5/52

a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014, and a thoughtful response from each...

What do you like most about your best friend?

Kaden: We are both on the same Basketball team and Football team (DB)

Kylie: She's Funny (RB)

Bonus: Kollin: We have a lot in Common (HC)

Bald Eagles and High Fives

Saturday morning, we woke up early (for a Saturday), picked up my brother (after Keane dealt with what should have been a simple task of changing a light bulb in the vehicle but turned into a nightmare after a hard-to-reach bolt had Loctite holding it together which would piss anyone off trying to change a simple light bulb), found a breakfast buffet that Keane and I had visited five years before, enjoyed breakfast, and then made our way to Clarksville to see (they averaged 220) bald eagles.


Now, it was cold and the wind was fierce, so we stood outside a tiny bit, but enjoyed watching the eagles from inside the vehicle the most.  Missouri has the second most bald eagles during the winter months, second to Alaska.  The eagles love coming to Missouri's rivers because the rivers up north are quite frozen.  They are such beautiful creatures.  We sat and froze through a live showing of a bald eagle (that's where I learned some of the aforementioned details about eagles, as well as the fact that they weigh 8 to 9 pounds, and their feathers weigh more than their carcass).


We made a deal - the first person to see a deer gets candy (Kaden, Keane, and I all saw and said "deer" at the same time but Kaden won), first person to see a turkey gets a soda (no turkeys were seen), and the first person to see a bald eagle gets a high five (I got a high five).  And then Kaden said a horse - but Keane said then that the first person to see a horse gets grounded...


It was a fun time.  We then bought everyone soda and candy to prevent naps on the way home, and road tripped back.

Cheers on a Friday Night

On Friday, Kylie cheered at the halftime of the high school boys' basketball game.  A small thing to be thankful for, but it was so nice for Kylie to give us something fun to do on a Friday night.  We didn't have time to go home before the game, so I French braided her hair (thanks Momma, for teaching me that one) in the car and used mousse to tame her wild hair because I thought I grabbed hair spray. 


It was fun to see her on the basketball court and watch her dance with her little hips and proudly yell her cheers.  I don't think that she'll do a whole lot of cheering as she grows up (she'd rather play basketball than anything else, she said), so I really enjoy every moment she spends cheering now.

4/32

a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014, and a thoughtful response from each...

What's the best thing about being a kid? 

Kaden: playing Sports

Kylie: having Fun with my family, not living in my own house, and not being old enough to be in boooorrrring work

And I Have Her Middle Name

Thirty-three years ago, on this very day, a beautiful woman left this earthly place we call "home." 


She was my dad's sister.  Exactly two weeks prior, my grandfather passed away.  And fourteen short days later, a 27-year-old Rhonda, not feeling well, laid down to take a nap, when a cluster of white blood cells hit her heart.  She never woke up.  She left a husband, two young sons, and a family that loved her more than their words and any amount of tears could ever express.


And I have her middle name.  I hold it close to my heart.  I never met my Aunt Rhonda, but I've heard story after story about her.  The photos that were captured are held dear to those who own them. 


I have been told that I resemble her, in both looks and personality.  My dad always saw a piece of his sister in his daughter, and I think that's something special.

The saying holds true: Only the good die young.  Rhonda had a sweet, sweet laughter.  She found humor in a lot of things, great and small.  She was very smart, and she was a dedicated wife, mother, and employee.  I wish I had my own stories of her to tell, but I take pride in possibly having some of her traits.



Wedding Planning - Beginning Decisions

Wedding Planning has hit me with a ton of nerves.  I thought that all the pre-planning I've done my whole life would have prepared me a little bit more, but I feel a little nervous about all the things I need to do and decide on before my Big Day gets here -- but I cannot wait!

The first thing everyone asks about is a date.  So a date is the first thing that needs to be decided on.  I knew we needed a summer wedding for the location that we have chosen (see below).  May is busy with graduations, June 14 is the day before Father's Day, and June 21 is two days before my sister's birthday.  July gets really hot, and August is busy with school starting back up.  I was thinking June 7 and Keane likes June 28.  I liked June 7 because I like the numbers: 06/07/14.  Keane preferred June 28, because our dating anniversary is August 28 and it would keep the same date.  I like that idea, and I also like the thought of having three more weeks of planning and preparing. 

Date: June 28, 2014


In the past, I asked Keane where he would like to get married and he said, "I don't know...the lake?"  His family has built a lake behind our house, and after a lot of thinking, considering, and reconsidering, I agree that the lake is the ideal spot for us to get married, and I couldn't be more excited about it.


Location: Brooks' Lake


An officiate: We plan to ask my cousin, Jeff, who is a preacher and has officiated weddings before, to marry us.  I think it will be so very special to have my own family member perform our wedding ceremony.


Officiate: Cousin, Jeff


My color choices are a little...sporadic.  I want greys, blushes, and neutral colors.  I don't want to stress about whether all the colors match.  I just want them to be pretty together.  I want my bridesmaids' dresses to be mismatched and each a different color.  I want Keane and the men in the wedding party to wear light gray pants, white shirts, and possibly a tie.


