Amy's in Austin

Looking Forward To...

2011-04-19T17:40:00.001-05:00

1.) A trip to Shiner, TX with the family for Brian's 26th Birthday! Yea!!! I'll be sure to post about this ;)
2.) Lucy walking - she does it mostly when no one is watching. She still crawls the majority of the time, but I know she's really close to being a full-time walker.
3.) Meeting Anthony Testa! Brian's sister and husband have a baby boy and, since they live in VA, I haven't seen him yet.
4.) Last, but not least, Easter! 40 days of waiting, preparation, and prayer. I know it's close!

We'll be sure to check in more often!

St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-19T19:17:00.001-05:00

Boy does it go by fast! Here's a glimpse of the kids this past St. Patrick's day :)

My Valentine

2011-02-14T14:39:00.000-06:00

What happened to December?

2011-01-17T14:52:00.000-06:00

What I didn't post in December?! Oops! Well, here are some highlights...

Austin's Park with the kiddos and Nana, Grandpa & Uncle Mac. Then Christmas in Pflugerville. New Year's in Arlington. Daddy and Uncle Mac took Patrick to Six Flags. Then the cousins celebrated with a trip to the San Antonio zoo. Lots of fun!

Austin Zoo

2010-11-20T16:09:00.000-06:00

We went to the Austin Zoo last Thursday. It's really an animal sanctuary, but I was pretty impressed with the number of animals that they had. There were lions, panthers, cougars, tigers, and even a big lazy bear. I felt like you got a closer look at some of the animals than you typically do at the big zoos. Anyway, Patrick had a great time. :D

Patrick's 2nd Birthday

2010-10-27T08:41:00.003-05:00

Our little guy turned 2 today! We had a nice day full of coloring, playing with trains, and cake and presents of course. Well, here's us singing to him if you feel like watching it :)

4 months / 23 months

2010-09-26T17:50:00.000-05:00

Today Lucy is 4 months and Patrick is 23 months! I was looking at Patrick's 1 year old picture and was noticing how much he's grown in the last year. He's such a little boy! We were at the parish Fiesta today and there was a petting zoo. Patrick had a great time! He immediately grabbed a little chick with both hands. "Bird! Bird!"....but it sounds more like "board" when he says it. I think we all had a good time. I enjoyed the horchata and carne guisada tacos. Brian and I also split a funnel cake. Ah, parish festivals are the best. "Guinness? Who has room for a Guinness when there's a tent full of awesome food!" Anyway, I thought I needed to post some pictures of the kids. :D

Lucy giggles as Daddy sings to her.

Patrick grabbed a chick.

Work in Progress

2010-09-09T22:33:00.002-05:00

So I finally found something I could work with in the templates. Forget all that HTML stuff! ;) I'm going to try and get a good picture now. Hope you don't mind the changes.

I Knead a Bigger Bowl

2010-08-19T21:31:00.004-05:00

I successfully made bread :) I even got a second rise out of it! ...but I could use a bigger bowl. I thought my sunroof was a good place to let the dough rise - boy was I right!

Ah - Ha!

2010-08-19T21:30:00.001-05:00

Lucy found her feet tonight! Yippee!

Mama's Little Puddin'

2010-08-13T14:08:00.001-05:00

Here's Patrick's first encounter with chocolate pudding. :P

My Sleeping Kids...

2010-08-13T13:58:00.003-05:00

I love how kids can fall asleep in such strange ways. I know in this picture, Patrick was sitting up watching TV and finally just fell over. A few weeks ago, he was fighting sleep off so bad, he finally fell asleep standing up with his head leaned over on the recliner.
For some reason, last night, he did not sleep well at all. I'm pretty tired and should probably be asleep myself, but I couldn't pass the opportunity to update my blog ;) So, enjoy the pics and then it's off to never never land!

Music in the Park

2010-08-13T13:25:00.005-05:00

Last Friday, we went to Pflugerville Park and listened to a band. It was pretty fun :) Patrick was loving it. There were lots of kids on the playground and slides and tunnels. He ran around so much that when the sun set, he decided that he wanted to try and fall asleep in the swing. It was funny watching him try to find a good place to put his head. Lucy slept for most of it.

The Road Goes on Forever and the Laundry Never Ends...

2010-07-16T13:22:00.001-05:00

I'm sure a lot of other moms out there feel the same way I do. It seems like just as soon as everything is put up and all the dishes are done, it's time to do it all again! Anyway, Brian showed me this video that was on Marcel's (Mary's Aggies) Blog. It made me feel better. If you haven't seen it yet, you need to watch it :)

It's a good thing we don't have stairs!

Lucy Anne Kinney

2010-06-01T11:57:00.007-05:00

Welcome Lucy!
Born: Wednesday - May 26, 2010 at 6:10 AM7 lbs. 11 oz. and 20 3/4 in. long

Brian and I couldn't be happier! After 3 or 4 days of off and on contractions and two cancellations of scheduled C-sections, we had a successful VBAC! Lucy couldn't have come any later really... Our "due date" was the 17th. She came Wednesday morning....I left the hospital Friday at lunch time. Saturday was Fr. Matthew's ordination! And Sunday evening was Sarah's wedding! What wonderful blessings have been going on for our family!! :)
Lucy is so cute, but I'll let the pictures do all the talking ;)

Disney World Trip!

2010-03-25T21:40:00.002-05:00

So, last October I won a trip to Disney World. :D Yeah, I saw a sticker on a pack of socks and went online and registered. Anyway, we had a great time! We went during my brother's spring break - the weather was beautiful and it wasn't too terribly crowded (So I think).

Up to something...

