The Zeikle Family

"...But My Soul and Spirit Are Well."

2010-01-05T11:03:00.003-06:00

So, I've never really used this blog for posting my thoughts. I (rarely) post pictures and stories for out-of-town family and friends to see. But I'm needing to write about some thoughts today.
Ten months ago, my dad was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma. For his two children, this seemed so frightening and worrysome. But he and my mom handled the diagnosis and coming treatments with ease and comfort. They displayed little concern, and I worried that they were either putting on a brave face for us, or just not really understanding the gravity of the diagnosis.
I was glad he was pursuing some great treatment options, as well as dealing with all of this in a way that honors God. John Piper's Don't Waste Your Cancer was helpful to us.
His treatment is progressing well, but we really have no idea what the future holds. He did several rounds of chemo over the summer and that went pretty smoothly. The month of December 2009 was spent at UCLA Medical Center where he underwent an autologous bone marrow transplant and INTENSE chemotherapy. He left the hospital on Dec 28, to stay at Tiverton House, a nearby convalescent-type facility. Yesteray, January 4, he was given the go-ahead to return home and resume his normal activities. He'll leave tomorrow (1/6) to do that. What a praise that all has gone so well! He was very sick for a couple of weeks, but He has kept faith that God is in control of it all. Even spending Christmas Day in the hospital, feeling nauseated, couldn't dampen their spirits.
And now, the good check-up meant that yesterday was a day that should have been filled with joy. However, it was also the day my mom received the results of her biopsy done last week. After 2 abnormal mammograms, the biopsy was ordered, and her cancer was detected.
I can't help but cry out to the Lord. This isn't how it was supposed to go. One cancer at a time, God! And yet, I know that I must trust! My mom told me the news this morning. I missed her call last night, so I called her on her way to work this morning. She said, "My body may be falling apart, but my soul and spirit are well."
I am stunned by my lack of faith. I may think that I trust God for the details of life, but how quickly I doubt His plan. I am focused on the temporal and not on the eternal. I worry over not being there to help my parents, but they are living daily with The Helper inside of them. We are not left alone by our Savior, and in that I take comfort today - for myself and for my two cancer-stricken parents.

Our Little Schoolgirl!

2009-09-08T17:34:00.004-05:00

Alison couldn't have been more anxious to start school! So, it's just a 2-day a week Pre-K class, but for Ali, it's the much-anticipated SCHOOL!
She posed for me with her princess backpack and new dress, courtesy of Grandma T! Then Luke and I dropped her off, where she eagerly sat down next to her good friend, Kendall, and got right to work on her peg board.

An interesting note - she began creating a pattern with her pegs. That was so Caleb-like - it surprised me. I would have expected her to be random (I mean artistic)!

She had a good first day, but took a spill during Movement Class (PE), and hurt her knee. On the way home, I asked her if she liked Preschool. She said, "Not very much." HA! She spent the afternoon telling me everything about it that she liked.

By the way, she recently told me she can't wait to be a teenager because "you can do whatever you want." *sigh*

Faith Like a Child

2009-07-24T21:20:00.004-05:00

So, I needed to record this conversation before I forgot it, and I thought it was worth sharing. Tonight, Caleb got a scrape on his arm that was bothering him. At dinner, he asked, "Why does God have us get hurt and have pain? I mean, I know we won't be hurt in heaven. But, why do we have to have pain?" Okay, my typical answer would be "Hmm... I don't know, sweetie. Maybe we can ask God about that." (You know, in the partially distracted-this question is too big for the moment sort of way.)

But, God's grace prevailed upon me and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to ponder with my child about God's role in our lives. I started talking about how we can't really understand all of God's purposes in sin and pain, but that if we didn't experience pain and sadness, we wouldn't truly be able to experience God's joy and pleasure. (I was thinking this is probably too much for my 6 1/2 year old, but it was worth the attempt.) He listened intently and then jumped in, "Yeah, and if there wasn't pain and cuts, Jesus couldn't have died on the cross for us." I agreed and then we went on to talk about how when we experience pain, it can remind us of the pain that Jesus suffered on our behalf.

So - the next time I stub my toe, it ought to remind me of the most precious gift God has granted to me. Hope it does the same for you!

Father's Day

2009-06-22T09:45:00.002-05:00

We were so glad to celebrate this special day with Dad!

Caleb says:
I love my dad because... he helps me, he plays with me.
My dad teaches me... how to play video games.
What my dad likes to do with me: play exbox and play games.
Silly things about my dad: he makes silly faces.

Alison says:
I love my dad because... he takes me to dance.
My dad teaches me... to obey God.
What my dad likes to do with me: go to the pool with me.
Silly things about my dad: nothing. :)

We Love You, Daddy!

Caleb's FIRST M&Ms

2009-06-21T22:25:00.003-05:00

Caleb experienced another food ingestion challenge last week. (We've already challenged his body with eggs and been completely successful! So eggs are now fully acceptable in his diet.)
This challenge was for peanuts! When the nurse brought in this whopping spoonful of peanut butter, I almost panicked. But then she dipped in the tongue depressor and pulled out a tiny bite, and I felt much better.

