The NAMM Show

While Teresa and Emily were stuck in WI, in -30 temperatures, I was in L.A. basking in the 86 degree weather. I went to the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show with my friend Scott Schroedl. It showcases all the new music instrument products. I spent 4 days looking at drums, guitars and music gear. I also got to hang out with a bunch of famous musicians. I got to see some really cool bands set up hotel lobby's and banquet rooms. It's crazy to walk into a Hilton hotel lobby and see walls of speakers and lights.






My friend Scott. I took drum lessons from him from 5th grade through my freshman year in high school.




I'm outside the Anaheim Convention Center about to go into the show.





Scott is standing in front all of the music books he's written and recorded on. He's even done an instructional DVD.



Here I am with the Diamond Guitar Amp girls. You gotta love booth candy! Scott had to stop by this booth everyday and look at guitar amps. Of course I couldn't let him go alone.


This is the Paiste Cymbal booth. Scott and I spent hours playing all of their cymbals.

I visited with Nicko McBrain (drummer for Iron Maiden).

We talked with Rikki Rockett (drummer for Poison). He has a company that makes custom drums.


These are Rikki's custom snare drums.

This is a kit from Drum Workshop (DW). That is about $8,000 worth of drums.


Here is Tim (a former student of Scott's) playing drums. Tim was playing a private show for Guitar Magazine. They just got done with a tour in Europe and they'll start touring the U.S. soon.

Big Girl Carseat

Our little munchkin is officially ready for her Big Girl Carseat. We bought two of the Britax Marathon carseats and put them in this weekend. She had to be 1 year old AND 20 lbs. We were so close on the 20 lbs, but needed to give her an extra month to gain some weight.

Here she is enjoying the ride facing forward:

January 2009

Emily is 13 months old now. She has turned into such a little princess. She is a chatter box and is so funny. It's neat to see her personality finally coming out. She got 4 teeth this past month - all on the top. Poor thing! She is really cruising around the furniture, I bet she will walk anytime now. She loves to be tickled! She loves playing and snuggling with her daddy.

We went to Portland to visit Kalli, Mark and the boys in January. Emily and I flew out together on Saturday morning. Kory was already out there because he was in California for the NAMM show - more photos to follow on that one. Then we stayed until the following Friday. Emily did great on the flights-she was a bit of a handful for me by myself - but we managed!!! We had a wonderful time in Portland. We enjoyed seeing the boys and Mark and Kalli. We also got to see Kurt and Gretchen a little bit - but weren't able to see Rory. He wasn't feeling well, so we didn't get to see him. Hope to see you soon buddy!!! Kurt showed us around downtown Portland and we got to see his work which was fun. We also went to VooDoo donuts which is a riot! Kalli took us to the pool one day with Reese and Tyler. Emily loved to swim! We went on some walks. Kalli and Mark even babsat Em overnight while Kory and I took a trip up to Washington to see the waterfalls and to stay overnight at the Bonneville Resort - it was a mineral springs resort - we enjoyed some wonderful spa treatments! Thanks Aunt Kalli and Uncle Mark!!! I even got to stop in and see our Covance clinic in Portland. It was lots of fun to finally meet the people I've worked with over the phone for the last 2 years.

Here are some pictures from the last month. I also put in the link to the rest of them.

Here is a picture of our cranky kid. Everyone said she never cries, so we had to take a picture of her throwing a fit!!!

Here we are Portland:

Kalli with Emme

Reese and Em swimming

Reese, Ty and Em swimming

Here we are at the coast - Kory, Em, Teresa and Kalli. We had such a nice time. It was a beautiful day.

I love this pic of Kory and Em

Here's the waterfall that we went to on our way to the mineral springs. It was so pretty!

Here's Kory riding AJ's scooter

This is the "stash" where they store all the bottle caps and wine corks. It's pretty fun to throw them up there.

Mark and Kalli - thanks for letting us hang out for the week! We had a blast!!

I took this one just yesterday. She loves bath time.

January picture link: http://photos.walmart.com/shareethumbnailshare/AlbumID=41868262/albumcount=1/p=860271233108550356/l=15293011/g=3242809/cobrandOid=1011/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB/pns/share/p=860271233108550356/l=15293011/g=3242809/cobrandOid=1011/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

Oh! One last thing - Emme is going to have a BOY cousin in June. Aunt Kacey and Uncle Tony found out that we have a little Zander Luke Vosberg joining the family. She had her 20 week ultrasound and all looked good. Can't wait to meet him!!!

Emily's 1 Year Photos

Here they are: http://photos.walmart.com/shareethumbnailshare/AlbumID=41718334/albumcount=1/p=5191231554469104/l=15246914/g=3242809/cobrandOid=1011/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB/pns/share/p=5191231554469104/l=15246914/g=3242809/cobrandOid=1011/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

Krista (http://www.kristaroderphotography.com/) did an awesome job once again. Emily was a bit of a crabby pants, so we were lucky we got as many good ones as we did.

Enjoy!
Teresa, Kory & Emily

One Year Check-up

Emily just had her 1 year check up today. Everything went well. She handled all the shots okay - gosh that is hard to watch!! I'm glad Daddy came and helped me with her. I always feel so bad when they keep poking her. They are so compassionate though, that it makes it much easier to handle.

