Heidi's First Dance Pictures

Tonight Heidi had dance pictures. Shawn normally takes Heidi to dance class but since this time we had to deal with clothing, make-up, and hair he decided I should do it.

This process was much more stressful than I had ever thought it would be and I now understand how my mom felt. Mom and Aunt Pat are saints to willingly go thru this year after year for us girls!!!

Heidi dances thru the New Hope Community Program at the New Hope Ice Arena. It's a great program, they have real instructors, costumes, recitals, anything you would expect from a studio. I think that Heidi's favorite part of dance class is knowing that she gets to see her BFF Lauren every week.

Their costumes are really cute. This is before hair and make-up started. For any of you who have not been thru this process, there was a "Hair Class" going on behind me for the mom's of the older kids.


It's hard to get Heidi to smile but never hard to get her to act dramatic!!!


This is the closest to a smile I got from her! She was in a mood from me poking and prodding at her.

This one needs to be reformatted but it's time to put Heidi to bed so I will have to fix it later!


Some of the girls were late so they practiced their dance while waiting. I think that is Heidi's leg way down at the end (on the right).

Here are the BFF's!! Lauren and Heidi posed for a few of these but it's hard to get two girls to smile at the same time :) Poor Lauren, her allergies were acting up :(


Grandpa Gary - this one is for you :) Enjoy!

Easter Egg Hunt and Bowling with Cousins

Today was the Zuhrah Shrine Funsters Easter Egg Hunt. We met up with Pam and Hunter as well as Ryan, Jess, Willy, and Emily. Of course my parents were there! It was a great time for all and such a beautiful day. Easter in Minnesota brings everything from Snow, to Rain, to nice Sunny days. We always hope for a nice Sunny day for the Egg Hunt and this year we got one! We needed jackets but no hats or mittens were required and the sun was Very strong!


Here is Heidi in one of her Easter Dresses. Yes, that's one. We went to Kohl's to get a dress and could not pick between two dresses so we got both. And a new pair of sun glasses. This dress is my favorite of the two.

It took about 6 attempts to get this shot. From Left to Right - Emily (will be 3 in a few days), Heidi (4), and Willy (4).



Heidi just read the sign behind her and is enjoying a giggle. Emily is not sure what is so funny :)

Before the egg hunt started we had donuts and milk. YUM! Hunter joined us right after this photo was taken. He was on High Bunny Alert and therefore we were unable to get him in any photos with the other kids until we were outside.

Here's Hunter!!


All day yesterday and all the way to the Egg Hunt Heidi talked about hugging the bunny. When he finally came around she wasn't so sure but the Bunny just wrapped his arms around her and hugged. When it was over Heidi's face was bright red and she looked like she wanted to cry. Then all of a sudden she decided it was okay and wanted to keep hugging the bunny. She finally realized it was just a really big stuffy!!!!


The kids were getting restless waiting for the Egg Hunt to start. This picture shows exactly how Heidi felt.

On the other hand, Ring-Around-The-Rosy may be a good time killer...


Heidi, Willy, and Emily were willing to take a picture with the bunny. This was Heidi's idea and it seems that Willy and Emily were just along for the ride (that's how it is with these three!!)


This is just an awesome picture of Emily. I just stuck the camera down there and snapped, Jess and I were ecstatic on how well this turned out! But it helps that she is a beautiful little girl with lashes to die for!

Heidi is hunting for her egg here. The were a lot harder this year than any other year. The kids were moved up into the 4 and 5 year old group which made it a lot more fun!

The search is on! Willy is in the front wearing purple and yellow, Heidi is there in her pink jacket, Hunter is in the back on the left holding up his egg and Luke is in the back on the right holding his egg. Luke is the grandson of my parents friends from the Shrine. Luke and Willy are only a few days apart and Heidi is 3 months younger. Heidi and Luke met for the first time when Heidi was 12 days old and Luke was 12 weeks at a Pancake breakfast.

Here is another picture that has no story, it's just really to cute not to post.


I guess this one is to cute not to post also!! Here is Grandpa Gary standing in his parking spot being kind of silly about me wanting to take his picture :)

After the kids found their egg they traded it in for a basket of goodies!

Hunter ate that donut all morning! Here is Pam and Hunter checking out the basket (I think Pam is enjoying the Starburst Jelly Beans!!!)

