missing my kids

I stumbled on to this saying today "we worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that they are someone today". Take a little extra time to read an extra story or play trains one more time. Tanner would hold up his little finger to me and say un mo. He only did that for like a week. His vocabulary and speech have grown up overnight. I know he's only 31/2 but, where is my baby boy?
Cherstin

Back to flying I go...

Wow did that time ever go by fast. 6 months off sounds like a lot until its over and then all of a sudden I'm packing my bag trying to get ready to go. Okay, I know that I only had to go for 4 days and now I'm off all month until new years eve however it still isn't something that I get used to or look forward to. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do. I love being on the plane meeting all sorts of strange, I mean unique, no I mean strange, people. Leaving the kids and Kiffen is the part I hate. Kiffen and Tanner went to deliver an airplane in Arizona, so Korah Grace went to Utah to get spoiled by Grandma and Paw Paw and all the aunts, uncles and cousins. I do believe she did pretty well. It was harder at nights from what I have been told. I had a good trip. I flew with a wonderful crew, our flights were uneventful, and on time. I am sure that I drove my crew crazy with T and K stories but, they were very patient and pretended that they were really interested. When I finished my Recurrent training we got out too late for me to get a flight to Little Rock. Kiffen and Tanner were spending the night there and I was planning on flying there to pick up Tanner and take him with me to pick up Korah Grace. Now I have to decide do I catch the non-stop to SLC or do I go halfway to LIT, spend the night in STL and then finish going to LIT in the morning to pu Tanner, then say hello to Kiffen for about 5 min jump back on the plane and fly to SLC. On my way to the SLC flight to see if it was full I passed a delayed flt to Dallas, ran and asked the gate agent if I could possibly make the LIT flight in DAL. "Right now you miss it by 5 min" she tells me. Close enough. I jump on the plane as they are closing the door, introduce myself to the crew while quickly asking the pilots to call ahead and find out gates and flt info for me in DAL(a courtesy they do for us when non-revving). I sit in the closest seat to the front of the plane and squeeze in the empty middle seat the pax's are trying to hide with their coats and carry-ons that they never should of carried on. Right before we land the pilots called and let me know that my next flt was leaving 10 min after we land. Score!!! I am going to make it. I call Kiffen let him know I'll be there in an hour and run. Why did I do all this? In the morning Tanner and I will be flying out together to SLC to pick up Korah Grace. While we are there we are kicking off the holiday season with my mom's side of the families annual Christmas party. This means tons of cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and a special visitor who only comes and visits at this time of year. So yeah, that's why I did all this.
Cherstin

my Paw Paw

Okay, so this is what Tanner calls my dad. Paw Paw. He just couldn't quite say grandpa, so for him it has stuck. What does he call my mom? Grandma. Kiffen's parents are Ne Ne and De De. I still haven't figured that one out but that's what he named them. Okay so back to Paw Paw. The other day while we were driving to town out of the blue tanner says

"momma, my Paw Paw not old."
"no he's not, why."
"that boy's Paw Paw old."
"which boy"
"my friend on t.v. his Paw Paw old, my Paw Paw not old."

That was it, just another random thought of a 3 1/2 year old. Goodness this boy makes me laugh and nope Tanner your Paw Paw's definitely not old.

Chersty

halloween

We had an absolutely wonderful Halloween this year. The weather was perfect. Perfectly fall like. I think the kids had a lot of fun. Tanner really figured out the candy part of it this year, and Korah Grace just liked to smile and be outside since the weather was so perfect. This is the Halloween party at the library. That's Korah Grace sitting on miss Amber's lap.

All of the kids at the party, except for Tanner. He was too busy playing with the games and other activities they had for the kids.

He had taken his costume off since it was so bulky. He could hardly move in it, the poor kid.

We decided to make cake balls for our neighbors(thanks bakerella). Tanner was such a good helper. I think he liked it, what do you think?

Oh, goodness that does look yummy!!!


The city put on a trunk or treat at the local park. Did I mention we had been having perfect weather? Tanner really did have a costume. Korah Grace's shirt said "mommies little pumpkin". Thanks Jenny.


We couldn't of planned for nicer weather.

Tanner was actually explaining to her how to drive this. He told her, "Korah Grace when you get big, you get to ride this all by yourself".

Tanner loves fire trucks, just like most little boys do. Whenever we see one he turns on his "siren". One day while we were driving, one passed us. Since he didn't "turn on his siren" I tried to prompt him:

me: "Tanner, what does a fire truck do?"
him: "They get kitties out of trees down."

Oh yes, of course.


See, I told you that Tanner had a costume. Halloween was actually over when I realized that I didn't have any pics of him actually wearing it. He did wear it while Trick or Treating though. He wanted to be a robot. Occasionally he would add something else in but, always went back to a robot. I did have the legs for him as well but, for these pics I was lucky to get the costume on him.

These pics are on our swing next to the creek.

The weather had been so perfect this year. Did I mention that?

Chersty

can I borrow the car?

These two pictures really speak for themselves. Tanner was way too excited that Korah Grace could ride in the Jeep with him. So excited that he actually let her "drive".

That's Lucy there on the Left. She's still just a puppy.
Chersty

Korah Grace's first food

Korah Grace had her 4 month Dr. appt. this week and the Doctor told us that we could start feeding her rice and introducing her to new foods. When I was telling Kiffen all of this I obviously forgot who her older brother is because if you look closely right above her mouth you will see her first new food compliments of Tanner. He was definitely listening when I was talking about what the dr. said.

When I asked him about it he answered back "but, mommy it's our favowhat!" as if Korah Grace already knows. She did seem to enjoy it though, and yes her first food was spaghetti o's!!!

Tanner sure does enjoy a big bowl of the healthy stuff!!! And hey who knows maybe he'll always want to share with her. Yeah, right.
Chersty

my birthday-woo hoo!!!

This week Jenny and all the kids were in town visiting, so Kiffen thought it would be nice to set up a hay ride for us all to go on. I tell you what it couldn't of been a more perfect evening to do it on. The weather was cool. I should clarify and say a KY cool, not the crisp mountain air cool, but cool none the less. The moon was out, and oh yeah, it was my birthday. What could of been better that that! Kiffen pulled us all over the farm and strip, then we went across to the neighbors and then across the creek and over to grandma and grandpa's property. Did I mention the the trees have just started turning? Absolutely beautiful!After it was too dark outside to play any longer, we finally talked the kids into coming into the house. Of course a BRIBERY, I mean BIRTHDAY cake never hurts. mmmm chocolate!!!The next morning, I woke up to the newest member of our family. Kiffen went and rescued this horse for me from somewhere in Tennessee. The former owners couldn't afford to feed him any more and he is starving....Hopefully we'll be able to get him bulked back up and healthy again. THANKS KIFFEN!! Also thanks again Jenny for the cake and all the gifts from the kids. The kids and Jen gave me the willow tree sculpture "Angel of mine". It is a mom holding a brand new baby. Since I collect willow tree and I just had a baby it was perfect. I love you all.
chersty