New Year's Eve and The Weekend After...

I'm having to work a little backwards here, but what's new!  :)  The Wed. before New Year's Eve, we had Jamie, Drew, and Abby spend the night with us.  We absolutely love having them over and they are such well behaved children.  We did all the slumber party musts, we ate way too much pizza, made and ate cake, stayed up too late playing the Wii and having a dance/singing contest, slept in the next morning, and ate a huge breakfast that may or may not involved eating more cake.  :)  We brought the kids back to Mike and Kari that afternoon and then we all went to a neighbor's house for NYE celebrating.  You wanted to so bad to keep up with all the "big kids" at the party that you wound up taking a nasty tumble down the basement steps.  I just knew it was bound to happen.  Because we don't have steps in our home, you think they're somewhat of a game when you see them.  Thank God there was a landing going down into the basement, so you only went down 4 or  5 steps, but because they were carpeted, you sported a nice shiner and cut your lip up pretty bad.  I had been watching chasing you all night, but I got caught up talking to a new friend, so the second I heard the thud, thud, thud I just knew it was my baby.  Of course there were lots of tears shed, but they were because you didn't like all the strangers in your face.  After a thorough check over and experienced mommies promising that we didn't need to take our first trip to the emergency room on NYE mind you, you was up and running (literally) in no time.  Daddy enjoyed a night with the boys at the party and playing games with his brother so he didn't feel so hot the next day.  We had plans to double date with Uncle Matt and Hannah so Daddy had only a few hours to shape up.  We drove up to Lady T and Pawpa's for a long weekend and they got to babysit you for us while the four of us went to Dialog in the Dark, which I HIGHLY recommend and a delicious supper at The Cheesecake Factory.  This was pretty much the first date Daddy and I have had since before you were born.  I won't say it was much needed, because we really do enjoy every single moment with you and we love taking you out with us, you do so well and you enjoy going to new places. 

 Gotta love them!

 

 Seriously, Hannah is the coolest and well, Uncle Matt he's pretty cool too!

 

 Freezing outside of The Cheesecake Factory

 

 Showing off your shiner.

 

 Just had to include this one, cracks me up.

 

 Pawpa bought Guitar Hero World Tour and we spent the entire day rocking out!

 

 

You learning the drums already.

January 3, 2010

Christmas Eve 2009

Our little family had such a relaxing Christmas Eve.  Scott and I are so used to driving all over town and spreading ourselves so thin during the holidays, but this year was a little more laid back.  Scott was off on Christmas Eve and the weather was rather nice for December, so he spent the day outside smoking a ham while I enjoyed the warm indoors cleaning house and playing with Mackenzie.  For as long as I can remember, Scott and I have always attended the Christmas Eve candle light service at our church.  This year, they cut out the service that we traditionally attended so we made a few changes and went at 7 p.m.  Our church was kind and offered a nursery for the little ones, but I really wanted Mackenzie to be with us.  We sat up front and on the outside just in case we needed to make a quick dash out.  Thankfully, we have an amazing pastoral staff and they enjoy having children in "big" church.  Mackenzie did fabulous and enjoyed the singing and the HOT candles.  She made it a point to shout out during the candle lighting that they were hot and we all got a good chuckle out of that.  Because of where we were sitting, Mackenzie had a front row view of everything and started blowing kisses to our associate pastor!  We have a character on our hands!  I wasn't sure how I was going to handle church this year, with this being the first Christmas without my Gramma and she was the one that used to take me to church and in return that's where Scott and I met, but it was soothing to know Gramma was enjoying the ultimate Christmas with Jesus.  After church, we went to the Riding's home for their annual Christmas Eve Open House.  Mackenzie was so excited to see her boys, Walker and Jackson.  She played hard to keep up with them and was absolutely exhausted when we got in the truck to head home.  After a quick clean up for Santa to come, we were off to bed too excited to sleep!