Heidi was so excited about the Train Bank. Heidi collects banks and this is her first Train!!

After the Egg Hunt the kids were not done having fun so we all headed over to Brunswick Zone in Brooklyn Park for a little bowling. Heidi is getting so big! We helped her the first 2 frames and then were told "Go away and let me do this by myself!!" 6 pound ball for her!

Pam is helping Heidi pick her ball. The 16 lb ball and the 6 lb ball were the same color! Thanks Pam!!!

Hunter and Willy look like they are pros at the bowling alley! Maybe it's time to join a league... :)

Here is Jess cheering on Emily on her first ball - Yeah Emily!!!

Willy liked to shove the ball down the alley. They all did a great job! Heidi beat me in the first game - Heidi 85, Kara 82. Maybe I should use the bumpers... :)

After a much needed quick nap Heidi and I colored Eggs. She did a really good job! She opted to save the Hello Kitty stickers for herself instead of putting them on the eggs.

In my attempt to be creative we wrapped a rubber band around one of the eggs to get a tie-died look. It worked so we did it again. When Heidi took the rubber bands off the second egg it fell on the floor. She sure was surprised that it cracked but didn't spill out. I opened it up for her and she was thrilled to see that the egg was cooked and wanted to try it. She ate it up and in this picture she is eating another one. Yum!!
If Santa comes down the chimney then it makes sense to put the cookies by the fireplace. But how does the bunny get in? Well, the back door of course! Heidi was worried that the dogs would not let the bunny in the house. I told her I thought it would be okay since he would just come in the back door, drop off her basket, and leave. She is okay with that (for this year at least, wait until she realizes we lock the door at night...)

She wanted to leave carrots for the bunny. We don't have a "Carrots for Easter Bunny" plate so we agreed the "Cookies for Santa" plate would have to do.

We put the Stuffy Easter Bunny by the plate so the Real Easter Bunny would know the carrots are for him. Heidi said that he needed to have 5 carrots. I asked why and she said "because 6 is too many." Okay, that sounds good!

It was a busy day but we had so much fun! Tomorrow is another Egg Hunt. This one is hosted by Jess and Ryan. They have done it for the last 3 years and it's always a good time. Then dinner at Dad and Terri's with Justin and Dawn. I am so excited!!

Happy Easter, Passover, or Nice Spring Weekend everyone!!!

Spring Break Part 2 - Our adventures with Pam and Pat

While on vacation in Mesa we were able to spend time with Pam and Pat. We had so much fun with them we are really hoping to vacation with them again next year.

Here are Heidi and Pam - new BFF's - laying by the pool. Heidi is waiting for the clock to hit 11 so she can jump in.

Grandma, Frank, and Pat went out with friends on Sunday night so we were on our own. Pam suggested Organ Stop Pizza. This place was so cool. They have the largest Wurlitzer Theater Organ in the world! It has nearly 6000 pipes, numerous percussion, and countless traps.

Here is a picture of the organ from where we sat. We picked up a few post cards because we could not get great photos from where we were.

Here is another shot, close up of the pipes (kind of)

During some songs these cats would come out and dance. They were a riot!

If this week had a general theme it would have been games. Heidi carried a deck of cards around with her everywhere and was always asking "will you play a game with me?"

We took this picture 3 times and Heidi is making a silly face in all of them. So I picked the one where I looked the best!! :)

We took a trip to Arizona for Spring Break this year. This is Shawn and Heidi in the Airport.




Here I am with Heidi.  I don't know what is wrong with this picture!

Heidi is the safety queen. Heidi's quote would be "Safety First!!" Ever since she was little she would not let the car move unless she and everyone else was buckled up. If she was on a toy that had a strap on it she would not play until the strap was fastened.

It's no wonder that everytime we get on an airplane she promptly reads the safety manual!




Inspired by the commercial where the dad brings the stuffed Monkey on his business trip and sends home pictures to his little girl, Heidi's Grandma Terri sent this Moose with us.

Heidi named him Moosey and we took pictures of him all over Mesa.

Welcome to the Kuykendall Family Website!!!

Welcome to the Kuykendall Family Website!!!

