My life is so much better because we share it together!!

Little Miss Independent

2012-01-16T14:00:00.000-08:00

My dear sweet McKinlee Grace,

I know you are anxious to come and play with your sister and we are all very anxious to meet you but we need you to be patient for at least 3-4 more weeks. Mommy needs you to keep growing stronger, getting chubbier cheeks, and being stubborn inside my tummy. Already you are proving to have a mind of your own and I am so greatful you do but just this once could you do me a favor and stay put for a while. We love you more than words can say and are so blessed and excited that you will be joining our family soon! I love you little girl!
Love Mommy

Last week we found out that little Miss is head down and low in the birth canal, I am 2 1/2 cm dialated, and contractions have been making a constant 5 min apperance since then. The doctor would like me to make it to at least 37 weeks so they told me I will most likely be on bed rest until she gets here which I know will be so worth it when I am holding her in my arms. Our families have been so amazing and such a big support and help to us I can not thank them enough for everything they have done! Rilynn is a little confused by everything but has been so sweet and always asks me if I'm doing ok :), Paul has been a nervous wreck and has been waiting on me hand and foot, he has been so wonderful and helpful I really dont know what I would do without him! I am so so greatful to have such a sweet and loving husband, amazing families, and two beautiful girls to bless my life!

Here is crossing our fingers and saying a prayer that she can hang tight for at least a few more weeks!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Wedded to perfection

2012-01-11T08:08:00.000-08:00

If you know my mom, you know what a beautifully talented decorator and person she is! Last week when she decorated my cousins wedding people were in awe of just how amazing she is...

Then she put me in charge of flowers and I was a nervous wreck....
I by far do not have my mothers talents, I have blistered fingers to prove it! But I am grateful I could be a help to her and that the wedding turned out amazing and beautiful for my cousin's special day :)!
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Born to stand out

2011-12-27T17:00:00.000-08:00

My sweet husband surprised me with a shiny new camera for Christmas! I am still learning all the photography and editing tricks but lucky for me I have an amazingly beautiful daughter to help me test it out...

This next one is by far my favorite and will be finding a permanent spot on my wall...

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Once there was a snowman

2011-12-05T07:59:00.000-08:00

Once there was a little girl, with rosy cheeks and the sweetest smile. Her only wish was to play out in the snow for a while....she threw on her many layers, her gloves, and even her favorite hat from daddys collection mom smiled and thought her outfit was perfection! She ran into the back yard and hesitated only a second. Before she decided the snow and her had a sweet connection, daddy helped her roll a big ball and then another before they stacked them on top of each other. He still stands in their back yard with a smile and the little girl likes to sit in the window to look at him for a while. "Isn't he cute!" She exclaims to her mommy with glee...no greater snowman will there ever be...

I am starting to look more and more like our snowman friend every day :) Yesterday while in the back yard Rilynn said "Mommy, I made this little snowman for baby McKinlee and daddy made this big snowman for Ri Ri so we can both share!" At almost 28 weeks we are all getting excited for baby sister to join our family!! And every day I am greatful for these sweet blessings in my life!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Rilynn said it Fridays

2011-11-11T07:37:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have posted the hilarious things this amazing girl in my life seems to always come up with and if this picture doesnt tell you what I mean I dont know what will....

*We were at lunch with my mom and grandma the other day, Rilynn had climbed up on my lap and was playing all of the sudden she bolted off my lap and started laughing then to my horror she yelled "mommy (hahaha) I tooted on your lap!" to which I tried to calmly but urgently whisper "Ok Ri please be quiet we dont say that" and the reply came even louder "BUT MOM I DID!!! I TOOTED ON YOUR LAP!! RIGHT THERE SEE!!! ugh I hid my face in embarrassment while everyone around us laughed and said how cute she was.....to which I could only think yeah real cute....because this isn't happening to you right now!

*I was in the bathroom fixing my hair and Rilynn had come in and sat beside me, I smiled at her
Me: "Hi Honey"
Rilynn: "Mom, what cha doin?"
Me: "Just getting ready"
Rilynn: "Your doing your hair?"
Me: "Yep"
Rilynn: "To go to the palace!?"
Me: "What palace honey?"
Rilynn: "Mom....The palace to meet your prince!!!!"
Um.......

*I was washing the dishes this morning
Rilynn: "Mommy, what are we doing?!"
Me: "I'm washing the dishes silly girl"
Rilynn: "No mom we have to go!"
Me: "Where do we have to go?"
Rilynn: "Mom....we have to go get my kids!"
Holy smokes lol we will be locking our doors until she is at least 30....and maybe even then

*But I think my favorite is when we were at the store yesterday...Rilynn wanted to go home but I was in line to check out I had asked her to be patient and we would go as soon as we could, lets say she responded by acting like a 2 year old and stomped her little foot...I told her if she didnt stop she would have to sit in time out when we got home bring on fit number two! The nice man in front of us smiled at me in a knowing way he was dressed in work clothes and a cowboy hat he turned to Rilynn and said "You better be nice to your mommy or I will have to take you home and let my puppies lick you!" Rilynn looked at me in terror (she is afraid of any dog...period!) I laughed and smiled at him..Rilynn began to cry I told her he was just teasing...she looked at me and said with big eyes..."MOM, I DONT WANT TO GO HOME WITH THE FARMER IN THE DALE!! PLEASE DONT MAKE ME GO WITH THE FARMER IN THE DALE!!"

Oh the imagination of this little girl never seems to stop amazing me...lol but I have a feeling it wont be the last time it stops me in my tracks dying from embarrassment!
How I love this sassy, naughty, sweet, inventive, to smart for her own good girl!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

A sneak peek into our nursery!

2011-10-29T09:49:00.001-07:00

I am pleased to announce we have an almost finished nursery! Complete with lots of love, hours of work and help from Grandma, sweat, and help from big sister Rilynn :)...

I will not hold you in suspense any longer....so without further ado...OUR NEW PRECIOUS GIRL WILL BE!!.......

Her name was lovingly picked by Paul (I must say I am pretty darn proud) and my heart melts every time Rilynn tells me that she loves baby McKinlee....I am so blessed to have two beautiful girls, an amazing husband, and an angel watching over us in heaven...Paul and I are eagerly and anxiously waiting to hear the sound of sisters sharing secrets and giggles coming from the nursery :) (pictures of Rilynn's room and the rest of the house decor coming soon!)
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Body by Baby

2011-10-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

We are half way there!! And I am patiently and anxiously waiting to share her name :) I'm sorry to say that we will be keeping it a secret for a while longer....at least until the nursery is done but until then I will at least give you her initials and maybe you can take your guess!

Little Miss will lovingly be.....M. G. O.

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

What will it be?! A he or a she?!

2011-10-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

Well I must say Daddy did it again he proved everyone wrong and got to rub it in their faces because we are having another BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL!!!
We couldnt ask for more, Rilynn has been walking around with ultrasound pictures telling everyone its her baby, daddy walks around with a permanent smile on his face, and I feel beyond blessed! She is perfect and healthy and growing like a champ...the only thing about these girlys that worries me is daddy now thinks he needs to buy two shot guns lol heaven help us when that day comes...until then we will be basking in these beautiful sweet blessings!
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Let me draw you a picture..

2011-09-22T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hello friends, let me just draw you a picture of what our lives look like as of late....

Every corner in our apartment currently looks like the above, I have ran out of boxes and still find myself in need of more! Whoever said packing was fun never had to pack our house, luckily I have a thought I will feel the same about the unpacking process...which will commence as soon as we close on Monday!!! I cant wait to be holding that shiny new key in my hands (Well mine will have some form of rhinestones attached to it I'm sure)

Thank Heavens I have this beautiful girl around to keep me sane! I have more than once this week come into the living room to find that she had packed herself in one of the various size boxes laying around, covered herself with newspaper, yelling for someone to please tape the box now....she also has found other ways for the cardboard to come in handy around here, in my ever attempt for bad timing Rilynn is potty training in the midst of our move so far she has been doing great and I have to give her credit for the few accidents she has had (two to date), Paul and I were talking together while Rilynn was making tunnels thru the various shaped boxes when all of the sudden there was the distinct sound of cardboard getting wet, Paul said "uh honey, I think she had an accident" I laughed and thought to myself that cant be I just asked her if she needed to go....sure enough Ri jumped up out of the box and claimed "Mom, oh no I'm really wet" My reply "its ok honey lets just get you cleaned up" With which I received "But mom, I really wet its really wet in there" And of course my husband got to say "See I told you so" Fine he wins I'll give him this one point (I hope he doesn't think that means this a regular occurrence)

And Thank Heavens we also have another beautiful blessing we are all looking forward to! On Monday I put down my packing tools and headed for the baby doctor were 17 weeks this week and baby seems to think I am some kind of jungle gym instead of mommy, but I dont mind one bit until a strategically placed kick finds my strategically placed bladder. Baby also thought that when the doctor put the doppler on my belly to check it's little heartbeat it would be the perfect time to place one or two of those kicks right on the monitor and give everyone in the room a good laugh...babies heartbeat is 160 and she or he is VERY active and healthy! Speaking of she or he we get to find out October 7th and none of us can wait, until then daddy said he would bet his check it's another girl, big sister thinks it's a brother, and I am just hoping little peanut will hold still long enough for us to actually see!

All in all our life right now is hectic, overwhelming, entertaining, nerve racking, exciting, and mostly just plain wonderful.

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Did I mention?!

2011-09-15T09:22:00.001-07:00

My blog has been lacking in the post department lately, by no choice of mine but out of necessary craziness around here. For you see we have been working on closing on our very first house.....that's right I said OUR VERY FIRST HOUSE!!!!!!

House Details:
3 bedroom 2 bath
Jacuzzi Tub in master bathroom (I think yes!)
Walk in closets, pantry and laundry room
Wood floors and huge kitchen
2 car garage or Paul's man cave as he likes to call it :)
1843 sq ft

(better pictures to come..)
Isn't it a dream?! Well it is the house of my dreams anyway...In two short weeks we will be recycling lots of cardboard, emptying our bank account, painting up to our ears, have to much space to know what to do with, and setting our welcome mat out for good! In two short weeks you probably find me in the middle of our living room floor completely exhausted and completely happy :)!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

It's all Relative

2011-09-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Last week at our house was just about as wonderful as it gets, first we got to see our sweet peanut....not only did I cry tears of joy when the doctor told me our baby looked wonderful and healthy but so did everyone else in the room. Peanuts heartbeat was a strong 167 and our doctor said she felt comfortable saying baby is here to stay! What sweeter words I have never heard then to know we will be bringing this precious baby home to join our family in 5 months.

This past weekend we had our annual Hensley Reunion, to say we had a good time would be an understatement, Rilynn loves Reunion time! Probably because she knows its the one week I let her get as dirty as she wants without fussing to much about it :) Here are pictures of our gorgeous girl having the time of her life....

I love my beautiful sweet children more than words can say! And I am so blessed to be a mother wife daughter niece granddaughter and cousin to such an amazing family I couldn't ask for anything more!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Rilynn said it Fridays

2011-08-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

*I was trying to come out of our bedroom yesterday and Rilynn was holding the door closed:
Me: Ri can I come out please
She continues to hold the door shut
Me: Honey please let go of the door
Rilynn: Dont be bossy mommy

*Rilynn was watching Lady and the Tramp while I was washing dishes the other day she came running in the kitchen saying "Mom Trampoline is over mom! Trampoline is really over!"

*If husband's had catch phrases my husbands would be "go kick rocks" he says that all the time and I'm pretty sure he is joking when he says it....well at least 90% of the time. The other day him and Rilynn were pestering each other and this is how the conversation went...
Rilynn: Dad dont get me go see my mom right now!
Paul: Lol how about you go kick rocks
Rilynn: Ok (with a big grin on her face she came and grabbed my hand) mom please I go kick some rocks!
Me: Nice one honey
(she has been asking if we can go kick rocks for two days now!)