Here's the stats:
Height: 28.75" (36% percentile)
Weight: 19 lb 10oz (25% percentile)
Head: 46.5 cm (86%)

So we still have a little peanut with a big head :)
No switching to the big girl car seat yet - but we are close. Emme better hurry up and gain some weight so we can ship Baby Marquardt the car seat and bases!!!

December 2008 Photos

We have been quite busy the month of December. Please enjoy all of our photos!!

http://photos.walmart.com/shareethumbnailshare/AlbumID=41560308/albumcount=1/p=699271230428584782/l=15199835/g=3242809/cobrandOid=1011/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB/pns/share/p=699271230428584782/l=15199835/g=3242809/cobrandOid=1011/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

Emily Kaslyn Turns ONE!!!

It's hard to believe that a year ago today - we had a teeny tiny infant in our arms. It's been a good year, an unforgetable year, and we've all grown a lot in our lives. Emily has been an absolute blessing, and we are so happy to have her as our daughter.

She had a great first birthday party. We had lots of friends and family here. Thanks everyone!

Here are some pictures from her special day:

Mom & Dad helping Em open her presents-

A family picture-

Her birthday cakes -

Diving in!!!

Yummy!!!

Thanks again everyone for all the presents - and for coming!!!

Walker Family Christmas

Emily has been quite busy...this is her 3rd and LAST Christmas for 2008--held the day after Christmas. Mom, Dad, Casey and Mike came over to celebrate with us. Winnie and Otis had a great time playing together. Emme had fun playing with all her new toys.

Here are a few pics:

Here's Em in all the wrapping paper-

Mom, Dad and Emme -

Mike FINALLY got his Griddle!! Yay Mike!

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas at the Hanson's

On Christmas Day, we went to Bonnie and Tom's to celebrate. The food and the company was fabulous as always!!!


Here's Tom's LARGE remote:





Emme eating Grandma's yummy Banana Cream Pie! Yum!!




Em with Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Tom:



Family pic:




Kacey's teeny belly!


Our princess angel:

Christmas Eve

Surprisingly, Santa came to our house on Christmas Eve. He had a lot of houses to hit on Christmas Day, so he thought he'd get ours out of the way first. Emily's first Christmas was great. It was just Kory, Emily, me, Otis (the dog) and Aunt Bea (the cat). So it was special to be just our little family.

Here's Em sitting by the tree and getting ready to rip them open!



Here's mommy with her new necklace that Em (a.k.a Daddy) got her for Christmas. It's GEORGOUS! It is diamonds and tanzanite (Em's birthstone).



Here's Dad giving Emme kisses



Here's Em with her new basketball game. She loved it. Nice job Santa!!



Otis even got a present. Ya think the bone is big enough??



Merry Christmas Everyone!!
Love,
The Marions

Fly Swatter?

We think Emily has a new profession to "aim" high for:

Snow Day!

Well Emme and I are stuck home on this beautiful snow day. It really is pretty outside - especially because we don't have to go anywhere and Daddy is home safe and sound. It's been a rough December already for our truck drivers!!

Thought I'd post some pics from the last week or two.

This is what happens when your skinny baby has a HUGE head! If the shirt fits her shoulders, then I can't get it off her head. Too funny. Thanks Grammy for putting some buttons on it for me!

First taste of sugar cookie frosting..Yummy!

I think Em ate a little TOO much frosting!!!

Madi and Maya came over last night to give Em her birthday present. Thanks girls!!! You are so much fun!

Emily will be 1 in a week from today. I can't believe how fast this first year has gone. In a way, I am sad that she is no longer a baby - she on to her toddler years. I am happy to have had such a wonderful first year with her though. She's just such a special part of our lives. We love you Em! Stop growing so fast.

Visit with Santa

Emily got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wanted for her first Christmas. We all wonder what she told him!!!

Our Trip to Indiana

We went to Indiana for Kory's Grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary. I say "we" loosely because Kory didn't make it down so it was just me and Emme. We left on Friday morning with Bonnie, Kacey, Tony and Kalli. It was a fun trip down! Em did great. Then Friday we went to dinner with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim. It was lots of fun. Saturday morning - Tom and Kory were supposed to head down, but the roads were too icy and decided they better stay home. So we got up early and went to Grandma Marion's for a visit - it was nice to see her, Randy and Bernita. Then we went to the anniversary party at The Good Table. Yummy! There were lots of family there and everyone had a good time. Then we went back to Grandma and Grandpa's house and relaxed for a few hours. Em got in a great nap, so I was happy about that. Then we all went to church together. After church we went back to Grandma and Grandpa's for another meal of appetizers. It was delicious and we were stuffed!!! We got back to the hotel around 10:30 and crashed. Then Sunday morning we got up, had some breakfast and got back on the road. It was a fun weekend - but exhausting! I was busy taking care of Emily - so I didn't get a chance to take many pics. Here are a few:


Em with Aunt Cheryl & Uncle John:


Em with Aunt Kalli (home from Portland):


Happy 60th Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa!!!


Emme and Mommy all dressed up:

Mommy and Daddy-to-be:

Also wanted to thank Kalli for keeping Em overnight on Sunday night. Gave us some time to relax and enjoy the day. Kory had to work Sunday night - but it was still nice.

Christmas Tree?

I know - it's been 3 years since we put up a Christmas tree. We decided it was time with a little one roaming around. She deserves to have a real Christmas. So we did some decorating - but nothing too over the top. Thanks to Auntie Ali for making Em her stocking. She loves it!!!