Kael's First Steps!!!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that Kael took his first steps while we were at the hospital. We went to have dinner with Ryan and he took one step and then later he took 3!!!!!!! He just wanted to show off to all the doctors I think.

I talked to Regan on the phone on our way home and she is having a great time with her cousins. They all stayed at the Nelsons tonight so I'm sure Brad and Kristin will be exhausted at work tomorrow. Thanks to everyone back home who has taken Regan in while she was visiting. Kael and I will see you Thursday!

Kari

Happy 1st Birthday Kael!

Happy Birthday Kael! Kael is currently napping (as pictured in the bottom photo) getting ready for an exciting day. Well, not really. We are just hanging out at home and then going to the mall to play at the playland later today. Hopefully tonight we will go to the hospital to have supper with Daddy!
Kael and I are flying back to Sioux Falls tomorrow night. We tried to leave on Sunday night by way of the Tahoe but things changed. About an hour into the trip my tired blew out, I mean really blew out. After getting stopped Kael woke up and was crying and so he made me start crying and I didn't know what to do. Out in the middle of no where, pitch black (9:30pm) with no idea what to do. I called Ryan and he had me call our 24 hr roadside assistance, they weren't sure where I was so they had me call 911 to get police assistance. After over an hour of waiting, the officer finally showed up and tried to figure out how to get our spare out for under the vehicle. Ryan was in route so by the time he showed up, the two of them were able to change the tire. It was kind of funny, the officer was bald with glasses and of course Ryan is bald and was wearing his glasses. Two bald men trying to change a tire, funny! Anyway, it was about 12:30 or 1:00 before we got back to Denver. Never will I try that again. It was a good thought but after that experience it isn't worth it!
So we are flying and we will stay for a while and get a flight back sometime at the end of the month. Regan is with Ryan's parents now and will go to the Parker fair this week so she is excited about that. I don't think she really misses us but we sure do miss her. I will update more photos when we get back. I will check my e-mail often so please write, we love to get new messages to see how everyone is doing.

Kari

We have been very busy since I last posted. We took a mini-vacation to the Royal Gorge which was awesome! We spent a day at Buckskin Joe's and road a miniature train out to view the Royal Gorge. Regan sat by herself in her own seat but I was right behind her making sure she didn't make any quick moves and fall out. The next day we took a real train on a two hour trip through the Gorge and under the bridge. We saw many rafters on the Arkansas River and it looked like so much fun. I have some friends coming in September and we are going to White water raft so I am really excited after seeing it!

On our way home we stopped in Colorado Springs to see the Garden of the Gods and Seven Falls. I will try to post some pictures of the weekend so you can see what I am talking about. Colorado is absolutely beautiful and I know the pictures won't do it justice.

My parents arrived on Tuesday night and we went to the zoo on Wednesday. It was very hot so we only stayed a couple of hours. Thursday we took a trip to Golden and toured the Coors Brewery. On our way back I drove them through the Red Rocks but we were unable to see the ampitheatre because there was a Toby Keith concert that night. Friday we went to Chuck E. Cheese so we could show Grandpa and Grandma Regan's favorite place to go! Saturday morning we went to the Museum and toured the Titanic exhibit which was absolutely awesome and worth the money to see. It was amazing to see the artifacts that were brought up after 60+ years under the water. The exhibit is in Denver until January I believe and then it will go to another museum.

Ryan and my dad golfed Sat. afternoon and mom and dad left this morning with Regan. We were a little leary about sending her with them because of the 10 hr drive but she was so anxious to go. She promised she would be good so I hope that she is! She is going to stay with my mom and dad in Iowa this week and then go to SD to see my sister's family on Thursday and then camping with Ryan's family in Yankton for the weekend. We aren't sure when she will return, I guess that will be up to everyone out there. She especially misses her 9 cousins and also her Grandpas and Grandmas. I think she will be just fine.

I plan on getting a lot done while Regan is gone. We still aren't settled and I really want to tackle the garage!

I will write more later. Enjoy the pictures!

Kari