 

Dec. 24, 2009

Mackenzie's 2nd Christmas 2009

Mackenzie had such a fun Christmas this year.  Last year, she was only a mere few months old, so it was us opening all of her presents and her sleeping peacefully in our arms.  This year, however, Scott and I were so excited, we were both up by 7:30 a.m. and woke Mackenzie up at 8 a.m. to show her what was left for her.  Scott and I did things different than last year.  I bought several things for her a book, puzzle, crayons, and markers and Scott bought her 2 sets of flash cards, and a book.  We didn't share what we bought her until Christmas day.  It was fun doing this way since we were the ones opening most of her presents.  Santa brought her a super fun and maybe a tad bit overwhelming tent and "gerbil" combo.  I grew up in a home where Santa wrapped everything except the large items and Scott's Santa presents were unwrapped.  Santa compromised this year and didn't wrap the tent and gerbil set and wrapped a few other things.  We video taped Mackenzie walking out of her room and as she turned the corner into the living room, she immediately stopped and shouted, "Oh wow!  Look!"  She had no idea what to think.  She would walk over to the tunnel opening and look down into it and crack up laughing.  After a few minutes, she went in the tunnel and rolled around.  Now we just have to find a good place for it, as right now its temporary home is in our dining room, where it doesn't belong!  Mackenzie was definitely confused about the present opening and wanted to play with everything she opened.  She didn't understand to look at the object and then move on, so what should have been a low key and rather quick gift exchange, turned into a two hour marathon.  After all the presents were opened, Mackenzie went down for a nap, and later we would head off to Christmas #2...

 

 Now, what do we have here?

 

 

 

 

 All of Mack's loot!

Christmas 2009 #2

Once we ate breakfast, opened our presents, and took naps we drove up to Flowery Branch to see Lady T, Pawpa, and Uncle Matt!  We were so excited to see Uncle Matt!  Mackenzie was a tad bit overwhelmed with all the gifts around the tree and all she wanted to get to was the DonDuck=Donald Duck that was hanging on the tree.  Mackenzie started the gift opening and away we went.  Here, Mackenzie wound up with The Wonder Pets Flyboat (thanks, Uncle Matt) which Mack absolutely loves, "Happy", the name that Mack named her ride on inch worm, jammies, puzzles, Mrs. Potato Head, and Mommy and Daddy landed a Wii!!  We were so excited! For supper my mom made the most amazing standing rib roast with all the sides. 

 My mom is so wonderful for a multitude of reasons. But for one, she made Mackenzie several Christmas tops this year and the one that she is wearing above was reversible. 

 

 Happy Pawpa with his baby Mack.

 

Mackenzie received a baby doll that has praying hands and recites a prayer.  Yup, I well up every time she turns it on.

 

Helping the boys put Happy together, little does she know...

 

Ok, ok get me off of this thing!!!

 

 

Excuse me, Mommy you're in my way.  Baby, I think those might be a little small for that coconut head of yours!

Dec. 25, 2009

Christmas 2009 #3

The day after Christmas, we had a yummy breakfast with Lady T, Pawpa, and Uncle Matt and then after a quick nap, we headed over to Nanny and Papa's house!  At this point, Mack was a pro at opening presents and she knew exactly what to do when it was her turn to open presents.  This year was a little different without Aunt Missy, Uncle Joe, and Jackson, but we're happy that they're enjoying Arizona.  Mackenzie once again hit the jackpot and scored a new tee ball set that her Daddy can't wait to play with her, Minnie Mouse, a Princess soccer ball that Mommy loves, a Learning Express gift card, 2 sets of jammies, puzzles, books, and much, much more!  Sadly, there are many pictures.  I guess we all got too caught up playing on Jamie, Drew, and Abby's new Guitar Hero!  And instead of having a traditional Christmas supper we had tacos!!  We were all in heaven!

 Having a blast watching her silly cousins rock out!

 

 

 At this point, it was almost midnight, and Mack was still going strong!

 

Starting to wind down with Mommy.

Dec. 26, 2009

Christmas 2009 #4

On the fourth and final day of Christmas celebrations, Daddy, Mommy, Mackenzie, Uncle Matt, and Hannahspent the day with Pop and Dana.  It was such a low key day which was exactly what we all needed.  Mackenzie was showered with even more gifts!  She got a really cute Disney Princess couch that folds out into a bed.  This is something she needed at our house.  The girl loves to climb and sit on the couch with us, so now that she has her own, she will sit there, watch her show, drink her juice and feed her babies.  She also got a table and two chairs and a foam ABC mat that has a million and one pieces...thanks Pop!!  One funny of the day was that we bought my dad a digital photo frame and in return he got one for us!  I guess great minds think a like! 

 

 Mack checking out her new couch, I think Pop was just as excited.

 

 Such a little stinker.

 

 Loving her new couch.

                                                                    Getting very sleepy.

A very rare sight.  Mackenzie never, ever falls asleep like this.  She usually has to be in a crib or pack n play.

Dec. 27, 2009