We did small bites like this every 10-20 minutes for almost an hour and a 1/2. The team closely monitored Caleb's responses. Within a couple of minutes of eating each bite, Caleb said his tongue was itchy and his throat felt funny, like it was tight. Not an extreme reaction, and they weren't too worried. We still don't want to have him eat peanut products, but we found out that he would be totally fine eating items that "may contain traces..." or that are "processed in a plant that also processes peanuts..."
SO MANY MORE FOOD OPTIONS! Yay!
And we'll repeat the test in a few weeks to see if peanut butter might even be okay.

As you can see, the process didn't seem to bother Caleb. He brought a book and was so engrossed, it was hard to interrupt him long enough to see how he felt every few minutes.

The result of a great test was a small bag of mini M&Ms for an after-dinner treat! Can you believe that's his first bag of M&Ms? What a deprived child!

I even love how he carefully sorted them before enjoying every last little bite!

Caleb, we're glad to know that so many more foods are now safe for you! We're proud of how you've handled having to say "no" to many foods over the past 5 years, and pray that God will use that experience to remind you to be grateful for all that you are given, and to have compassion toward others in challenging circumstances.

Lorikeets, and Elephants, and Lions, Oh My!

2009-06-12T14:48:00.004-05:00

The fact that we went to the zoo isn't really that exciting. We are FOTZ members, so we go pretty often. But, this time, we went with Grandma Z, Aunt Sarah, and cousins Andrew & Kadi. We got some sweet pics of the kids together. Sadly, I only got blurry pictures of Grandma & the kids feeding the lorikeets. That was hilarious! Grandma wasn't holding any of the nectar (or whatever is in the little cup), but the birds LOVED her anyway! At one point, she had 3 of them on her shoulders and neck. The kids did not like the birds landing on them and all spilled their nectar, then made a quick exit. Oh well. We'll chalk that up to "a good experience."

We got to see the elephants up close. And right when we got there, we got to watch one of the elephants paint a picture. The zookeeper is holding up her creation.

Caleb was so helpful pushing Kadi's stroller at the end of the day. And earlier, walking with Andrew - aren't the boys adorable? Caleb tried to help keep Andrew from jumping in the puddles. :) Andrew loved the lion. He kept showing his mom and giving his sweet little "roar."

And here's a priceless moment between Luke & Ali. This picture alone made me want to post some pictures of our fun day.

Summertime = Baseball Games

2009-05-21T15:12:00.002-05:00

Our Saturdays are busy with watching Caleb & the Bombers play ball! He's getting pretty good - and starting to really love it! The only problem is that the fields are up on a hill and it always seems to be cold and windy. Luke cuddled up with Grandpa to try to stay warm. Can you spot him in there?

She's Gone Country

2009-05-21T14:55:00.003-05:00

We headed out to "the country" last weekend for Tony's cousin, Daniel's, high school graduation party. The kids thought it was so cool to be going out where Grandpa grew up, and kept asking if we were "in the country" yet.

So, when you take the city kids out to the country, they love to swing from ropes. Little monkeys!

American Idol Season #20 Preview

2009-04-30T15:44:00.003-05:00

Thank you, BSF!

These Feet are Made for Walking

2009-04-30T15:37:00.002-05:00

Seriously, is there anything you'd rather watch?

They Say It's Your Birthday!

2009-04-30T13:59:00.005-05:00

So, we didn't really go all out for the shindig. I know, you only turn ONE once, but we didn't need it to be BIG to enjoy Luke's special day.

Here's our laid-back Jungle Party:

Breakfast: Monkey Bread (per our birthday tradition). Caleb helped make it this year and Luke kept an eye on it in the oven. :)

Party hats: What better way to annoy a 1-year-old at his own party?

Chocolate Cake: Yes, he's smiling in this picture, but I'm pretty sure that happened by accident. He was not a fan of the singing, candles, cake or 11 pairs of eyes all on him.

Presents: Tolerated; no excitement.

Best Moment of the Day: Luke took his first steps into Aunt Meghan's waiting arms! Perfect!

Ali-isms

2009-03-25T15:27:00.004-05:00

I just adore this girl and the funny way she talks!
My Favorite Words:
"Eemana"
"Bemorrow"
"Boosbush"
"Poi paper"

banana
tomorrow
toothbrush
toilet paper

And she has such the imagination. When she and I were playing house yesterday, she was the mom and I was her 8 year old daughter. She named me Hannah. I asked what my little brother's name was. "Oh, Jorge!" she told me matter-of-factly. Got it? Don't know where she heard the name.

Our 4-year-old Princess

2009-03-25T14:51:00.003-05:00

Our little Ali-Cat, AKA Tornado Ali, provides more fun and laughs than we ever would have thought possible! Life with her is a blast! Her princess party was so fitting for her!

Crawling

2009-03-23T20:59:00.003-05:00

Luke started crawling 2 weeks before this video was taken. He's a pro now, but Grandma & Grandpa T. have never seen him at work.

Food for Luke!

2008-10-28T16:03:00.005-05:00

Uh-uh...

No way...

Hooray! Luke ate his sweet potatoes today! Some of you know how hard we've been working to try to get him on solids. Finally! No spitting, screaming, or pushing the spoon away. Just this happy face.

Brothers

2008-10-22T21:45:00.004-05:00

Seriously, can you tell they are brothers?!? This is one of our all-time favorite pictures of Caleb. He had just dropped his ice cream cone. I truly don't know why Luke was making this face.

