Our Havasu Vacation

We just got home from a weekend trip to Lake Havasu.  It was just us 5 that went and it was perfect.  We haven't ever gone away just us, so it was super nice and relaxing to just hang out with each other.  The weather was H.O.T. 112 degrees, but the water was perfect.  The kids had a blast.  Jace, Mackenzi, and Hurley are little fish.  They loved swimming and swimming and swimming.  Quinn was more content to hang on the shore, but he did venture out into the water once in awhile. 

 Mackenzi rode on the tube by herself for the first time.  We tried it two years ago, which was unsuccessful, but she loved it this time!!!  (Excuse the poor quality...I forgot my camera battery at the house that day)

I just love Lake Havasu.  Growing up, we spent just about every summer weekend there.  Watching my kids enjoy themselves there makes me so happy.  Playing in the water, jumping off the boat, tubing, snoozing during long boat rides....I love that they get to experience it too!!

Summer Time Fun!!

Jumping with friends...

 playing...

 floating...

 splashing...

 jumping...

 sliding...

Yep, they're all perfect ways to beat the heat on a perfect summer day, especially with great friends!!

Celebrating Daddy!!!

We woke up and got ready early for church on Father's day.  But, before we left it was present time.  Mackenzi made him a footprint bookmark with a "daddy poem" on it from preschool.  It was super cute.  We got him new shoes, some clothes, and a canvas print of him and the boys at the beach.  It turned out really cute, I'll have to show a pic of it!!  After presents it was time to go to church.

 After church we went to the country club with Matt's parents and brothers.  We enjoyed a yummy brunch. 

After nap time, we went over to Matt's parent's house for a little swimming and BBQ with his brothers.  We couldn't see my dad on father's day this year because they are taking care of my grandfather who is battling cancer.  But, we got to see them at Mackenzi's birthday party the night before, so we gave him his gift then. 

We are so lucky to have the men in our lives that we do!! 

I hope they all know just how much we love them!!!

Tangled Party...The Decorations

I decided to do a whole post about how I decorated for Mackenzi's party.  I am super happy with the way everything turned out!!

 I made a banner for our mantle.  I decided to decorate the mantle with pictures from each of Mackenzi's birthdays.  It was fun to see how much she's changed!

 Mackenzi wanted pink lemonade and water, so that's just what we had!  Each little girl got a special Rapunzel cup to drink out of and take home.

 I made a banner to match the ones in the movies.  Then set out all the grub.  Mini sandwiches for the girls, goldfish, watermelon, grapes, strawberries, chips and salsa, and Oriental salad and rolls for the parents.

 Her yummy cupcakes.  She was so happy with the colors of the frosting.  As we were making them she said, the colors are perrrfffeeecccttt!!

 A close up of the sammies.

 We had a princess jumper that just barely fit into our backyard.

 For party favors we had watercolor paints (since Rapunzel loved to paint) and yummy sugar cookies from Matt's cousin's cookie business.

 Matt and I spent two hours a few weeks ago braiding three spools of yellow yarn to look like Rapunzel's hair.  We draped it down the staircase!!!

One last look at the kitchen right before the party started. 

We also let the girls decorate princess crowns,

but I didn't get a picture of it that turned out good ! :(

Information from Sarah's cookie business is here.

Mackenzi's Big Day!!

On Mackenzi's 5th birthday, we had a whole day of fun planned.  She wanted a Tangled birthday because she absolutely loves the moving Tangled.  We started off the day with presents from Mommy & Daddy.  She got lots of clothes and the thing that was #1 on her birthday list... A Furr Real Puppy.

 She was begging, literally begging for this puppy.  Before her birthday, I asked her why she wanted it so bad and she said, "I've seen it at Target every day and I have wanted it my whoooole life".  Miss Dramatic, I tell ya!  Anyways, she was super duper excited and she named her Sparkle Magic. 

Next up for the day was her birthday party.  She decided that she only wanted to invite girls to her party.  This cut our regular guest list by about a third, because most of our friends have boys.  But that's just what we did!!   They got tangled up in lots of fun!!!

 We played "pin the tail on Maximus". 

 And opened lots and lots of wonderful presents!!  Her friends sure spoiled her.

 We sang Happy Birthday and she blew out those 5 candles ( I still can't believe she's 5!).

 Then the girls played, jumped in the jumper, and even watched Tangled the movie.

As soon as the girls left, we made a mad dash and cleaned up the house.  I quickly started making dinner for a birthday party with our families.  Chicken fajitas, rice (thanks Dana), black beans, and chips & salsa was on the Menu!!  (By the way, it was super delicious!)   Then Mackenzi opened her presents from her grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

 We sang Happy Birthday one more time and she blew out her candles.

  She said her day was perfect!!!  She was exhausted from all the partying!! 

 I just cant believe that my baby girl is 5.

Happy Birthday sweet girl!!!

Slumber Party!!!

Last week Daddy was out of town, so we decided to have a slumber party in the living room!!  The kids had so much fun.  They had a hard time falling asleep because it was way more fun to giggle and play.  They finally settled down and fell asleep.  I slept on the couch next to them.  The best part was that when the boys woke up at 6:30, I turned on the t.v. and was able to sleep in until 7 a.m.!!  I think we will have to do it again next time Daddy's out of town!! :)

The Birthday Girl

Dear Mackenzi,
       Happy 5th Birthday Sweetheart!!  I cannot belive that you are so big already.  It seems like you were just a teeny tiny newborn in my arms.  You are such a sweet girl.  I absolutely love being your Mommy.   I love that you are fancier than I can ever dream of being.  You are 100% girly and I just adore that!  Thank you for being such a big girl and a big helper for me.  You absolutely love playing Barbie dolls.  You are still infatuated with the idea of princes, princesses, and falling in love.  You want to be a teenager in the worst way (s.l.o.w.d.o.w.n. sister).  Hurley is your best friend.  You still sleep with your blankies and about 12 'friends' (mostly stuffed animal puppys and a stuffed Woody doll).  Your 5th year of life is a big deal!  You will start Kindergarten in a few short months, you'll probably lose your first tooth (you're dying for a wiggly one), you will learn to read, and you will learn to ride your bike with no training wheels...see, I told you it was a big deal!!  I hope your birthday is everything you dreamed it would be!!  I love you with all my heart!!
Love,
Mommy

Flashback Friday

Matt on his very first Father's Day with Mackenzi

June 18, 2006

Here's to all the special men in my life

(especially my Dad, Rick, and Matt)....

Happy Father's Day!!

Frogs

Lately we spend our evenings outside searching for frogs.  The kids L.O.V.E. searching the grass and planters for frogs.  Jace and Mackenzi have no fear, they love holding them in their hands and talking to them.  Surprisingly, they are very gentle.  Quinn isn't a big fan of the little creatures and he is usually running and screaming, silly guy.