Saturday, December 20, 2008

4 Years Old!

My little girl is turning 4 tomorrow! I just looked at her last night and I couldn't believe how big she has gotten! She is not my little baby anymore! Mackenzie is such a joy and we thank the Lord that He has given us the blessing of raising one of His children! She has grown from a little 7 lb 2oz little baby to a fun, sweet, beautiful, energetic.....and may I say at times ornery little girl! Here are some pictures we got taken along with all the rest......she did so good I thought I would share a couple....ok many with you!







This year it actually works out to have a real birthday party for her. I always feel bad with her birthday being so close to Christmas. So tonight we are having a friends and family birthday party at a "fun center" and then tomorrow on her birthday we'll go to one of her favorite places to eat and do the whole cake and present thing with family after church! I'll be posting those pics later!

Happy Birthday Mackenzie!
We love you so much~ Dad, Mom & Kate

Friday, December 19, 2008

Family pictures!

We got our family pictures taken a couple weeks ago and thought I would post just a few of our whole family together!

Winter = Cold = Snow!

Yes...winter is here and that means lots of snow for us! Last year there was continuous snow on the ground from November to March...not joking! In our house that brings a mixture of emotions from everyone. Kate....is checking it out(see video)! Mackenzie.....excited! Me.....really don't care, just try and stay warm! Aaron......means he gets to use his snow blower, but really he would prefer to move south. The moment the temp even starts to spiral downward he is already complaining. Today was the first day Mackenzie really got to go out and enjoy the snow for the first time this year. It wasn't our first snow, but first big one.....5 in.

Honestly I didn't know how she would do sending her out there by herself. She played for a while and then wanted to take her coloring books out...... instead I got this idea from a friend...I gave her bottles filled with colored water to color in the snow!



Yes, she is eating snow.....but don't worry it isn't yellow! Mackenzie had came in the front door and Kate found a piece of snow that had fallen off so she had to give it a try. We thought it was so funny, so I gave her some clean snow and let her have at it!

Sorry again for the lighting....my video camera broke so I am resorting to my camera's capabilities!

First Christmas Program

The children's sunday school was a part of the worship service last Sunday at church. This is the first year Mackenzie has been old enough to be in a Christmas program....I can't believe she is THAT old! Here is a couple videos from my camera..... sorry for the lighting! If you only want to see one, you have to watch the second one!

Here is Mackenzie with several of her best friends....from the left Julia, Maddie and Cooper!





Yes that would be my daughter...the one looking around not paying attention...I don't know who she gets that from! I'm not quite sure what her friend was trying to do either....I'm guessing trying to give her a hug! Every time I put that sweater on her she complains of it hurting her in the inner elbow area.....don't know what that is all about, but it must be the reason she has her arms crossed the WHOLE time!

It was one of those moments....you know, when your child is up there on the stage and your not sure exactly what they are going to do....but I have to say I was a proud momma!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

9 month pics!

Here are Kate's 9 mo. pictures that I said would be coming! A friend of mine was so kind to take pictures for us....and she did a great job! We had a marathon....Kate's 9mo, Mackenzie's 4 yr, family and Christmas pictures! They did pretty well considering.....

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Family Christmas Traditions!

It's been awhile since I have posted.......it's been a little busy around here with the spirit of Christmas, Mackenzie's birthday coming up and all! I told myself I couldn't post until I got my Christmas cards done.......well their almost done, just a few left to get out! We've been having a lot of fun around our house lately with the traditions we are continuing and starting with our girls. Here are a few of them!

Decorating the Christmas tree together as a family! Mackenzie wanted to put the star on, so as to reach the top she got a little boost from Dad!

The finished product! I would just love to change it up every year, but not it's too practical!

This year we started something new....I got the idea from a friend a couple years ago. I take all of our Christmas books and wrap them up. Then every night Mackenzie gets to pick one and open it for her bedtime story! It is so easy and she looks forward to it every night!



I was out shopping the other day and found this little Christmas tree for $5 and then picked up a few mini ornaments for Mackenzie's room! She had so much fun decorating her own tree. I thought about putting it on the front porch, but she enjoyed it too much!

This year I am starting something else new.....Christmas baking! I didn't necessarily grow up doing a whole lot of baking at Christmas time, but is something that I have been in the mood for and Mackenzie really likes to help me out in the kitchen. We aren't doing anything fancy, just some fun and easy treats to start with. Mackenzie is dipping little Christmas pretzels in this picture.