One Tooth, Two Teeth...Why aren't booths called "beeth?"

2008-10-22T21:24:00.006-05:00

Grandma T - this one's for you! Do you think Luke looks like Eric in the picture of him in the stroller?

Luke's smile is becoming quite toothy these days! His 2 bottom teeth popped through at the beginning of September.

The Long Story

2008-07-31T21:59:00.003-05:00

So, for my own record and for anyone really dying to know, here's the more complete story. As with the birth of most babies, timing is everything. My due date was April 16, 2008. So, Grandma T was flying in from California to stay for one week. We had to plan so that she wouldn't go home without meeting her new grandbaby. (Wow! I had almost forgotten already that we didn't even know if we were having a boy or a girl. Good thing I didn't wait any longer to write this all down.)
Anyway, we decided she would come April 12-19 with Due Date right in the middle. When April 16 came and went, I was getting anxious. My doctor was willing to schedule an induction for April 17, but I just didn't really want to do it. So, we came to grips with the reality that Grandma might not get to meet our little Zeiklet #3. We went to bed Thursday night (4/17) pretty discouraged. And then...
I woke up to go potty around 1:40 and felt a contraction. Nothing new. But before falling back to sleep, I felt another, and then another. So, I decided to get my stuff all together in case it was real. I got in the tub to relax. I think that was my mistake. After about 10 minutes, I realized they were getting stronger and I needed to wake Tony. I woke him at 2:15 and he got dressed, then went downstairs to do his out-of-office message. He told my mom we were leaving and we took off. I was really uncomfortable on the drive to the hospital (read: in much pain). He dropped me at the ER door and I got the wheelchair in at 3:00.
Why is it that L&D nurses always seem to act like they are talking with an elderly patient complaining of hip pain? Seriously, do they have to ask, "So, do you think you're in labor?" But, I politely answer, "Yes." She has me dress in gown and pee in a cup. I don't remember ever having to do that before. Whatever! She finally checks me around 3:20 and says calmly, "Oh, it's a good thing you came when you did."
Me: So, how far along am I?
Nurse: Hmm, about a 5-6. Do you want an epidural?
Me: Yes, please!
N: Well, we probably should get your bloodwork and IV going then.
Me: OK, can we sense the urgency, now?
They get me to my room and have another nurse come do the bloodwork and IV. I think every IV I've gotten has involved spillage of blood. She leaves and it's just Tony & me in the room. I check the clock (it's a little after 3:30) and think, "OK, I just need to make it until 4:00 and then I'll have the epidural by then. I can do it." But the contractions are coming so strong and back to back. I tell Tony, "I can't do this." I don't think I told him that with either of the other deliveries. And Caleb came with no drugs, no epidural. This time, it just seemed so much more painful. I think now that it's because it was all happening so fast, so intense.
Oh, here's Tony's favorite part: I was squeezing his hand so hard, I cut him with my fingernails. (He actually showed me later that day and had the gall to complain...)
He asked me to squeeze the railing instead. That's about the same time I realized that in coping with the pain, I was actually tensing my body and even pushing. I told Tony, "I'm pushing, I'm pushing. I feel like I need to push." Since there was no one else in the room, he asked, "Should I go get the nurse?" Never wanting to be an inconvenience, I hesitated, but decided "Yes, I think so." He hurriedly brought her in and she said, "Ok, let's just check you." Almost immediately after that she scurried to the doorway and desperately called, "Help! Help!" I think, to no one in particular.
She came back and put her hand back to the delivery region (I think to try to make it stop), and my water burst, and I mean BURST, all over her. Oops, sorry! Oh, the pain was so intense and I kept thinking, "Push slowly so you don't tear." But I just couldn't! That baby needed to get out of my body. I realized the nurse was keeping that from happening with her hand and I told her (not so politely now) to move her hand. She told me that she was trying to keep me from tearing, which might be partially true, but I think she was trying to keep from delivering the baby herself. Well, too bad! One other nurse made it into the room before Luke made his appearance at 3:42 am. But my dear, sweet nurse was the "catcher." (Poor woman was drenched with amniotic fluid and sweat by the time she was done.)
As with Caleb, Tony got to be the one to announce the "It'sa moment." And again, we weren't really surprised. My boy pregnancies were so much the same!
My midwife showed up about 20 minutes after birth. The anesthesiologist was actually pretty quick - he showed up within a couple of minutes of birth, looked at me, and said, "Oh, sorry." No problem; I thought I was going to be in painful labor until about 4:00 when I would have an epidural, but I got it over with before that!
I couldn't have been more happy to finally meet Luke. It was just a bit more excitement-filled than planned. We then had to deal with my blood-pressure being too high for the next couple of days, but all is well now. Praise God for a healthy little boy!

Welcome, Baby Luke

2008-07-31T21:20:00.005-05:00

So, I don't think there's anywhere else to start getting back on track. Before his birth, I was too wrapped up in getting ready and enjoying every last moment with the kids to want to post. Then, after birth, well..., duh!, too busy enjoying our newly revised family! So, let me show you the start of Luke's life...

8 lbs, 5 oz - Our biggest baby! That's what you get when they stay in there past due date!