We have been talking to Rilynn about the baby alot lately and her thoughts on the matter are always entertaining:
*We were driving in the car one day and she pointed to my stomach and said "Whats your belly's name mom?"

*Paul and I have been asking if she thinks the baby is a brother or sister-
Me: Ri are we going to have a sister or a brother?
Rilynn: Um...it's a brother-sister
Me: Uh (Yikes! I hope not)

*And my favorite had to be when we were talking about baby names as a family last week
Me: Ugh honey you dont like any name I like
Paul: That's not true
Me: Ri what do you think we should name the baby?
Rilynn: (Silence for a minute) How about.....Hercules!!!

Ummm needless to say we probably wont be taking name advice from our 2 year old although daddy has come up with a few almost as lovely :)
I am so blessed that my days are filled with this beautiful precious girl, her sweet daddy, and her little sister-brother! I couldnt ask for more.

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Bump Watch-Week 12

2011-08-17T12:56:00.000-07:00

How far along? 11 weeks 5 days
Weight gain/loss? Lost 10 pounds
Sleep? Exhausted all day and night :)
Best moment this week? People noticing that I actually have a baby bump and not just a belly!
Food Cravings? Sour patch kids, Pickles, anything sour really
Gender? Too soon to tell we will feel beyond blessed either way!!
Movement? Constant especially when Rilynn is anywhere near my belly :)
What I miss? Nothing I wouldnt trade this feeling for anything in the world
What I'm looking forward to? Monday when we get to see our sweet baby again
How big sister feels about baby? Rilynn loves the baby and always tells us that she has a baby in her belly too

Dear sweet baby,
This week you are the size of a lime, and its said if I were to prod my belly you would squirm in response. Every day I smile at your picture on our fridge I still cant believe you are mine, your big sister constantly talks about you and daddy tells you how much he loves you. I pray that you know how loved and special you are to us already. We love you more than you know!
Love mommy

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Heaven blesses our stork!

2011-08-10T12:49:00.001-07:00

With every trial comes lifes greatest blessings....For this blessing we are beyond humbled, nervous, excited, and most of all overjoyed! I have shed thousands of grateful tears in the last 11 weeks...they were shed when after the 5th test saying pregnant I finally started to believe it was true...

They were shed when we shared the news with our families....and yesterday during our ultrasound when our babies little heart beat strong at 165 and it reached up it's hand to wave to us....they were shed the first time I felt our baby move....

And they are shed every time I kneel to thank my Heavenly Father for this miracle...Every day closer to March 2nd 2012 is a blessing and my heart overflows with joy and gratitude because I am going to enjoy each and every day of the journey!
(Special note: March 2nd is the day we had to send our sweet Camden back to Heaven, my son is ever blessing our lives and I couldn't be more greatful)
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Have I told you lately?

2011-08-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

My Dearest Paul;
Thank you for blessing each day of my life and for making it better than the day before, thank you for making me feel beautiful and for being proud to hold my hand in public, thank you for giving me a beautiful daughter who got all the best parts of you, thank you for never giving up on me and for loving me without question and thank you for being the amazing man you are I love you more than words can say. Here's to you and me my love to 3 amazing years and for the eternity to come I love you today tomorrow and forever! Love always, me
P.S. You still take my breath away :)

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Rilynn said it Fridays

2011-08-05T08:14:00.001-07:00

Rilynn woke up this morning and when she came out of her room she was walking kinda funny
Me:"What's wrong honey?"
Ri:"I just really really wet mom, and its pretty nasty!"

The other night I was making dinner and Ri was sitting on the kitchen floor playing when out of no where she starts yelling "It's my money, and I need it now!!" lol I guess we gotta stop letting her watch those stinkin cash settlement commercials she remembers everything!

Rilynn does not like for Paul to tickle her and the other day he kept telling her "I'm gonna get you Ri" she got a dirty look on her face pointed her finger at me and told him "Dad, don't get me! Go see my mom right now!!"

When we were out camping I got brave and let Rilynn play in the mud, she would scoop up the mud and make piles on the bank then she would look over at me and say "Mom, don't eat this ok" haha

She loved when we put the tent up, she kept telling Paul "I'll see you later dad I gotta get to my castle" :)

(Please excuse my daughters homely look :) she played hard in the dirt all day) But my all time favorite was when she put on Paul's gloves and walked around camp telling me "These are my gloves, and I'm the dad"

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

The palest ink is better than the best memory

2011-08-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

My family keeps suggesting I should share my love of writing with others...So today I am going out on a limb and doing just that, Here are a few of the poems I have written that mean the most to me lately :)...

A Blessed Family

I was stopped by a girl today while sitting at the bus stop
Who asked me for the time, a little lost she sat down beside me
And began to talk as if we were best friends. I was only half
listening as she went on speaking but as I saw the joy in her eyes
I found myself drawn to her words.
She told of her father strong, protective, and full of love for his family, willing to do whatever it took to put them before himself.
A mother who was endlessly giving of herself, who loved without question.
An oldest brother and his beautiful wife who were perfect for each other in every way and who to the world look as if they had it all.
A timeless older sister and her sweet little family, of their beautiful daughters, one a gorgeous angel who watched over them all from the highest heavenly kingdom and one here on earth being cherished day by day.
Of a younger brother who she missed dearly for he was called to serve the Heavenly king what a blessed missionary he is she said. Who is bringing the people of the lord back home.
She told of her husband who she loved and cherished and their own little blessing from heaven a beautiful daughter with a personality beyond measure.
Her face was full of joy as she told of the family that she so obviously cherished. I reached up to find tears streaming down my face. Don’t cry my friend she said but rejoice for the family I have told you about belongs to you and you are blessed each day because they are yours

Berkley Eden Stockton a name given to a blessing
A precious angel was sent to earth
Daughter do you know how much you are worth?
Heavenly Father looked down to you and said
“You are the one chosen in which love will be led”
To perfect for words you were made with great love
Sent to bring hope from heaven above
A family so dear you watch over and smile
For they will be with you in such a short while
Although heaven may be far away
Here in our hearts you will ever stay

My Mother's Hands
My mothers hands to me have always been magic
to a little girl sometimes life can seem tragic
but her hands are always there to guide me
to hold and to stand beside me
hands that are endlessly giving
in the lords presence she is ever living
and as I have learned and grown
her hands have always been safe and known
teaching me lessons ever ensown,
I hope to have half the impact that my mothers
hands hold on the extraordinary daughter the lord is
helping us mold
To me her hands hold the world, a thousand
beautiful memories and stories untold
to an extraordinary woman, wife, mother,
grandmother, and friend
for a daughters love knows no end

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Rilynn said it Fridays

2011-07-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

Well friends because my daughter always manages to say the most
hilarious things most the time in public settings and because I cant help but want to share
I thought that I would start dedicating Fridays to the funny things Ri says
thru the week...I know your excited its ok cause I am too :)

*Me: "Ri are you stinky?"
Ri: "No, mom not really"

*The door bell rang last night and Rilynn ran towards it yelling
"Oh that sounds like its Grandpa" lol she must be just know these things

*Paul was getting dressed and she ran in all excited
"oh dad, you got your big girl pull ups on?"

*Ri: "Hold me hand mom"
Me: Pretending to reach out "I cant reach Ri"
Ri: "You cant mom cause I too heavy"

*Paul made me french toast breakfast for my birthday last Friday when Ri woke up and saw my plate she got a big grin on her face and said "Look mom my babe made me butter toast!!"

*I fell down the stairs I know normal graceful me and Ri saw my bruise and said
"Oh mom you got a owie its ok Ill kiss it better don't be sad ok"

*We were shopping when an older couple walked by and Rilynn said hi to them, the man said "She's so pretty what aisle did you find her on, I need one for our house" lol Rilynn looked at me with huge eyes and said "I want to go with mommy, you not my Grandpa"

*We were in the store the other day with my mom and Grandma Rose and Ri couldn't find my Grandma so she proceeded to yell as loud as she could "Grandma Rosie where are you? Grandma Rosie come on....ok fine I'm gonna leave you here then bye" haha oh man I guess I should stop threatening to leave my child at the store if she refuses to come when I call :)

I love this kid more than words can express she never fails to brighten the room or my day, we are taking her camping this weekend so be prepared for some hilariousness next friday
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Dont rain on my parade

2011-07-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

We took Rilynn to the parade for the 24th of July celebrations this weekend

To say she enjoyed it would be an understatement

She pointed

and waved to everyone who passed by

she told me "Mom, this is my favorite day" :)

and then they threw her candy and she was in little girl heaven

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

He holds her hand, She holds his heart

2011-07-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

*I live in a world of constant bliss
*Where time doesnt matter much just that you enjoy the ones your with
*Where golf cart rides are a thing of tradition
*And the sounds of laughter are all that can be heard across the lake
*Where daddy and daughter hold hands and share a smile
*Dont mind me I'll just stay here for a while

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Here fishy fishy

2011-07-08T09:34:00.000-07:00

We added to our family a few nights ago..

and although you cant see him in the picture Rilynn's look of adoration says it all

All thru the store she told every one in sight and I mean every one "Hey look, its my fish, his name is Zeba" :)

Welcome to the fish tank Zebra we couldnt be happier Rilynn picked you!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

If the shoe fits...

2011-06-28T20:08:00.001-07:00

Rilynn insisted we all play Cinderella tonight...

Including daddy...
I may not be Cinderella but I know my little family is the perfect fit for me :)

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

A day is lost if one has not laughed

2011-06-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

I have been making it a point lately to write down the things Rilynn says because to be honest she is hilarious and I have no idea where she comes up with this stuff....
These are real conversations that I have on a day to day basis with my 2 year old so here ya go...enjoy a laugh

Rilynn:(Tiara backwards on her head) Look I'm a queen!
Paul then put the tiara on his head
Rilynn: Oh daddy your so beau-tiful!

We were driving home one day...
Rilynn: Look mommy its my castle!!
Me: Oh honey that's the temple, its beautiful huh
Rilynn: (in her matter of a fact voice) Nope it's Ri Ris castle!

Walking up the stairs behind Rilynn...
Rilynn: I'm sorry mom
Me: How come your sorry
Rilynn: Cause I just slow

Rilynn wanted help opening her candy...
Rilynn: Abra, Abra Grandma Abra
My mom: I'm not sure what she is saying
Me: Lol she wants you to open her candy
Rilynn: (giving her the duh look) Grandma I speakin a Spanish
My mom and everyone else in the room then died laughing
p.s. she has been watching a lot of Dora lately :)

Rilynn had a bag of different colored play doh and we have been teaching her colors lately...
Rilynn: What color is this one mom?
Me: That one is red
Rilynn: What color is this one mom?
Me: Its yellow, remember?
Reaching in the bag...
Rilynn: you only have one more to go...really good job, mom
Me: lol (sigh, my child is teaching me colors)

When we are shopping in the store, I have been trying to teach her that we cant open things until we get home....
Me: Rilynn would you like some fruit snacks?
Rilynn: No mom we cant open it, we have to pay for it

I was getting Rilynn dressed....
Me: (pulling up Ri's shorts)
Rilynn: (Touching the shorts) oh mom! they are little pants!

