Montana!

So my awesome sister Julie got a quick break from Afganistan and we all headed home to Montana to hang out with her. Stacy and I attempted to bring three kids under three and eight pieces of luggage on the plane. It wasn't pretty.

With all the female cousins around McKay's feet never had to touch the ground. All the grandchildren were in town for the first time since Logan was born. The boys loved getting to know their cousins and being spoiled.

Annette's husband Jason is a really good sport. The kids thought it was hilarious to jump on anyone over the age of eight. McKay is without pants. Again.

Annette's kids were so good with my little ones; they showed endless patience.

Logan is really strong! Such a good boy. Who knew that a garden wagon would bring hours of entertainment?

My nephew Eric got married and we had fun planning for that. We also ate a lot of Mexican. And Oreos. And cookies. Okay. Everything. We also visitited old neighbors; celebrated Father's Day with my Dad; had a "pirate party" and went to Julie's reenlistment ceremony. The boys were getting over strep but we still managed to have fun.

Yeah. Not too many hot tubs in Arizona. We were freezing! I wore sweatshirts almost the entire time.

And really what is Montana without a tractor? We swung by my Dad's house to see horses and ride the Rascal up and down the driveway. The boys were transfixed.

I was so happy to see my family. There is nothing like being with them.

Thanksgiving?

I love this guy!

I can't help it. I love this kid. I know that it is not his third birthday for another three weeks but I have a few minutes and a couple of cute pictures; so it is going to be a little early. Seriously. Look at this kid. He is adorable. And he knows it.

I love that he calls his blanket "white tee tee" just like I did; even though I never taught him. His bear's name is Bear. Of course.
I love that McKay will still snuggle with me and be my little baby. If he is really upset and crying he will start yelling "I want cuddles!" He is so small. He was wearing 12-18 month shorts the other day and I had to roll them to stay up. So it is like he is still my little guy for a little bit longer.

I love that he has boundless energy. He was walking at eight months and really hasn't slowed down.

I love that he is saving for a jet pack. Logan is saving for college.
I love that McKay loves girls. I mean loves them. Once Nursery brought him to me in Young Women's so that I could take him potty. One of the girls was holding him while I finished getting chairs. Then he didn't want to leave. "McKay do you want to go potty?" "No." "Do you want to go to Nursery?" "No." "Do you want a snack?" "No." "Then what did you want to do?" "I want to stay with girls." We are in such trouble with this guy.
I love his cute little dimples. He totally maniuplates me. I love that he is so smart. He knows all of his letters and is working on their sounds. I don't love that he spilled water on this computer and I no longer have access to a comma or a nine; but I still love him.

It seems like McKay has been two forever. I cannot believe he is actually turning three. We love you McKaby!

Potty Training

I am officially calling it. McKay is potty trained. I don't know why I bothered as he spends most of the day completely naked. I guess it is because he really did it all by himself. He is exhausted by our summer activities... perhaps you notice him passed out on the floor with his underwear inside out and backwards?

We have been busy this summer. We walk in the mornings; work out at the gym twice a week; go to the summer movie program; hang out at the splashpad; enjoy the Norterra Kids Club; swing by Mother Goose. Pretty much anything that keeps us out of the heat. Of course if we were really smart we wouldn't even be here.

Ummm....

It was a little quiet this morning. And then I found this.

Preschool Graduation

My big sweet boy graduated from preschool! He went one afternoon a week to Busy Kids Preschool, run by Miss Amy. Logan loved preschool, especially when he was the star helper. He got to see the fire station and the aquarium, as well as meet new friends, learn how to write his name, and recognize a few words. At graduation he mentioned he liked making the wind catchers the best.
We brought dimply McKay along for graduation, of course. He loved the candy bar at the end the best.

Logan is next to the girl in pink. He does not like to sing in front of an audience, can you tell?

Here he is marching in. Can you spot my cutie.

We loved Miss Amy, and he learned a ton. I am not ready for summer!

Easter!

Look how big they are this year! I can't even believe it. Loren was nice enough to take the boys to see the Easter Bunny while I was out with the flu, but I forgot to send him with a camera!

Logan has been growing his hair and spiking it with gel. They grow up so fast! Logan and Loren both had strep throat around Easter, but managed to rally for the actual day. We let the boys do an egg hunt in the backyard, they were thrilled.

I think they liked the candy the best, and I found jelly beans work great for "potty candy." I have been slowly working my way through the cadbury eggs I bought on clearance. I love those suckers!

McKay looks so Eastery in his pastels. He loved going to nursery to celebrate. It was weird not having any family here for Easter like we have the past few years.

One of the local churches had a community BBQ and egg hunt. The boys had a great time hunting for eggs, jumping on bounce houses, and trying cotton candy for the first time. We enjoyed being out in the beautiful weather, my allergies were not nearly as bad this year. I'm not real sure why Logan was wearing shooting glasses, but he was happy so....

Rise and Shout

We are insane. I know it. During our five years at BYU we came to love the University, and all that it stood for. We also love our BYU athletics. Loren and I have been together for ten years, and during that time we have gone to at least one game a year (Texas A&M in the beginning, then BYU). Even in Colorado we made it to a game.

Until this year.

Somehow we made it through the season without making it to a game. This just seemed wrong to me. So when I realized BYU was playing their last MWC tournament in Vegas, I decided we had to go. Plus, you know, Jimmer. I wanted the chance to watch him once. I found some cheap tickets online, got a cheap hotel, and convinced Loren to take a day off work.

We left Wednesday after work and drove the four and a half hours to Vegas. Our room was a little sketchy, but it worked. The next day we had some time to kill so we tried to hit the midway at Excalibur. It was closed, of course.

So we rode the tram quite a few times, looked at some aquariums, got a pretzel, tried to see the lions at MGM, and talked to quite a few MWC fans.

Then off to the game!
I saw a few old friends, which was great. It was so much fun to be surrounded by BYU fans. The game was rocking, it was almost like a home game.
Logan was happy, he has been wanting a hot dog with bun forever. Hot dogs are pretty much banned from this home, so he was ecstatic.
By the end he was cheering and standing, and yelling for BYU. Cutie. He got that from me.

McKay, however, the little turkey. After going to bed at ten thirty and getting up at six, he just couldn't make it. I don't know how he stayed asleep next to a yelling mommy, but he managed. I kind of want my money back. Since he slept we actually got to pay attention to the game, which was nice. Unfortunately, because of his hour long nap, neither child slept on the way home.

While it wasn't the Jimmer-Show-record-breaking-52-points of the next evening, we still won and had a good time.

Now we are ready for March Madness. Go, Cougars!