Carrington Corner
KC's Blog
Trick or Treat
We carved....
We tried to find our way....
We hugged.....
We were SCARY (& cute!)
ICE WOLF NINJA
Countess
We tried to find our way....
We hugged.....
We were SCARY (& cute!)
ICE WOLF NINJA
Countess
Back In Time
My dad asked me to take some pictures for him...he was getting his buddies together to restage a picture taken in 1958 with 3 of their cars. As soon as I get my scanner I'll post the old version. It was some of the same guys and some of their sons.
Brady Gets 4
Happy 4th Birthday Brady!
He was very specific about his birthday plans. First, he told me I was invited. Then he told Brett, Anna, Rachel, Drew, Lauren, Grandma, Grandpa, and Grandma Kunz. He said he wanted his name on the wall (and that we could paint over it later with white) and balloons. The party would be at Chuck E Cheese with cake at home later. He said when he is ready to "get 5" that he would let me know the plans for that one too.
We celebrated at Chuck E Cheese with Grandma & Grandpa (first timers!) and Rachel. Grandma is glad that they teach kids gambling at such a young age.
We had cake at home... a cake with Brady and his favorite Planet Heroes on it. Drew and Lauren joined us there.
Love you, Bud!
He was very specific about his birthday plans. First, he told me I was invited. Then he told Brett, Anna, Rachel, Drew, Lauren, Grandma, Grandpa, and Grandma Kunz. He said he wanted his name on the wall (and that we could paint over it later with white) and balloons. The party would be at Chuck E Cheese with cake at home later. He said when he is ready to "get 5" that he would let me know the plans for that one too.
We celebrated at Chuck E Cheese with Grandma & Grandpa (first timers!) and Rachel. Grandma is glad that they teach kids gambling at such a young age.
We had cake at home... a cake with Brady and his favorite Planet Heroes on it. Drew and Lauren joined us there.
Love you, Bud!
Sunbirds
What a season! Anna's first "real" softball experience. She played tee ball for 2 years, but this was the big change to actually using a softball and hitting off of the pitching machine. I coached her team and had 3 awesome assistant coaches, including Coach Grampa.
Batter up! Anna was a natural at the plate.
Not what the coaches meant by "ready position", but usually what we got.
Anna's favorite positions were First Base, Catcher and "Bench". We had 11 girls and I was so worried about hurting the feelings of the first girls to play "bench" position...but little did I know that it would turn out to be one of their favorites. Who knew.
Two of my favorite questions that I heard at every game:
"Coach, when is it my turn to play "bench"?
"Coach, who are we versing tonight"?
And here they are, the SUNBIRDS!
I could not have imagined a sweeter group of girls. They were the best. We started out with 3 losses....at that point I was hoping that we would win at least ONE game this year! Only Anna & one other girl had ever played any kind of organized ball, so we started a little rough. But, all of the girls got to play all of the positions equally. Their improvement in just a few games was unbelievable! We ended up in third place for the season and then....
First place trophies for the Tournament! It was so exciting. They were awesome.
Even Brady gave one of the champs a kiss. Oh no, wait, I think he was trying to nab her snack.
Anna was chosen to be one of the team's All-Stars. Great job Anna! She's next to the blue Heat coach.
Batter up! Anna was a natural at the plate.
Not what the coaches meant by "ready position", but usually what we got.
Anna's favorite positions were First Base, Catcher and "Bench". We had 11 girls and I was so worried about hurting the feelings of the first girls to play "bench" position...but little did I know that it would turn out to be one of their favorites. Who knew.
Two of my favorite questions that I heard at every game:
"Coach, when is it my turn to play "bench"?
"Coach, who are we versing tonight"?
And here they are, the SUNBIRDS!
I could not have imagined a sweeter group of girls. They were the best. We started out with 3 losses....at that point I was hoping that we would win at least ONE game this year! Only Anna & one other girl had ever played any kind of organized ball, so we started a little rough. But, all of the girls got to play all of the positions equally. Their improvement in just a few games was unbelievable! We ended up in third place for the season and then....
First place trophies for the Tournament! It was so exciting. They were awesome.
