Introducing...the deck

In July John's Dad came out to help us build a deck for the yard. He left before he was able to see the finished product. Thanks for coming out and for all your help, we LOVE our new deck, especially in the evenings at dinner time....ahhh I love the crisp fall weather!

McKenna's Birthday

It's no secret McKenna lives for Birthdays. Hardly a day passes without a shout of Happy Birthday to either Tyler or herself. Her birthday has pretty much lasted all week. The gifts started the Saturday before when McKenna and Tyler received a lil princess vanity to furnish their playhouse. They were thrilled and started doing one another's hairs immediately.

McKenna's been using old sheets from our college days and a quilt John's ex-girlfriend made for him and although she doesn't know the history she has been asking for a "big bed". The night before McKenna's birthday we gave the girls polka dot sheets for their beds. When I asked her if she wanted pancakes for breakfast, she shook her head no and responded, "cake." :) That night John and I put up the birthday decorations declaring the official beginning of the birthday celebrations.

The next 2 days was one celebration after another. When McKenna woke up and rounded the corner the next morning she didn't disappoint with her reaction-a big inhale and smile asking, "Is it my birthday?" We celebrated with a new Barbie Movie-Mermaidia and new underwears. The UPS man stopped by with a big package from Grandma & Grandpa Payne, to which we opened at the office with Dad for lunch. It had all of her favorite things in it: Clothes, a Barbie art pad, and her 1st BARBIE!!! That evening we made cupcakes and had her first little party on the deck (YEAH!). We had called to Thank Grandma for the package and was thrilled to have her present at the party-She got a Barbie camera from Tyler, another Barbie from Grandma & Papa Harris and a new Bedspread from Mom and Dad.

The next morning was a little hectec as I tried to finish the cake and getting things together for the Diamond Castle Barbie Party. Pry the most notable is that it would've been an easy cake to make had I followed the plan. Chocolate mousse does complicate the process and the integrity of a cake wall that should be holding up the Barbie up. :) In a moment of frustration and desire to quit I did start a 2nd cake and put it in the oven to bake. This was 3 hrs before the party-unfortunately that cake didn't make it. While it was cooling I attempted to move the jar/cake with my bare hands dropping and breaking the jar on the floor. I think things hit rock bottom at that point and everything slowly started to come together after that.

It was a very fun Mommy and Me party-Little Miss C & Leslie, Marella & Noelle, Lilly & Jamie and her sisters were all in attendance for pedicures and manicures (thanks Leslie) while we watched Diamond Castle. Then we made friendship necklaces out of clay, We sang Happy Birthday and ate the Nie Nie Mud Cake (with chocolate mousse) Barbie style and ice cream and then opened gifts. It really was a perfect Barbie Party.

That night as McKenna got ready for bed she sadly asked if her birthday was over. She'd asked the same question the night before-and had been given the answer that there was to be a party the next day. This time the answer had to be yes-but alas Daddy's birthday is in a month so no need to fret. There is always a birthday going on or coming soon.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this birthday so beloved to this little girl!

(PS-started taking down the decorations today-McKenna about started to cry, ahh the harsh reality)

Happy Birthday McKenna-5 years old!

Oh my sweet McKenna, who has been counting down the days, and practicing for her next birthday party since your last birthday a year ago. My favorite rehearsal was just a couple of days ago when you and Tyler set up a birthday party for you with your Baby Belle and Baby Cinderella dolls. You had a vision in your mind the way a birthday party goes-first you set it all up, then you play games, usually hide and seek, then you open presents and sing happy birthday and have cake.

You've been asking for a Barbie for the last 3 months-with a pink dress and white hair, and a new bed. You also want to go to school with the big kids. I think you might get lucky in all aspects.

You want to be "big". What you don't know is that you've been getting bigger and bigger every day. You grow up a little more each day, and although there are days both of us can't wait for you to grow up and be bigger. I'm thankful you still come to me and ask me to "hold" you. Like you've always done with your blanket "pink", sucking your tongue (instead of a binki) and just sit in my lap. It's one of my favorite moments with you.

You are becoming such a great helper and I love watching you with Tyler and Tate. You have so much love for them. You love to make them smile and laugh, especially Tate who is enamored by you.

Your favorite color is PINK, although purple makes it in there quite often.

You love to dress up, and play pretend and even though you don't always know the words you love to sing and dance. Last night in Target you and Tyler found some microphones and right there in the aisle you both erupted into song, "I know you I danced with you Once upon a dream". I wasn't the only one watching, you caught many a shoppers eye and ear and brought a smile to their lips.

Silly faces!
Your Dad and I love you so much and still remember the day you were born, like it was yesterday!