It's a miracle that sweet face isn't more battered. His entrance into the world was rather abrupt! Let's just say that labor is meant to last at least 2 hours, and shouldn't involve a nurse yelling, "Help! Help!"

Don't we look so happy?!?

It's because we are!

Dilemma

2008-07-31T21:12:00.002-05:00

So, after a long hiatus from the blogging world, how does one return...?
(As my dear SIL mentioned to me, anyone reading our blog would think we have 2 children, and not the 3 we actually have. Yes, he's 3 months old already and I am long-overdue in writing about it.)
So, do I pretend there is nothing strange about leaving no posts in several months?
Do I post-date all new posts and pretend they were posted in a timely fashion? (I do like this option.)
Or, can I just move on?
Well, maybe a combination. See, I don't want to feel guilty for not keeping it up. I mean, it's not a big deal. But, since I'm not a dutiful scrapbooker, this is one way for me to keep small reminders of what is going on in our lives. So, better to re-create a bit of that now.
Like a long-neglected diary, my blog will accept whatever tokens I'm about to toss at it. And maybe some beloved family and friends will enjoy some new (new-ish) info and pics too!

Easter Joys

2008-03-24T20:50:00.003-05:00

We so enjoyed our Easter day! Just a little too cold here... I guess this is what Easter Egg hunts in the midwest are like - with the kids in their coats. They had fun anyway!

Decorating eggs was so great! The kids were really proud of their creations.

Happy Birthday, Alison!

2008-03-21T20:29:00.000-05:00

We decided to visit one of Ali's favorite places for her birthday - the ZOO! Because of Spring Break, most of our KC area family were able to join us. Sadly, the weather was a bit more cold and windy than we expected. However, we did get to see lots of our favorite animals up close!

Back at home, she so enjoyed her ice cream cake! Caleb got to decorate it with candy letters, which he loved. And we'll all enjoy her in her pretty new clothes to wear this spring and summer. Thanks to all who were a part of this special day!

Snow Buddies!

2008-02-10T20:43:00.000-06:00

We are so thankful that even when Mommy's not up to it, we have a couple of wonderful Aunts who take us out to play in the snow!

How irresistable are we!?!

Aunt Meghan is 27!

2008-01-28T21:50:00.000-06:00

Wow! Our young Aunt Meghan is getting old! We are so glad to have her living near us!

Alison: 2020 Gymnastics Gold Medalist

2008-01-19T22:09:00.000-06:00

Ali had a blast taking this class at A Flip Zone. She loves the Bear Crawl across the bars and jumping along the AirTrack. Not pictured is her very favorite activity: backwards rolls. She'll definitely win gold in that category!

(Least favorite are walking the high balance beam and hanging from the high bar.)

My Little Chefs

2008-01-07T20:58:00.000-06:00

For Christmas, Grandma & Grandpa Z gave us a Keebler "Paint Your Own Animals" Cookie Kit. The kids LOVED mixing the dough, cutting out the animals, baking, frosting and especially painting the cookies!

Have you ever seen such a beautiful rainbow-striped zebra? Or such colorful elephants?

Sweet Ali Outside

2007-11-16T12:55:00.000-06:00

What is it about the fall weather that makes our kids look so sweet? We've all had so much fun playing in our leaves this year.

Work can be Fun...

2007-11-05T12:28:00.000-06:00

Wow! I don't think I realized how much hard work it could be to rake leaves! Thankfully, we had some great helpers! Ali loved putting the leaves in the bag, and Caleb was the official leaf crusher. We all had a blast working together (and playing). But, boy, were we sore the next day!

Ali-Cat and Colonel Caleb

2007-10-31T20:02:00.000-05:00

Just fun pictures of our two costumed cuties!

Pretty hard to spot Caleb next to that bush with all that camouflage, huh? And Ali was pretty proud of the tail.

A big thanks goes out to Aunt Meghan for the silly face that Alison is so good at doing now!

The Long-Overdue Post

2007-10-31T19:56:00.000-05:00

So, for the few people out there who have commented on the lack of anything new on the blog, I apologize. I know, I'm only hurting myself. Because, truly, who really would still be checking a blog that didn't post anything new in over 3 months? BUT, let me tell you what I have been busy doing in the last 3 months...
Growing a Zeiklet! Due date: April 16, 2008.

Talkin' about God

2007-07-24T23:23:00.000-05:00

One of the greatest blessings of being a parent is getting to talk with our kids about the things of God. Hearing them talk about God is another of those blessings!

In a recent conversation with Grandpa Zeikle, Caleb told Grandpa that he wasn't having a very good day.
"Why not?" asked Grandpa.
"Well, I didn't make very good choices."
"Sometimes grown-ups don't make good choices either. Caleb, why do you think that we don't make good choices?"
"Cause we're not like God."
Wow! We were so challenged by his confident answer, so full of truth.

Thank you, Lord, for giving Caleb a desire to know Your truth!

A couple of recent questions Caleb has asked me are:
"Do you think Jesus tells jokes?"
"Will we have scars in heaven?" (We were talking about Thomas wanting to see the scars in Jesus' hands.)

So, what do you think about Caleb's questions?

Zeikle Family - Next Generation

2007-05-27T21:57:00.000-05:00

So, we had all 6 of the Zeikle great-grandkids together and had to try a picture. At least they're all there... :)
Caleb, Leif, Alison, Clayton, Alexia and Andrew had fun getting to know each other.
Any more for next year?