Colors: greys, blush, neutral colors


I am working on a song list.  The songs for the wedding party and for me to walk up the aisle to, the song I want my cousin to sing during the ceremony, the recessional song, our first dance song, and the father/daughter dance songs are some of the first to choose.


Procession Song: Marry Me (piano version) by Train or Ben Folds's The Luckiest
Wedding March Song: Trace Bundy's Pachelbel's Canon
Ceremony Song: My Love Will Never Fail You by Marie Hines
Recession Song options: Shape of Us - Ian Britt (this is still to be decided on -- we need something more upbeat but I love this song)
First Dance Song: This Year's Love by David Gray
Father/Daughter Dance options: When You Need Me - Bruce Springsteen, Daughter - Loudon Wainwright, Walk With You - Edwin McCain
Pre-Ceremony Songs: You & Me - Dave Matthews Band, Better Together - Jack Johnson, or A Drop in the Ocean - Ron Pope, A Life That's Good - Lennon & Maisy, Be Mine - David Gray, The One I Love - David Gray, Human Nature - 2Cellos

Lenox-Scape

I hide so you can't find me

Birchbox (Month Two)

I absolutely love my second month of Birchbox!  Of course it's always fun to get a gift box in the mail, and this time it was pink and so pretty!  As soon as I got inside, I went right to opening it (even leaving the frozen pizza on the oven instead of putting it in the oven to bake).

The items could not have been more suited for me.  I received:

1) Dry conditioner (this is a must-have for me!).

2) 3D nail polish (I cannot wait to try this out, especially now since I want to have the perfect nails to go with the perfect ring).

3) Four shades of eye shadow (I'm completely out of all my favorite eye shadow shades currently and I keep trying unused colors in order to not have to buy some more).

4) Burt's Bees Lotion (a. Lotion is my all-time number-one necessary item -- I use it constantly throughout the entire day, b. Burt's Bees products are natural and healthy, and c. This particular kind of lotion smells amazing -- like a mixture of floral, sweet, and clean).

5) Viva La Juicy perfume (I could not stop smelling it, and making Keane smell it, as I wore it on my wrists before bed).

I love my Birchbox!  A Christmas present from my sister that keeps arriving!  And the good news is I still have another one to look forward to!

3/52

a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014, and a thoughtful response from each...

 

If you were an animal, what one would you be and why?

Kaden: a Dog, because I could have a good nose to sniff down deer that leave a blood trail



Kylie: a Pony, because I would have a big mommy and daddy, and I would be small,
and I would have a twin brother or sister

2/52

a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014, and a thoughtful response from each...

 

If you could keep only one thing, out of everything you have, what would it be?



Kaden: my Bow



Kylie: Smartie
(her white teddy bear from Grandma that makes wishes)

Birchbox (Month One)

My first month's Birchbox came in the mail shortly after Christmas -- and I couldn't wait to see what was inside!!  This month I received:

1) Fingernail polish that I love (and what I was wearing in all of my proposal photos).

2) Perfume that I cannot stop wearing or smelling -- and that I will probably purchase when I am out of my sample.  It's Hello by Harvey Prince.

3) Leave-in-Conditioner which smells amazing and has been wonderful on my hair!

4) Shimmer lotion that I will use seldom in an attempt to savor all of its goodness.

5) Tea (which I have not tried yet but plan to soon).

I was able to login to Birchbox's website and customize my profile to fit my likings and preferences, which was a little tough for me to do, because in a way, I sort of like the surprise of what type of items I will be receiving, and by selecting my preferences, I was afraid I will be limiting my amount of "surprise," but I know that I'll still love my items that are more suited for me, because why wouldn't I?

I can't wait for my next month's Birchbox to arrive!!!

A New Year & Resolutions

Our New Year's Eve was spent at our home, with Keane and I and the kids, along with my mother, my father, and my brother.  I made a spinach dip in a bread bowl, an Oreo dessert, and Keane made lil smokies.  My mom made a cheese ball, cheese dip, and meatballs.  We also had other snacks, beer, wine, champaign, and sparkling grape juice.

We played a game of poker, with Kollin and my dad splitting the winnings. 

And then we counted down until the new year!!  We had noise makers and confetti.  Keane popped the cork (not the question -- that came later on) on the champaign and poured the adults a glass, while the kids grabbed their champaign flutes with juice.  Cheers to 2014 --  a year of double blessing my mom said, since 14 is double the perfect number!  We all gave hugs and kisses, and then we headed outside for fireworks!  Keane lit two boxes of fireworks, but the second one fell over, shooting fireworks over the house, into the field next to us, and across the yard.  We didn't know where the next one was going to go, so besides Mom (who was cold and watching from inside the glass door), we all foolishly stood on the deck with laughter in hopes that we wouldn't get hit with the next firework (which we didn't).

We continued the night by playing a game of Outburst, visiting, and eating some more.  We finally called it a wrap around 2:30 a.m. 

