Happy 4th Birthday To My Kenzie-Girl!

4 years ago, I couldn't stop staring at this beautiful new face..

Now I get to see this version of that beautiful face every day!

What a lucky Momma I am!  Happy Birthday to the sweetest little girl ever!  We love you so much Mackenzie and we're so proud of you!

While I was writing this post, the song Amazing by Janelle came on.  What a fitting song, Mackenzie truly is amazing!

4 Years Ago...

I was in labor and I looked like this!

What an awesome night!

Dancing Queen

Here are videos of Mackenzie's dance class.  Seriously, it's so cute!  (as long as she's behaving - she likes to push the envelope)  Since these videos were taken, we've gotten her tap shoes as well and oh boy, does she love the sound they make!  

I could watch these all day, love them and love her!

Mackenzie's Speech

Mackenzie's speech has improved leaps and bounds in the past year and we're so proud of her!  Preschool was so awesome for her and she has made (and continues to make) so much progress.  She is currently in a summer speech program and they are working on her letter 'L' sounds.  She has done really well, figuring out where to place her tongue to make the proper sounds, but there are a few of her pronunciations that I would rather not change just yet.  I love that instead of saying the word 'silly' she says, 'siddy'.  It's the most adorable thing when she says, "Mommy, dat siddy!'  I know if we practice, she can get it, but I'm okay with holding off for a little bit.  I don't know if that makes me selfish, but I know she won't say it that way forever, so I figure it can't hurt for a little bit right?

Caterpillars!

Our new pets = 10 monarch caterpillars! 

As a kid, I collected, raised, and hatched monarch caterpillars into butterflies every summer.  I would walk and walk and walk down the waterways, looking for caterpillars on milkweed leaves. (but it was never hard to find them I guess)

Last weekend at the lake, we were on a walk and I happened to see one on a milkweed leaf.  We walked a little further and I noticed a couple more, so I decided that we'd do this little science project this year with the kids.  They helped me collect them and we found a make shift home in a sour cream container.  I figured we would have enough time with 1 day to get home and find a suitable bug barn for them.  But after visiting numerous stores and calling even more, this little butterfly habitat is the best we could do.

It's not as sturdy as I'd like, but we'll have to build one with Grandpa from the farm someday, he knows how they're supposed to be!

Cute little buggers!

Like I said, I thought 1 day would be enough time to find a bug barn, but these two got right to work making their chrysalises.  The one on the right actually died and is a hollow pod now, but the other one is fine.  He's hanging out in a mason jar, he'll be our first to hatch, later this week.

Counting this one, I think we have 5 chrysalises right now.  The kids love checking them every day and it's a good way to teach them about life cycles in nature.  I will post more updates as we hatch some butterflies!

More Weekend Fun

Just some more pictures from a weekend at the lake.

Rylan looks so grown-up in this picture to me!  Such a sweet sweet boy!

Mackenzie spent hours scooping sand and water and dumping them on the dock.

A frustrated and adorable hubby trying to get the other boat lift to work so we can put the pontoon in the water.

The dogs love the lake just as much, if not more, than the kids.  This is Jack. (Randy and Merr's dog)

Mackenzie figured out her little scoop was the perfect tennis ball thrower; she was so thrilled with herself when she threw the ball and Jack jumped in to retrieve it.

Oops, this time it didn't go very far and Jack tried to reach it from the dock.

When little girls get tired out, they demand cheesy chips and milk on a lounge chair - my kind of girl!

Nick and Rylan were having fun jumping in the water together.  I love this picture!  Rylan's face is so awesome; a little apprehensive about Daddy jumping over him, but so excited about it too.

Rylan and Grandpa playing horseshoes.

I would live at the lake all summer if I could!

Your Ideal Age

I came across an article or blog the other (I honestly can't remember where it was) that had a poll.  The question was, "What would your ideal age be?"  The poll results showed that most women who responded would want to be between 30-39, with 20-29 a close second.  I was reading a few of the comments and it struck me how many people wanted to go back in time, most to a time of happy memories.  As I thought about it, it made me sad to think that so many people didn't want to be where they were currently at.  I would have to say that my life just keeps getting better, so I wouldn't want to go back to any age.  Sure, high school was pretty sweet; hardly any responsibility, school was easy, good friends were always available, and I knew my loving parents would take care of me.  But now that I'm married with my own family, I could never go back to a time without them.  It makes me a little sad that my kids are growing up so fast, but they just keep getting better too, so I really wouldn't want them to get any younger either.

I really hope that my life just continues to get better, but I think a lot of that is perspective and attitude.  If I'm content with what I have, I'll be happy and I'll appreciate where I am in life.  If I focus on what I wish I had, nothing will ever be good enough.  I don't want to live that way.  Today, take the time to be thankful for what you have and enjoy life!  (Even if it is raining, again.) :)  Happy Wednesday!

