Conner's 2nd Birthday

At the restaurant, my mom made a #2 pancake...it was adorable! Chris always remembered that tradition when he was little, so he wanted to kind of carry it on to Conner. It's a cute idea...if you have a restaurant to do it for you, it's even better. ;)

This is the cake I made for Conner. Last year I did a whole big tractor cake that took me forever (seriously, all morning long while I was "working" at the restaurant)...I didn't have quite as much time this year. He still loved it.

Conner taking Addison for a ride on his horse from Jo Jo...they're getting so big!

Conner's Christmas Surprise...

We are so thrilled to become a family of four...except now I have to think of a new name for our blog. ;) I'll have to start brainstorming. Conner got to "tell" everyone at Christmas that he is going to be a big brother and we are curious, excited, and anxious to see what a good brother he will be. (Sharing is not his top priority in life...he'll learn, though) I am due July 11, 2009. Chris keeps saying we're having a convenient store baby (7/11). ha ha *sarcastically said* We had a great Christmas, fun 2nd birthday, and are now ready for the new year...pictures to come of all of the above. Love to all, The King's

Our family pictures...

So, my mom's side of the family (who all lives in Liberal, MO) decided to get together and have a grandkid's picture taken for a Christmas present for my Grandad and Grandma Jo this year. We took advantage of this fabulous idea for a few of our own family pics and think they turned out great! My cousins are growing up so fast...not to mention my little Conner who is turning two in just a couple of days! I feel so, so blessed to have this little guy in our lives. His energy and happy attitude are so contagious. I just love watching him grow. Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as Chris and I did.

Is Christmas really almost here????!!!

Wow. Where has the time gone?! Am I the only one feeling this way? I have absolutely no time right now to do anything. The only reason I'm on the computer tonight is because I'm supposed to be finishing my calendars on Shutterfly for gifts. Conner right now is trying to "help" me type. "Help me, Momma, help me." "Helping" is him pushing the enter button a million times saying one, two, eee (three). Did I mention Conner's birthday is a week away? We are so excited to have a grown up 2-year-old. I was looking at pictures from just a year ago and he seems so much more grown up now than he did then. Okay, I really have to get back to my gift making before I run out of time. Just wanted to let everyone know that we are still here!!! Things are just very, very busy here at the King household...as I'm sure they are for you, too! Welcome Christmas *and birthday* time!! The time I look forward to every year! Uh-oh. Conner's playing Chris' guitar. Gotta run!

A new family of three...

A really good high school friend of mine had her baby this week!! Monday, November 17th Brock David was born to two very proud parents! I, fortunately, got to go to Arkansas the next day and hold baby Brock before he was even a day old. He's such a sweet little boy and I am so, so happy for you, Jill and David!! It was definitely the highlight of the week! Aren't babies precious?

I know, I know...it's been a while. I wish I could say that I've just been so terribly busy that I couldn't spare a second. But, that's not really the story. There is no story. I've just been a lazy bum this past week or however long (lifetime?). But I'm here now. *yea!!* I've been putting off Conner's Halloween pictures because my camera messed up for some reason and I'm not crazy about the colors or anything and haven't sat down to fix most of them. I'll post them anyway. He's cute enough that the color doesn't make too much a difference, right? Conner was a carpenter this year. Last year (skunk) was a kind of hard one to beat because it was just too cute and funny! So, we went for kind of simple instead. Easy to move around in and so on. Here is the outcome: (he wouldn't wear his adorable hard hat...oh well)

With Uncle "Derbie" and Addison

Conner insisted on wheeling this pink cart around at my Grandma Jo's house and would fill in FULL of M&Ms ("emmys). He was just shopping like his mama.

Getting the hang on this candy thing.

It's a God thing

God is so good to my little family. In the midst of all of this crazy economy, I worry just like everyone else. I worry for next year, next month, tomorrow. Owning a business is not the easiest thing when you hear so much about the economy going up and down within a matter of days. You would think with all of this talk going around the past week or so that our business would go down quite a bit. But, the opposite happened. We had our best month just last month and our best day on Fall Festival (which was no surprise...we're always busy on Fall Festival). I was telling this to one of my friends, saying how surprised I was with the restaurant doing so well and kind of saying I don't know why, but it's just happened that way. She just looked at me and said, "It's a God thing...He's answering your prayers." Of course! Why in the world did I not think of that?! I think sometimes we pray and pray and pray, expecting immediate outcomes to our prayers. Then, when God actually answers our prayers, we don't give Him the glory! Isn't that insane? I hate to say, but I catch myself doing this over and over again and I hate it. I wish that everything I do I would give glory to God, but unfortunately I don't. I will continue to try, though and be the best follower of Christ that I can be. Since talking to my friend, I have thanked God for the good outcome of the restaurant. Isn't He such an awesome God?

