Our Big Guy!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:: Hayden started his first day at Calvary Christian School today ... he had the best day ever! He woke up very excited ... ate a special first day of school breakfast (waffles and mommy's scrambled eggs with cheese - he and daddy's favorite!), and got to use his new back pack!


WATCH OUT MACK:: After school, Hayden spent time playing his guitar and singing through his new microphone that he and mommy made out in the garage with Daddy's radio. (Notice he attached it to his bike ... his third arm at the moment!


REUNITED:: This sounds so funny, but I'm not kidding ... Ellie did not really talk at all today; usually Hayden and I read, sing, or talk to her during her "wake time," but today it was just me ... and she was pretty mum. When she was reunited with her big brother, however, she immediately smiled and began flapping her arms and legs ... and JABBERING away!


READING!:: Then he read his favorite book to his "baby sis" ... it's called "Love Bug," and that's what he calls Ellie, in addition to "baby sis" and "sweetie."

Where Do We Start!?

We have had some incredible things happen in the last few weeks ...

Home, Sweet Home::
We are thankful that our transition has been such a smooth one; we know that the Lord has made it that way, and we continue to be amazed at the relationships that are being built, and the comfort we are feeling in this area! Manhattan will always hold a special place in our hearts ... and our friends there will continue to be our friends ... more like family, and although we are becoming more enveloped each day in our new home, we know that He is making room enough in our hearts to love them all, and to focus on what He has called us here to do! It is so beautiful, so full of kind people, and with so many opportunities to share Jesus with others. God is SO GOOD!

Todd and Tina::
We recently welcomed our Student Ministries Pastor and his wife to the Black Hills this month, and it has been such a blessing getting to know them!

Summertime Fun::
With school starting this Wednesday, we have been enjoying every free moment that we have to play! Mommy, Hayden, and Ellie have been enjoying an early morning walk (usually around 6:30am) and then heading to the park before the day begins.

Hayden especially loves the firetruck and "monkey swing" at Storybook Island in RC::

He got a new watch for his birthday ... he is excited about learning to tell time all by himself! (and mommy and daddy are too!)::

Ellie continues to grow, and daddy caught a not-so-rare moment of smiles. Ellie loves to smile, and brother is the one that gets the most!::


Brother and sister spend so much time talking and smiling ... Hayden even sings to her (usually songs from VBS, or ones that he makes up about cars and trucks!)::

Kisses ...
"It's ok, sweetie ... "

All smiles!
KANSAS::
We recently took a "holiday" to Kansas ... we left one Sunday after the second service and returned home that following Saturday. It was a great time of introducing Ellie ... and a "big boy Hayden" to family and friends that hadn't met Ellie, and hadn't seen Hayden for awhile! We had an event filled, family fun, relaxing time and were so thankful for the safe travel, as well as the fact that our kids are great car riders!



T-REX Restaurant at THE LEGENDS::
We enjoyed a day of shopping and lunch at the T-REX restaurant!


Lake of the Ozarks::
We spent time with my great-grandma, great-aunt, grandma, and parents at the Lake of the Ozarks. We even had a picture of the five generations of women! (that I cannot get to post.)

We went to the Truman Dam Observatory ...

We smiled for pictures (or remained in deep thought) ...Two Birthday Parties for Hayden's Big #5!::
Complete with cakes and ice cream with Nana and Papa Kinnan at their house, and Grandma and Grandpa Kerby at Great-Grandpa's house!

Birthday at Home::
Though his birthday party with buddies won't be until this week, we spent Hayden's birth day dinner at Churk E Cheese's! It was a blast! After dinner we went to the store to get something Hayden has been waiting for since he was nearly three ... his very own "dirt bike" bicycle (we had to wait until his other was too small!) !



Time with Friends::
We have been so blessed to have so many amazing people around us, and we are so thankful that the Lord has surrounded us with such wonderful friends ... He knows how important it is to us! We have had fun spending time with people and really getting to know everyone ... eating ... golfing ... drinking coffee ... game nights ... what fun!

College, Here We Come::
Although David's classes are ongoing, Katy's semester just started, and wasted no time getting right to work! It'll be a very full semester, for sure! Supervision and Evaulation, and Technologies for Leadership are going to be interesting to say the least, but only a few more semesters (aaahhh) until she has her Master's!

Go Lynn!

Lynn Jenkins won over Jim Ryun for the Republican nomination in Kansas' 2nd Congressional District, and will face Democrat Nancy Boyda for the seat.

You're the Cheese to my Macaroni

Hayden and Ellie are becoming great friends ... Hayden is incredibly gentle and thoughtful, and each time she is done eating, we have "wake time." Our new favorite thing to do is sit her in the boppy (she LOVES it!) and sit beside her and chat. She is especially thrilled when big brother Hayden talks to her (mostly about cool cars), sings to her, and makes silly noises.

Today was a big day of chatter ...

Hayden shared the theme song from VBS, singing about God's "Big Backyard" and took time to teach Ellie the motions!


Ellie gets really excited when Hayden sings to her, and starts jabbering away with arms flailing!

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet - Life

Brother Hayden is so sweet with his little sister!

Ellie loves to relax, look around, and ponder deep thoughts about things like world peace and taking a nap.

Hayden adores Grandpa and Grandma, and especially seems to enjoy the presents that sneak there way up here when they visit!
"Sis," as Hayden has nicknamed her, is in her swing, which I've nicknamed her happy place!


Grandma and Grandpa came to visit this week, and though Ellie didn't seem thrilled by Hayden's presents, she did love the extra arms to hold her!



We visited Mount Rushmore one evening and got to see the ceremony and lights, and to Dinosaur Park too!


Bear Country was a lot of fun, and mommy and daddy got a chance to get pics taken with the little ones - usually we're chasing or feeding and never on this side of the camera!

Hi There!

Hayden, Ellie and I went to Dinosaur Park last week - it was a lot of fun, and though Ellie wasn't very impressed, Hayden really enjoyed it!




Ellie continues to grow every day - she's getting stronger and more aware of surroundings! She loves kisses and baths, and especially her big brother!

A Love Bug & A Mustang

Each and every day our little girl gets more expressive, and lately has been sharing with us some little noises ... the usual squawk's, but new ones too. Hayden says that she sounds like an "old car," and since he loves Volkswagen Bugs, we've nicknamed her "LOVE BUG."

Hayden continues to hone his photography skills!





Hayden got a Remote Control MUSTANG in the mail today from uncle Pete, and hasn't stopped driving it since! THANK YOU UNCLE PETE!!!!

Sunshine Day!

Last Saturday we took advantage of the sunshine and went on a morning trip to nearby Reptile Gardens, and in addition to having a ton of fun, we were once again reminded of how little fear our four-year old has! AAAHHH!





After hanging out with giant tortoises and watching the snake show, we hung out with some prairie dogs before going to a crocodile show - Hayden actually got to touch one!!!