when you're tired, you're tired...

random pictures

Haven is 8 months old and I feel like in just the last few weeks has really changed. She has been crawling since mid-late June, but now is everywhere and nothing seems off limits: the bathrooms, the utility room, little nooks & cranies-I find her everywhere! She is also pulling herself up, scooting around while standing, and just today mastered her first stair by herself...such a fun age right now! Enjoy!

Haven & her friend Cade in Mason City

Like mother, like daughter...supposedly I LOVED "helping" my mother unload & load the dishwasher when I was a tyke. [insert: when I emailed this picture to my mother in Iowa, her response was "I actually let you stand on the dishwasher". Hmm...

Mommy helping me with my ABC's.

Doesn't she look so innocent? :)

Grandma & Grandpa and us at my cousin Chelsey's wedding in MPLS.

Daddy & I on Father's Day-his first!

and last but not least, how Mommy found me after she was making me some baby food in the kitchen-I was tuckered! :)

zoo day

Last Tuesday, July 6th, Haven and I were fortunate to head to the Peoria Zoo with two very special people, Rich & "Aunt" Vicki. Rich is our, well, I guess now only Arlan's dept. chair at PCHS and Vicki is one of our angels who took care of Haven this past Spring when I went back to teach. They are dear friends of ours & although we picked a steamy July day (hey, it was FREE zoo day!), it was great fun to see Haven interact with not only the animals but also with our dear friends. Thanks Schurters-we had a great time!

[side note: yes, in both pictures Haven only has one of her jellies on...note to self: for future occasions in public, when one shoe falls off & you throw it in her bag, just take the other one off as well because EVERY concerned parent will stop you to let you know your child is missing a shoe-endearing yes, but after a while, a little annoying!]

family time

We were fortunate the past week to spend time with my Kellenberger family in Iowa. Our first stop on our trip was at a good college friend of mine, "Gus" (aka Renae). Gussy is married to Bruce & have 2 darling children, Kylie & Cade. They put us up for the night as we were on our way to Rochester, MN.


This past Spring my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and recently learned it has spread to his bones. We then traveled to meet my parents at Mayo Clinic in Rochester to get a second opinion & my Dad was fortunate to be able to get a new specialized PET scan to determine exactly where & to what degree it has spread. While in early stages of bone cancer, my Dad has 4-5 mild-moderate spots on his back, femur, hip, and rib. Prayers for him & my mom would be greatly appreciated as he continues to learn, adjust & test his faith on a daily basis with this disease.

This was at the hotel with Daddy while Mommy was with Grandma & Grandpa at Mayo Clinic-she loves crawling around on pillows & beds!

After we got back from Rochester, Haven & I went trucking with Grandpa in his big yellow truck! While it was fun to see out, it was even more soothing to ride along as about 15 minutes into her truck ride, Haven decided to take an hour long nap.


Uncle Butch & Aunt Kathy came to visit several nights when we were there...Uncle Butch loved entertaining me!

Grandpa & Grandma at the Fourth of July parade: Mali, Haven, Maden & Macy.

Little Ms. Mali & Haven enjoying the parade.

Haven checking out cousin Maden playing t-ball.






Maden at his season closer of t-ball.

here you go my sister...

So according to some family members (we won't mention names, will we Em?), it is past time to update some pictures...so here we go!

Some more Florida pictures

My friend Drew Hodel came over to visit-it was fun but you can probably tell who had the better time :)

A Sunday morning photo shoot.

One of my favorite activities!

The 3 Amigos at cousin Ezra's birthday party.

And guess what I'm getting oh so close to accomplishing?!

more to come...

While we are on the down swing of vacation (isn't vacation wonderful), I wanted to post just a few pictures for family & friends out there wondering how little toodle-bugs is liking Florida...more will come later this week!

Haven meeting Shamu at Sea World

Haven pool side with her new Shamu friend.

Relaxing at the condo in Naples.

Haven's first view of the ocean!

She loves swimming & is QUITE the pool chick :)

my new friend Sophie

This is my new friend Sophie la Giraffe. She is from France and is one of two new teether toys my sitter, "Aunt" Vicki, spoiled me with. I am very excited to play with her each day...so excited in fact, that I usually bite her head & long legs frequently. Thank you "Aunt" Vicki-I love you! ~Haven