Next Year is the Year

Okay, I had to put this one up on here too! So cute...

Happy Thanksgiving...Early!

Cousin Kyle came in for a quick visit from Arizona. It was the first time Lena & Kyle met, so the moms went photo crazy. Since it is November I had to put their Thanksgiving picture up. If you want to see any of the bajillion pictures that were taken, click on the link:

Lena & Kyle's first Meeting

Sunday Best!

We had to take a picture of Lena and her mom wearing similar Sunday dresses! She's already getting sooooo big. SLOW DOWN, LENA!

Bear down..

Lena with her new bears blanket on NFL Sunay! Dad is going to the Bears/Cowboys game tonight....should be a good one!

Lena's Homecoming...

Well, we've been home since Tuesday night, and I must say that this has been an adventure. I can't get enough of holding Lena and kissing her little cheeks. We've managed to sleep in shifts pretty well thus far, and everyone is doing great. A certain brother of mine found our car in the hospital garage and did a nice paint job on the windows. Serena and I loved it. Here are some pics of Lena coming home....enjoy! Homecoming

Lena's First Video

Meet Lena...watch the video...

A New Daughter...

Lena Tian Allison arrived at 11:15am this morning. She's 8lbs. 8oz. This picture was taken only an hour or so after she delivered! Thanks to all who prayed for us, and feel free to check out more pics as the week goes by. Love you all!

<-- Click for more pics...

Brickyard 400...

More on this later, but for now...feel free to check out the web album.

Brickyard

Eight Weeks and closing...

As of July 22nd, we have eight weeks left till baby ________ arrives on the scene. We've got names picked out (which we'll probably change), we have a baby room half-way set-up (which we'll probably re-arrange), and we've read a bunch of books with advice (which we'll probably forget)! So are we ready? Probably as ready as we're going to get....

<----Isn't she a vision? :-)

Deathly Hallows...

Yes, I know Lord Voldemort. We're good friends actually. On July 21st (11:45pm) I hit my first ever Harry Potter book release party. It's amazing to see hundreds of people all jacked up about a book. When is the last time anyone got excited about reading? Anyway, my friends "the Joe's" decided to dress-up and celebrate as Snape and Voldemort. They were the highlight of the bookstore as everyone wanted to get a picture with them. I just wanted to get my book and begin reading. Which I did, and I'm done, and it was excellent. If you haven't read the final book of the Harry Potter series, I must say its a thriller. Much thanks to Joe for standing in line for 7 hours prior to my arrival at the bookstore and saving me a sweet spot.

Chris is 21!

My brother finally reached the age of no return on July 12. Chris is officially 21 years old. The only two things his age restricts him from are renting a car and qualifying for senior citizen discounts. Thanks to our brother-in-law Brian, we were able to celebrate the occasion at a Cubs game. Cubs won, Chris drank his first (and probably last) Budweiser at a game, while munching some delicious sunflower seeds and hanging out with our beautiful women on a beautiful day. All said, it was a good day. We also had a party at my parents house the day before. To check out photos of either click the following links.

Cubs Game :: Mom & Dad's

6 months...

Serena has hit the 6 month mark. Here's a photo for all to see how beautiful she still looks even though she's carrying around a lump. The other night she came home and said, "I look like I've got a beer belly from 2 years of drinking everyday!"

Previous years hard work...

Well, last summer Serena and I worked really hard on digging out beds, shoveling mulch, and splitting plants from my aunt Anne's, my parents' neighbors, and just about anyone who would let us. At the the end of the summer we had a dirty yard with withering yellow plants, but this year, springs promise of renewal has brought a wide variety of beautiful blooms, textures, and smells. Thanks to all who contributed to make our yard beautiful. It is a real joy to pull into the yard and see a small part of what God is capable of! If you want to see more photos of the yard/flowers either click the picture to the right or here.

In the boppie...

Here's another pic of the little guy....

I'm An Uncle!...

Well, the time has finally come! My first nephew arrived on the scene on May 25th. Kyle Jacob Banker was born on May 25th at 11:46 p.m. He weighed 6 pounds 1 ounce and was 19 1/4 inches long. Congratulations to my brother and sister, Tracy & Chad Banker. Can't wait to meet the little guy!