Mackay Madness: 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

"He" BELIEVES

It was so fun this year to watch Chance and his fascination with the "magic" of Christmas. I want to capture it in a bottle and keep it forever!

He and I spent some time together making "reindeer food" for his whole class! He was so excited to take it to school the next day and hand it out! The kids just loved it...and Chance just beamed with pride!

This is "Octi" our elf! He comes out every Christmas. Each and every day, he pops up in a different location, and at the end of the day, he goes back to the North Pole to report to Santa. Chance would whisper little things in his ear and have conversations with our special elf.

This is the fun side of Christmas. Little traditions and watching the twinkle in my childrens eyes.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

"E" made our season BRIGHT!!!

Easton insisted on buying this yard gnome "SANTA" outfit when we saw it at Halloween. He is fascinated by the whole Santa thing. So I bought it and put it away in hopes that he would still love it come Christmas. Well, he still loved it. In fact, he wore it to our annual Santa party and was PROUD AS PUNCH to cuddle up on the big man's lap! NATURALLY, MR. AND MRS. CLAUSE THOUGHT HE WAS ADORABLE!

Ohhhhh, I just love that boy!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Brandons boo boo

Last week, Brandon had his shoulder repaired. He has been getting cortisone shots in it for a year, and the doctor told him..."no more, it must be repaired." Just my luck...the week before Christmas!

It ended up being much worse than they thought. What was supposed to be a 45 minute surgery, took almost two hours and they ended up having to open it up (rather than just scope) to repair all the damage. He says "he is feeling old" but really it's because he is a crazy man at all he does!
GLAD HE'S ON THE MEND. GLAD HE'S OKAY! GLAD HE'S BEEN HOME A LOT THE PAST FEW DAYS....it's been MOSTLY fun to have him around to hang out with.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas is a time for looking your best!

That is why we put on our shiny new outfits for Christmas Sunday

Amazing what a little soap and water will do.

And then, there's the outfit that just keeps on givin'! Eat your hearts out ladies...too bad your men don't have a sweet stache and sweater like mine!

HUSBAND 4 SALE!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Family home evening with the Culleys

IT'S SO FUN TO LIVE BY OUR COUSINS...

AT CHRISTMAS WE CAN RUN OVER AND MAKE GINGERBREAD HOUSES OR TRAINS,

WE CAN LISTEN TO STORIES AND MEDITATE OR FIGHT WITH STICKS,

WE CAN BUILD THINGS WITH OUR FAMILY,

WE CAN EVEN HAVE DELICIOUS, HARD TO FIND, SPECIAL CHOCOLATE DOUGHNUTS, AND HOT COCOA!

MOST IMPORTANT, WE CAN HAVE A LESSON FROM BRANDON ABOUT THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS!

OH HOW WE ARE LUCKY TO LIVE BY OUR COUSINS!!!

MORE MEDITATING...CAN'T DO TOO MUCH OF THAT.

Monday, December 14, 2009

MY BIGGEST BOY!

Two weeks ago, my little man decided on his own that he didn't want to wear diapers anymore. I should have known it was coming because everytime he pee peed in his diaper he would take it off and demand a change. So obviously he was bugged my the feeling of being wet. But, I have to say, I was kind of taking my time in potty training him because (not to be gross) but I love the smell of a clean diaper..that baby scent, I love the sound of it crinkling as he runs around the house, and I just love that he is somewhat still a baby when he wears a stinkin diaper!

Well, no more. We now have big boy undies! sigh

Yes, I will be saving lots of money not having to buy those disposable pants. But now I am faced with the fact that my baby is getting to be "a big boy."
Seriously, he has not even had one accident...not one! Not running errands, not at church, not even playing out in the snow all day with the neighbor kids. I should have known, this kid puts his mind to something, and THERE IS NO STOPPING HIM! Way to go "E"!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Festival of Trees

The girls danced at the Festival of Trees this year. It always makes me so emotional when they dance. They are kind of getting out of that awkward stage and beginning to look like real dancers. This weekend they will be dancing in the "Polar Express" production at the high school. The festival was a great way to rehearse for the upcoming "big" performance.
"Way to go Hannah and Addie, we are so proud of you both, your hard work and dedication is certainly paying off...you are both excellent dancers and so fun to watch!"
*I do have to add one funny: Addie missed her "que" to go on the other day because she was too busy watching one of the break-dancer boys that she has a mad crush on...the whole class was waiting for her. They all started to laugh because they knew why she had missed her part! That's my girl!

Monday, December 7, 2009

An ordinary day...just drivin' around!

Only after being a mom for the last twelve years, does this scene not even phase me!
Someone was looking through my camera the other day and said, "was this Halloween, or do your boys just hang out like that?" My answer: "nope, not Halloween...just an ordinary day."