The other day I heard Rilynn in her bedroom singing, she had made up her very own song....
Rilynn: Ohhhhhhhh......your my dream come true......daddy.....yes daddy, my only dream come true.....ohhhh
Me:(and my heart melted)

Our little girl is truly one of a kind :)
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

When love is not madness, its not love at all

2011-06-20T09:53:00.001-07:00

My dearest Paul;
I dont get to brag about you as often as I should, for the wonderful Husband and father you are. You for reasons beyond my understanding have always loved me no questions asked, you have stood by me thru every hard thing we went thru this past year, and you never give up on me no matter what. From the day I met you until now I stand in astonishment that you picked me to love, both of us know there was a list of girls waiting to take my place. I know marriage is not easy, some days especially marriage to me! But you just smile at me and say "I love you anyway"

I adore the look on your face when you stare at our daughter and even more the look she gives you in return. She is so lucky to have you as her daddy and I thank Heavenly Father every day that I wake up next to you.

I adore that you act silly with me and that after almost 3 years of marital bliss we still get to act like newly weds.

I adore that you would have us live in a camper in the woods if I let you just so we could smell the fresh air, catch just one more fish, and scout a few more hours for a good buck to hang on the wall.

I adore that same look of joy on your face from our wedding day is still on your face today.

I adore your laughter even though most the time its because your laughing at me. I adore that we are 110% different and we have a complete opposite outlook on everything in life but that we cherish each other regardless.

Simply put love I adore you, everything about you....and if I had to do it all over again....
I would still choose to adore you! Every day until eternity...and everyday of madness that comes with it :)
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

I made a wish and you came true

2011-06-13T14:14:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty sure Rilynn was born to live at the zoo....

And I know for sure she was born to model for Old Navy....

were just waiting for the calls to start pouring in :)

All our love!!

Paul Kera & Rilynn

In my daughter's eyes

2011-06-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

In my daughter's eyes....

I see her daddy smiling back at me
I see promises of the future
and brighter days ahead
I see the promise of tomorrow
and joy beyond compare
I see trust that makes me want to be a better me
and love without questions or reason
I see beauty
and faith in things bigger than I am
I see understanding
and a promise that I will never be left alone

In my daughter's eyes I see perfection
and I give thanks everyday that I am privileged to call her mine
I know she was sent to rescue me

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

The Gene Machine

2011-06-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time Paul and I decide on a spur of the moment act...to trust the fate of our inutero child to the Gene Machine (Disclaimer: this was when we were pregnant with Rilynn and before we knew that she was of the female gender)....I distinctly remember my mother-in-law sweetly saying when we showed her this recreation of the two us "Well we will just cross our fingers that its a sweet little girl"......

All I could do when I stumbled across this picture today was laugh and be overly grateful that our real life gene machine created this little beauty instead!!...

P.S. It's probably never a good idea to trust the fate of your children and your gene's to the Ripleys Believe it or not photo booth unless your up for a good laugh!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Twice the trouble, Double the fun!

2011-05-31T20:04:00.000-07:00

My Dear Sweet Rilynn;

Tomorrow you will be 2! And someone decided to let you grow up right before my eyes...

This same day two years ago I was laying in a hospital bed with daddy and everyone we loved by my side patiently waiting for your arrival...

But just as I should have known you had plans of your own and decided you would make everyone wait until 2:44 the next morning to be born...
June 1st 2009 2:44 am 7 pounds 4 ounces 19 inches

Daddy and I were in love...from the moment you opened your little eyes and every moment after....

The last two years of my life with you have been amazing...

And daddy and I couldn't be more blessed that you belong to us...

You are perfect, amazing, sassy, beyond smart, beautiful, sweet, give the best kisses in the world, and make every day of my life worth living!

Happy 2nd Birthday tomorrow princess!! We love you we adore you and we are so greatful you are ours!!!

P.S. Please do me a favor and remember not to grow up too fast ok love

Love Mommy

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Where were you when the world stopped turnin?

2011-05-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

I was sweeping my floor, Rilynn was taking a nap, my phone rang, I picked it up said "Hi mom, how are things going?", and right there my world stopped turning....

I haven't figured out the meaning of life yet....I know I haven't learned everything my Heavenly Father wants me to....he sends us trials to bless us, but this trial is one I'm not sure I want to bear...I don't want to watch my sister suffer threw this again....I don't want to relive this pain and have my slowly healing heart ripped wide open again....I want to press the rewind button on life and for things to go different this time....But then I know that if that was what my Heavenly Father wanted he would have made things that way...He knows what our family needs and I don't, he won't leave us to suffer this alone...But right now it hurts to much. I hurt for my sister, and I overflow with joy for the amazing strong inspiring and loving person and mother she is, for Josh for the wonderful understanding faith unwavering person and father he is, for Harlee the sweet sassy loving and beautiful big sister she is, And for beautiful Berkley the strong fighting and perfect angel she is....
Slowly the world keeps moving around us, and as a family we slowly keep trying to help eachother along....I am grateful for the amazing family that is mine and the knowledge that they are eternally mine...None of us knows what life or our father in heaven has planned for us...Hug your loved ones close to you today and be thankful for what is yours....I know without mine I would be nothing....
In beautiful sweet loving memory I wrote this poem for Berkley....

Berkley Eden Stockton a name given to a blessing

A precious angel was sent to the earth

Daughter do you know how much you are worth?

Heavenly Father looked down to you and said

"You are the one chosen in which love will be led"

To perfect for words you were made with great love

Sent to bring hope from heaven above

A family so dear you watch over and smile

For they will be with you in such a short while

Although heaven may be far away

Here in our hearts you will ever stay

We love and miss you Berkley each one of us is better because we have you....

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Berkley Eden

2011-05-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

This little precious piece of heaven is my new niece, who was born by emergency c-section May 18th she is breathing on her own a little bit now but has not moved. They are air vacing her down to the valley and testing for brain activity. Berkley is beautiful and is the strongest little fighter I know! Please keep her, my sister Tami and their little family in your prayers today. Heavenly Father knows how much our whole family needs him right now.

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Love is a battlefield

2011-05-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a fight with the world? The last two days that is exactly what our munchkin did....

See exhibit A: A face plant while holding a plastic toy boat results in a tooth thru the lip, a bloody nose, swollen eyes, and lots of tears from both Rilynn and mommy (I felt like I was docked mommy points after seeing my poor babies face)

Exhibit B: Climbing from a stool much to high for ones short legs results in a bruised goose egg right on the head (At this point my mommy points are slowly drifting down the drain!)

(Insert big sigh here) it is only Tuesday and I have seen more blood in the last two days then I cared for.....our freezer is slowly dwindling in the Popsicle department......and I'm starting to wonder what the world has against my mommy points!

All our love!!

Paul Kera & Rilynn

I wish you could have been here...

2011-05-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

Rilynn loves Tangled it has become quite the child addiction around here, we faithfully watch it AT LEAST 3 times a day! She has every song memorized and most of the words to the entire movie....and is ever running around the house singing "I could go running, and racing, and dancing, and chasing"
Last night after Paul got home from work he was washing his hands and then set his dirty work shirt on the back of the chair, this is how the conversation went....

Me:(Groan) Honey will you please put your dirty shirt in the hamper
Paul: Ugh ok if I have to
Rilynn: Daddy, mother knows best! (in sing song voice)
Me: (I almost rolled of the couch laughing at this point) yeah babe!

And then I silently gave thanks to Tangled for teaching my toddler that most the time mother's do know best!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

A picture is worth a thousand words...

2011-04-29T13:42:00.000-07:00

But the only two words I felt when I opened our cd today and looked at the pictures were.... Pure Bliss!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Easter at our house...

2011-04-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

Besides being wind blown and having all our fingers multi-colored the whole weekend, we had a wonderful Easter this year! Rilynn loved everything about it and was spoiled rotten by everyone (again!) :)

Easter always makes me appreciate the life and blessings I have been given, I am thankful for each day the lord gives me and for all that has been done for me to be here with my wonderful family! We hope everyone had a Happy Easter!!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

My children will never do that...

2011-04-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

I remember saying that to my mom when I was younger, I said "Dont worry mom my children will never act like that or never say those things" and my mom just wisely smiled and said "Never say never Honey." Being Rilynn's mommy is never filled with a dull moment she is always full of hilarious and often embarrassing in sites...and for my 100th post! I thought we would celebrate by just sharing a few of my favorites lately....

*Mom: Rilynn what would you like for breakfast...cereal...yogurt?
Rilynn: Umm how bout dog food...?
(Mind you we dont even have a dog?!?!)

*While pushing Rilynn in the store one day I ran into a stool parked in the aisle and it skidded across the floor
Rilynn: (as loud as she could yell) Mommy farted!
Mom: Rilynn mommy did not it was the cart hitting the stool
Rilynn: No mommy farted!
People in the aisle next to us: Hahahahahahahahaha

*Rilynn: Mom I need cookies
Mom: Sorry Ri you have to eat lunch first
Rilynn: No mom Grandpa will give Ri Ri cookies ok

*Mom: Rilynn please dont touch that you are going to break it
Rilynn: No mom
Mom: Honey do you need to sit in time out?
Rilynn: No Babe do you need a spankin?

*Mom: Ri where are moms keys?
Rilynn: Go potty mom
Mom: No we have to find moms keys first
Rilynn:(Opening her big girl potty lid) see mom keys go potty!

*Rilynn: Kera!
Mom: No Rilynn you say mommy
Rilynn: Kera! Kera! Kera!
Mom: No silly my name is mommy
Rilynn: Oh crap
Mom: Rilynn we dont say that
Rilynn: Sorry Kera (and that is where I give up and start laughing)

*Rilynn: Watch pons pans mom (sponge bob)
Mom: I will see if its on ok (I dont like that show by the way and I think she is starting to figure that out cause right before I flip to the Nickelodeon channel ) Rilynn: Op sorry its over, gotta watch it later

*Mom: Here Ri mom got you some chocolate milk
Rilynn: Good girl mom!

I have my hands full over here and she is not even 2 yet! Lol I love my little life with this little sassy beautiful smart girl :) but I guess my mom was right and I should never have said never cause it seems my child has a mind all her own!
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

To be thankful for...

2011-04-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

It has taken me a while to get this far, to not cry every time I see a new baby or to take our own sweet angels picture down from the fridge. It has taken a while for our little family to step back and say we are going to make it thru this and we are going to be ok, we are going to be thankful for this moment in our lives and be blessed that we have a baby in heaven watching over us and we are going to start trying again and when the lord is ready we will have our turn. And then I myself had to take a step back and look at the things in my life and realize I have so much to be thankful for..... 1. I have a husband that loves and supports me, who gives me strength and holds my hand when I am down, and who never gives up on me even when times are hard.

2. I have a beautiful free spirited amazing daughter, with a personality big enough for Broadway, Rilynn is the sunshine in our home the one who always know how to make a room full of sad people laugh.

3. I have the over powering love of family, both my own and married in to I dont know what I did right to be blessed with the families I have but I am in awe of those in my life.

4. I have an angel in heaven, Camdon our sweet Hoyt baby who I will cuddle close when the time is right.

5. I have the over whelming love of my Heavenly Father for which I could only hope to give back to him all that he has given to me.

6. I have amazing friends, I cannot say thank you enough for the millions of words, text messages, flowers, meals and cards that we received in our time of need.

7. I have health and happiness and comfort that I know things are going to be ok.

I know things are still going to be hard especially in September when I have no baby to bring home but I know because of the comfort and love I am receiving that the Lord has other plans for our family and our sweet Hoyt and hopefully when September comes around we will have a little bump to show. I promise to from now on fill our blog with happiness again because although this is a ruff patch we are indeed happy, happy to know our baby is perfect and did not have to suffer in this life, happy to know that we were blessed, happy that we have a sweet little girl in our home who fills us with joy, and happy that we have been the ok to try again.

