End of July and August Fun!

These last few weeks have been packed with visitors and trips! 

Towards the end of July, Jeff's brother Dan and his girlfriend Mia came to visit us in Kansas City.  We took a trip to Science City and swam in our neighborhood pool.  It was so great to spend time with them.  Dan and Mia really enjoyed spending time with Kendley.  Kendley thinks Dan and Mia are pretty cool too :).

The next weekend, Jeff's other brother Danny came for a weekend visit.  We went to the park to play on the playground and did a little more swimming.  It was great to see Danny and we always have a good time when he comes to visit. 

The following weekend, Jeff, Kendley and I took a trip to Saint Louis to visit his family and see some of our friends from college.  I was also able to see Debra (my best friend from high school) and her daughter Clara.  Jeff's parents were nice enough to let us have everyone over to their house for a BBQ.  It was great catching up with everyone and seeing our kids play together.  Kendley loves going to her Grandpa and Nana's house! 

That following week (beginning of August), Jeff's sister, Beth, and her family came to Kansas City for vacation.  It was fun to see them for an extended period of time and get to spend quality time with Tyler and Avery.  By the end of their stay, Kendley couldn't stop giving her Aunt Beth hugs.  We did a lot of things with them that we hadn't experienced yet in KC.  We went to the Children's Museum, the Kansas City Zoo, and attended a little concert at the outdoor shopping center by our house.  At the outdoor concert, the kids played in the water fountain.  Tyler and Avery loved the water spitting up at them, Kendley wasn't so sure. 

A couple weeks later, Jeff, Kendley and I took a trip to San Francisco to visit our Friends Matt and Jessica.  This was our first trip to San Francisco and we definitely had some excellent tour guides!  We went to see the Golden Gate Bridge, ate some excellent food, took a day to explore downtown, and visited the Muir Woods were the redwood trees are.  At night, we relaxed at Matt and Jessica's house and just enjoyed catching up.  We loved seeing them and can't wait to meet their little girl!

This past weekend was Kendley's birthday.  She is getting to be such a big girl and I am loving every second staying home with her.  Everyday there is something new that she sees and learns and I love that I am there to experience that with her!  We had a few people over to celebrate her birthday with us and Kendley had a great time!  Next weekend we are having her family birthday party in St Louis.  We are all really excited to see everyone!!!!!  I'll make another post with pictures for her birthday after the party next weekend.  

Outside of trips and visitors:
Jeff continues to work hard at Nestle, Purina. Kendley and I are very proud of all he does.  Everyday he comes home you can see the love on his face for Kendley.  He is such a great dad.  Jeff plays softball on Monday nights and Kendley and I like to watch when the games aren't too hot or too late!

I have started taking cake decorating classes at a craft store by our house once a week.  It is nice to have something that I can do on my own and and I enjoy the challenge.  I am working on starting a cake and cupcake business out of my house.

 Maverick and Sloopy have had an eye opener the past few weeks.  We hired a company to come to our house once a week for 4 weeks to help train them better.  We have seen a huge change in their behavior and they seem happy to have the attention during practices! 

Busy Days!

Life continues to be busy for the Elcherts!

The middle of May was the last day of my teaching career for the time being. It felt great knowing that I would be seeing Kendley more, and scary to walk away from something that I've been doing for the past 6 years! After having time at home, I don't regret my decision for a second! I love seeing Kendley all day and she certainly keeps me busy!!

The weekend after school got out, Jeff and I left for my sister's wedding in Cabo. We got stuck in Houston for a night because of weather. Jeff and I made the best of it by getting to know the bartender at the Hotel we stayed at. Once we got to Cabo, we had a great time with my family and the Schutts. Melissa looked stunning in her dress and everything went perfectly! Jeff's mom (Nana) and dad (Grandpa) watched Kendley while we were gone. I'm not sure who had more fun, Nana and Grandpa or Kendley!

After we returned from Cabo, we had a few "normal" weeks. Our daily routine consists of: Kendley wakes up, I feed her breakfast, Kendley and I go to the YMCA in Parkville, MO, we get home, she naps, I shower, she wakes up, I feed her, she plays, I chase her, we do errands, she takes a nap, I clean the house and get ready for dinner, Jeff comes home, Kendley wakes up, she plays, we both chase her, Kendley goes to bed, Jeff and I relax.