Nothing better than punkin pie!

A group of girls from church decided that we needed to get together and have some fun! So, we've been planning for a week to go out to a pumpkin farm with our kids and let them run around a have fun. It was a blast!!! Conner was so worn out that he was asleep before we got home! Here are some pictures of our super fun evening!

A Day in the Life of an *Almost* Two-Year Old

Today when I got home, I decided today was all about Conner. Sometimes I get all caught up in laundry, a clean house, daily chores, and keeping our little family caught up with everything that I forget about what is really important. So, I turned off the tv, tried to get the things that needed to be done out of my mind and gave Conner my complete attention all night. I always try to do this every day...but not all night long. We had a blast! We went on a 4-wheeler ride, played tractor and trucks A LOT, went swinging, and finished with a POPCICLE!!!!! What a fun, rewarding night. Now I have to get off of this thing and get all that work that I pushed to the back of my head finished or else life will not go on tomorrow very smooth.


Oh, and this is what happens when a little boy gets ahold of the camera: (i won't bore you with ALL of the pictures, but here are the ones you can acutally see someone in..the last one's a little photoshop fun)

Mom here.

Not very long ago (like a month or so) my cousin (who just graduated high school and is on to college) told me I had "mom sunglasses." I immediately thought, "mom?! i'm not a mom!" But, I am! I just don't think of myself as being old!!! When did this happen?! Why didn't somebody tell me what was going on?? Did I get old when I had a baby...or was it when I got married...or went to college? I guess I missed the memo. Anyway, I guess I'm labeled as "mom" now. By the way, I think the glasses are stylish and look good on me. ;) Thanks, Kelsey! I'm going to turn your glasses comment into a compliment. I love being a mom and having mom sunglasses!

Aren't Cousins Fun?

I can't believe that summer is almost gone and fall is just around the corner. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE fall. I love the colors, the weather (yes, even the rainy days)...fall just feels so family-ish to me. We see all different kinds of relative as we near Christmas and fall just kind of gets you into that mood. I just love it. But, summer has been good to us this year. If I haven't mentioned it before (hehe) Conner really prefers being outside rather than cooped up indoors. Here are some pics from the past couple of weeks...his two obsessions right now: haybales and our new and improved swing (my old swing that we painted and now looks brand spankin new!).. Conner and I babysat Addy last night and had a ball! They are starting to play so well together and always makes me realize that, no, I am not ready for another one. As much as I love Addison and had such a fun time, I love being a family of three. I just do. Call me selfish, but I savor every second I have with Conner and Chris. A baby would easily squeeze right in...some day.


And, just in case you wondered why there aren't any pictures of the two together, here's the reason: (I have lots more, too!)

Okay, so I have been emailing a little bulletin for our Sunday School class every Thursday about where we are in our studies just to keep everybody up to date on everything. It's hard in classes when you miss one day and then feel totally out of the loop the next class. So, this is the whole point for sending little mid-week reminders to everyone. I think it has really helped...I've gotten very positive feedback, so I'm all encouraged by it. Anyway, I thought I'd start posting my little things on here, just in case anyone was interested. We're studying Acts right now and I've always kind of enjoyed the book of Acts. It has a lot to do with faith and spreading God's Word...it just encourages me so much. So, here's this week's:

