Little Stories to Make You Smile.

Working as a pediatric nurse, I have the difficult task of giving immunizations shots to children. One day, I entered the examining room to give 4-yr old Lizzie her shot. "NO, NO, NO!" She screamed. "Lizzie," scolded her mother,"that's not polite behavior." With that , the girl yelled even louder,"No, thank you! No, thank you!"

Out bicycling one day with my 8yr old granddaughter Carolyn, I got a little wistful. "In ten years," I said, "you'll want to be with your friends and you won't go walking, biking and swimming with me like you do now." Carolyn shrugged."In ten years, you'll be too old to do all those things anyway."

While I sat in the reception area of my doctor's office, a woman rolled an elderly man in a wheelchair into the room. As she went to the receptionist's desk, the man sat there, alone and silent. Just as I was thinking I should make small talk with him, a sweet little boy slipped off his mother's lap and walked over to the wheelchair. Placing his hand on the man's, he said, I know how you feel. My mom makes me ride in a stroller too."

Just before I was deployed to Iraq, I sat my 8yr old son down and broke the news to him."I'm going to be away for a long time," I told him. "I'm going to Iraq." "Why?" he asked. "Don't you know there's a war going on over there?"

What does 'Kenneth' mean to you.

Kenneth Ivan Bruderer

Sawyer Kenneth Keith

KENNETH, it's more than just a name.

When I think of my dad so many things come to mind. And they're not all bad. Ha ha ha ha.

Take a moment everyone reading this blog that know my dad and think what he means to you.

Here are just a few brief adjectives that describe him in my eyes.

FUNNY, FRIENDLY, CARING, RELIABLE, HONORABLE, CREATIVE, HARD-WORKING, SILLY, KIND, TALKATIVE, TALENTED, MUSICAL, SACRIFICING, BRAVE, FUN, SENSITIVE, MY HERO.

I am honored to be his daughter. My dad has never let me down. He's supported me in all my endeavors. From marching band, to choir, to trips in this country and others, musicals, college, graduation, moving out, getting married, having kids. What ever I wanted, dad supported and loved me none-the-less. (Not that mom didn't, but this is a blog about dad!)

Now, why am I focusing on his name?

Because I have passed his name onto my son. Sawyer Kenneth Keith. My blog is a journal for me and my children and I want Sawyer to know why he was named for his grandpa and that he better honor and live up to his name sake.

I hope that Sawyer will develop his grandfather's wonderful personality. I think my dad will always be known for his sense of humor and friendliness. Dad is a friend to all. He will talk the ear off of anyone. From a random stranger to the grocery store cashier. You know who I mean dad.

He is always warm and welcoming. It's never hard to have a friendly conversation with dad.

Now his sense of humor is one in a million. I love when he laughs at his own jokes.

He is reliable and kind. When someone asks something of him, he is quick to lend a hand and offer a smile as he goes about the task. I hope that my children develop and emulate the love of service their grandfather has.

Dad is musically, artistically, and creatively talented. I remember dad doodling silly drawings in church. There seemed like there wasn't an instrument dad couldn't play. He constantly played his flute and sang. One of my favorite little songs was the 'Oreo' song. I don't know why he sang this, it had something to do with little girls and pretty curls, but I like Oreo, (oh'quick thought just now from my head,) He always sang the 'Pink Pajama song too.

I have loved watching the way he has helped my mom and supported her through her trials. I know while in Heaven she chose her trials. And that she discussed with our Heavenly Father what she could handle and that if she agreed to have the MS she wanted it after we were all grown. I also believe that my dad discussed with our Heavenly Father his desire, willingness, and love for my mom. He was taught in the preexistence the circumstances and he agreed to help mom and support her in everything. I am forever grateful for his kind, selfless, loving acts.

I love my dad and I am so thankful to have been given him as my father.

I know there are several more words that describe dad. But, one thing I know for sure. He is one in a million and he's my dad.

Generations of Motherly Love

Disclaimer:

Mom, there is a pic attached to this post of you and your hair is not done. Though it looks just fine. But, this is my blog and can put on it what I wish and I loved this pic.

I loved the love that radiated from these pictures of Sawyer with his grandmother and great-grandmother. As I look at these pictures I could feel the love radiating off of them. There is such tenderness and kindness expressed in the grandmother's faces.

My heart is filled with so much love for these wonderful women. Love for my grandma who has always shown me love and kindness my entire life. She has always supported me and my family and all the choices we've made.

And love for my own mother. How can I begin to put into words the impact she has had in my life. She has been my best-friend forever. She's been my confidant and shoulder to cry on. I've know I can rely on her for a listening ear and for advise. She has taught me to be the mother I am today.

I only hope I haven't let her down.

I love the tenderness in her face as she looks down at her youngest grandchild. I can feel the love she has for him and how proud she is of this little baby.

I am so thankful for the opportunity that my children have to know these wonderful women and I hope they look to them for guidance and support as I do.

