Elder Dehner Returns

Scott is back! We've been waiting for two long years and now Elder Dehner has returned from Concepcion, Chile. He has come back a little taller and a whole lot wiser.
The kids were so excited to see their Uncle Scott.

The Dehner Siblings... Left to Right: Scott, Kate, Mike & Beth

After we picked Scott up at the airport, Kurt and Shawn took us all out to lunch.

It felt good having you back with us Scott Dogg. We are so proud of you and we missed you oodles.

we were in the shoe

It's that glorious time of year, and I don't mean Christmas... I'm talking about Ohio State football season. Last week the team held an open practice and so we took the kids down to the stadium to check things out. Will's been wanting to see The Horseshoe from the inside for a while now, and I'm glad he finally got the opportunity.

Their first game will be Saturday against Navy and because we are alumni, we were able to get tickets. Since my dad hasn't been to an OSU game before, I tried to lure my parents out here by telling him he could have my ticket. It worked. My parents are coming to visit and I can't wait for my dad to experience his first buckeye game. After all, it is my dad who planted the love of sports seed inside me. Now the bucks better give us a victory. GO BUCKS - Win it for Bob!

Tummy Time

Morgan's First Day of Kindergarten

Morgan's been so excited to start kindergarten and today was finally the big day. This morning she kept saying she felt nauseous and needed to sit down. She kept asking what's wrong with me, why am I feeling this way... I just kept telling her she was nervous and she'd feel better once she got to school. Here she is getting on the bus for the first time.

The entire family (even daddy who came home from work to see her off) was out waiting for the bus with her. Here's Miles trying to settle her nerves.

Yesterday I took Morgan shopping for a new first day of school dress and shoes. There was a time when I wished the little stinker would just put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, but now I feel like dresses are part of what makes her special. She loves to wear them, and I've noticed she feel more comfortable being herself in them. I have come to embrace the fact that she has to be in a dress everyday (or she will throw one big old fit!).

I just have to say - MIKE IS THE BEST DAD EVER!

The day before school started Mike called me and said he had an idea about getting Morgan more comfortable with the whole riding the bus thing. He decided to play bus driver and take her on a pretend run-through. He pulled the car around the block while she waited at the bus stop and he came around and picked her up. He explained everything she would experience as he actually drove her to school. He even made all the loud noises she would hear so she wouldn't be surprised by them. It was so cute!

He even drove her to school and actually dropped her off. Morgan is definitely a visual learner and I think it really helped her to visualize exactly what would happen on the first day.

When Morgan came home today she said she had a great time and asked if she could go back again. I told her "you sure can - everyday even!"

photo shoot

I finally took my kids to get their pictures taken by someone other than me... I am horrible when it comes to taking my kids to get their pictures taken. I hate everything about it - picking out clothes, doing their hair, keeping them happy all day so they are in a good mood, planning around naps, all that good stuff...
But I think we got a few cute ones - esp of the boys by themselves. I was sad we didn't get a cute one of the three of them looking at the camera, but this will do.

Miles usually is such a cheesy smiler, but I think his turned out awesome and totally captured his little personality.

Will at 2 1/2 months.

ah shizzle ma nizzle... (it's like saying wuddup)

Let me tell you who this is... His name is Will and he is THE MAN!

Monday night - Will went to bed at 9 PM and slept until 4:30 before wanting to eat... 7 1/2 hours. Sweet!
Tuesday & Wednesday night: Bed at 9 and slept until 6... 9 hours.
And just when I thought it couldn't get better - Thursday night: Bed at 9 and slept until 7... 10 hours.
And each of these nights, he woke up to eat and then went back to sleep.

I have NEVER had a baby sleep anything like this - esp at 2 months. I LOVE IT! Even if it ends tomorrow - I got a few nights of terrific sleep. I am a new woman.
I think it's because he is such a chub, or perhaps it's because he figured out how to self-soothe with his thumb... I really don't care why - I just hope it doesn't end.

Vacation Bible School

Our really good friends The Laurences invited Morgan and Miles to join them at vacation bible school last week. For a small fee the kids got to spend 2 hours each morning for one week at their church doing crafts, songs, snacks, and learning bible stories. It was a really fun experience for them. On the last day, one of the teachers came up to me and said Morgan volunteered to say the prayer, and she went on and on about how her heart melted while Morgan was praying. She said it was so heartfelt and that she came up with the prayer all by herself. I am so glad that Morgan has had so much experience with praying and that it was so natural and comfortable for her to do in front of a group of new people.

Here they are on the last day, day ORANGE, putting on a show for the parents. Miles loved dancing around and singing "God is Good" and "Hallelujah". It was awesome! All we had with us to take pictures was Mikes cell phone... bummer, but you can sort of see what's going on.

For all you Columbus people- you should sign your kids up next year. It's a good way to network and teach your kids about some of the differences between churches.

2 months old

My baby just turned two months old. Time is flying way too fast.
Here are Will's 2 month stats:
Height: 24" (95 percentile - WHAT!!!)
Weight: chubbers 12 pounds 10 oz. (75 percentile)
Head: 15 1/2 (50 percentile)
Will is doing all the fun stuff that 2 month olds do: cooing, smiling, holding his head up, etc...

The other day he was playing on my bed and I saw him sucking his fingers like this... That is exactly how Mike sucked his fingers when he was little (although Mike stuck his pointer finger up his nose while he sucked his middle two fingers.) This kid reminds me so much of Mike - both in looks and personality.

Here is a short video of Will cooing. I love that when I talk to him now he replies. I love having "conversations" with him. The annoying noise in the background is Morgan shaking a rattle.