2010-02-09T20:14:00.004-06:00

I'm not exactly sure how he got himself into this position, but it didn't seem to bother him. Patrick is up to all sorts of things these days. He's at the point where he's smart enough to be dangerous. He is very fond of his tools (and his daddy's tools). Everything he plays with makes grunting and roaring sounds - he's such a little boy! He can be so sweet too, giving lots of kisses and hugs. Patrick also likes to share his food and drink with mommy and daddy. "Ahhh" and the cheerio comes right at my mouth! :)
His little sister, "Lucy", is doing just fine. I'm getting really excited! I've made a sun dress and have started collecting dresses and and pink things ;) I want to make hair bows too - so any spare ribbon you have would be appreciated :) Patrick is going to be a great big brother! I'll try and keep you a little more up to date!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-28T10:51:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas from the Kinney Family!

I'll post our Christmas letter soon...sorry I didn't get to mail it out to all of you!

Santa!

2009-12-19T15:28:00.003-06:00

Patrick got to visit Santa at the K of C Christmas Party. He thought he was pretty interesting. :)

Surprise!

2009-12-05T15:05:00.006-06:00

Patrick is going to be a big brother! Yea!!!!
We told our families on Thanksgiving and we'd love to call and tell each and every one of you personally, but things have been a little crazy around here lately!

So, I am one of the few lucky women that doesn't get morning sickness and all that - woo-hoo! However, this also meant that I didn't really get suspicious until I started waking up at 4 in the morning needing to go to the bathroom. So - long story short, we're due May 17th! A very wonderful and welcome surprise! The month of May will be full of blessings for our families. May 1st, my sister is getting married. May 29th Matthew (Brian's brother) is ordained to the priesthood. And May 30th is Sarah's (Brian's sister) wedding. So, just throw a Baptism in there and we're all set! We obviously didn't plan to have another little one exactly at this time...I mean who wants to be 8 1/2 months pregnant in a bride's maid dress? But, we're certainly excited! Patrick has no idea that he's going to be a big brother, but he'll love the company. He loves to be around other kids.

My next doctor appointment is Monday, the 21st. We'll keep you posted!

Chili Night

2009-12-05T14:50:00.002-06:00

Chili is one of Patrick's favorites!

Thanksgiving

2009-11-30T14:19:00.000-06:00

We had two very nice Thanksgiving dinners this year. My family celebrated early - Tuesday night and then we had Thanksgiving on Thursday with Brian's family. Here are a few pictures...

You can see Patrick is enjoying the whipping cream - it was so funny to watch him try and lick it off the beater. :)

Halloween Fun

2009-11-01T08:56:00.006-06:00

The Good Luck Grill had all sorts of things going on for Halloween. Patrick really seemed to enjoy the horse ride. :D

The best way to capture a picture of a dinosaur is to grab him by his feet so he can't run away!

Patrick wasn't really sure he liked the hood on his costume. We didn't make him wear it very much. It was fun to watch him run around all night - his tail went back a fourth. He made a great dinosaur!

Costume Preview

2009-10-30T20:47:00.007-05:00

We dressed up the little guy in his Dino costume tonight. He's so cute! :)
Since we live in a neighborhood now, our HOA (Home Owners Association) was throwing a party at the park down the street. We took Patrick out just to see what it was all about. Here are some pictures; I'm sure we'll take more tomorrow.

We're Moved In!

2009-10-30T20:13:00.017-05:00

Moving day was the 21st. We celebrated Patrick's 1st Birthday on the 25th - I'll have to post pictures/video later. His actual birthday was on the 26th, but we had friends and family over on the Sunday before - lots of fun! Anyway, we wanted to post some pictures to let you all see a bit of what it looks like with furniture, etc. We're still trying to get things up on the walls, so don't mind the mess in the background, that's what all the "clutter" is. ;)

Living Room

Kitchen and Informal Dining

More Kitchen

Formal Dining and Sitting Area
(This is directly to the left when you walk in the front door.)

Office and Music Room

Empty Guest Room

Patrick's Room

His Crib and Toy Shelf (That I still haven't finished building!)

Hall Bathroom

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Well, you are more than welcome to come visit - we'll try and get a guest bed in that spare room! :) Brian and I feel very blessed to be able to own a house. Especially one that is so beautiful! We are first time home buyers, so we qualify for the tax credit. That was actually what got us looking in the first place. I guess you never know what you'll find! Plus, it's about 5 minutes away from my sister's house! Perfect!

Still Packing...

2009-10-18T20:08:00.007-05:00

We're still packing. The boxes keep filling up and there seems to be no end in sight! Well, to be fair, it's probably not quite that bad. ;) We'll still be able to leave small things here and come back for them later. I really don't like packing though; it made me sick. I've been fighting something all week, ick! That's why I'm taking a break right now to blog! :D

Here's what you've been missing out on ;)

Pumpkin Carving - Patrick wasn't all that interested in it really...maybe next year.

Petting Zoo - The Parish Fiesta

Houston Zoo - We visited Crystal for her Birthday! :)

Spring Again?

2009-10-02T09:22:00.002-05:00

If I didn't know better, I would say it's definitely spring. Everything is green - I think even more green than when it really was spring. Our Crepe Myrtles are blooming again. I'm not complaining, it's just strange. I love the rain - it has been great! I don't think we have mowed the lawn since the middle of last May. :) Patrick and I took the riding lawn mower out on Wednesday and got all of the front and some of the sides done. It's so nice out today! I know it'll rain all weekend, but we still need it. Enjoy!

We're buying a house!

2009-09-25T15:48:00.008-05:00

We're buying a house! Brian and I have been looking around for a few months now and have finally found a deal we couldn't pass up. For those of you that are familiar with the area, it's in Blackhawk, just west of the amenities center. I know this may come as a bit of a shock to some of you and it's not that we really wanted to move, but we thought that it was a good time to buy and this house will definitely be an investment. We'll still be remodeling the house on Jacobson too. And, yes I know, I really need to post some before and after pictures of that. But, for now, I have pictures of the house we're buying. We had the inspection today and everything went well, other than a few sprinkler heads that need adjusting. We'll close on October 20th. :)

Patrick's Cool Moves

2009-09-11T14:22:00.003-05:00

My mom requested videos of Patrick walking, so I thought I'd post them here. They are mostly of him walking around the house last night. He's so funny - he really likes to dance. Yesterday, he started dancing to the Jeopardy song! I can say "Dance!" and he starts to bounce up and down. It was a little more difficult to get him to do it for the camera though ;)

Patrick is 10 Months Old!

