Polar Express Train Ride

The girls - Ciara, Erin, Anna & Kate

Bodie and Ben - crazy boys!!!

Getting ready to board

Saturday afternoon the kids and I went on the Boone Scenic "Santa Express" train ride with some friends. Kate and Ben were both very excited. They were supposed to dress in their PJ's to have it be similar to the The Polar Express. The ride started out with the reading of the Polar Express story to everyone on the train. Hot Cocoa and cookies were then served while we were enjoying the ride. To finish the trip, silver bells were given to each of the kids by who else but Santa of course! Kate and Ben loved this part and I was treated to the "jingling " sound off and on all the way home. What a fun afternoon we had!!!!

14+ inches of snow

Kate taking a breather in the powdery bed of snow

Mr. Ben, enjoying the sledding Sunday afternoon

These flakes were some of the biggest that I have ever seen on Tuesday night

Ben's snow angel in the dusting Sunday night

What started as just a dusting last Sunday night (the 6th), turned into over 14 inches of snow by Wednesday morning - it was amazing! The kids and I went to dinner at the Wilson house Sunday night, and on our walk home the snow began. Kate and Ben were both "giddy" with excitement, they could hardly stand themselves! Both of them were rolling around in the snow covered grass. Giggling, laughing, like it was their first time experiencing Winter. It was so fun to watch. They even attempted snow angels in the dusting on the driveway that night. Little did they know that in less than 48 hours, we would have more snow than we knew what to do with! It started really coming down Tuesday afternoon when they let school out early and kept on through the night, and into Wednesday. We all played out in the snow Tuesday night until around 9. The weather was perfect, warm, and the HUGE flakes were just beautiful. We all enjoyed our snow day together on Wednesday, but Doug definitely "worked" more than he probably enjoyed. Him and a few other neighbors ended up helping many people on our streets that had gotten stuck more than once. That was a bummer!!! But thankful to have such caring people in our neighborhood.

Thanksgiving

We spent Saturday afternoon out at the Fett house with all of them. That was such fun and wonderful to see all of them. Becky & I snapped a quick photo. Love you old girl!


Ben is very "thankful" for Grandma's cookies (since he passed on pumpkin &/or blueberry pie

Mr. Ben and the "Mrs." is what he has been referring to me as this week - crazy kid!

Even though we were not able to be in Pender for Thanksgiving this year, they were all in our thoughts and we can't wait to spend the long weekend with all of them over Christmas. Love you guys!!!!!

Thanksgiving blessings

Grandma Cairney & Ben in a heated game of SORRY

Kate learning how to play SCRABBLE

Ben with his crazy face, showing off the Indian head piece that he made in preschool last week. I especially love the decorations on the feathers.

Jack, Ben, Kate, Joey, Drew & Abby

Jack, attempting to blow out his "12" candles in one breath....that was funny!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with some of the Cairney's last week in Indianola. The festivities started on Wednesday night with Jack's 12th birthday dinner. WOW, I cannot believe how all of these kids are growing up! Thanks Lynne, for the delicious meal and wonderful fellowship for the evening. Also, a special thank-you to Miss Abby and Grandma for finding my missing gloves, I so appreciated that! Kate was able to sleep over with her cousins that night, so she was super excited! Who wouldn't want to have 3 extra "big brothers" for a few hours??? ( I know that you can related with how fun this is Aunt Lynne (-: ) Benny chose to head home with us for the night. Thanksgiving AM was spent at church and then we headed down to Indianola for lunch. Celie prepared a fabulous meal, and it was enjoyed by all of us. Thanks again for hosting us! We spent the afternoon walking on the golf course with the kids looking for lost balls, playing games, and enjoying quality family time together. Kate wanted to try her vocabulary expertise at "scrabble" and Ben has been working his competitive streak at SORRY lately.

Here at the Cairney's, we are once again, overwhelmed with the blessings of our families, our faith, our health, and our "stuffed animals" (that was on Ben's list).

Weekend in Pender

Ben, Great Grandma "B" & Kate


The kids and Papa Suhr in the tractor, helping to pull the grain cart


Kate and Ben were loving it!!! What fun memories they will have from this. I used to love to ride in the tractors and combine when I was a child also........

