McKay turns FOUR!

How is my baby four?  That cannot be right.  He is still so little, carrying Baby Bear and White TeeTee everywhere.  We had a very small little birthday for him this year.  He chose sushi for dinner so everyone went to a Chinese buffet.  It was awesome, everyone was happy.

I made some blueberry muffins for breakfast, and we spent some time "fixing" around the house.  Boys apparently like that. My mom made him some silky boxer shorts, which he loves--but doesn't want anyone to know about.

He got a bunch of guns, a race track, a few games, a transformer, and some glow sticks.  Everything a four-year-old could possibly want.  He has been most impressed with the nerf guns.  I get shot in the bum at least twenty times a day. 

After much discussion he finally decided on a Bumblebee (Transformer) cake.  So I used our Lightning McQueen cake pan and attempted it.  I am not an artist.  But that didn't need to be said, did it?

McKay is such a cute little boy, and brings such joy to our lives. His little expressions crack me up on a daily basis. He looks so much like Loren.  I am so glad he came into our family.  I sure love my little guy!

First day of school

My little ones are getting so big!  Monday was the first day of school for both of them.  McKay is going to the local elementary school for preschool three afternoons a week.  He is very social, so he likes to play with all the kids. He has a friend from church in the class, which makes it extra fun.

 (Photo caption: McKay, teacher: Ms. Shelley, preschool, likes: checking out the weather and reading books).

Logan started kindergarten!  I didn't cry, but it was hard. He is one of the older kids so I actually took a long time looking at all of our choices.  At one point I think I had him registered at three different schools.  I finally decided on Ridgeline Academy.  It is on the same street as Loren's work so it is fairly easy to commute.  It is also free full day kindergarten, and I really thought he needed full day.  I met with the teachers and principal before school started, and I really felt comfortable with our decision.

(Photo caption: Logan, kindergarten, teacher: Mrs. Cuccia, likes: when we get to play and running and playing with balls. Just realized I spelled running wrong.  D'oh!)

Logan has uniforms, which makes dressing very easy.  He also had two little friends from church that we can carpool with, he really likes playing with them at recess.  Logan loves school and says his least favorite is when they have to leave.

The boys have had some trouble adjusting, just that they are very tired when they get home, and tend to fight with each other.  Other moms have told me this will only last a week or two. 

McKay has been a little unimpressed with just me during the day, but I have tried to keep him busy.  He usually has storytime, park day, gymnastics lessons, gym time, and swimming to try to wear him out.

I sure do love these big boys!

Hawaii

Loren was lucky enough to have a conference in Kona, Hawaii, this year.  Because it was also our 10th anniversary this summer, I decided to tag along.

Loren always wanted to see this waterfall, it is Akaka Falls by Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii.  We also went to a few farmers markets and tried unsuccessfully to find a black sand beach.  We had fun running around the island trying to find it, though.  The Big Island is where the Iron Man is run and we saw huge fields of lava, desert, and rain forest. It was crazy and beautiful.

 A lava tube!  Right next to the highway! We had dolphins and sea turtles at our resort, and I tried to make friends with the resort cat.

While I was stuck being seen by the airline medic Loren took some friends deep sea fishing.  They caught a few marlins, but let them live to swim another day. 

During the conference I went to the Kona Temple, which was small but beautiful. 

After the conference we ran over to the island of Oahu.  We went kayaking and snorkeling, and spent some time at the Polynesian Cultural Center. We didn't see much fish, but we still had fun.  My favorite part was when we went swimming with the sharks on the North Shore.  It was amazing, we had 30-40 sharks around us, and Loren was able to touch one.  

We did some shopping and enjoyed dinners without children.  We are so grateful for Loren's parents who watched over our cute little ones.  We had a wonderful time, what a great way to celebrate!

For your enjoyment

I made a few videos starring the kids.  If you missed McKay's talent at the reunion... here it is in all its glory.

Swimming

 My Mom spent a week in our heat to help my little sister with her new baby.  While she was here she managed to snap a few pics of my little cuties.

 Mugging for Mom after a swimming lesson.  Look at those cute little bellies!

Logan takes his swimming very seriously.  Apparently he is superman?  I'm not really sure; but it looks awesome!

It's Hot.

Have I mentioned that it is over 110 here in Arizona?  When the sun goes down it is still over 100.  It. Is. Hot. 

 The solution; of course; is to get wet.  When you are in the pool and the splash pad you don't realize that you are just being ridiculous trying to live here.

 Logan lounging around with his friends at the splash pad.  Because we choose to live in the gateway to Hades; where there are an amazing amount of pools; this year the boys had to take swimming lessons.  Logan now is doing a pretty good job; he can swim across the pool by himself and be pretty self-reliant.  McKay can jump off the side and swim pretty far to get me; but he has not yet mastered taking a breath.

Just chillin.'

Six more weeks until school starts and the school district pays for the air conditioning.  Not that I'm counting or anything.  We also partake of the Harkins summer movie program so we can chill in the cool while watching movies for 70 cents.  The library story time and summer programming also are utilized to a crazy degree.  Soon to come?  Karate pictures.  Logan started his classes this summer; and it is all sorts of adorable.

Special thanks to my photographer; Marielle Carlisle.

My little cuties at five and three

I thought it was time to update the pictures on the wall; so I got these shots from our friend April at talkstoryphotography.blogspot.com. I thought she did a great job.

Boys are funny. I have been putting all of Logan's preschool "masterpieces" on the fridge; he has been so proud. So when Logan underwent a recent colonoscopy--which is a whole different story--and got photographs of his colon the second thing he said after waking up was "Mom; can we put my pictures on the refrigerator?" Um. Ew.

Today we cut the boys' hair. Here are a few choice snippets: McKay "Mom. I am a transformer. And transformers don't get hair cuts."
Logan; half way through McKay's hair cut: "McKay! You look so handsome on one side!"
McKay; after Logan was done. "Logan! Now you look handsome just like me!"

And then this little story; which Loren said I had to put up here; even though it is going to traumatize McKay's girlfriends in twenty years. So Logan comes up and asks why humans don't have tails like animals do. So I start in on a discussion of balance; and spines; and whatnot. McKay comes up; listens to the conversation; and then promptly and quietly drops his pants. Cause. You know. He wanted to show Logan that he has a tail.

I am the Mom of boys.