Oh, How The Years Go By...

"Some people come into our lives

and leave footprints on our hearts

and we are never the same..."

I went to the University of Arkansas, planning to join a sorority - actually, I chose the University of Arkansas BECAUSE of the sororities (a little shallow, I know).  I was completely devestated and in total shock when, on bid day my freshman year, all of my plans crumbled.  The sorority I just KNEW I would be in did not offer me a bid.  I immediately started making plans to transfer schools (drastic, I know), but thankfullly, got involved in a campus ministry and plugged-in with some friends that helped me to realize that there was life outside of sororities at the Universtiy of Arkansas.  My sophomore year, I went through rush again, but this time with a very different purpose.  I guess you could say that my mindset going into rush was much more ministry focused.  Funny thing, I ended up getting a bid from a great house, but a house that had the reputation of being one of the "wildest" houses on campus, nonetheless.  

My junior year, I was asked to live in a five-girl room in the house.  I didn't know any of the girls I was going to live with well.  Two were in the pledge class above me, but were my age.  After moving all of our stuff in the first night, we went on a sonic run.  That is where it all started. 

Within two weeks, we were pretty connected at the hip, doing most everything together.  If someone would have told me then that I would meet my do-life-together, go-through-everything-with-you, be-in-eachothers-weddings, raise-our-kids-together, sister-like, best friends in a crazy sorority house, I would have never believed them.  

Here we are, ten years later.  We have lived together, we have hurt eachothers feelings, we have learned to forgive, we have learned that sometimes it's better not to live together, we have laughed 'til we cried, we have cried together, we have watched eachother fall in love, we have walked though breakups and heartbreak together, we have graduated college together, we have moved away from eachother, we have stood next to eachother at all three of our weddings, we have traveled the world together, we have spent many nights on 3-way together, we have helped eachother better understand our husbands, we have waited at the hospital to welcome eachothers babies into the world, we have begun to raise our children together, and we have done most of this at a distance.  I know that friendships like these don't come along often, and I am forever grateful for these girls.  I can't  imagine life my without them.

Fall 2002 - Norman, Oklahoma

Kiplyn & Kasie - Gamma Chis during 2003 Rush

Fall 2002

Kiplyn & Allison - London - Winter 2006

Kiplyn & Kasie - Spring 2004

Senior Cruise - 2004

Kansas City - 2005

Kiplyn & Kasie - Graduation 2004

(Allison did graduate, but didn't walk...she was busy planning her wedding!!!)

Jamaica 2004

London 2006

November 2007

January 2011

This past weekend, Allison, Kiplyn and I (with all 5 of our children under the age of 5) met up in Norman, Oklahoma.  We stayed at Allison's parents' house and took full advantage of the pool in the backyard and all of the meals that were cooked for us by Allison's mom.  We talked when we weren't juggling kids during the day (usually during the 20-30 minute nap overlap) and when we put the kids to bed at night, we changed into our pajamas and sat around the living room visiting.  

Here are some pics from our time in Norman...

The view from the other car on the way to Norman...

All around the breakfast table

Life as we know it...

The typical day...

Bathtime...

completely exhausted...

wiped out...

Amelia running a little TOO fast...

Kiplyn & Cooper

Me & Cale (after all day at the pool)

Allison & Stewart

The whole gang!

(Cooper, Lucy, Cale, Amelia & Stewart)

Wow, have things changed through the years.  It seems like just yesterday we were staying up talking into the early morning hours.  Now, we can barely keep our eyes open past 10pm.  I'm so thankful that through these seasons of life, I've had these girls by my side.  I look forward to all of the future seasons, knowing our friendship will only continue to grow deeper and stronger.  

Thank you, Lord, for friends that are better than I could've ever asked for or imagined!

Who Does Cale Look Like?

I've never been very good at looking at a baby and seeing resemblances of his/her parents.  I thought that, surely, when it came to my own child, I'd be able to tell without a doubt.  I don't know if it's just me or if Cale really does fluctuate, but there are days I swear he is me and other days where he is a mini-me version of Adam - especially with his facial expressions.  When he was born, I thought he was 100% Adam...and then I saw baby pictures of my sister - he definitely resembles the Kreul family.  As he's gotten older, I think he has some of my facial features, but has some Adam in him too.  I thought I would post some baby pictures of me and Adam, along with some of Cale, just so you could compare...

