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This year for Christmas we went to my Great Grandma’s house in northern Minnesota, my Grandma came in from Louisiana and we drove over. (Grandma almost didn’t make it ’cause her flights kept getting canceled - but Uncle Ric’s airline got her here!)

The weather was pretty bad on the drive over, I slept thru most of the worst of it (the car’s/semi’s in the ditch and spinning out in front of us, blowing snow…..) but Daddy got us there safely.

I had lots of fun opening presents and looking at the tree.

Daddy will have some pictures up soon for all of you to see!

She walked up to the pile of leaves and just instinctively knew to fall into it. Lots of “run, run, run, jump” and big smiles! Click the pic for a video.

Kenzie had her first ever opportunity for serious star gazing. Since Wisconsin is so far north, daylight lasts until beyond at least bath time. For a while during July, twilight even extends beyond her bed time.

So tonight it was dark enough while we were still outside to lounge in a chair and see at least a few stars. Kenzie pointed out every star she could see and we counted them. By the time we went inside more than a dozen were visible.

Kenzie and Cheri returned from another road trip … this time to Great-Grandma’s way up in northwest Minnesota. Yes, as far north as we already live, it’s possible to still go “up north.”

Check out this little video clip of Kenzie bopping to the Blues Clues musical movie.

Tonight before we got into the bath tub - we went pee-pee in the potty for the first time!

We have had a potty for a little while now so she could get used to the idea.

She likes to sit on when Mommy sits on the big potty…we’ll see what happens. I don’t think she’ll be potty trained anytime soon, but she is at least curious.

Spent the month of September at my Grandma’s house in Louisiana. Had lots of fun!!!!

My Aunt Kristen and her friend Jennifer came over and played with me lots and everyday Grandma would color with me - that is my favorite thing to do next to watching Blues Clues or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! Aunt Audra and my cousin Ryan came over for a weekend, and we all went to the family reuinion together. They had a slip and slide that I really liked. I tried to run really fast for the swiming pool, but my Grandma caught me just in time.

Saw my Papaw a couple of times, I want to play with him - I just am not brave enough yet to do it on my own yet - maybe next time.

Will get my Daddy to post some pictures soon!

Mackenzie didn’t really want to participate in a 2-year-old portrait session. So there are no perfectly posed images like in the past. However, you can see that she is definitely growing into a young lady with a mind of her own.

As always, click on the picture to see the full gallery.

Finally… pictures from Mackenzie’s 2nd birthday party!

Click on the image to see the gallery. The images are big, so it may time some time to load.

Now that Mackenzie has survived two years of my attempt at fatherhood, I have decided to share a few insights from the many lessons I have learned.

1. Do not fall asleep on the couch with a baby napping on your chest. One of you will probably roll onto the floor. Hope it’s not both of you.
2. Do not lift a baby over your head to check the diaper while standing under a ceiling fan.
3. Do not inspect the poop in the diaper. You only need to know what grapes look like before you eat them.
4. Do not walk faster than your child while holding her hand without being prepared to clean a scraped knee.
5. Do not allow the rock your child placed in your left hand to get mixed in with peanuts in your right.
6. Do not let your child eat new foods without your wife’s approval. Ever hear of peanut allergies?
7. Do not let your child run around naked unless you have towels and/or a mop handy.
8. Do not leave expensive electronics or camera gear in your child’s reach unless you are prepared to either do without or replace them.
9. Do not attempt to carry a baby and a laundry basket down stairs at the same time.

God watches out for little children as well as their parents.

Somewhere around 6 months old, Mackenzie started leaving her pacifier in the bed. Other than night and naps… and car trips…  she has been fine without it.

Today’s nap time was the first without any of these green pieces of rubber. Tonight it continues. She finally settled down and is asleep. We’ll see how it goes when she wakes up in the middle of the night and can’t find her usual source of comfort.

UPDATE: We made it through the weekend…Pacifier FREE!!!!!