buckley fam

Thanksgiving 2010

2011-11-28T16:43:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving was special this year because we had the boys and our new son, Kaleb, to celebrate with our family. We did Thanksgiving on the Buckley side only this year due to just having the baby. The pictures are of Trey and Kole, my brother, Bruce, and fam, my nieces (Tori and Layne), and my brother in law (Jim) holding baby Kaleb.

Fam Update

2011-09-25T14:16:00.005-05:00

Bryan - Director of Business Development for CrossBridge Solutions now for 15 months working for one of his best friends. Also part time Worship Leader at Oak Community Church in Hinsdale, IL (both Chicago suburbs). Turns 42 on December 4th...

Susan - still teaching 2nd grade in Plainfield (Chicago suburb). She has a good class this year. She thrives on being home with Kaitlyn and Kaleb. And she's already counting down the days until Christmas break! Susan has a birthday on October 10th (large gifts and money appreciated)

Trey and Kole - Trey turned 8 and Kole turned 7 in August. Both have grown up a ton this past year (see below pictures). They both played baseball over the summer. They absolutely love their time with Dad every other weekend. Oh how I wish they lived closer than a hundred miles away (literally) but we make the most of the distance.

Kaitlyn - will be 3 in January. She is the life of the party and has SO much energy. Maximizing the terrible twos and is a complete daddy's girl (and he doesn't mind) Check out her recent pictures.

Kaleb - is just the happiest little guy ever. He's always smiling and a great baby. He's crawling everywhere and learning how to stand. We've decided we're going to keep him.

Kaleb's 9 Month Professional Pictures

2011-09-12T08:10:00.001-05:00

Kaitlyn's 2 1/2 years Professional Pictures

2011-09-12T07:29:00.006-05:00

White Sox U.S. Cellular Field Tour

2011-09-12T07:06:00.002-05:00

I was able to tour the baseball park of my lifelong favorite baseball team. I've been to this park SO many times but never took a tour. It was a great experience as a sports fan and especially as a White Sox fan. The tour guide let the group take their time and see aspects of the park that is not normally part of the tour. It was great! We walked around the entire field, went into the dugout, bullpen, suites, and press box. I had an absolute blast!

Trey and Kole's Birthday Party

2011-08-22T11:46:00.004-05:00

This past weekend, we had the boys' birthday party. Kole turned 7 on the 3rd and the day of the party was the day of Trey's 8th birthday on the 20th. We had family from both my side and Susan's side. It was a great day to see fam and celebrate the boys' lives. Trey dressed up in a suit so he could greet everyone at the door on his actual birthday. This was a BIG deal to him!

Kaleb Hunter Buckley's 1st Haircut Video

2011-08-21T15:39:00.001-05:00

Summer Fun

2011-08-17T08:02:00.004-05:00

The kids have absolutely loved their summer outside. Every possible moment they can be outside to swim, ride bikes, visit neighbors, or just play, they seize the moment. Here are some pictures!

Kaitlyn Merry Go Round Fun!!!

2011-08-13T08:17:00.001-05:00

Boys Swimming in Lake Geneva

2011-08-04T23:44:00.001-05:00

Lake Geneva Boating Trip

2011-08-04T07:34:00.004-05:00

This weekend we visited Susan's sister and brother-in-law in Lake Geneva. We wanted to take the kids on their boat on the lake. The boys had their last baseball game of the season then we drove to Lake Geneva.

It was a gorgeous day to be on the lake. The boys absolutely loved tubing along with when we anchored the boat and we could jump off the boat and just swim in the lake. They must've jumped off the boat a hundred times! A great day of memories and time with the family!

Soldier Field Tour

2011-07-20T10:14:00.001-05:00

I'm a HUGE Bears fan, no secret there. But I've not had the opportunity to attend a Bears game since they renovated Soldier Field. So, we took a tour of the stadim and it was truly amazing. The only thing left from the original stadium was the colonades (pictured). Otherwise it looks like a spaceship landed between the columns. It's a state of the art stadium with a stunning view of the city and the lake.

Wrigley Field Rooftop Experience

2011-07-19T10:11:00.000-05:00

Monday night, July 18th, Susan and I had a chance to attend a Wrigley Field rooftop to watch a Cubs game (or if you're a White Sox fan, to watch the Phillies). It was a special event from work that offered all you can eat dinner, drink, and dessert. They lost money on yours truly! It was a great experience...

Susan's Family Reunion

2011-07-17T08:09:00.000-05:00

Susan's Dad's side of the family had a reunion this summer. It was extra special because of the amount of family members that were able to make it this year. It had been awhile since the Tollar side had a family reunion and it was a perfect day! The 1st picture is Susan's side of the family. The 2nd picture is just our family (minus Trey and Kole). And the 3rd picture is the entire Tollar side of the family...

Trey and Kole's Baseball Team

2011-07-15T10:28:00.000-05:00

Trey (left) and Kole (right) are playing baseball this summer. Both are learning the eye / hand coordination required for baseball and picking up the game quickly. I'm so thankful they're playing. The other picture is one of my three sons. They adore "Baby Kaywub" as his sister calls him...

