Happy 30th Birthday Lynn!

Ye Olde Lynn

Happy Birthday to Ye Olde Lynn

We can't believe she's 30, it sort of makes my head spin

Even though we are miles and miles apart,

You should know that you are close in our hearts

We hope you celebrate all week long,

Maybe even karaoke a tune or a song!

We miss you so much, words can't even say...

We just hope you enjoy every minute of your birthday!

Love you Lynn!

A Mariah Carey Christmas

I'm sitting at my desk listening to a Christmas station that I created on Pandora, and "Oh Holy Night" came on by Mariah Carey. It makes me think of all the times we blared that CD through the house when we decorated for Christmas growing up! Especially when we would sing as high as our voices would go during the line "Oooooh Night Deviiiiiiine".

LT - we miss you tons, especially this time of year! Love you!

Grandma Taylor

I snapped this one of Mom & Bella at the Indy Thanksgiving. You look so proud Mom! You're an amazing Grandma!

We love you (and Bella)!

Happy Thanksgiving from Okinawa!

Hello Family!

I just wanted to share a few pictures from our week with Mom and Dad. We have had so much fun and have more planned in the week to come. But I want you all to know that we miss you so much and wish we could celebrate this holiday together. I hope that each of you had a wonderful Turkey Day with in-laws, friends, and each other. Know that we were and continue to think about you guys.

I am very thankful for you!!

Mike deep fried another turkey and it was GOOD!

I am thankful for good food and a loving husband.

This was Mom and Dad's first Thanksgiving dinner shared outside!!

It was chilly when the wind was blowing, but not too bad!

I am thankful for great weather and time spent with friends.

First sushi dinner in Japan.

Mom had fun with her chopsticks... I mean, she almost threw them across the room!

I am thankful for the opportunity to make new memories with them!

They were our biggest fans at the Turkey Bowl

44th vs 67th

powder puff and flag football

I am thankful for the chance to be active and for the support of my parents.

Mom and I got our toes done.

I am thankful for time spent relaxing, bonding, and pampering.

We have been hiking.

I am thankful for time spent sharing beautiful views with my family

We went to a botanical garden.

I am thankful for the opportunity to watch Mom take 125634 pictures of the things she loves!

Like flowers!

We watched the sunset.

I am thankful for you all!!

Thankful

I thought this would be the right time to reflect on all that I am thankful for. God has blessed me with so many wonderful things in my life, and Thanskgiving is a time that I try to reflect on what those things are. I have a wonderful job, a lot of good friends, a fun and close knit family, an amazing and supportive husband, and am expecting my first child! Life is pretty dang good.

These are some of the things I am most grateful for!

Tiny Critser (TC) - due Jan 24th

My husband, Paul

My family - we are truly lucky. We miss you, Lynn & Mike!

Funny Memory

I thought of you guys today!!!

I was cleaning the house in prep for Mom and Dad's visit. The TV was on just for some background noise. Before I knew it I was reciting the lines of the movie without seeing the screen!! This is what made me snap out of it and run into the family room to watch: "Are you wearin' a black bra? I love black underwea's." Just thought all you girls would appreciate this!! Oh what a classic!! We only watched this one 144 times!! Makes me miss you!

Monumental Marathon

Last weekend was the Monumental Marathon here in Indy. I was on PR (pregnant reserve) and didn't run, but several of our family members did... Paul and Kevin ran the full and Laura and Katie ran the half marathon. It was a cold, crisp morning, but we had a great time cheering for you guys and are so proud of your accomplishments!

Laura & Katie at mile 3 - still feeling good with lots of energy!

Kevin at mile 3 - looking good!


Paul at mile 10 - all smiles now!

Paul at mile 26 - only .2 left and he is ready to be done!

After the race he was so chilled we had to find him whatever warm, dry clothes we could!


I am so proud of you guys! I hope you don't get too annoyed listening to my high pitched non-scream from the sidelines and having my big camera lens in your face, but I enjoyed it! Love you all!!