All our love!! Paul Kera & Rilynn

Tonight I wanna cry

2011-03-03T06:12:00.000-08:00

Dear sweet angel baby;

Two weeks ago I saw your little heart fluttering on a tv screen, Yesterday I saw you on that same screen lying still and peaceful as if sleeping but I layed there and watched Heavenly Father give you wings, Today I sit at home in front of this screen with no baby in my arms no more small kicks in my now flattened belly. I know with all of my heart that you were my little prince and that you were sent to bring our family so much love and happiness. Daddy picked out your name Camdon Hoyt but we all like to call you Hoyt, did you look like your sister Son? Did you have her same smile? Heavenly Father tells me in my heart that you are beautiful and perfect and every bit the son I had been praying for, Today I pray for you sweet angel and everyday after today. I didn't want to say goodbye so soon me daddy and your big sister needed, wanted and love you very much. I know Heavenly Father has bigger more special plans for you and that I will hold you and rock you in my arms very soon. 10 weeks and 1 day was all I got to help you grow 10 weeks and 1 day was all it took for me to fall in love with you 10 weeks and 1 day and an eternity with you as my son! I know that you are far away but I feel your soft spirit in every room of our house, I feel you wrapping your arms around me in a loving embrace I feel every unsaid I love you, every unkissed eye lash, and I see your big beautiful blue eyes that your daddy gave you when I close my eyes to go to bed at night. I love you forever Son, I like you for always, forever and always my baby you'll be!

This is not goodbye my sweet handsome boy but hello to our future for I hold you here in my heart.

My love for you never failing, Mommy

Hoyt's journey to heaven: (sorry this is long and pretty detailed but the grieving nurse said to share my feelings and this is the best way I know how)
Yesterday I woke up at 4 am to do my usual pregnancy potty run but as I went to stand up something didn't feel right, I pulled the toilet paper away and to my grief I saw red lots of red (I hate that color today) I thought things would be ok cause I wasn't having much cramping so I put on a liner and tried to go back to bed, I lay there and thought this cant be happening I wont believe it the baby is healthy I felt his little flutters yesterday with Rilynn at the park but then the tears came and I just went and sat on the couch and wept. I sat there for 2 hours when Paul came and found me I kept hearing him say "Honey whats wrong please tell me" I told him I was bleeding and he so loving and supportingly told me things were gonna be ok and I told him not to worry and he went and got ready for work after 4 hours of banning myself from going to the bathroom and seeing bad again I knew that something was not right and called the doctor she told me things didn't sound very good and that I could sit home and wait it out or come to see her. I couldn't do it I couldn't sit there all day by myself and not know if my baby was ok. I packed Rilynn's things and took her to my grandma's house the whole way there my sweet little girl asked me if I was ok and why mommy was crying. How please Heavenly Father tell me how to tell my 2 year old was all I thought. I didn't tell anyone except Paul what was going on for fear and all hope that nothing was wrong. My mom drove me the what seemed like days trip to my doctor in Flagstaff when we pulled in the parking lot I stood up and knew things were not ok there was a big gush and my pants were turning red bright red! I ran to the bathroom and the nurses rushed in to help me they got me on the sonogram table and put our little Hoyt's picture up on the screen there he was my sweet baby....and the doctor said as my heart broke "He is there but there is no heartbeat" we can let you do this on your own or go to the hospital and have surgery. I could not go home and wait for my baby to never start crying please take me to the hospital I said, It all happened in a rush after that when we got to the hospital I was bleeding alot TO MUCH they said they got my iv in and got everything ready to go. Everyone was hugging me and holding my hand doctors nurses my mom people I have never seen in my life. I had to sign the consent to receive someone else's blood cause I was loosing my own to fast and then I woke up in the recovery room with my hand on my belly I felt around and my only thought was where had my bump gone why cant I feel my baby. And then another flood hit me they took my baby and put him in a small bed, he needs to be with me I have to see him I thought but I couldn't I was in shambles on the bed. They told me we could bring him home but I couldn't do it I couldn't see my baby small and broken I see him when I close my eyes perfect and whole Heavenly Father holding his hand and guiding him home. Paul finally got there and the amazing man sat there and held me and cried right along with me he wanted our baby just as much as I did our precious angel was the missing piece to our little puzzle. Paul drove home with me and my sweet mother and sweet mother in law drove in the other car to give us some time alone. We cried the whole way home together and once Paul looked out the window at the sky I watched his tear stained eyes and he turned to me and said "Hoyt's up there getting our deer babe" and we both lost it again together because our son is there waiting for his dad to take him bow hunting to teach him how to fish and to hold his mommy and big sisters hand. The rest of last night I was numb the medicine seems to make things not seem so real for a little while but this morning while Paul was getting ready for work I lay in our bed sore and broken and I looked over to where the bassinet should be right beside me and I lost it and so did Paul we just lay there crying together. I know there will be a million mornings and million days where I will lose it where I will want our son here with us where I will think this is not fair and why us. I asked Paul if it would get easier and he just looked and me and said in a sad voice I don't know my love. I don't know if this will ever get easier I don't know how long it will take for me and us to be ok but for tonight I wanna cry. We love you son!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Im like baby baby baby ohhhh

2011-02-21T09:22:00.001-08:00

Don't worry I am not a groupie of the ever popular Bieber Fever I just thought the song fit our post :) Anywhoooo....We went to the doctor Friday and got to peek at our growing bean!

It may be small but I love its little chubby belly already and loved seeing the little heart going at rapid speed! Heart rate was 174 and Dr. Ray says our little girl or boy is healthy and strong :) speaking of girl or boy alot of people have been asking if we want another girl or a boy, to be honest half of me wants one of each and the other half wants a little sister for Rilynn but 100% of me wants a healthy baby! Paul is convinced it is a girl and refers to the baby as Rilynn's sister lol We will be thrilled with whichever we are blessed with.

This pregnancy is a complete 180 from when I was preggo with Ri with her I spent the first 6 months near the restroom I kept my pillow ever by the door (no joke) with this pregnancy some days I hardly feel pregnant at all except for being tired so I am very grateful that I am still able to run around with our busy little girl and grow a baby at the same time :)

I love everything about growing a baby sickness and all and cant wait for that new baby smell in our house again!

P.S. There is something in the water (doesn't it seem there are alot of baby's coming this year?!?!)

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Just because I love you day!

2011-02-14T10:05:00.000-08:00

We just wanted to say...

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

The princess and the pea...

2011-02-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

Here are some stats on our princess and our peanut :)

weighing in at 24 pounds and 2 inches away from being 3 feet tall is little Ms. Rilynn! Who will be 2 in four months and who seems to think she is queen of the house (which is probably true) She enjoys singing at the top of her lungs, taking luxurious bubble baths, and getting into everything she is not supposed to. In her spare time she loves giving her daddy and the baby kisses, watching bubble guppies, and wearing princess high heels where ever she goes.

weighing in at -15 pounds and a quarter of an inch long is our peanut! Who will be 7 weeks growing on Tuesday and who already seems to think they are going to give big sister a run for her money. She or He enjoys mommy making frequent trips to the restroom, growing mommy out of her regular clothing, and often making mommy sick to her stomach. In his or her spare time the peanut loves growing at rapid paces, swimming around, and giggling as mommy daddy and big sister wait to find out if in fact it is a she or a he.

I am so blessed to have my beautiful little princess, my sweet little pea and my handsome prince and I cant wait until we are one happy little family in September!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Cindereley, Cindereley

2011-01-26T08:01:00.000-08:00

Never underestimate the power of a girl that can sweep in heels :)

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Three may be a crowd...

2011-01-20T12:19:00.000-08:00

but fours a party!!

and we cant wait :)

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

It's days like today

2011-01-08T20:09:00.000-08:00

That I stop and realize...

how truly BLESSED I am!!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Mommy wow! I'm a big girl now..

2011-01-03T11:59:00.000-08:00

Rilynn got a big girl potty for Christmas... and I am proud to announce that all of the baby dolls we own can now successfully use it....

maybe one of these days Rilynn will be able to too :)

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Down thru the chimney he came with a crash...

2010-12-30T08:02:00.001-08:00

Santa for sure found our house this year!!

He brought Paul the tree stand he has been wanting for years...

He brought Rilynn a huge stack of gifts and a best friend (her cousin Alec)

And he brought me the best gift of all...

Thank you Santa and our family for making this Christmas special and heres hoping we make the nice list next year too!!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Wishing you and yours...

2010-12-22T19:12:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas family and friends We love you!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

If you wish....

2010-12-13T17:10:00.000-08:00

To see more of this cute girl in your mailbox this Christmas....

Then we need your address to send you our Christmas card!!

If you feel weird about posting it in my comment box which I totally understand

then please email it to me at k _ cheer _ 07@ hotmail.com

Thank you in advance :)

All our love!! Paul Kera & Rilynn

She gets that from you..

2010-11-10T19:32:00.000-08:00

My husband is ever telling me that Rilynn got certain things from me...my klutziness, my attitude, my dance moves (which rock I might add), my ability to talk for hours to anyone I have just met, my love of books, and my awesome style...I threw that last one in there but I do dress her everyday so that counts right??

But some days I beg to differ with him...she got his gorgeous blue eyes, his smile, HIS ATTITUDE!, his dirty looks (and if they could kill I would be a gooner), his ability to not say anything at all using his mouth but say a whole paragraph with just his eyebrows...no joke, and his ability to melt my heart.

And some things that girl got all on her own.....her to smart for her own good quality, her ability to make you laugh with just one look, her silly laugh, her hilarious singing voice when anything lady gaga or Kesha comes on the radio (yes my one and a half year old sings Kesha...don't judge), and her sweet and often sassy choice of words.

Here are a few I have experienced lately:

*I was changing into my pajamas a few nights ago and she walked up behind me and said "mom, I spank your butt"

*While sorting thru my jewelry box she kept tangling up my necklaces I asked her to please stop and she said "no you stop it"

*I helped her put on her shoes yesterday and she looked at me and said "thank ya baby"

*When I cut her fingernails and it hurts or if anything hurts her for that matter she says "I sorry"

How I am grateful for every single part of our little girl! From head to toe it is still hard to believe that she is ours. Some days I think she is 80% her daddy and 20% me but everyday she is 100% Rilynn and that's the way I always want it to be!

All our love!!Paul Kera & Rilynn

I do believe in Fairies...

2010-10-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

In true Halloween style we have to do a time warp...This is Rilynn last year at Halloween......

And this is Rilynn this year at Halloween......

Lol I don't know about you but I see a striking resemblance between the two, it must be the ticked off look that says mom would you stop taking freakin pictures of me :) and to that I laugh and say nope sorry!! Sometimes my persistence pays off......And we get this striking beauty...

This Halloween our little munchkin was the perfect little Tinkerbell!! Fairy dust and all...

Of course her favorite part was eating all the candy she got spoiled with afterwards....Yes we are now on periodic sugar rushes at our house

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FRIENDS!!! Hope yours was as sparkly as ours :)

All our love!!

