The Ott Family Blog

Lately...

2009-11-25T19:28:00.001-08:00

First off, I think I am pretty computer savvy, but for some reason posting pictures on this website is always a headache for me! I don't know why they are above this text, but I can't copy and paste the words to above the pictures...weird...

I have been awful about updating this blog. I have a pretty good excuse though...I went through a 12-week training program for a bikini competition with TwinFitness (http://www.twinfitness.com/). This training program was a lot of hard work (physically and mentally EXHAUSTING). At the end of the day I didn't have time for blog updates:).

Liesl is around eight months pregnant now with baby Ethan (and she looks great...way to go:)). Her due date is technically January 28th, but the doctor isn't 100% certain about this because of how close together Liesl's pregnancies were. With ten month old month Mady, her new job and being pregnant she keeps very busy!

I will post more pictures soon, but these are all the ones I have off of my laptop at the moment. The first one was taken of Mady at around six months I think? The other three are photos from my competition. Enjoy!

Congratulations!

2009-09-19T07:49:00.001-07:00

Liesl and Harlen recently found out (on Friday) that they are having a boy! We are all overjoyed. One girl, one boy.....PERFECT. Congrats!!!

Liesl and Harlen are also celebrating their two year anniversary on September 22nd! The last two years have flown by and we are lucky to have you in our family, Harlen. Congrats you two!

It's Football Season!

2009-09-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

Snyder is BACK!

KSU, 21 UMASS, 17

A little taste of the city...

2009-08-15T08:35:00.001-07:00

At the end of July, Mom, Dad and I went to NYC! Katie Kennedy was there too so I was able to spend time with her and Rachel (a KSU grad, but now a local:)). I didn't post all of the pictures and they aren't really in order, but I hope you can see we had an amazing time!

The friends building...in Greenwich Village, NY

A few of Mady:)

2009-07-19T17:34:00.000-07:00

OH BABY...

2009-06-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

We received some great and unexpected (for all parties involved) news most recently from Liesl and Harlen....

THEY ARE PREGNANT WITH BABY NUMBER TWO!!!!! Liesl is around nine weeks along!!!! Baby Hays is due January 28th, 2010. L & H are so excited...they will have their hands full, but they are ready for the challenge. Congrats you guys!!!

Lyndsey & Brennan's Wedding

2009-06-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

Lyndsey, one of my very best friends got married last weekend!!! She looked gorgeous (not hard for her to do...). I posted a few pictures below...

Spurling's Bachelorette Party

2009-06-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Kristen is getting the married the weekend after Lyndsey here in KC. Her bachelorette party was on May 30th at PF Chang's on the Plaza. At 10:00, the limo picked us up and we went to Sol and then P & L.

Miscellaneous Posts

2009-06-07T07:12:00.000-07:00

I have been so bad about making posts in the Spring and early Summer. Here are a few pictures from the things I have been doing lately! The first few are from Lyndsey's shower. Lyndsey and I lived together for three years (in Manhattan and KC). Anyone who can put up with living me that long is a true friend:). She is getting married to Brennan on June 20, 2009. I can't wait...

At the end of April, I met Katie and Ramey in Nashville, TN to run my first marathon! It was such an amazing experience and we plan to do another one together in October.

My friend Kristen and I went the Britney Spears concert at the beginning of April. Yes, I dressed up like a school girl, it only seemed appropriate;)....

These next pictures are from my birthday at the beginning of April. A few of my best friends and I went to Jack Stack downtown and then out in the Power & Light District. I am truly lucky to have such great friends.

Charlie and Elise Worthen

2009-05-20T17:22:00.000-07:00

My cousin, Elise married Charlie on May 2, 2009! It was a beautiful wedding and we had a GREAT time. We love you guys!!

The pictures are a little out of order...

The Night Before the Wedding...

2009-05-20T16:50:00.000-07:00

Family & Friends,

Here are some pictures from Charlie and Elise's Rehearsal dinner! Enjoy!:)

Easter Weekend

2009-04-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I posted the pictures below from Easter weekend and Mady's baptism! Jennifer, our cousin (and Mady's Godmom) came up from Texas to share the special day with us! We had a great time as you'll be able to see. Our baby girl Mady is a doll...