Doesn't everyone run errands with Spiderman and Batman in their backseat??? Seems perfectly normal to me!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

It's the hap, happiest season of ALL!!!

For those of you who may not make it out to our neck of the woods this Christmas, here is a glimpse of our holiday decor'.

Mostly the same ol' stuff, just in a different location.

We had so much fun decorating our new tree. It is two feet taller than our old tree, and the kids think it is the greatest thing ever. Pulling out all our old ornaments that we have collected over the years is always such a great way to take a trip down "memory lane."

I think it turned out super. I especially love my new "JOY" ornaments. Years ago I learned the meaning of "joy" J-is for Jesus, O-is for others, and Y-yourself. We need to remember that that is the order of importance in our lives. I love that.

The crystal bowl on the table was my moms. It is so heavy. She loved it, and so do I.

A few years ago, Brandon and I went with my family on a trip to the Oregon coast. We fell in love with this Santa picture. I love the little elves pestering the crab.

The FRAGILE....leg lamp. Always a holiday favorite. Right in the front window where it belongs. SUPER CLASSY.

The best decorations are the ones that have stories behind them. That's what makes Christmas so delightful. Happy holidays, and happy decorating!

From the mouths of "our babes":

*Our doorbell rang. Chance ran to get it. No one was there. He said, "oh darn,it must have been a knocker-ditcher." (Otherwise known as a doorbell ditcher.)

*Chance climbed in the back of the car this afternoon, and said "ewww mom, the back of your car smells gross...it smells like fries and poo all mixed together."

There was a little boy acting very naughty in Chances primary class...he turned and told the boy that he was an "ANGRY ELF." The teacher told me that it made her whole day and she nearly peed her pants laughing. (We were visiting at a different ward, which makes it even funnier because he didn't even know the boy.)

*Chance's kindergarten teacher's name is Mrs. Rasband, he came home and told Brandon that her name is Mrs. Wristband! Close enough

*As we were driving through the farmlands, Addie blurts out from the backseat, "it's cool how HAY grows, it just randomly pops up in perfect little blocks!" (She was DEAD serious)

*We came home from camping and Addie turns to me and says, "Mom, it feels so good to be home and walk on the grass and have a cup of milk!"

*We ate at a "Thai" restaurant tonight. Addie was so sick of peanuts on all of the food. She finally looked at me and said, "what the heck, do they have a peanut tree in that kitchen or what?"

*Chance asked me, "Mom, why Jesus make me so fast?" (Basically asking why he is such a fast runner)

*Chance was looking through the neighbors fence at their dog and he came running back across the street and said " oh sick, that dog just bless you'd all over my face!" Apparently, that means the dog sneezed on him!

*Chance calls "Walkie Talkies"... "Hickey Tickies"

*Hannah told me that we are going to give her "arthritis" because we are making her camp in a tent this year. (We sold our big fifth wheel last year.) Poor kids!

*We went thru the drive-up at Wendy's and they were out of Frosty's. As we pulled away, Chance murmurs to himself: "damn, damn, damn!" (I will take full responsibility for that one!) Needless to say, we had a little chat!

*Chance says that "chocolate milk" is his favorite taste!

*Chance was picking the seat of his pants today, and I said "what's wrong son, do you have a snuggy?" And he said, "no mom, I don't have a snuggly, my bums are just stuck together.

*Tonight at dinner, Addie told us that her favorite solid food is BUTTER and her favorite liquid food is SPRAY BUTTER!

*Chance told me today that his brain was making him scared to go to school. (He just kept holding his head in his hands)

*We had a "chick" die this weekend. Of course the kids made us do a burial. Apparently it freaked Chance out, and he wouldn't sleep in his bed because he just knew there were dead chicks in the sheets, and his feet could feel the feathers!

Easton "Such a Big Miracle, in such a Little Boy"

For those that don't know, our little boy nearly drowned in a bathtub accident when he was just 7 months old. I had run a bath for myself and left Easton (who could barely crawl) in his room on the floor. I ran out to the kitchen to clean up a glass my daughter had broken. When I returned to the bath... Easton had pulled himself into the bathroom and was floating face down in the water. He had his feet pajama's on which helped him slip over the side. He was under for about two - four minutes and it took four minutes of CPR from his daddy before he took his first breath. He was taken by ambulance to "Primary's" where he stayed in the ICU overnight. He had a full recovery. We are so, so lucky! He is ONE YEAR OLD now and we're so happy that our heavenly father decided that we could keep him!!! He brings so much SUNSHINE into our lives. "We love you Eastie". I put this on my blog for my own journal, but also for people to always be aware of your kids around water...they are capable of sooo much more than you may think!