Kid Quotes

The girls have been cracking me up lately with the things they say and do. Mostly what McKenna says and sometimes with the things Tyler does.

Tyler is a tomboy. She loves dirt, dirt and more dirt. Every night we are cleaning dirt from under her finger and toenails. I wish she'd use the gloves more and I don't know how it gets in her shoes, I think she might be bathing in it.

McKenna has been on a role, here is some of her personality shining moments:

The other morning McKenna woke up and as she sleepily walked in the room (around 8 am-love she's sleeping in these days) she declared she was 'bigger,' "as big as the big kids." After I confirmed that she was indeed bigger, she sat for a moment and then let out a big sigh of disappointment and said, "ahhh, I'm not as big as Mommy." Soon enough my love, soon enough.

One afternoon McKenna came down with a dark blue t-shirt her grandma had given her. It lights up and had airplanes on it. She folded it up and set it on the island and said, "Mom, this is a boys shirt. We need to send it back to Grandma. No thank you grandma."

Tyler has decided that she doesn't like baths anymore. She doesn't like showers either as we've explored that option as well. we have compromised with Standing up in the bath tub while I pour water on her. It's not ideal, but it works. She used to love baths so I was quite stumped by the turn thinking maybe it was her continual scraped up knees. That might have something to do with it, but while taking a bath the other night she referenced that she was standing, 'just like Mommy.' Not one of those times you really want your kids remembering.

While driving to the mall a week or so again as we are merging onto the freeway McKenna starts screaming, "spider." Normally I wouldn't have thought of a spider in the van but I'd forgotten to close the sunroof the night before, but there wasn't anything I could do at that exact moment. So as I drove on looking for an exit McKenna continues to yell spider and going off about needing a new van, you know because you can't have a van with spiders anymore than you can live in a house with rodents. Wonder where she gets it from. When I'm finally able to pull over there is no spider to be found and I start to wonder if there ever was because she's not freaking out anymore. After tha mall as the girls were watching a show and waiting for Tate to get done eating I look over and found the "loose" spider on the Dvd screen.

Last but not least the girls share a love-hate relationship I've decided. McKenna will walk up to Tyler just so Tyler will push her away. This could and will go on with McKenna calling, "she pushed me." One day I was on to their lil game and growing wary of the whole situation so I left the room with Tate and hid. :) After looking around and realizing their audience was gone McKenna called to Tyler as she headed down the stairs, "Tyler your my best friend. Come on Tyler, come play with me." Where in the world did that come from?

The flighty girl also got on the bus later that afternoon for school and told Kaiden, as she climbed in the seat next to him, that he was also her best friend.

All's well that ends well.

Playhouse

John took on a new project at the beginning of the month of May-I think because he's tired of hearing me comment on how much I want a playground for the kids. So we broke ground on May 7th and started the girls playhouse complete with slide and swings. It's been fun watching it go up so quickly and to watch the girls excitement gro each day. Tyler has found that she is scared silly by our neighbor's tractor and if she hears it She comes running as fast as her little legs will carry her into the house.

Week of May 7th

May 14th -Leveling the ground. Longest, most tedious part.

May 16th

May 19th

May 21st

Nope the inside of our home isn't finished, but you know all in due time. Can't blame the guy for needing a break to work on something new.

Daddy's lil helper-not necessarily with the saw.

Memorial Day Progress

All that's left is the door and the rest of the shingles

Memorial Day

Our Memorial Day was much like the ones I spent growing up, with the exception that we didn't go visit the cemetary, or make it to my Grandma Harris' party. We did however spend the morning doing yard work & working on the playhouse. Our friends came and visited us, and then we started or maybe continued our own family tradition of going on a picnic together.

McKenna has been begging us for weeks to go visit the beach. I'm not sure what she had in mind but I thought it was a great suggestion and since there are beaches here why not take advantage? I quickly packed up a lunch threw it and the kids in the van, along with a couple of buckets, a blanket and some sun screen (so happy there is sun to be protected from) and called John from off the playhouse roof (where he is shingling today) and off we went. Our original destination was Pt Defiance, we were mentally trying to prepare ourselves for the crowds and as we started down Ruston Way on the way there we decided to just stop there. We overheard someone talking about the mile long lines of cars trying to get into Pt Defiance and were very thankful we had stopped when we did.