At the end of June, Kendley, Jeff and I were supposed to go to my dad's side of the family reunion. However, the day before we were supposed to leave, we found out that my Mom's dad had liver cancer and only 2 weeks to live. We all changed our travel arrangements so that we could see my Opa before he passed. Kendley and I flew to Louisville and drove with my parents to Delaware; Jeff booked a plane ticket that weekend for Delaware, and Melissa and Justin drove from NC to DE. We all got there in time to say our goodbyes and Opa was able to meet Kendley for the first time. We were also able to spend time with family that we hadn't seen in years and Opa would have loved that. My Opa was a great man and will be missed by a lot of people. His funeral service had full military honors; he earned everything they did for him and more!

Jeff, Kendley and I returned to KC right in time for the 4th. We went to a BBQ with some friends. Kendley fell asleep during the fireworks. It was so cute to see her sleeping in Jeff's arms while we watched the fireworks get fired off!





In Cabo the night before the big day!





In Cabo!





One of Kendley's 9mo pics!







Excited to eat some peaches and peas at her Great Oma's house!





Riding her Great Aunt Cindy's Clydesdale Horse!





4 Generations of Pinks!





Swimming with her Auntie M!





Sleeping soundly on the 11 hour! ride to DE





Happy to be home





Watching the 4th parade in Parkville, MO

March and April Fun

Towards the middle of March, my parents came to visit for my Spring Break.  My mom came a few days early and took care of Kendley while I worked.  Then, my dad flew in on a UPS plane to spend time with all of us.  It was great having them and they loved the time with Kendley!  Right around that time, Kendley started crawling.  It was pretty cute to see my parents so excited for her new skill!

                                     


                                         

 Jeff and I took a last minute trip to St. Louis toward the end of March so that Kendley could meet her Great Uncle Bob and his girlfriend Pamela.  We had a great time visiting with everyone and even had some time to visit the zoo!  Jeff parents, brother Andy and his fiance Kristi went too.  We also met my college roommate Megan and her daughter Elliot.  It was a beautiful day.  Kendley was not too interested in the animals.  She liked to watch all of the kids running by.  When we returned home, I had to take her to the doctor because she was running a fever all weekend.  She had her first ear infection.  Kendley was a trooper all weekend though! 

                                       

Kendley's new favorite thing to do, climb!  Kenldey started crawling at the end of March and by mid-April, she started pulling up on things.  It is so cute to walk in her room in the morning to her standing in her crib :)  Her Daddy is making her a cedar toy box but until it's finished, this will have to do!

 Jeff's parents came to visit the weekend of Easter.  We had a great time shopping at Nebraska Furniture Mart (Jeff's mom new favorite place to be)!  We went to Briarcliff for lunch where Kendley got a shoulder ride from Grandpa.  On Saturday, Zona Rosa had a Easter Parade.  Kenldey, Jeff and I walked the parade while Jeff's parents watched and took pictures.  Kendley won runner up in "most outstanding girl" in the parade.  She got a gift card to Zona Rosa and a build-a-bear.  She also go to take a picture with the Easter Bunny!  Tomorrow (Easter day), we are probably going to church and then out to brunch. 

                                 

6 month Pics

Kendley had her 6 month photo shoot a few weeks ago.  The pictures turned out great!  Ashley Schmidt is the photographer that we have been using since Kendley was born; she does an amazing job!  Below are some of our favorites!  www.tooxhouseproduction.com

6 months old and Growing!

Mad at me for taking too many pictures!

Yesterday, Kendley had her 6 month doctor checkup.  She likes going to the doctor office because she gets a lot of attention from the nurses and her doctor is very nice too!  Kendley weighed in at 15 pounds 12 ounces and 27.5 inched long.  According to her doctor, she is in 50th percentile for weight and head size and 95th percentile for length!!!  Who would have thought that I would have a long baby?!?!?  Last week, Kendley had her first first sickness and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection.  She had to get an antibiotic shot in her leg two days in a row and then was on antibiotics for 10 days.  She is back to her normal happy self now AND sleeping through the night again :).  This weekend she has her 6 month pictures taken by her professional photographer.  I'll post those pics when we get them.

Bunny ears at Target :)

Fun time with Daddy!

Wouldn't let go!

Pretty as a princess :)

 

Ready for her day!

Happy Valentines Day :)

Kendley went to daycare today decked out in her Valentines gear.  She looked super cute and was happy about it too :)  I have parent/teacher conferences tonight so Jeff and Kendley get some alone time.  We all went out this weekend for Mongolian Bar-b-que to celebrate.  She loves people watching when we go to new places.  She stairs people down until they pay attention to her, which usually doens't take long!