Easter Fun

2011-04-30T11:35:00.000-05:00

Chicago Blizzard

2011-02-06T11:39:00.002-06:00

We were hammered with one of the biggest snow blizzards Chicago has seen in decades. It paralyzed even Chicago for two straight days. It was an absolute blast for the kids! The boys and I built a snow iglo and tunnel that was HUGE! Love these type of memories...

Meet Baby Kaleb

2011-01-30T12:55:00.000-06:00

Kaitlyn Grace Reading

2011-01-27T11:42:00.000-06:00

Kaitlyn Grace Turns TWO!

2011-01-26T23:12:00.000-06:00

Well, our little girl has officially turned 2 years old! Absolutely amazing! We had both sides of the family over to celebrate this day. Gracie is at this fun age now where she understands opening presents and she gets to play with what she finds. God, thank you for the blessing of her life. May we raise her to love you with all of her heart!

All the Boys

2011-01-24T11:10:00.001-06:00

Our Winter Beauty

2011-01-15T20:17:00.000-06:00

Christmas Break Sledding

2010-12-28T20:12:00.000-06:00

Christmas 2010 Pictures

2010-12-25T23:00:00.000-06:00

Christmas Decorating

2010-11-30T19:01:00.000-06:00

The older the boys get, the more fun Christmas decorating becomes each year. They had a blast decorating the tree and thoroughly enjoyed making Christmas cookies. The boys' fiend, Jackson is in one of the pictures.

Kaleb's First Full Day Home

2010-11-13T13:09:00.000-06:00

Coming Home from the Hospital

2010-11-12T21:01:00.000-06:00

Susan was absolutely amazing. A two hour, DRUG-FREE delivery and we're headed home 24 hours later. The doctors and nurses were really surprised but understood it was time to get up and get home!

Kaleb's 1st Full Day

2010-11-12T13:00:00.000-06:00

Kaleb's First Few Moments

2010-11-11T22:38:00.000-06:00

Kaleb is Here!

2010-11-11T21:30:00.000-06:00

On The Way To The Hospital

2010-11-11T15:30:00.003-06:00

Well, the day has finally come that we've been waiting for the past nine months when we found out about our baby. We have been waiting all day since she began feeling some mild contractions. And after spicy Mexican food a a few mile walk, it was go time! Look how gorgeous Susan looks on the way to the hospital! I know, I have it good...

On The Way To The Hospital...

2010-11-10T16:24:00.001-06:00

Well, the time has finally come for Kaleb Hunter Buckley's arrival. Susan was more than ready all day for Kaleb to come and after a hot, spicy Mexican dinner. After a day together, the contractions increased to the point that it was "go time."
As you can, Susan is still gorgeous even on the way to the hospital! And to think, our lives will never be the same with coming back with our little guy from the hospital!

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T22:15:00.000-05:00

Trey was Harry Potter and loved his round glasses.
Kole was a Ninja and maixmized having a sword on his brother.
Kaitlyn Grace was a cute little fairy and the center of attention trick or treating.

Fall Fun in the Leaves Video

2010-09-30T19:46:00.000-05:00

Fall Fun Pictures

2010-09-25T19:19:00.000-05:00

Kaitlyn's 18 Month Pictures

2010-09-01T07:49:00.008-05:00

We decided to take our photo-genic Kaitlyn to get her 18 month old pictures and were excited because we had more pictures than we could possibly choose from for her 9 month old pictures. Well, after 30 minutes of squirming, we were only able to get ONE picture of her and that was an edit job of epic proportion! She was willing to take pictures with us which we were grateful for but with little ones, you just never know what you're going to get at picture time...

Last Sunday At Faith EUMC...

2010-08-26T15:13:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday was our last service at Faith Evangelical United Methodist Church in Elmhurst, Illinois (a Chicago land suburb) where I've led worship for exactly one year. I'm humbed to have had the opportunity to lead this congregation who was hungry to grow in their worship. I saw a ton of growth especially in the band as they were stretched to try new music and a new way of leading a congregation in worship. I was humbled by many people who said they were grateful for the church's growth in worship and do not want to go back to the way it was before I came. Another person told me they had taken me and my worship leading for granted and will miss it next week and forward. There were many more comments that were affirmation of our time at Faith I'll be starting my new position at another church the first Sunday in September which you'll hear about next week...

Boys' Birthday Party

2010-08-22T07:38:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not, Kole turned 6 on the 3rd and Trey turned 7 on the 20th. We had one big party with both sides of the family here for the big event. The boys could NOT wait for their birthday party and loved every moment of the day. Susan's family came from Wisconsin and my brother and family were there along with my sister and family. It's the only time of the year where both sides get together which makes it extra special. The day was warm so the kids were able to swim. Here's picture proof:

We're Having a Boy!!!

2010-07-17T16:57:00.001-05:00

We went a couple of weeks ago to find out the gender of the baby. The ultrasound was VERY clear once the baby was cooperating and within a few seconds of the video, the doctor highlights a specific area that leaves us no doubt we're having a baby boy. We're still working on the name.

