We just got back from visiting my precious new niece, Makenzie! She is so darling and so sweet! We thought she was going to be fiesty because she had a rough first few days, but she really is a good baby now! Everyone asks who she looks like and I think she is a really good mix. Definitely Kelli's body (tall and skinny) and more of Bryan's face. when she is asleep I think she looks ALOT like Bryan, but when she is awake I can see Kelli in her, too (the eyes). She looks tan now (a little jaundice) but I think she will be very fair. Her hair and eyebrows are really light - think Caden light. And I can already see a lot of blue color in her eyes so I'm pretty sure her eyes will stay either blue or a light hazel. Anyway, she is just gorgeous!

Tired cousins!

I could waste a whole day just cuddling and smelling a newborn baby!

Look at all that gorgeous blond hair! She has much more in the back than in the front.

One of the few pictures of her stretching her long legs. Usually she keeps them curled up against her tummy.

Crew loves the baby. He loved to hold her and give her kisses!

Kelli was so brave and actually ventured out to Central Park for a few hours. Kelli is such a natural and confident mother. I always knew she would be. And Bryan is a lot more relaxed around Makenzie than I thought he would be. He will be an awesome dad! She is one lucky little girl.

The Top of The Rock (Rockefeller Center). The boys also went to a Yankees game, we all did a little shopping, ate at Patsy's, Sarabeths, and Milk and Cookies, walked Central Park, and went to the Natural History Museum. The weather was absolutely perfect. There is so much to do in New York. I always wish we had more time there!

View from the Top of the Rock. Central Park is my absolute favorite thing about New York. I could spend days there!

Thanks for the wonderful trip Bryan and Kelli. We miss you already and can't wait to see you again!

Visit Kierstin's site to see what my big boys did while we were gone. They had a blast! They are going to think I'm so boring now! Thanks SO much Kierstin and Brent!

Caden's Birthday!

I can't believe my baby turned 6 today! We have had an incredibly busy day - celebration at school, birthday party after school, premiere of Indiana Jones tonight! Caden is so worth all the effort to make today special. He is such a good kid - here are 6 things I just LOVE about him.

1. His Dimples

He had the cutest dimples. They have been there since the moment he was born!

2. He is So Coordinated And Good At All Sports

I just love to watch him play and try to keep up with all the big boys. He actually does really good for his age and size!

3. He Is A Momma's Boy

He loves his whole family but really is just a momma's boy through and through - more than either one of my other kids.

4. He Would Give The World Away

He really doesn't care about material possessions and would give any of his things away. Chase now owns half of Caden's toys, Caden gave his friend Dub his electric guitar, and he has tried to give Boston his PSP! He is so generous and just wants to make people happy!

5. He has NEVER Said Anything Mean To Me

This is really amazing. Not even when we are arguing or anything. He just gets sad and looks at me with his precious eyes. He will never say anything mean back to me. He does to other people, but never to his mommy!

6. He Is So Darn Cute

I can never stay upset with him for very long cause he is just so darn cute! I just look at him and smile.

I can remember going in to the hospital to have him and being so nervous that I wouldn't love him as much as I loved Chase. Those fears vanished to second I had him. We have had a special bond always - he is my love! Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

I had a super fun Indiana Jones Party planned for him with zip lines and an obstacle course in our yard, but we got rained out. Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches, so I set up a bounce house and movie in our Church building instead. Not how I had imagined his party but it was fun nonetheless!
Popcorn stand for the movie (I got the So cute popcorn boxes at Blockbuster - a last minute find!)
His Cake.

Some of his friends!
The whole group!
What a fun day! Thanks to all my friends who helped to clean up and make it fun!

Brett's Birthday

Happy Birthday, Brett! He is such a great guy - athlete, good grades, awesome with kids! Any takers? 23 and single!
We had a fun fiesta party for him - fajitas, pinata, r/c racing, cake ..... We missed you Bryan and Kelli! Now Makenzie is officially past due! Tell that girl to hurry up!

DIsneyland Top 10

I LOVE everything about Disneyland. Here's my top 10 form this trip!

#10 Shows and Parades

Boston and Chase both got picked to be in the Jedi Training Academy Show. Chase REALLY wanted to do this so I was so relieved that he got picked or we would probably have had some tears. Caden was really scared of Darth Mal so of course the guy kept coming up to him!
Here's us before the Electrical Parade. This is usually my favorite parade but I think the Pixar Parade topped it this year!

#9 Hotel fun

We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. The rooms were pretty nasty but the hotel is still fun. It has a Neverland themed pool with waterslides, a big waterfall and path area, remote control boat attraction, and arcade. My boys love the r/c boats. Of course I didn't get any pictures of my baby Crew going down the little waterslide! He was so cute and fun. He did it like 50 times and he HAD to do it by himself. He is my most independent little guy!

#8 Crew Experiencing Disneyland

Crew is at a very interesting age for Disneyland. He has a love/hate relationship with Disneyland. LOVES the action, fun, candy, rides that are outside - HATES lines, dark rides, being confined to a stroller, to get off rides that he is loving
Crew and Hayes both crying because they didn't want to get off Dumbo!

Crew and absolute sticky disaster from an orange Pooh lollypop!

Crew would make this "OOOOO" sound when he was having fun on a ride.

#7 Caden Climbing Everything Shouting At Me To Take His Picture

OK - sometimes not so cute at the time but cute looking back. He is such a middle child - so starved for attention! Strangers would have to get him down off of stuff because he was getting in trouble. I just have to keep reminding myself that he was an angel baby and that this phase will eventually pass!

#6 Watching My "Too Cool For You, iPod Wearing, Hip Hop Style, Very Big" 8 Year Old Being VERY Excited To Be In Disneyland And Get His Picture Taken With The Characters

He is such his mother's child. I don't ever want him to grow up and lose his excitement of and love for life. I love this kid!

#5 Watching Crew Wonder Why In The World His Mother Wants Him To Pose For A Picture With A 7 Foot Tall Monster!

He was pretty nice to Lilo but he tried to kill Goofy with his fork and yelled at any character that got within 10 feet of him.

#4 Going on the Big Rides With My Big Boys and Watching Them Have a Blast Together!

#3 The Water At Bugs Land

This has always been a favorite of theirs and Crew loves it too. He could have spent all day here. He just loved it!

#2 Watching My Nieces (and Kierstin!) Discover The Magic of Disneyland

#1 Creating Memories With Family and Friends

Most all of us had a wonderful trip - Cory and Geoff claim to hate it but don't they look like they are having fun?!