This weekend we headed back to Pender for a visit. Kate and Ben had been counting down the days all week........it is so fun to see them get excited! We knew that Papa would be busy helping with harvest, but we managed to sneak out and ride with him in the tractor a few times. Nanny was a marvelous hostess as always and kept us entertained at home with multiple trips to jump on the trampoline, bowling games down the basement, endless bingo, card games - and quality time together. We had a nice visit with great grandma "B" yesterday over lunch, yummy pancakes at popo's this am, church and then headed back to Des Moines around 1:30.......whew! I hate that the time goes by so quickly while we are there, but once again, wonderful memories were made!!! Thanks again Mom & Dad for letting us "invade" for a few days......we love you both - can't wait to be home again over Christmas!! Nanny, next time, we have GOT to get some photos with you too!!!

Soccer & Halloween

Halloween: Kate, Erin Schaben, Max Wilson and Ben

Here goes Kate, cutting over to the ball

Sissy has her game face on!

Ben, aka., "Darth Vader" ready to go trick or treating

Kate the "East High" cheerleader

We closed out the month of November with a little trick or treating and Miss Kate finishing up her soccer season. Funny, the weather was not in our favor for either event........she had a great time in soccer this season and met some new friends so that is always exciting! Although, for most of our games we were bundled up in hats, mittens & long sleeves, it was still a great season for Miss Kate - looking forward to next year.

On Halloween, the weather was a bit chilly and damp, but that did not seem to wear on the kids at all. The Wilson's had us over for a yummy dinner before hand and then we headed out to get some "treats". I would have to say that Ben was the most entertaining this year because he decided on Thursday that he was "NOT" going trick or treating or wearing a costume this year. He told Doug and I that he was just going to stay home. But, when I got home from work on Friday afternoon, "darth Vader" was in full costume, ready to go!! you just never know about that kid.....and he ran, non stop to each and every home. Excited to tell his joke "What is a vampire's favorite sport? --- Casket ball" and grab a treat......a fun night for all of us!!!

Girl's weekend

My dear sweet Becca! (my cousin)

Becky, Kay, Colleen and I at the game

Colleen, me, Tammy, Chris, Kay and Becky

This past weekend I had the extreme privilege of spending some quality time with some girlfriends from college, highschool and my cousin Becky. First of all, thanks to all of our husbands and families for helping out with our kiddo's so that we could make this trip happen! I cannot begin to tell you how much fun that we had. Tammy (in the Husker jersey) had never been to Lincoln for game day before and really did not even consider herself a HUSKER fan. But she is married to one and is currently pregnant with a baby husker fan I am sure of it! I do think that we converted her this weekend. She was such a trooper hanging in there all weekend & we love her for it! Even though the game did not go as we had hoped, we had such a great time! Some of us were cold, wet and even a bit wind blown at the game, but it did not matter. Our weekend was filled with shopping, laughing, yummy snacks, laughing, beverages, laughing, a little sleep, singing & dancing at our favorite hang out "Sidetracks", and did I mention laughing??? Some of us had not seen each other for over a year so there was alot of catching up to do. Our friend Jen was only able to meet us for Friday but that was wonderful too!!! She witnessed Tammy catching her first Husker fairbury hot dog from the "Weiner slinger" at the Embassy Suites and that was priceless - too funny! Maybe one of those you had to be there moments, but still priceless to us! Sunday morning came way too soon, as we headed our seperate ways - thanks girls for the wonderful memories from the weekend - I love you all so much and am so blessed to have you in my life!

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart ~~~~~~ Keri

More birthday photos

We all have loved playing this game almost every night!

The traditional Cairney spanking machine - when it is your birthday. You have to crawl through the tunnel while everyone spanks you....the kids of course love it!

The Cairney cousins (only 3 out of 10 are girls) - Cassie, Kate and Elly

Ben was so very excited to open his very own Webkins - he loves this little hippo and promtly named him "lightening" - thanks Cairney West!

Ben's birthday

Ben and Kate blowing out their candles at the Fall birthday celebration at Papa and Grandma Cairney's house - check out those cakes! Not only were they totally cool, but so delicious too! Thanks again Celie for making those.

Mr. Ben getting his 5 year measurement - he has grown over 2 inches this past year - WOW!!