We did some pretzel rods!

Covered Oreos, gingerbread cutouts, caramel popcorn puffs and we plan on doing some cutout sugar cookies sometime! Of course the favorite part is the sprinkles...more sprinkles the better!

Our neighbors had brought us some treats so Mackenzie was so excited to return the favor! If anyone has any more fun and easy Christmas favorites we would love to try them out!

We can't wait till next year when Kate can really join in on the fun!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

To pass the time!

Mackenzie is really into crafts right now! She would color, cut, glue and write all day long if she could. Last week she got to do a couple fun things that I thought I would share. They are very easy projects for little kids to do..... I am not gifted in the crafty/creative department. The first was not my idea, my friend Wendi (she on the other hand is extremely crafty) did with Mackenzie and her little girl the other night while she was watching her for us.... Gumdrop trees!

She just bought a styrofoam tree and gumdrops......fairly inexpensive right.....and it keeps them busy for hours!
Oh, don't forget the toothpicks to hold it all together! You break them in half and stick the broken edge in the gumdrop. (it just works better that way)

And there you have it.......your very own gumdrop tree! It was funny........Mackenzie brought it home half finished so we were finishing it the next day and I asked her if she knew that these were candy..... she said no and tried one, but immediately spit it back out. Who likes those spice ones anyway?

The other one is an oldy and one that I had been wanting to do for a while with Mackenzie. I always feel so bad for her having a birthday so close to Christmas (Dec. 21st) This year I am excited because it falls on the weekend before and it will just seem more separated, normally it is the day we go to my parents for Christmas. This year we are actually having a party and family is coming here! Anyways.......we made a Birthday countdown chain.

I just typed up the number of days until her birthday and made a line of the numbers and then I cut it the width way to make the links. (look at the picture below for more sense of my explanation) I alternated numbers because I used 2 different colors. Then every morning she tears one off and has to tell me how many days till her birthday....see it can be an educational thing too. While we were making it she put the numbers in order and read the numbers to me.....those 'teen numbers are hard to learn!

Her favorite colors.....blue and green!

Not that it is at all hard, but I already have the template made and can email it to anyone that would want it. It would be fun for Christmas countdown as well!

9 Months

My baby was 9 months last week.....I can't believe it! We are enjoying this precious little gift so much. Kate has such a sweet tempermant, very laid back and over all a very happy baby! She is now crawling and starting to be a little more vocal! When they are this age they are constantly doing something new.....we are really enjoying these baby stages. I feel like with Mackenzie we were always ready for the next thing, but with your second I think you enjoy the here and now a little more.

I'll have her 9mo. pics to post soon, so check back!
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"I don't have any legs!"

Or "I don't have any arms" is Mackenzie's new sayings! She must believe that if she doesn't have arms or legs that she gets out of doing something. That would be correct if it were true, but in the same sentence she is stomping her feet or fly her arms around. For example: "I can't pick up my toys because I don't have arms," or "I can't go get that for you mom because I don't have legs!" It must be a 4 yr old thing....... has anyone else experienced this? I try and not play along with her "game" and explain how she should be thankful that she actually does have arms and legs that do in fact work! She can be quit stubborn sometimes.......I don't know where she gets it from :)'

Monday, November 24, 2008

It's worth a read...at least a thought

I have never done this, but I got this email and I thought it was worth sharing. Something that I think all of us should put into perspective! Supposedly David Letterman wrote this, but it doesn't really matter who wrote it, IT'S THE TRUTH!


No matter what your political convictions are this is an eye opener....

What a thankless people we are!!! David Letterman, on President Bush. (Surprising)David Letterman wrote this; it's the David we don't often see....
As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark. The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, What are we so unhappy about?

A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?

B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

C. Could it be that 95..4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state.

F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it.......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a general discharge, an other than honorable discharge or, worst case scenario, a dishonorable discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane! Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
David Letterman

Please keep this in circulation. There are so many people who need to read this and grasp the truth of it all.



Thanks for taking the time to read!

Running Partner

Oh no...not me! I don't run......I'll exercise, but I don't run! Aaron, it seems as though, has found his running partner. He is trying to get back into the habit and decided to start when the temp started going down....bad timing hunny! Anyways...he was getting ready to go out for a run and Mackenzie begged, I mean begged to go with him. He told me to get her bundled up and he would check out the temp and see if it was too cold. When he got back she was ready. I figured she would make it up the street and back...oh no...they went all the way around the block...and it's a big block!!!