Boys Summer Baseball

2010-07-12T07:50:00.002-05:00

Trey and Kole's First Baseball Hit

2010-07-12T07:47:00.001-05:00

Special Weekend with Susan's Family

2010-07-10T17:56:00.003-05:00

This was a special weekend for Susan's family in Lake Geneva area of Wisconsin. Susan's oldest brother and family will be leaving for the mission field in Africa in just a few weeks and this would be the last time in years that everyone would be together. Susan's youngest brother, Daniel, flew in from Houston which was great to be able to see him as well. It was a special day to have everyone together knowing that God has called them to an incredible sacrifice and calling to move to the other side of the globe into a foreign land and share the love of Jesus Christ. Blessings to Jim and his beautiful family...

Buckley Pool

2010-07-09T19:06:00.001-05:00

Well, the Buckleys now have a pool. Nothing fancy but our neighbors outgrew this 15x15ft pool that is perfect for the boys height and great for Susan and Kaitlyn to cool off during the hot summer days. To say we got our money's worth out of the free pool is an understatement. We're grateful for our neighbor's gift and what a blessing this pool has been for us this summer!

Little Hidden Treasure...

2010-07-06T19:36:00.001-05:00

We went on a bike ride with some friends and found this incredible refreshing treat along the way. It's a waterfall and pond area where you're allowed to cool off and hang out in the water. It was great! The kids absolutely loved it and we had to literally pull them out of the water to continue the bike ride. The best part is how close this place is to our house. Nice bonus!

How the Boys Found out They're Having a Brother...

2010-07-02T17:24:00.000-05:00

Since the boys could only find out once if they were having a baby brother or sister, we wanted to make the new special to them. Last time we had a little outfit in the baby's room closet and they were told: "if it's blue, we're having a boy, if it's pink, we're having a girl, but if it's brown, we're having a monkey."

This time Susan was creative and we made the way they found out through the means of a hunt. Each room had a clue and a toy for them to give to the baby which took them into five different rooms. Once they received the last clue to go to Kaitlyn's room, we stopped them. We let them know that once they open the door and look in the bassinet, they can no longer refer to the baby without seeing boy or girl. They were SO excited. After having a sister, they wanted a baby brother. They opened the door and found the blue outfit and screamed with excitement. It was truly a special moment in our house...

Bry's New Job!!!

2010-06-17T22:04:00.000-05:00

Well, it's official. I began a brand new job today. I'm the Director of Business Development for a company called Crossbridge Solutions in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Pictured is the office building (we're on the 2nd floor) and my office (yet to be decorated). I am truly blessed with this job. I have an excellent salary with an opportunity for my work to be rewarded with bonuses. This is truly a God send. The only challenge is the commute in Chicago rush hour traffic but once I'm officially trained, I'll be able to work from home two days a week which will be huge. I was brought up with the quote, "God is seldom early but never late." We were literally down to the wire on needing for me to go back to work and God blessed me with an incredible job at just the right timing. Susan and I learned that God truly provides in His timing and in His way. We're so grateful for His blessing in our lives in such a tangible way...

Did You Hear About Susan? She's...

2010-06-05T13:40:00.003-05:00

Can you say 17 weeks pregnant? Yes, baby number two will be making his or her presence around 11.12.10. Kaitlyn Grace has no idea how life is going to change in the coming months! The boys are really excited and have "their idea" of what the baby's name should be. It's Jorge or Jorgina. No questions asked. My wife is smokin' hot four months into pregnancy. Oh, behave!

Susan's Home for the Summer

2010-06-05T12:02:00.002-05:00

FINALLY! Susan's forever school year with her challenging 2nd grade class has come to an end. This past Wednesday was her last day of the year. It was either the end of the school year of Susan's sanity. She could NOT be more relieved to see this year come and go. Last year was the best class she's ever had which she needed with being pregnant. And this year was the most difficult class of her teaching career.

Now, Susan can be home with my other blonde hair, blue-eyed bomb shell for the entire summer. Little Gracie is SO excited to have her Mommy home all the time now. Daddy sure doesn't mind having her around all the time too...

Boys Swimming at the Neighbor's Pool

2010-06-05T11:42:00.002-05:00

Day at the Beach in Chicago

2010-06-05T10:26:00.002-05:00

We took the boys to the city (Chicago) on a gorgeous Memorial Day weekend. We rode our bikes along the lakefront for miles and went to the free downtown Lincoln Park Zoo. The boys had never been to the zoo yet so they were amazed at the animals. We then went back swimming on the beach. This was the first time the baby had a chance to run and play in this big of a sandbox. It was a memorable day for all of us!

Firestation Visit

2010-06-05T09:59:00.008-05:00

One weekend our town had a special event that featured firetrucks, ambulances, etc. but when we came back on our bikes all of the vehicles were pulling away. The look on the boys' faces were one of shock and disappointment. They couldn't believe it. So... Dad had to think quick on his his feet (or in this case his bike) and we took a bike ride to the firestation. I found a fireman and let him know of my situation and they were incredibly gracious. Instead of the boys just getting a chance to see the trucks, they gave him the million dollar tour. The boys were able to climb in the trucks, play with the hoses, try on the firewear (pictured), and see the living quarters of the fireman. It ended up being a better day than we could've ever planned.