Paul Kera & Rilynn

When we least expect them

2010-10-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

Doesn't it seem that miracles come our way when we are least expecting them?? Lately that is the way it has been around our house...
After Rilynn was born I started to have a lot of female problems which I thought for a while were just normal after having a baby, I let it go on and then started having serious pain and called the doctor. They put me on all kinds of birth control that didn't help with my weight situation and also made me have allergic reactions, one doctor even told me I had post pardom depression and put me on medication that makes you feel like walking death (literally!) after four different doctors opinions, ultrasounds, countless numbers of birth controls, and the its all in your head talks. I found a doctor in Flagstaff who was willing to listen and help with my concerns.
First she found out that I have a thyroid problem and that I probably should have been on medication for it when I was in high school (Which helps explain some of my trouble with loosing weight all my life) so we started the medicine for that and she told me that we would see if it helped take the pain away. But sadly it didn't and she suggested we do an exploratory surgery to find out what was going on.
Almost two weeks ago now we found out I have Endometriosis which is a condition in which bits of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grow in other parts of the body. The tissue builds up and sheds in response to monthly hormonal cycles. The blood discarded from these implants falls onto surrounding organs, causing swelling and inflammation. The repeated irritation leads to the development of scar tissue and adhesions. In English that means whenever I have a cycle I am in pain the pain is somewhere between heavy period cramps and having labor pains. And it also causes other not so fun and embarrassing problems during your cycle. After the surgery the doctor told Paul and I that we have two options to choose from. The first would be a six month treatment plan that would involve me getting a shot monthly that would basically put my body on menopause at 21, the doctor warned us that this would have bad side effects that would make me sick and there would be a chance that it would make me infertile (women with Endo. have a hard time getting preggo anyway) and our second option is to get pregnant as soon as we can. She told me that if we just left it alone without doing anything it could lead to cancer and that we had two weeks to decide what we wanted to do.
Now your probably sitting there thinking why in the world would she be sharing this, I am because I have to get it out of my system. I have to let my emotions go and realize that with the lords help and the support of the people we love that things will be ok.I am writing this because I am terrified to be honest, because people say hurtful things when you get pregnant without even thinking that it will affect you and also because we are not sure how long it will take us to even get pregnant but these are the things I have to push aside and let go. I am writing this because I am elated, as you can see by our new ticker we have decided to try to have another baby :) I am so blessed that I have a loving husband that is willing to bless me with another baby even though it is sooner that we planned, that we have loving families that are behind us 100% no matter what we decide, and that we already have one precious baby that will make an amazing big sister.
And most of all I am writing this because no matter if we see them or choose to acknowledge them blessings do come to us, most of all when we are least expecting them.

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Wash, Rinse, and Repeat

2010-10-18T18:15:00.000-07:00

Wash, Rinse, and Repeat yes this is usually the mantra one follows when shampooing their hair after a long day. At our house it seems to be the mantra to follow when washing dishes. For instance mom does all the washing and rinsing and loading of the dish washer and Rilynn feels a need to repeat the process when the dishes have reached the dish washer...

lucky for me I get to pay this little sweety in huggs and kisses :)

All our love!!Paul Kera & Rilynn

Carl and Alicia's Wedding!!

2010-09-28T17:02:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how much being a part of someone elses wedding reminds me so much of the day I married the man of my dreams...Paul's older brother Carl married his sweetheart Alicia last Saturday and our little family got to play a very big part in it! I got to do everyones hair :) Ri was the most beautiful flower girl, Paul was the best man, and I got to be a bridesmaid!!

My mother in law, Carl, Alicia, and my father in law

To families being forever!

The sweetest flower girl I know....

Alec and Hayden my silly and sweet nephews!

The Bride and Groom...

The most beautiful daughter a mom could ask for....

My one and only....

You still take my breath away....

My sweet sister in law oh how I love you...

To spending time together....

To amazing grandparents....

and to making memories that last....

All our love!!Paul Kera & Rilynn

Are you smarter than your toddler?

2010-09-05T08:59:00.001-07:00

Dont you hate that moment when you realize your toddler is smarter than you are?! For example when you have been telling your daughter for months to "sit down" when she stands up in her barbie jeep....and then one day you stand on the couch to sweep off the fan and she looks at you and says "Mom sit down" (yep happened to me!)

Or when you are cleaning up the mess she made on the living room floor and she doesnt want you to she points at you with a very serious look on her face and says "no, no, no"

When she can put on her own shoes (who cares if they are the wrong feet) and tells you "shoes shoes"

When she brushes her own hair and smiles and batts her eyelashes at you until you say "oh pretty girl"

When she carries her own diaper to the garbage singing "Trash Trash"

When she dances to any song playing and giggles when you put on "Single ladies" by Beyonce

When she has everyone wrapped around her finger and I am the one that gets in trouble when I wont let her have what she wants.

When she gets in the mud without me knowing and I come out to tell her no she looks at me and says "Hi" all innocent so I could never be mad.

When she knows her smile and saying I love you melts me everytime.

When you have something she wants she holds out her little hand and asks you a million times in that sweet little voice "pease pease mom pease"

Yes my 15 month old is smarter then me and she knows it and I have decided I am ok with that (for now anyway) :)

All our love!!Paul Kera & Rilynn

.You take my breath away.

2010-08-22T10:51:00.000-07:00

My dear beautiful Rilynn,

You never cease to take my breath away. Once was when I saw a little pink plus sign

on an at home pregnancy test, when I felt the flutter of your little kick,

when I saw your little hand waving from a ultrasound screen and they said you were a girl,

when I heard you cry for the first time and got to hold you in my arms,

When I got to take you home from the hospital and they told me you were mine

when you called me momma and said I love you, when you walked on your own,

when you could make all the animal sounds in your favorite animal book,

when you reached your arms out to me and said please,

when I first heard your laugh and every laugh after that,

when you got so excited to see me after a long day at work,

And every morning I get to wake up and see your beautiful smiling face.

For all the times you have taken my breath away, for every laugh, every smile

every tear, every kiss, and every no momma shared I hope you always know

I love you Rilynn because you are mine and always will be :)

Love mommy

All our love!!Paul Kera & Rilynn

A definition of ones self

2010-08-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

I have always thought you could tell alot about a person by looking at their hair.

Take myself for example...mine has a tendency to tell me that I just cannot make up my mind Ever! Ill just show you the proof...

Now just believe me friends when I say I have tried it all when it comes to my poor hair..
I have basked in the glorious shades of pale blonde and lost a couple hundred hairs to a good pound or two of bleach...

I have tried my hand in the mommy of all mommy hair cuts...and burnt the fuse out of plenty of good hair straighteners.

I have lounged at least a total of 48 hours in a black leather salon chair with half a helmet of tin foil to achieve the perfect highlights.

I have curled, bobby pinned, and hair sprayed on end to be able to raise my hand in contributing to the damaging of the ozone layer.

I have twisted and crimped my way out of the ugliest of color regrowth in hopes that someone will notice my cute hairstyle instead of the horrible line.

I have cheated the system of box color dies in desperation and empty pockets.

I have plucked flowers from every Walmart and Hobby Lobby in the state of Arizona to have the perfect accessory to a cute side pony.

I have fried, sizzled, half inch, double barreled, and curling ironed my way to a cosmetology license.

I have rocked the side bang, front bang, and sometimes even the in between.

Something tells me my hair is saying to others that I am a mixed up girl that still likes to wear big goddy hair accessories and is lucky to have a stand of hair left on that multi colored head of hers....

And I have decided I am ok with that!!

Photo Disclaimer: dont judge that 85% of these picture contain me blowing a kiss because 85% of these pictures were sent right to my husbands cell phone :)

All our love!!Paul Kera & Rilynn

If our love were a scene from a movie...

2010-08-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

We would have two leading roles and one star of the show..

We would have millions of scenes with priceless footage..

(Its not what you think!! I swear, I biffed it at slide rock on our honeymoon and Paul so sweetly captured the moment)

We would have one sweet and romantic proposal...

There would have 1 gorgeous wedding...

and we would have 1 amazing honeymoon...

We would have waited anxiously for 9 months...

To someday have 1 beautiful and happy family...

We would be 2 people hopelessly in love...

and we would cherish 731 days of wedded bliss....

There would be a little too much cake up our noses....

And we would spend more time at the lake...

We would remember to celebrate our love one day at a time...

And we would laugh a little louder because we don't care what anyone else thinks...
Here's toast to you and me love because to me our love is like the scene of my favorite romantic comedy one that I just want to keep pushing replay over and over...

you make me wake up on the right side of the bed every morning, help me to never take life to seriously, and to cherish every blessing life and the lord bring us!!

HAPPY 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY TOMORROW!!

to my best friend, my soul mate, and my leading man

I love you today, tomorrow, and forever!

All our love!! Paul Kera & Rilynn

Always be my baby

2010-07-31T14:28:00.000-07:00

Do you remember this day? I do.

Today she is almost 14 months

Today she is silly

Today she is to smart for her own good

Today she is walking and getting into everything she can

Today she is saying Hi Mama and tells me no

Today she has a contagious smile

Today she is my toddler but she will always be my baby

All our love!! Paul Kera & Rilynn

Waking up in Vegas

2010-07-31T10:33:00.001-07:00

For my 21st my sweet husband took me to LAS VEGAS!! We had such a great time we had a beautiful room at Club De Soleil...

I tried to get some cute pictures of us together with no help from Paul every time I said to be serious and look cute this is how it turned out :)....

We went and watched a comedy show and Paul got to be in it haha I have never laughed so hard in my life!!

I got coned into going to Bass Pro shop and buying half of the fishing section (that's what I get for marrying a man that loves the outdoors)

We gambled, went cosmic bowling, went out dancing but I think we both had the most fun at Chuck E Cheese playing skee ball lol what can I say we are both kids at heart... PS sorry about the picture lol I think we were both unsure on where exactly the camera was :)

and we won lots of awesome prizes to bring home to Ri bahahaha I think this picture of Paul looking at the stuff we won is hilarious :)

We had a great trip and it was so nice to just get away for a while!! Thanks to our wonderful families for the great party and birthday gifts and for keeping Ri for us while we went on our trip! But I must say we are also glad to be home :)

All our love!!Paul Kera & Rilynn

21 is twice the fun!!!

2010-07-20T06:03:00.000-07:00

Its hard to believe that in 2 days I will turn 21, everyone keeps telling me that this is a huge birthday to celebrate and that it is a turning point in my life. But before my big turning point I wanted to remember 21 things that made my life the wonderful place that it is today!!

1. 21 years of lite candles

2. 21 half eaten birthday cakes and melted ice cream

3. 21 bows unraveled

4. 21 Happy Birthdays wished

5. 21 helium sucked balloons

6. 21 parties to planned

7. 21 billion gifts opened and cherished

8. 2100 friends remembered

9. 2 amazing parents who did it all because they thought my birthday should be #1

10. 2 amazing brothers and 1 amazing sister who helped even when they didn't want to

11. 21 silly themes that for the life of me I cant remember half of them

12. 21 years waiting to be older (only to now want to be younger)

13. 21 Huggs and Kisses

14. 2 amazing families brought together to form 1

15. 2 years with the 1 of my dreams

16. 21 years waiting to be the mom of a princess

17. 21 wishes hoped on the blowing of a flame

18. 21 years wondering if any of them came true

19. 21 countdowns till that special day

20. 21 million joyful memories

21. Is looking more and more wonderful each day!!

2 days till I turn 21 and 2 days till my husband takes me to Vegas to celebrate!! I think I am gonna like being 21 :)

All our love!!

Paul Kera & Rilynn

Not my idea of fireworks...

2010-07-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

Our 4th of July this year came and went with a bang..and not a good one I might add we spent yesterday in Rilynn's first trip to the ER. On Friday she started getting little red bumps on her body and everyone said that she was getting the chicken pox's so I took her home and we just waited it out since she was contagious. Then I started noticing that the spots were growing by the hour and spreading like wildfire. By Saturday most of her legs and arms were covered and she was getting alot on her little face. Then by Sunday her legs and arms were unrecognizable and her stomach and back were getting worse, then by lunch her legs were getting a bruised look to them so we headed for the hospital. They put her on quarantine in case she was contagious with a serious disease. We all had to wash and wear purple gloves which Rilynn didn't like. Then they came in and took blood and then we waited. They came back and said she is having a severe reaction to something but nobody knows what because we haven't done anything different lately. Because the ER was so packed they sent us home and told me to watch her 24 hours a day and if her fever gets higher or her skin starts peeling that they will be sending us to the valley to the children's hospital. So right now it is a waiting game I pray that it will slowly get better instead of worse but for now here are some pictures of our poor sweet girl....

These first two are from today....

These all are from yesterday....

See what I mean its getting worse not better :(

And our sweet girl just keeps smiling even thru the pain...

