Christmas Pics of Izzy-B!

We had such a fun Christmas this year staying home. Dave's family came down to celebrate on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we had a great meal and opened presents. Izzy received SO many awesome toys, she's been a busy girl!
She got some snazzy boots from us and instantly wanted to wear them!

She's been hooked on these nerf darts ever since she found one at cousin Jack's house, so santa put some in her stocking, then I tormented her with them...all in good fun.
Nana gave Izzy a super cool tent and tunnel and it was a hit!

Iz and Dad working on her leaptop she got from Auntie Ali.

She got some fun musical toys too!

I'll post some more pics on here shortly - for whatever reason this blog is acting up and it's taking forever to load pictures.

Let it snow!

Ohhhh the weather outside is freightful...Izzy-B and I had a blast playing in the snow last night after the 2 hour commute home. She instantly started eating the snow and smacking her lips with delight. We don't have a dog, so no yellow snow in our yard. :)

She's such a cute little munchkin in her snowsuit!
I was able to recover some pictures from the wedding on Thanksgiving that I thought I had lost. I'll post them when I get the chance.
Merry Christmas to everyone, we hope you all are staying healthy and happy this season!
Hugs,
The Kavanaugh's

Ho ho HOLY crying fit Izzy!

Izzy and Dave went to visit Santa on Saturday, December 4th at Prevolv. Prevolv is a premier office furniture dealer and SPS has worked with them for many years now. Ron is a lead installer with Prevolv and he and I have worked closely over the years. He has a reddish gray beard and fun rosey cheeks. He gets a glisten in his eyes and his face lights up everytime he talks about his grandchildren, he's a very proud Papa. I can't say enough good things about Ron. Prevolv held this open house for people to come in and snap pictures with Santa. Low and behold, Ron was the perfect fit. They sprayed his beard white and threw a red suit on him and called him Saint Nick.

Izzy was checking Santa out intensely before and after her tramatic event - which I can only guess if she could remember the moment her Dad left her stranded on the strange man's lap - would be a horrifying story if she were to tell it. BUT - she likely won't remember it and will grow to like the bearded jolly man. Cheers, happy holidays, and all of that good stuff. We hope everyone is having a great cheerful season!

Hard Lesson Learned

So I had a few weeks worth of pictures to post on this blog from this Thanksgiving, an awesome wedding we went to this past weekend, and just a ton of fun pictures of Izzy-B. She held hands with her 2nd cousin John on the dancefloor at Kelley and Cole Ecklund's wedding, it was absolutely adorable. I must have snapped at least a dozen of just that few minutes that they ran around together on the dance floor holding hands, grinning ear to ear. It made my heart melt. And I must have viewed those pictures on my camera over 2 dozen times after the wedding just smiling at how happy everyone was in all of these pictures.

While taking even MORE pics of Izzy by the Christmas tree last night, I started messing with the settings on my camera and accidentally hit 'ok' to format the memory card on the camera...only to find that over 1,200 pictures of Izzy's first living moments, to our first Thanksgiving we ever prepared (this past weekend out at Kavanaugh's www.kavanaughs.com) with Dave's family were all wiped away. I won't ever get them back. I have about 85% of those pictures of Izzy backed up, but the very fun pics that I had every intention of posting on this blog are lost forever. It was a heart hollowing experience, and I vow never to mess with formatting memory cards on my camera AGAIN! It was a hard technology lesson learned, but now I know. Be patient with us while we make more memories with Iz to post on here - I'll be reaching out to family asking for any pictures they may have taken this past weekend so I can share them on here. Dave's unlce Tim took many pictures and I know his counsin Chris did as well. If either of you read this blog and have any pictures from the wedding with Izzy and John holding hands, or any other fun kiddo pictures including Iz, please email them to me at danielle.kavanaugh@gmail.com. I would greatly appreciate it!
On a more uplifting note, we did have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and have a million things to be thankful for. We have a healthy and happy family, wonderful friends, and many memories to look back on with a smile. :) We hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday as well.

Halloween Fun and Just Playing Around

Are you ready for some fun pictures of lil' Miss Izzy-B? Here's what I think she's saying to me when I snap these pictures...

Hey Ma...betcha didn't thinkg I could fit into this spot, didya?

I'm reorganizing the kitchen. I'm such a good helper!

I'm not sure which is more awesome, my big beautiful belly, or my new purse???