Gracie's First Apple

2010-06-05T09:52:00.002-05:00

One day, Gracie pulled an apple out of Susan's lunchbox from school and just stuck it right in her mouth. She carried it around all evening and had no desire to part with it at any point. We thought it was funny and recorded it...

The Boys and Their Merry Men

2010-05-30T12:53:00.000-05:00

Visit with Friends from the Past

2010-05-22T12:29:00.002-05:00

Rex and Vic are friends of mine now for the past twenty years. Hard to even believe I've known them for literally half of my life.

I met them in my twenties when I did a summer internship at their little baptist church in a little town in southern, Ohio. I had a house for the summer but it never seemed to have enough food. Vic is an incredible cook who's best dishes were lasagna and ho ho cake. Yeah, it's better than it sounds!

That summer they climbed deep into my heart and have never left. They're precious people and dear to me. They were able to meet Susan and Gracie this weekend which meant the world to me. So grateful that God has placed this incredible couple into my life!

Kole Learns to Ride his Bike!

2010-05-11T09:10:00.000-05:00

Well, the time finally came when Kole (5) was finally motivated enough to learn to ride his bike. After getting left behind by his brother and neighbor who would take off on their bikes, the time had come for him to have the discipline and commitment to learn the lifelong craft of riding his bike. And after a few hours, the video is all the proof you need. Way to go, Kole!

Susan's Family Weekend

2010-05-10T12:07:00.002-05:00

Susan's mother had a birthday early in May so we celebrated her birthday one weekend. (top right picture). Susan was able to see her sister, Lynn (middle picture) of whom she looks nothing like!. Susan's sister and her family who live near her parents north of Lake Geneva, WI. Kaitlyn Grace wouldn't take a nap but she managed to catch some seepies with her Grandpa Tollar. Priceless picture...

Bry Update

2010-04-20T11:10:00.005-05:00

Well, this has been an interesting last few months for me with being primarily a stay at home Dad during the day and working two part time jobs. On one hand, I absolutely love being home with the baby and having this once in a life time opportunity to bond with and influence Gracie. It has given Susan and I a peace knowing that one of her parents is her primary influence during the day. Of course, we both wish it were Susan but life is what it is right now and we're making the best of the situation. But I do long for the day to go back to work full time and allow my wife to be home if possible.

Currently my time has been spent working part time at an evangelical methodist church for a close friend of mine. I have been serving as the worship leader and have really come to enjoy the challenge of working in a small church. It has been a growing and rewarding experience for me thus far. I've also been spending a lot of time developing our first of many online businesses which will be www.landscapelightingdecor.com and will be launched in the next few weeks. Our desire to have become online merchants who sell products without having to carry inventory.

Right now I'm in the process of putting out resumes from everything like sales and training to ministry positions. We're praying God provides a job that will eventually allow Susan to be home long term with the baby as well as develop the online business.

One day at a time trying to make the most of what we have right now...

Susan Update

2010-04-20T10:52:00.002-05:00

I am counting down the days until my school year is over. This 2nd grade class this year has been nothing short of the ultimate challenge. When other teachers become thankful for their own class after experiencing your class, you know you've had one of those years. I am SO ready for summer break and the have the opportunity to be home with the baby all day long!

Last weekend we were able to visit my family in Lake Geneva area (WI) to celebrate my father's birthday. It was good for the kids (and me!) to see everyone. I miss them and enjoy every moment we can spend together!

I recently joined the worship team and choir at church and really enjoying the outlet for worship. It's been awhile but something I really passionate about.

Life right now is about hanging in there for the remaining weeks of the school year and finishing strong. I want to make the most of influencing these little 2nd grade lives these remaining days and anxious to see what God has for our family in the coming months...

Have You Seen Gracie Lately...?

2010-04-06T16:10:00.001-05:00

Two Lookers!

2010-04-06T13:39:00.001-05:00

The Hunt is On!

2010-04-06T08:42:00.005-05:00

Now that the boys are getting older (Trey, 6 and Kole, 5) it's getting to be a lot more fun doing activities with them like hiding Easter eggs. We hid in the front yard, back yard, neighbor's yard and reserved the house for the tough to find eggs. They searched for over an hour and had an absolute blast! Then their little sis tried to take a cut of their spoils. You can imagine how well that was received! Great memories!

Kaitlyn Grace Turns 1 Year Old!!!

2010-01-30T14:40:00.003-06:00

Well, this picture should say it all! On Tuesday, January 26th, (technically at 7:03pm), our little one officially turned 1 year old. Hard to even believe.
We also found out, she loves her sweets. Imagine that considering her DNA! On her family birthday party, a piece of cake was set in front of her, and it was disposed of instantly. Picture a frog going after a fly and then double the speed. Impressive. That's my girl! We'll include the video as well to prove it!
Thank you, God, for this precious gift of life. May we continue to raise her to honor You and to encourage her to grow into a Godly woman.

Christmas 09

2010-01-09T14:41:00.001-06:00

The Many Looks of Gracie...