Even Brady gave one of the champs a kiss. Oh no, wait, I think he was trying to nab her snack.
Anna was chosen to be one of the team's All-Stars. Great job Anna! She's next to the blue Heat coach.
It's Blog Season
Summer is over...now maybe I can sit down and catch up!
Let's see...I left off with Anna's Birthday! OOPS...that was APRIL. I'll try to do better. Have I said that before?
Our first big event of the Summer was Rachel's Graduation from SIU. She now has a degree in Dental Hygiene and passed her boards with no problem. She rocks! She has been hanging out here a lot lately and we love it. She's thinking about moving to Florida though....
CONGRATS, RACHEL!
It was Mother's Day the next day, so the kids made me go out with them to celebrate (ouch, twist my arm)! Notice that they have the shots and I have a Corona and the camera. Rachel & Drew said that I had to make it until at least midnight so that I could have a "Mothers Day Shot" with them. I will say that it was definitely a first. I was having such a great time with them that I acually made it until 2am. It a really fun night and a great Mothers Day! Thanks Rachel & Drew~
More to come....I don't want to overdo it on my first day "back!"
Let's see...I left off with Anna's Birthday! OOPS...that was APRIL. I'll try to do better. Have I said that before?
Our first big event of the Summer was Rachel's Graduation from SIU. She now has a degree in Dental Hygiene and passed her boards with no problem. She rocks! She has been hanging out here a lot lately and we love it. She's thinking about moving to Florida though....
CONGRATS, RACHEL!
It was Mother's Day the next day, so the kids made me go out with them to celebrate (ouch, twist my arm)! Notice that they have the shots and I have a Corona and the camera. Rachel & Drew said that I had to make it until at least midnight so that I could have a "Mothers Day Shot" with them. I will say that it was definitely a first. I was having such a great time with them that I acually made it until 2am. It a really fun night and a great Mothers Day! Thanks Rachel & Drew~
More to come....I don't want to overdo it on my first day "back!"
April Birthdays
Happy 7th Anna Grace! April 11, 2008.
She started her morning out with the long anticipated "Intendo DS."
Then it was a Suburban load of Anna and 5 friends for a trip to the "Big Mall."
6 more furry friends came back home with us!
Happy Birthday!!
It was also Lauren's birthday in April. She had some help blowing out her candles. Her real treat was a Key Lime Pie!
She started her morning out with the long anticipated "Intendo DS."
Then it was a Suburban load of Anna and 5 friends for a trip to the "Big Mall."
6 more furry friends came back home with us!
Happy Birthday!!
It was also Lauren's birthday in April. She had some help blowing out her candles. Her real treat was a Key Lime Pie!
Shakey Shakey
I'm awake, I might as well blog! Who felt the quake? Sometimes Anna shakes my bed to wake me up...except she wasn't there! It lasted for a good minute. The bed was shaking and something was clicking. I knew right away that it was an earthquake! I don't know how my sister deals with the really strong ones, and more often. Anna will be bummed that she didn't wake up.
I'm sure this will be the talk of the day!
I'm sure this will be the talk of the day!
Bobbie's Wedding
I'm on a roll. Bobbie and her Dad.
The wedding party on the beach.
Awwwww...Jeremy got down on one knee to say his vows.
The Johnson's first kiss!
The happy couple. Just Married!
Plano girls. This was after the power went out at the reception!
Ok now I'm exhausted. See you next year!
The wedding party on the beach.
Awwwww...Jeremy got down on one knee to say his vows.
The Johnson's first kiss!
The happy couple. Just Married!
Plano girls. This was after the power went out at the reception!
Ok now I'm exhausted. See you next year!
Quarterly Report
About every 3 or 4 months.
Seems like that is how often I have time to sit down and type and upload a pic or two.
It has been vacation central since the end of February!
February 24-March 2 Punta Cana family trip
March 20-25 Snowmass for Anna & I
April 3-6 Bobbie and Jeremy's wedding in Florida...Adults Only!