2009-08-26T14:35:00.000-05:00

I'm cheating and back-dating this one because I haven't posted in a while - sorry! Here's a bit of what we've been up to lately:

The Donnelly Family Reunion, Lake Brownwood, 8/01/09

Swimming, 8/13/09

Driving, 8/16/09

More Swimming, 9/01/09

He's walking now, but still prefers to crawl! He can say "Da Da" and "Dag" (Dog). There's so much for him to explore!!

An Aspiring Musician

2009-07-30T21:40:00.003-05:00

Patrick will occasionally crawl over to the piano or guitar to make some music. Today, it was the guitar. He hasn't hurt anything yet...but some wall mounts would be a good idea. It's really cute to watch him play piano. When he first did it, I couldn't believe it. I ran in to see him standing on his tip toes, just barely reaching the keys. He can reach much better now. He's not walking on his own, but he stands pretty well and moves fast from furniture to furniture. He really wants to walk...the balance just isn't quite there yet.

Anyway, we're going to be at Lake Brownwood for the Donnelly Reunion this Saturday. :D It'll be fun! Oh, and I just found out earlier today that my cousin, Mark, and his wife, Lisa, are going to have a baby! Yea!
Oh yeah, and for you guys that I haven't spoken to in a while... my sister (Lindsey) is engaged!

What's Up with Us:

2009-07-20T13:32:00.003-05:00

-Jeff and Racheal (the eldest Kinney couple) just had baby David this morning. Our friends from Church, the Tydings, also had their baby Liam today. Yea for babies! :D
-My family is in town this week....we're going to San Marcos tomorrow.
-Patrick is cutting teeth. Two on the bottom and one top is coming through!

But, like Patrick's face, the house is a mess! So, I need to go.

Fun in the Water

2009-06-27T09:02:00.003-05:00

Patrick loves the water! We've been swimming a few times in big swimming pools, but he has just as much fun in his little froggie pool. :D Oh, I don't have nice picture software, so you'll have to deal with the awkward oval in the picture.

8 months!

2009-06-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

That's right, our little man is 8 months old! He's crawling and eating everything he can get his hands on. He loves to pull himself up on the furniture and walk around. He rolls like crazy in his sleep and will sometimes laugh and "talk". He likes to sit at the piano and hit the keys. And, in the past few weeks, he's learned how to make noises with his lips and blow bubbles.

The New Ride...

2009-06-18T09:23:00.003-05:00

We finally found a new car that would work for us. It's a 2008 Chevy Impala. I'll still miss the Camry, but this is a pretty good replacement.

Busy Week!

2009-05-19T13:42:00.003-05:00

Brian and I are hosting the after-party for his brother Matthew's ordination (deacon). It's going to be a lot of fun! I'm not sure how many people are coming 50-70? But if you're reading this, then you're invited too!
There's plenty to do this week to get prepared, but I thought I'd stop to take the time to share a bit of the recent mishaps that we've encountered...
Last Friday night, a suburban ran a red light and hit us on the way home.
The good news is we're all fine! But, I don't think I'm getting my car back.

Then, Saturday night, Holly (our German Shepherd-ish dog) got bit by a rattle snake. Her snout and just below swelled pretty badly. Brian took her to the emergency-after hours vet. She's looking great now, but that was added stress and more tough decisions to make. I don't have a picture of her, but Brian said she looked like an 80 year old, overweight man. Sad, but true.

Any thoughts on what kind of car we should get? Patrick is already cruising in a brand new Britax Marathon. I think he likes it a lot more than his infant seat.

Furry Friend

2009-04-30T14:58:00.002-05:00

There was a raccoon in one of our trees this morning...I suspect it's in the barn right now.

Brian's Birthday...

2009-04-28T13:38:00.002-05:00

The 26th, Sunday, was Brian's birthday. It was also Patrick's half-birthday. :) We didn't do too much to celebrate really, but we plan on taking a road trip down to the Shiner brewery sometime this summer. Brian has been doing a little bit of welding lately; he's building a smoker! Woo-hoo! Once he can get a hold of a plasma cutter, we can really get to building it. That was sort of the plan for last weekend, but we ended up fixing the mowers and trimming all the trees and crepe myrtles instead. The weather has sort of brought out some unwelcome guests. Saturday, Brian took care of a pretty big rattle snake. That's number two for us here at the house so far this season. The dogs are pretty good at letting us know about the ones that get close to the house. The one on Saturday was out in the barn. I could post a picture of it, but I'm not sure how that'd go over with everyone. I'll put up a "6 month" picture of Patrick pretty soon. :)

Play Time

2009-04-24T13:26:00.000-05:00

Patrick will occasionally be content while playing on the floor. He is getting better at sitting up on his own, but he gets so upset when he falls over onto his toys. I'll put him on his pillow to help him reach things more easily.

We also bought a new swing for him to nap in. I like it much better - no more cranking...this one plugs in! :) When he's not sleeping in it, he likes to pull on the animals on the mobile.

Fishing With Grandpa!

2009-04-24T13:17:00.000-05:00

My Dad came for a visit Tuesday (the 21st). We "Pfished" at Lake Pflugerville and picnicked. It was great bonding for us all ;)

Good Friday

2009-04-10T13:07:00.004-05:00

I am attempting to make traditional hot cross buns. :) It looks promising...however, I always have a hard time getting the second rise to work anytime I make bread. If you have any suggestions for me, let me know. ;) Brian, Patrick and I will all be going to the veneration of the cross later. And to end the day in a proper manner, we'll be watching the Passion tonight. I can't believe I just started that last sentence with a conjunction! What's wrong with me?

