Mackenzie Dawn

Currently:Age: 1

Birthday: June 10, 2008

Favorite foods: Banana, Watermelon, Snow Cones and Ice Cream

Something that makes me laugh: headbutts, peek-a-boo, silly faces

Favorite toys: Wipes, cars, balls, stuffed animals

What I like to do: Suck on my binky, Play outside, Climb, Play with Sadie, Braden, Mommy and Daddy, play with my food, get really dirty.

For Mackenzie's Birthday party we decided to do something different and have a BBQ on the Beach at the Delta.

We brought the boat out too, for tubing and surfing afterward.

It was fun, but we decided that Jason and I are not meant for hosting parties. We get too stressed out and it never seems like things go as smooth as it would for anyone else. Maybe next time we will hire someone to host our party.

Some notable moments at Mackenzie's party:

-Mackenzie took her first steps!

-Mackenzie definitely wins the award for messiest first baby cake. Ever.

-Braden was traumatized when he fell off the tube (wearing a life jacket) and Vernie jumped in to help him, sunglasses and all. (Sunglasses are now at the bottom of the Delta)

-Jason lost his wallet somewhere between getting gas and getting to the party.

I wish I had more pictures but I know some were taken by other family/friends that were there. Hopefully I will get them later. :)

Summer Fun

Just thought I would share the info I helped to collect for an activity at church last week. Our topic was on Fun and Cheap things to do and I thought we collected lots of good information. Like free days at local museums, free movie showings and places to go to keep the kids busy without spending lots of money in the process. Here it is on a new blog to keep it handy:

http://cheapbayareadestinations.blogspot.com/

Watching Mackenzie Grow

Newborn

1 Month

2 months

3 Months

4 Months

5 Months

6 Months

7 Months

8 Months

9 Months

10 Months

11 Months

1 Year!

Happy Birthday Mackenzie!

Jackie Larson also recently took some really cute pictures for our annual birthday photoshoot. Check out a sample of them out here! Let me know if you would like the password to view the rest. SO CUTE!

Wicked!

We went to Wicked last weekend. It was so good! I love the theatre here in San Francisco, it has some amazing architecture! And the story behind the play is really cute and funny too. It is very well done, I was glad we went. I think Jason's parents and grandma really liked it too. It was fun going out with them for the night. If you haven't seen it, GO!

The old dogs learn new tricks

We were excited to have our friends, the McMullens and Roberts at Anchor Bay. We had a lot of fun with them doing our usual camping activities: campfires, exploring the tide pools, playing on the beach... But also learned some new fun things to do:


Baseball in the sand (they built a mound of sand for the ball to sit on for Braden and Mason to hit it off of)




Dancing in the trailer.





Sliding down big sandy hills.


Crab racing.

We had a great time. Too bad we only had a short time before we had to make our way back. Hopefully it was worth it for them putting up with sick kids! (puking from motion sickness from HWY 1)

Temples

This year Sadie is on the Stingrays Swim team. She is not competing, she still just learning strokes and techniques. On the second day of practice she told me, The teachers here call the kids "Temples" Hmm. That's weird I thought, I wonder why they would call them that... Then I realized her group is called the "Tadpoles"! Melanie had a good laugh at that. Silly Mormons... always relating everything to religion.

Last of the Utah/Idaho posts

Braden became obsessed with my camera while we were on vacation. He managed to get my camera and take some very interesting pictures for me. Since he didn't look at the screen to aim the camera and everyone was giving their cheesiest "cheese" face, there are actually some pretty funny ones. It made me laugh because instead of saying "say cheese" to us he would say "say smile!"

Since it was Braden that was the culprit for breaking my last camera I found a cute little $3 Disney camera at Walmart that doesn't actually take pictures but does make a clicking noise like a real camera does. That worked just as well for him, and I didn't have to worry about another broken camera. Especially since we were going swimming and Braden + cameras + water = very unhappy momma

Ironically we had our first water trip of the year in Idaho.

We did get a thunder storm and rain after an hour of swimming so we had to leave the pool a little early.

In Utah we visited the "This is the Place" Monument/Park.

It was actually really neat. It was a 19th century town that you could walk through that had all kinds of things you could see and do at each of the buildings with a train that travels around it.

Braden LOVED the little wood snake he got at one building. We colored it together and then he lost it about 30 min. later. Short lived fun.

(holding the toy snake)

He also really enjoyed this mini town inside the town

and little stationary train for kids to play on.

The girls thought it was great too!

I also was lucky enough to visit with my friend and college roommate, Merrily, and our good friends, Dennis and Ann, who Jason originally met on his mission in New Mexico. We had so much fun spending time with everyone. Before we left I think we convinced Glenden and Patty that they should have another baby soon. After all, they may have their hands full but there's still some room....

The Ballerinas

Patty made these adorable tutus and I thought it would be fun to take some ballerina pictures of our little girls. We used the dining room at my parents house and a pole from the closet. I think it was cute, even though the lighting wasn't so good, the girls weren't cooperating & the pole wasn't long enough.

Introducing

THE BALLERINAS:
AUBREY, NAOMI & MACKENZIE

THE TYPICAL ROUTINE--

Being a ballerina requires a lot of dedication and hard work to keep up with the rigorous dance moves that it involves. Remember to always stretch before beginning your training.
As you can see from the picture below Naomi has began warm-up with stretching, while Mackenzie and Aubrey do a little meditation.

After meditating...Aubrey and Mackenzie decide that it's best if they do some stretching before getting started.

The typical touch your toes warm-up works great for Aubrey

While leg extension works best for Mackenzie.

Finally, the girls are ready to demonstrate some of their classic steps:

A very elegant move by Naomi

Aubrey joins in by continuing with the classic moves in the next two pictures:

Bravo!!

Unfortunately Mackenzie began experiencing a rare case of stranger-anxiety and did not want pictures taken. Her manager/mom decided to intervene. Seconds later or maybe before that Naomi decided she too had had enough and no longer participated in the shot. Aubrey, decided to steal the spot light!

Finally, a kiss for all the fans!


(Photos and commentary by Patty )

A trip to the Park

I was also able to see my cousin Sharon while I was in Idaho. She lives in a neighboring town to my parents so we met up in the park to let our kids play. Sharon's hobby is also photography so she gave me and Patty a quick tutorial on cameras. Only problem is that I don't have a camera like the one she was demonstrating on so I am still clueless. Here's some pictures she took of the day.

Her oldest, Lan:

He is only 5 but he looks and acts much older. He is a BIG kid. As in tall. And tough.

Here's Ryley. A snack machine. Look, I think there is even a smarty candy in his hand in this picture. :) He is so sweet and lovable.

Here's Braden with Ryley. I love the two completely different styles they are wearing, coming from two completely different backgrounds. There is only 5 month difference in their age, but you'd never guess. Ryley is so much bigger than Braden!

Braden with the boys. I need to get him in playgroups with other boys more often. Poor thing is with us girls all the time.

Mackenzie. Isn't she cute. :)

I love this picture of Mackenzie and I that Sharon snapped.

Too bad Sharon and I are states away from each other. It would probably save our phone bill if we weren't. I'm glad she didn't move too far from home because its nice that I can visit a couple times a year when I travel home to my parents house.