We're so happy to have you in our family!

Trying on clothes for school

Happy 2- year old Tanner (BIrthday)

Saturday we went to Tanner's birthday. It was the perfect combination of food, people and fun! Cars theme-perfect for Tanner who is obsessed with anything on wheels, It was out at Leslie's Dad's place in Carbonado: There were hot dogs, watermelon, and a blow up jumpy thing that the kids loved! Happy Birthday Tanner!

Taken with the cell phone-missing my camera

tried to steal these from Leslie-but they are small

The following story is a side note that looking back just shows my own stupidity. Those who know me know most of the time I run about 5-15 minutes late. I was running 5 minutes later than I wanted when I left my house for the party, but should've been there on time. I even debated stopping at the store on the way there but I wanted to surprise Leslie by being on time. I didn't keep her directions to the party like I should've but I did go online and print them out. Unfortunately I couldn't get the map to print out and John had loaned our GPS to the new sister missionaries but I was pretty confident with the area and not too worried about it...until an hour later I was still driving in circles knowing that I wasn't very far away but couldn't get a hold of anyone on the phone to help me. I eventually backtracked and even tried to follow the directions and I still got lost. I even had to stop for gas, and at one point tried to convince McKenna who had to use the bathroom to use a port-a-potty or to even squat on the grass. She doesn't have an issue doing that in the backyard so I'm not sure what held her back...maybe the cars driving past. That would be a good thing. :) We did eventually make it there, but I was a lil embarrassed and so close to just turning around and going home.

McKenna became my own personal cheerleader and sensing my distress she asked me what was wrong. When I told her I was lost she responded, "It's ok Mom, just try again." I don't know where she hears or learns some of this stuff, but it was exactly what I needed and even made me smile.

Life a week at a time.

The days are slipping by all to quickly and I can't believe I'm about to comment on the weather AGAIN! Mostly because it feels as though Fall as come and the leaves are already changing.

Things are progressing around here, mostly in the form of Tate who is now scooting himself around the room. If he catches me walking by him he's been known to dive at me to grab my feet. Smart lil fella.

Things we've done this week:

Monday we started Swim Lessons at the Y. They are actually every M/W. Leslie set us up so that at 6 pm Tyler and I go to a Mommy and Me swim class where we play and dance in the water. at 6:20 McKenna and Lil Miss C go to their class, Tyler and I get out at 6:25, shower, take tate while Leslie and Tanner go to their Mommy & Me class. At 6:50 I pick up McKenna and Lil Miss C-shower them and get them ready to go. Leslie and Tanner finish at 7, shower and then we pile in the car and head home. It makes for a busy hour-it's very effecient though. Thanks Leslie.

Tuesday we went to the Park in Bonney Lake and saw the Bubble Man. He was pretty amazing making bubbles out of "Really cheap toys" or junk as some might call it. :) He was also pretty good at sliding political jabber in there. The Pierce County School district give free lunches to kids 1-18-at the schools and at the parks, so we've been taking advantage of that as often as we can. As we were heading back to the car I was pushing Tate and I realized just how big and long the kid has grown. I realized my baby is not an infant anymore-my how the time is flying. John now has Tuesday's free so he finished the flooring of the deck and then we all ran to the library that evening and then onto the park for a picnic dinner. We love being able to spend time with our Dad, especially at the park.

Wednesday morning we went to a toddler Gym class that is held in the gymnastics room. 0-5 year olds are free to pretty much run around and the kids had a blast. There is a huge pit with big square sponge blocks in it, a long runway tampoline and lots of mats to climb on. For privacy reasons there won't be any pictures of this or swim classes, so you'll just have to use your imagination and I'll hope that my memory will somehow hold up.

Thursday we went to the school for lunch-I got to go running after a 3 week lapse--felt like I was just starting again after a year. Thursday night John took McKenna out for a "Special Date". They went out for ice cream cones and then looked at Barbies and Patio furniture. :) An hour after they left Tyler realized they were gone and asked where McKenna was. When I told her she started frantically calling, "McKenna, I need my sister, I need my sister." So to distract her we climbed in the wagon and I strapped Tate on the front of me and we went and picked Blackberries. The first of them are ripe and oh so YUMMY!!!

Today, Friday has been pretty chill-we went for lunch again and then onto Costco. Usually it's a pretty smooth trip and the girls are really cooperative and good. It was not one of those trips-but you can't win them all. Makes you really appreciate the times they do listen. (Don't worry Dad-I still have my Happy!)

Girls 1st visit to the Dentist

Growing up I remember driving an hour south to Orem to have my uncle who was a dentist look and take care of my teeth. He's a great guy and I don't remember ever minding going, although I can't say I really ever looked forward to it, after all he was still a dentist.

