15 Years

First, I have not written on this blog in almost 3 years...wow.  So sorry.  With the use of Facebook and Instagram I don't think many people use blogs these days...but maybe I am wrong.
Second, today is Steven and my 15 year Wedding anniversary. I can't believe it has been 15 years.  It almost seems like yesterday that we were walking down the aisle but yet so much has happened in this time.  I am so thankful to have a faithful and loving husband.  We are blessed with three beautiful children and we still enjoying spending time together.
Finally, maybe I should update the world on our life. What do you think?  I will try...but I don't have a lot of time. I will see what I can do.
Love,
Katrina

Peyton Update

As I mentioned in my last post a LOT has happened since I stopped blogging last year.  One important thing to note is that Peyton continues to grow into a lovely little girl.  She is now 4 years old and is full of energy and creativity.  She just started Pre-K this week and is doing great.  She loves to color, play with her stuffed animals, and make up stories with her princess toys.  She also loves all things princess as you can see from her beautiful dress.  I will continue to post images from her daily activities (I now have a blogger app on my phone).  Enjoy the photos from her first day of school. 

I love this headband - it is perfect for our little Peyton. 

Preston and Peyton love each other so much!

Back to School for Preston

It has been over a year since I blogged - bummer and I am so sorry.  I thought I would kick things back up with some back to school blogging and an update on ALL that has been going on in our family.  A lot has happened since my last post.  Let us start here with some pictures of Preston on his FIRST day of FIRST grade!  Crazy. 

 our easel broke last year...so we just made our own sign this morning. I really miss the easel.  Oh yes, notice how TALL Preston is.  I think he is the tallest student in First grade - no joke. 

 He is SO proud to be in First grade. I know he is going to have a great year learning! 

He has had this backpack since his first year in Preschool.  This will be year four and it is showing its wear.  I know he will be excited to have a new backpack next year... but just one more year with this backpack would be nice! 

 Preston at his desk

 He is so nice to take a picture with mom.  I think he knows that this will not always be the case. 

I hope this 'back to blogging' will continue.  Maybe I will share some thoughts on life and social issues...who knows. 

Birthday Party

Wow, I have not posted in so long….can't even begin to explain why.  I don't even know why.  Well, here is a post with a few pictures from my niece's Birthday party over the summer.   The kids went to a Gymboree and had SO much fun.  Enjoy!!  

Photos for Mom

From time to time I bribe my children to take photos for me.  This is one of those times.  Every year I wait until my neighbors bushes are blooming with lovely white flowers and then I run outside with my kids and my camera to document the moment.  This year the shoot went ok.  Our neighbor, Mr. Joe, wasn't home at the time and he is always a big help in getting my children to smile.  Anyway, here are some photos just for mom.  Here are those lovely white flowers!!  

Preston did very well

 Little Peyton the princess 

These 2 are some cute and crazy kids.  I love them.  

 I let Preston take my picture this year - not bad!! 

Peyton

I thought I would give a quick update on our little Peyton who is now THREE!  Its crazy to think that she has been a part of our family for over 3 years.  I couldn't imagine life without her.  She is super sweet, energetic and compassionate.  Her hair is wild and crazy but it just part of who she is.  She loves her babies, princesses and playing dress up.  She also loves her friends SO much!  I will post more pictures from her 3 year old shoot in a few days.  For now, enjoy these cute shots of our sweet little girl.  

Spring

I can't believe it has been a month since my last post…yikes. I kept thinking about posting and then never sat down to write.  My apologies.  I hope to catch everyone up…one step at a time.  

First, let me post some pictures about the most important thing going on in the Dalbey family - enjoying SPRING!!!  We have spent most of our free time outside at the park, playground or nature trail.  It has been great!!  

Birthday Party Post

The next two posts are pictures from some fun Birthday parties the kids have been invited to the past month.  Its always a highlight for our family to celebrate with others for their Birthday.  I think Birthday parties were invented for an excuse to have a fun play date :)  I can't wait for Peyton's party this year!  Its going to be epic.  Ok, back to the parties for some of our friends.  This post has pictures when Peyton was invited to a party from one of her friends from school.  The party took place at the Magic house which is super sweet.  First, the girls were able to decorate their own princess crown.  Peyton had lots of hearts and pink decorations.  

