The Blog Drought Has Ended (For Now)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I know, I haven't blogged in forever. We've been so busy with Bubby's B-day, Christmas, and Nammy Jan's visit. It's been a great two weeks and I'm trying to convince Nammy to move here. Enjoy the new pics.

Happy First Birthday, Brady Patrick Knapp!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

To My Sweet Baby Boy

It seems like just yesterday, Daddy and I were barreling through a Level Two Snow Emergency so you could be born. You were so special from the minute you were born. You came out hollering your head off (or singing along to Rudolph the the Red-Nosed Reindeer which was playing on the hospital intercom.) Dr Neuhoff said, "He has huge feet!" "He's gonna be huge!" You haven't disappointed us yet with that! You still have huge feet!

You are such an amazing and wonderful boy! You delight in all things, especially those that get you in trouble. I love how you always have a smile for me and you wake up giggling and calling for "Mama."

I love how laid back you are and you like all people to be happy and have fun. I like how you have a horrible temper when you don't get your way. Your little face squishes up, you put your head back, and howl like a monkey.

I love how you adore your sister and like waking her up in the morning with your sweet kisses.

I love how you are all boy. You grunt, fart, eat, and scratch like a man. You have no shame. I hope that never changes.

I love how beautiful your are. You are the prettiest boy I know. Don't worry, your Daddy's pretty, too. He became a rough and tough Marine. I hope you don't follow in his footsteps, but I'm sure you'll want to.

I am so excited, proud, and lucky to be your Mommy. You are so fun and every day is a new adventure with you. I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

I love you forever and ever and forever after that!

xoxo,

Mommy

Guess Who's Not Afraid of Santa

My Not So Secret Talent

Chef Bubby's Not the Only One Cooking Up Something New

Yup, I'm pregnant. Again. I'm just over six weeks, but I've known for almost four. I knew before the pregnancy test knew. I went to my family doc to double check and get an OB referral. They did two tests and the nurse said, "Well, you killed both my rabbits." I think she was joking, but they might still use rabbits here. Anyway, I got referred to the (I shudder to type it) Naval Hospital. My first appointment is Dec. 29th. It's a group orientation for expectant moms and we all get our first ultrasounds done together. How lovely.

For those that didn't know our news, here are my answers to the most asked questions:

1.) Yes, I've lost my mind.

2.) Yes, Patrick and I know about birth control and use it.

3.) Yes, I know I will have three kids three years old and younger.

4.) Yes, I know I was done with two.

5.) Yes, I know I gave all of my maternity clothes and newborn stuff away.

6.) No, we are not trying to outdo Mandy and Eric.

7.) Yes, I'm getting my tubes tied.

Oh well, babies are always a blessing. I'm due around Aug. 2, so I figure mid July. I'll give an update after my community doctor's appointment.

Going Home

Last week, us crazy Knapps ventured to Ohio for Thanksgiving and to celebrate Brady's 1st (early) Birthday. It was so great to be home, but sad to leave.

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Happy Birthday, Patrick! (a.k.a.) Daddy, Lucky, PVK,Patrice, Santini

To My Dearest Lucky,

These are the top 10 Reasons I love you:
10.) Your sense of humor (you think things are funny even when they aren't)

9.) Your absolute love of Football (you live, breathe, and eat everything football)

8.) Your beautiful eyes (you have the prettiest eyes of any man or woman alive)

7.) The way you like to use big words in the wrong context (i.e. condescending)

6.) You're a shopaholic (I don't need to be)

5.) Our mutual love of processed cheese products

4.) Your dedication to your country

3.) Your dedication to your kids

2.) Your dedication to me

1.) YOU WILL ALWAYS BE OLDER THAN ME!

I love you very much, Happy Birthday!
XOXO,
Your Wife

OH HOW I HATE OHIO STATE!

Football Weekends With Daddy!

Where Did My Little Baby Go?

Tiny Dancer (A Blog By McKenna RaeAnn)

Here I am Waiting with Mommy for "Parent Observation Day" at My Dance School

Here I am Getting Reassurance from My Mommy that I am a Fabulous Dancer

Here's Bubby Looking at all the Pretty Dancers

Here I am Meditating Before My Performance

Here's Bubby Looking Cute and Bored

Here's Daddy Asking Me if I Know how to do the Running Man or Mr. Roboto

Should I Dance?

