The Bank Teller

One of the interactive exhibits at the Children's Museum was a bank.

Katherine getting money from the ATM.


Looks like she's buying dinner tonight!


Wes and Sebastian in front of the bank vault where you had to figure out the combinations to open the safe. Wes found this intriguing; however, Sebastian wasn't that impressed.


"Aunt Diane, this is easy...I can do this"

The Children's Museum of Memphis

Wes and I took Katherine and Sebastian to the Children's Museum of Memphis, Tennessee. Katherine and Sebastian enjoyed a variety of hands-on, interactive exihibits that were fun and educational. After the hours we had already spent in the van, it was nice to just play. The kids had a blast, and it was a great family experience.

Katherine, Sebastian, & Wes pretending to fly the large FebEx cargo plane.


Katherine & Sebastian putting on a show for Mom & Dad.


Katherine the fire fighter.

Sebastian's Christmas Presents

Sebastian opening his gift from Papa and Grandma.


Sebastian getting to work!


Sebastian opening his gift from Great Grandma and Grandpa Klein.


Sebastian's practicing mowing the lawn before spring. It's a good thing too, since Wes hates to mow!

Katherine's Christmas Present

Katherine Grace opening a present from Papa and Grandma.


Papa Verne and Katherine putting her new doll house together.


I think she likes it!!!

Just the Girls

Aunt Julia and Katherine

Guy Time

Uncle Scott and Sebastian

Meijer Gardens

We visited Meijer Gardens, a Grand Rapids area attraction. The special attraction was display of forty Christmas trees with decorations that gave a sense of the traditions of the celebration of Christmas around the world. The trees were decorated with traditional items that are part of each culture's Christmas celebration.

While Wes and I enjoyed the display, Katherine and Sebastian were not all that interested; however, they found the large-scale model train running through some of the exhibits entertaining. There was also a kids exhibit where they could play with a train and that was a big hit.

Time with Grandma

Katherine and Sebastian enjoy having books read to them. Pictured is Katherine with Grandma Linda.


Katherine and grandma enjoyed more bonding time as grandma braided Katherine's hair. What special memories for both!

Papa Verne & grandkids

Katherine, Papa Verne, & Sebastian Kenney

The Verne J. Kenney Family

Christmas vacation

Wes, Katherine, Sebastian, and I piled into our Ford minivan on Christmas Eve at 8PM to begin our drive to Grand Rapids, Michigan to visit with family. We arrived safely in Grand Rapids around 3PM Christmas Day. We spent a week having great fun and celebrating Christmas together as a family. We began our trip home New Year's Day with several stops along the way.

New Year's Day we drove to Cleveland and then onto Smithville, Ohio to see more family. On Wednesday, January 3rd, we stopped in Deatsville, Kentucky to see some friends and then spent the night in a hotel somewhere around Jackson, Tennessee. Thursday brought another long day as we decided to do some sight seeing and playing in Memphis before meeting my sister in Little Rock, Arkansas. We finally arrived home at 11:45PM Thursday, January 4th.

We traveled through nine states in eleven days and drove around three thousand miles!

We had a incredible time with family, and we are grateful to those who helped make this wonderful vacation possible.

Eleven Years Ago...

It was eleven years ago today that I married G. Wesley Kenney. I have been very blessed with a loving, fun, romantic, compassionate, and godly man. Wes and I have had an exciting eleven years, and I know the next eleven will be no different! I wouldn't trade one day of the last eleven years, because each and every day has brought me closer to the man I love.

Happy Anniversary Wesley!!!!!! I love you, and I will still love you when you're 64!!!!

The Star

Attention All: A STAR is Born!!!!!!!!!



Katherine Grace Kenney played the part of a little boy singing "Was He A Boy Like Me?" from the Veggie Tales Singing Christmas Tree CD at church Sunday morning. She did a great job, and her parents are very proud of her!

Katherine's Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Sharon Bain, heard Katherine sing this song one evening while we were all traveling together in my van. She was so impressed with Katherine's enthusiasm for the song, and how well Katherine sang it that she arranged for Katherine to sing in church. Katherine impressed all who were present.

Kids in a box

The Day After

Last Friday many of you were out fighting the crowds of people shopping for family and friends, while others of you were at home recovering from eating too much the day before. Our family decorated the outside and inside of our house for Christmas.