After Shawn and I were married I had the bright idea to move to the other side of town. We rented an apartment in Burnsville for 11 months and promptly returned to the North Side as soon as we could. Who knows what I was thinking but obviously I was trying to distance myself.

After we left the apartment we moved to North Minneapolis where we were 6 blocks from Shawn’s family and less than 1 mile from my family. Shortly after living there Justin moved in with us and everyone was now on the right side of the river again.

In 2006 we must have thought that 6 blocks and less than 1 mile were still to far so we moved to our current house in Brooklyn Center. Now we are 1 block from Shawn’s family and 15 blocks from mine. And I am happy!!!

However, now its other peoples turn to move. And we have extended family who are not within walking or biking distance.

You all know that I am not good at calling people on a regular basis (I think the phone is a necessary evil!) and I am pretty bad at emailing in a timely manor as well. This has lead me to believe that it would be a good idea to start a website. (Note that I will not call this “My Blog” in respect for the fact Shawn thinks Blogs are lame).

My plan is to post funny stories, pictures, and other things to help keep everyone up to date on our lives. This may, to some, look like a great step towards efficacy and organization on my part but I really think it just shows how lazy I really am :)

Enjoy!!!

Kara

My little Baconator

Heidi loves bacon. She could eat it for every meal if I would let her.

A few weeks ago Heidi, Shannon, Shawn, and I went to Hardee’s for lunch. At Hardee’s it is a challenge to not get a sandwich with bacon on it. Heidi learned this at a young age and promptly demanded everyone’s bacon on arrival of the meal.

While in Arizona having dinner with Grandma and Frank, Heidi took control of Grandma’s bacon very quickly. Luckily Grandma was more than willing to hand it over.

Now, on to this morning’s story.

On occasion I will splurge and buy Heidi the pre-cooked bacon from Oscar Mayer. When I do this I am careful not to let her know it is in the house until I am prepared to allow her to eat bacon for the next 6 meals.

This morning I was packing her lunch while she watched Curious George on TPTKids. I wasn’t sure what to pack and spent my entire time getting myself showered and dressed thinking of what to make her when I remembered the bacon.

I decided to make her a ham and provolone sandwich with mayo and bacon.

My mistake was offering her bacon for breakfast as well. Now she had the taste for bacon which unleashed the baconator within.

Here is a narration of the rest of our morning together.

Me: Heidi, would you like anything else with your bacon? Like cereal or toast?

Heidi: No, more bacon would be good.

Me: No, Heidi. 4 pieces is enough. If you are still hungry I will make you some toast.

Heidi: No, I am full. Did you put bacon in my lunch?

Me: Yes. (I made it a rule a few months ago not to tell her what I pack to avoid the next set of circumstances)

Heidi: Is it just bacon or did you put it on something?

Me: I put it on a sandwich (I will only break my rule if my other choice is to lie)

Heidi: I will take that sandwich apart! I only want the bacon!!

Me: That’s fine but you are bringing the sandwich to school.

Heidi: No! I will take that sandwich apart, RIGHT NOW!

Me: You most certainly will not. (Since she rarely leaves George in the middle of an episode I assume this conversation is over and leave the room. I need to pack her dance clothes before we leave and we are running short on time.)

I return to the kitchen, passing thru the living room and don’t even notice she is not on the couch. I enter the kitchen and she is standing there with her sandwich pulled apart on the top of her Tupperware container. The lunch box is still in the dining room, bacon safely in the bottom part of the Tupperware in her lunch box.

Me: Heidi! What are you doing?!

Heidi: WHAAAAAAAA!!!

I realize she is about to feed the sandwich to the dogs so that she can take the bacon to school without the sandwich. She figures if she can get ride of the sandwich and return the Tupperware to her lunch box before I get to the kitchen I will not know that she only had bacon for lunch.

Now I have caught her and she doesn’t know what to do.

Me: Heidi! You cannot feed your sandwich to the dogs and only have bacon for lunch!

Heidi: If I take the sandwich, they will make me eat it before I can have my bacon!

Me: (Trying very hard not to laugh) You need to have more than bacon, this is not okay (suppressed laughter), you need to go sit on the couch while I put this sandwich back together.

In the end I agreed to cut the crust off, making a much smaller sandwich, the bacon was placed outside of the sandwich so she could eat it plain, and the dogs got a lot of crust and ham. I think everyone was happy.