Kreitler Kids' Blog: 2011

So many updates and soo behind. On August 14th I traveled to the great windy city of Chicago to run the Rock and Roll half marathon. This was very nerve racking because who knows what the weather will be like in August!! Luckily, it was amazing weather! Cloudy and it even started sprinkling just a bit which was perfect because at that point I needed a little Godly cool-down. The race went great and I finished in 2:08:43. Here I am standing at The Bean - a giant silver bean shaped sculpture.

Ahhh proof of the completed race!

In August, Kyrah started back at gymnastics. We tried this last fall as well but she would not listen to the instructor and spent more time running back to me. So we are giving it another shot. She has done very well, staying in line and trying to get her cart wheels and backbends mastered. Her splits need some work, but not too bad for just starting out. In the below picture she is that tiny little speck of black next to the woman sitting on the ground.

Not sure what day this was exactly, but when Nick and Lydia come over they love to get in the big tub so of course everyone had to get in. I think there should be a maximum capacity sign put up after this night. The water didn't always stay in the tub to say the least.

August also brought the first day of school for Dennis and many children. I was seeing all the proud parents posting first day or back to school pictures on facebook, so I told Broc I would take his first day back at school photo. He posed for me as you can see...

Ahhh a rare moment of harmony sitting on Daddy's lap. Tight squeeze, but they can all still fit. They are still all the same size, right around 30-31 lbs.

Both Broden and Raya have some of the funniest sleeping habits. I caught this one of Broden - he must be chillax'n in his sleep.

With the start of school also comes the start of softball season for the Ste. Gen Hunters which Dennis is head coach. On a Saturday practice me and the kids came along to play in the gym and burn off some energy.

During softball season, Mommy has to be both drop off and pick up, although she does get quite a bit of help from Grandma and Aunt Tina. One night when I picked them up we decided to wash the car since it was so warm out. As you can guess, they got wet and ended up stripping and this is the result...

A hoosier bath

This was Kyrah's first official day at gymnastics.

Haircut time. It is hard to see in this picture, but Broden got a mohawk and Kyrah got a feather in her hair and Raya got bangs!! She is beautiful, but I think I will let them grow out.

They aslo got these snazzy new chairs - just their size.

Here's a photo of the bangs and the craziest thing is that she looks identical to me as a kid.

Arts and craft time. They are painting nicely in the garage so we can contain the mess.

We also started dress shopping for my beautiful niece Jessica, who is going to her first homecoming.

Broden at Sunday evening dinner at Grandma's with his usual sidekick - the baseball bat.

All the kids are addicted to horses right now. Grandma's neighbor has 3 horses that the feed apples and pears to. She also has this horse statute that they go up and sit on like they are riding it. The call it Flicka after the horse movie.

Watching Daddy's softball girls at the field. The kids LOVED going to the games. They don't exactly sit and watch for very long, but it is the perfect place for them to run around and play.

July started of course with a wonderful 4th of July party which actaually took place on July 2nd. We celebrated Lydia's 11th birthday at her house and had fun with fireworks. The kids were allowed to do snap 'n pops which they call "snappy pops", smoke bombs and sparklers. The LOVE fireworks! The noise doesn't bother them and they love staying up late to watch them. Here Daddy is overseeing the fireworks sparklers.

Waiting for dark and fireworks at Lydia's party.

A little more sparkler time. Hmmm Daddy - you think we should be that close to the fire???

Earlier that day was pool time. Daddy actually got to the party late because Broc was playing Legion ball, but he just missed a little swimming time.

ON the actual July 4th we went to the Ste. Gen city park to watch the real fireworks. The kids had fun playing around in the wide open spaces and playing on the slides. The really liked the big fireworks and would go so excited when they were going off.

I can't get over how long her hair is in this picture.

Raya's "cheese" face.

Enjoying the fireworks! We even had our family picture taken by the local newspaper and were put on the front page of the paper.

The second weekend of July is always the Ste. Gen Fair. It starts on Friday evening with a parade. The kids LOVE parades.

Of course the candy is the best. In this parade it is mostly tractors that drive by.

Uncle Steve helping Raya get her snack.

Kyrah enjoying her snack as well.

Later that night I took all three kids up to the Yanks to watch Broc play ball. I was pretty nervous manging all the kids by myself and it turned out great. They all listened well and stayed by me. After the game the kids got to run around on the field which they thought was the coolest thing ever.

Broc's team actually won districts this night as well so yeah - way to go Ste. Gen Junior Legion!

Saturday morning of the fair we took the kids up to walk around and enjoy the games. Raya loved going through the bounce houses.

Climbing the big tires with cousin Lydia.

A little swing time.

And no fair is complete without the corn pile.

Sunday evenings the entire Propst family usually end up at Grandma and Grandpa's house. This Sunday because it was super hot, Uncle Steve brought over the big water bounce slide. Broden would not go down the slide but liked to play at the bottom in the water.

The next day Kyrah stated getting sick. She came down with a 102 fever, belly aches and tiredness. It was an awful week. She just kept getting worse, her throat swelled and she had trouble breathing, and her eyes swelled. We took her to the doctor twice. At first they said it was heat exhaustion, then decided it was a viruse. The poor thing was miserable.

On Friday I finally took her to the JMH ER. Her throat was just huge. Here we are waiting in the ER. They came up with the same conclusion - virus and allergies. They gave her an oral steroid and some Tylenol. Later that night she was feeling better, the fever broke and her throat was better.

The bad thing was on Saturday she went crazy. After her afternoon nap she woke up screaming at me, throwing everything, hitting, biting me, etc. I think she had a bad reaction to the steriod and litteraly went crazy. Dennis was at Broc's ball game so I had to have a sitter come over and watch the twins so Kyrah would not hurt them. It was the worst I have ever seen a kid and it lasted all evening. Luckily Sunday was better, though she was still screaming and whiney she was no longer hitting and biting.

On Saturday Broden also got a new haircut... a mohawk! He looks awesome.

Raya was the best one all weekend.

I was trying to catch a picture of Broden's new haircut but he just was not cooperating.

Mommy had a night out on the 17th of July with Aunt Connie. We went to see the U2 360 degree. Awesome concert but super hot at Busch Stadium.

The next weekend of July started the beginning of Church picnic season! We love going to these and getting awesome food and letting the kids play the games. Raya and Kyrah got their faces painted with butterflies.

They rode the little car.

Broden standing in front of his favorite A-C tractor.

Finally at the end of the month Mommy and Daddy had a great trip to Playa Del Carmen Mexico. We stayed at the Riu Playacar Monday to Friday. The kids had Amanda stay over most of the nights and Grandma and Tina watch them as well. I think it was a long week for them being away from us, but it was the perfect amount of days for me and Dennis. Beautiful beach and great weather - very relaxing time together.