I am trying to figure out what to do... And I need your help. While I am loving the new website, and all the cool stuff I can do with it, I am missing the interaction that the blog gives me. How can I talk to you all, and see all your warm wishes and feel all your love. Sigh. What to do? Any suggestions?

January 16th, 2007
Just a quick update for you all... Since I we bought a new computer for the family this Christmas, and blessed said computer with a nice internet systme, we have discovered a whole new way for you to get your Jack fix.... We have created a .Mac account with a family web page and blog. Come check us out at:

http://web.mac.com/kieselfamily/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html

We'll make a full switch and close down this blog soon, so bookmark the new page.

January 11th, 2007
As promised I will be updating this blog a lot more. We are actually looking into creating a dotmac account, so keep your eyes open for that. So as some of you may have seen on the news, Oregon is being hit by a massive cold front. Normally that means that it is just... Cold. But today it meant a 2 hour delay for mom, and a first look at snow for Jack. We had to document it, knowing that we may not see the white stuff again for a few years. He wasn't too impressed to be honest, but he did have fun trying to catch a snow flake on his tongue. Now... Lets hope there some more tomorrow. Or at least ice. I could use a long weekend.

Okay-- We've figured this whole YouTube thing out. Look at us all modern and hip. So this is our FAVORITE movie of all time. I can't see it without laughing my head off. I guess it just goes to show you that even the simplest things can bring great pleasure. Too bad we can't all stay this innocent forever. As many of the clips on YouTube demonstrate.

We are trying this for the first time. So here is a short clip of Jack demonstrating his remarkable dance abilities.... Abilities he did not inherit from his father.

January 4th, 2007
Well we've finally done it. We have moved into the 21st century and invested in DSL for our computer. It is like a little fashion accessory for our new Mac computer that was our Christams present for the family. The great thing is that updating this blog should be 1000 times easier now.
So... News? Well not much is up a the Kiesel household. We are busy as always, but now we just have a lot more toys to put away. Jack's first Christmas was amazing. He hasn't quite figured out how to open presents, and he was easily distracted, but I think he had a good time. He also got a lot of good loot, including 3 trike like cars/planes/rockets, a band in a box (his favorite present this far, and a beautiful rain slicker. For me the funnest part of the whole thing was just knowing that this is the beginning of our family, and a lifetime of Christmas traditions. I swear, I couldn't sleep. I felt like a little kid again... just waiting for Santa to come. I was up, and ready to get going by about 5:oo am... A good 2 hours before Jack normally would get up. We let him sleep, but I was so excited, I was a bit too loud, and he ended up getting up at about 6:00. Eventually I will pray that the kids will sleep in, but not this year I guess.
In other news my friend Katie just announced that she will be adding to her little family in California this fall. I am so excited. I am gitty. It was everything I could do not to drop everything I was doing and fly down to see her. I contained myself however, and put together a lovely care package instead (katie--keep your eyes open). Thinking about her having a baby makes me very sentimental. All I can do is think about how quickly this year has gone by for Chris and I. In just a couple of days we will have an 11 month old.... 1 year is just around the corner. I can't believe that a year ago this week I was having a baby shower, feeling as big as a house, and sleeping on the couch (the only place I could get comfortable). Now we have this beautiful little man in our lives. He has changed us so much. Our house is filled with laughter and dancing. We are having so much fun. It isn't that it hasn't been hard... It has. I am so tired, I don't get anything done for school anymore (who could knowing that Jack is playing in the livingroom without me), and our house is ALWAYS a mess. But it is so worth it. This little man has come into our lives and made us a family. Chris and I will be forever connected through these blue eyes. I am heavy with the love I have for them both.
Then again... I am heavy with the weight I gained carring one of them around for 9 months. Which leads me to my final thoughts for the moment...

MY NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS:
1. Loose all that baby weight. Katie's little announcement has got Chris and I thinking.... But I ain't doing nothing until I am back to normal.... So I can ruin it all over again.
2. Write in the blog at least once a week (thank you DSL).
3. Be more organized. If you are my friend you are making a snide comment right now, because you think I am very organized. You would be wrong.
4. Paint. My Dad got me canvas and brushes for Christmas. I am going to start painting.
5. Watch less TV. Jack is already a junkie. TIme to get that boy addicted to NPR.
6. BREATH

I hope you all had a great Christmas, and a wonderful new year. More later.

Friday, December 8th, 2006
The gratuitous bath/naked baby shot. You have to have a few of them, if for nothing more than to torment your child when he is older.

So another update from the Kiesel household. It has been a pretty long and uneventful month. Jack just turned 10 months old a few days ago, and is growing like a weed. Sometimes I don't even realize it. People are always commenting that he is big, and we have noticed that when we go out to eat they always bring him crayons as if he should want to color (when what he will end up doing is eating them). But I didn't realize just how big he was until Monday. We went to get a family portrait, and when I looked at it, I almost gasped. The boy looks like a two year old. He is tall, and his face is beginning to thin out and get character. He is going to be huge, and finally create a tall Bell relative.

On the same note, Jack is learning things left and right. I am amazed at how quickly he picks up stuff, and mimics us. If you ask him to dance, he'll shake his head, and bob side to side. He waves bye-bye, and if you say "Rock and Roll" he raises his hands high above his head (Chris's doing). When you talk, he watches your mouth very carefully and tries to mimic you sounds. He is picking up so much, and we are on warning to start watching what we say and do around him... Lest he pick up some of our not so wholesome habits as well.

Obviously our first Christmas is just around the corner. I am, personally, very excited for it. I am looking forward to starting some new traditions, and continuing some old ones as well. Plus, shopping takes on a whole new level of fun this year. TOYS!!! We are taking advantage of one last year without silly wrapping paper however, and using a silver art deco looking stuff. Very posh. All the better for Jack and Lucy to eat.

Hope this finds you all in a good holiday mood...Keep you eye out for our Christmas card!!!