Swing!

2009-04-10T09:55:00.003-05:00

"Hey! Somebody come push me!"
Brian put up Patrick's new swing last weekend. It looks like he's having a good time :)

Conscience Protection

2009-04-06T13:57:00.000-05:00

Patrick's Furry Friends

2009-04-01T08:20:00.005-05:00

Patrick has recently shown an increased interest in our dogs. Buddy and Holly will lick his feet... and his face and Patrick just giggles! He thinks they're funny. :) It's really cute to watch!

Patrick is 5 months!

2009-03-26T08:11:00.000-05:00

Has it really been 5 months?!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T10:50:00.004-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Patrick and I will be going to Mass in Manor to celebrate. :)

4 months old!

2009-03-04T15:51:00.001-06:00

This is Patrick 2/26/09.

2 of a Kind...

2009-03-04T15:41:00.002-06:00

I had to get a picture of this :)
I love my boys!

Uncle Mike

2009-02-18T15:17:00.000-06:00

Mike Lindsey

Elliott-Hamil funeral home
Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Michael 'Mike' Lindsey

Abilene

Mike Lindsey, 58, of Eula passed away Monday, February 16, 2009. The family will receive visitors in his remembrance at the Eula Lions Club, FM 603 in Eula on Saturday, February 21st from 1:00 to 6:00 pm.

Mike was born December 12, 1950, to O.M. and Wanda (Hagan) Lindsey in Abilene where he graduated from Cooper High School. Mike was employed by Toyota of Abilene for 37 years. He was an avid outdoorsman and was a member of local bass fishing clubs.

He was preceded in death by his parents O.M. and Wanda. Survivors include his son Mark and his wife, Lisa Lindsey of Lubbock; one brother, Billy Lindsey of Abilene; sister, Susan Cook of Arlington; one grandson, Cody Wright of Lubbock; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to West Texas Rehabilitation Center, 4601 Hartford, Abilene, TX 79605. Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory is in charge of the arrangements.

Uncle Mike was a great story teller and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was a red-neck, bbq'in, beer drinking, Nascar watchin' kind of guy. He knew how to work hard and play hard. He may have looked pretty rough, but he was the nicest man and the kind of person you'd want as a friend. When I was little, he'd let me get away with all kinds of things...I'd stand on his lap and braid his beard!
It's never the right time to lose someone you love.

I Love You! :D

2009-02-14T10:39:00.002-06:00

Happy St. Valentine's Day from the Kinney Family!

More Rain Please!

2009-02-10T17:14:00.003-06:00

It really stinks that all the lakes around here are dry. This is (or was!) Granger Lake. Brian and I thought it would be funny to take a picture of the baby next to the "No Wake" ;)

By the way, it was really windy.

My Surprise Birthday at The Coupland Inn & Dancehall

2009-02-10T16:51:00.004-06:00

Brian surprised me with a nice treat. We went out to the old Coupland dancehall Friday night and stayed at the B&B upstairs. It was pretty cool. We had some family join us for the dancing. Patrick came too! I think he liked all the neon lights. (Don't worry, it wasn't too smokey or anything.)

Patrick Rolling

2009-02-10T15:22:00.006-06:00

For those who have not seen it yet...

Patrick is 3 months!

2009-01-27T11:12:00.005-06:00

Yesterday (26th), Patrick turned three months. Such a big boy! Last Tuesday, he rolled over; unlike the first time, I'm sure he did it intentionally. Enjoy the pictures; oh, just try and ignore the uncovered switches in the background. We're working on a backsplash in the kitchen ;)

March to the Capital

2009-01-27T10:04:00.007-06:00

Saturday, Brian, Patrick and I all went to the Pro-Life mass at San Jose. Then, Brian's sister, Mary, joined us for the march and program at the capital. It was a little cold, but well worth it. Governor Perry's speech was pretty good. They spoke a lot about HB 109 (Pro-Life License Plates, woo-hoo!). There were also testimonies for adoption. The Bishop gave the benediction too :)
I'm glad we went; I can always tell Patrick that his very first trip to the state capital was to protect life!

SEE FOX VIDEO

real and necessary change?

2009-01-20T10:48:00.005-06:00

"..real and necessary change."
...reverse Roe.

"all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."
...reverse Roe.

After all, it's "a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate."
...reverse Roe.

If Obama is true to what he said in his speech, then I might actually like the guy. Honestly, it was a good speech, but I am worried. I agree, yes, it is amazing and we have overcome so much to have an African-American president, but what about our present day Human Rights Movement? FOCA scares me. It should scare anyone who knows what it means.

This is my response to the new president's speech:

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not associate with them, ⁸ for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰ and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹² For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; ¹³ but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴ Therefore it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light." ¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5: 6-17 (RSV)

God, grant him wisdom and help us all to understand what is Your will.

Wanda Louise Hagan Lindsey

2009-01-19T12:33:00.002-06:00

Wanda Louise Hagan Lindsey

Eula

Wanda Louise Hagan Lindsey, 78, of Eula, passed away Thursday, January 8, 2009.

The family will receive visitors Saturday afternoon at 5000 FM Rd 603, Clyde, TX. (Eula) Arrangements are being made by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Ms Lindsey was born August 16, 1930 at Knox City, Texas, to Clee and Cleo Hagan. She attended school at St. Joseph Catholic Academy. She married O. M. Lindsey, Jr. on August 14, 1948 in Abilene, Texas. Ms Lindsey worked for Dr. Hal Ramsey for 29 years before retiring.

Her husband, parents and brother preceded her in death.

She is survived by her three children, son Michael Ray Lindsey of Eula, son Billy Dale Lindsey of Abilene, and daughter Susan L. Cook and husband, Steve, of Arlington; five grandchildren, Mark Lindsey, Lindsey Cook, Amy Cook Kinney, Mac Cook and Banning Lindsey; and one great-grandson, Patrick M. Kinney.

