pics for Grandma Martha

Grandma Martha is itching for swimming pictures so here are a few. I am still too paranoid to take the video camera to our public pool so we may have to wait until we get back to a private pool setting before I will venture out with the vidcam.

Nick swimming towards the ladder.


Then back to daddy..........



then back to the ladder.......


His new thing besides hurling himself off the edge of the pool (sorry, mr. lifeguard) is to climb "down" the ladder underwater and sit on the bottom or do assisted flips underwater. I worry about his ears since he has never told us when he had ear infections.....fever is our only symptom but he seems to have no trouble at all with the underwater experience. Now, I am thinking Navy Seal or Blue Angel....he says Blue Angel but we shall see....hate to see all that underwater prowess go to waste! ha!


We had a great time at our Kaz family party! By the look of things, we shall have many more Kaz cuties this time next year. Lots of waiting families here in the area! But for now, the current cutie pie kazakhs.....Nick (doing his yo-ho pirate), Wyatt, and Brenna! They had a great time playing together and we had a great time visiting with everyone. Wyatt's and Brenna's families are in the process of adopting a sibling for them! Exciting times!

The Merman from Kazakhstan!

One of my favorite shows in the late 70's, early 80's (can't remember when) was the man from Atlantis.....loved Patrick Duffy! So, now I have my own minus the webbed hands and feet! The Merman has taken to the water like I have never experienced with other kids. For Pat and I, it is the "he took his first steps" experience. We have just beamed with pride for the past 48 hours. We knew he loved the water but my 'just let go of him in the water and let him teach himself ' theory has really given him such confidence and independence. He doesn't just do a doggy paddle......he pushes off and swims under the water with a mighty good flutter kick! And, he was holding onto the side of the pool and launched off backwards just like the back stroke folks do. Pat and I just looked at each other because we don't know where he learned that one! Such a Natural.....I don't have any pics yet because I am always in the water with him but soon.....maybe even video! We are thinking the Olympics 2016! He could swim for Kazakhstan as he is a dual citizen until 18....how cool would that be!





We just had a great week with my Sister and her family. Nick loved having Zach and Lyndsay here. If we heard Nick calling for Zach once, we heard it a MILLION times. I loved it at first because he wasn't saying Mom all of the time but after a while, any name repeated over and over gets old! :) We visited the city pool, the aviation museum, the park and back to our cousin's house for a final swim. My cousin Susan, my sis and I are all within 4 years in age. Our grandmothers were sisters and the best cooks in Ky! We finally got a pick of all of the next generation of cousins! So cute!


We swam and swam and then Dad and Nick had to have a break on the big lounge.....all they need now is someone feeding them grapes and fanning them!




Nick has been talking so much more grown up lately. Full sentences that most can understand and such manners. It cracks me up because I really don't focus on them too much but he says them with such sweetness.......I just melt.

Typical things he says on any given day.......
Nick do you need to go to the bathroom......" No Thank You"
"Thank you for making this food for me" or "Thank You for playing with me"
"I love you so much, Mommy or Daddy"
"Thank you for buckling my carseat"


"weeeee, I love this car, I love those trees!"
The funnier things he says have to do with "repeating" all of the lectures that I must give ad nauseum.....because he knows them by heart not necessarily by action.
"I be nice boy, not screaming or hitting or pushing"
"I being quiet in car not "fustating" mommy"
" I hold hands with mommy so no one grab me, mommy and daddy be sad and I stay close so they can "patect" me."
''not so hard mommy, I just keep trying and never give up"

He is just so sweet. The not so fun but still funny part of his speech development this month is the WHY questions......Why I sad? (because you got in trouble) Why I got in trouble (because you did XYZ) Why I do XYZ?.........AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
Why does the car have wheels (to make it go) Why does a car go? ( to get to another place) Why I go another place........AAAAAAHHHHH ! You get the idea. We usually turn the questions back to him because he generally knows the answer!


Even though he is still his crazy active self, he continues to love, love books! He will sit at the table or in a chair and just "read" the books and look thru the pages. I tried to get this while he was still reading but he gave me a big cheese smile......Adorable! He looks so grown up these days. Makes me sad but we are also enjoying this stage so much! He has such a passion for life and "loves" everything. I have been guilty of being a glass half empty type and it is a blessing to have him remind me daily to see the joy and excitement in EVERYTHING.





We are headed to a Kaz family dinner tonight with our local Kaz friends. Several of them are getting ready to adopt again so we are excited to hear about all of their plans.
If you need to find us, just look for us at the YMCA with the Merman! Enjoy the remainder of the summer!

You might be a Kitzman if................

If your fourth of July includes a parade with a Hodag, a bagpipe band from Canada, and the possibility of seeing logging gear and/or a snowcat on a float, You might be a Kitzman.....

If you haven't even been born for more than 7 weeks and you have already experienced your first bats, crazy groundhogs, chickens, and now the ever popular ladybugs, You might be a Kitzman!

