Bonfires and Cool Weather

We have had some crazy weather this summer.  Lower than normal temperatures for most of the summer, then out of no where we had super hot temps for a little over a week.  I'm talking 110!  The ONLY time I enjoy those temperatures is when I'm at the river enjoying the boat and the water!! Last weekend brought a serious change in weather.  Overcast mornings, cool and breezy days, and chilly nights.  We enjoyed the weather this weekend by taking it easy around the house.  We hung out, played games, went on bike rides, played at the park and enjoyed a bonfire in the backyard.   Of course, no bonfire is complete without S'mores.  They were so yummy!! 

The kids had a great time.  Mackenzi said that it was just like camping!!  She's so easy to please!!  I hope you enjoyed your weekend too!!

Fun in the Sun

Matt's mom invited me and the kids to join her for a day at our local water park, Raging Waters.  Matt couldn't get off of work and I knew I definitely needed backup with the kids so I invited my mom.  We spent about four hours splashing through the kids zone and floating in the amazon river.  Mackenzi had a blast.  The boys were too scared to go down any of the slides, but they still had fun splashing in the water!!  Mackenzi wants to go back again with daddy.  She sure had a blast.

Thanks for the fun day Kelli...and thanks for all of your help mom!!

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Flashback Friday!!

Notice anything similar about these pictures of my fat chunky baby Mackenzi right before her first birthday and the pictures from Raging Waters????  She has the same exact bathing suit on.  Not the same bathing suit in a different size...but the EXACT same bathing suit.  The Easter bunny brought her that bathing suit for her first Easter.  It was a 2T because she was so chunky.  A couple of weeks ago I found it hidden in Grandpa and Grandma's cupboard with beach towels.  She wanted to try it on and guess what??  It still fits even though it's a size 2T!!  Crazy!! 

Summer, Swimmin', and BBQing

I love summer weather.  I love when the days are hot and the sun shines late into the night.  What I especially love is when the evenings cool off just enough to be completely comfortable to sit outside and just enjoy it.  That's exactly how it was last weekend.  On Saturday, we decided to set up the kiddie pool and BBQ dinner.  The boys loved sliding down the slide into the cool water below (Yes, they're in unders....we're potty training and Mommy was too lazy to go upstairs and get trunks).  Kenzi wasn't into the pool that day, she's too big for the kiddie pool now that she can swim without floaties in a 'real' pool.  So she kept herself busy coloring Princess color pages. 

After we ate a delicious meal of citrus and lime marinated steak, baked potatoes, and green beans (did that just make your mouth water?) we put the kids to bed.  Matt and I played Yahtzee and cards and just enjoyed the evening. 

Ahhhh, sweet summertime!!

Friday Night Lights

Last Friday we decided we wanted to do something a little bit out of the ordinary.  We decided to call a bunch of our friends up and see who could join us for a night at Quakes Stadium to watch some baseball.  Luckily a lot of people could make it.  We ended up having 13 adults and 15 kids there to watch them play.  Who am I kidding, with 15 kids there, there wasn't much game watching going on...but it was still fun.  The mascots for the Quakes are Tremor & Aftershock.  Their both dinosaurs.  The boys are so into dinosaurs lately, so I thought they would totally dig them and they did...but from afar!  Here are some pictures from the game. 

This is Mackenzi and her best friend from preschool, Milan.

Surprisingly, Quinn let Tremor write on his hand with a marker.  He was very proud of that dot too!

The boys had a blast doing this...

Here's a group shot of about half of our crew...

Somehow, when these two get together, there seems to be a lot of cuddling going on.....Kenzi....Evan....you two are not allowed to hang out once you hit your teen years!!!! :)

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I know I've been a bit MIA on this blog lately, I have a few posts lined up so be patient with me! :)

two.point.five

My big boys are two and a half years old today.  The time since they were born flashed by so quickly.  Lots has changed in the past 2.5 years....They have gotten much, much bigger.  They have learned so much, I have learned so much.  They have reached milestone after milestone.  Their bond with each other has grown stronger by the day, just as our love for them has! 

Their language is developing more and more.  They're talking SO much lately.  It's incredible.  They make me laugh every single day.  We are working on so many things: color and shape recognition, listening skills, and we're about to embark into the wonderful world of potty training...(YIKES).  Rocket (Little Einsteins) and Lightning McQueen are still their favorites, although Buzzy and Woody are creeping into the favorite spot and they still HAVE to have their blue blankies.

I just love these boys.  Happy 2.5 birthday Bobos!!!

