Keeping up with the Kolbs

I'm still here

2011-07-26T12:06:00.001-07:00

I haven't been on here in forever, but I have had less and less time to document my kiddos so I feel like I need to do something to start with this process so that I can look back and remember it one day when the kiddos are all grown up! We are enjoying the summer so much, but it is just flying by so fast! We have been to Disney World, the pool, movies, day trip to the beach, Frankies fun park, and we are getting ready for two more beach trips to cram in before summer is over!! We found out in May that we are expecting our third child! We are excited and nervous for this new adventure in our family! Madison is over the moon excited about becomming a sister again! She is such a little mommy! Blake really doesn't know what to expect yet, but I am sure he will be great too... I wanted to write down some of the mile stones that the kiddos are hitting so I can look back and remember all of the precious things!

Madison- Turned six in June, she has lost two teeth, is reading, and riding her bike without training wheels... She is swimming like a fish. She did a cheerleading camp this summer and got picked to be one of the Lil girls DF cheerleaders which means she will be cheering this fall with all of the other cheerleaders at the football games!

Blake- Turned three in May, he got tubes in January and since then his speaking has rocketed, he is in a big boy bed, and is doing great potty training! He knows all of his colors, can count from one to ten, and is getting ready to start three year old pree school this fall at Gateway Baptist....

I love my babies so much, and cannot wait to see what this new precious baby will be! We go tomorrow for our 12 week visit even though I will already be 13 1/2 weeks along... Please pray that everything goes smooth on the ultra sound and that this little peanut is healthy!!!

Blake

2009-05-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

Christmas letters from Santa

2008-12-13T20:22:00.000-08:00

The kids got their Christmas letters in the mail today from Santa, and boy oh boy were they excited (well Madison was excited enough for both of them) Blake just tried to eat his :) The letters were personalized from Santa and told Madison how good in school she was doing, and how great a big sister she has been this year. Blake's letter told him that he was such a good sleeper, and eater. Santa told the kids that he would try his best to get them the toys they were asking for, and requested that they please leave out some reindeer food for the reindeers because they got very hungry delivering toys! Madison was very excited and told us that she would make sure to put some carrots with Santa's cookies and milk! I love this time of year and seeing the excitement in my babies eyes!!! Merry Christmas!

Christmas Program!

2008-12-13T20:07:00.001-08:00

Madison had her first school program on Friday, and she did GREAT!!! I am such a proud Mommy!!!! They had their Christmas program at the preschool on Friday and both Bryan and I got to attend as well as Grandparents. Madison was really excited to go up on stage and sing all of the songs that she has been learning at school!! She has a cold so the congestion was getting to her half way through the program but she tried her best to stick it out. I am so excited that she is getting to experience all of these new great things that the preschool is teaching her! She is so excited about Christmas, and it being Jesus' birthday!!! We took the kids to go look at lights at Saluda Shoals one night last week and the whole time all she kept asking for was to see "baby Jesus". She is just too sweet!!! Well Madison mommy and daddy are so proud of you for doing so well in your program, and we look forward to many more things that you and your brother will get to do. As a special treat my mom "madison's mimi" gave her Horton hears a who for doing so well singing so we are all planning on watching it this weekend!

Boo at the zoo!!

2008-10-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

Madison and Hannah Dancing the night away!!

Go Girls!!

Madison and Bryan running through the "snow" (foam)

Getting candy "Trick or Treat"

Look at my beautiful Ariel

Boo

Daddy and his Princess

Mommy's Girl

Bryan and I took Madison to Boo at the Zoo last night and boy did she have a BLAST!!! We left Blake at home with my mom because I was afraid it would be to cold for him, and because we wanted to do something with just Madison. She had so much fun, and so did we. Her favorite parts were running through the "snow" as she called it with her daddy, which was this huge foam making machine they had set up that produced mountains of foam for the kids to run through, and dancing. They had a D.J. set up with lights playing all kinds of great music for the kids, Madison and our neighbor Hannah had a blast dancing to all of the music. My favorite part was dancing with Madison and roasting Marshmellows!!! They were YUMMY!! All in all we had a great time and it is definitely a family tradition that we will do next year with Madison and Blake!!!