Royals Game!

2007-05-27T21:29:00.000-05:00

Caleb loved the "Rotten Candy" (that's what he calls it!); sitting in his blue seat; talking with Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Seth & Aunt Sarah; and cheering for his baseball team; but NOT the fireworks at the end of the game. No, the Royals did not win, but we didn't have high expectations.

Best Buddies!

2007-05-25T23:44:00.000-05:00

Aren't they sweet?!? I just love watching Caleb & Sophie play together. Here, they were watching a Veggie Tales together. When they got a little scared, they just huddled close together.

Strangers!

2007-05-24T23:19:00.000-05:00

Oh, dear! I seem to have lost my children! They were just here, but now I have these two strangers in the house...

Crown Center

2007-05-16T23:01:00.000-05:00

My friend, Cheryl, took us to Crown Center for lunch. We had so much fun at Fritz's. Our food was brought to us by a train that goes around the top of the restaurant. You can see Caleb's conductor's hat. After lunch, we played outside for awhile by the fountains.

I love spring here in KC!

By the way, can you tell that Ali loved posing for pictures? She loves this hat and kept posing for the camera while we were outside.

Wow! The Zoo has Bugs!

2007-04-30T22:44:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I know we go to the zoo a lot and I always post pictures. BUT, I just cracked up at the one with the three kids examining the bugs on the ground. Sure, we take them to the zoo to see all the animals, and all they care about are the bugs!?!

Also, Alison was thrilled to have her friend Kaylin come with us. Caleb enjoyed acting as big brother to the little girls.

New Hat

2007-04-28T22:37:00.000-05:00

Ali loves her new hat - can you tell?

Kite Day

2007-04-21T22:28:00.000-05:00

Ali was so sweet on our day out. She looked adorable and we loved watching her enjoy the sights!

Kite Day

2007-04-21T21:58:00.000-05:00

Ever have one of those days that just couldn't be more perfect? We went to a Kite Show at the community college, and the weather was warm and windy. The kids got to make their own little kites, and they LOVED it!

Great-Grannies Seawell

2007-04-12T21:42:00.000-05:00

The Zeikle women took the kids and made a road trip to Indiana to visit the Great-Grannies. Everyone behaved well, and the visit went smoothly.

Family Pics

2007-04-08T21:23:00.000-05:00

Aren't we lovely?

Caleb got to sing in church for Easter, and then we all had lunch over at Grandma & Grandpa Zeikle's house. It was great having Aunt Meghan in town!

Egg Hunt

2007-04-08T21:06:00.000-05:00

Look what we found!

We Love Easter Eggs!

2007-04-07T20:53:00.000-05:00

It's a bit messy, but we had a blast!

The Little Mommy

2007-03-31T22:48:00.000-05:00

Andrew fits just right in Ali's doll stroller. She doesn't like pushing it now if he's not in it! She is really starting to talk more now. She mimics so much of what we say and do. She and Caleb often sing to Andrew.

Zoo Fun!

2007-03-30T22:18:00.000-05:00

We had a great time at the zoo with the Bledsoes and Broadys. Caleb & Ben roared so loud they woke up the leopard! Sam & Ali were just chillin' while we watched the sea lion show.

!Fiesta!

2007-03-26T22:06:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Ali's 2nd birthday with a fiesta. Taco salad is one of her favorite foods, so it seemed appropriate. She had a great day!

Oh, and we're showing that Ali is "two."

Dress-up Box

2007-03-20T21:57:00.000-05:00

I try to keep the dress-up box stocked with lots of fun stuff. The other day, the kids came running out of Caleb's room, calling for me. They were so proud of themselves! A bunny/ballerina/mommy and a football player/clown/basketball player - aren't they sweet?!?

So Demure!

2007-03-20T21:50:00.000-05:00

I just love when Ali sits like this with her ankles crossed. It looks so sweet!

I can't believe she's almost 2 years old already! She is such an entertaining kid. I love how quickly she can go from a frown to a giggle and how she is eager to show her joy! Life is a party for Ali!

Little Leprechauns

2007-03-17T21:43:00.000-05:00

We LOVE our weekly library story time! Every Wednesday morning, we get to go listen to a few books being read, sing a song or two, watch a short movie, and make a craft. At Christmastime, we even got to spend one whole morning hearing the true story of Christmas. Once a month, we even get a great puppet show! Our librarians are fabulous! The kids love the projects we make every time. The best part - it's all FREE!

Big Girl Haircut

2007-03-16T21:35:00.000-05:00

Alison got her first official haircut, just days before her second birthday. (I trimmed a small part of her hair in the back a few months ago.) She was such a good client! And she's now convinced that she looks like a movie star!

Caleb & Ali Love Andrew

2007-03-12T21:17:00.000-05:00

Ali's little mothering instincts are in full swing. She adores her little cousin. We got to watch him for the whole weekend, and I'm sure the kids don't want to give him back! He is such a sweet boy, and he is really starting to respond to us.

My Big 3-0!

2007-02-16T21:03:00.000-06:00

What a great day! Tony gave me a day of pampering and play. I can't wait to see what the rest of this decade has in store!

