Happy Birthday Denise!

This weekend the family drove down to Norman to celebrate two festivities (more on the other one later). The first festivity was to honor Steven's mom on her birthday. 22nd birthday Will thought. He called his Nana 22 all weekend. It was pretty funny. Denise's comment was, "forever young, yeah!".

All the siblings pitched in to get Denise a Vintage Pearl necklace for her big day. I had the idea once I got mine at Christmas. Bob and Denise have 9 grandchildren and I wanted to design something that every time she looked at it it could remind her of her children and grandchildren. I found a piece big enough to accommodate 9 grandchildren names. That was a fete in itself. What am I going to do when Joey and Lauren decide to have another one or two.....who knows? For now in her life there are only 9:) She loved her necklace and had to wear it immediately. She and I decided to pose wearing both of our necklaces (see top left picture).

Her birthday is also Steven's aunts birthday as well. They are twins you see. Dee and Denise. They finish each others sentences, they laugh alike, they talk alike, they walk alike. It's pretty funny to watch! So...happy birthday both Dee and Denise!

Which brings me to the other reason we were in Norman this weekend. TWINS! Several on Steven's side of
the family. Another two that are special to us are Anderson and Oliver. Our newest nephews that are now 5 months old. They are getting so chubby, vocal, and little personalities. I loved every second of kissing and holding them on Sunday. Momma Rachel made them vests and bow ties for their baby dedication at church. They were the cutest babies in the room (and there were a lot of babies there!)

Oliver is on the left in this picture. He was always doing something funky with his tongue the whole weekend. I see he was also doing it while Steven took my picture. Anderson is on the right. Super chill baby. Allowed everyone to pass him around and just observed everything going on around him the whole time. Never a peep out of him. I love these boys and it was so good to see them get dedicated to God and the church this weekend!

Owen Michael

Owen Michael Kueny. Totally different than his older brother and I am okay with that. It's funny how when you are pregnant you pray things for your child growing inside you. You don't know them yet, they don't really know you, but yet you pray for them in all areas of their lives that will still be determined. What struck me as such a small, trivial prayer in my mind to Jesus for Owen must not have been to my Jesus. One of the main requests I prayed for Owen was that he would be different than Will (in the area of confidence, fear of separation, and fear of strangers). I know this might seem odd to some, but once you have a child that is glued to you, afraid of a lot of situations, won't even allow family to watch him,etc...you begin to realize how much easier it would be and could be if the other child was 100% opposite. That's what I thought. And that's what I prayed. Jesus granted my prayer and gave me an INCREDIBLY NOT SHY and ACTIVE Owen Michael. Not easier in some ways, much much harder sometimes, but worth it because this is what I wanted for this little man. Totally loves strangers, new situations and places, not afraid of anything or anyone, never sad and always happy. Not that Will is sad a lot because he isn't but I could drop Owen off with a pack of homeless, scary looking men and he would have them all laughing and playing with him in a matter of moments and then Owen would cry when I made them leave:)

Owen always has a smile on him. Never wakes up mean or grumpy but rather always grinning and ready to take on the rest of the day. He loves his brother and loves his Daddy. He loves me too but he gravitates towards Daddy more because I guess he realizes already that I am taken up with Will. He has the biggest belly laugh out of a child that I have ever heard. He makes me smile all the time. He is so incredibly friendly to anyone. Never has met a stranger and never has a fear of strangers (this is where the hard part comes in for me). He is such a blessing to me and our family. He completely and totally balances out this family of four. Just the way I prayed and just the way God knew it would work in our family! I love you Owen Michael Kueny!

Will Parker

Will Parker Kueny. So very special to me! Born 5 years ago right after Thanksgiving. I couldn't hardly touch food that holiday as Will was verging on 2 weeks late. I think we were only at 10 days at that point, but who's counting right? I should have known THEN AND THERE that this child would love his Momma more than life and not want to be anywhere away from me. Little has changed in 5 years. He still loves his Momma more than life and is pretty much at or near my feet in every place, house, store, etc.


He looks mostly like Daddy but has my eyes and nose. No one can dispute that fact. Most of the time people comment on how much he looks like a "little Steven". Yes he does, but when it comes down to who does Will want to be around the most...Momma. He loves Steven, don't get me wrong. Daddy and Will (and Owen) enjoy some MAJOR play time and sports around this house all the time. When push comes to shove, Will is sick, or hurt, or scared, or sad...it's me. And I am good with that:)

Brotherly Fun

My boys are so cute. I'm just being honest here although I know as their mother I am completely bias. I do have to say though that we get stopped ALL THE TIME from people to comment on how cute our boys are. I love my boys and I don't mind sharing sometimes how I think they are good looking:) I am sure there will be girls later on in their lives that agree with me. That will take some getting used to from this Momma!

This week at Will's Valentines party Owen walked right into the classroom, set down at the table, began an arts and craft project (that wasn't meant for him), began to eat a snack (again not for him), and snuggled close to brother the whole time. He followed him around and copied every thing that he saw Will doing. That is actually quite opposite of how the brothers normally act. Owen is normally the leader. Will was proud to show Owen how to do everything, where to sit, how to cut, the motions to the song, etc. It was cute to watch them interacting in this new way. Owen is verrryyy ready for a preschool program next fall. He will be 3 and ready to take on the world!!!!!

