Just hangin' out

Braden and Sadie had Alyssa over to play. The weather was nice so they were able have a lot of fun and play in the backyard.

We got to have Cade and Ryli over for an evening and it was fun watching the girls and boys do their thing. The boys used to want to do whatever the girls were doing but now they are starting to play together on their own. Cade and Braden played outside and rode bikes, pushed cars around, and played on the slide... While Ryli and Sadie played dress up and played with dolls in the doll house.

I don't leave Mackenzie's hair down much anymore so whenever someone sees it that way it seems they always comment on how much she has changed. I think that its mostly just that they aren't used to seeing the change in hairstyle...
Sadie and Mackenzie... love it!

My little princess

Lately, Mackenzie has this thing with her tongue. Its always sticking out!

Now that Mackenzie is sitting up good, bath time is a little more fun! All three get to play together!

Announcement: New Baby in the Family!!

Since the Morleys are basically our second family and we helped raise Jeff like we would our own son (note: Jeff is actually older than both of us) ;) we are excited to announce that Jeff is now a daddy! Leighton McKay Morley‏ born on February 20th!

My Valentine

Jason and I were able to spend Friday before Valentines Day out together at the Temple and then pack in way too many calories for one night at Fenton's Creamery. If you have never been there I would have to describe these old fashioned ice cream treats as a small MOUNTAIN of yummyness. Besides the ice cream, they make all the toppings (fudge, caramel, butterscotch, etc.) You get the point. :) So on Valentine's Day Jason made me a wonderful dinner at home. Hamburgers! But these weren't just any hamburgers. These were "Western Stuffed Burgers" with caramelized onions, bacon, cheddar and barbecue sauce stuffed in the center. Yummy! I had to take a picture of this creation because the size of the burger compared the the size buns he bought was pretty hilarious! Bigger is always better, right?


The bun looked like a little hat on the top of the burger! I think he is trying to fatten me up for some reason... Hmm... At any rate these are so yummy!


For dessert I made us each a "Baked Alaska". I have been doing very good at following my daily exercise routine I started (another New Years Resolution) but don't be surprised if I start gaining weight instead! With all these yummy desserts and this major baking kick I've been on lately I'm sure I will pay for it down the road!

It was nice having a Valentines dinner at home and not dealing with crowds at the restaurants. And it was nice to get a break from making dinner too. :)

See Spot Run.

The last couple months I have been working with Sadie on reading. She is actually picking up on it really fast! She can read most simple words and is starting to write on her own too. Recently, without any prompting or help from me she made Jason a Valentine that was really cute.

She wrote:
To: Dad
Fom: Sadie

And she drew herself and Jason together with Jason's legs curling and circling around his head. Next to Jason she wrote: Simr Salt (Somersault) and a couple other things but I'm not sure what those things were supposed to mean. :) I thought it was super cute that she would do all that on her own.

8 Months!

Mackenzie started "crawling" a couple weeks ago! She has been perfecting her crawl and is getting pretty fast using only her arms, dragging her legs as if they were paralyzed! She is my first "Army crawler".

Can you believe she still has no teeth! Although she has been doing everything on her own time, not following the pattern Sadie and Braden set. I think she likes to keep us guessing. :) I have no problem getting her to eat anything, only problem is that she is always hungry! I think when she gets teeth she will be so happy to add more to her diet.

She is so fun to be around, we all love her smiles and laughs.

SMILE!

I'm blogging again! I know you're tired of seeing my last post from a month ago so I'm adding new pictures and info on what has been going on around here. :) I finally found my camera charger so I can take pictures again! Wahoo! My New Years resolution to get better organized left me wondering where it was I "organized" it to....

Does Mother Nature have Amnesia?

Has she forgotten that it is the middle of January? Where is the rain? Where is the fog? Why is it so warm???

At any rate, it was PERFECT for a weekend at the coast!! It was 70 degrees, no fog, no wind, no rain. The White family left their cozy Bodega Bay beach house to join us for an afternoon on the secluded beach at Anchor Bay. Also brave Mr. Roberts (minus the Mrs. - we missed you Mel!) took his 3 kids for a 6 hour round trip drive and joined us for the afternoon at the coast and drove back home the same day! I know the drive was long but wasn't it worth it?!! Here's some pictures of our trip...

Sadie, Maile, Marissa, and Mason playing in the waves... I guess I should have packed swim suits for the kids!

Maile, Sadie, Sierra and Mason in the sand.Sadie and Sierra burying Mason in the sand.

Braden playing the the stream that drains into the ocean

Cute sisters, Sierra and Marissa

Jason and Braden

Braden and Sadie blow bubbles as we pack to return home.

Miss Mackenzie
The drive home is long, but beautiful. This is how it looked as we were driving home. I love how the green grassy hills roll all the way to the ocean.

The beaches were packed!

Boat on the river we passed on the way home.

We had a fun weekend with good company. We missed everyone that wasn't able to make it this time! As for you, Mother Nature... now you can bring on the rain! We're gonna need it!!