Sledding

2007-01-28T22:31:00.000-06:00

So, we just have a slight incline from the front yard to the back, but it works for now! Caleb wasn't sure he wanted to try it, but ended up loving it. He went down by himself over and over. Ali learned how to say, "Whee!" very quickly. We can't wait for another good snowfall!

Snow Play!

2007-01-28T10:22:00.000-06:00

We had a ball playing in the snow and building our first big snowman at this house! Isn't he wonderful?

Alison Loves Her Aunt Sarah

2007-01-20T19:31:00.000-06:00

Aren't they sweet?!?

Tornado Ali

2007-01-20T16:36:00.000-06:00

Can you believe this sweet pig-tailed girl is the one we call "Tornado Ali?" How can one little girl look so sweet and yet the roller coaster moods...?

Seriously, we love the new pigtails! Don't you?

Ali the Gymnast!

2007-01-17T21:22:00.000-06:00

Her newest feat - hanging from the oven bar! Do all kids think of these things? She is such a little tumbler. She's been somersaulting for months and now she's such a climber, always wanting to try something new.

Singing with Grandma

2007-01-14T21:13:00.000-06:00

The kids love spending time at Grandma and Grandpa's house. A favorite activity with Grandma is looking through her music teaching books and singing those songs with her - often with hand motions. We are truly blessed to have their involvement in our lives!

Ali's Newest Love!

2007-01-12T20:58:00.000-06:00

Sadly, Caleb & Alison have never gotten to sample the famous Zeikle Family Peanut Butter Chocolate Drops! So, Caleb & I made soy-nut butter chocolate drops this year. As you can see, Ali was a HUGE fan!

California Adventure: Part 3 ~ Cars!

2007-01-10T16:56:00.000-06:00

Grandpa figured out when & where we could find two of the cast members from Cars. Caleb was thrilled to meet Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater. By the end of the day, everyone was worn out, but happy. Ali slept in the stroller and Caleb was all tuckered out on Daddy's shoulders.

California Adventure: Part 2

2007-01-10T16:28:00.000-06:00

Another fun day! With just one short day in California Adventure, we tried to hit a bit of everything. The kids just love hanging out and playing, of course. They did some surfing and pretending to be firemen. Michelle was willing to risk the height of the ferris wheel, until we got to the top! Caleb seemed the least phased at being able to see for miles. Mommy & Daddy got to try out the California Screamin roller coaster. Maybe next time for the kids...

California Adventure: Part 1 ~ A Bug's Life

2007-01-10T15:54:00.000-06:00

We started our morning at California Adventure with a trip to the Bug's Life area. Perfect for toddlers! We all loved the rides there and the fact that we didn't have to wait in any lines! A great start to our day...

Disneyland: Part 5 ~ Exploring the Park

2007-01-10T15:24:00.000-06:00

We spent the rest of the day exploring all the rest of the park. Caleb was excited to ride the train, so we tried two. We went on the train all around the park and also the circus train, where Caleb, Kathleen and Grandma were caged animals! The Jungle Boat cruise is a necessity, with so many animals to spot! Alison had a chance to meet Captain Jack Sparrow, and he gave her a string of prized gold beads.
We ended the day with Autopia, where both kids had a blast taking the wheel. A great first experience of the Happiest Place on Earth!

Disneyland: Part 4 ~ Toon Town Fun!

2007-01-10T14:52:00.000-06:00

Definitely our favorite area in Disneyland! We spent most of the morning hangin' out in Toon Town. The kids had a blast with all the hands on play.

Disneyland: Part 3 ~ Ali meets Goofy

2007-01-10T14:29:00.000-06:00

Thinking he was a doggy, Ali couldn't wait to meet Goofy. She stared at him in fascination as we waited for her turn to meet him. (Caleb knew he didn't want any part of that. He doesn't like characters in costume.)
But, when her turn finally came, the pictures tell the story of her disappointment and fear.

Disneyland: Part 2 ~ "It's A Small World"

2007-01-10T13:43:00.000-06:00

Wide-eyed wonderment! The kids were on optical overload, but it was a definite favorite. A great way to start the day!

Disneyland: Part 1 ~ Getting Started!

2007-01-10T12:28:00.000-06:00

Seriously - the tram ride into the park was our first "ride." Kids thought it was great! Ali loves her big cousin, Kathleen. Then, it was on to explore the Magic Kingdom. Through Sleeping Beauty's castle, to search out a "Small World."

Flying to California 12/30

2007-01-10T11:55:00.000-06:00

We had to get the kids up pretty early for this flight, but they both did great! Ali thought the landing was especially fun. She giggled with delight!