I will keep everyone posted on Ris progress!! We have one beautiful tough little princess :)

All our love!! Paul Kera & Rilynn

Somewhere over the rainbow

2010-07-01T21:24:00.000-07:00

I have always loved the rain and the beauty in brings (a little secret of mine is that I always dreamed that my first kiss would be in a pouring down rain thunder storm *sigh* sadly it wasnt) but anyway back to my story about the beauty rain brings...today when I got home from work this is the beauty that was outside our back window I just had to go out in the front yard and take a better picture :) the lord is ever creating small miracles to help me remember that he lives and loves me....

Doesnt the temple look beautiful?!? Another thing the lord reminds me of daily is that I have been blessed with my own beautiful rainbow who always comes and brightens my day after the rain....

She is the sunshine on a cloudy day....

A cute pair of shades when its too hott outside...

The Calm before the storm...

And the pot of gold at the end of my rainbow!!

All our love!! Paul Kera & Rilynn

Pictureing a Year

2010-06-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

First let me start by saying sorry for not posting in like three weeks things at our house have been so crazy I am sad that I have not been able to even post our sweet girls birthday party but I promise the post is coming soon!! But for now I thought I would share picture of Rilynn! Last week I took her to get her 1 year pictures done and they turned out so special, its hard to believe our little girl is one already she has such a silly and fun personality and we just love her to pieces each day makes me more and more grateful to be her mommy!!! Enjoy.....

How luck am I right!!?? To be the mother of this beautiful little piece of heaven :)

All our love!!Paul Kera & Rilynn

Dirt don't hurt...

2010-05-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when I was headed home from work I got this picture and a message from Tami that said....

Yeah that would be DIRT!!

haha I couldn't stop laughing at least our daughter is thinking green..right!?!?

All our love!! Paul Kera & Rilynn

Have her cake and eat it too!!

2010-05-21T22:20:00.000-07:00

In exactly 10 days (ok 11 but we wont count the rest of tonight) that is what Rilynn is going to do!! Here is a picture of her super cute birthday invitations sorry they scanned kinda fuzzy but they are still stinkin cute I think :)....

I am still dumbfounded that Rilynn is going to be one!! Time went by before I had time to think but it didnt go by without a million baby kisses, silly giggles, a few bumps and scrapes, a lot of crocodile tears (from both me and Ri), half a trillion smiles and pictures to match, or without 11 months 2 weeks and 6 days of I love you's spoken and days of being grateful to be this amazingly beautiful sweet and utterly joyful little princess's mommy!!

All our love!!

Paul Kera & Rilynn

This is what GLEE looks like!!!!!

2010-05-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

Literally!!

The GLEE concert was absolutely beyond words awesomely amazing!!! We had such a good time and they sang and danced like no bodies business not to mention we were literally right next to the stage and when they walked into the crowd they walk right up to us!! My dad is simply amazing for getting us the tickets and the concert was fanominal!! Here are some (ok a ton) of pictures to prove it!!!!!

Can we all just say HELLO PUKE!!!

and FINN!!!

Holy awesomely wonderful concert I would go a hundred more times if I could!!

Even with no voice from screaming and soar legs from jumping up and down and dancing :)

Have a great week friends, Oh and be sure to tune into GLEE this Tuesday on FOX at 8:00 lol :)

All our love!!

Paul Kera & Rilynn

Every MOMent I am proud to remember involves you...

2010-05-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

How blessed am I with both an amazing mother and mother-in-law on my side!!

Who are there for me thru thick and thin, happy or sad, and good or bad. These phenomenal women deserve the world and I hope they both know how grateful I am for them and the beautiful MOMents that I am honored to share with them. From our beautiful wedding day which without both my mom and Linda I know would not have been possible...

Thru the long wonderful birth of our very first beautiful baby, I was so blessed to have both of them present during my labor and I am not sure I would have been able to make it thru without their support, even if my mom forgot to remove my oxygen during pushing :) lol....

This mother's day it was important to both me and Paul that we did something special and personal for our mom's, so I thought I would share what we did...For Pauls mom (with help from my very talented mother I might add) we made this special birdhouse, Pauls mom loves to decorate her home for every holiday and I wanted her to have a special one to keep up year around. On the front you can see what we wrote but on the back of the house it says families are forever and it has all of our names written in pretty writing :) I think it turned out just as I pictured....

And for my mom I worked hard on this poem for a few months hoping to get all I wanted to say right (ps if you cant read the writing here I posted it also bigger below..) and then I tried my skills at drawing a rose across the poem (dont judge stu for sure got my parents artistic side)...

My Mother's Hands

My mothers hands to me have always been magic

to a little girl sometimes life can seem tragic

but her hands are always there to guide me

to hold and to stand beside me

hands that are endlessly giving

in the lords presence she is ever living

and as I have learned and grown

her hands have always been safe and known

teaching me lessons ever ensown,

I hope to have half the impact that my mothers

hands hold on the extraordinary daughter the lord is

helping us mold

To me her hands hold the world, a thousand

beautiful memories and stories untold

to an extraordinary woman, wife, mother,

grandmother, and friend

for a daughters love knows no end

-Kera

I know this has turned into an extremely long post but I know with all of my heart that without these two amazing women I would not be where I am today and I am a better person because I know them! To all the mommies out there I hope that today you hug your little ones a little tighter and are grateful for the amazing miracles that come with being a mother I know that I am blessed to be Rilynns mommy and I wish you all a wonderful and happy happy mothers day!!

All our love!!Paul Kera & Rilynn

I Scream, You Scream.....

2010-05-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

We all Scream for....

Our little sweetie is 11 months old today!! And to celebrate Grandma H bought Rilynn her first Ice Cream cone....

As you can see she loved it and cried when I made her throw what was left away :)

I cant believe in one short month we will be celebrating Rilynns 1st birthday!!

What a joy and a blessing she is in our life I cant imagine mine without her...

Rilynn loves to:

*Scream, giggle, and talk up a storm

*Crawl at lightning speed and almost walk

*Eat everything she can with her now 8 teeth!

*Say mom, dad, stop it, no, yes, hi, bye, fish, sock, grandpa

*Wave at everyone in a 1/2 mile radius

*Blow kisses and gives good and slobbery ones

*Empty all the dvds from the shelve

*Make mom and dad chase her around the house

*Throw things in the toilet (including moms car keys!)

*Climb up stairs

*Wear big necklaces

*Make everyone laugh with her silly personality

*And just be a sweet beautiful loving girl

I am a very lucky and blessed mommy of this wonderful baby of mine!

All our love!!Paul Kera & Rilynn

She wore an....

2010-04-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

Itsy Bitsy Tiny Winy Colored Polka Dot Bikini......

I took these super cute pictures of ri in the tub but I thought for future reference she might appreciate if I strategically drew cute swimsuits on her with cute polka dots :)

Haha it must have worked cause Paul walked by the computer and asked me where Ri got the new swimsuit bahahaha love it!!
(I am so lucky I have this cute girl to dress up and a husband who always knows how to make me laugh)

All our love!!Paul Kera & Rilynn

This week in an "Egg Shell"

2010-04-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

Today was Rilynns 1st Easter!! She had a blast coloring eggs...

Or her hands more like it (sigh they are still bright yellow)
Haha I love this face HILARIOUS :)

And having some family time....
Rilynn and Harlee love Grandpa!!

Most of all she loved her easter basket... (She looked so beautiful in her little Easter dress)

She even got a rocking horse :)

All in all we had a wonderful Easter thanks to our wonderful family and we hope you did too!!
*Sadly the weekend is ending and its back to work tomorrow....but on a possitive tomorrow is PAY DAY!! Wah Hoo!!
Oh and PS I am enjoying my job :)
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Come away with me

2010-03-21T20:33:00.000-07:00

Well because the economy has not been so kind to us (like everyone else) we decided that it would be good for me to find a job...so after filling out multiple applications interviewing and worrying (blah!) I finally landed a Secretary job here....

I am pretty excited about the job itself and I think I will enjoy the work I will be doing the only thing is I am extremely sad I wont be home with Ri everyday...hopefully one day she will forgive me and know that I only went back to work to help out our little family and not because I didnt want to spend time with her...because I start work tomorrow morning Paul and I decided to go on a trip just the two of us (thank you to my in-laws for keeping Ri for us!) this weekend... So on Friday we packed up our bags and headed off to the Valley for the weekend, on Saturday I conned Paul into taking me here....!!!!!

I love the zoo and have wanted to go to this one forever because everyone says it is much better than the Phoenix zoo and I must say I agree...

They even have an Albino Alligator which was just plain AWESOME!!

We also got pet the sting rays and swim with the sharks (ok ok so we only got to pet the sting rays) but still...oh please excuse the picture you can tell it was bright and sunny out there (lol)

Then that night Paul decided he was gonna show me up at miniature golf...these are our scores as you can see he smoked me in the first round but I held my own in the second...(thank you very much) :)

And this my friends is what happens when I ask my hubby to take a cute picture of us golfing...they all end up either blurry, eyes closed, or just plain silly silly...

Oh how I loved spending the weekend with the boy of my dreams

Wish me luck tomorrow on my first day back as a working momma :) Ill keep you posted on how it goes....

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

We just got a letter...wonder who its from!!

2010-03-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

Its from our favorite missionary!!

Its the letter I have been checking the mail all week for...the one about what he thought of the blanket :) so here is what he wrote....

Dear Kera,

Wow! The blanket is amazing! Sis that is the best gift I have ever got, I absolutely love it I tell everybody about it. You spent so much time on me sis I dont think I could ever come up with something good enough to repay you. I almost break down everytime I walk in and see it. That is something I want to keep forever I never want to use it. I want to hang it on a quilt rack they are going to have to put it in my grave with me haha. Thank you so much I mean it really thank you that is so special and the poem was awesome sis the gift was the coolest thing ever. I love you so much I hope you know that. God sent you as my angel sister and Im sure Paul feels the same way about you, how could he not. Sis you are such a great person please dont ever change I miss you so much write back really soon ok thank you again.

Love Stu

*Sigh* I am in tears again! Everytime I read it I cry...(I am a big baby I know) how blessed am I to have such an amazing brother and amazing family I am yet again counting the lords blessings!
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Were gonna have to let you go...

2010-03-11T23:25:00.000-08:00

I got Fired today, demoted, given the boot, hosed, canned however you want to say it!
By someone less than HALF my age I might add...
sure she was a blond haired blue eyed beauty....but she was a little to skinny if you ask me and could hardly speak a word of legible English....But of course he picked her.....I cant say I really blame him though she was much more qualified for the job....

She fits into small places.... Knows just the right tools to use...

Is a good listener and pays attention to detail....

And is most of all wrapped around her daddys finger ... Looks like my days as hunny-do assistant have ended and I have been replaced for a younger model *figures guys always go for the younger prettier type ;)
So I guess its back to washing dishes for me...But Im ok with that too :)
Plus I no longer have a leaky sink!!
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Quiet...a little too quiet

2010-03-08T10:44:00.001-08:00

This morning I was folding clothes in our bedroom and I could hear Rilynn playing in the living room, usually she crawls all the way to our room to find me but she didnt this morning and I could hear her giggling and crawling around on the tile and then I heard silence and I got nervous...So I walked into the kitchen and found her on the tile like this....

Poor little munchkin I guess she just wore herself plum out...

She was rolled up on the tile in the kitchen with a towel...

Which Im still not sure how she found the towel lol she never ceases to surprise me :)

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Not to toot my own horn but....

2010-02-28T21:23:00.000-08:00

Toot Toot!!!
Can you believe it I made this quilt to send to my little brother Stu on his misson!!

and you thought I couldnt sew...I cant very well actually but thanks to my amazing mother-in-law we did it!! I think it turned darn special we used all of his favorite t-shirts which he still doesnt know about yet lol hopefully he is not to mad.

and the back is batman because it is his favorite of course!! I think Rilynn likes it too :) she crawls all over it she will be awful sad to see it shipped off in a box in the morning lol.