The spacing with this thing is driving me crazy...and I quit worrying about it after the 20th picture. I will fix it when I have time (which may be never...)

Cutie Pie MADY

2009-04-03T15:43:00.000-07:00

A few of Liesl, Oliver and Mady

2009-02-15T08:29:00.000-08:00

I love the angle of this picture! Nice job Harlen;)

Madelyne Claire Hays

2009-02-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

I have been so awful about updating the blog! I am pretty sure Liesl is going to start helping me. Here are some pictures from the big day (January 31st). Enjoy! There will be a lot more to follow...

Right after delivery

Mady and me:)

Mom and Madelyne

Liesl was angry about the camera at this point!!!

Dad needed a nap

So did I! These pictures are compliments of Harlen!!

Liesl, before the epidural!

Harlen, ready to be a dad!!!

Update

2009-01-30T10:49:00.000-08:00

Family & Friends,

If Liesl does not go in to labor by this morning at 7 a.m., they are inducing her! I will keep everyone updated via the blog and my phone!!!

Liesl's Baby Shower at Work

2009-01-16T13:34:00.000-08:00

A message from Liesl,

"My co-workers had a shower for me today and I wanted to share the details with you because it was so sweet! The entire shower was "Madeline" themed. There were Eiffel Tower Centerpieces with red, yellow, and blue balloons. Madeline confetti was on the tables-and one of my talented co-workers made a Madeline hat cake. The entire staff pitched in and bought us several diapers, our high chair, the diaper genie, other baby items, and my boss gave us a check for last minute odds and ends. I have attached some pictures from the shower. Enjoy!! From the tummy shot-you will see how big Madelyne has gotten!!"

Love you all, Liesl

So CUTE...

Averie

2008-12-27T21:07:00.000-08:00

I now have two "Averie's" in my life--Avery Preston (obviously) and Averie Phillips. Mike and Kristin are two of my great friends and about eight months ago, they had a baby girl and named her Averie:). I was super excited about the name! The ironic part of the story is that their "boy name" choices were Mason and Peyton. I about flipped when she said Mason. I told her that would have to be the next name. She said that it was their first choice!!! I had absolutely NO influence and I thought it was so cool that they picked those two particular, unique names. I guess great minds think a like:).

On Friday, we went out to dinner at CoCo Bolos in Manhattan to celebrate Kristin's birthday, here are some pictures from the night...they are mainly of Averie...

Averie and her daddy:)

My good friend, Abby and Averie

Christmas Dinner

2008-12-25T18:05:00.000-08:00

I have a lot more pictures of Liesl, but they are on the old camera (I got a new one for Christmas). So, you will all get to see cute-pregnant Liesl once I get the picture cd back from Walgreens. She was all "pictured-out" by the 25th and would not allow me to take anymore!!!!

Our beautiful tree

"Fuzzy" and I

This is probably inappropriate to put on a family blog, but...I did anyways because it was hilarious. I was standing next to Liesl in the kitchen and Taylor hooked onto my leg. Harlen was right there to capture the moment.

Oliver, Taylor and I

Harlen with the monsters

Mom & I

My brother and I

Harlen and Dad during dinner

Liesl's Sonogram

2008-12-25T16:59:00.000-08:00

I know this is NOT a very good picture (I took a picture with my iphone of the actual picture)...but, this is Mady! Mady now weighs four pounds and five ounces!!!!! The doctor said Liesl should have Madelyne around the 2nd February! We are so excited for her to come!!

The Gingerbread Building Party

2008-12-25T16:23:00.000-08:00

My best friends and I had SO much to celebrate this Christmas. Amber had baby Aiden, Amy was turning 25 and it was Christmas!!! We all got together on the 23rd to celebrate all of these happenings! Every year (well...almost every year) my friends and I get together and build Gingerbread Houses. It is quite the event when we all get together, here are some pictures below...

Amy, me & Amber

Ramey, Mom, Christina and Amy

All of the girls

Chris, Mike, me, Ramey and Craig

Being silly...

Just a couple of Taylor...

2008-12-21T19:50:00.000-08:00

This is definitely NOT a Taylor blog, but she is just so dang cute (I can't help adding pictures of her...)! There will be lots of new pictures soon--of actual people!