What party doesn't have cupcakes :) 

 and opening gifts with friends.  

I'm so thankful that Peyton has such sweet friends!  

Tomorrow's post will be from Miss Cora's Birthday party and both Preston and Peyton were invited!!  

Street Project Reflections

While the street project is still in the works they have finished the part in front of our house.  I am SO THANKFUL to have my driveway and the construction moved away from my house.  I want to share a few reflections about this project. 

Here are a few pictures of the finished work in front of our house. 

This is the view from our driveway.  Notice the spot in the yard where we will eventually have a new street light. 

 Here is a street view of our newly expanded street. 

 

Positive Points:

First, I am thankful for the new lower section of our driveway.  While I am not a huge fan of blacktop I am thankful for a clean beginning to our driveway.  It is a bit wider then it was before.  It is also straight which is nice.  Second, the new street looks very nice.  The workers did an excellent job pouring concrete and everything looks good.  The rain also drains nicely and does not pool. 

Negative Points:

First, there is SO MUCH CONCRETE!  Seriously, why did you take out so much grass and replace it with concrete.  This is a neighborhood street and not a highway. I think our road is now wider than some roads where there are no houses and the speed limit is 40 mph.  Would it have hurt you to leave me about 2 more feet of grass space?  I know you wanted 'more room for parking' but this is a bit much.  Oh yes, I hear you are going to expand the other side of the street as well.  Again, are you serious.  Who is in charge of this project?  Do they think it will look good.  I am much more pessimistic now than I ever was about this project.  Second, you cut down my Gingko tree for this?  A bunch of concrete is more important than a beautiful tree.  Oh yes, what about the SAFETY of my kids and other people walking on the sidewalk?  You left little to no buffer space.  Please tell me you are going to plant bushes or something.  I sure hope my kids don't fall off their bike and land in the street.  This is a law suit waiting to happen.  It is not safe at all.  Who is in charge of this project? 

Finally, why on earth did you start this project in October?  The person in charge of planning should be fired or severely punished for this idiotic planning.  You made me walk across a street for months with my little children because I couldn't use my driveway.  Please help me understand why you didn't wait until the spring to start this project when the chance of snow and ice was 0%.  Again, who is in charge? 

Ok, one more.  Why was all this money spent on Concrete and our street when it really didn't need work in the first place.  Why wasn't this money spent on our local schools, the library, veterans, etc... I can think of dozens of causes that are more important than our street.  I think someone needs to check their priorities.  I don't think this street will make a big difference in our city.  If you spent a couple million on our schools it would make a BIG difference.  Maybe I should run for election in our area? Then again, maybe not.  

Potty Training

Potty Training with Peyton has been taking place at the Dalbey house this weekend.  Thankfully, it has been going VERY well.  We have been talking about 'going potty' for a while but this weekend I think it finally clicked.  We went to Target and I told Peyton she could pick out her own underwear.  She picked out Dora and some Princess undies.  Classic.  

We started the 'training' a bit on Thursday and after 1 accident (which she did not like) she has been clean and dry the entire weekend!  Yes, I am amazed.  We continue to read these books which have been helping quite a bit as well.  

 Oh yes, I haven't had to force Peyton to use the potty at all.  She has been staying dry and is telling me when she has to go.  Can I say amazing one more time!?  I am praying that this potty training business continues to go well and the transition to going potty at school goes well this week.  I am so thankful!!  

Is my life boring?

Is my life boring? I have been thinking about this a lot the past few weeks.  Perhaps it is due in part to the lack of outdoor play/freezing temperatures that has made me ponder my life a bit.  I also, will admit, that looking at Facebook is often a very bad idea.  Seeing other mom's out with their children and involved in fun activities always produces guilt, jealousy, etc...  Am I doing enough with my kids?  Do I provide fun activities for them?  Am I a good mom?  A whole list of questions fill my mind and my thoughts are less than encouraging.  Oh yes, I will also note that Peyton was sick this past weekend and any plans I had to hang out with some friends was cancelled due to some sort of virus moving through her system.  I'm sure this only adds to the boring schedule that is our life...or so I think. 

