Too Long

I know it's been too long since I've updated. Now that it's been nice out, we spend much more time outside so that means less time on the computer. We've been busy too, planting a garden, going on a mini-vacation out west, going to the lake for the first weekend, and going on lots of walks and bike rides. Here are just a few random pictures first.

Mackenzie the Builder

Making a mess with a biter biscuit.

My loveys!

This girl LOVES to swing!

We went to the lake for Memorial weekend and except for Monday, the weekend was awesome. We spent a lot of time trying to catch fish, but didn't even get a bite. Good thing the weather was so great, or we wouldn't have lasted quite so long. Rylan was happy as long as he had a snack and when Mackenzie wasn't being lulled to sleep by the water, she just thought it was fun to be outside.

The master fisherman! Notice the calm water, it was just beautiful!

Rylan was pretending to be asleep in the picture.

Kenzie, sleeping soundly.

We went to Bakke's on Sunday night, and it didn't take long for Rylan to get all wet, so while Nick went back for more clothes, he had a snack in half his birthday suit.

He also got to ride on the Bakke boys' Hot Wheels. His feet didn't quite reach the pedals so we just pushed him down the hill. He loved it!

Nick was a judge in an entrepreneurial competition out west, so we all went and had a mini-vacation. The kids and I hit up the zoo three days in a row and also had fun in the hotel's pool.

At the zoo, milking the pretend cow.

In the car on the way home, totally relaxed and watching "monkey george" (Curious George).

Swinging at a park.

Down the frog slide.

Just hanging out. I was going to take her in, but it was pretty cold, so she just watched.

He told me that this was too scary, until another little girl went under, then he was all about it!

We've also been to a more local zoo a few times as well. They have an indoor carosel and while I was feeling a little motion sick on it (I must be getting old), Rylan and Mackenzie loved it.

The new baby camel.

Rylan on the carosel.

Mackenzie on my lap, on the carosel.

Those Dreaded Words...

I love to eat, but I don't really like to cook. Nick has done a lot of the cooking in our house, but now that I've been home this year, I have done a lot more, but I still don't enjoy it that much. Anyhow, so the other day, it was odd that I got excited to make a lasagna. Now I've only made one other lasagna in my life and it was a recipe with spinach and seasoned turkey sausage or something. It must not have been too great because I haven't made it again. So I decided to make a simple burger, spaghetti sauce, noodles, etc. recipe and by the time it was done, it smelled so good and I was really excited for it. After a few bites, I asked Nick what he thought, because I really liked it. And then those dreaded words... "It's good, but I like my mom's better." *slight heart drop* Not that I'm offended, because his mom is an awesome cook and overall, I like her (and my mom's) cooking better than mine too, I just so wanted him to tell me that it was the best he'd ever had! Oh well, next time right? And to my defense, our recipes are just different. Her lasagna has brown sugar in the sauce so it has a sweet taste. Mine had garlic salt in it.

More than anything though, it made me realize that I hope that Rylan will say that same thing someday. At least think it anyway. :)

Mother's Day

It's my new favorite holiday! Obviously I've been a mother for three years now, but this Mother's Day really felt special. Maybe it's because Rylan can actually tell me Happy Mother's Day and now spontaneously tells me that he loves me, or maybe it's because there is so much more love with two kids. In any case, it really struck me how blessed I am to be a mother and how awesome it is to have my kiddos. The special-ness started on Saturday night when Mackenzie and I attended our church Mother-Daughter banquet with Nick's Grandma Mac and Aunt Patti. It was kind of a long evening, but the food was great, the speaker was great, and best of all, Mackenzie was perfect the whole time! We even won a prize because she was the youngest one there! I think it was so special because I have fond memories of going to Mother-Daughter banquets with my mom and grandma and I'm so excited I get to make those memories with Mackenzie.

Sunday we had a wonderful day! I got to sleep in while Nick got up with the kids and made blueberry muffins for all of us, then we all went to church on a beautiful sunny morning. I had a proud mom moment in church too - Rylan went up for the children's message all by himself and sat there with the other kids so perfectly and then came right back to us smiling. He was so cute and looked so grown up!

After church we went out to eat with Grandma Mac, Tom and Patti. We then came home so Kenzie could take a nap and Nick, Rylan, and I did some yard work and played in the back yard. When Mackenzie woke up, we all went to a local greenhouse and got some plants for the garden we're starting this year. I have yet to plant them because it's been raining and Nick needs to till our plot a little bigger. The whole day was just so relaxing and sunny and enjoyable, it was awesome! I think I'm still on a little high from it all, I just love being a Mother!

I only have two pictures from the weekend - from the banquet.

Patti, Me, Mackenzie, Grandma Mac

Mother and Daughter!!!!!

Buy Mommy Diamonds!

This afternoon, I told Rylan to tell Daddy to buy me diamonds. So he went up to Nick and said, "Daddy, buy Mommy diamonds. And circles too."

Guess who's been working on shapes lately!

My Loveys Being Lovey!

Mackenzie loves to be under this side table and we often find her there, playing with toys or just sitting there smiling. Yesterday when I was taking pictures of her, Rylan decided he better join her, she couldn't have been happier!

They are beyond sweet and I love them more than words could ever express!

Just one more! :)

Funny Day

Rylan does funny things every day, but these were just too funny to keep to myself. This morning, I took the kids to McDonald's for breakfast so that Rylan could play there. I've only taken them there one other time and it was at lunch time and all the kids/parents made me crazy, so breakfast was a much calmer time. Anyhow, as soon as we walked into the play area, Rylan took a huge sniff and said, "mmm, I smell toys!" I just cracked up!

And speaking of crack...

This afternoon, we got back from a bike ride and while I was unloading Kenzie, Rylan was playing in the front yard. I had put Mackenzie in the stroller to sit in while we played and when we came outside, Rylan was in the middle of the front yard with his pants at his ankles, trying to get his underwear down. My first thought was that he just had an accident, but no, he just had to go. I quickly ushered him to the back yard where he could finish his business. When you gotta go, you gotta go!

10 months old

Holy cow, she'll be ONE in 2 months! Mackenzie is doing great, still sleeping through the night, still no teeth, and still happy as ever. She isn't truly crawling yet, but she scoots around pretty well. If there is something she wants, she'll get there fast! It was a lot more difficult to get a picture of her because she's on the move all the time.

Her hair is getting longer too, and a little clip is sometimes necessary instead of just fun.