She loves to run and she is fast (her adult parents with way longer legs can hardly catch her)! We always are saying that we have a track star on our hands...... did I mention she is FAST! She says she wants to go again and she didn't even seem out of breath

It looks like Aaron has his running partner!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Go Hawks!

This past Saturday was my first ever Iowa Hawkeyes football game...Iowa vs. Purdue! I grew up an Iowa fan and still am, but now that I married a Cyclone fan and live in Ames I have been to more Iowa State games. My parents have season tickets and my brother Brock gets tickets, so finally it is my turn.......and just us adults! My sweet cousin watched the girls at my parents .......thank you so much Marie. It might have been one of the coldest days we have had this year, but we put on layer after layer and actually stayed pretty warm.

As part of Brock's tickets he gets to take 2 others and they eat breakfast with the team, tour the facilities, watch the team warm up....so Andrew (my sister Amy's husband) and Aaron got to go.

Go Hawkeyes!

My sister Amy and I sat with my parents.....as you can tell we are pretty bundled up!

The sisters!
My parents!

Swarming the field after the nail biting win!

They put up and good game and won........so I guess the cold fingers, noes and toes was worth it!

Got to have the family picture.....

The couple picture......

And the sibling picture!

It was so much fun to spend the day with my family and although I love my girls.......it was nice to just be with adults, going out to eat with just adults and riding in the car with just adults.

Thanks Dad and Mom for the great day!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Favorite Things!



Here is yet another new trick of Kate's....if you look closely you will see the bubbles. Some of you may be getting tired of seeing all these silly videos, but the grandma's love them! She does this all the time and has been doing this for a while now.... I finally got a good take. It just amazes me how she realizes that she is doing it, and then keeps on doing it!

Guess what.....she finally learned to crawl yesterday. It didn't take her long.....it is fun to see her figure things out and go from somewhat stationary to mobile....slow, but mobile all the same!



Update for those of you that have been praying....Brock's surgery went well and his recovery is going great. He'll be back to full speed in no time!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Not a big fan.....

of the daylight savings thing....gain an hour, yeh right! Whoever has little kids knows what I am talking about. I always used to love this time change, but not so much these days! Well anyways...we had plenty of time on Sunday morning.....we even got to the early service!

We even had time to curl Mackenzie's hair! I have only done this one other time and that was for my sister's wedding. Her hair does have a little curl naturally, but is losing it as she gets older. We took this pic to show Aunt Amy!



We caught Kate doing another new thing....So Big! And that she is.....getting bigger and more interactive everyday. It is so fun to see her trying to wave, clap her hands and dance..... and she is even starting to crawl backwards! It won't be long and I'll have to get out the gate and really baby proof again. I am actually looking forward to her crawling instead of fussing because she is stuck on her tummy!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Trick or Treat

I know I am a little behind, but here are the halloween pics! Wow, what a long day it was.... it was a lot of fun don't get me wrong...and the weather...who would have thought that it could be so nice(I was so hot I even had to take off my sweater) at the end of October! I remember a couple years ago we were so bundled up and still getting frostbit.

It started with trick or treating downtown with some friends. Kate the bumble bee, Ella the princess and Mackenzie the candy corn!

The oh so appropriate Jack O lantern pizza for Papa Murphy's! I asked the guy how many of those he had made and he made the comment about how many mini vans had been in the parking lot that day.....he said like 400 and it was only early afternoon!

Now for the trick or treating with daddy! Mackenzie almost had more fun handing out candy during our "dinner time" than going out and getting the candy!

My little candy corn! This is what she picked out amongst several costumes at Target.

My sweet little bumble bee!

If we had only known that we had Shrek living only 2 houses away!

Well Mackenzie was ready to come home after and hour, she took off her costume before we even got back home. I think she was looking forward to carving her pumpkin! Normally we do this before Halloween, but it just didn't get done, so what better Halloween activity than carving the pumpkin!She wasn't so sure she wanted to stick her hand in there. I finally got her to do it after I removed every single seed!The finished product! It was supposed to have had teeth, but they broke off.

Here is Kate enjoying her first ever piece of candy. I know I am a horrible parent letting an 8 mo. old have candy! It was just this one time and she loved it. Of course she cried when I took it away, but thought she could steal Mackenzie's!