In Christ Alone

This is a video I produced after Christy, Trina and Rachel did their arrangement of Owl City's "In Christ Alone" and recorded it. The video is set to their recording using various movie clips and paintings from the life of Christ. Hope you enjoy. The video is also publicly posted on the youtube channel under:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lo1DSn_528&feature=g-upl&context=G2877b01AUAAAAAAAAAA 

Hope you enjoy my heartfelt production of this amazing song.

Cheers -Dad

Just a little update!

I'm sure everyone knows by now that Ruth and Brandon are expecting a baby September 3rd! Well, Jon and Grace are also expecting on September 4th! Amazing! They might end up being 'twins'!

Mom and Dad have been renovating the house. The downstairs living room and dining room carpets have been torn up and they have put down a beautiful floating floor that looks like hardwood. They put up wallpaper and have painted the ceiling. The place feels like new!

Heidi is now working at the 7/11 in Longmont. Her commute is short. She works night shifts, so I don't get to see her much.

Our little family is plugging away. We're working on health issues for me, and Carter had his 6 month check up. He's in the 90th % for height! He's going to be a tall guy! The dr did refer him to a specialist for his eyes. The left eye strayes inward a bit. (I'm sure you've noticed from our family pictures.) I'm not sure what they are going to do, but I should have an aptm next week and find out then.

Matt is doing great. Working hard and being the sweetest hubby! I just hope we can find time to get a date in again soon!

Love you all!
Christy

Big News!

(I'm posting this for Ruth since she's having trouble with the blog.)

So, as everyone knows, Ruth and Brandon Behren's are expecting their first addition to their family! The little bundle is expected to be here September 3rd, 2012! This will be the 4th cousin among the Kackstaetter siblings!

Congratulations!

We started a new blog

Hi everyone!

I just barely figured out how to do something besides just comment... I figured out I was using the wrong email address whenever I would try to post something so it would never let me! Anyways, Jon and I decided to start our own blog that both family and friends can see and not have everyone see what the family is up to if we'd rather keep some things just in the family. It's late and I don't even know if that made any sense. If anyone wants to follow us, we're jonandgracekackstaetter.blogspot.com. Now that I know how to post things to the family blog, we'll try and keep updating everyone here as well and we won't have to tell the whole world if we just want to tell the family something. Love you all!

Nathan Clay Kackstaetter

Click on the picture to see more.

Our Utah/Idaho Trip

Last week Mom, Rachel, Riley, Carter and I went on a ROAD TRIP! As most of you know already, we had a surprise birthday party for Grandpa where we had Taco Salad and watched Cars 2. Almost everyone was able to make it, except for Ruben and Mariann (baby due any day now!) and Heidi and Johnathan (who are struggling to make ends meet – and we needed someone to stay behind and tend to the animals! *wink, grin*)

After this, we said goodbye and took off to see Jon and Grace! They were so nice to have three grownups and two babies crash at their place while they were giving lessons in Church, doing emergency service for ward members, going to school, and working all hours of the night. Needless to say, we didn’t see much of them.  Riley absolutely loved it there! Especially their cats! One of them would jump inside a box and Riley would push him around – and the cat liked it! Riley also made sure to give the cats proper hugs and kisses before bed each night.

We also visited Trina during this time and her boyfriend – who is very nice by the way. We gave her a perm and got to go shopping at the DI. I was also granted some time to walk (by myself) around Temple Square and see all the Christmas decorations. I’ve never done that before. It was incredible to see the life-like manger scene.

After this, we took off to see Grandma Miller in Logan, and stopped by to see Tina and her family on our way. It was nice to see them again, but it was too short of a visit. At Grandma Miller’s we were served awesome meals, had the warmest (King Size) beds, and a bathroom big enough to bathe the boys. We did some more shopping while there and heard some wonderful life stories from Grandma Great.

Then we left to see Ruben and Mariann. We got lost on our way and doubled our driving time to their place. It was a bit stressful, but we go through it. We had a warm meal of lasagna and homemade French loaves! (Mariann is taking a baking class. Boy, is Ruben lucky! She is an awesome baker!) We went on walks during the day and visited. And in the evening we played the game “Ticket to Ride”. I really enjoyed that one. I wouldn’t mind getting it for Christmas (hint, hint).

Our drive home ended up being 12 hours total while getting stranded in Rawlins after 9 hours. The roads were icy and the truck drivers were maniacs! There were actually about 10 or more trucks that had slipped off the road and tipped over.  But, as you can tell, we made it home safely!

A side story – the night we got stranded in Rawlins we stayed the night at a hotel. Riley needed a bath because we didn’t get the chance to change his diaper earlier in the day and it leaked all over him and the car seat. Poor kid was so cold when I took him out of the car. We stripped him and put him in the bathtub right away. He is so cute when he curls down and sinks into the water. After he got his pajamas on, we gave him a bottle and put him to bed. That night (when Carter wanted to nurse) Riley spoke him his sleep in a sweet, sad voice. “Home? Home…” He was so homesick by the end of the trip. I think he just said what I was feeling by this time too.   

We were so happy to see everyone in Utah and Idaho, but it was time to go home!

Proud of my Family

As everyone knows I've been having problems with my sister-in-law... not you two, the other side. I just recently found out that they put vodka in squirt soda at the wedding, posted it on facebook and then even commented saying that "they were being considerate since there was no caffeine in the soda"... mocking my family and their beliefs. It was even AFTER this that I tried to apologize to her for anything my family "might" have said regarding her dress being too short. (Then she blew up at me for everything else.. long story, and we sat down for a family meeting.)

At the family meeting she exaggerated the story from someone said her dress was short to someone calling her directly slang and vulgar vocabulary. (Of course she could never say who that someone was.) Immediately and without a doubt I exclaimed that my family never would say such a thing. A short dress possibly and I had already apologized for that, but that kind of vocabulary... NEVER.

I'm supposed to have my family apologize to her for commenting that her dress was short (and anything else she claimed happened) but she won't apologize to my family for directly disrespecting them and posting evidence as well as mocking their beliefs?!!! (I know we don't have the same beliefs, but as a true American in a country based on religious freedom I am dead set and determined to stand up for and defend any one's right to have their religion respected.)

No one is perfect, and I'm not saying my family is, but I'm sure proud that I could stand up for my family without a doubt knowing that my family holds unwavering standards that I could stand behind.

I just wanted to let you all know that I love you all and I'm proud of you!!!

Thanks for being my family!!!