Crazy Weather!!!

2008-10-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

Pine Tree in mom and dads gameroom

This is where the top of the tree broke off and fell

Look at those roots

As many of you know on Friday we had some pretty crazy weather out in the Chapin Ballentine area. Bryan had just arrived back from Georgia, and my mom was coming over to get Madison. She was going to take Madison back to her house to spend the night, but instead I asked if she would just watch both of the kids here so that Bryan and I could go out to eat. We were leaving for the restaurant when the wind started to pick up. We did not think much about it at the time and we headed out. We had just put in our order when my mom called and said that the neighbor had just called her and a pine tree had just fallen into their house!!! I was freaking out! By the time we got back home our patio furniture had made its way over our fence and into the neighbors yard. Thanks Josh for rescuing it for us!!!! And poor Maidsons trampoline was no longer round, but instead oval!!! The streets getting to our house and my mom's house were closed due to trees and power lines that were down. I am so thankful that everyone was okay, because all of the stuff that was messed up can be replaced, but it was still a BIG MESS!!!!! Just please continue to pray for my parents as they try to get their home fixed!!!

Making Halloween treats for daddy!!

2008-10-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

The Batter is the best part!!!

My little chef!

Say pumpkin :)

How cute is this!!!

Bryan is finally done with his training in Georgia which had him out of town for a month. Last weekend when he was coming home for the weekend Madison and I decided to make him a yummy meal with halloween brownies for dessert. The meal was okay, and the brownies turned out so so, but boy did we have fun making them!!!! I am so glad that Bryan is home and we can get back into our little routine!!!

Boy do they grow fast!!!

2008-10-13T12:34:00.001-07:00

Blake Sitting in his Bumbo seatEating rice cereal for the first time

He found his feet

Yummy Carrots my favorite

Doing arts and crafts with sissy!

Boy how time flies when you are having fun!! I cannot believe Blake is almost five months old!! In this past month he has really came into his personality! He is so sweet and loving! He definitely love his mommy!! He gets so excited when he see Madison, he has actually just started laughing out loud when she smiles and talks to him! It is so sweet to see him light up when he see's her!!! This month was full of firsts. He sat in his bumbo, ate rice creal, tried carrots and applesauce, and found his feet (he loves his toes and tries to put them in his mouth as much as possible)! I thank God everyday for giving me two healthy children who I love with all of my heart!!! God is so good! Oh and I forgot Blake also started rolling from his tummy to his back, man this was a busy month!!!! Stay tuned for more Kolb updates!

Pumpkin Patch!!!

2008-10-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

Say Cheese

We took the kids to Harmons Tree Farm on Sunday afternoon to the Pumpkin Patch and boy did we have a great time!!! We went with some of our friends and their kids and Madison had a blast looking for pumpkins and going on a hayride and of course playing on the playground!!! We ate homemade peach ice cream, which by the way was delicious!!! We had such a great time and the weather was beautiful!!! The kids especially loved looking at all of the neat animals that were their! They loved feeding the goats and deer, the geese were a little mean though one goosed Payton on her nose!!! We had a great time at Harmons and looked forward to going at Christmas, and we will definitely be going back next year for more pumpkin picking!!!!!

HELP

2008-10-13T06:50:00.000-07:00

I know that I have some computer savy friends out there who can help me with my blogging problem since my husband is in Georgia I cannot show him, but it will let me type new post, but when I try to upload pictures it errors out saying that something is wrong with the web address and to try and type it in again. I am not sure what this means because I am not typing in anything to start with I am just uploading my pictures like I always do, and then while it is uploading it errors out!!!!

Hanging out with friends!!