New Family Members

This past Sunday, Me and Mike, Julie and Paul, and Laura, Kevin and Bella walked over to the park near our house. I wanted to take some pictures of Julie and Paul with the bun in the oven. The weather was nice, and the leaves this time of year are so pretty!

Julie is absolutely glowing, and so is Paul. I hope I was able to capture that a little! :) I was also able to snap a few of the newest little Koke, Bella. She is so precious.

It is so fun to see our family grow. I am glad we all have each other (even if it is from Japan) as we experience life changes! Love you all!

- Auntie Katie

Belly Progression

So, because this is the first week of my third trimester, I decided it would be fun to take a look back at the photos of my belly's progression thus far. It is crazy to me how fast this pregnancy has gone so far and just how much my body has changed. I am loving every step of the way, and already feel so bonded to this little boy that is in my belly... hope you guys enjoy!!

16 weeks 4 days

18 weeks 3 days

19 weeks 4 days

22 weeks 3 days

26 weeks 2 days

This is one of my favorites... it was also at 26 weeks 2 days.

Today I am 27 weeks and 3 days and I feel like I am growning bigger by the day... I feel Tiny moving in there all the time now, and it makes me so excited for the day when I finally get to meet him and cuddle with him in my arms!! :-)

Bella

Meet Bella Koke!!

Paul and I got to stop by and visit Laura and Kevin last weekend on the first night they brought home their newest family member - their puppy, Bella! She is oh-so-adorable, and it is obvious that both Laura and Kevin are quite smitten with her... Kokes - Thanks for letting us visit with your new little gal. She is awesome!

In loving memory...

Of Our Gramps

I am a little late on this... but I just needed to write a little something to commemorate Gramps in my own way.

Gramps taught me to fish and to golf, neither of which I am any good at but not for a lack of trying on his part. Gramps taught me who's the boss: "Lynn says Gramps is the Boss!" "I'm Gramps and I'm the boss!" Gramps showed me how to start a camp fire and how to enjoy a hammock on a hot summers day. He taught me how to row a boat and how to tell a true Irish tale.

I will really miss Gramps. I will miss his guttural laugh; the way he could completely express his enjoyment or approval with a few hearty "Ha ha ha"'s that came from somewhere between his belly and his heart. I will miss the way he would suck his teeth when he was thinking.

I will miss his swishy walk: jacket slung over one shoulder, other hand on hip, and sashes across the room. I will miss the way he could come up with a nickname for any waitress, nurse, or sales associate within 30 seconds of meeting her.

I will miss the way he and Marion would talk back and forth together. They would have made a better sitcom than Lucy and Ricky. You could see how much they love each other and how much fun they have together.

I will miss the way he would put his hand on my shoulder and give me a two second deep tissue message followed by a few pats on the back before telling me how much he loved me.

I love you too, Gramps. I will miss you!!

Grand Rapids Marathon

He's all ready to go!

This is Kevin at Mile 4!

If you look closely, you can see Kevin's blue head band in this picture :) This is around mile 17.5 :)

Kevin finished the Grand Rapids Marathon 143rd out of 1,654 finishers! He finished 26.2 miles in 3:14:33 just three minutes and some change short of his goal! I couldn't be more proud of his hard work, dedication, and motivation that he has had to work toward his goal to make it to Boston! I know without a doubt that he will do it, and I will be there when he does!

Turn the volume down, I am cheering pretty loudly in this video! This is Kevin at Mile 9!

Reds Game!

Kevin, Jason, Kiley and I went to the only home Reds playoff game! It didn't turn out the way we wanted, but it was still a blast!
This is us three hours prior to game time... yes we were really excited! We caught three balls at "bp" which I later found out is code for batting practice :)

Kevin and J's balls they get at "bp"...

In our seats and ready for the game!

Kiley and Jason waving their rally towels!

Rally Caps didn't seem to do the trick...

Us before the game! Mike, we wanted to post these for you as well! I know you are taking the loss as bad as Kevin!