I love a new year.  I love the holiday -- the event.  I love setting resolutions.  This year, my 2014 New Year's Resolutions are:

-Take a photo of the children, once a week, every week -- as inspired by Bluebird Vintage, and ask them a thought-provoking question.

-Blog about stepmotherhood monthly.

-To get married! 

-Stick to my newly created budget.  I itemized all of my spending in 2013.  I know what percentage I spent in each category.  In 2014, I will enforce a budget accordingly.

-To create more items to sell.  Or create a way to make passive income.

 

Happy New Year!

1/52

As inspired by Bleubird Vintage's The 52 Project, I intend to take "a portrait of my children, once a week, every week," in 2014.  Along with a photo, I will ask the kids each a thought-provoking question.

Here goes to this weekly goal in 2014...

What three words best describe you?

Kaden: Nice, Athletic, and Daredevil later changed to Funny

Kylie: Awesome, Smart, and A Good Kid

His Perfect Proposal

 

A moment that I couldn't have even imagined being half as sweet and wonderful as Keane made it, happened on the very first day of 2014. 

January 2nd is Keane's mother's birthday and for quite some time, Keane and I had planned on going to Swiss Meat Company on New Year's Day to pick up some food and treats for his mom (so I thought).  We decided to leave the kids at my parents' while we road tripped our way there.  On our way to Swiss, we went through Hermann.

Let me back up...five years ago, we celebrated our first New Year's Eve and New Year's Day together.  We went out for New Year's Eve, stayed sober, and enjoyed a road trip the following day.  We went to Hermann and took back roads to Keane's college stomping grounds at Linn.  It was a very fun and memorable day for the two of us, and we have talked about it often since.  The bridge over the Missouri River in Hermann was newly renovated in 2009, so Keane and I had walked alongside it on a walking path that day and stood in the middle of the bridge, on the county line between Montgomery and Gasconade Counties.  We carved our initials there that day.

On Wednesday, we talked about our initials and we decided to see if we could find them.  We parked the vehicle and walked hand-in-hand to the center of the same bridge, to the same spot we stood together exactly five years earlier.  We watched the muddy water, we watched Keane's spit make a big splash, and we talked about how pretty everything was.  We looked for our old initials which had either wore off or had been painted over sometime in these past five years.  I told Keane he should carve our initials again. 

Keane said that he thought five years ago I stood in one county, and he stood in the other, so I was going to take a step to be in the other county, but he held my arm and said, "But how about this year we both stand in the same county and I ask you to marry me."  And he got down on one knee, on the bridge over the Missouri River, with cars going by, on a beautiful, fresh January day, and while he said, "Kristina, will you marry me?" I looked in his bright brown eyes and took it all in.  I looked at the box he had opened in his hand with a beautiful diamond ring.  I looked back at him and I told him of course I would!  I hugged him and kissed him (over and over) and put my beautiful new ring on my finger.  It fit perfectly! 

I didn't want the moment to end.  I didn't want to walk off that bridge.  We walked hand-in-hand, as slowly as he would let me walk, back toward our vehicle.  We stopped by a bench and looked at other initials.  We made it back to the car and he opened the door for me.  I told him I didn't want the moment to be over.  I cried.  It was everything I'd hoped it would be, and so so  much more.

I will be honest that I've thought about this moment happening for awhile, and not in a million years could I have imagined just how magical and romantic and special I felt when Keane asked me to marry him.  I am so excited to be his fiancé.  I feel so close to him, and I am so thankful for our love.

The kids knew Keane was going to ask me.  He had told them a few weeks ago.  On Christmas, Kylie asked Keane, "Are you going to give Kristi the ring?"  And Kaden replied for Keane, "No, Kylie, on New Year's."  Keane showed Kaden, Kylie, and Kollin the ring on New Year's Eve, and Kylie told Keane that she was shaking.  When Keane and I dropped the kids off at my parents' house that day, I went to walk them inside.  Kaden and I had already left the vehicle, and before Kylie got out, she said, "Good luck, Daddy!"

Keane and I took back roads home after we left Hermann and I called Keane's mom, my sister, and my cousin. Then we shared the news with my parents, Kollin, and the kids, who were all anxiously awaiting our arrival.  My mom cried when I told the story, and my dad and brother shook Keane's hand, welcoming his "officially" into the family.  (Keane had gotten my dad's blessing beforehand.)  We showed Keane's parents the ring and shared the story.  They were very excited.  They congratulated us and said I'll be a good addition to the family and that Keane has good taste.  I feel so very loved.

Kaden and Kylie were so excited for this moment.  They are so excited they can call me "Mommy."  That's what they were calling me all evening and this morning.  It warms my whole heart -- their excitement and their love.  I told them that I am very excited to be able to be a part of their family -- officially.  Dierks Bentley's song, "I Hold On," was playing on the radio on our way home after picking up the kids, and we all held each other's hands.  Kylie reached up and grabbed mine, and her little hand felt like the world to me. 

My ring is beautiful -- it's as perfect as the whole day was.  It means so much to me -- all of it.  I'm so very excited for this step in our relationship -- the engagement.  To be his fiancé, and for him to be mine.