I guess we'll start with skiing...we planned the trip because my sister was going to be in the country. Anna & I left the boys at home. Brady is a little too young. My parents and my Aunt Mary and Uncle Henry joined us. We flew to Denver and drove to Snowmass. It's supposed to be 3 or 4 hour drive, but it was a blizzard, so we made it into about 7 hours. We were lucky to get over Vail pass...it was shut down going east.
Gotta carry your own equipment, Anna!
Once we were there, the snow was beautiful when we hit the slopes the next day. My sister, my dad & I took turns skiing with Anna between our skis. Finally, I let her go, thinking she would fall right away. Nope, she has great balance so she went flying down "Fanny Hill". She was getting close to the lift lines so we yelled "Anna, fall down!" and she did. I got the silent treatment for a while. She went back to the condo with Grandma.
We were down in the apres ski hangout and pretty soon, here she comes with Aunt Elizabeth:
At least she was back in the "saddle"! The next step was holding Grandpa's pole. That seemed to work. Then I was "holding" her pole, too. Except she didn't know that I really wasn't doing anything at all to help her ski. By the end of day 2, she was skiing on her own!
She thought it was pretty funny when Aunt Elizabeth fell down. (So did I, it doesn't happen very often!)
Day 3 in front of the BLUE run she just went down and DIDN'T fall. I don't think I went down a blue until I was about 13.
My mom, sister and Anna by the signs for the runs we spent lots of time on. I learned to ski on these runs too! Dawdler and Scooper.
Not only did Anna learn to ski, Grandma taught her how to crochet, too! Also, she met a new friend that she named "Bun Bun." He was well fed while we were in the condo.
A tradition has been to go to the Crystal Palace in Aspen. I probably went for the first time when I was about Anna's age. It's a dinner theater, and the owner, Mead Metcalf, is celebrating his 50th year of entertaining there. It was kind of sad...he's retiring after this year.
The girls at the bar before the show. Uncle Henry, Anna, Aunt Mary.
Grandma and Grandpa
It was a great trip. Anna says that she can teach Brett to ski next year!
Coming within the next 3 months: Punta Cana and Bobbie's Wedding!
Seems like that is how often I have time to sit down and type and upload a pic or two.
It has been vacation central since the end of February!
February 24-March 2 Punta Cana family trip
March 20-25 Snowmass for Anna & I
April 3-6 Bobbie and Jeremy's wedding in Florida...Adults Only!
I guess we'll start with skiing...we planned the trip because my sister was going to be in the country. Anna & I left the boys at home. Brady is a little too young. My parents and my Aunt Mary and Uncle Henry joined us. We flew to Denver and drove to Snowmass. It's supposed to be 3 or 4 hour drive, but it was a blizzard, so we made it into about 7 hours. We were lucky to get over Vail pass...it was shut down going east.
Gotta carry your own equipment, Anna!Once we were there, the snow was beautiful when we hit the slopes the next day. My sister, my dad & I took turns skiing with Anna between our skis. Finally, I let her go, thinking she would fall right away. Nope, she has great balance so she went flying down "Fanny Hill". She was getting close to the lift lines so we yelled "Anna, fall down!" and she did. I got the silent treatment for a while. She went back to the condo with Grandma.
We were down in the apres ski hangout and pretty soon, here she comes with Aunt Elizabeth:
At least she was back in the "saddle"! The next step was holding Grandpa's pole. That seemed to work. Then I was "holding" her pole, too. Except she didn't know that I really wasn't doing anything at all to help her ski. By the end of day 2, she was skiing on her own!
She thought it was pretty funny when Aunt Elizabeth fell down. (So did I, it doesn't happen very often!)
Day 3 in front of the BLUE run she just went down and DIDN'T fall. I don't think I went down a blue until I was about 13.
My mom, sister and Anna by the signs for the runs we spent lots of time on. I learned to ski on these runs too! Dawdler and Scooper.
Not only did Anna learn to ski, Grandma taught her how to crochet, too! Also, she met a new friend that she named "Bun Bun." He was well fed while we were in the condo.
A tradition has been to go to the Crystal Palace in Aspen. I probably went for the first time when I was about Anna's age. It's a dinner theater, and the owner, Mead Metcalf, is celebrating his 50th year of entertaining there. It was kind of sad...he's retiring after this year.