McKenna was in heaven. As soon as lunch was over she was off to build sand castles and to run in the sand and the water. We all had a lot of fun, I think even Tate who had never been and who won't remember but he was quite mesmerized by it all.

Poor Tyler who insists on wearing McKenna's shoes and takes a spill at least once a day. Today we were almost off the sidewalk and she was trying to catch up running as fast as her lil legs will carry her when down she went. She skinned her knees pretty good, and still refuses band-aids. Apparently they are really only decorations for her fingers, that are not hurt at all. Unfortunately that was not her only spill. right before we were leaving I looked up from trying to wash McKenna's feet of and as she was approaching only a few feet away, again down she went on the rocks. What can I say, she has my grace poor girl.

Screaming and SuperHero's

Tuesday's my friend Ady and I exchange babysitting while we get out and run. This was only the 2nd week we've done it, it's a start for me to be out running again. I'm so out of shape, but it feels so good to be moving again. My body thanks me with a lil soreness and tightness, but it's the good kind. Today while Ady was out running the kids wanted to dress up. Ady has 2 boys about the same ages as my girls. My girls decided to be Ballerinas and the boys were Batman & Superman in their "pretend" costumes. We decided the girls were Super-Ballerina's who fought crime with their ballerina dance moves. How come Hollywood has never come up with this superhero yet? Anyway I turned around and found the Ballerina's had the boys dancing with them, ballroom dance style. Mathew was even twirling McKenna. I cought a few pictures and thought I was taping them and then as they were wrapping it up I realized I forgot to hit record. Argh! Oh well the pictures are priceless!

Tate is 6 months old. In the past 2 days he has found his voice and begun "squealing" or rather screaming in excitement. He's always been such a quiet kid, other than laughing that it caught me a little off guard, but it's the cutest little outburst-right now it is. I've made a conscious effort to avoid his contact with the tv, although I have noticed over the past few weeks that when it's on and someone was holding him his face would gravitate in its direction. I don't plan on making a habit of it but tonight after John took the girls to the store I sat him down to a lil Baby Einstein and jumped in the shower. He loved it, I kept hearing lil screams of joy, it was so funny!

Utah Trip-Ashley's Wedding

Finally got our Utah trip post up and running. Really should've gone with a slideshow, one day I'll figure it out.

April 30th our little family crowded into our van, bags packed and headed to the airport. The girls couldn't have been more thrilled. They love to fly and they love Utah, they love seeing family and friends and spending time with them. The girls walked through the airport chanting, "we're going to UTAH!", they squealed in delight as the plane took off and then screamed and ran to their grandma Harris' open arms for a big hug. McKenna immediately started asking for her Purple Easter dress, she couldn't get it on fast enough.

May 1st we were able to go to the Draper Temple with John's parent's, his brother Steven his wife Silvia and Ashley John's baby sister in preparation for her wedding the next day, May 2nd to Jordan Dziendiel. It was the perfect way to begin the wedding festivities! Ashley was beautiful and the couple looked extremely happy!

our attempt at Family pictures

The next morning the girls were thrilled to have new white dresses and to get their hair done so cute for the wedding. But nothing made them happier than when Ashley and Jordan stepped out of the temple, they went running, yelling, "Ashley, Ashlely" and then they proceeded to show her how pretty they were.

Silvia Thanks for taking our family pictures

Tate was cold & This is classic Trevor

Alex, Micah, McKenna, Nicholas & Tyler

It was fun to meet Jordan's familywho seemed really nice and fun to spend a day celebrating the happy event with those who could make it from the Payne Klan including the Chapmans and Jenny & Rebecca Willis who we hadn't seen in years. Everything was perfect that day. It started out quite rainy and blustery but miraculously there was a break in the weather as we stepped out of the temple that lasted just long enough to get pictures. The reception hall, decorations, cake everthing was PERFECT!