2008-10-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long but everything has just been so crazy with the kids and Bryan away at school!!!! I have developed a whole new respect for single moms!!! I do not know how they do it. By the time I get them in bed I am pooped, it is all I can do to do anything else!!! This weekend when Bryan came home we had a great time. Friday night we celebrated his birthday with our friends since he will be gone on his actual birthday :( We just played it really layed back and had some people over for pizza and cookie cake, and let the kids play outside until bedtime because it was absolutely beautiful!! Then Saturday we watched the Carolina game with Caroline and Ryan (oh by the way did I mention how awesome we did GO COCKS!!!!!) and then that night my mom and dad came over and watched the kids so that Bryan and I could go out for dinner (Date night YEA!!!!!!!) When we got back all I had to do is put Blake down for bed they were all bathed and ready to go!! I have the best parents in the world :)!!!!!! And today we went to the Pumpkin patch and bought pumpkins and went on a hayride with our friends Cy and Lindsey and Ryan and Katie and all of their kids!!! It was a great weekend and I will be downloading some pictures of the pumpkin patch later tonight or in the morning!! We are truly blessed to have such great friends!! As you get older you realize who your true friends are and that when you find them you need to hold on to them because true friends are hard to come by!!!! I am happy that I have these people in my life. What a great weekend!!!!

Madison's first dentist appointment!

2008-09-18T19:17:00.001-07:00

How cute is this!!! Madison went to her very first dentist appt. today! She did GREAT!!! I could not believe how great she did. When we went in I thought they would just look at her teeth and get her used to the idea of the dentist, but oh no, they actually cleaned her teeth. She did better than me (for all of you who know me I am afraid of the dentist) :) Miss Lisa her hygentist was AWESOME!! She told Madison that the chair was a princess chair, and called her princess Madison the whole time. We made it a family event, Myself, Blake and Bryan all crammed back into the room to watch Princess Madison get her teeth tickled!!! It was great. I was so frazzled today that I forgot my camera, and the wonderful people at Dr. Nelson's office let me use their's and e-mailed it to me before I even left!! How great are they!! We took her to Target tonight and got her a special prize for being such a big girl at the dentist today! Did I mention that she did GREAT :) I am such a proud mom.

Madison started dance!

2008-09-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Last night I took Madison to her very first dance class at Southern Strutt! It is a combo tapp and Jazz class that last 45 min... I thought there would be a couple of girls in there, but boy was I wrong the class was packed full of cute little three year olds eager to shake their booties!!! :) She had a blast, and the funny part was while we were waiting for her class to start we were looking at all of the pictures on the walls of the dancers, and yes you guessed it there I was big hair and all. It was so funny to be taking my daughter to where I used to dance. I told Madison that mommy was in the picture and she just looked at me and laughed... Well once again my independent daughter amazed me. She did not know a soul in the class, but when the teacher said it was time to start she just walked right in and did not look back! She is doing so great with school, gymnastics, and dance!! Her schedule is so full, and I am so tired... She loves to stay busy, but I am looking forward to Friday because we get to just hang out!!! I have a couple of pictures I will try to get on later, but I will have to take more at her next dance class because these did not turn out that great!

Kiawah 2008

2008-09-15T12:35:00.001-07:00

We just got back on Saturday from our week long beach trip to Kiawah!! We had a blast, but it was quite the challenge to take a 4 month old on a beach trip away from home... Blake just got extremely off of his schedule and was up most of the nights... On the plus side I had lots of help with the kids, and got some time to relax. It was great to have a couple of night to actually eat a hot meal :) Madison had a blast, she did not actually enjoy the beach part, but the pool was her favorite!! She would have slept their if we would have let her. We had a great time and got to do some neat things. I already cannot wait till next year. I am going to miss summer!!!! Oh well I guess this means back to reality! I will post some more pictures.

First day of preschool!!