Just before Tyler was born McKenna started going to the dentist with John and I. She would just sit and watch and the dentist talked to her a couple of times but she refused to let him look in her mouth. McKenna is now almost 5 and Tyler is 2-1/2 and has never been to a dentist so after Months of thinking about it and trying to find a dentist that the girls would like and trust I finally made an appointment with a Pediatric Dentist-Dr. Jeremy Miller.

Everything started really well-especially when we walked into the waiting area and found this awaiting!

The girls were in heaven, their very own carousel. There were also video games, a lil castle and slide, a train on a track, books etc...My dentist never had this stuff. Everything was great until the hygenist came and called McKenna. I've never seen the girl move so fast. I turned around and she was gone-out the door, out the lobby door and at the van pulling on the doors trying to get in the van screaming for home. I'm so mean, even then I was laughing it was too comical to be real. But real it was, setting off a chain reaction with Tyler. I ended up carrying both girls in, laying McKenna down on the chair and sadly I admit to holding my daughter down while the dentist held her mouth open and calmly told her what he was going to do and then doing it. It took a total of 5 minutes. Another nurse/hygenist calmed Tyler down and they looked at books and watched on. Then it was Tyler's turn. She did quite a bit better-there was still initial panic but then it was done and over, with a clean report for both girls. If a cavity does ever appear then there will definitely have to be drugs involved for McKenna.

The girls got a lil goodie bag with a toothbrush, floss, stickers and a coin for the penny machine toys. The girls were also thrilled to have clean, white teeth and asked for their pictures to be taken proudly showing off their pearly whites. :)

H-O-T

We're setting records in the weather, records that once again I didn't want to be present for. Yesterday it reached 108 degrees here in Edgewood-Washington. My favorite comment on the weather was "It's hotter in Seattle today than it is in Cairo Egypt." Today it was a balmy 103 and tomorrow we're hoping for only 97. I'm pretty sure I NEVER want to move to Arizona and I'm a pansy when it comes to the weather.

For journaling purposes here was the week:
SUNDAY the 26th: 89 degrees
MONDAY the 27th: 94 degrees
TUESDAY the 28th: 96 degrees
Wednesday the 29th: A new record of 103 degrees (the runner up was in 1994 98 degrees)THURSDAY the 30th: 95 degrees
FRIDAY the 31st: 85 degrees
SATURDAY the 1st: 87 degrees
SUNDAY the 2nd: 91 degrees

The good news is that we didn't lose power, we do have air conditioning and fun wet toys (Swim pool and Slip'n slide).

The sad news is the Payne & Chapman's all left us today, much to their relief. They thought they were coming here to escape their own hot weather.

As we were all saying good-bye Trevor, Audrey's 6-yr old informed us he didn't have any fun because McKenna or Tyler (I missed the name) wasn't very nice to him. Sorry Trevor, we are definitely still working on sharing and trying not to tease others. Definitely not a strong point for us yet...although I do remember seeing a few smiles on your face while you were so I don't think the trip was a complete wash.

McKenna, with her backpack on asked her Grandparents if she could go with them and a while later when we were dropping them off at the airport Tyler began crying calling out, "Grandma I want to go with you." My thoughts were, "what happened to wanting them to stay here with us?"

We had a great time with our family (This word clicked this weekend in McKenna and Tyler's minds and they and are very excited about this new term and what it means. Grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, brothers, sisters) and we ALL look forward to seeing them again.

Monday & Tues 7/27-7/28

Monday and Tuesday were filled with F-U-N as the work came to a hold when we ran out of lumber. We went to Canterbury Farms in Black Diamond Monday morning to pick Blueberries. We try and go every year, but this is our first time at Canterbury and it's so organized that it is now my favorite!

29 lbs of blueberries.

Tuesday morning Audrey and I took the kids to the zoo in the morning. I fully expected it to be busy but I guess since it's an outdoor thing people were avoiding it and the heat. We didn't mind in the morning the weather was perfect and the animals were out. It was wonderful!

For a short time Pt Defiance zoo even has camel rides

McKenna was supposed to go with Tyler. She loves riding horses so I thought she'd be excited. She simply handed me her ticket, got behind the wagon and said, "No thank you Mommy." How do you argue with that? It worked out because Tyler was pry a little too scared to go without me and I got to ride the camel too.

After the zoo We stopped at the beach, with the heat we tried to talk Trevor out of it, but you can't come this close and not go.

Trevor, Audrey & Alexia

Trevor found a few Jellyfish, dead ones :)

The toothfairy even came and left him a $1.