after he said "thank you," he would turn and say "More houses! More candy!" Grandma, Grandpa, Mommy, and Kamryn all joined us in our quest for "more!" Somehow, though, this morning, Logan has about only half of the candy he had last night :-) (parents, you know how that goes!)

Home Depot, Pumpkins & Kisses

2008-10-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

Today Logan told Grandma and Grandpa that we needed to go to Home Depot so that we can get a new door handle since Daddy broke the door! He sure does pick-up on stuff quickly! On another note, Mommy kissed Logan at day care and he said, "Mooooom!" Can you believe that he is only 2 and already is saying stuff like that?? They really grow up too fast. Logan also got to color on his pumpkin last night. How fun is that?

Down on the Farm

2008-10-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

Sunday Grandma and Grandpa went with us to Remlinger Farms in Carnation, and their fall festival was in full swing! It was so much fun! Logan got to go on real rides for the first time. He went with Daddy on a barrel spinning ride (like the tea cup ride) and went with Mom and Grandma on the flying pumpkin ride where he got to control if the pumpkin went up or down. He also went with Grandpa and Mommy on a giant slide.

One of the neatest things was that they had the model T cars that used to be at the Seattle Center. I remember driving Batsa (my grandma) in those same cars when I was a kid. Then, yesterday, Logan got to drive me! It was really special for me. Logan also got to feed some sheep and pick a pumpkin. He tried riding a pony, but wanted off before the pony had even left the stable. We took lots of pictures that you can see here.

Breaking Down the House!

2008-10-18T09:12:00.001-07:00

We have a door between the family room and the rest of the house that has a lock on it. We have never used the lock, don't have the key, and never thought much of it...until today! Logan and Kamryn were in the family room and somehow Logan locked and shut the door. There is no other way to get to into the room - we can't get through the garage from the outside and the only window has a bar in it. So Logan starts freaking out and Kamryn follows in kind. All of my tools are in the garage, which is not accessible, so I had to kick down the door! I felt like I was in the movies! A kick or two and that door was open! Fun times!

Sick :-(

2008-10-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

Well, sickness has hit the Daniels' family - and hopefully the worst is over!! Logan got sick on Friday night, Lori on Saturday night, and Kevin Sunday night and all day Monday. We are hoping that Kamryn doesn't join the family party!

And we're not talking about the Seahawks game...

Sharon & Bill's Wedding

2008-10-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

Saturday was Sharon & Bill's wedding. It was a small ceremony with just family and close friends, and I officiated. It was great to see everybody. We wish only the best for Sharon and Bill as they start their married life together!

Friday Fun

2008-10-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

Friday was a fun day for us all. Kevin and the kids went over to Sharon's for the wedding rehearsal and then Lori went to the Nordstrom's Cafe for Sharon's bridal luncheon, hosted by Sandy, who was in from Virginia. In the evening we all went to Brian & Heather's for dinner. Brian cooked for us, and Kamryn put on a show rolling over from her stomach to her back for the first time!

Milestone: Rolling Over!!

2008-10-08T15:15:00.000-07:00

Kamryn rolled over from her back to her stomach today!! She did it in slow motion so that Daddy could watch the whole thing!!

Rainy Day Fun

2008-10-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

It was raining today, but we made the trek out to Issaquah to Salmon River Days anyway in hopes of not getting too wet. When we first got there it wasn't too bad, but the rain kept coming harder and harder, so we had to throw in the towel.

Uncle Brian met us at Fatburger for some lunch and then we headed home.

The family was getting a bit discouraged about the rain, so Daddy transformed the family room into the Rainy Day Fort. I put up sheets and Christmas lights, Mommy popped some popcorn, we got into our PJs, and laid around on the floor which was covered in all the cushions, blankets, and pillows in the house! It was a lot of fun - especially with Logan jumping all over the place. The second movie we watched was We Are Marshall. That was a GREAT movie. We would highly recommend it!

See photos from our day here.

Library & Gel

2008-10-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

Lori had the morning off today, so we got to go to one of Logan's favorite places: the Library! We got some books and played on the computer. He also wanted to try Daddy's gel this morning!