Let's Rock This Party!

Stairway to Freedom

Last Sunday, McKenna and I made Aunt Amy's Chili. (Yes, I cooked.) Patrick was watching football. Both of us thought Bubby was with the other person. I said, "Where's Bubby?" Patrick said, "I thought he was with you." Obviously, we suck as parents. Anyway, after a frenzied dash, we found him playing upstairs in Sissy's room. He figured out how to climb the stairs. Here's some footage of his new talent. Sorry for the quality; my camera's in sad shape. Yes, we now use the baby gate and Bubby only climbs the stairs with adult supervision.

Congrats Team Chack!

Soon to Be 4!

Mandy and Eric are expecting their second child on June 23rd. That makes two babies under 18 months old. Holy Moly!!!!!!! When I told McKenna the news, she said, "Why?" Mandy's probably saying the same thing. LOL! If anyone can handle it, they can. Congrats! I can't wait to be an auntie again.

The Weirdest Conversation Ever

For those of you that haven't figured it out from my crappy Halloween pics, the flash on my camera has died. Or as my husband told me, "Kim, I think your camera's gone tits up." Nice. We Knapps exude class. Anyway, I called Kodak to see if it's fixable and I had the absolute weirdest conversation.



Kodak Guy: Hello, Thanks for calling Kodak, How may I help you?



Me: Yes, the flash on my camera is not functioning and I was wondering how to fix it?



Kodak Guy: Yes, if you send it into the camera hospital, we probably can resuscitate it, or mail you a coupon for 15% off of a new camera.



Me: (What?! Hospital? resuscitate? A camera? New one?) Sir, I'm sorry but I need to have my camera, there are people counting on my pictures. Plus, I'm poor and can't afford a new one.



Kodak Man: I understand, mam. But our cameras are reasonable and of the highest quality.



Me: Sir, I'm a teacher with two small children. I can't afford a new one.



Kodak Man: Yes, well some people have been able to afford our products by giving up their favorite coffee beverage for a month. Well worth a new camera.



Me:(What!!!!! Give up my favorite coffee beverage?) Sir, I'm a teacher, I need my favorite coffee beverage. Thanks for your help. I'll see what else I can do.



Kodak Man: Thank you. We appreciate your business.



Me: (Yeah, but not enough to let me keep my favorite coffee beverage.)



Help, if anyone knows how to fix the flash on an Easyshare camera, let me know.

Sleeping Beauty Meets the Incredible Hulk

My Brave Girl Getting Candy all by Herself!

Looking for Candy

This is Bubby's Scary Hulk Face

The Pumpkins

Go, Bubby, Go Part 3!

Bubby's Ghosts

My Beautiful Boy

Much to Patrick's horror, Bubby has taken up Arts and Crafts. Miss Lisa had him do a Halloween craft. She traced his feet unto felt and made ghost magnets out of the tracings. They are darling! Holy huge feet!

Where's Your Milk Mustache?

My Southern Belle

Can I Get Some Grits with My Milk?

I have provided a table for your reading enjoyment. This chronicles McKenna's journey into Southern language. These are her new versions of common words.

SOUTHERN WORD

1.)MaKeenah

2.)ageen
3.)tawlet

4.)y'all

5.)Ah Man

NORTHERN TRANSLATION

1.)McKenna

2.)again

3.)toilet

4.)you

5.)Amen

She will forever be scorned upon by Northern English teachers.

We Needed Some Fussin' Over!

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I was going to Blog all about Papa John and Aunt Caro's trip, but the Rosebrock's pictures tell it all! We had a great time! I can't believe they were brave enough to visit us crazy Knapps and experience our insane lives!

Papa John and Aunt Caro- Thank you so much for visiting! We loved spending time with you and all of the dinner treats. Patrick will love how much of his "honey-do" list Papa John knocked off (Note to future visitors: Come with tools and work boots.) We love you both so very much!

xoxo,
Kim, Sissy, and Bubby

New Hobbies

Bubby has two new hobbies. He loves playing with my unused pots and pans. He also has learned how to take his first step. It happened today at Miss Lisa's house and yes, I witnessed it! I walked in her back door to pick him up and he took a step towards me. Too cool! My son is a genius. M walked at 10 months, too. I guess it's because of my husband's ADHD genes. M and B both need to constantly go, go go!