-Abilene Reporter News

I love my Grandma. I will remember her always sitting in the same chair, wearing the same purple robe, drinking the same kind of beer, smoking the same kind of cigarettes, saying the same old things. Every morning she'd eat graham crackers with her coffee. She liked crunchy Cheetos a lot and would have to get some ribbon candy every Christmas. For the family get-togethers, she was always in charge of the turkey breasts, dressing, and giblet gravy. She had many phrases like, "I'm gonna hit you!" (when someone was being goofy or picking on her) and "Thunderation!" (whatever that means) and "Miss Pris" (usually to address me or Lindsey) and "Balliver" (to address Mac) and always said, "You girls need to put some socks on!" And we'd go find the same shoe-socks to put on. I'll have many memories of my grandma. May she rest in peace.

Prayers Please...

2009-01-05T12:32:00.003-06:00

My uncle Mike has been fighting melanoma for a while now and his tumor is now inoperable. Please pray for him that he may have strength, dignity, peace, and hope. My grandma lives with my uncle, but has been in ICC for over a week now after falling from what seemed to be a stroke. We don't know what happened exactly. Please pray for her recovery.

We're in Arlington

2008-12-26T10:02:00.001-06:00

We'll be in Arlington through the 31st. Let us know if you'd like to meet up with us. :)

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T16:52:00.002-06:00

A time for family, food, songs, and all kinds of traditions that may or may not make much sense. Most importantly it is a time for us to rejoice and celebrate the birth of our Savior! Brian and I are experiencing Christmas a little differently this year than in years past. We now have a 2 month old little boy.
Having Patrick has made me think about the Holy Family a little differently. I take care of the little guy...changing diapers and feeding and such...and I can't help but think Mary and Joseph did this for Jesus. It's strange but all the little things I do for him seem so trivial and unimportant sometimes. But, if I think of it more like I am modeling Mary, then that is exactly what I should be doing. :) Mary didn't have to worry about Jesus crying or passing gas during Mass though. 8 pm and Midnight Mass ...Mary, mother of our Lord, pray for us.

Merry Christmas!

Armadillo Bazaar

2008-12-24T16:24:00.006-06:00

Armadillo Bazaar. More emphasis on the "bazaar". Lindsey invited us along to go see Asleep At the Wheel play at the "Armadillo Bazaar". Austin is an interesting place, some like to call it "weird". I didn't really care for much of the art or crafts for sale, well it was all pretty expensive stuff, but the concert was nice. Plus it was inside at the convention center...bar type venues just don't seem right with a baby ;)Lindsey and some local dressed up as St. Nicholas...I think.

Trail of Lights

2008-12-24T16:11:00.004-06:00

We went out to Zilker Park last Wednesday night. This was the first time for Patrick and I. It was pretty cool. Patrick enjoys lights right now. It was fun to see his eyes get big when we walked under the tree.

Kinney Cousins - Tree Farm Trip

2008-12-24T15:59:00.004-06:00

We went out to Elgin on a nice, sunny Sunday to the Tree Farm. All the cousins, except for Elizabeth and Ray's kiddos (Washington is too far to come for a tree), were there. Patrick didn't appreciate it as much as the others...maybe next year. We got some great pictures though.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T17:00:00.002-06:00

The Kinney Family wishes you a very Happy Thanksgiving! We will be celebrating with my mom's family. Over the hills and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go! I sure hope Patrick travels well. Enjoy your holiday - so much to be thankful for!
We had a great Thanksgiving in Abilene. This is Patrick's Great Grandma Lindsey. She loved holding him! :)

One Month!

2008-11-26T06:33:00.000-06:00

Little Patrick is one month old today! So far, he's been eating and sleeping most of the time. He makes lots of interesting faces. He can sleep with his eyes open. He's rolled over once. And will only stay asleep if someone is holding him. Happy one month Patrick!

Patrick's Baptism

2008-11-16T21:50:00.002-06:00

Thanks to all who attended the Baptism! It was a memorable event :)

Time: November 22nd at 11 AM Place: St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Pflugerville

Patrick's 1st "Real" Bath

2008-11-10T20:07:00.004-06:00

Well, he isn't crying, but I'm not sure what he thinks of it.

All finished! That wasn't so bad :)

Updates from Patrick's busy life...

2008-11-10T19:53:00.005-06:00

Patrick gets some time with daddy.
I'm not sure what he's thinking there...

Patrick cheered on as we watched the game Saturday at Aunt Lindsey's.

Patrick sleeps well in his car seat. Maybe we'll try that tonight!

Go Tech!

2008-11-01T12:53:00.003-05:00

Let's see what our team can do today!

Mommy's Pumpkin

2008-11-01T12:40:00.003-05:00

The Kinney family had a pretty laid back Halloween. No trick or treaters at our house. We stayed at home and Brian finished the kitched sink. It looks great! We're hoping to have it finished soon. Anyway, I really just wanted to have an excuse to post a picture of Patrick. :)

Patrick!

2008-10-28T12:34:00.005-05:00

Here he is! What a beautiful baby we have been blessed with!

Amy's Hospital Info

2008-10-26T16:10:00.001-05:00

Hey there! We wanted to make it simple for you to find your way if you are wanting to visit us in the hospital.

Where: St. David's Hospital

Directions to Park:

St. David's Medical Center (SDMC), located on East 32nd Street, between IH-35 and Red River, just north east of the University of Texas.
-Take the "Dean Keeton" exit off of I-35

-From S I-35, take a Right on Dean Keeton

-Take the 1st Right onto Red River

-Take the 1st Right onto 30th Street

Park in the Central Parking Garage (Rates are $1/hour, with a $4 max. fee)

Directions to My Room:

Now that you know where to park, let's get you to the Labor/Delivery/Recovery Area.