2008-09-04T12:34:00.001-07:00

Madison's first day of preschool
Look at that sweet girl
Her bookbag is as big as her
Proud Mommie
Here we come preschool

Madison started her first day of preschool yesterday at Gateway Baptist Church. Her teachers names are Miss Lisa and Miss Robin. She was super excited to start school!! On Monday night I layed out her clothes and packed her bookbag, and then on Tuesday Morning when I woke her up to get her ready she of course started saying she wanted to wear her "handprint" shirt. I had no clue what she was talking about. I told her that I had this pretty outfit for her to wear, but then she started getting upset and crying. I did not want her upset and crying on her first day of school, so I told her to show me what she wanted. It was the Gateway shirt Bryan had bought her on registration. So we put it on, even though it was to big and she wore it!! When I dropped her off she said by mom and hugged and kissed me. As I drove off I started to cry because she is so grown up. Then when I picked her up she had a huge smile on her face and ran to me. That made me feel great!!! I look forward to this year, hopefully it will be full of great memories for our family!!!

Carolina Game

2008-09-02T19:19:00.001-07:00

Madison and Blake cheering on the Gamecocks!!
Madison and Lauren Playing
Say cheese "Bubba"
Blake and Noah in their Gamecock attire
How Cute: Future Carolina football players :)

I cannot believe it is that time of year again!! I can remember when it was Madison's first game and we dressed her up in a Carolina onsie, and now it is Blake's turn. We celebrated the first game by going over to some of our friends house Jenn and Cliff and their two kids Lauren and Noah. The girls played and we ate some great food. The boys were both a little fussie, it was almost bedtime before the game even started :(.... We left shortly after the game started so that we could get the kids into bed and enjoy the rest of the game!! Go Gamecocks!!! Hopefully it will be a great season!

We are going for the gold!!!! :)

2008-09-02T13:40:00.000-07:00

First day of gymnastics!!!

Doing the Bars
Jumping on the Big trampoline!!

Madison had her first gymnastics class last Monday, and she absolutely loved it!!! Her teachers names are Mr. Bryan and Mr. Joey!! She jumped, flipped, and tumbled!!! People who have known Madison since she was a baby have really seen her come out of her shell. When she was very tiny she was extremely timid, and now she has no fear! She went right into that class and did not look back! I cannot believe how fast she is growing up, and how much fun stuff she is getting to do. I will continue to take pictures of my little gymnast, (Bryan thinks she will be ready for the 2012 Olympics :) J/K)

Busy weekend!!

2008-08-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

Big sister helping put together exersaucer
Can't you see the excitment in Blake's face
They are working so hard!!
I love it!!!!
Thanks Madison!!

We put together Blake's exersaucer this weekend!!! It is a couple of weeks early, but he has such trouble laying down that we went ahead with it, and just stuffed a blanket behind him!! This way he can sit up and look around without spitting up everywhere!!! He will tolerate it for about 10 minutes for right now, hopefully he will grow to love it like Madison did, and I can at least cook dinner!!! I cannot believe how fast he is growing up!!!

I found my hand

2008-08-15T12:52:00.001-07:00

yummy this hand taste so good!!
Can I fit the whole thing in my mouth?
Maybe I'll just lick it....
All clean and still sucking on my hand....

Mr Blake is one funny little boy!! It is so true when people say that no baby is the same. Madison loved her pacifier, it was the one thing that I could give her and it would make her stop crying, well not this boy!!! If I try to stick a pacifier in his mouth it just makes him MAD!!! Not only does he not stop crying, but it just get louder!!!! The only thing he likes is his hand, and he only does that when he is content and not upset, so needless to say that when the boy is mad and needs to calm down we all just have to suffer and listen to the screams, or I feed him that is the only thing that can make him calm down!!! Madison now walks around the house with her hands over her ears :) On a side note please everyone pray that I make it through the night and get some sleep, this is the first night that I am putting Blake in his own room, and I know he will be just fine but I am a nervous nelly!!! So I am sure that I will be up all night watching the monitor....

Playdate

2008-08-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

Noah and Blake's first playdate!!
Madison, Blake, Lauren, and Noah
The girl's
Making Monkey Munch!!!
SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE!!!!