2009-12-16T14:39:00.004-06:00

Bry's 40th Surprise Birthday Party

2009-12-08T14:33:00.003-06:00

On December 4th, I turned the Big 40. Hard to believe. My wife pulled off a surprise birthday party for me on the 5th. She did a great job organizing everything and keeping this dirty little secret from me. It was a blast! Having the boys here for an extra weekend for my birthday made it all the more special for me. We had a good turn out for the party and everyone "attempted" to take their age pop shots at me. But I'm old now, so I couldn't hear them. Praying for God's blessing this next decade of life that He'll continue to bless my life and our family and that my career will be clear and

Kaitlyn Nine Months Professional Pictures

2009-11-23T20:13:00.003-06:00

Rockin' the keys and the doo!

2009-11-23T18:49:00.002-06:00

Little One is Standing Now...

2009-11-20T19:06:00.003-06:00

well, little gracie is just not satisfied with crawling. absolutely everything she can grab to pull herself up is fair game. it doesn't matter if she takes a tumble, she's grabbing on for dear life and pulling herself up. it shouldn't be too long until she tries her first steps. then watch out world. four teeth with the fifth on its way, got the crawling gig down, not on to bigger and better things!

she officially turns ten months on the 26th. she definitely has her mommy's blonde hair and blue eyes but definitely her daddy's appetite. she's a happy baby and very engaged with the world around her. she does SO well with her big brothers who she already has wrapped around her finger. she's truly a blessing from God and we're grateful every day for the gift of her life.

Trey (1st grade) and Kole's (K5) School Pictures

2009-11-20T19:01:00.000-06:00

Halloween with the Kids

2009-11-09T15:28:00.003-06:00

halloween was an absolute blast this year for two reasons: we had the boys on this fun day (which has yet to happen) and we had a baby we could dress up for our own personal gratification. we let the boys pick out their costumes and they were SO excited to go trick or treating with Dad. i put gracie in the baby bjorn carrier (picture a human kangaroo pouch) and susan and i were off for the evening. it was cool here in chicago land so mom and baby went home while the boys went on their candy quest. the boys had SO much candy, we had to stop halfway at a family friend's house just to get two bags to empty their halloween buckets in! great problem. we had so much fun that night and one that provided lasting memories....

Bry Life Update

2009-10-22T15:21:00.003-05:00

this fall has been rather unusual for me. i lost my full-time job which has actually allowed me to be home with the baby. with susan going back to teaching 2nd grade, we had a major dilemma in needing someone to watch gracie and no way of affording it. minor detail.

God provided a unique part time experience for me through a friend working at a small evangelical methodist church. crazy. my role is worship leader and choir director. i'm also beginning to assist in service planning and helping the church become more modern. it's part time pay and i'm really enjoying being in ministry and influencing people again.

i had hopes of beginning a prison program that would teach entrepreneurial and life skills into the illinois prisons but someone has beaten me to it. and since there can only be one, i either join their plan which looks completely different (and i'm still considering) or look for other potential opportunities. to be honest, i was devastated and disheartened for a few weeks. i felt like this dream God had given me was pulled out from under me. but...

now i feel like God took me through that journey to learn the original program's systems and provide a new concept for guys at the county jail level who desire life change. after visiting a guy in the county jail and seeing this potential area unmet, i couldn't shake the possibilities. this past week i've been spending every extra minute developing a program that focuses on three major areas of development: character, personal, and professional. i have a couple of consultants i'll be meeting with in the next week to receive guidance, counsel, and direction. i'll keep you updated but i am truly excited about this potential opportunity. i feel a peace about this direction. now i need open doors and the money to be able to make it happen. excited for this part of the journey...

2009-10-22T08:51:00.003-05:00

this past saturday we had the opportunity to attend a pumpkin event. the boys had an absolute blast between a jump house, face painting, balloon art, games for prizes, snacks, and pumpkin picking. the boys are at an age now where they soak in every moment and can appreciate the event. what fun! the baby was along for the ride in the baby bjorn carrier and soaked in every moment. she's such an easy-going baby which is important considering that is the way susan and i are in life. we're grateful to enjoy so many memorable times with the boys...

Kaitlyn's First Big Crawl...

2009-10-11T17:38:00.004-05:00

Kaitlyn is now 8 1/2 months and has been trying to crawl the first couple of weeks. This was her longest crawl with Daddy and of course, he just had to film it. She just kept going. And going. And going...

Kaitlyn Laughing!

2009-10-11T17:32:00.002-05:00

kaitlyn's personality is really coming out. does she really have a chance living with susan and me but to laugh...? enjoy!

Kaitlyn Grace Buckley Video

2009-09-08T22:17:00.002-05:00

Daddy Home with Daughter Now...

2009-09-08T16:47:00.002-05:00

Well, something had to give with Susan going back to school and someone needing to watch Gracie. And since I'm now officially in between full-time jobs and only working part-time, I'm able to be home with the baby. What an honor. So, I'm Mr. Mom taking care of the baby and all of the household chores which I don't mind a bit. Since Trey and Kole do not live primarily with us (which I still have a difficult time with) I do not take a moment for granted having a little one in the house all of the time. So for now, this is God's provision to allow me to be home with the baby until another door opens...

