Merry Thanksmas!

A couple weeks ago, we headed to the farm in Kansas to celebrate our first-ever Kjellin family Thanksmas holiday weekend (Kjellin is pronounced Shalene, and yes, it's where my name came from). This is the farm my mom grew up on, and she and her siblings have since inherited it. My uncle and his family live in the farm house, which they've completely renovated.

Because so many of my cousins now have their own children and their own holiday traditions, it's difficult to get the family together for Thanksgiving and Christmas. As a result, my aunt Amy organized Thanksmas ... a reunion weekend where we feast on Thanksgiving fare and exchange Christmas gifts. All were in attendance, including my cousin, Ben, his wife Tasha, and their four kids, who drove down from Alaska to spend some time in Kansas. (That's right, they drove! It's a long story!) It was a fantastic weekend, and if Trey could have it his way, we'd be living on the farm where he could be outside all day long.

Trey with his stick. I'm not real sure what he was going to do with it, but he sure enjoyed carrying it around!


















He looks like he's applying to be on Survivor Kansas!


















Posing in the corn fields (at least I think it's corn, it might be wheat? I'm sure my family members are laughing!)












Trey stares menacingly at the chicken. He can't quite understand why his 2nd cousin Jada wants to actually touch it.


















Trey finally decides to touch it while Jada goes in for a full-on chicken hug! She actually tries to kiss them! :-)


















Rusty and Skylar teeter totter.


















Skylar keeps an eye on Trey ... Tasha, if you ever want to send her down to stay in Texas, feel free!












Trey poses in the fall foliage.


















Trey sitting in the tractor.


















While there, I had the privilege of photographing my brother, David, and sister-in-law, Morgan, as they anticipate the arrival of little Addison. Here are a few of my favorites. Hope they like them too!


































































I also had the opportunity to snag a few pics of Ben, Tasha and their kiddos (these railroad tracks run through the farm).








































































The annual hedgeball throwing event. Believe it or not, this has become a tradition!


















Trey gets loaded up with a little help from Nana.






















Jada surveys the progress.












Ben and BJ take aim.


















The hedgeballs begin their descent downstream.












They're all gone! Job well done!












Ben swings out over the creek ... some things never change :-)


















Uncle Doug drives the hay wagon back toward the farm house.


















A couple more pics to come soon ... look for the second installment.

Update ...

I've been terrible about posting updates! I must get better! For the time being, here's what's been going on:

• Trey has now had his second major injury. On Friday October 23 he was bending over to pick up a ball and he and the edge of our coffee table collided. We rushed him to CareNow (knowing an emergency room visit would last several hours), and he ended up having to have four stitches above his left eye. The whole experience was an honest nightmare, and I don't wish it on any mother. BJ was much calmer than me (thank goodness), so I'm glad he was here for the ordeal. Trey has since had the stitches removed, and he's no worse for the wear, but I certainly hope and pray that we're done with injuries for a long while. Being Mom to a rambunctious all-boy toddler is wearing a bit on my nerves!
• Trey has recently mastered the art of jumping ... for a while he would attempt to clear air, but both feet never quite left the ground. He's finally learned how to clear air, and he thinks it's greatest thing. He even jumps off ottomans, stairs, chairs into our arms, and he loves it!
• He's talking quite a bit more, and his vocabulary has really expanded. He loves pointing out animals, saying their names and then following up with the sounds they make. Anytime I tell him we're going to the zoo, he runs around making the sounds of elephants and gorillas!
• Trey has recently discovered new bedtime bedfellows: his basketball, soccer ball and football. He won't go to bed without them!
  

TCU Homecoming was this past weekend (Halloween day), so we headed out to the game. It was a good time of football and reunions with great friends. Since it was Halloween, I decided Trey could wear his cowboy costume, but I quickly realized I was going to be the one carrying his cowboy hat. So though he looks like he lacks Horned Frog spirit, it's only because we dressed him in his cowboy garb. Believe me, there's no lack of TCU spirit with this little guy. When you ask him what a frog says, he replies: "Go Frogs, GO!" It's really quite endearing!

Bj and Trey enjoying the game.














Trey enjoys the front-row view.














Trey and I at the game.