This was one of our playdates with Jenn, Lauren, and Noah!!! Madison and Lauren have been getting together for playdates since they were about 3 months old, (okay I will admit they were more for me and Jenn to have some adult conversation), but now they are the best of friends!!! Madison is only 3 months older than Lauren, and Blake is only one week older than Noah and hopefully they will be the best of friends as well!!! The boys spent the day sitting in the swing and laying under the playmat, while the girls played dress up, watch a movie, and made monkey munch!! Yummy!!! This was such a fun day, and I look forward to many more!!

WOW THEY GROW UP SO FAST!!!!

2008-08-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that Blake is 3months old and he is already rolling over and holding his head up so well, and my other baby is starting preschool in a couple of weeks!!!! It is so exciting to watch how every month there are huge changes in my children! I was out (trying) to shop today and Blake was crying and Madison needing to go pee again for the 100th time, and I said that's it lets just go home... A man must have been whatching us and could see the frustration all over my face. He smiled and looked at me and said just enjoy this because mine are 16 and 17 years old now, and they will be there before you know it! I got in the car turned on the air conditioner and had time to think about how true everything he just said was!! I am going to cherish every moment even tbe stressful ones!! :) I am thankful that God sent me that message today through a perfect stranger to remind me to enjoy every moment!!!!

2008-07-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

Madison and her "Pinky tails"
Look at that hot mama
Bubba Blake chillin in his swing
Madison and Kelsie playing on the slide
Madison hanging on like a koala

This was Wed. July 23rd, I had Kelsie over here for a play date with Madison!! We pulled out the big slide pool and put on our suits and tried to keep cool. When ever Madison says cute things I never think I will forget them and I always say I am going to write them down, but usually I get to busy and forget to write them down, and eventually forget about them. So I made sure that I documented a couple of her cute sayings on this particular day!! When I was getting her ready she was so excited I told her I was going to do pig tails, and when I was done she looked at me and said "Mommy, I love my pinky tails". I thought it was so cute... As the day past we had so much fun playing outside we were almost done playing when I saw her hanging on to the side of the slide and I asked her Madison what are you doing, she looked at me and said, "Mommy I am hanging on like a koala". I could have fallen over because as far as I know we have never talked about koalas we have been to the zoo many times, but have never specifically talked about how they hang on to trees!! I just started laughing and said you are the smartest little girl in the world!! Man do I love how she looks and the world and her imagination is constantly running wild!! She helps me look at things in a whole new way!! Thank you Madison for opening my eyes and showing me how to use my imagination again!! Mommy loves you very much!!!

Little Mommy

2008-07-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

Look at that smile!!!
Madison singing a lullaby
How cute!!!

All I have to say is man the time passes so fast!! Look how big Blake already is and Madison looks all grown up!!! She is such a great big sister, and he is such a good baby, I really am so LUCKY!!! "Bubba Blake" was crying so I put him in Madisons bed so he could watch the fan, and she ran I got him her favorite blanket and covered him up and started singing lullabies to him!! He immidiately stoped crying and started smiling from ear to ear!! Man did she have the magic touch!!! He already loves her so much, and she adores him! I am so glad that they have each other!!! I thank God everyday for blessing me with two GREAT kids! GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!

I have never been this excited over poop!!!

2008-07-23T19:12:00.001-07:00

Madison is so proud of herself!!!!

Until I became a parent I never in my life would have believed that I could get so excited over poop!!! :) I know that sounds funny to many people, but when you have been through the things we have been through with this issue you would understand!!! My poor daughter has been tramatized with going poop since December, and she will start to get a little better, and then it gets worse again! So earlier this week we started potty trainning again for the THIRD time, and this time it has finally worked!!! (YEAH) This morning I could tell she needed to go because she was doing her normal trying to hold it in and running around the house saying her bottom hurt, so we went to the potty and sat there for five or ten minutes and then it happened!!! We danced and sang, and ran around the house!!! Madison was so cute, because when she flushed the potty, (which she thinks is the coolest thing) she was saying "bye bye poo poo" like it could hear her! Kids are so funny! Okay so that is enough about poop, but please continue to pray that she does well with this!! We are very excited about the idea of having one kid out of diapers!!!!