Flashback Friday

While I still lived with my parents, my mom would change the decor in our house and our porch as the seasons changed.  In early September, all of the pumpkins, scarecrows, and fall colors would show their faces.  October would bring Halloween decorations, November would bring Turkeys.  RIGHT after Thanksgiving the oranges and browns would be swapped out with vibrant reds and greens.  Santas, reindeer, holly, and trees would be the new decoration.  When Matt and I got married, I was so excited to start decorating for the seasons in my new home.  Slowly but surely my boxes of holiday decorations has grown.  About this time every year, I am eager to start bringing out the fall decor.  I will wait until September, but my brain is already thinking fall. 

I wish I didn't rush the changing of the seasons and coming of the holidays, but I do.

Last spring, while Mackenzi was at school I was at the car wash with the boys.  I sat next to a super nice man and started talking with him.  Old men seem to talk my ear off where ever I go.  We started talking about the boys, and Mackenzi.  He told me that he has had a life full of girls...4 daughters, 8 granddaughters, 2 great granddaughters and the following month he would be blessed with the first little man in his life...a great grandson.  He was so proud.  He looked at the boys in a loving grandpa way and told me to "enjoy them because it goes too quickly".  I agreed with him...it already has with my children.  Then he said something that has really stuck with me as I start thinking of the new season...this is what he said...

"The thing about kids is that they make your life run in fast forward.  You are constantly looking forward the next event, the next milestone, the next holiday, the next family vacation.  It's hard to truly enjoy the moment when there are so many "next things" to look forward to.  Before your know it your kids are grown, and your watching them raise your grandchildren, and them their grandchildren.  Children are wonderful....so truly enjoy it". 

So fall activities, decorations, and excitement start to creep into my thoughts...I keep reminding myself that I should not rush it.  September will come quickly enough.  I need to enjoy the rest of the summer...and take a little time to enjoy my children at this exact stage in their life, because just like the seasons, it will change so quickly.

*Pictures taken Fall of 2006*

Feelin' it!

I don't know what it is lately.  I am feeling SO crafty.  I've really never been crafty before...creative maybe, but crafty?!?  I used to scrapbook, a lot.  It was a favorite past time before I got married and had children.  Then when I was teaching preschool and elementary school I was able to let my creativity soar through classroom decorations, projects, and lesson plans for the kids.  The past couple of years, I have loved planning my children's birthday parties, our annual pumpkin party, Christmas parties, and decorating for holidays...I guess that has been my creative outlet.  But lately, I have been really into decorating our new beautiful house!!  I'm addicted to craft/DIY blogs that show you how to make adorable things for next to nothing.  I saw these twine-wrapped letters on a few blogs like "A Little of This, A Little of That" a while back and it caught my eye.  It's very Pottery Barn inspired.  Today I was at Michael's and picked up a little letter R...for our last name, of course.  I wrapped it with twine (hot glued it along the way) and put it on my shelf.  I'm not sure where the permanent home for this little guy will be...but for now, this works.  Not bad for a project under $5.00 huh??

Wordless Wednesday

What a Day!!!!

Yesterday Grandpa & Grandma (Matt's Parents) took us to Disneyland for the day.  It never fails, we ALWAYS have a wonderful time at Disneyland.  We had so much fun.  We stayed all day long and the kids did great.  Mackenzi and Grandma had been planning this day for quite awhile.  Mackenzi had decided which rides she was going to go on weeks ago.   Her number one ride that she wanted to go on?  SPLASH MOUNTAIN!!  That crazy girl.  We didn't think she would be tall enough...but guess what?  SHE WAS!  Boy, was she thrilled.  Yesterday was her first time riding many 'big' rides.  She loved them all.  She is such a dare devil.  She rode on "Soaring over California, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain"  She really wanted to go on "California Screaming" a actual BIG roller coaster....but she wasn't quite tall enough yet.  She went on lots of other rides too!!!  Grandma let the kids get their faces painted.  Quinn didn't want to do it, but Jace got a rocket (that he was VERY proud of).  Mackenzi got a beautiful flower on her face.

After a busy morning, the boys napped while we took turns taking Mackenzi on some of the big rides.

Mackenzi was THRILLED to see two of her favorites...Jessie and Woody.  The boys were scared of them.

Of course we had to do some of the boys' favorite rides too..."Casey Jr.'s Train and It's a Small World".

Uncle Cody and his girlfriend Devon came too.  Mackenzi just adores Devon.

We ended the day taking the Monorail to Downtown Disney to eat dinner....which was packed, so we headed to a nearby Italian restaurant for some yummy pizza instead.  Thank you so much for taking us to Disneyland for the day Grandpa and Grandma!!  We loved every minute it...we were so spoiled by you!!!!