Yes, Uncles Mike, Pat, and Brian, I do understand the importance of flaming balls of fire!

If you learn to paddle a Kayak before you learn to swim, You might be a Kitzman.

If you are able to get big air underneath your tube or twister being pulled by a Pontoon, You might have had the pleasure of riding with a Kitzman driving!

If you giggle and Grin Big while being bounced and tossed to and fro like a ragdoll, You are definitely a Kitzman ( GO NICK!)

If you begin collecting fireworks for next year as soon as this year is over and your display is so big that folks request to come over and watch, You might be a Kitzman.

The finale alone had over 100 blasts in it!

If your passage into manhood is not hunting, football games, or shaving but moving up the chain of fireworks from lighting driveway poppers to Boat dock flaming balls of fire, you might be a Kitzman!

Dakota made the big move this year..........Julie, I am sure I will need your support when my time comes! ;)

NICK"S FIRST FIREWORKS...JULY 2007

NICK'S SECOND FIREWORKS.....JULY 2008

(The Kitzman "gene" has kicked in!) :)

We returned home yesterday with all of our toes and fingers, and can still see, hear, and smell. A successful fourth was declared by all. We had a great time up North and already miss the wonderfully cooler weather and most of all we miss Auntie Rhino and Uncle Brian. I have never seen two people play longer with seemingly unlimited supplies of energy and imagination for Pirate Stinky Pete. I am sure they will have the Argh!! sound ringing in their ears for weeks!

With the distance now great between Nick and his "best Friends", we anxiously await the arrival of my Sister and her family at the end of the week. Auntie Rhino, we won't tell you if someone else becomes his "best friend"! :)

It's a PIRATE'S life for me!

As legend has it, every few years the ghost of Jean Lafoote, the peg-legged pirate
returns to leave a map to guide another generation of Kitzman pirates to their portion
of the stolen treasures from the isle of Dol Larstore!



Pirate Stinky Pete McGillicutty prepares his crew!




Ahoy, mates, the isle is ahead......Heave, HO! or as the alter ego, speed racer would say.....start your engines!



We set foot on the isle and began the search. First mate to the Captain, Auntie Rhino was close behind!


Look! "X" marks the spot!



Captain orders 2nd mate, Paddy Boy, to Dig, Scaliwag, Dig!


Captain, I think we got something!!





Treasure! Treasure!






Mates, Back to the boat! I see Pirate Seadoo''s ship approaching......Raise the motor, Push Back.....GO!GO!

Pirate Stinky Pete and Crew returned safely to the Island of Sodor (I know, I know....another story....but he is convinced that it is on the other side of the lake!)



We hope you all have a "Booty"ful Fourth of July and a great time "treasuring" all of the blessings of being an American!
Pat, Karen, and Stinky Pete

Independance Day (year 2)

Our Yearly pilgrimage north has begun and we were greeted with a nippy 60 degree weekend but the sun has come out and beauty surrounds us in the high 70's and 80's. Nick was so "cited" to be headed to the Lake. All he wanted to do was get on the lake with Ata Bob and go "super fast". We started the vacation of with Baby Colin's baptism which was very nice and what a super cutie he is and he was very well behaved for the service.

We got the boat out Sunday night and Nick wanted to have the boat at full throttle all the time. I am so worried about him now........how will we ever survive the teen years? ha!

Since it was a bit chilly, we did not get out to the Lake to actually swim until yesterday and I have no pictures because Nick proceeded to scream at the top of his lungs while standing in the water as it was apparently "ooky" and too "swampy". He wanted out and although we did get him to ride around with Dakota and Daddy in their rafts, we could not get him to do anything in the water. We will continue to re-introduce Nick to the Ooky water! He saw skiers and tubers going by and said he wanted to do that instead......oh my!

We did not make it out to the lake today because we had some alternate activities planned. We took Nick for his first Go-Cart ride and he loved it, of course! I think the conversations went something like this.......

"Hey Dad, Can we let 'r loose around the 3rd turn and then attempt to pass Dakota on the inside? Yes Son, of course, but just Nod and smile and your mom won't know what we have planned!"

OK, Dad......just Nod and Smile............love you mom, hugs, kisses.....nothing going on here......

Go Dad, Go Dad! We almost have him! Faster, Faster!................................

Back at the garage, Oldest Grandchild and Middle grandchild trying to pass on the sage advice of Second Son.......OK, Colin, little dude, he said if we just smile and Nod, we can get away with anything because they won't know what we have planned........the Kitzman boys can't be slowed down....watch out, watch out!

Next episode, will older grandchild show middle grandchild how to defy gravity and spin effortlessly above the water while above mentioned boat is at full throttle and will youngest grandchild single-handedly charm the socks off all the women in Rhinelander?.......stay tuned for more episodes of "As the hair turns Gray!"