No accidents!!!

2008-07-22T06:56:00.000-07:00

YEAH!!! We went a whole day yesterday with Madison in big girl panties and she did not have any accidents!!!! I am so proud of her!! By the end of the day she was telling me when she needed to go! Man I will be so happy if I can cut down on my diaper changing!! Just keep praying that going number 2 starts to come easier to her we still have not reached that hurdle yet!! Maybe some more playing with the neighbors will motivate her!!! :)

Potty training and playing!!

2008-07-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are still trying to potty train!!!! Never in a million years did I think this would be as difficult as it has been! My poor child has major anxiety about going number 2, so instead of going she just holds it, and gets herself in a mess!!!!! So today I decided we are putting panties on and going full force witht this potty training!!! I tried to get her mind off of her stomach today so I told her that we could go out and play with our neighbors Hannah and Jacob in the water, that is probably the best thing I could have said to her!! She was so excited so we went and she played in the water! She had so much fun, thanks to Hannah and Jacob! So far today we have not had any accidents!!! Just keep praying that my poor sweet little girl can get over her anxiety and her little tummy will feel better soon!!!!

4th of July!!!

2008-07-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July was a beautiful day full of fun and excitement!! We started the day by going over to Mimi and Papa's and swimming on the lake and eating chili dogs!! Then we headed back home to enjoy a cul de sac party with the neighbors!! Madison was so excited to see all of her friends!! They played from 5:00p.m. till 10:30p.m. They ate hot dogs, snow cones, and watermelon! The boys (men) shot fireworks for several hours! We are so lucky to have such great neighbors! It was a great day, and we are already looking forward to next 4th of July!!

My baby went on her first date....

2008-06-30T06:47:00.001-07:00

My baby went on her first Daddy daughter date yesterday, and it was so ADORABLE!!! Bryan took Madison to go see Walle the movie. She was so excited, and looked so cute! She could not wait to go on her date with her Daddy!!! They got popcorn, candy, sprite, the works!!!! This brought back many great memories of when my Dad used to take me out on special dates just the two of us!!! I know this is something that both Madison and Bryan will treasure, and it is just the start of a great tradition for the two of them!!

Pictures of Blake

2008-06-23T14:08:00.001-07:00

Blake sleeping on daddyMommy trying to take some pictures
say cheese!!
Madison and "bubba" Blake watchin the lights!

Here are some pictures of my sweet baby boy!!! I cannot believe how unbelieably fast he is growing up!! He is 5 weeks old, and is the sweetest baby!

Fun Zone

2008-06-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

Man oh man, did Madison have a blast at her birthday party!!! The fun zone was the perfect place for the kids and the parents!! I loved the fact that they took care of everything, we came, played, ate, opened gifts, and got to leave and go home to a clean house!!! It was a treat for Madison and myself!! :) She had a blast jumping and sliding as well as her daddy who was playing just as hard or harder than the kids :) She had a My Little Pony birthday party with a big cookie cake (since she doesn't like cake). It was a great day!!

Birthday Pancakes and the zoo...

2008-06-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

Madison's birthday pancakes
I'm 3 today!!!
Me and "Bubba" Blake at the zoo

June 16th was Madison's third birthday!! I cannot believe my baby is three years old today, where does the time go!!!! Daddy woke up this morning and made us his special pancakes, and then we all got dressed and headed out to the zoo!!! Blake slept the whole time. Madison got to feed the giraffe's, and see her favorite the elephant. What a special day for all of us. Her birthday party is not until this coming Saturday at the Fun Zone!!

Trying to get the hang of this....

2008-06-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here with Blake on my lap and Madison is watching the Little Mermaid while I try and figure this whole blog thing out.... I am always so interested in everyone else's blog that I decieded what the heck, I will try it out! So everyone be patient as I try and learn how this whole thing works!