About mid-morning Wes, Katherine, and Sebastian had cinnamon rolls. Wes brought in our artificial tree and put it together. As I began to work on making this artificial thing look like a tree, Wes and the kids moved outside. Wes put white lights on the bushes around our house. Katherine and Sebastian played while Wes worked.

During all this decorating the TV is on, so we can keep up with the football game (Longhorns vs Aggies). I am pleased that the Aggies won this one!!! We took a break to watch the last three minutes together. Great family bonding time over Aggie football! What else is there?

After the game was over, Sebastian took a nap while Katherine and I decorated the tree. By the end of the day, our house looked and smelled like Christmas. What a wonderful time of year!

Great Thanksgiving

I am reminded every year at Thanksgiving that I should be more thankful each and every day. There is much for me to be thankful for.

Wes, Katherine, Sebastian, and I hope you had much to be thankful for and had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

(The picture is of the turkey we ate last year. This year we cooked a brisket, and it was soooo good!!!!!!)

Sebastian Hiding

Lunch or nap?

Wes had to leave right after the morning church service to attend an ordination service for a pastor in our association. This leaves me at home with Katherine and Sebastian this afternoon. The three of us came home for lunch. I suggested eating out, but Katherine said she would rather stay home. (Better for my budget anyway!)

As I am in the kitchen preparing the requested meal of Macaroni & Cheese, the kids are in the living room watching TV. I was hurrying, because I knew Sebastian was sleepy. I didn't realize just how sleepy!


I just had to share this picture.

Kid's & Bathroom Cabinet

Katherine, Sebastian, and Katherine's favorite baby doll are pictured sitting in my bathroom cabinet.

Do you know the baby doll's name?

Retreat to BGCO Meetings

Wes and I attended the Pastor's Conference and 100th Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma last Monday and Tuesday. Wes and I drove the three an a half hour drive to Oklahoma City after church Sunday night and returned to Valliant Wednesday afternoon. Our adorable children spent Sunday afternoon until Wednesday afternoon with Nelson & Virginia Camp.

I am not sure whether Nelson and Virginia or the kids had more fun while we were gone. Wes and I don't think the kids even knew we were gone. Katherine and Sebastian have talked about riding the four-wheelers; playing outside in the leaves; playing on the bed; and all sorts of other fun things.

Wes and I appreciate Nelson and Virginia volunteering to keep our children while we attended the BGCO Annual Meeting. We are also very grateful to those within our church who made it financially possible for us to attend as well.

The Honey Bee & Pooh Bear

Starbucks Spelling Lesson

We were in Sherman, Texas yesterday and spotted a Starbucks. Wes and Katherine went inside to order. Wes ordered Katherine a kid's hot chocolate. As they normally do at Starbucks, they marked Wes' and Katherine's cup with their order. Katherine watched as her cup was marked KHC for Kid's Hot Chocolate. Katherine then tells the person marking her cup that her name is spelled K-A-T-H-E-R-I-N-E!

Kids Day Out

Today Katherine and Sebastian were treated with a day out by a wonderful couple from our church. Nelson and Virginia Camp picked up our children and took them to a small animal park near Detroit, Texas. After spending time seeing several types of animals, Katherine and Sebastian played at a nearby park and ate at McDonald's. Did they have a day out or what?

Now, some of you may be wondering what I did without my precious children all afternoon. Well, several months ago my loving husband volunteered my painting expertise to paint new church highway signs, so I spent the afternoon painting! I am now about half way finished with sign number one. What a day!

Look Around

Autum is here; Thanksgiving is two weeks away; Winter is approaching; Christmas will be here before we know it; and then 2007! Wow, how quick time will fly!

I have been watching how quickly the kids are growing up. It was only a few months ago I wondered whether Sebastian would ever talk. He talks all the time now, and I understand a good percent of it. Katherine is learning to write her name and preparing for Kindergarten next year.

As I watch them grow and learn new things every day, I realize how blessed I am. I encourage you to look around this busy season and count your blessings!

The Haircut

Today was an important day in Sebastian's life. He received his first offical haircut. I had been trimming the length in the back for several months, but it was now long on top and needed professional attention.