Grandparents

We had a wonderful visit with my parents back home in Ohio. Here are just a few more pics of the kids with grandma and grandpa Bruderer.

Silly Faces.

Mom and dad with all the Keith grandsons

Mom finally got Sawyer asleep for me. Thanks grandma.

Dawson and Grandma.

Trip to the zoo

Adventures at the Cleveland Zoo.

Fun times at the zoo.

Bet you wish you could pet a dinosaur.

Check out Xander's expressions in the pics. And Dawson doesn't seem to be able to close his mouth.

Dawson is putting that dino in it's place.

I love Xander's face in this pic.

I don't think they would be smiling if that dino was real.

Dinosaur Park was the biggest hit by all. The kids loved it.

Riding on a dinosaurs back. You don't get to that every day.

Cute little Sawyer chillin in the stroller.

Ty really is having fun!

My cute family enjoying a day at the zoo.

3 months

Sawyer turned 3 months already. I can't believe how fast he's growing and changing. Why do they have to grow so fast. He has really started to become his own little person. His smile melts his mommy's heart. He has a cute little chuckle that is developing. His big blue eyes are always alert and attentive. He started scooting while on his tummy. He gets his knees under himself and then pushes out. The stinker is way too little for this.

He stills has the little bit of red tint in his hair, but the stuff growing in looks a little brown-blond. If you've heard his full cry then it's a sound won't soon forget.

When it comes to his size, he is following the trend set by his siblings. He is wearing clothes true to size. he is just starting to get into 3-6 month clothes.

What a good sleeper I was blessed with. He sleeps on average 8-10hrs a night. I think the Lord knew I would need a good sleeper if I was to have this little surprise baby.

Sawyer is my precious, littlest man. I am thankful everyday I have him.

It's amazing to me how much love my heart can hold. And now with Sawyer in our family it's holding even more.

Great-Grandparents are the Greatest!

My kids got the opportunity to meet their great-grandma and grandpa O'Connor. I am so lucky and blessed to have both sets of my grandparents living. Grandpa O'Connor is 93 and Grandma is 89. And to be able to have my children meet them is priceless. I have fond memories of my grandparents and to be able to make new memories of them with my children are immeasurable.

Here are my kiddos with Great-Grandma and Grandpa O'Connor.

Mill Hollow

We headed over to one of our family's favorite picnic spots. Mill Hollow. Growing up we would have picnics, feed the ducks, skip rocks in the river, go river walking, and have an occasional Family Home Evenings here. Now it was my turn to take my family and make memories with them. My brother Dave his wife Patrica and their boy Gavin joined us. Along with grandma and grandpa Bruderer.

We let the kids play on the swing set and slides till their hearts content. Tyler taught Dawson how to play Frisbee. They had a blast. Dawson even caught it.

Once the kids realized their tummy's were rumbling it was time for dinner. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. Yummy!!! Then it was off to play some more.

It was here that Kenzie found her first 4-leaf clover. Lucky duck!

We called it a night when the mosquitoes decided we tasted delicious.

Thanks mom and dad and Dave and Patricia for sharing this evening with us.

The mosquito bites will fade, the clovers will soon be covered in snow, but the memories will last forever.

Luckiest Girl Ever!

Have you ever searched a searched for the perfect good luck charm? What if you were so lucky to be able to look down and find your luck charm laying right there in front of you.

Mackenzie has just that luck. Not once, but twice she looked down and right in front of her were two 4-leaf clovers. She found one down at 'Mill Hollow' park and another in grandma's backyard by the trampoline.

She's definitely one lucky girl.

Lake Erie

My kids have loved their swimming trips down to the lake. My parents house is literally 2 mins from the beach and the kids can't believe that I lived so close to sand and water. Can you tell they've grown up in the deserts of Utah. Here are some pics of the kids splashing and swimming in Lake Erie.

Childlhood memories;next generation

I remember running around as little girl catching lighting bugs. We (my siblings) and I spent hours and hours catching and storing our little bugs of the night in mason jars, with tiny holes cut into the tops. Then we'd take the jar into a dark area and watch it light up. When the fun was done it was time to release our blinking friends until they found the same fate the next night!

The night we arrived in Ohio I was walking outside and a little flicker caught my attention. I quickly went into the house and called all my kids out so they could experience the excitement of seeing the blink of light and then trying to catch it.

They ran and giggled and reached and stretched as they too caught lighting bugs.

I'm thankful for these little critters that bring back so many memories of my childhood and that now my children have 'lightening bug' memories too.

Scooter

We layed Sawyer down to sleep in the center of the green blanket. 7hrs later he was onto the carpet. I put the white blanket down jut in case he went off the edge of the rug. As you can see, he went right off.
He eventually made it to the wood and that's when he woke up. 9hrs later.

Driving, driving, driving.

Dawson coloring on the side of the van. Luckily it was a Color Wonder marker.

This is Dawson's reaction after he was caught!

Mommy's still smiling. We're almost there!

Tyler, so thrilled to be driving.