The girls at the bar before the show. Uncle Henry, Anna, Aunt Mary.
Grandma and Grandpa
It was a great trip. Anna says that she can teach Brett to ski next year!
Coming within the next 3 months: Punta Cana and Bobbie's Wedding!
G.N.O Girls Night Out....And what a Night!
What a day for Anna & I:
Mileyworld.com membership bought in September $29.95
Tickets bought back then when Anna wanted to go $ZERO (Ha, fat chance!)
2 tickets purchased last saturday because of the $29.95 $156.90
A glittery hoodie and tall boots from wal-mart $27.83
Parking at Allstate Arena $15.00
Glow in the dark thingy $10.00
Concert program $20.00
A nice family who stopped us in the hall and gave us $ZERO
two blue wristbands (THANK YOU WHOEVER YOU ARE!)
The last 2 pictures of the night PRICELESS!!
A long story! Anna has loved watching Hannah Montana and both she and Brady know all of the songs on her first CD. Back in the summer she said she would like to see her in concert. I thought, ok, I'll check it out...probably like getting tickets to "My Little Pony" or "Dora" live. No hurry. WRONG! Sold Out. Ok, she's 6, she won't care if she goes or not. She really didn't say too much about it, besides asking a couple of times.
Then I heard that if you are a member of her fan club, you could get tickets. So, I signed up for mileyworld.com, thinking it was a free trial. I got an email that said I was being charged, so I emailed back right away and said "cancel my membership". No response. I called. I emailed. No response whatsoever. None.
In the meantime I tried to get tickets via mileyworld.com, and there were none, of course. I noticed that it gave me this code to use while trying, but didn't think much of it.
So, I called Discover after many attempts to talk to a human being at mileyworld.com (I still think that none exist). I asked them to remove the charge because I cancelled right away and nobody will respond. About 6 weeks went by, and I got a response from Discover saying the charge was valid. Oh well.
Then, last Friday, I got an email from mileyworld.com saying that they were going to open up more seats the next day to mileyworld.com members who tried to get tickets before, had a code, but didn't get any. That was me! So I got on right away at noon, and searched. I found single tickets. So, I though I had two held, and made my purchase, but one didn't work. So I searched again. Sold out! This was about 12:05 and they went on sale at noon! I searched a few more times and another came up. Too bad it was accross the stadium from the first one. Oh, well, I could always sell them for $400, right?
I didn't tell Anna. I wanted to surprise her. I thought, it will be all moms, right? Chances are out of the 4 people I may be sitting next to, someone would understand and be cool with Anna sitting on my lap.
So, yesterday morning started like this:
The new sparkly hoodie and tall boots from walmart. I asked Anna who might dress like that.
She guessed it right away. She didn't even know the concert was that day. It sunk in fast!
h ANNA h.
We went early for the mileyworld.com "party" meaning "stand out in the cold and follow lines around and wait with 2000 moms and 4000 girlies for 6 prizes. Oh, they were supposed to have the pink miley bus, but it broke down on Lake Shore Drive!
More of our friends.... Warming up in the car and celebrating our tix!
We finally went inside and found our first "seat". It was just to the side of the stage, in the second row of the balcony. An awesome seat! It turned out that many other moms had single seats and were looking around for people to trade so they could sit close to each other. Here is Anna right by our seats. I wanted to go check our other one, which was straight across the way but in the lower section. Anna thought our seat was "the best." So I traded with another mom for a seat that was 3 away from ours and we stayed.
The Jonas Brothers opened. Cute boys! They were very good!
First, she was Hannah Montana. The Jonas Brothers came out for one more in the middle. Then, she was Miley Cyrus. A great show with lots of action. She changed outfits about every 2 songs. It's unbelievable that she is only 15. Here are a few concert pics:
We were wandering after the show and a dad with his wife and 2 kids stopped us in the hallway. "Are you two sticking around?", he asked. I said, yeah, we're just checking it out. He gave us 2 blue wristbands. "Put these on and go to section 109. Have fun." So, we said "THANKS", not knowing yet for what, and headed for section 109. We waited for about 5 minutes and they walked us across the street into another building. Here is what happened:
What a first concert for Anna! It was an awesome experience!