I am hopeful that when the weather warms up we will be able to get outside a bit more and I won't feel so down on my life.  I'm sure this is the main reason for my low feelings.  Our family often heads to one of the MANY parks St. Louis has to offer when the weather is warm.  Oh yes, did I mention the FREE zoo or museum's?  All are amazing and we love getting out.  Its also a great time to hang out with friends and most of the winter germs have gone away.  Again, I am hopeful that I will get out more with friends and their kids this spring/summer/fall.  I also think it would be good for me to call more people and see if they want to get together and hang out.   

Does anyone else have similar feelings?  Am I just forgetting what is true: Winter is a hard time for families with kids or I'm not really boring but just comparing myself to some unrealistic life I see on Facebook?  For real, why do I have a hard time believing that I am a good mom and friend?  Is my life defined by my activities or my children.  Thankfully, I believe that it is not.  I believe I am defined by God's great love for me in Christ who calls me his child and loves me faithfully and fully.  Perhaps I can begin to have this more in mind as I love my children, spend time with them and help them engage with friends and the big wide world.  

A working wall of art

I have been doing some work in our house to make it look…better.  For so long so many of our walls were bare or just looked bad (or at least I thought they looked bad).  I have also been trying to bring in some personality to our house.  I think adding some unique pieces of art to our house can be fun and display a bit of our history and personality.  Anyway, I decided to start on a bare wall in the kids playroom.  I had a bunch of random frames and pictures that needed a place to live and I decided to make something work.   Here is the finished product.  I am very pleased with how it turned out.  Let me share some specify details of why I chose these items to hang on our wall.

This hand embroidered item was something my mom made years ago before she got sick.  My dad gave it to me a few weeks ago and I knew immediately that I needed to display it.  I found an old frame in our basement, painted it with some leftover paint and viola - a framed item with some family history. I would like to note that my mom was talented in this area.  She made quite a few items and this one is one of my favorites.  I don't have many items from my mom.  She really didn't have a lot to begin with. She was a simple person who was content to give to others.  I hope I can follow her example.  

 I purchased this item a few weeks ago from a talented lady named Kim.  Check out her work here.  I love this piece because I am proud to be from the Show Me State and have St. Louis as my home.  

 I just purchased this piece last week.  Its from Katie Daisy and I LOVE her stuff.  Check out here site here.  She is another amazingly talented artist and I love all her work.  I chose this piece because I don't think we take enough time to be still in our lives.  I know I could use some extra time to be still and reflect on many things… I hope this print serves as a good reminder.  

 The next three pieces are a special work of art by me and the kids.  I think its important to show of their/our work in our home. I may not be talented in the painting category I still think its important to help make our house a home.  The first painting is from Preston.  There is the sun, sky, mountains and grass.  He is actually a very talented artist. I'll try and post more of his work :) 

 This is my print.  Its a tree :)  Just something simple.  

 Here is Peyton's painting.  She loves the color pink!  

 Here is a print Steven bought me when we were dating.  Its a picture of the trolly cars in San Francisco. Steven went there because he was in a wedding and the print reminds me of our early days together.  He was and is so sweet.  

Finally, I have a Calendar.  This print is from the talented Lindsey of Hello Hue . She is another super talented artist and I just had to buy one of these for the kids room. Its a perfect learning tool and the colors are fabulous!

 I think that is all for now. I have a few random frames to fill with pictures of the kids but that should be finished soon.  I love knowing that this wall is now filled with so many wonderful pieces and wonderful memories. I hope your home is filled with the same.  

Little Peyton

Little Peyton hasn't been feeling 100% the past few days. She has some sort of virus (or a couple of them) that have made her digestive system upset.  Thankfully, she is still eating, drinking, playing and generally in a good mood.  I'm sure this virus will work itself through and be gone in a couple days. While I do not like to see my children sick I am enjoying a few extra cuddles.  This picture was taken on Saturday when it was 60 degrees outside.  I wish this cold weather would go away but that is another story.