On Tuesday, the 23rd, all of my best friends from High School are coming over and we're having our annual Gingerbread Building Competition! Liesl is coming in to Manhattan as well to join in the festivities! The GB-house winner is the person who can build the sturdiest G-house. Winning is a BIG deal. We are also celebrating Amy's birthday (Amy is one of my best friends)!!! She'll be 25! Yah!!

In the morning of Christmas Eve, I am taking Liesl to her sonogram appointment in Topeka, where we are meeting up with Harlen. Mom & Dad went with Liesl last time and said it was such a great experience! I can't wait to see Mady!!!

As for the pictures...here are more of my baby...

I gave her this treat, and she was very happy!:)

She is posing by the Christmas tree Lyndsey and Brennan (my roomies) decorated!

Baby Update

2008-12-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

Liesl went to the doctor earlier this morning and had a sonogram. The doctor said from looking at the sonogram pictures and listening to her heart beat, she is a healthy girl! He is going to continue to monitor her growth and Liesl will go back next week for another sonogram on December 24th--I am hoping to attend with Liesl and Harlen!!!

Two New Jobs

2008-12-13T07:38:00.000-08:00

As of recently my brother in law, Harlen and I both started new jobs! Both of the jobs have proven to make us happy thus far.

Harlen, whom recently worked at the Kansas Department of Health as an Epidemiologist (in Topeka, KS) started work on December 1st as a Senior Epidemiologist/Researcher at Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, MO. Harlen and Liesl both recently (on Oct 1) moved to a beautiful new home in Lawrence, KS. Liesl commutes to Topeka, where she works for Safe Streets as a Public Health Educator. Harlen commutes the opposite direction to Kansas City. For those of you not familiar with the area, Lawrence is in the middle of Kansas City and Topeka. There is about an hour drive West to Topeka from Lawrence and about an hour drive East to Kansas City from Lawrence. I wish they would sell their home and move to Kansas City in a year or so...it just makes sense:) I am working on it, trust me!

As for me, I started work at Enterprise (the rental car company) right after graduation, back in January of 2007. After 22 months with them, I was approached by another company and decided it was time for a change! I started work for Crown Industrial Distributors as their Account Manager in mid-October. I am still getting the hang of things, but every day my comfort level with the Industrial industry seems to go up. Overall, it was time for a change and definitely a good move for me. I am excited to be working for them!

Marta's puppy, Taylor

2008-12-13T07:18:00.000-08:00

These are pictures of my golden retriever, Taylor. Taylor just turned four years old in November! She is a great dog, I am lucky!

She is definitely a KSU fan!

This is what Taylor always looks like after her cousin, Oliver comes over to play! Oliver (a minature Dachsund and Pekignesese mix) is Liesl & Harlen's dog.

She went to Puppy's Playpen last weekend and got all primped up. They added a couple of bows, per my request:).

The Baby "Bump"

2008-12-13T07:05:00.000-08:00

All of these pictures were taken back when Liesl was around five months pregnant. She is due mid-February (February 14th to be exact) with baby Madelyne. She is a lot bigger now! I will add more pictures of her bump soon!:)

THE WEDDING

2008-12-07T19:53:00.001-08:00

Harlen & Liesl were married on September 22nd of 2007. It was a beautiful day, one I will never forget.

Introducing...Harlen & Liesl Hays

The Back View

My Best Friends

The "First" Dance

Harlen & Mom

Dad & Liesl

Ramey & I love eachother!

Dad & Mom:)

PawPaw & I

Harlen's mom, Connie

The crazy dancing begins...

Spencer & I

My best friend, Jamie

Jame & the Bride

My sister & I

Another shot

After the wedding, at Porter's

The Night after the Rehersal Dinner

2008-12-07T19:24:00.000-08:00

Christina and I

Jamie, Paige Katie, Stacy & Teeny on top

Jamie, Paige and I

Jamie, Paige & Katie

Jame & I

Something must have been funny...

All of my best friends

Toasting to our amazing friendship

I brought some of the groomsmen along:)

They're so cute

My First Post

2008-12-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

Since Liesl's belly is constantly growing and our family seems to be ever-changing, I started a blog! There will be plenty of baby Madelyne pictures once she arrives:) For now, I am going to post some old pictures from Harlen and Liesl's wondeful wedding.