Audrey, Mom, Ashley, Jordan, Dad, Jenny, John

(Steven was there, but MIA-aka taking care of kids)

Sunday Steven & Silvia blessed Alex their little boy who was born a week before Tate. Afterwards we gathered at her parents home for a wonderful meal with lots and lots of meat. I believe we were told they were BBQing 50 pounds? Very tasty!

Alex & Tate-born a week apart

At the last minute we were able to put together and meet some friends at the Children's Museum on Monday. The swine flu panic worked in our favor as the place was unusually empty. The girls LOVED it and had a ball! Their favortie was the "store" & I think McKenna spent a total of 10 minutes outside of the "house" and that was to get stuff to restock the house with food. (Wonder where she learned that from?) They are still talking about this place.

Man those 5 days went by too quickly and we wished we had been able to see more people. It was fantastic to be able to see so many of our family members! Nothing like a wedding to bring us all together, or as many as possible and able. It was a great Family Reunion for us!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all Women everywhere! Married or single, young or old I think this day is for all women as we work, play, laugh and cry together as we age through the years and help one another through through the good times and bad.

Today in Sacrament meeting Bro. & Sis Stuard spoke. They are a wonderful couple who's spirits are as sweet, kind and as wise as they come. I have a very soft spot in my heart for them. Brother Stuard's talk especially touched my heart as he touched on the subject that Mother's Day isn't a happy day for all, whether it is a single sister, a married sister unable to have children, or a mother or grandmother who reflects or thinks about all the things they could or should've done while raising their children, or someone who has lost their mother etc...these are circumstances I think about every year during this holiday as we all know someone going through a experience. I was in and out of the talk due to busy children but he did have the Young Men & Women stand, and then the primary kids and then had us look around and how we all are there to help one another and the influence we have on these kids. I strongly believe that it takes a village to raise a child, because i KNOW that I can't and don't do it alone.

My mother's day was very nice. It began at the crack of dawn when Tate decided to wake up at a quarter to six. After he ate he sate and played and laughed and talked until Tyler woke up and John took the kids downstairs and allowed me to sleep in. That in and of itself made for a great day! John and the girls surprised me with breakfast in bed, pancakes, strawberried and cream and a Mother's day card from Tyler. The girls then proceeded to help me eat my breakfast and tell me why they loved me. McKenna told me that she loved me because I bought her toys and took her to the store. Tyler liked me to draw with her. It really was quite cute and sweet!

At church the "men" took over and the women were able to go to Sunday School and Relief Society. We were then treated to a fine buffet of treats in the gym while the father's kept the children occupied and we were able to visit with one another while we had desserts. So fun!

This evening after naps we called our Grandma's to wish them a Happy Mother's Day and talked to them about their days.

Throughout the day I found myself experiencing Motherhood at it's finest. There was the fight during sacrament meeting over my lap, crying for "mommy, mommy" all day, but also the need for extra hugs before bedtime, holding Tyler while she finished waking up from her nap, feeding Tate.

It really was a fabulous day! So thankful for the wonderful women in my life who helped me become the person I am, the person I'm becoming and the person I hope to be some day. Happy Mother's Day!

Here's a little history for you: "The modern Mother's Day holiday was created by Anna Jarvis, as a day to honor mothers and motherhood; especially within the context of families, and family relationships.[1] It is now celebrated on various days, in many parts of the world. Father's Day is a corresponding holiday honoring fathers.
The practice of celebrating Mother's Day is a relatively recent tradition, first established in the U.S.A. in the early 20th century. It should not be confused with other pagan and Christian traditions honoring mothers, or with the U.K. holiday, Mothering Sunday, which is also known as Mother's Day and dates back to the 16th century.
Many countries around the world now celebrate a "Mother's Day", generally this is a recent practice, derived from the U.S. tradition. Exceptions include, for example, Mothering Sunday in the UK, which predates the U.S. holiday"

Where do they come up with this stuff?

Last night I put the kids to bed by myself as John was at a meeting. After leaving the room McKenna called me back in, and when I went back in she pointed to her eyes and said, "my eye ball is broken." She then held up her hand to her ears and proceeded to tell me that her bones were speaking to her.

She was so serious, and concerned about it, I had a hard time not cracking a smile. I did successfully say good night without laughing, but it was too darn cute not to document.

Kids say the Darndest things!