Hats are my thing...if you said you'd never tried one on you'd be lying!

Hey fun killer, down here....do I seriously have to take a tub now????

Does this turban make my butt look big?

K, enough of the commentating - this is prolly the most genuine smile I've been able to capture of her, and I absolutely love her smile.

Izzy's daycare had a Halloween party yesterday afternoon. We got all dressed up in our costumes at Mary's and then went to Byerly's down the road for a 'Boo Blast'. It was pretty neat, they had face painting, a DJ, a cookie making station, and a ton of candy.

A girl dressed as a carebear was Izzy's favorite...I don't blame ya Iz, she was fluffy and cute!

That's our lil Strawberry. She was so much fun getting into EVERYTHING at the store and checking out all of the other kids. She gets right into the middle of everyone and has to check stuff out.

I was the only parent that dressed up...and was right in there playing with all the kids. The second we lose our inner child, we become boring adults. Don't ever forget that.

Me and Izzy-B snuggling before work and daycare earlier this week. We sit on the floor and eat cereal. It's the best part of my day.

Yes folks, it's a future runway model we have here - she's sporting a flower on her head (which she kept checking out in the oven reflection, hilarious), and she's struttn' her stuff!

Enjoy!
Auntie Sarah & Uncle Mike are coming to visit tomorrow.
We'll take some fun pics and post some next week.
We hope everyone has a fun/safe/Happy Halloween!
Dave, D, and Izzy-B

The Blueberry Kid

Izzy-b devours blueberries like it's nobody's business. She loves them frozen, and I'm thinking it feels pretty good on her molars that are popping through. Not sure why she likes to paint her face with them...must be a kid thing, but either way, she's a happy lady!

We went for a wagon ride yesterday and Izzy sported her new cute blue hat from Grandma Lucy. Her blue eyes match the hat perfectly, thank you Lucy!
Have a good week everyone! We had family pictures taken by our favorite photographer EVER - Miss Chelsie Anderson with Treeline Photography - I'll post the link to her blog when she has some pics posted soon! Check her website and blog out at http://www.chelsiekrafka.com/ - she's amazing!

Dinner with Papa

We had dinner with Papa last night and he brought over cupcakes for us to get messy with. He would make messes with us kids when we were little, smearing food all over our faces. And the tradition continues...

"Mom, why didn't you tell me how good cupcakes are....these are amazing."
"Why is Papa doing this? Whatever, it's sugar, I'll go with it."

"TOUCHDOWN - the cupcakes win!"

"OH, sugar is officially kicking in Mom!"

"I likada sugar...lots."

Family Visitors

Uncle Tony and Auntie Kelly came to visit last night and we took a few quick pictures of them before they left this morning. Izzy had fun giving them hugs and kisses and playing.

It's Tony's birthday today, so Izzy gave him a big birthday kiss!
That's all for now. We might go to the apple orchard down near Stillwater this afternoon - we'll see how Izzy's doing. She still has a stuffy nose and a cough, but is in good spirits!

A Fall Update

Thank goodness the peanutbutter is starting to like hats and accessories on her head. She's our little bald beauty and we need to accessorize that lil noggin to keep it warm this fall and winter! I have many cute hats for her to wear and she's starting to like them...as well as the bunny ears from last Easter.

Aaaaaand for the vikings updates. Many of these were made on Sunday (you say touchdown or soooooo big and Izzy throws her arms up in the air!)
Izzy was in her proper attire, as always.

Viking's are number 1 Mama (and I happen to be 1 too)...

Uncle Tony & Auntie Kelly are coming down to visit this Friday - YIPPY! We're going to have some fun - pictures to be posted later!

15 Month Check-up

Did you know they make mini hospital gowns for little kids? Here is the 'before' photo of Izzy at her 15 month check-up yesterday afternoon. Happy as can be, performing for the Dr. (showing where her nose is, her ears, her feet, etc. - sooooo sweet). I won't show you the after picture. It always happens where she gets sick after she gets her shots. We were up with her for hours last night, she woke up with a fever this morning, and threw up in the car on the way home with Dave. Poor peanutbutter. We'll lay low this weekend and nurse her back to health. Just makes us so sad that she has to go through this every three months when she gets her shots.