Trey and I with Michelle, my college roommate of four years.














Trey and his Daddy!

Mobile Uploads

Some of the funniest/best caught-in-the-moment pics are those that I've captured with my cell phone. Though they're not the best quality, they're definitely worth posting. Here are some of our (somewhat recent) favorites.

Wearing his Mickey Mouse hat, compliments of Meemaw.


















He loves to pull his wagon when we go on a walk!














Debating a romp in the rain.














I love this one! It epitomizes Trey this summer ... a bundle of energetic joy, always laughing. This was after we went swimming.


















Helping me make pizza dough for homemade pizza.














Giving Dillion a drink from the hose.














Enjoying the zoo with his friend, Sophie.














Loving his stick horse.


















Chowing down on his pumpkin bread at Starbucks.

The First Day of School

On Wednesday, Sept. 9, Trey started his first day of preschool! He's going once a week to the Early Learning Center at our church (though most preschoolers his age go twice a week, we were blessed to find a couple who wanted to split, so their little girl goes on Mondays and Trey goes on Wednesdays). He's only had two classes to date, but he's done wonderfully, and he seems to really enjoy his time at school. He's apparently even one of the best nappers in his class, which is the one thing I was the most concerned about. And while he's there from 9-2, I'm enjoying a good chunk of time to get a host of tasks accomplished myself. In the spirit of "first day of school pictures on the front step," here are a few snapshots before Trey treaded off to preschool!

The BIG 3-0

As of Aug. 24, I no longer have one foot in youth and one foot in adulthood ... or something like that. What is it about 30 that sounds so, well, older? Whatever it is, I now find myself smack dab in the middle of it! I have now been officially inducted into the 30-something club!

To celebrate this monumental birthday, BJ took me to dinner at Eddie Vs, a fabulous, swanky little seafood eatery. And then on Saturday, he and my good friends and family surprised me with a wonderful birthday soiree. My family trekked down from Missouri for the event, and BJ's family (his grandparents from New Jersey included) came down from Wichita Falls. It was a wonderful time of wine tasting, food pairings and memories of our trip to Napa. And it was all sans kiddos for a couple hours! If this is any indication of the years to come, I think I'll quite enjoy being a member of this club! Many thanks to BJ, Kat, Kathleen, my family and my friends for making this such a memorable birthday! It was such a sweet celebration, and I appreciated it more than you may know! I love you all!

The entry way table. The pic of the San Fran bridge is one BJ and I took while in California a few years ago on the way to wine country. BJ very secretly selected some pictures from the trip, printed them and matted them for the event.















The wine glasses were tagged with each guest's name. My sweet hostess friends, Kat and Kathleen, then put these name tags on a key ring for me to keep as the guest list.












Some of the wine ... guests were told to choose a bottle with characteristics that reminded them of me (thankfully, "aged" wasn't one of those characteristics!). It was a really sweet gesture.


















A plate of cheese to pair with the wine.












The spread.












Reading some of the cards that indicated the wine and why guests chose it.












The cake, compliments of Kathleen.












Kathleen and Kat conspiring about who knows what!












BJ and Kathleen prepare to open the dessert wine.












BJ's grandparents (his mom's parents) and his dad enjoying the party.












Morgan and my brother, David. Little Addison is surely enjoying some of the food inside her mom's tummy too!












Thoroughly enjoying the noshing and sipping (Morgan to the left, Dad to the right).












Trey had fun at the neighbors during the party, but he sure enjoyed the cake when he returned back home!












My friends, Ivy, Alisha and Dana (Alisha and Dana are both expecting little ones in December).












Chandler, myself and Jon (I was actually on my toes, and they still tower over me!).












BJ's mom, my mom.

Update

It has sadly been WAY too long since I have posted an update! So rather than detail all of the happenings that have occurred throughout the last month or so, I've posted some pics with captions. Hopefully you can surmise all the fun and adventures we've been having!

Trey donning his onesie from Uncle David and Aunt Morgan. It reads "Baby Kelly is due December 10." This is how they told us they were expecting! Since Trey already has two boy cousins, we're thrilled that he's going to have a little girl cousin soon!


















Howdy little cowpoke! How's life on the ranch these days?