The only concert that topped it.....
Mileyworld.com membership bought in September $29.95
Tickets bought back then when Anna wanted to go $ZERO (Ha, fat chance!)
2 tickets purchased last saturday because of the $29.95 $156.90
A glittery hoodie and tall boots from wal-mart $27.83
Parking at Allstate Arena $15.00
Glow in the dark thingy $10.00
Concert program $20.00
A nice family who stopped us in the hall and gave us $ZERO
two blue wristbands (THANK YOU WHOEVER YOU ARE!)
The last 2 pictures of the night PRICELESS!!
A long story! Anna has loved watching Hannah Montana and both she and Brady know all of the songs on her first CD. Back in the summer she said she would like to see her in concert. I thought, ok, I'll check it out...probably like getting tickets to "My Little Pony" or "Dora" live. No hurry. WRONG! Sold Out. Ok, she's 6, she won't care if she goes or not. She really didn't say too much about it, besides asking a couple of times.
Then I heard that if you are a member of her fan club, you could get tickets. So, I signed up for mileyworld.com, thinking it was a free trial. I got an email that said I was being charged, so I emailed back right away and said "cancel my membership". No response. I called. I emailed. No response whatsoever. None.
In the meantime I tried to get tickets via mileyworld.com, and there were none, of course. I noticed that it gave me this code to use while trying, but didn't think much of it.
So, I called Discover after many attempts to talk to a human being at mileyworld.com (I still think that none exist). I asked them to remove the charge because I cancelled right away and nobody will respond. About 6 weeks went by, and I got a response from Discover saying the charge was valid. Oh well.
Then, last Friday, I got an email from mileyworld.com saying that they were going to open up more seats the next day to mileyworld.com members who tried to get tickets before, had a code, but didn't get any. That was me! So I got on right away at noon, and searched. I found single tickets. So, I though I had two held, and made my purchase, but one didn't work. So I searched again. Sold out! This was about 12:05 and they went on sale at noon! I searched a few more times and another came up. Too bad it was accross the stadium from the first one. Oh, well, I could always sell them for $400, right?
I didn't tell Anna. I wanted to surprise her. I thought, it will be all moms, right? Chances are out of the 4 people I may be sitting next to, someone would understand and be cool with Anna sitting on my lap.
So, yesterday morning started like this:
The new sparkly hoodie and tall boots from walmart. I asked Anna who might dress like that.
She guessed it right away. She didn't even know the concert was that day. It sunk in fast!
h ANNA h.
We went early for the mileyworld.com "party" meaning "stand out in the cold and follow lines around and wait with 2000 moms and 4000 girlies for 6 prizes. Oh, they were supposed to have the pink miley bus, but it broke down on Lake Shore Drive!
More of our friends.... Warming up in the car and celebrating our tix!
We finally went inside and found our first "seat". It was just to the side of the stage, in the second row of the balcony. An awesome seat! It turned out that many other moms had single seats and were looking around for people to trade so they could sit close to each other. Here is Anna right by our seats. I wanted to go check our other one, which was straight across the way but in the lower section. Anna thought our seat was "the best." So I traded with another mom for a seat that was 3 away from ours and we stayed.
The Jonas Brothers opened. Cute boys! They were very good!
First, she was Hannah Montana. The Jonas Brothers came out for one more in the middle. Then, she was Miley Cyrus. A great show with lots of action. She changed outfits about every 2 songs. It's unbelievable that she is only 15. Here are a few concert pics:
We were wandering after the show and a dad with his wife and 2 kids stopped us in the hallway. "Are you two sticking around?", he asked. I said, yeah, we're just checking it out. He gave us 2 blue wristbands. "Put these on and go to section 109. Have fun." So, we said "THANKS", not knowing yet for what, and headed for section 109. We waited for about 5 minutes and they walked us across the street into another building. Here is what happened:
What a first concert for Anna! It was an awesome experience!
The only concert that topped it.....