Daddy's Little Helper!

This past weekend it had snowed only about an inch or so, and Aaron didn't want to get out the snow blower so Mackenzie and him headed out with their shovels. She was really a good helper...she loves to be outside, but she also has seen her favorite show Caillou help his dad shovel snow.


Here is Kate being entertained watching out the window!

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Mackenzie can be so funny sometimes...well lots of times! This morning we were cracking up....Aaron was home sick and she was has been trying to think of ways to make him feel better. I told her if she rubbed his shoulders that it would help. She was all excited and went over and rubbed his shoulders for a whole 30 sec. and then had a light bulb moment....she says"Hey dad, if you go like this (crossing his arms and putting them on his shoulders) you can rub your own back!" What a great idea!!!

Then lately she has been talking about getting a new mom or dad, or having 2 moms and dads, but the newest one today was at lunch telling us a story about what her "old mom" would do for her! It's funny because she always talks about it in positive moments...not even when she is unhappy with us. I don't know where she gets these ideas, but I'm starting to get a complex;)

Praise God!

This is so neat......many of my friends are adopting right now, some have their children already and some are still in the process. I just wanted to share one of their stories with you... my college friends Jeff and Abby have just returned home from getting their son Charlie.....click here to read their story and you have watch their "Welcome Home" video! Make sure you have a box of Kleenex before you start! He is so adorable!

Welcome home and God bless all of you for following His leading!

You are what you eat!

Yes, I am really starting to think that one of these days Mackenzie is going to turn into a fruit! She LOVES fruit...I think some days that is all she eats. Today for lunch along with some chips and part of a sandwich she had applesauce, a thing of pears and half of a grapefruit and still wanted some of mine! I am glad this is something healthy, but not so sure only eating fruit is the best....not to mention it is expensive. The only fruit she is not fond of is the melons and it is probably because I am allergic to them so we never eat them around our house.

Bye Bye!

Last night we said good bye to our black Grand Prix! I got this car when I was in college from my cousin and then Aaron took over when we bought our first car together! It treated us well, but the time had come to say good bye! Aaron listed it on Craigs list and within the first hour we got 2 phone calls and an email...by the end of the day we had about 7 phone calls and 3 emails, or something like that. Definitely the way to sell a car or anything for that matter. Aaron is looking around the house to see what else he can make some money on!
Anyways...the guy...well more like a boy...came to pick it up last night and was going to brave driving it home. It was recommended to us not to drive it, but he changed the oil and he was headed back on his 2 hour trip home. We prayed that he would make it.....haven't heard and probably won't...I guess that is good news!
Throughout the night Mackenzie had made a couple comments about not wanting it to go, but it never occurred to me that should would be that disappointed. The moment he started backing it out she started bawling....and I mean she was really crying....sad crying! She said she wanted us to save it for her to drive when she got bigger! We validated her feelings of sadness, but inside I was laughing that she was so upset by this. She hardly ever even rode in it! She did get over it, but on our side of things....we are so happy to have our whole driveway back!

Happy 50th Dad!

Tuesday my dad turned 50... so this past weekend our family went to a hotel to just spend the weekend together. We thought of surprising him with a party, but that just isn't his style, so we tried to surprise him with a weekend away, but he figured it out. Fun all the same! This hotel wasn't just any hotel, but one with a water park inside! This is actually the place that my dad's side of the family would get together and have our Christmas every year. It's been 4 years since we have been there, so it was so much fun to be back! Of course the girls loved the water park although Mackenzie stayed in just the pool part most of the time.

Dad teaching her to back float....first swimming lessons!

Her favorite thing to do at the pool.....any pool!

Kate enjoyed the water after the first initial introduction. There was so much to distract her.

Then on Saturday we just hung around the pool and played cards, swam and ate! We did some shopping at the outlet malls close by.....let me tell you I got some amazing deals. I need to shop there more often! Then that night dad picked a really nice place for us to dine for his birthday dinner!

Yeah they even wrote in your soup!


Mackenzie HAD to sit by Aunt Amy! I think she is a little mini-Amy!

Then we went back and celebrated with a Coldstone ice cream cake! I brought some toppers along for something festive!




This is what we got my dad...I saw it and I knew exactly what to get him....he really liked it. He already has plans of where he is going to wear it....his annual golfing trip!

The return of the moocher.......she was literally on top of me pushing me over for more cake!

The rest of the night we hung out and played some games......good ol' family bonding time!

Sunday my brother had events all day so the rest of us just hung out at the mall in the kids area, did a little shopping and then after lunch we took our 2 girls to a children's museum while others ice skated. It was so much fun and I wish I would have know how much stuff there was there, because we could have easily spent the whole day there. We were just pushing Mackenzie along so she could just see everything. We'll know next time!

We had such a good time, but it wasn't long enough.... it never seems to be!

Happy Birthday Dad! We love you!

Iowa Winters

I just had to post for the record that last week we had accumulative of a FOOT of snow and wind chill temps in the -40's....yes that is a NEGATIVE. The actual temp was still like -26 or something like that. I don't remember the last time I have even heard of those numbers or seen that much snow. I can honestly say that I still don't know what that temp actually feels like as I didn't even think of attempting to open the door!
It was so cold that we couldn't even go outside to play in all the snow:( Mackenzie really likes to be outside and Aaron is so good about taking her out and playing with her. We have such big snow piles right now that they climb to the top of the "mountain" (notice in the picture in front of the big buildings) and slide down, or he gives her wild rides on the sled! The cold doesn't even seem to faze her.

The craziness of it all was that today is was in the 40's....but I'm not getting too comfortable because tomorrow it is supposed to drop almost down to single digits again and I think more snow is in the forecast! This is exactly why Aaron is currently looking for real estate SOUTH!