Papa John and Aunt Caro Visit

My daughter is quite the speaker. She speaks her mind and speaks it well. However, she can't say Carol so she says Caro. Too funny. Anyway, My aunt and uncle came to visit this weekend and we had a wonderful time. Unfortunately, this is the only picture I took. I'll blog more about the visit when Aunt Caro e-mails me her pictures. It sure was nice to have someone fuss over us!

Missing Daddy

My Men During Non-Sucky Times

Well folks, being a Military family officially sucks. I don't know what I was thinking, but before I married military; I had glamorized the lifestyle. I guess I pictured happy homecomings and wives sewing flags and cooking gun powder. Unfortunately, I don't sew or cook.

Anyway, for those that don't know, Patrick changed Units last week out of the blue. He will be deploying in the Spring and he's training right now in Virgina. We miss him terribly. Worse then when he went to Iraq. McKenna won't keep saying, "I miss Daddy!" , " I want Daddy!" This is hilarious because they normally butt heads 3/4 of the day. I can already tell that I'm going to spend M's teenage years being the referee.

Oh well, I guess some people have to be military families or we wouldn't have the right to blog.

Make Up

Make Up is Serious Business

Ever the Diva

The Finished Product

McKenna loves doing make up. The more expensive the better. She doesn't want to use her play make up or my my desperation only Cover Girl make up. She'll only use my Clinique or Arbonne. She's actually getting pretty good at it. She only occasionally puts the blue eyeshadow on her cheeks, now. Patrick thinks I'm letting her grow up too quick. Maybe, at least we have fun.



It reminds me of when I was eleven years old and I shaved my legs for the first time. My mom did not know, and when she saw my bloody legs; she flipped! Jeez, Nammy, I just wanted to be like my friend, Shannon Higgins. Anyway, I'm putting my foot down if M wants to shave!

Conflicted Feelings

Grass? Weird Sensation.

OMG! Toledo beat Michigan today! I don't know how to feel; I'm elated for my Alma Mater yet depressed. What has happened to Michigan Football? Bo is probably rolling in his grave. Oh yeah, the pic is just because.

Ah, Memory Lane!

I found this old picture of McKenna in my camera today. It's like looking at the female Bubby.

OMG! SO FUNNY!

My friend Tracy emailed me this video. Make sure to turn up the sound.

New Kicks

Bubby got his first pair off tennis shoes last week. He hates them! He'd rather be barefoot. He's all redneck! Thank you, North Carolina.

Mike's Farm

The Pumpkin Princess

Scarecrows Don't Just Scare Crows

My Men

The Knapps, a.k.a The Tanks

The Pumpkin Patch

Daddy, The Pumpkin Slayer

We had a total blast at Mike's Farm today. It's in Back Swamp, NC. It has a pumpkin patch, tree farm, petting zoo, gift shop, and restaurant. It was so fun. Here's a replay of the events.

1.) We arrived at Mike's Farm shortly after it opened. We loaded up the kids into the double stroller and I pushed it over a huge pile of horse shit. Nice.

2.) We fed and petted a mule. (You have not lived until you've been licked by a mule named Pedro.)

3.) We waited in line for ten minutes to use the only restroom. We discovered that a boy dressed up like a scarecrow weighs the pumpkins.

4.) McKenna decided she is absolutely terrified of scarecrows. (She kept screaming, "Don't let him come here. Tell him I'm shy, Mommy!")

5.) We finally got our turn to use the restroom. Bubby had crapped everywhere. I knew I was going to be awhile, so I let the women behind me take her little boy in with Bubby and I. The little boy freaked out and said, "That Lady's gonna look at my wiener." I tried to convince him that I wouldn't look at his wiener, but he wasn't buying it. So Bubby had his pants changed while the little boy screamed his head off.

6.) We went on a hayride to the pumpkin patch. It was such a cool experience with the kids!McKenna had a blast picking out pumpkins.

7.) Daddy paid for the pumpkins and bought fudge while I took the kids tho the petting zoo.

The zoo had sheep, chickens, rams, goats, a goose, and a peacock. While we were looking at the peacock, the goose honked so loud that it brought Bubby to tears. He now has fear of large birds.

8.) I tried to figure out how to shield my kids from scarecrows and large birds.

9.) We loaded up and went home.

It doesn't get any better than that!