1st Lost Tooth!

June 18, 2012: Rylan lost his first tooth!  It had been wiggly for quite a while, but he really didn't seem to be in a hurry to get it out.  Yesterday afternoon, he was complaining that it was hurting again, so I checked it out and it was really loose.  So I encouraged him just to keep wiggling so it would loosen up even more.  I'm not sure what came over me, but I had this intense urge to just yank the sucker out.  I think I wanted it out more than he did!  He actually let me get the pliers on it twice to try and pull it out, but made me stop when it started to hurt.  I contemplated just yanking anyway, but with his memory, he might not ever forgive me for that.  

Finally when bedtime rolled around, as I was tucking him in, I told him to think about letting me pull it out.  I didn't want him to swallow it during the night.  I went to tuck Mackenzie in and then came back for his answer.  Obviously, he had decided to let me do it.  So we headed to the bathroom.  With a wet washcloth in hand, I grabbed a hold of the tiny thing and pulled.  Dang, slipped.  Try # 2: success!  The tooth was out!  He was a little freaked out by the blood and he will tell you that it bled a whole lot, but it wasn't bad.  He held the washcloth on it until it was done bleeding and then we took pictures.  We were going to keep the tooth until Daddy could see it later this week, but after he was tucked into bed again, he decided he wanted the tooth fairy to come right away.  So we tucked that tiny tooth into it's little pillow and he woke to find a dollar in it's place.  I'm so in love with the toothless grin!

A Lake, A Stick, A Dog, And His Boy

1. Stick in lake

2. Dog in lake

3. Boy in lake

4. Boy swims to dog

5. Boy hitches a ride via dog's tail

6. Cheese-ball smile for Mom

7. Repeat over and over and over and....

Up To No Good

But only sometimes is he up to no good.  Rylan really is such a sweet little boy, we are so lucky to have him!  I can't believe he's going to be in First Grade!!!  He is kind to others (unless it's Mackenzie), he loves animals (including bugs), he negotiates everything, he has an unbelievable smile, laughs from the deepest part of his belly, and gives wonderful hugs.  We are so proud of our 6-year-old!

Water Sports

Last weekend at the lake, the kids didn't feel like tubing on the nice day.  It was the chilly and rainy day that they decided they wanted to go.  So, out we went.  Neither lasted long, but they had fun.

Then Rylan went swimming in the rain, while Kenzie and I ate Cheez-Its in the boat.

On the nice day, Rylan did attempt skiing, but it didn't go so well with these huge skis.  Nick and Brian helped him get them on, 

...then into the water he went. 

Nick rigged up a boom on the boat to help him learn, but the skis were just too clumsy and after one try, he didn't want to do it again.

However, later in the day, Nick and Rylan went to hang out with some friends and they had one of these ski trainer boards. A rope connects the board right to the boat and then the child just hangs onto the rope attached to the board.

So after seeing some of the other kids ski on this thing, Rylan decided to try again.  Sure enough, second try and he got right up.  And go figure, Nick didn't have a camera, so I have no proof other than Rylan's excitement that he did in fact go skiing.  Maybe we will have to wait on the real skis and get one of these. 

Mr. Golden Sun

Mackenzie is a rockstar at pumping on a swing.  She's much better than Rylan actually.  Rylan doesn't like to swing like Mackenzie does and he still doesn't get it how you pump your legs to keep going, he would much prefect to get under-dogs from me.  Mackenzie will pump her little heart out all day though.  It's hilarious and awesome.  The other night, she was swinging away while I was watching from the patio when she started to sing.  As I ran inside to get the camera, she stopped singing, but luckily continued when I asked her to.  Turn up your volume!

Is this not the most adorable thing you've ever heard?

T-Ball

Rylan has started T-ball again this summer and he just loves it.  He's much more brave than last year, going after balls instead of ducking.  :)  He has one of the same coaches as last year and I'm thrilled about that, they are/were so good!  Mackenzie and I enjoy ourselves on our blanket watching the action and having snacks.

The Phillies

Stretching

Playing catch with Coach Jay

He's ready!

Heading to the bench

Look at that form!

Yeah, I think I could be a baseball Mom!

Just Like Tarzan

We were out at the Ranch last weekend and I didn't take many pictures, because all the kids really did was get dirty.  We did go swinging on the new swing down in one of the little gullies though.  It's pretty fun, even for grown-ups!

Walking down the swing.

Pictures can't do is justice - it's so beautiful!

Ready Mackenzie?

Go!

 Rylan's turn!

I think he's ready for Cirque du Soleil.

Daddy's turn.

At the farthest point, you are pretty high up.

Last but not least, Mommy!

Kenzie again

And Rylan one more time

The kids would have swung all day, but after this many turns, Nick had already found 3 ticks on himself, so we headed back.  Straight to the shower, we found a few more, but none that had attached yet.  Fall will be even more beautiful down in that spot!