-From the Garage, head toward the "Rehabilitation Center" and the "Main Entrance" (there should be signs.

-Walk outside the building on the left side. You should see a really big revolving glass door.

-Go through the revolving door.

-There is a long hallway off to the right. Walk past the elevators and all the way down the hall.

-Turn to the right and there are more elevators.

-Take the elevator to the 3rd Floor.

-At this point, you may want to call Brian (512-424-9954) to let him know that you are here and he will come meet you and escort you to our room.

Visitation Rules:

-Food and drinks are allowed in our room.
-Children are allowed.
-You have to check in at the desk if it's after 8:30 PM
-We'd love to see you, but please let us know when to expect you :)

Recovery Room # 386 call us at 512-544-1386

What's in the Area:

-LBJ Library & Museum (It's free and is very close to the Hospital.)

-Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

-The State Capitol

Food Close By:
Off the access road to I-35 Northbound, there is a Fiesta grocery store, a Subway, and a Shortstop burger place all in the same parking lot. I think these are the easiest to get to.

Still waiting on my Pumpkin

2008-10-24T12:34:00.003-05:00

Patrick seems to be pretty comfy where he is. But I'm kind of tired of being pregnant - the worst part is just not knowing when he's going to come. I try to stay distracted, but it's a little hard to forget that I'm pregnant at this point! I think I've tried most of the "tricks" at this point. Walking, stretching, drinking tea, relaxing, verbal persuasion ("You can go back if you don't like it here."), driving the bumpy country roads around our house, and to top it all off with reconciliation and a blessing from Fr. Albert. Yet I still don't feel like I'm about to just go into labor. I'm not scared, just ready. Any suggestions?
Oh, yeah...if he doesn't come soon, I'll be induced on Halloween! Not that I'm superstitious or anything, I just don't want to wait that long and I don't want to be induced.
That's the news for now. I can't wait 'til I have pictures to post on here!

Meet Cricket

2008-10-02T17:58:00.004-05:00

Brian and I have recently obtained a new, yet unexpected addition to our household. Cute? Yes, but there's much more to this little ball of fur than cuteness. At present, his only desire seems to be biting at our fingers and toes and making his presence known by persistent meowing. Other than that, he sleeps on the sofa - oh, and yes, he also enjoys sitting on the window ledge to look outside and tease the dogs. Speaking of which, Buddy and Holly have been taking to him pretty well recently. Our goal is to let him get big enough that he can stay outside and not be eaten in 5 seconds in the broad day light. It's tough for cats out here. I really hope Cricket can survive - for his sake and for the fact that it'd be nice to have a mouser around. :) The timing could have been a little better (I only have 2 more weeks before Patrick arrives!). But how can you turn down a poor, stranded kitten? Especially when there are mice in your garage? Well, things were getting dull around here anyway ;) Here's to Buddy, Holly and the Cricket - keeping me up and going in my last days of waddling!

Rise and Shine

2008-09-17T11:05:00.002-05:00

As I grumbled my way out the front door this morning at 7AM to tell the dogs to "Go Home!", I was greeted with a nice cool breeze and this beautiful sunrise. I like God's way of saying "Good morning!". :)

Lubbock Floods!

2008-09-12T10:54:00.003-05:00

So, as we're all focused on the east coast and hurricane Ike, Lubbock got 6 inches of rain from the west yesterday and flooded! It's true, anytime Lubbock got more than an inch, there were big puddles everywhere...making the walk across campus to the engineering key kind of interesting. Laura emailed me some pictures of the stadium. I really liked this one :) Could this mean a new sport for Texas Tech athletics?

Baby Shower!

2008-09-10T09:42:00.006-05:00

It's time to get ready for Patrick's arrival!

When: Sat., September 20th 2-5 pm

Where: Lindsey's House

18701 Deep Water Dr. Pflugerville, TX 78660

I'm Registered At:

Target

Baby Depot

Diapers

I know it's difficult for a lot of you to travel to make it. If you can come, please RSVP to Lindsey and let her know. I'd love to see you! If you'd like to visit after the baby is born, just let us know ahead of time. And if you're ever in the Austin area and need a place to stay - our house is always open! :)

Life is so hard for a dog like Buddy.

2008-08-23T11:24:00.003-05:00

Apparently 4 cups of dog food and 2 walks a day is not enough to keep the puppies happy. Now they are both big enough to jump over our fence. They like to do this at night and early in the morning while it's still cool enough to run through the fields. I don't really have a problem with it - I know they don't go too far. It's just that, by nature, they chase things. So, if a rabbit or low flying bird crossed the street, there wouldn't be any stopping them. It's a good thing there isn't much traffic down our road.
I guess they haven't been successful at catching things either...though what they do find (beer cans mostly) they like to leave in the front yard for Brian and I to pick up in the morning. Maybe I should try and get them on the city payroll?
Anyway, Brian and I have been considering options for containment. The last time we went out of town, Buddy decided he felt too neglected and followed one of our neighbors a mile to their house. So, even if their night-time wandering is mostly harmless, we're a little concerned about the trouble they could get into if left alone too long. Guess we need an invisible dog fence?

Accident at Aaron Women's Clinic

2008-08-21T13:23:00.007-05:00

On Saturday, August 16th, there was an accident at the abortion clinic in Lubbock, TX. During my years at Texas Tech, I would go to this very clinic to pray for women going in and all that are involved in the tragedy of abortions. This statement below was sent out in an email from Jo Mogan, the Office Manager of the Nurturing Center in Lubbock.