End of Year Update

2006-12-26T18:30:00.000-06:00

Okay, for those of you who check this blog on any sort of regular basis – you’ll probably know that I haven’t posted anything new since Thanksgiving. I’ve wanted to, but the follow-through just wasn’t there. I fudged the dates on the last few posts I added, so they seem more time-appropriate. Now, in the after-Christmas lull, I'm able to write and ponder some real thoughts. So check the last few posts, too.
This last month has been a bit of a roller coaster for us. Thanksgiving weekend, we found out we were pregnant, but then soon began dealing with some complications. After several blood draws and 3 ultrasounds, our doctors have determined that I have a blighted ovum, which means that there is no baby developing. This is the cause for roughly 50% of miscarriages. We are saddened by this news and will be dealing with the loss of this pregnancy. We thank those of you who have known and encouraged us. We look forward to the opportunity to share some joyful news with you sometime in 2007!
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)

The Joy of Giving

2006-12-26T18:19:00.000-06:00

How precious this stage of life is! Tony asked me on Christmas Eve if I was looking forward to watching the kids open presents in the morning. Cynical me said, "Oh, yes, the greed and materialism will be so fun to watch!" He was, of course, disappointed in my response, as was I. He told me how he was looking forward to seeing them enjoy the good gifts that we, their parents, are able to provide for them. What a picture of how God sees us. He doesn't give me blessings with a cynical heart - "Oh, but she won't appreciate them. She'll just forget about it quickly. She'll wish she had more." Instead, he pours out gifts bountifully, with joy in seeing me receive. Yes, I ought to use those gifts for Him and for others, and show Him the gratitude He deserves. And, hopefully, I'm teaching my children the same lessons about giving and receiving (from God and from others). I just realize how much the Lord delights in my joyful responses to Him, as we delight in these 2 precious smiles!

Christmas Eve Cuties

2006-12-26T16:59:00.000-06:00

We've all bit a bit under the weather, but I had to get some Christmas outfit pictures. There's little Miss Claus and a mischievous little elf.

Christmas Lights at the Plaza

2006-12-19T16:48:00.000-06:00

While Aunt Meghan was in town, we took the opportunity to go down to the Plaza and enjoy the beautiful lights on all the buildings. Kansas City really is a pretty place! (I know that sounds strange - but it's true!) Maybe next year we'll talk Daddy into a horse-drawn-carriage ride!

Caleb's Christmas Program

2006-12-15T16:39:00.000-06:00

Okay - I wish I were smart enough to be able to put sound recordings on our blog. There are several sounds I'd love to share: Ali saying "peese" (please), "Oh-doo" (Andrew), Ali giggling when tickled, but mostly, Caleb singing at his Christmas program. Oh, how we cracked up! The dozen kids sang "Jingle Bells," "Joy to the World," and "Away in a Manger." Caleb is so quiet at practice, barely singing and just taking everything in. But, I knew he knew the words because he sang them at home. Right before the performance, his teacher encouraged them to sing loudly for their parents to hear. Caleb took her instructions to heart and basically yelled "Joy to the World," holding every note longer than everyone. As soon as the song was over, he leaned toward where I was sitting and declared in a stage whisper, "Mom, I sang that louder than anybody!" In fact, he said it twice, grinning and nodding vigorously, just in case I hadn't heard him the first time. Love these moments!

Getting Ready for Christmas!

2006-12-14T16:18:00.000-06:00

Caleb says that our house is getting ready for Christmas. He and Ali loved getting the tree decorated. I even took him to our neighborhood Santa visit. Sweet boy that he is, he told Santa that he already got his Christmas wish - a Christmas tree! Santa looked at me like, "What?" My heart melted. Caleb has not yet picked up on the whole "gimme" attitude that Christmas often brings. He is such a content and laid-back boy - so much like his father!
We've started going through a nativity book - setting up one piece of the nativity scene every day until Christmas. At library story time, our librarian told the kids the true story of Christmas. (I was pleasantly surprised that they would do that at the public library.) Anyway, Caleb was the only child answering her questions about the story of Jesus' birth. His questions continually challenge me - like, "How old is Jesus?" (Since he knows we're celebrating Jesus' birth...) And Ali loves reading these two little board books we have called "Mary's Story" and "Joseph's Story." We're so glad that they'll know the truth about what makes this time of year so special - and it's not a silly reindeer or jolly man!

SNOW DAY!!!

2006-12-06T16:00:00.000-06:00

November 30 - Our first Midwest snowfall! Well, technically, it snowed the day we moved in this past February, but it didn't stick, so I say it doesn't count! But this was Ali's first snow experience, since Seattle didn't get any snow last winter. And Caleb was just barely 2 last time he got to play in the snow - so his excitement level was "Super-high!" We got all bundled and played for just a few minutes that first day. It was really cold, and Ali refused to keep her mittens on ("Mom, how can I play with those things on my hands!?!"). So, she started crying from cold fingers pretty quickly. But, we had more fun the next couple days. Now that it's melted, Caleb wants to know if spring is coming. I've had to tell him that it's not actually even winter yet. He informed me that it only snows in winter and the snow melts in spring. Too many educational books! :)

Thanksgiving Day

2006-11-28T15:23:00.000-06:00

Here are some sweet pics from Thanksgiving Day. We tried HARD to get a good family shot. No luck! But how can I not love these shots of the kids!?
Anyway, we had much to be thankful for this year - God has truly blessed us beyond our understanding. Tony's job has provided many opportunities for him and our family. The kids are healthy, loving, and fun! We are all growing in our love for the Savior. Tony and I especially love how Caleb is beginning to grasp a few spiritual concepts, and sings along with us to worship music at home and in the car. We were recently singing a praise song, "There is no God like Jehovah." He asked us who Jehovah was and Tony told him that's another name for God. He said, "Oh, like LORD." Exactly! But, we had a harder time explaining, "Let the glory of the Lord rise among us, Let the praises of the King rise among us, Let it rise..." Our take was that everything we do should be overshadowed by our Lord and King - that He be glorified and praised before anything else. Wow! If our family could exemplify that in our lives, what an amazing grace that would be.