He was very excited about his black power ranger costume - here he is showing off the mask.

Ben, pondering his birthday wishes as we all sang to him the morning of his special day. What I wouldn't give to know his thoughts at this moment. I know that I love having you in my life and feel so privileged that God has chosen me to be your Mother - I love you so much buddy and hope that you had a wonderful birthday! XOXOXOX - Mommy

Kate turns 8

Getting her yearly measurement - looks like she has grown 1 1/2 inches since last year

Kate and her balloons

Doing the skating limbo

Friends: Abigail, Breighlyn, Kate and Kaitlyn

blowing out her waffle candles before church

Miss Kate had a wonderful birthday today. As I sit hear and look at the clock on the computer it is exactly 8:34 pm....the exact time of her birth eight years ago. Doug and I had no idea of the amount of joy that little 5# 7oz peanut would bring us.....watching her grow for the past 8 years has been such a privilege for us as parents. We should have known that it would be hard to keep her on task with routines since she arrived 4 weeks before her due date. Sure, at times, we just want to scream when we have told her for the 100th time to do something, but then just have to laugh as she smiles and says "Oh yeah......that's what I was supposed to be doing!" For those of you that know her, I am sure that is very familiar. We have seen her fall completely in love with reading, riding her bike, spending time with friends & family (even her little brother), eating (-: , and most of all just being Kate and hanging out!

Today, she chose to take 9 girls skating and we had a great time - I couldn't decide who was having more fun, me or the girls as times. They all did so well, and were such a joy to be with for the afternoon.

Tonight, Kate picked pizza for her birthday dinner and then it was an early bedtime for all due to pure exhaustion of the fantastic day. Thank you all for the birthday greetings, gifts and well wishes for the day - we thank God for Miss Kate each and every day. We love you very much sweetie girl - I hope that you had a wonderful birthday - Many More!

Love, Mommy XOXOXO

Snow on October 10th - YIKES!!!

Our backyard

Two crazy kiddo's loving the snow

Kate's first snowball of the season.

We could not believe our eyes when we woke up to snow falling on Saturday morning. The kids were so very excited. Immediately, we dug out our winter gear and went out in our PJ's.....HOW FUN!!! They loved it - and I must admit, it was beautiful. Kate's soccer match was cancelled though, so that was a huge bummer. Doug and I were the most excited to be part of history in Iowa. This was the earliest measurable snowfall here since the 1884.

Wedding photos

Ben loved wearing this tuxedo! Is he the cutest little ring bearer or what?

Ben, Kate and their good friend Jake

The beautiful bride - Stephanie with the kids

All dressed, waiting around during pictures

Daddy and the kiddo's - they all looked so cute!!!

We had the extreme honor of being in Brett and Stephanie Larson's wedding last weekend. Stephanie's family used to watch Kate and Ben on Monday's and Fridays, so they have spent tons of time with them over the past 4 1/2 years. We were all very excited, but anxious to see how they would do, especially Ben. As you all know, he does not like to be the center of attention, and at times can be very introverted. BUT, once we got the tux on Saturday morning, he did not want to take it off! Kate did a great job being the flower girl, & loved her dress (as you all know, she is more of my "sporty spice" kiddo, so it was very fun seeing her so fancy) - she looked beautiful! Doug and I were very proud of both of them, and survived the day..........just as Pastor Mike said in the sermon, but most of all "Love"....Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is LOVE! That feeling was felt the entire day as those two amazing families celebrated the union of their children - May God Bless you Brett and Stephanie and thanks again for allowing us to be such a special part of your day!

Ben's soccer and 10th day of school

climbing trees in the back yard

this is my "10th"day hat mom - I made it!

We are all loving soccer season right now at this house.....both kids had games last weekend and did great! I did not capture any pics of Kate yet this seaon, so she will be in print soon - I promise - these are some great action shots of Ben though.

Today was also his "10th"day of school - time is just flying by and he was very excited to share the "10" items that he picked out to bring!

Doug has had a great week so far. He went to the Springsteen concert on Monday night with Brian Wilson and had alot of fun - Happy birthday Brian!!! and tonight we are hoping for another win for the Cubs!

Kate had picture day at school today. She said that it went "OK" - guess that we will find out in a few weeks!