First, I must tell you that I am not known for being sentimental. (I know for some of you this will be a great shock!) My husband is the more sentimental one. For this reason, he insisted that Sebastian have is haircut at a particular barber shop. I would have been perfectly happy to have it cut where Katherine and I get our hair cut or at the local barber in Valliant. However, I indulged my husband's wishes.

My husband, Wes, had his very first haircut at the local barber shop in Wright City, Oklahoma. We currently live about ten miles from this barber shop, and so we took Sebastian to the same barber shop. Sebastian probably sat in the same chair where Wes sat during his first haircut.

Sebastian received his "First Haircut Certificate" filled out by Johnny Wilson of Slaters Barber Shop in Wright City, Oklahoma.

Weekend Fun in Texas

Katherine and Sebastian enjoyed spending time with their grandpa in Texas a couple weeks ago. Wes, the kids, and I went to Longview, Texas on a Thursday evening and spent some time with my dad. My dad watched Katherine and Sebastian while Wes and I enjoyed dinner out Thursday night. On Friday my dad took the kids to Toys'R'Us then out for lunch at Chuckie Cheeses. Katherine and Sebastian were spoiled, and their grandpa didn't mind a bit! All of us enjoyed the time together.

Pastor Appreciation

October is pastor appreciation month for churches. Our church held a dinner honoring Wes yesterday after our morning worship services. Dean Cummings, a deacon of the church, presented Wes with a wonderful card of appreciation and financial gift. Wes, the kids, and I are truly blessed with a wonderful and caring church family.

To those members who actually read my blog..."Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Being apart of you has truly blessed my life and my family's. Wes, Katherine, Sebastian, and I love you and appreciate you so much."

The fall festival

This evening I took Katherine and Sebastian over to the Idabel fall festival. The festival was held downtown and was a free event. There were booths set up with games for the kids and candy. The most important part of a festival in their minds! However, they didn't actually receive much candy, because they didn't want to wait in line!!! They did manage to wait in line for the two inflatable games. Katherine did the obstacle course, and they played and jumped in the bounce machine.

Katherine dressed up as Winnie-the-Pooh and Sebastian as a bumble bee. They were too cute! (I didn't take pictures, but I will later.)

One of the funniest things that happened was when a lady standing behind us commented to her young son "Look, there's Pooh." Katherine turned around and said "I'm a kid; not Pooh."

First Picture

I have been looking back through pictures and decided to share one of the earliest pictures of Katherine and Sebastian together. Katherine still leans over to give him hugs and kisses. However, he sometimes pushes her away.

Comments are Welcome

A mistake was made during the set up of my blogger account that didn't allow anyone who wasn't a member to leave comments. This problem has been fixed, so you may now tell me how precious, cute, and adorable my children are. I really would welcome any comments you have.

Bed, Car, & Both Kids

Katherine had to be in a picture too!

Bed, Car, & Sebastian

This morning I was doing some internet searching as well as posting on my blog when Katherine calls my attention to Sebastain. The picture you see is what I saw. Yes, he is sitting on a toy car on top of my bed!

The Ride

Katherine has mastered pulling Sebastian in the wagon. Katherine's thrilled and Sebastian isn't too sure about it! They are cute, aren't they?

Busy Week

Last week was a busy week for Wes, the kids, and myself. As you already know, it started with the trip to the emergency room. On Tuesday the four of us spent the afternoon and evening at the First Baptist Church in Hugo for the associational annual meeting. We all had a wonderful time there. Wednesday was our monthly church dinner and business meeting, plus Wes spent part of the day meeting with a family in our church planning a funeral. Then on Thursday, Wes and I each had things to do to prepare for the funeral on Friday. I also was trying to get my house clean and myself packed for a weekend retreat. Friday morning was the funeral at our church, where I sang and Wes preached. As soon as the funeral was over, I bolted home to change clothes and tell the kids "good-bye", so I could attend a minister's wife retreat in Oklahoma City. I arrived back home around 7:30 PM on Saturday only to begin getting ready for Sunday! Wow, what a week for us!

Sebastian vs Mom

In the early hours Sunday morning, Sebastian began to have a hard time sleeping. He awoke and got out of bed several times. On one occasion I found him getting into the pantry. Apparently he was hungry. After putting him in bed several times, I decided to lay him down next to me in bed. Not too long after this, I rolled over to check on him and met his finger with my left eye!

