The Keckley's

Happy 8th Birthday, Garren!

This was an extra special birthday for Garren. He turned 8 and is soooooo excited about getting baptized. Also, this is the year Chris decided he was old enough for his first gun, a .22 with a scope. Since we have been feverishly working on completing house projects before we move in a few weeks, Garren's party was pretty simple. He wanted a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing and we decorated with balloons and streamers. Happy Birthday, G-man!

Garren popping open his present from Uncle Josh and Aunt Kayla with his shark tooth necklace

Garren thanking Hayden for his gift

Fortney Family Beach Vacation 2013

We had am amazing Fortney family beach vacation this year! Mom and Dad rented us a huge house that even seated all 23 of us for meals! The kids had a great time playing together, riding the trolley, and going to the beach. Some highlights included almost getting hefty tickets as a result of illegally parking, eating at Philips, minitature golfing, and a girls night shopping trip on the board walk.

Mountaineer Muck

The boys wanted to make Mountaineer Muck while we were working on projects around the house. It quickly became apparent that this needed to be an outside activity! When they were done I sprayed them off with the hose. I got a little carried away and they ended up drenched!

Calvin's Pre-K Graduation

We are so proud of Calvin for completing his Pre-K program with flying colors. In the second video below he says he wants to be a race car driver when he grows up (just like every other boy there). Love you, C-Boy!

showing off his diploma

DC Weekend

We went to DC this weekend with Craig and Elizabeth and their boys. On Friday before Craig and Elizabeth came we went to the DC Zoo. A nice man gave us some free tickets to ride on the merry-go-round. Chris and I chaperoned a youth temple trip that evening and Craig and Elizabeth went to the temple on Saturday morning. On Saturday we went to the museum of natural history. Some highlights included delicious cheesecake from the cheesecake factory and Carter saying he would "punch it in face" at every dinosaur skelaton in the museum.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!

Garren and Calvin both played t-ball on team Timbrook. They really enjoyed the season and both improved their batting and catching skills. They had a wonderful coach, Coach Sanders, who was VERY patient and encouraging. The season ended with a pool party at Coach's house and a ride in his go-kart.

Garren hitting the ball pitched by his coach.

Calvin hitting the ball off the tee.

April Fool's Day

Even though we were busy painting (and did you notice the gorgeous backsplash that Chris put up?) we decided to pull an April Fool's Day prank on the kids. They helped me mix up some brownies and they put chocolate chips and peanut butter chips in them. After they were done baking I sneaked them down to the basement and replaced them with a pan of brown "E"'s.

Winter Wonders

Our second attempt at an upside-down snowman. Our first snowman was complete but fell over while I was getting the camera to take a picture.

Our new bird feeder was quite the attraction! We loved watching the different kinds of birds eating our bird food. We were always shooing the squirrels away. They would knock down the feeder and scare the birds away. Unfortunately, Chris' homemade contraption to shock the squirrels if they got on the feeder didn't work.

Happy 37th Birthday, Chris!

It seemed fitting to have a golf-themed birthday party to celebrate another year for my wonderful partner! Chris's party food included a "hole-in-one" cake, a "bucket of balls" (doughnut holes), a bowl of "chip-it" (chips), and some iced herbal "tee" to drink. I couldn't have asked for a better husband or father to our kids! My eternal companion, happy birthday!

Christmas 2012

We had a great Christmas this year! We are still getting settled into our new house but we are loving all the space! We spent Christmas morning at home and there was a fresh blanket of snow to make it a very festive day. Garren and Calvin were very excited to follow the clues to an air hockey table in the basement. Garren was surprised when a last minute request to Santa resulted in a real stunt man sending him a personalized package of fake blood.