The Latest Happenings in Our Crazy Lives

Well, I could backtrack a whole year, tell everyone how much our two babies have grown, paint a picture of the sometimes elaborate hilarities they do almost daily (did I invent a new word?!), but who has time to read a post that long?! And, quite frankly, I don't have time to write one that long either. I've been pretty good at Facebook lately anyway, so most of you that would be interested in our semi-chaotic world probably can guess at what we Klines have been up to these days.

I will, however, post a short synopsis of our latest comings and goings . . .

Cannon is a handful! He is all over the place at any given time. I take my eyes off of him for a split second, and that nearly-eighteen-month-old baby is getting into something else he knows he's not supposed to. The other day, he was climbing up on a table in the living room. I told him to get down very sternly, but he didn't accept my offer. So, I proceeded to ask my son if he needed a spanking. He looked right at me, slapped his hand on his rear end twice, smiled, and continued climbing onto the table. My initial thought was, "Don't let him see me laugh!" He is the messiest, all-over-the-place, I-already-think-I'm-two-even-though-I'm-one year old. I am pretty sure I could set a world record for the number of decibels he hits when he screams. Some friends of ours and their then 17-month-old son met us at the park for our first play date. Their son was sort of shy and didn't come up to my kids right at first. So, what does Cannon do? He walks up and pushes him! I was so embarrassed. Yet, despite his semi-bullying nature and his messiness, he is the sweetest kid I've ever encountered. He loves me as much as I love him. When he says my name or falls asleep in my arms, I melt. He gives me kisses and hugs even when I don't ask for them, signs "I love you" and fist bumps (what we call "giving love") at just the right times, and smiles like he doesn't have a care in the world. Yes, my son may set a world record for loudness, but I think he could set one for sweetness as well. I love that boy so, so, so much. Every time I look at him, I thank God for giving us such a wonderful surprise nearly 18 months ago.

Keely is still my pride and joy in pretty much every way. I know both of my kids will be successful in the future, but I have to brag that K is already successful in EVERYTHING she does. She tumbles at Ready-Set-Go, takes swimming lessons at Melanie Park South, and is already asking her daddy for a guitar. She lights up my world in so many ways. I just have to smile because of her self-motivation. I'm told she's just like me, and I take that to mean I was a pretty neat kid. We pray nightly at our house, and K is getting to the point of memorizing our prayer and adding to it on her own. When we read our Bible stories from her Veggie Tales Bible, she repeats the Bible verse after every story. She asked me the other day if we all have devils in our heads. I told her yes. So, she asked, "Well, do we all have God in our hearts then?" Such innocence, and I love her for it. We talk about God a lot, especially since the passing of my paternal grandparents in January and March of this year. She is very interested in learning about God. A couple of days ago, Carl saw her smack herself in the head. He said, "Keely, why are you hitting yourself? You shouldn't do that!" Her response: "I'm telling the devil to leave me alone. He's telling me to be rude, and I want to listen to God." Way to go, Keely-kins. Shoo that devil away. God is taking care of you, my little one.

As for Carl and I, we're up to the same stuff we usually are, although we're both taking on something new in the next couple of months. I enrolled at UNT as an online Library and Information Sciences with School Library Certification student this summer. I am currently taking my first 6 hours and LOVING it. I am learning some really cool stuff. Carl is registered at Texas Tech for the fall semester as a mechanical engineering major. We are both really nervous about taking on so much when our children are so young, but we also realize that by going back to school, we'll be able to make a better future for them. We want our kids to see how hard work really does pay off. And, even though we're busy, we will always make our kids our priority. Always.

I've posted several pics on my Facebook page. Check out our beautiful, happy family. Life is good, and we're in a happy place these days. I hope you all are, too. God bless!