*also in other exciting news my baby will be nine months old tomorrow!!!

Sigh where did the time go??!!
Rilynn is such a little ham and she has the funnest personality

She has 7 teeth now

Is walking from couch to couch

Standing up on everything

Always eager to strike a super model posse when I become the pop :)

Has her own catch phrase- she always says "wats that"

Happy 9 months tomorrow Ri!!

*Tomorrow is another special event... its my daddys birthday!! I have always been a major daddys girl and I am sure lucky to have the one I got :)

Happy Birthday Dad! I love you and am so lucky to be your daughter!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

What a little Dolly

2010-02-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

Alot of women (ok older women) have been telling me that Rilynn is so pretty and that she looks just like a Kewpie Doll. At first I would just smile and say thank you (I had no idea what a Kewpie doll was by the way) which I am sure some of you maybe wondering too. So I looked it up today I would like you all to meet Kewpie....

(Isnt she cute) and then I started laughing cause this morning I took this picture of Ri....

(They do have quite the resemblance ay?) Lol Oh I just love my little dolly and couldnt imagine life without her... Here is another one I found that bares yet another stirking resemblance....

I cant help but laugh :) Happy Thursday Friends!!
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Ottmann house Rules...

2010-02-19T09:23:00.001-08:00

(..rules as decided by our 8 1/2 month old)

Rule #5: I decide when it is time to eat, play, and go to sleep. (no matter how many times you put me back in my bed I will just scream until I am good and ready to fall asleep)

(My new trick!)

Rule #4: I have free reign of anything in the house. (so mommy you might as well stop putting all the games and movies away cause I am just going to take them out again)

Rule #3: I was genetically programed to get what I want when I was given these..

blue beauties...

and this is what happens when I dont get what I want...

(lol just kiddin)
Rule #2: Mommy you might as well give up on telling me no cause I will just give daddy my secret puppy dog eyes and he will say to you "dont tell my daughter no" and I will be secretly laughing at you on the inside. (dont worry mommy I still love you)

Rule #1: I am the boss at all times and places. Its mommy and daddy's fault you know for deciding to bring me into this world and it was even more their fault when I turned out to be so darn cute (come on guys what did you expect your genes mix well)

....these house rules my seemed far fetched but in our house they are true! From the moment Rilynn opened her sweet little eyes and smiled her cute grin we were hooked and she because the queen bee of the Ottmann house (I have no chance of ever regaining my title again) so needless to say my friends we are in trouble :)

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Seasons of Love!

2010-02-13T10:27:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that tomorrow will be Paul and I's third Valentines day together! Time is going by so fast and each day brings me more and more joy. I am so blessed to have such an amazing family! Here is a small guide of my journey in love so far and here is to a million more seasons of love....

Here is hoping that you and yours have a wonderful V-day tomorrow and that you spend it with the people that you love!!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilyn

How could you say no...

2010-02-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

to this....

That is my problem... I CANT!! I am so totally and completely...

on this little girl! I love February (the month of LoVe) it makes me grateful for everyday, for moments like these...

So lucky to be in LoVe with my best friend and for us to be given this little TrEaSuRe!! Challenge of the week: To LoVe OtHeRs MoRe. So I love you for reading and for just being you :)

All our love!! Paul Kera & Rilynn

Picture Perfect Princess

2010-02-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

Our

is 8 months old today!!

I cant believe that in 4 short months we are going to be celebrating Rilynn's 1st birthday. She is so much fun and is such a sweet baby (even though she gets into everything these days and always takes the silliest pictures)! I know I am a little bias but I think she gets more and more beautiful every day I am so blessed to be her mommy! Happy 8 months Ri I love you!!
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

My Heart Sings!!

2010-01-28T12:47:00.000-08:00

Today Paul had to write a short essay on an important event in his life and he chose to write about our wedding day!! His words were short but so sweet that I just had to share :) this is what he wrote...

It was August 8th, 2008 I remember waking up really early because I could not sleep. I was really nervous and at the same time I was very excited. I was really curious how my wife-to-be was feeling but no one would let me see her until she was walking down the aisle.
She was so beautiful when I saw her walking down the aisle and then it all hit me at once. This is it my life is going to change after this day; I am going to have to take care of me and her and not just myself anymore. But I was ready to make that change. Then before I knew it we were saying I do, I was really nervous because there were a lot of people watching and I am a pretty shy guy. Then I just told myself a lot of those people down there are my family! It was really nice to see all of my family so happy for me at the same time there was all of my wife’s family too and a lot of them I didn’t know but I made it through it all.
Then it was off to the bed and breakfast, we walked out to my truck and it was covered with whip cream, cookies, toilet paper, and cans. I was laughing at first then I kind of got upset. But I didn’t get too mad because I was in a great mood from just getting married. Now we have been very happily married for a year and a half and have a beautiful little daughter and our own little life.

Oh how I love my sweet husband!! He never ceases to amaze me...the other night he asked me to be his Valentine. Think I should say yes??!!!??? :)
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

SAHM guilty pleasures:

2010-01-21T10:12:00.000-08:00

Lol oh Rilynn never fails to make me laugh and this picture is just one of those many examples... doesnt it totally look like she is saying "How u Doin?"
Happy Thursday friends hope your day is as good as ours so far :)
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Just enjoy the show...

2010-01-19T08:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a great day!! My BfF Holly came to visit......

--------> Thats Her and Me :)

And we decided to go see....
--------> This!!
Which was SO good... if you are looking for a feel good romance comedy this is for sure one to go see!

And while we went my SWEET hubby kept
-------> Her

Thanks babe for letting me have a day out just to myself (your the bestest) and thanks to my BfF Holly Annolly for coming to see me I miss you so much and am so glad you came to watch a movie with me! I truly think we were seperated at birth (bahaha) sure do love ya and cant wait till Dear John comes out so we can go see that too!!
I am just so glad to have my friend back I could just cry!!
So to my sister from another mister haha kisses and sugar thanks for being you!!
Love Me (lol)
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

3rd times a charm!!

2010-01-13T13:01:00.000-08:00

We have been pretty busy lately trying to get Paul enrolled in school, working, and Rilynn is getting her first little tooth and army crawling every where and getting into everything! I decided today that I really wanted to update my blog and that I needed to take some cute pictures of Ri to post haha lets just say they turned out so silly because every time I would get ready to take the picture she would smile so cute and then scrunch up her little face because the flash was to bright I probably took around twenty closed eye scruchy faced pictures before she totally crashed out hehe these are the ones that I think turned out the cutest....

We just love our little princess and cant believe how big she is getting I wish I could just keep her little forever she is so much fun and is the sweetest baby ever! We are so lucky to have this precious little gift and cant picture our lives without her :)
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

We wish u a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

2009-12-28T10:20:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas with all of our family and we hope that you did too!! Santa definently came to visit our house this year...thank you everyone for the wonderful gifts and great time spent together! We love you! Rilynn seemed to like the wrapping paper more than most of her gifts haha and was rather ticked at me when I took it away from her...

One of the best gifts I recieved this year was a call from my brother Stu who most of you know is on his mission in California, I miss him like crazy so when he called me I couldnt help but to get emotional and to thank my Heavenly Father for the amazing family he has blessed me with!! I got to talk to Stu for about 45min he is doing amazing and loving his mission! We love you Stu! Every year it seems I have more and more to be greatful for we hope that you and yours had a Merry Christmas this year and in the years to come!
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Wrapped with love!

2009-12-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

Paul has always hated wrapping gifts but he knows how much it means to me that he wraps my gifts himself he is so sweet and tries so hard so last night he showed me one of the gifts he wrapped....

Isnt it so cute I love it and I told him it was wrapped with love! Paul always goes out of his way to make my life better the other day I saw this written on the freezer with our ABC magnets haha...

The Kewa thing is kind of an inside joke because Pauls nephew Hayden always says my name like that and Paul thinks it is hilarious so every time he writes my name he always spells it that way...and the jiz thing lol I guess you just have to know Paul for that one! Thanks babe for making me feel so special :).
And these cute pictures are of our sweet girl the best gift under our tree!!

Merry Christmas everyone we love you and wish you the happiest holidays from our family to yours!!!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Half a year and kidney stones??!!!

2009-12-15T07:41:00.000-08:00

WARNING LONG POST SORRY!!

I know that Ri turned 6 months old on the 1st but she just had her check up yesterday...Our little princess is growing like a weed she is now: 17 pounds 4 ounces 80% for her age and 27 inches 40% for her age and had to have three stinkin shots. The doctor said she is a perfect baby and asked me if he could take her home with him haha well he asks me that every time I take her I just have to keep saying nope sorry! He always says me and Paul have the right recipe for making cute babies and we could just have another one and share Rilynn with him and his wife lol sorry Dr. Dewitt we just cant imagine our lifes without her! I love being Rilynns mommy and I am so blessed that I get to be!!

Well after I took Ri to her appointment I came home did some dishes and laundry and me and Ri played on the floor with her toys. Paul told me he would be on his way home from work so I started making some dinner, all of the sudden I felt this sharp pain in my back that just would not go away I thought maybe my hip was out or something so I went to try and sit down for a minute BAD IDEA it only started hurting worse and it was starting to hurt in the front by that point so I just kept pacing the living room hoping Paul would walk in the door..poor Ri was just staring at me like mom what are you doing, at that point I was in tears it was hurting so bad when Paul walked in I tried to have him pop it still thinking my hip was out another not so good idea I was doubled over in pain so I tried to take a bath but I couldn't even sit in the bath so I got out and then I started throwing up and I was bawling so I asked Paul to take me to the doctor. Being that it was already 7:00 at night all that was open was the walk in clinic because I did not want to go to the ER when we finally got to the clinic there was a million people in the waiting room of course they too all looked at me like I was nuts (well you would have to I had makeup and tears running down my face, I am sweating to death, cant stop pacing the waiting area, and I kept throwing up outside in the bushes sorry clinic for that by the way) I feel so bad for Paul he just handled it like a trooper he filled out the paperwork for me and helped me with whatever I needed. The nurse finally after 30 minutes of crying and pacing called my name!! I went back and she said she thought my gallbladder was having an attack I was shacking (sp?) so bad with pain they tried to have me go to the bathroom but I couldn't so I had to drink what seemed like a gallon of water which I immediately threw right back up ugh I was getting so frustrated with the doctor at that point although it wasn't his fault then I get the so exciting news that I have these...

That's right kidney stones!! I am telling you friends the pain was worse than the pain I had when having Rilynn I told the doctor this and that it was not fair cause at least with labor you get something good at the end! He gave me an order for major pain meds and said it could be days or weeks before I pass these stupid things!! I almost screamed you have got to be kidding me he could tell that I was miserable so he gave me a lovely shot in my butt and said it should help with the pain until I could get my meds filled. So all the way home I wiggled in my seat and just wanted to walk the rest of the way it hurt so bad to sit and my sweet husband and brother in law drove all the way to show low and waited at 10:30 at night to get my medicine for me. My dad brother in law Josh and father in law gave me a blessing and my mother in law and mom are helping with Rilynn thank you so much everyone for being so wonderful and for all your help I don't know what I would do without all of you!! Thank goodness for the pain meds and my family and hopefully these darn things go away and never ever come back I would never wish these upon anyone anytime ever!! Thanks friends for reading my long drawn out post I love you for taking the time to put up with me!! For now I just get to sit here with my pain meds and water and wait for these things to leave me alone fingers crossed they go away soon!!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Its beginning to look alot like christmas!