"Last night a terrific storm in Lubbock caused an electricity blackout for several hours. During that time a vehicle was driven through one of the walls of the Aaron Women's Clinic of Lubbock. One complete wall was demolished and two of the structural beams damaged. 2 ½ inches of rain was recorded at that time thus we assume severe water damage was also incurred.This abortion facility is comprised of four separate buildings. The building that was damaged is/was the building that the actual procedures (murder of the unborn child) are performed. Another building in the complex, displaying the sign Aaron Women's Clinic, is where the business (collecting the money) of the facility is conducted. This building did not appear to be damaged. There are an additional two small buildings which have been leased out from time to time to other tenants, none of whom stay for any length of time. The abortuary is located at the bottom of a dead-end street and the building which was damaged is right in the traffic pattern. The men cleaning up the broken bricks this afternoon said that when they arrived the abandoned vehicle was still there; (the vehicle was gone when I arrived) they were under the impression that this was an accident due to the electricity blackout. We called Fox 34 and they sent out a camera crew and will investigate the situation. Meanwhile the mill is unable to operate as usual. Additionally the forecast calls for severe thunderstorms for the next several days which should hinder repair progress. This can not come at a worse time for the abortion owners as they were expecting business to pick up in the next few weeks with the return of Texas Tech students. Although, it was recently reported that things were slow for us prolifers, just this week two babies were saved and several people were witnessed to as they waited. Judy Kreller and Dorothy Boyett and their team of faithful prayer warriors and sidewalk counselors have been at this location for 16 years and will continue with God's help to be faithful in the future waiting for the permanent closure of this establishment."

Through the email I received, it is unclear to me if this statement was made by Jo Mogan, Dorothy Boyett, or someone else. However, it provides more information than any of the news stories I was able to find.

I hope that this was an "accident". So many prayers have been said at and for this abortion clinic and the people involved. I would really like to believe that this was Gods way of answering those prayers. Pray that it will remain closed and for the closure of all abortion facilities.

Kitchen Remodel

2008-08-14T16:01:00.002-05:00

Well, the kitchen is probably going to be THE most difficult project of the remodel. We're hoping to get cabinets ordered pretty soon. Brian has done a really great job using google sketch up to create a 3D C.A.D. model of the kitchen. I guess those engineering graphics classes come in handy after all? Actually, Brian is probably sick of using AutoCAD at work. Anyway, I got a great shot of Brian taking out the old retro double oven and just had to post it.

Painted Bunting

2008-07-16T13:08:00.003-05:00

Brian was in the barn the other evening and spotted a couple of painted buntings. He was able to come get me in time to get a few pictures of one that was confused by the window in the barn room.
Painted buntings are really pretty. The males (like the one in these pictures) are brightly colored - blue, green, and red. The females are mostly yellow and green and a little duller than the males. They nest here in the summers and then fly south to Mexico/Panama in the winter. Sorry the pictures aren't that great - the sun was shining in from behind and that never quite works right. Maybe we'll see some more! :)

We have a name!

2008-06-26T10:13:00.002-05:00

After much thought and consideration, Brian and I have decided on "Patrick Michael Kinney". We have also asked my sister, Lindsey, to be Godmother. "Patrick" is also Kevin's (one of Brian's brothers) middle name, so we have asked him to be the Godfather. I think it would be cool to have the baptism on All Saints Day...it'd even be a Saturday, but we'll have to see when it gets a little closer. :)

It's a BOY!

2008-06-18T11:20:00.007-05:00

Brian and I found out yesterday that we're having a boy! My Ob/Gyn, Dr. Love, (insert giggle here) is still claiming that our due date is October 16th. Brian and I have a pretty good feeling that it's going to be a little later than that, more like the 21st. But when we asked, he said he would let us go up to two weeks past our due date. That should be plenty of time :) So...we don't exactly have a name picked out for sure yet, but I'll post as soon as we do. Here are the pictures from our visit yesterday. Only 4 more months! :D

They can't be trusted!

2008-06-13T17:03:00.005-05:00

Well, at least they have good breath!
I was probably away for maybe 10 minutes and that's all it took for Buddy and Holly to sneak in the house...raid the mint bowl in the music room...attack my lobster toy from Boston...and tear into the joint compound in the living room where we are currently remodeling. I had no idea dogs liked peppermints. The funny thing about it is that they somehow managed to get the mints out of the wrappers without tearing them to shreds. And I didn't hear a thing! It's a good thing they're so cute, otherwise I might still be mad at them. :)

I think I need to post...

2008-05-21T14:31:00.002-05:00

Well, at present, there isn't much to say. So, I think that I should say little about the little things that have been going on.
Currently, there is a terrible odor coming from the kitchen sink area. Being pregnant, I notice smells much easier than most. Brian is going to investigate this later; and, to be honest, I'm a little concerned as to what he'll find.
We recently saw Prince Caspian. I really enjoyed it, despite the creative liberties they took in making the film. Really, the book is not so "filmic". I was sort of thinking through how they could have stayed more true to the actual story line...seems like a challenge really. It's true, it is different, but I wasn't offended by most of the changes. (I'm also looking forward to seeing Indiana Jones soon!)
Hmm..what else has been going on?
Oh! Brian and I got a riding lawn mower! It's the best thing that's happened since we got our refrigerator! It cuts 50"...can you imagine how much time that saves us? :) I used it on the front lawn last night; needless to say, I'm a happy customer. Yeah for craigslist!
One last thing...we're going to my cousin's wedding shower this weekend in Abilene. It should be fun. ...I need to get them a gift!

Open House

2008-04-23T17:35:00.004-05:00

Brian and I had family and friends over last weekend for an "Open House". We are finished remodeling the first room! (All except for the flooring.) Our house is pretty great. It's a lot of hard work, but it's going to be worth it!

Married Now!

2008-01-16T15:11:00.000-06:00

Brian and I are now married! yea! Anyway, life in Manor is pretty nice. We have a house and a lot of "projects" to keep us busy. Brian started his first day of work on Monday and I've been unpacking and writing Wedding Thank Yous. So that's life for us right now. :)

New Sweden Church Road

2007-12-21T17:18:00.000-06:00

Well, Brian and I are "moved in" to our new home! We have a house north of Manor, TX. It's absolutely beautiful out there! There is an old, historic Lutheran church in New Sweden that can be seen from the front of the house. I love it - so peaceful! We have a lot of work to do when we get back from our honeymoon, but it's going to be the perfect place to call home.