Rod and Chantel's Wedding

2009-09-08T16:32:00.002-05:00

This past Saturday, I had an incredible honor of officiating the wedding of my life long closest friend, Rod Massie. He and I have done life together for over 25 years. We've been there for each other through the darkest of times from timely words to just listening and tears. He married an incredible woman and the perfect person for Rod. Chantel has three kids and Rod has three kids so they're the modern day Brady bunch switching the cheesiness to fun and the grooviness to just flat out cool. Amazing family. It was an absolute honor and blast to be a part of this sacred day. Proud of you both!!!

Trey and Kole's Birthday Party

2009-08-27T14:33:00.002-05:00

Kole (right) turned 5 on August 3rd and Trey (left) turned 6 on August 20th. We celebrated their birthday with our families on the 8th. The focus of the boys' presents were legos, jammies, board games (spongebob squarepants SORRY), activities to do in the car. They enjoyed the attention and of course the presents!

Swimming Weekend

2009-07-01T20:27:00.002-05:00

Chicago was hot and I mean hot this past week. All week was in the 90's with a heat index way past that. Just nasty. So... the pool was a welcome place. The kids loved the water. The baby just chilled. We were thankful to have some relief from the heat. Trey and Kole have a goal of learning how to swim this summer. Time will tell!

Boys Weekend Downtown Chicago

2009-07-01T20:22:00.002-05:00

Last weekend we took the boys downtown Chicago to the lakefront. What a blast! Right on the lake at a beach we played on a large playground. Then we played on the beach. The boys absolutely loved the giant sandbox God provided for them. Ironically, Lake Michigan was closed for swimming. That's right, they closed the lake! The reason? A sewage leak from the storm from the night before. The boys didn't mind just playing in the sand. Lastly, we rode bikes along the lakefront. It was a memorable day for everyone!

Kaitlyn's First Meal and Real Bath

2009-06-11T18:49:00.004-05:00

Our little one, now four months old, just had her first "real meal" with a spoon. What a great time! She had avacados and bananas and loved it! Her face as she had her first couple of bites were priceless. Her favorite right now is strawberries. Susan is home for the summer and able to spend a ton of time with her now. She's beginning to laugh, find her toes, and just likes to be with people. She is a very content and happy baby. Thank you, God!

Susan Gets Her Masters of Education Degree!!!

2009-06-11T18:13:00.005-05:00

This past Sunday, Susan graduated from National- Louis University with her masters degree in education specializing in curriculum and instruction, and interdisciplinary studies. The ceremony was downtown Chicago at the UIC Pavilion. 1500 people graduated so the ceremony was long but worth it. It was a special day honoring Susan's hard work teaching full time, taking classes, pregnant for nine months of the program, then finishing strong while having a baby. Truly amazing. We are very proud of her!!!

Kaitlyn's One Month Today!

2009-02-23T17:21:00.003-06:00

kaitlyn is officially one month old today. it's hard to believe that just four weeks ago susan was in labor at this moment and our baby girl was not here yet.

this past month has been an incredible experience. she has truly been a great baby. she sleeps a lot like her mommy and eats a lot like her daddy! but surprisingly, she's had a difficult time gaining weight. she's eating a ton but just has not gained back the weight since she was born.

today we took her to the doctor for her one month check up and kaitlyn finally has come back to her birth weight.

it's also been a good month with the transition with the boys. trey has been incredible with the baby. he wants to take care of her, kisses her all of the time, and is always asking about her. he was up at 6:30am Saturday morning just to see her. when she wasn't up by 8am, trey asked, "is this baby ever going to wake up?" it was precious.

God, thank you SO much for the gift of this life. may we as parents offer her back to You and seek to raise her in a way that honors You!

Trey and Kole Meet Their Baby Sister!

2009-02-08T12:03:00.002-06:00

Two weekends ago the boys were here and 24hrs after they left, Kaitlyn was born. So, this was the first time they were going to see their baby sister in person. They were SO excited on the ride to our house they couldn't contain themselves. It seemed like they asked a thousand questions. They had brought gifts for the baby (which can be seen in the picture above). Trey loved footy jammies so that is what he gave the baby along with footy slippers. And Kole loves his blanky (still does!) so he actually snuggled with a handful of different blankies to find out which one he liked then decided to give that one to the baby. Their sister, Hannah, loved stuffed animals and she gave Kaitlyn a cute, purple baby hippo. It was very thoughtful gesture of the gifts given. They meant a lot to Susan.

The boys have been SO good with the baby. The first night they woke up extra early just to see Kaitlyn and so disappointed in how much she sleeps. Kole said, "she just sleeps way too much. When can she go out and play?"Trey has been wonderful with Kaitlyn. He's constantly kissing her and trying to comfort her by softly rubbing her head when she cries. He also wants to sit and hold his baby sister every chance we give to him.

Overall, it's been a memorable weekend. We couldn't have dreamed of a smoother first weekend. We're blessed with two loving little boys and a gorgeous little girl (just like her mommy!) Thank you, God, for such an incredible family. We're truly blessed by You...

Kaitlyn Grace's Arrival

2009-02-05T12:00:00.003-06:00

Kaitlyn Grace is finally here. On 1.26.09 @ 7:03pm, she entered this world. Susan broke her water @ 2:30pm then spent most of her labor time in a whirlpool which really aided in the process. Then @ 6:30pm, Susan began pushing and about a half an hour later, we had our beautiful baby. Susan was absolutely amazing. She chose to give a complete natural birth, no drug assistance. Incredible! She had such a desire to bring this baby into the world with the utmost of care from eating incredibly healthy through the pregnancy to avoiding drugs which could affect the baby. I could not be more proud of her through this entire process.

