Mackay's Kindergarten Graduation

Mackay receiving his "Promotion Certificate"

Mackay and Ethan (and a couple of others I don't know!)


Way to go Mackay! You finally did it! You graduated from Kindergarten! You had an amazing year! At first, you didn't want to go and fought every morning. Now, you ask when school is going to start again! You've lost teeth, grown inches taller, pounds heavier, made lots of new friends and have become more mature and grown up! I can't believe that you are growing up so fast. You are a special boy, Mackay! We love you! Congratulations on a great year!

Zucchini

Amie, this post is for you. I should've checked my garden before I came over today. This is what I found when I came back to water my garden! Just to give you an idea, this is Grayci holding this large zucchini. I took a picture of it laying on my tile. My tile is 16". This thing was 17" long. I just cooked one last night that I thought was big. This one is even bigger! The fruits of my labor! I love it!

The Way I Want To Live My Life (Favorite Quote)

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not deter or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.

Stephen Grellet

The Dishwasher

Look at the lovely pile of dishes on my kitchen counter...

Now look how clean my dishwasher is!

This is what my 3 year old does...in her spare time! I was busy...reading a book and neglecting my homely duties, at least I think Grayci thought I was, and she, unknowingly to me. decided to empty my dishwasher for me. Of course, she can't reach where all the dishes go, so she lovingly placed them on my counter where I could get to them when I was good and ready.

This put a huge smile on my face and I gave her a big bear hug and told her thanks so much for being a big helper. This made her (and myself) feel so good.

Thanks, Grayci, for helping mommy when she is too busy reading a book!

I love you!

The Sweetest Email

I got this sweet and simple email from my 10 year old son. It just made my day!

"Mom, thank you for being such a nice mom!"

That was all I needed to hear. I love this boy of mine!

The Man With The Funny Shoes

Today I ventured over to Walmart. I do not like Walmart, I never go to Walmart. Well, my ways may be a changin' now.

I was carrying Grayci (my 3 year old daughter) from our car into Walmart. As we approached the entrance, a very rough looking (you know, long scraggly hair, long beard), elderly, big giant of a man came walking out. As he was walking towards us, Grayci noticed that he had "Funny Shoes" on. To her they were funny, because he had a prosthetic leg. She didn't know that wasn't his real leg, she just thought he had funny shoes. She started to point to him and say something. He looked at her at said "Well look who it is! (I don't think he really knew who she was, just making a comment) I have something for you." Now, I am very weary about taking things from strangers as my little sister who was 3, and I was 8, was almost kidnapped because of wanting to take something from a stranger. I digress. I figured that I was there with her, and she was in my arms, so we were safe. He started digging in his shirt pocket (I could hear the change jingling around) and I thought he was going to pull out a sticker or a penny or something of the sorts. He pulled out this gold coin. It is a Martin Van Buren 1$ coin. I just stood there, almost in tears (we were in the middle of the parking lot) not knowing what to do. He gave it to Grayci and said, "Go put it in your piggy bank ok?" Grayci said thank you and that she would.

Now, this is why I would go back to Walmart...my reasoning for not going is not because I don't like their goods or deals or have had bad experiences there. The reason I don't like Walmart is usually when I go, there are all sorts of odd people there. I get nervous when I'm around strange, odd people. I do my best not to judge, although sometimes I do in my mind. Today, I learned that each of us wear our own set of "funny shoes". It doesn't matter what is on the outside (which I've always known) but on the inside. I really learned a great lesson and feel blessed to have met the man with the funny shoes. By the way, Grayci now keeps telling me, "The man with the funny shoes gave me a gold coin!"

Temple Day

This morning, Jay and I went to the Temple. It is our ward Temple day but we had to go earlier so my grandparents could go later and someone would be here to take care of Grandma Mackay.
I had a really great experience today. I did the work for my great grandmother's cousin. From what I know, she wasn't happy with things in her life and had a hard time so she decided to commit suicide. The spirit I felt, just by entering the Temple, was amazing. I felt the spirit confirm to me that she was happy her work was being done. Other amazing things happened that are too sacred for me to talk about. It was a wonderful experience. It makes me very excited to work on geneology. I don't know too much on how to go about it, but there are wonderful people in our Ward that know quite a bit, so I am excited to learn. Also, while there, one of the Temple Workers in our session was a girl I had grown up with for a few years and then moved away. Our families were very, very close. That was fun. The LDS community is getting so big, yet it is so small. I love being part of such a wonderful religion.

Mackay's 1st Book

Today Mackay read his first book. He had never read these words before today. He sounded them out and read the entire book all by himself. The title of the book was A Bug Band.
This was the book...

1 bug
2 bugs
3 bugs
4 bugs
5 bugs
A bug band

Very short, very to the point and just perfect for a Kindergartner to start with. Way to go, Mackay! I am so proud of you!

Bathtub Sayings

This morning I was brushing my teeth...yes I do that, and I was giving Grayci a bath. This is what I overheard her saying:

I'm not playing this game anymore! You better stop that right now! If you don't go to your room right now, you will get a swat when dad gets home!

I was busting up! I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. I also thought that I need to really stop and think about the things I say to my kids BEFORE I say them. I wonder if they laugh at me just as I was laughing when Grayci was saying it???