2009-12-07T18:41:00.001-08:00

I know I know I have not blogged in a while but it wasn't my fault I swear I tried to blog but our darn computer pretty much blew up!! But luckily my dad is a genius and fixed it for us thanks dad :) We had a great Thanksgiving with all of our family and we hope you did too and now we are getting ready for Christmas!! I love this picture of Ri and I am so excited that we get to have her with us this Christmas instead of just feeling her wiggling around in my tummy...
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

My thankful ABC's of Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T07:39:00.000-08:00

A-America (My home of the free because of the brave)

B-Blessings (I have been given so many) and Brothers (I cant imagine my life without you in it)

C-Computers (Without them I would be blog less)

D-Daddy's (For my amazing daddy and for Rilynns)

E-Energy (That helps me get up with a crying baby at 4 in the morning)

F-Friends (Mine sure are priceless)

G-Grandparents (I am blessed to know and to have wonderful grandparents)

H-Heavenly Father (Who knows me as his daughter) Home (There is no place like it)

I-In-laws (I am sure lucky to have the ones I do)

J-Jesus Christ (Who suffered for my sins and who is my brother and friend)

K-Kissing (Which is a sweet expression of the heart)

L-Love (Which has brought me and keeps bringing me so much joy)

M-Mothers (For my own and for the privilege I get to be one)

N-Nieces (I love mine so much) Nephews (Which I hope to have someday)

O-Octo mom (That reminds me that my life is not so bad after all)

P-Paul (He is the most amazing father and husband) Pregnancy (And the miracles it brings)

Q-Questions (That bring me closer to the truth)

R-Rilynn (Who is the light of my life and makes me smile every day)

S-Sisters (Sisters by chance Friends by choice)

T-Temples (Where families are forever) Text messages (That say I love u forever)

U-Umbrellas (That keep you dry in the rain and cute to kiss under)

V-Vampires (You have kept mine and Paul's life interesting lately haha)

W-Work (A way to provide for our family even though times are hard)

X-X-Mas (I hate this word cause it takes out Christ which is the true meaning for Christmas)

Y-You (For always taking the time to read my life happenings)

Z-Zippidy-do-dahs (Which make the world a happy place)

This Thanksgiving I have so much to be thankful for I love you all family and friends and whether we are near our far from each other this holiday I wish you and yours an amazing Thanksgiving and that you know I am counting you as one of my thankfuls this year!!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

AmErIcAs NeXt ToP mOdEl

2009-11-17T14:55:00.000-08:00

LoOk OuT wOrLd CaUsE tHiS dOlL hAs GoT iT aLl!!

A sTaR oN tHe RiSe GuArAnTeEd To MeLt YoUr Heart

A tRuE bEaUtY iNsIdE aNd OuT

Be PrEpAreD fOr CuTeNeSs tHaT sHe Is PrEpArEd To DeLiVeR

A pRicElEsS aNgEl WiTh A oNe Of A kInD hEaRt!!

AnD a ShOe-In To Be AmErIcAs NeXt ToP MoDeL.... :) yEs We ArE wIlLiNg To BoOk MoDeLiNg JoBs HaHa!!

AlL oUr LoVe!!
PaUl KeRa & RiLyNn

Carpe Diem; Seize the day!

2009-11-07T11:28:00.000-08:00

Smile Often, Laugh Much, and Love More!

I think the pictures in this post say all I want to say :) How blessed am I to be the mom of this beautiful little girl!
All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

This is how she roxs her converse!!

2009-11-04T14:20:00.000-08:00

I went shopping for Ri last week and found these!! the cutest pink converse shoes ever I love them and they look so cute on her :) I know I am bias but I think she makes everything look darn cute so here are some pictures of our cute girl Rockin her converse!!

P.s. there are some super cute pictures of her in her Halloween costume below :)

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Cutest pumpkin in the patch!!

2009-11-01T14:33:00.001-08:00

Yesterday we had so much fun!! We are so blessed to have Rilynn in our lives and to experience her first Halloween with her she looked so cute in both of her costumes and we had a great time trick-or-treating with her!

Costume #1...

She was the cutest hunter ever!! And her daddy loved this costume :)

and then she was a pumpkin I loved this costume and she made the cutest pumpkin with her chubby cheeks!! Rilynn turned 5 months old today and I cant believe that 5 short months ago I met her for the first time! Time is going by so fast and I just want to keep her little forever but I know I cant so for now we are just enjoying all the new things she is doing and capturing every precious moment in pictures!! We love you Ri and we are the luckiest parents in the world!!

Rilynn likes to:

* say Da Da

* hold her own bottle

* Scoot every where

* stand holding on to someone or something

* she is getting her first tooth!!

*almost sit without support

*pull everyones hair (which really hurts haha)

*put everything in her mouth and slobber everywhere

*laugh and talk like crazy

Rilynn is so much fun and we are loving every second with her I count my blessings every day that she chose us to be her parents! and that my father in heaven loves me enough to send us this little angel from heaven!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Dont worry I got the hint

2009-10-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

This morning I (Hi! that's me) woke up and found

this Paul had hand written the chex mix recipe and taped it to the cupboard I got the hint babe haha

so I decided to be a nice wife and I got out all the stuff and started cooking

don't worry she helped too :)

but I think it turned out pretty great!! and now I have a very happy husband, a yummy smelling house, and a big bag of chex's mix!!

Here is the Recipe if you want to have a happy husband and a big bag of chex mix too:

1/2 stick butter (melted) 8 cups of your favorite chex cereal

1 1/4 teaspoons seasoned salt 1 cup of peanuts

4 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 cup of pretzels

1. In a small bowl add seasoned salt and Worcestershire sauce to melted

butter; mix well. Pour cereal peanuts and pretzels into a zipper bag.

2. Pour butter mix over cereal mix. Seal bag and shake the bag until all

the pieces are evenly coated.

3. Preheat oven to 250. Pour mix onto a cookie sheet Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes

cool and store in an airtight container.

Hope you and your family enjoy our recipe as much as we do!!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Together Forever No Matter What!!

2009-10-26T20:42:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago we went and had family pictures taken before Stu left on his mission Becca Martin did them for us and I think they turned out super cute!! The only sad part is my baby wouldnt look up for hardly any of them and I am like the biggest girl in our family (aw nuts!! but I am trying to work on it) and they still turned out cute anyway so special thanks to Becca and putting up with all of us!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Pumpkin Carving Extravaganza!

2009-10-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

11 steps to carving great pumpkins!

Step 1: Pick the perfect pumpkins
Step 2: Clean out the gunk
Step 3: Get your hands sticky and messy
Step 4: Carve out your pattern

Step 5: Roast the seeds in the oven
Step 6: Carve Ri's pumpkin
Step 7: Carve mine (its supposed to be a mummy if you cant tell haha)
Step 8: Paul carves his (its an awesome scarecrow)

Step 9: Enjoy all the hard work with the ones you love
Step 10: Take cute pictures of your baby with her pumpkin and
Step 11: Have a blast this Halloween!!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

It's Spooktacular!!

2009-10-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

Last year during Halloween I was like 4 weeks pregnant with Rilynn and super sick so I didn't feel much like doing anything which made me super sad because at my house growing up my dad always went all out for Halloween! So my sweet husband knew how much it meant to me to get to do stuff this year especially with it being Ri's First Halloween!! So yesterday he took me to the store and we picked up some stuff to get ready for Halloween...these are our pumpkins..

We are CARVING PUMPKINS!!, roasting the seeds and making punkin pie! I am so excited and grateful to have such a sweet husband who is willing to do all the silly fun things I want to do Thanks babe :)..Ri loves the pumpkins already I cant wait to take pictures of her while we do all that fun stuff this Saturday oh can you guess what she is gonna be for Halloween?!?

That's right she is gonna be A PUMPKIN!! Her costume is so cute and she makes the perfect pumpkin with her cute chubby cheeks!

So more pictures to come of all our Halloween fun!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Got Milk?

2009-10-16T11:49:00.001-07:00

Rilynn will probably yell at me one day when she is older and sees this

but I thought it was so funny and to cute not to share...this morning Rilynn was rolling

around on the floor and I went over to change her diaper and this is what I saw, she had

spit up all over herself and she thought it was so funny I couldnt help but laugh

I guess she did a little to much rolling after just drinking her bottle.

I love you Ri thanks for always keeping me entertained!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Look out UTAH!!

2009-10-12T16:04:00.001-07:00

This last week we went to Utah to take Stu to the MTC!! We are gonna miss him but we had a great trip and it was so nice to get to spend time with all of our family in Utah here is some pictures from our fun time!Rilynn slept about 80% of the trip which was pretty nice haha

On Tuesday my dad, mom, stu, tami and I took a trip to see our old house and neighborhoods we lived in when we were little its so crazy to see how things have changed there for some reason I remember these houses being alot bigger..

First house we lived in..

Second house....

Also Rilynn took her first bath in the sink last week it was so funny she thought she was pretty big stuff :)

Rilynn got to meet her new cousin Gauge and her and Harlee had so much fun playing with him...well more like Harlee liked attacking Ri, Rilynn liked attacking Gauge, and poor little Gauge just had to lay there and take it like a big boy (he is so stinkin cute)

On Wednesday my parents headed off with my brother Stu to the MTC it was one of the hardest moments in my life to say goodbye to him I am so proud of him and I know he is gonna be an amazing missionary but I am still gonna miss him so much!

I set up a blog for him if you want you can check it out here: elderstuhensley.blogspot.com

On Thursday we went to visit Aunt Deb I love her so so much and we had such a great time! Thanks for all the fun Aunt Deb I wish we could do it more.. it was her first time meeting Rilynn and she was so cute with her Rilynn just laughed and talked with her the whole time
While we were at Aunt Debs my sweet little princess decided to go to the bathroom all over her outfit so alas she got to hang out in her diaper for awhile (she looks real sad about it huh haha)

All in all it was a bittersweet visit to Utah this time around we had so much fun with everyone and I hope we get to do it again real soon!! So special huge huggs and thanks to.. Aunt Velda and Uncle Tim, Raelynn and Gauge, Aunt Deb, My mom and dad, Tami and Har, Grandma Rose, my husband (for surviving the week without me), Rilynn (for being such a good girl), and my favorite missionary Stu!! I love you all so much!!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4!!

2009-10-01T17:06:00.002-07:00

Our sweet Rilynn is 4 months old today!!

I cant believe how fast time goes by we love Rilynn so much

and she makes us so happy I dont know what we would do without her!

Happy four months Ri!! Me and daddy love you so much!

I just love this girl how can you not smile look at her :)

She loves watching the fishes at my parents house

She can now:

*laugh out loud
*Roll over and back
*Squeal in delight
*On stomach raise up to her chest
*Bear some weight on her legs
*Turn in the direction of a voice
*Grasp a rattle or object
*Object if you take her bottle away before she is done
*Eat baby cereal and now some grean beans

And many more fun things! She is such a happy sweet baby and we are so blessed to have her!!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn

Big is Beautiful!

2009-09-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

In pregnancy anyway :)

I was looking thru my camera the other day and found these pictures from when I was

pregnant with Rilynn haha oh man was I big

but I love that I get to put all these fun pictures in her baby book!!

The first one I was 20 weeks and the second one I was 28 weeks

Our trip to Babies R Us these signs are a lifesaver when you are huge and walking around in the valley!! Cuddos to whoever thought of this!

Spring Break in Laughlin haha we love minature golf although I am really bad at it... I love the one where you can see Paul's cute butt and my funny face Im sure he will love me for putting it on here! hehe

The night before we went to the hospital to be induced!

dont look at my hair I didnt do it I was to tired haha..

Ok so this one is not of me pregnant but it was on my moms camera

of my sweet baby girl the day after she was born so I had to put it up!

All our love!!
Paul Kera & Rilynn