August 17, 2008
Salvation for Every Nation
Acts 9:32-10:48

I always remember my parents lecturing me about being nice to others, treating other as I would like to be treated, love your neighbor as thyself. Did I always follow those tried and true rules? Of course not...I was a teenager who knew it all. Did I allow any barrier -- language, culture, race, geography, economic level, or educational level -- keep me from telling others about Christ or simply being friends with them? Unfortunately so. I'm sure we've all done it at least once in our lives. But in this week's passage, we learn of two very different men, Cornelius and Peter, coming together through Christ. Cornelius was weathy, a Gentile, and a military man. Peter, a Jewis fisherman turned preacher. Jews and Geniles did not mix. Most of the early believers were Jewish and they thought it scandalous to even think about associating with Gentiles. Fortunately, Peter obeyed God's direction to go to Cornelius, putting his biases aside for his faith. (It did take a three-part heavenly vision for God to change Peter's mind (Acts 10:9-17), but you get the point...he still obeyed!) Once Peter joined with Cornelius, they discovered God's plan included their joint effort to further God's kingdom. Cornelius needed Peter and his gospel to know the way to salvation. And Peter needed Cornelius and his salvation experience to know that Gentiles were included in God's plan. Amazing! Two people from two totally different spectrums uniting to spread God's Word. I think sometimes I'm afraid to fully listen to God and where He wants to lead me. I feel like I am comfortable where I am and who I surround myself with. That is going the exact opposite direction! Why would we want to store this awesome news and keep it to ourselves? New that could save a soul! News that would allow us to see our friends, coworkers, and family in Heaven for eternity! We should be like Peter and Cornelius, getting out of our comfort zone and using each other and our combined God-given gifts to tell the whole world of our Savior! We have so many opportunities right here in Pittsburg, Kansas! If cultures/races are a weak spot for you, find some of the foreign college students we see running around church - be an impact in their lives. If it's economic status, we have all different people around town in a different situtation than we are. People outside of your box just may surprise you and impact your life. God works everywhere, through everyone...even ones you wouldn't expect. Just an ending note I was going to leave out, but just can't. I thought is was so interesting in Acts 9:43 that Peter stayed with Simon, who was a tanner. Tanners made animal hides into leather. It is significant that Peter stayed here because tanning involved contact with dead animals, and Jewish law considered it an "unclean" occupation. Peter was already beginning to break down his prejudice against people who were not of his kind and customs that did not adhere to Jewis religious traditions. God works in so many ways. I feel like He is always preparing us for the next step. He is just saying, "Trust me...you will see.". It just takes such faith to take that leap...he sometimes tries to turn those leaps into steps...so walk with Him the rest of this week.

Lake of the Ozarks...it's about time I blogged!

Okay, so we went to the Lake of the Ozarks like weeks ago...well, two weeks ago, I guess. My cousin, Michelle, and her husband, Jason, own a lake house there and have all kinds of boats and toys. We (my mom, dad, Kirby, Kerri, Addy, and us) try to go every year during the summer just for a break. It's always relaxing...well, it's relaxing when Jason's not trying to through you off while tubing! We tubed, jet skiied, wake boarded, wake surfed, played volleyball...and all of us were sore after just two days! Conner liked the water a lot better this year...in the past he's been a little worried about where the water is and where it is spashing him. Not this year! He's a big boy now! Anyway, here are some of my favority pictures:

This one makes me laugh! Conner wanted to eat that chip so bad, but it was too windy and he was too tired! He finally ended up falling asleep with his chip half in his mouth and half out...I'm surprised it didn't fly away!

Jason's grandparents own Bott's Radio Station and on their property at the lake they have a big area full of all kinds of animals...zebras, ostriches, camels, horses, llamas...and probably a lot more!! It's a neat place. Here's Conner on one of the miniature horses:

Dad & Conner at the Bott's "Party Barn"

Kerri, Addison, and Kirby

Chris has been gone since early Wednesday and will be back tomorrow afternoon on a conference in Topeka. I am so ready for him to be back!!! Conner keeps asking where he is and I just keep saying, "He's at work...he'll be back soon.". We miss him when he's gone...he should be home more when school starts up and he begins his new job. Tonight was one of the first nights Conner and I could go outside. He hates being cooped up in the house, but it's been so darn hot I hate to go out there too much...except to water my flowers. Here are some of our pictures from tonight...he's such a boy:

Kirby taught him to "check the tires" one time at the restaurant, so now everything that has a tire has to be kicked...whether we're at home, Grandma's house, Walmart parking lot, church, it doesn't even matter...we're going to have to stop and kick some stranger's tire! Someday we're going to have to learn that this is not something we do to every tire!...someday.

I thought I would add in some of my flowers just because they bring me such joy...I love taking care of them and watching them grow. Besides, this page doesn't have to be all about boys and dirt and toys!