A Lesson in Forgiveness

Halloween night our home and cars were vandalized. We were at our friend's house for the evening. When we returned, our "Yes for Marriage" sign was taken from our yard, shredded, broken and left in our driveway. We also noticed crude remarks on our Jeep and garage door. At first, I was a little distraught, not thinking that anything like this would ever happen to me. I really had to get over that little bit of anger when my 9 year old started feeling very angry. He went on and on and on about why someone would do that to us. That's when I had to take a step back and explain "We believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Others believe differently. It doesn't matter whether or not we believe the same things. We are all entitled to our own opinions. What Heavenly Father wants us to do is forgive those who do us wrong. We have to say the things they did to us aren't that important. If we were to get mad and say bad things about others or keep those angry feelings in our hearts, then we would be just as bad as those that did us wrong." So...to those of you that destroyed my sign and vandalized my home and cars...I FORGIVE YOU! I don't have any hard feelings anymore. I feel sorry for you because you don't know what I know. I really would like to share what I know to be true and what brings me true happiness. If you would like to learn what I believe, you know where to find me.
ON A SIDE NOTE...when we first put the sign up in our yard, I was explaining to the kids what it meant, that marriage is supposed to be between a man and a woman. Mackay, the smarty that he is and where he heard this, I will never know said "Yeah, because if a boy marries a boy, That's Gay!" Oh, if you could've seen my face!

MORE HALLOWEEN PICTURES

Baylie was a Scarecrow

Grayci was a Ladybug.

We had a great time with good food (Thanks Heather!) Good friends and lots of trick or treators. We are so blessed to have such great friends in our area. I am reminded everyday of how blessed I am to be in this area at this time for myself and for my kids. There are such wonderful people that are so great. Thanks everyone we know!

Halloween

HALLOWEEN PICTURES

Mackay was Darth Maul from Star Wars

JD was a mime

The kids did a great job at picking out costumes this year...I only had to buy 2 Mackay's and Grayci's. These are the boys. I will post the girls next.

My kids started school last week. I always get teary eyed when they start again. I don't know if it's because I'll miss them, or if it's the hustle and bustle of everyday life again. Gone are the lazy days of summer. Miss B is growing up so fast. I can't believe she is in the 7th grade. She is such a beautiful young woman with a strong personality and lots of confidence. J.D. is in the 4th grade this year. Wow! Time flies! When we first moved out here he was just going into the 1st grade. Now, Mr. Mackay is in Kindergarten. This is where my heart starts to break. I was always a little sad when Baylie & JD started school, but they both had only 1/2 day Kindergarten. Mackay has an entire day of K. I miss him dearly. He can be such a handful sometimes, and at the same time, he has the best personality. He definitely knows what he wants and knows how to go after it. He will do great in school. I think it's been doubly hard for me knowing that I'm getting closer to the end of my kids being at home with me all day! Just 3 more years and Grayci will be starting her adventures at school as well. I can definitely wait for that day to come. I love you kiddos and hope for all the best for you during this school year. You three are so very special to me and I know you will succeed and accomplish many wonderful things this year!

Baylie 7th grade

Sista K

For those of you who don't know...This really is my Sister...my youngest sister...12 years younger. I don't get to see her too much...as she's got her own little life to live...but as you can see, when I do get to see her...there's a lot to see. Yes...she has a mohawk...this is very tame compared to normal. Yes...she is tattooed from head to toe and everywhere in between...literally. And yes, she does have many piercings...a true freakshow in my own family. Just kidding...I love ya Kristina, no matter what!

FOOD ISSUES

Okay...this is what I had for lunch today. It just sounded like it would taste sooo good in my mouth and boy did it ever...


Peanut Butter, Banana and Doritos...we'll call it PB&D. I've been having some major food issues the past few days, where nothing sounds good to me...NO, I'M NOT PREGNANT! Last night, my oldest came into my room because she couldn't sleep. She said Jay and I both woke up and Jay asked her what was wrong. I then commented "I just need to eat Apple Dumplings". Okay...I'm dreaming about food now. Though, if you've ever had The Pioneer Woman's Apple Dumplings, you'll be dreaming about them too. Anyways, just thought I'd share my yummy lunch with you!

Memory Game

I saw this on Amie's blog and thought this was a fun idea. I'd love to hear the memories we share together!

The Memory Game

Heres what you do:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

YARD SALE CANCELLED

Due to a pretty good chance of rain on Saturday, I decided to not have my garage sale. I am postponing it until the next Saturday, August 2nd. Sorry for all of you who had your heart set on my "junk"! (I'm really saying this to humor myself and will all those garage salers to my home).

!!YARD SALE!!!!

Ok. I am posting this to make it official. I have been himming and hawwing (if that's actually a word) about having a yard sale, because I HATE clutter. If I don't post this some place, then it will never happen and our garage will become an overgrown toy/clothing/junk pit. I am planning it for Saturday, July 26th from 6 or 7 am 'til about 11 or when we get too tired. Anyone interested, stop on by. I will have 2 pack N plays (1 only used for 6 months and very nice) kids clothes (some never worn by my 11 year old daughter) some furniture (kids desk, 2 chairs) and whatever else we decide to put in. Nothing HUGE, just clutter to me, maybe a treasure to someone else. Hope to see some familiar faces!

More Pictures of Swim Lessons

For some reason, I think because the files were too big...I can only upload one picture at a time. Here is Grayci jumping off the diving board at swim lessons. She jumps off and swims to the side. Today, she wanted to keep jumping off the side of the pool and wanted to keep swimming even when it wasn't her turn. Yeah...she is loving the water now...and not afraid! Bonnie...you're the best!

Swim Lessons

Grayci has been taking swim lessons this summer with Mrs. Bonnie. She is an amazing teacher. This is Grayci swimming from Bonnie to the side of the pool after just 7 lessons. She is also jumping off the side of the pool and jumping off the diving board. Today she starts diving for rings. It's amazing how fast they can learn when it's not mom or dad