Later that morning I realized my eye was very sensitive to light and my vision was blurred. I awoke Wes and we decided I should see a doctor. After Wes made arrangements for the church service and the kids, we drove to Paris, Texas to the emergency room. As it turned out, I have scratch on my cornea.

It is now three days later, and I am much better. I still feel the scratch on my eye, but the "gold" eye drops I've been taking really help. I am so blessed that all is well.

Game Day Success

After an afternoon of important football, I am relieved to say both of the Texas teams I wanted to win came out on top! I will admit that the Jayhawks out played the Aggies most of the game, and I do have sympathy for them. However, I am still pleased with the out come. I am also glad my husband was studying over at the church instead of watching the game with me. There were several stressful and frustrating moments for me as I watched the game. I experienced some frustration with the 0U vs UT score at half time, but the beginning of the third quarter took care of that for me! All in all it was great day in college football....at least in my house!

Game Day

Today is another great College Football Saturday! As I have said before, I am an Aggie fan. Now most true Aggie fans would never under any circumstances cheer for the Texas Longhorns. However, I have lived too close to Norman and met too many Sooner fans to ever cheer for them. Today is the Red River Shootout... Texas vs. Oklahoma and I, an Aggie fan, will cheer for the Longhorns! The Aggies suffered a loss to another Texas team last week and now face my husbands favorite team, the Kansas Jayhawks. Wes and I will be on opposing sides for this one, but I have a feeling he will come out the winner. Oh well, that's life. By the end of the day Wes and I will be united in our feelings for 0U. (that is a zero, not an O) :-)

Friends

Pictured above is Baler Bain, Sebastian, and Katherine playing in our living room. Yesterday Raeli Jo and Ryan Frunk were over playing with Katherine and Sebastian. Friends are such blessings!

Music Moments

Katherine and Sebastian have been exposed to music since before they were born. Katherine has been singing since she learned to speak. She loves it. Sebastian is just getting where he is interested in singing. When we're in the van, I usually have a Veggie Tales or other music CD playing. Katherine is always singing along and just recently Sebastian has begun to sing. He sounds so cute. He gets about every other word in whatever song is playing. I just love to listen to them sing while I'm driving down the road. Even more precious is the truth of God's love they're learning from the songs they're singing. Music can be such a powerful force in our lives. I am so thankful my children show a love for music and are learning about God is the process of enjoying music.

Sebastian's name

On occasion I am asked how Wes and I came up with the name Sebastian. Here is the story behind our precious son's name.

Wes, Katherine, and I lived in Wynnewood, and Wes was the Youth & Music Minister of First Baptist Church. The Soutee's (an active family within our church and youth group) hosted a young man, Sebastian Hohenester, from Munich, Germany during the 2003-2004 school year. Sebastian became an active part of our church youth group, and Katherine fell in love with him. She, along with just about every girl in town, thought Sebastian was the cutest person ever! He has blond hair, blue eyes, an accent, and is so polite. How could it not be love at first sight!

During the school year we had many opportunities to get to know Sebastian Hohenester. Sebastian was the punter and field goal kicker for the Wynnewood Savages football team. While Wes spent many hours painting the football field Sebastian was practicing his kicks, and they developed a friendship. They would also play tennis together. Katherine and I had the pleasure of getting to know him through church activities. On Sunday evenings after church we would take the students to eat pizza. Sebastian would come with us. He would also come over with Matt Soutee and play video games with Wes. Through all this Katherine really began to feel very comfortable around Sebastian. Once Wes and I were at a basketball game and had to leave for a short period of time. Another church member volunteered to let Katherine sit with her while we left. When Wes and I arrived back at the basketball game, we discovered that during the hour we were gone Katherine was only happy when sitting with Sebastian. She had him wrapped around her finger and she loved him so. By the end of the school year, Katherine would tell you that Sebastian was her boyfriend.

After Wes and I found out that I was pregnant with a little boy we began the process of choosing a name. This was really hard for us, because we could never agree. One afternoon Wes and I were sitting on the couch talking about names. Katherine came in and asked us what we were doing. Wes explained we were coming up with names for her baby bother. With every name we suggested Katherine would shake her head no, so Wes finally asked Katherine what she would name her brother. She thought for a minute and said "Sebastian". And that is how my son got is name.