Also - only 8 days until the wedding! AH!!!! Just kidding, it'll all work out. :)

I've got to keep getting things ready, but that's it for now!

I'm in Arlington

2007-12-05T16:13:00.000-06:00

I'm in Arlington for a week - visiting my family and making sure that they are all set for the wedding. It's nice to spend some time with them, but I miss Brian too. Since he's probably the only person that reads my blog... I LOVE YOU! :) And the few others that like to check in on me from time to time.... I love you guys too! :)

So close! Only 24 more days! :)

And pretty soon we'll get to use all that cool stuff we got! ;)

Last Day at X-Fab!

2007-11-30T10:42:00.000-06:00

Well Folks,
Looks like this is it. I'm going to grab my shoes from the smockroom and head out!
Adios!

Last Week in Lubbock!

2007-11-26T10:25:00.000-06:00

This is my last week to live in Lubbock, TX. Also, my last week of work at X-Fab. I'm really excited about moving, but also a little nervous! I guess I won't actually have a home for a while, but that's ok. I can live out of a suitcase for a little while. :)

Can't wait for Thanksgiving!

2007-11-20T08:34:00.000-06:00

Ahh Thanksgiving... Turkey is really only the beginning.

Brian and I are leaving for Abilene tomorrow morning. It'll be nice to get away for a while and spend some time with family and not do much of anything.

When we get back, I'll only have one week of work! And then, who knows what's in store?! I think that I'll probably be going crazy, trying to make sure I haven't forgotten anything for the wedding, but other than that - things should be pretty good.

We get a house on the 13th ... Brian graduates on the 15th ... we move to Austin ... I guess we spend some time unpacking and what-not ... we get married on the 29th ... we're gone for a while ... Brian starts his job with American Constructors on the 14th ... and I guess that's how life will be for us :)

Oh Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam...

2007-11-12T08:48:00.000-06:00

Could this be the one? Well, right now, Brian and I are waiting to see. It's a 1970's farmhouse that needs some serious updates. Sounds like fun to me!

It's on about 10 acres a little northeast of Manor, TX.

Great location, lots of land, and something to start with.

And I already have some thoughts for the remodel!

I can't wait to see if works out! :)

Getting Closer!

2007-10-30T09:40:00.000-05:00

Yesterday (Oct. 29th) meant only 2 more months until the wedding!
...And today is even closer!

I'm excited! But, I'm also realizing that I absolutely HAVE to send out invitations ASAP.
It's going to get a little crazy as I try to wrap things up at X-Fab, try to find a new job, and move to Austin.

I'm getting closer to Leaving Lubbock.

Cat's Out of the Bag

2007-10-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

I told my boss today that I'm moving to Austin. My last day at X-Fab will be November 30th!

I'm excited to be able to move and hopefully start a new job and work towards building The Kinney Ranch ;)
But really, God has blessed Brian and I a lot and big things are happening in our lives!
Brian got his job offer from American Constructors (the company he did his internship with last summer). I'm leaving later today for an interview in Austin with Air Products. Hopefully something will work out - I'd like to have a job in the semiconductor industry, but we'll see.

It feels nice to have things out in the open with my boss. I was scared to do it, but now, it feels more official and I can be more excited about my new life!

Music to My Ears

2007-10-16T12:35:00.000-05:00

Currently, I am picking our selections for our wedding celebration. Do you have any suggestions?

I'd like to know what you think. :)

Here's what we have so far:

-Ave Maria (But which one?!)

-Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

-Lo How A Rose

-Panis Angelicus

-Set Me as a Seal

I'm so excitied!

Engaged Encounter

2007-10-12T11:25:00.000-05:00

Brian and I are going on an Engaged Encounter retreat this weekend at Mercy Retreat Center.
We'll let you know how it goes! (So this is me letting you know that we went, and it was AWESOME!)

Last night, we went dancing at Wild West - it was great! I think we're getting better :)
You should come dance with us some time!

Also, Oct. 19th, I'm going to Austin for an interview with Air Products. Wish me luck!

Home Sweet Home

2007-09-25T12:26:00.000-05:00

Brian and I have been looking for a home for a while now.
Well, what we'd really like is about 10 acres around Manor, TX, with either a manuf. home on it or something temporary to live in while we build.
We sort of have an option, but it's further east than we'd like to go. There's a 1910 farmhouse on it, but there is currently no septic - that's a problem.
Anyway, we are finally going to get to go look at some things on Saturday. It should be a lot of fun :) Maybe we'll have something picked out - who knows?

One Year!

2007-09-16T10:17:00.001-05:00

That's right - Brian and I have been engaged for an entire year! He proposed on 9/15/07.

Since today is the 16th, we have 104 more days to go until the wedding!

To celebrate yesterday, we went to a concert that the Catholic Student Association sponsored.

It was called ADORE 2097 - Matt Maher was headliner. It was a lot of fun!

The Officle

2007-09-14T09:01:00.000-05:00

It's not an Office.
It's not a Cubicle.
It's definitely an Officle.

Offices have ceilings, but cubicles don't have doors. I have thus created a new word that best encompasses my working environment: The Officle. It is as bad as it sounds.

The good news is that it's Friday again. In reality, I probably only have somewhere around 11 Fridays at X-Fab before I decide it's time for me to up and move to Austin.

The bad news is that I don't feel so hot. I've acquired a pretty serious sore throat and I'm just plain tired.

The good news is that tomorrow will be the one year anniversary of when Brian proposed. That's pretty exciting. And there will be only 105 more days until our wedding....only.

I know that's not so bad, but I'm ready to get out of here! I mean, would you want to work in an officle? :)