A Kentucky Wedding

This last weekend Steven and I flew to Kentucky to attend a wedding of a 20+ year friend. It is my best friend Andrea's brother Stuart. I don't have a brother so Stuart was always the one I pestered and bugged and got in the way of. He always wanted to hang out with Andrea and I though and we would have to end up kicking HIM out of HER room! Oh, good times!

Steven and I love to spend time with Andrea and Jeff. Unfortunately, since we live in Oklahoma and they live in Kentucky...that doesn't happen too often. There are not many nights when we can get together and eat out together, talk, and just relax and have fun. Not many days where Andrea can swing by and pick me up and we can go get this done:
Andrea was getting a mani/pedi for the wedding so I had to splurge and get a pedi as well. Normally I only do a french manicure on my toes so I don't have to mess with clashing or matching colors to my toes. Since 99% of the time my toes are covered this time of the year I opted for a special blue. Blue because I knew my Will would go crazy over it. He did too. He loved them and has asked to see my blue toes several times since our arrival back in Oklahoma yesterday!

The wedding went off without a hitch and was very beautiful situated in a rural vineyard in Kentucky's horse country. White strung lights, music, laughter, and wine filled the air. It was a great time had by all. Here are a few snapshots of our time together at the wedding. Note both our husbands in one picture. I had to take the picture to really see if they looked "just like brothers" to me also. If Steven heard it once, he heard it eight times on how much Steven and Jeff looked alike. One of Andrea's relatives even started talking to Steven, calling him Jeff, until he realized Steven wasn't responding (because he doesn't respond to Jeff!) and then he got quite the surprise at his mistake:) Congratulations to Stuart and his new bride, Robyn. Now, I will TRY to not be too jealous since they are in Italy at this exact moment......

Happy Birthday Ava!

Happy 6th birthday Ava! My sweet niece is now 6 years old. Poor Will wants to be 6 so badly now. He wants to be as old as Ava, almost as old as Jared, and to be in Kindergarten. He is growing up quickly!

Monday was Ava's birthday and we all went to Nini's house for a little birthday celebration. Here she is wearing her birthday hat she got at school and her 100 year old glasses from her 100th day of school party. I am not sure why she was wearing those? Always into fashion, I guess!

The cake, made by Angela, was a family favorite and used to be made by my Nanny. So yummy and so very strawberry and so very dangerous. I ate way too much. Owen requested a 2nd piece before Will even ate all of his first. Of course, Owen ate both:)
Next it was time to open presents. Ava got: lots of cute clothes, a Target gift card, and books (those were from me!) I want her to love to read like her Aunt Jackie does, and some type of dog/backpack/makeup thing. It was a TOTAL girl gift and those are pretty foreign to me now so I am not too sure what that thing was:) She will get a ton more stuff on Saturday and her birthday party but since it is a "girls only" party the boys wanted to give her their gifts yesterday.
See...I told you he wants to be 6! Proudly displaying Ava's hat for her! Happy birthday Ava Franco! I love you verrrrrrrryyyyyyy much!

Super Bowl Sunday

So, yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday. I am not even lying when I say that I didn't even know who was playing in the game until about an hour into the game. I kept thinking the Jets, not the Giants. I kept saying the Texans, not the Patriots. I still think I am not too sure about the two competitors. All I know is that the blue team won (I believe the Giants). That was all Will wanted was for the blue team to win. Those of you that know Will, know why!

Before the game we ate some Wings to Go and got all snuggled up to watch the game and funny commercials (which were not funny at all in my opinion). The boys played "football" in my living room off and on the whole time of the game. Well, I should rephrase. Will played football. Owen played basketball. Regardless, there were balls flying around pretty much the whole time unless they needed a drink or rest break. Here is a drink break:


And here is a rest break:


Please do not turn me or Steven into the DHS. The beer was empty (okay, there was one drop left) and before you can reach to throw it away, Little Man comes and grabs it and tries to drink. We don't drink much beer in this house but on the rare occasion when Steven does drink some, Owen seems to think it's Kool Aid. Seriously, has no problems attempting to drink the nasty yellow liquid. I can't seem to stand even the smell of it on Steven's breath. Oh well. Let's hope that doesn't get him into trouble in 19 years from now!

Aunt Kasey came to watch the game with us last night and to spend some times with the boys. She got a picture with the boys on a commercial break and after taking the picture I studied it and realized that both boys have a ball in their hands. Story of this household. Some sport, real or imaginary, is always being played in this house! If you also notice, Will's ball of choice is a football and Owen's is a basketball. So on point!

If you also CARE to notice I dressed Will in what I THOUGHT all day was a New England Patriots shirt. Much to my sadness I realized that it was not a Patriots shirt, but a Houston Texans shirt and that Steven was not even rooting for the Patriots, rather he wanted the Giants to win. I can't win! Never when it comes to NFL football. Could.care.less.

Nothing of that matters though. And as little as I DO NOT enjoy the NFL when I see pictures like this. Two men in my life who do love football and do love the NFL and do sit on the couch the same way to watch their game:)

P.S. If you care to notice (again) the football placement by Will. Right by his side. All night. :) Go Giants...or Patriots....or Texans. Who won again?????