"Da-Da"

2008-10-03T12:39:00.001-07:00

Hi All,

Kamryn has started saying "da-da" Hooray!! She said it for the first time about two days ago, but I wasn't going to count it until Lori heard it, too, which was last night!

Sorry for the loooonnngggg delay for this post! This past week or so has been very crazy. There has been a lot of activity on the job front (check the other blog for that info).

Janet & Grandma Fox Visit

2008-09-27T18:04:00.000-07:00

Aunt Janet came in from Virginia and we had a family dinner with Cindy & Jim, Tyler, Brittani, & Ella, Grandma & Grandpa, Grandma Fox, and us! It was fun to get the kids together for the first time. We also took Janet to Jack in the Box, as she doesn't have those back East. Check out more pictures here.

Peaches & Nodding

2008-09-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

Kamryn was having some trouble with constipation these past few days, but thankfully is all better now. We had tried some food last week and were inadvertently giving her the B.R.A.T diet, which is to stop diarrhea. So the doctor told us to try giving her sugar water and that seemed to work. We also were told to give her some fruit, so today she ate almost a whole jar of peaches! She really liked them! She goes for her 6-month check-up on Thursday. Can you believe that she is already 6 months old??!! Where has the time gone?

Kam's newest development has been nodding yes when you talk with her! It is soooo cute!!

Ocean Fun

2008-09-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

We spent this past weekend at the ocean in Long Beach. We went with Grandma & Grandpa and had a great time! It was fun taking Logan and Kamryn to the beach for the first time. Logan had a lot of fun jumping waves and building sand castles. Though once he realized how much fun destroying the sand castles, the building slowed considerably!

We also spent some time in the swimming pool - something that was also new to Logan. He was pretty fearless. Two times he jumped in! Mommy (the former life guard and swimming instructor) helped him learn how to kick and blow bubbles. The blowing bubbles was going really well until Logan blew in instead of out! That was the end of that game!

And of course, we went to the famous bakery a number of times. We couldn't get a birthday cake for Mommy - but there were plenty of snacks! She had a great birthday spent at the beach with the family. We also learned a new card game from Grandma called Hand & Foot. It turned out to be a blast, though trying to get to 10,000 points turned out to be impossible! That game's outcome is still TBD.

We can't wait until the next time we get to go on vacation! I will have photos posted here once I get them uploaded.

Off to the Ocean

2008-09-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

We are almost ready to leave for the ocean! We are heading to Long Beach for the weekend with Grandma & Grandpa and are really excited! Logan can't wait to find sea shells. He has never been to the actual ocean before, so it should be really fun! It's also Lori's 30th birthday on Saturday, so we have some special treats for her! :-)

Sweet Potatoes

2008-09-17T11:35:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Kamryn got to try "real" food! We tried Sweet Potatoes first, and she LOVED them!! She ate half of the jar yesterday and finished off the jar today. It's so fun to see her taking this next step!

Funny, Funny, Funny!

2008-09-15T20:57:00.001-07:00

This is the SNL sketch about Palin and Hillary. Fun for both sides of the aisle! :-)

First Week

2008-09-10T08:47:00.000-07:00

Today is Wednesday, and so it's the 3rd day of our new arrangement: I have Kamryn home with me all week, and I have Logan with me 2 days per week. The change in cost for day care is staggering: $187 per WEEK! That is a HUGE savings for our budget and it is also a great time for daddy and Kamryn to bond. Logan goes to day care 3 days per week so that Daddy can still get some things done around the house! :-)

Kamryn had a diaper-area rash since Friday that turned out to be a yeast infection. The doctor gave us an antibiotic ointment and it has cleared up a ton. It was the first time that I have ever taken both Logan and Kamryn to the doctor by myself...and it went great! Logan loved to "drive" the elevator!

Today we are going to the Puyallup Fair thanks to our friends who gave us free tickets! We hope to have lots of pictures to share, so we'll post them when we get home! Have a great day...I know we will!