Buckley Family Year in Review 2008 VIDEO

2009-01-19T19:48:00.003-06:00

Our family has had quite a year. From a wedding and honeymoon to raising two boys which included Trey learning how to ride his bike and finally Susan and me getting a nursery ready for a baby! We've been blessed this past year and we decided to share this year with you in pictures and song. Enjoy and let us know what you think by posting a comment...

Susan's Baby Showers

2009-01-19T19:31:00.003-06:00

Susan was blessed to have numerous showers. The first one was mostly friends (upper left). The next shower was thrown by her teacher friends at school. This was a surprise and great for Susan. Next was her small group at church. This was a lot of fun and another surprise for Susan. Last was the family shower (upper right) with a couple of friends from college. We were SO blessed with love, encouragement and of course showered with gifts. Thank you SO much if you were part of any of these shower. You blessed us in more ways than you even realize!

Kaitlyn Grace is Almost Here...

2009-01-19T19:23:00.004-06:00

10 DAYS TO GO!!! It's hard to believe but these last two weeks are going to be LONG days. Susan just keeps trying to focus on the end goal and what a blessing she will be! Our last doctor visit said she's measuring perfectly and her vitals could not be better. Now, we wait! She's packing her suitcase tonight and the car seat is ready for "the unknown" arrival.

The nursery is painted and almost done. Just needing a few more minor details. Susan has been great about getting all of the baby clothes into the dresser and getting as organized as we can be at this point.

Please pray for a smooth and quick delivery! We'll be posting pictures and updates as soon as possible on the blog...

Christmas with the Tollar side

2009-01-14T17:30:00.004-06:00

Bryan and I were able to celebrate Christmas with my side of the family the Sunday after Christmas Day. My brother, Dan flew in from Houston, which was nice because we're not able to see him very often.

In the family picture, to the far left, is my brother, Jim and his wife, Missy, and their three children, Andrew, David, and Samantha. Then, my parents, Jim and Georgia are next, along with my grandma. Next to my grandma is my brother Dan, sister Lynn, and her husband Chris. Their three children are Ashley (in the red sweater), Steven (next to Ashley), and Tommy (in the other red sweater). Lastly, myself (with baby Kaitlyn) and Bryan are to the far right, and Kole and Trey are in the front next to Tommy. That's about it for my immediate family. We had a great time catching up with everyone and look forward to seeing them again soon.

Buckley Christmas

2008-12-31T21:16:00.005-06:00

The Boys "Temporary" Winter Wonderland

2008-12-31T14:12:00.005-06:00

i couldn't wait to pick up the boys because the week prior to Christmas, Chicagoland was hammered with snow. as a kid, i remember tons of snow. i remember building snow tunnels so long and so deep i could stand inside of the snow iglo at the end. so, when we were getting so much snow and i had to shovel it, i intentionally put it along side the driveway so the boys and i could build their first snow tunnel.

trey was determined to get this tunnel built. i told him it may only be up one day due to incredibly warm temperatures expected the next day. all day long he and i tunneled twenty feet until by the end of the day we met in the middle and broke the center to allow us to go all the way through. if you can see in the picture to the left, the tunnel is the length of the driveway.

kole was more interested in making a snowman of which trey gets some credit in the picture to the right. it was a great activity for kole and me to make together. we had so much fun. they came in long enough to eat and get their clothes dried in the dryer then back outside.

to their horror the next morning, it was 50 degrees and raining. the snowman was gone and the tunnel had imploded. not a good moment for two little boys. the harsh realities of life. but we have the pictures to prove our monumental day and to look back on for years to come....

Thanksgiving Weekend

2008-12-05T20:32:00.011-06:00

we had the boys for this Thanksgiving and for double the amount of time, four days. we visited susan's fam in lake geneva after spending time with my fam at my brother's house. the boys love going to their new grandparents' home and getting very comfortable there which is so important to us.

there was snow there which was an instant draw to the boys. so we bundled them up and went exploring on the vast open land full of adventure for the boys. memories.

Susan at 31 weeks!!!

2008-12-03T18:04:00.003-06:00

we were just looking at pictures at 16 weeks and wow, what was she even complaining about back then? and worse yet, she knows she still have another 9 plus weeks to get even bigger! i'm proud of her eating SO good and exercising. her weight gain has been almost all baby. she's really working hard. we're attending a birthing class called the Bradley Method which encourages natural births. it's been very informative and educational. four more classes! in a couple of weeks we'll begin working on the baby's room. hooray!!!