Enjoying his first baseball game--the Springfield Cardinals, minor league--while in Missouri visiting my family for the Fourth of July.











































Playing with his Uncle Mark in the kiddie pool at my parents'.










































I want to get back in!


















No, really Dad ... I want to get back in!!!












OK, fine ... I guess I'll survive on dry land.

Picture Perfect

Earlier this week we had Trey's 15-month photo shoot. Our friend and photographer extraordinaire, Ross Benton, drove up from San Antonio to shoot our little guy at the Botanic Gardens. As always, the images are fantastic! To view the pics, go to Studio Benton, click on Real Portraits, then choose The Clients and enter password trey15. For quick viewing, here are a few that we adore!








































































































































































Though his portfolio certainly speaks for itself, let me just say that Ross is extraordinarily talented! Several of you have seen his images at our home in the past and have asked about him. So in case you're ever in need of a photog, please let me know. Ross frequently drives to DFW to shoot our family (as well as a host of other clients), and I'd be delighted to help coordinate a shoot for any of my friends next time he's in the area. If you're at all interested, let me know. You won't be disappointed!

Ben and Amanda Wedding

Since it's been a while since I've posted any photography worth viewing, I thought I'd share some pics from a wedding I had the opportunity to shoot several months ago. Once I actually get to a camera store to purchase my missing USB cable, I'll start snapping away and will again share what I've captured, but until then, here are a few from Ben and Amanda's wedding. I don't think it's all too shabby for my first attempt at capturing a couple's big day?

An Abomination

Friends,

Every day I hear dialogue discussing new political policies, geopolitical skirmishes, and various stances on moral issues. Since there is so much currently happening that could potentially impact our freedoms in general and our freedom of religion in particular, I think it is vitally important that we be aware of current events, as well as political policies and unrest within our own borders and around the globe.

That being said, today I watched a shocking report from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The Organization of the Islamic Conference is trying to seize control of the Temple Mount--it is the same temple King Solomon built, the same temple where Jesus taught. Should this actually happen, the consequences would be grave for the nation of Israel and Christians around the world.

If you too are concerned about the threat this (and the many other issues) pose to our religious liberty, click here to watch the video (click on Jay Sekulow at the Temple Mount). Then consider visiting the American Center for Law and Justice and join me in committing to praying for the state of our nation.

A Much-Needed Update

It's been a while since I've posted, so it's definitely time for a Roberts update. All is well, although BJ had knee surgery a week ago and is slowly recovering. (Nothing like having your two guys nursing an injury one right after another!) Having him out of commission for a short while has definitely made me appreciate how much he helps me out around the house in the evenings and on the weekends!

As for Trey, he's growing so quickly, and he's without a doubt a bona-fide toddler. He's running, climbing, yelling, antagonizing the dogs and yelling "BALL" to any round item. He's started Little Gym and LOVES the chance to explore all of the apparatus. He's also very mechanically inclined, and is extremely interested in how things work. He loves putting lids on and taking them off, turning light switches off and on, and taking his toys apart. And since it's summer, he's spending his fair share of time in the water. He's still a bit unsure of venturing out in the pool by himself, but he's slowly gaining confidence.

In addition, our little boy has also started throwing temper tantrums. The doc said the terrible twos would start around 1 year, and I believe they've started. We had our first public tantrum on Wednesday while at the grocery store. You know ... the kind where other shoppers throw disapproving glances your way as you try desperately to calm a screaming child and check out as quickly as possible? It was a trying experience, to say the least, and I only hope that next time I'll be better prepared. I shared the experience with the doc at Trey's 15 month well-baby visit and was told that it's actually a good sign ... means his brain is developing properly. I gues that's the consolation prize for enduring the experience!

All in all, things are well, and we continue to be amazed at the incredible blessings the Lord so graciously bestows on us daily.

Now onto the pics ... Unfortunately, I've lost the USB cable to my camera (either that, or Trey has relocated it to a place yet unknown, which is very likely). So until I run out to buy a new one, a few random shots from our point-and-shoot will have to suffice:

Enjoying the sprinkler in our front yard with his friend/neighbor, Sophia.
































































Trey with his Nana, who came down from Missouri for a quick visit.














Trying on Mom's boots!