I forgot my camera when Debbie and I visited Katina in the hospital on Wednesday, but last night Dan and I went to visit Jay and Katina at home.  All the kids were so funny, they were just DYING for Seth to open his eyes and interact with them.  They were bummed at how "out of it" he was, just sleeping all the time...  Kind of  a let down for them I guess after waiting all this time, but nice for Katina to get some rest I'm sure!  Here are some pictures we took!

Oldest brother Sam being goofy and only big sister Julia.  She's a natural at holding babies!

I love this picture!  "I'm finally out!  Watch me stretch!"  (Although he still keeps doing the frog leg thing and bending his knees.  The feet in his sleeper are empty...haha!)

Congratulations to Jay and Katina!!!
 (Jay is Dan's brother)  Kent (Dan's dad) just called me to say that Katina delivered Seth (I don't know his middle name, sorry!) at 6:35am.  She went to the hospital at about 12:30am and they were almost going to send her home, I think she wasn't officially due until Nov. 1, but she started walking around and it brought on the labor and Seth was ready to come.   Kent told me the stats but this is all I can remember so they are not exact....7lbs and some ounces, 21 inches long...mommy and baby are doing well! 

The other 4 MacKinlay kids are at school and will get to visit their mom and new brother later this afternoon. 

If I get to visit too then I'll try to get some pictures to post!  (plus I'll get a glimpse of the labor & delivery rooms for when it's my turn...For those of you who didn't know, I'm going to the same doctor and will deliver at the same hospital as Katina.)

Last weekend Dan and I decided to go camping.  It was a lot of fun believe it or not!  Unfortunately we didn't arrive to the camp site until it was dark, which I hate because I like to get a visual of my surroundings, plus we had to set up the tent in the dark.  The first time we went camping was last year in Oracle and it was rainy and cold when we got there yet we still managed to get the tent up and have hot dogs and s'mores before trying to warm up in our sleeping bags.  Unfortunately it rained into the night and froze to the tent, neither of us slept well even in mummy sleeping bags and sharing a twin air mattress.  The next day in Oracle we had gone cave exploring (I forget the name of them).  Which was freaky cuz we were totally alone, I broke one of the flashlights on my way down a ladder, and we got lost trying to get out.  What an adventure!

So this time was much more relaxed.  It only got into the 40-50s and with earplugs I slept great!  The only downside is we had some noisy neighbors.  Oh, and no plumbing...just a "vault" as they call it....Let's just say I made Dan go with me at night, I didn't drink a drop for the last couple hours before we went to sleep, and every time I had to go  (which was luckily only 3 times surprisingly) I had to suck on a candy so I wouldn't gag uncontrollably.  In the morning we stayed cozy in our tent for a little while as we ate some breakfast (chocolate covered donuts...Dan's "must have" camping ritual) and then packed up and drove to this trail that led to some Indian ruins - Sears-Kay Ruins.
Here's another site.

It was about a mile loop to see the ruins, nothing TOO spectacular, but cool to imagine Indians living in those surroundings and wonder what life was like.  Not to mention the weather was perfect and made the whole experience very enjoyable.  Here are some pictures of the trip! 

We got this cool tent from Dan's parents last Christmas and I made Dan stick his head out of the "doggy door" cuz I think it's funny....hahaha!  Guess you had to be there...

I used to believe that it was wrong to start any sort of Christmas related anything until AFTER Thanksgiving, as to not overshadow that great holiday.  (Well it's great to be thankful, that's why I like it, Dan just loves the eating...)  But I've evolved my thinking.  It seems the earlier you start getting excited about Christmas, the longer you have those "Christmas-y" feelings of joy and peace and charity and love and all that good stuff.  And to get everyone else on board with this idea, I'd like to share the picture below.  Now, can you get much more tender than that??  Who wouldn't want to put up their nativity set and lights and turn on "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas" right now!?!  (It's a hilarious song if you've never heard it.  Ask me to send it to you if you like!)

My sister was the first to post this on her blog where she listed all us Rogers' siblings and our respective roles:
Baby Jesus (ERIK) - about 2-3 yrs
Mary (KRISTEN) - about 6-7 yrs
Joseph (SCOTT) - about 8-9 yrs
Random shepherd/wise man (AIMEE) - about 10-11 yrs

What she failed to point out, is that we also have a version of our "star" hanging on the dresser knob behind us (the stuffed moon/doll thing) and all our hands are in a praying position, in fact I am even looking towards the heavens as Mary!  Could we be any more in character?  Although, I doubt the Baby Jesus was wearing plaid.

Kristen has pretty much run this website since we put it up and she has been egging me to post a blog and give a status update.  Here we go sports fans…..Speaking of sports, as you all know (or should) the MLB playoffs are upon us and the Diamondbacks have miraculously arrived at the NLCS.  Not beating the Rockies in 2 of the 3 final games of the season has come back to haunt the Dbacks as they match up a lot better against the Padres or Phillies than the Rockies.  The Rockies have some big bats and can produce a lot of offense, something we can’t do.   Pitching has saved us all year and we will be depending on pitching to get us through to the W.S.  Game One update.....Webb was not on at all last night and the DB were overanxious at the plate.  Reynolds and Jackson look like they are totally out of it at the plate.  Tony Clark should start tonight.

Okay, enough of that….Last month I spent three weeks down in Venezuela for an audit.  It was a pretty cool trip and I found Caracas to be an interesting place….a city with a lot of promise, but as is the case with a lot of Latin America politicians are ruining the country.  That Chavez is a piece of work.  Ten years from now it might be another Cuba.  Overall it was a good experience though and it reminded me a lot of Guayaquil.  

That was my last audit with Honeywell and I am now working at a new company.  The travel is a LOOOTTT less than what I am used to.  It seems strange to go to the same office every single day…..so this is what normal folks feel like huh?  Seriously I enjoy it and it is great to be at home more.  Traffic is a whole other story.  For those not familiar with Phoenix it covers about 100 square miles.  Kristen and I live on the far east side of the valley and my job is on the far west side.  Not fun.  After we have the baby we will be looking for a new place to live.

Kristen and I are excited for the new junior to arrive.  It can’t come fast enough!!!  Our whole life is about to change.  Say goodbye to trips to Europe and hello to diapers and sleepless nights.  All for a good cause.  Okay, adios for now.

I'm not sure how many of my family or friends frequent our website... chances are the ones that do already know our happy news.  But what you DIDN'T know is that I started "Blog Jr." basically from the day we found out, because there was so much going on in my head that I needed an outlet!  I had the page hidden and am now doing the unveiling since I've heard the heartbeat, seen the baby squirming around and can rest assured that I AM in fact pregnant!  Yay!  A reason for the gagging!  Anyway, you can now subscribe to that blog as well if you're interested in pregnancy/baby updates!

Dan is turning the big 3-0 today so wish him some good birthday wishes!!  I don't have any childhood pictures of Dan on my computer unfortunately.  Otherwise I'd be posting them all up and down this page!  He was a cutie and still is!  Happy Birthday honey!