Oh, and do notice, Adam and I were both blondes as babies.  Where does that dark hair come from?  That would be his Aunt Cookie, for sure!

Kasie

Cale

Kasie

Cale

                                                 

Kasie

Kasie

                                     

Cale

Adam

 Cale

 

And if you think he looks like Adam, here are a few pics that give us a glimpse into the future...

So, what is the verdict??

8.16.2011 - Five Months Old

I'm a little late in posting this - we've been out of town this past week, so I'm now playing catch up.  I can't believe it!  Little guy is almost half a year old!

Stats:  Unknown.  

Fortunately, we haven't had any recent doctor's appointments, but that means that, unfortunately, we have no official stats.  I know that Cale is growing and continuing to chunk up...we've had to put lots of clothes away that no longer fit.  That is always a little sad for me - it's the most tangible thing I have to validate that he is indeed growing up.  Because I see him everyday, the changes aren't as drastic for me as they are for those who go weeks in between seeing him.  His precious double chin and thigh rolls are becoming more pronounced every day.  :)

Gotta love that huge grin!

Cale loves to feel different textures.  In fact, as he falls asleep, he usually rubs his crib sheets as a self-soothing technique.  I just love those precious little pudgy hands...when he is feeling something, he gets this very serious look on his face, like he's concentrating...

Everything is still continuing to go into his mouth!  The most recent favorite - his shirt collar.  He is OFFICIALLY teething (he just cut his first tooth - bottom left), I think it feels good to chew on cloth and his collar is conveniently always there when he needs it.  Let's hope this goes away when all of his teeth come in!  One of my biggest pet peeves is older children (ages 5+) who chew on their clothing! :)

We introduced the sippy cup a few weeks ago - for fun - and he completely LOVES it now.  In fact, sometimes he throws a mini tantrum when we take it away.  He holds it really well, but we're  still working on the thumb grip. 

Solid foods are going  well.  He's really caught on and now he likes for us to shovel food in his mouth.  He is now eating squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, peas, apples and peaches.  We tried pears, but I think he broke out with a little rash so we aborted the pear mission.  We'll try again in a few weeks to see if he has an allergy to pears - sure hope not.

The other night, I was feeding Cale some sweet potatoes.  He loves sweet potatoes and couldn't get them in his mouth fast enough.  He was a little tired and is teething - lovely combination.  At one point, he put his fingers in his mouth (typical teething move) and then rubbed his eyes and face.  

This is the end result:

I have to put this picture in here just to document one of my favorite things.  I L.O.V.E. the back of Cale's head full of hair.  I think it's hysterical that he looks like he is balding.  Funny thing is, he's slept on his tummy since he was two weeks old, so I don't know what has made the very back hair fall out.  I also love his hair line across the back of his neck.  His little sprigs of stick-straight hair are precious.

Cale has become attached to some new toys lately.  He loves his jumper!!  We got it as a shower gift (thank you, Carrolls & Davises), but I just pulled it out of the box a few days ago.  He'll spend quite a bit of time in it.  I think he likes being able to stand on the floor in it.

He loves his wooden blocks.  Really, he loves to knock them all over and spread them all over the floor. I'm secretly praying that we'll see early signs of his engineering/building skills in the next few months.

Cale really loves balls...especially the VTech learn and groove ball.  When he pushes the buttons, the ball shakes, rattles, and rolls all over the place.  It has a few tunes too.  Surprisingly, it's not too bad to listen to either.

He loves his little car...well, actually... he loves the green acceleration gear on his car.  Uh oh!  Are we going to be in in trouble when he turns 16??!?

(Please note his right hand clenched and close to his body.  This is Cale's tale-tell sign that he is ready for a nap.  Isn't that funny.  If we're in the car and he's sleepy, he always grabs his car seat harness with his right hand.  Oh, the Cale-isms.)

This next series of pictures gives a perfect glimpse into what everyday life looks like with our active little boy...

And, just so I'll remember, we officially took the plunge and transitioned Cale to a convertible car seat.  He's such a big boy and was busting out of his infant carrier.  He has much more room in his new car seat.  Whenever we go somewhere, he loves to listen to "Hide 'Em In Your Heart" Cd's.  It is a little strange, as I grew up listening to that CD too - it's  a little crazy to be on the parent side! :)