I'm a dork, I know, but I'm a visual person, I gotta see where my peanutbutter lands on the charts. She is following in my footsteps to be a shorty (Dr. said she'll land around the 5'4" range), and she's following her Daddy with her head circumfrance at a whopping 48 centimeters around. FWEEW! "She's all brains in there", the Dr. said. :)

Our Lil Cheerleader

This is what the Vike's will be getting tonight for the game.....TOUCHDOWN!

This was our itty-bitty cheerleader last year. 'Gooooo Vikes'! She still has the same amount of hair as she did last year at this time...hee hee - man is she a QTPIE!

Fun for Labor Day

Nana stopped out to Kavanaugh's this past weekend and got some good Izzy time in. We had great weather and played on the swings a lot. It's amazing how fast fall has snuck up on us.

We went to the State Fair today and Iz found a fun lil' ride she could get into trouble on. Especially if she has her Mama's lead foot.
Walking around the resort Saturday morning. We got her a fuzzy little North Face vest that we got to use for the first time. She thinks she's wrapped up in her blanket it's so soft. She loves it!

"Oooooooooohhhhhh" she says.

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Labor Day weekend!

SHE'S WALKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We went on vacation last week and Izzy got to stay at Auntie Jody and Uncle Donny's for a few days. She was instantly busy exploring their house and all of the fun things she can get into...even the kitchen drawers!

Izzy and Jack having some munchies. Jack has no front teeth, and Izzy just got hers a few months back!
There they are, Mozart and Beethoven, playing a little ditty for a morning serenade.

And here's what you've been waiting for! She's officially vertical. At 14 months and 24 days....fweeew!

Gelato on a hot day in Stillwater

Izzy, Dave, Margaret, and I went tooling around Stillwater yesterday and stopped for gelato. It was officially a hit with the peanutbutter. This pic is a good shot at her two little front teeth too. She's getting so big so fast!

Videos of the Canteloupe Kid & Izzy's First Steps

Izzy took her first steps on Friday, July 23rd. This is her 3rd attempt at taking more steps just minutes after her actual first steps. We were SOOOOO extatic to see her little feet go on their own! She's growing so fast!

This was at dinner last night...we started off with some fruit and she decided that instead of eating, that she'd just balance some canteloupe on her head. Not sure if she learned it at daycare or what, but it was pretty funny!

1st trip to Minnehaha Falls

We had a blast yesterday visiting Minnehaha Falls for the first time with Izzy. There was a Norwegian Festival going on at the park, so we did some good people watching too. Izzy loved hiking on the trails and checking out the water - we had a great time.

Dave was pretty excited about the field trip too - you can see on his face here. :)

We just bought a cool Kelty hiking backpack (for SUPER cheap on Craigs List) to put Izzy in so we'll be doing many more trips to Minnehaha and wherever there's fun trails. If anyone knows of any, please post a comment and let us know!

Swimmin Like a Fishy!

A few quick pics and videos from our 4th of July weekend. We took Izzy to Gregory Park in Brainerd on the 4th and played on the swings/slides/ and in the trees. Here is Iz with her 'Ma' and 'Da' as she affectionately calls us.

I call this look her 'skeptic look'. We taught our little Peanutbutter to jump off the edge of the pool this past weekend. She wanted to do it again and again and again and again. This was towards the end - so she's a bit wiped out by this time, just wanting to splash and kick her legs, but she even closes her eyes, holds her breath, and goes underwater!

This is Iz doing her new funny face. This is on our way up north and I sent the video to my Mom - so you hear me reference 'wave to Lucy'!

Como Zoo Day!

We went to Como Zoo yesterday afternoon and it was the absolute perfect day to go. Apparently the rest of Minnesota thought so too, it was PACKED! But we had fun, Izzy clapped at the Osterich and waved at all the animals....and kids...and anything else she could wave at.

If there ever were to be a 'Mr. Miyagi' look alike contest for animals, this one would take the cake. 'Wax on, wax off.'
The Polar Bear Odessey was by far the biggest attraction at the zoo. There were two big ole bears and they actually got into a little power match while we were there watching. It was super cool...Izzy didn't much care for it though, she got extra clingy when that happened.

This is Iz watching the bear (pictured above). No, she's not picking her nose. This was the look on her face the whole time, she took everything in that she could and was just amazed at all there was to see. I'm not sure she even blinked the entire time we were there.

Last but not least, a quick video of Izzy standing on her own, or our attempt at helping her. She was doing it when Dave would prop her up, but this is the 5th or 6th time of trying to stand her up on her own and she was running low on steam.