In May 2005, Sebastian H. met Sebastian K., and Katherine had her two favorite Sebastian's!

Katherine & The Tricycle

Katherine and Sebastian have been keeping me very busy. In fact, I've been so busy that I just haven't had time to post in a while. When I've had a few minutes to turn the computer on I usually get to my email and maybe read Wes' blog before one or both kids are yelling for my attention. There's always something!

In my last post I talked about Wes and I trying to teach Katherine how to ride her new bicycle. Here is what has taken place since... I parked the princess bicycle and decided it was time to try another approach. I knew once she got the hang of consistently pedaling that she would then have no problems with the bicycle. At least this was my hope! So with this new strategy in mind, I had Wes get the big red tricycle out. (This was a Christmas gift last year.) Wes had to make a few adjustments to the seat, add air to the tires, and unhooked the wagon that was attached to the back. I started pushing the tricycle and reminding her to pedal. She finally began to get the hang of it. Once she was pedaling on her own, I challenged her to a race back to the driveway. She took the bait, and she was off. She mastered the tricycle, but she wants to pull Sebastian in the wagon attached to the tricycle before she rides the bike. Now I am wondering what I have gotten myself into!!!

Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Katherine is in the process of learning how to ride her new princess bicycle. Through this process I am seeing how much my daughter is truly like her mother. After a few adjustments of the seat and training wheels, Katherine was ready to go! Wes and I began to explain that she had to keep pedaling or she would stop. Katherine will pedal once or twice then stop. She said "I can't get it, I'm done." Most of you know where she got that attitude from. Wes kept working with her while I played with Sebastian on Katherine's tricycle. At one point, Wes suggested she stand up on the pedals. (He thought it would help get her started, as it did for him when he was a kid.) Katherine attempts to stand up but stops and says "This makes me nervous!" Wes looked over at me and smiled. Oh how I could see myself!!

Katherine & Jonah

On Sunday evenings at church, Wes has been preaching through the book of Jonah. Now Katherine sits in the service with me on Sunday nights and is usually busy coloring when her daddy gets up to preach. This particular Sunday night she was tired and decided to sit in my lap. As Wes got up to begin preaching, I opened her bible to the book of Jonah. I knew Katherine knew the story of Jonah, so I explained that her daddy would be preaching about Jonah. She so innocently looked at me and whispered "How does my daddy know about Jonah?". I smiled and explained because it was in the bible.

Favorite Time of Year

One of my favorite times of the year has arrived... College Football Season!!! I grew up in Texas where football is a BIG deal. Not to mention, my father is a huge Dallas Cowboy fan, and I have two uncle's who played college football. I could either hate football or embrace it. I admit for a time I did not embrace it, but by the time I hit high school I found myself enjoying the game. After high school I discovered I missed going to football games and thus began my appreciation for college football. It still took several years, but I began to fall for the college football rivalry. Being from Texas the big rivalry was University of Texas vs Texas A & M. I began to cheer for the Aggies. I had several friends who where attending there, and one who even played some football for them. Texas A & M was just a school I had always been interested in, but it was not where I choose to attend college. I am not a true Aggie, but am an Aggie at heart! Gig'em Aggies!!!

Katherine and Sebastian are my little aggies in trainning. Katherine can already sing the whole Aggie War Hymn. She was able to recongize the A & M logo before she was two. When Sebastian was born, he was delivered by an Aggie! Katherine has been helping me cheer on the Aggies for several seasons now, and this year Sebastian can join us. Katherine and I have been teaching him the Gig'em hand signal. He's just about got it!

Deb's Day

Today I turned 34! I was awakened this morning by my beautiful daughter, Katherine Grace, who wished me happy birthday (after her daddy whispered a reminder in her ear). What a sweet way to start off my special day. Katherine expressed to Wes that the two of them were to make me a chocolate cake topped with chocolate icing, which they did this afternoon. All through out the day Katherine talked about what a special day it was and wished me happy birthday. Tonight my family sang "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" and then we all enjoyed a piece of very rich chocolate cake. I had a wonderful birthday!!