Cousin Love

2006-11-26T16:37:00.000-06:00

Caleb and Ali are thrilled by their new cousin. Caleb must have held him for 20 minutes Thanksgiving afternoon. Caleb is quick to wash his hands, just to sit quietly with his sleeping cousin. He says, "I'll teach my baby to play when he gets bigger." And Ali even sat still for 5 minutes with Uncle Seth to hold him. She calls him "Ah-Doo." These relationships are so sweet.

New Cousin - Andrew Micheal Bledsoe!

2006-11-26T16:27:00.000-06:00

Born on Caleb's Birthday! Caleb is a prophet - we just didn't know it. He had been saying for a couple of weeks that his cousin would be born on his birthday (10 days before his due date). 6 lbs, 13 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. He looks great - and his parents couldn't be happier!

Caleb's 4th Birthday Party!

2006-11-26T15:58:00.000-06:00

We had a party for Caleb on Sat, Nov 18. Friends Sophie, Jack, Drew, and Quinten came. It was a fishing theme, so we ate fish-shaped grilled cheese sandwiches, goldfish crackers and blue-green jello. The kids played in the aquarium ball pit, made foam ocean scenes, "played pin the fin on the fish," and fished for frogs in a bucket with their nets. The fish cake was a hit, and we all had a great time!

Can't Wait For The New Cousin!

2006-11-11T21:42:00.000-06:00

Aren't they sweet? Caleb can't wait to meet his new boy cousin. Ali will be thrilled; she just doesn't know it yet.

Fall Fun!

2006-11-11T21:22:00.000-06:00

We have had a blast playing in the leaves this fall! Check the pile of leaves closely...you may see a pair of shoes peeking out.

I'm A True Missourian Now!

2006-11-10T10:38:00.000-06:00

Deer + Minivan + 65 miles per hour = Disaster!Sooo...we had a little adventure! We were driving down Interstate 470 at 2:45pm yesterday when a deer bounded across the median and directly into my windshield. What kind of crazy place is this where I'm living? Kids and I (Kirsten) were in the car and thankfully uninjured.
God is so good! The police officer on the scene was shocked that the deer hadn't gone through the windshield. The Lord saved us from a potentially fatal accident and I have just minor scratches on my arms. The glass shattered all over the front of the car, but the kids didn't get a single cut! Two DOT workers saw it happen and came over to help me right away. They were so helpful, as was the police officer! He did scold me for not carrying a hunting license (ha, ha!), but was very kind. Uncle Seth came and helped us get home, since the van needed to be towed. Not sure yet about the damages to the van. We'll see about that. We just wanted to praise the Lord for His faithfulness and loving protection of our family!

Costumed Cuties!

2006-11-03T08:41:00.000-06:00

We are proud to debut Caleb, the Super Scarecrow and Ali, the Lovely Ladybug, along with Sophie, the Darling Doctor. The kids had a great time saying "Ticker Treat!" and getting candy. Ali caught on to the idea very quickly! "Sure, I'll take some candy from your bowl and put it into my bag!"

Chiefs vs Seahawks 10/29/06

2006-11-03T07:59:00.000-06:00

The thrill of victory!!! What a game! We had such a fun time at Arrowhead Stadium. We tailgated like pros and enjoyed every moment of the game. Chiefs won 35-28. Whew! A little too close for comfort at the end.

Family Shower and Grandpa's 60th Birthday!

2006-11-01T08:48:00.000-06:00

Whew! What a big day! On Oct 28, we celebrated Grandpa Zeikle's 60th birthday, and then had a shower for Uncle Seth & Aunt Sarah's baby boy. We all had a great time, but Aunt Meghan was missed by all!

Holy Carp!!

2006-10-17T13:11:00.000-05:00

On October 2, we went down to the dock at Blue Springs Lake with our friend, Linda Morgan. Wow! That is a crazy experience! The fish just waited with open mouths for the bread we threw to them. Then, there was this insane feeding frenzy, where they were all piling on top of each other, even above water, to get to the bread. Caleb thought it was fabulous! No pictures of Ali - she was less than thrilled! :)

Family Picture

2006-10-10T22:23:00.000-05:00

This July, we spent a week in Gatlinburg, Tennessee with the whole Zeikle family. This picture was taken on the deck of our cabin, overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains. The view was fabulous! We enjoyed the week away with the whole family.

Day at Deanna Rose - cont.

2006-10-09T23:25:00.000-05:00

Ali's favorite part of the day, by far, was the slide. She loves to slide, but usually needs help. She learned to conquer this one and was able to climb up and slide down a dozen times. You can't help loving that joy-filled face!

Day at Deanna Rose Farmstead

2006-10-09T22:32:00.000-05:00

Sept 27: This was our second visit to the farmstead. We LOVE it!
Caleb was so brave to feed the goats! (Last time, he completely refused.) Although she professes a love for animals, Alison learned she was not ready to be within 2 feet of a live goat. She did, however, find her groove on the playground. The pretend pony was much more in her realm. Caleb also spent some time talking to ol' Bessie: "How Now Brown Cow!"