Pumpkin Weekend with the Boys

2008-10-20T18:22:00.004-05:00

this past weekend the boys and i had some good guy time at a pumpkin event. these times are priceless for me and often just as much fun for me as the boys.

my friend, jeff, had an event hosted by his church that was very welll done. the boys were able to get their faces painted, play in a jump house, climb bails of hay, and had snacks. they loved it! they were able to just be little boys and hung out with dad (while it's still cool!). i cherish every weekend they visit and fill their love tank with encouragement and unconditional love.

another incredible moment was at dinner time on ST night. both kole and trey wanted to thank Jesus for the food. and they did just that. thanking Him for everything they could think of in the moment. by the end of trey's prayer (the first time he's prayed at the dinner table), i was in tears. i was SO moved to hear my son's pray and share their thankfulness to our God it was almost too much in the moment. hopefully many more precious moments like this to come...

Susan's Family Visit

2008-10-15T17:46:00.003-05:00

Sunday we spent the day at Susan's family house near Lake Geneva, WI. We celebrated Susan's recent bday (10.10) and her sister, Lynn's bday (2nd to right) at their parents house. Susan's brother, Jim (far right) and his family were there along with Lynn's family. Susan's mother (far left) and father (middle) took the family to a local fall festive event. There were corn mazes, hay mazes, pumpkins and crafts, etc. Most importantly, it was just good to be with family. Susan is close with her family and they've treated me as one of their own. We love you, fam!

Visit with some great friends

2008-10-15T17:37:00.002-05:00

This Sunday my wife was able to meet two people who are incredibly dear to me. Bill and Treva have been in my life since I was 22 years old. They've seen me grow up, succeed, fail, and climb back up. Few people can claim that role in my life. They were there through thick and thin and even thinner.

It was long overdue for Bill and Treva to meet Susan and realize just how special my wife is to me. It was great to recount all times. Both Bill and Treva were so encouraging to list how far I've come and celebrating where I'm currently at in life. Bill and Treva, may you know what a special place you have in my heart...

Trey's First Piano Lesson

2008-10-06T22:48:00.003-05:00

i've dreamed of the day i could teach my boys the piano. every weekend they visit i watch trey's attention go to the piano. over the months, he's gone from banging to playing. minor yet important detail. a few weeks ago i asked him if he wanted me to show him how to play something. he just wanted me to play and just stared. this past weekend i taught him the beginning of the song on the video. he, like his bikeriding, was determined to learn how to play. he practiced and practiced without getting frustrated and banging until he had it. the video is the fruit of his labor. enjoy! i was (and still am) incredibly proud of him!!!

Midwife Delivery Birthing Center - by Sus

2008-10-02T15:42:00.009-05:00

Bryan and I decided to have a midwife delivery our baby instead of a doctor because most doctors in Illinois are quick to performing a c-section to avoid lawsuits. Fortunately, Hinsdale Adventist Hospital provides the option of having a midwife and/or doctor, so that in case a medical need arises, a doctor is available. If you're wondering, midwives are capable of helping a woman deliver a baby in every way that a doctor can with the exception of performing a c-section. Plus, they have a lot of tricks in the back pocket to help the delivery go as smoothly as possible (especially if you're trying avoid medication). Below is the picture of the front of the hospital.
Bry and I were able to tour the maternity ward at the hospital to see what to expect. The picture to the left is the picture of the delivery room. In the wooden cabinets are medical supplies, should they be needed.

Plus, included in the room is the picture to the right. This "bed" to the right, is for the baby. It can be heated to help the baby's body temperature from dropping. Lastly, there is a scale was well to weigh the little one when she's born!!! :)

Once the baby is born, then in about an hour or so, they will move me into a recovery room down the hall. There is also a small refreshment room with free cookies and other goodies for families and guests to take advantage of, which the hospital provides (free of charge!). This, of course, Bry and I wanted to sample to see how good the snacks were, but we decided not to since no one else was going from our tour group. I was disappointed, and I think he was too. :)

First Baby Girl Outfits

2008-09-23T21:52:00.006-05:00

we could've bought everything in the store! never shopped for a baby girl so i was overwhelmed. saw these jammies with the bunny footies and fell in love with them. sus loved the first outfit.

we told trey and kole about the gender in a creative way. we hung the jammies in the closet and told them the following: "if the jammies are blue, it's a boy, if the jammies are pink, we're having a girl. but if the jammies are brown, we're having a monkey." it was fun watching them check and their reaction. they talked about having a baby sister all weekend longed and were fascinated by the jammies. they had all kinds of questions about the baby growing inside of susan. when we showed them the ultrasound pics they were confused. they were expecting a normal picture, i guess.

we have three names that we really like to this point: sydney, mackenzie, and kaitlyn. (spelling and choices subject to change by the management). it's tough to choose a name when your wife is a school teacher and has either a strong positive or negative emotional reaction to certain names!
chow for now!

We're Having a Baby GIRL!!!

2008-09-19T15:23:00.009-05:00

it's official. we went for our 20 week ultrasound and found out we're having a healthy baby girl. no doubt about it! the baby is almost a pound at this point and susan is right on schedule with everything. the official due date is January 30th. we have some names we're favoring but still undecided in this area. recommendations are welcome (and will be graciously declined).

sus and i have decided to go the midwife route at the hospital. we're really excited about this option. a week from sunday we'll have a tour of the special wing of the hospital. we'll tell you more about it and send pics that night.

we feel truly humbled God is blessing us with a baby girl. we appreciate your prayers during the pregnancy and will keep you posted...