Here is Austin doing his favorite outdoor activity. the baby swing just doesn't do it anymore. It took a while before he would even let Mackenzie on the swing with him. He wanted it all to himself!And this is what I get when i take him off. You'd think the world just ended:)

We put the kids to work last weekend. It is about time they start earning their keep around here.
Now this is just precious!

I think they did a pretty good job though! I think this weekend I'll get them started on Mackenzie's room. We got her a new bedspread tonight - girly pink Safari. It is soooo cute.

I had my final on Tuesday night. I studied a ton and got in there and thought I had sat down to the wrong class. Oh no....and we haven't gotten any grades back yet. I think he is stumped on how to handle all the students in his class failing the test miserably. Hopefully we will get grades soon so I can get it off my mind. Work has been more drama lately - not really sure how to handle it all. I'm sure it will all work out one way or another, hopefully before I have a mental breakdown.

Cute story:

The other day Mackenzie was performing skits for Aaron in the living room.

Mackenzie: Daddy don't you want to know something

Aaron: sure honey

Mackenzie: do you want to know why God made the world

Aaron: I'd love to know

Mackenzie: I think he made the world so we could play. (thinking) Yeh, I'm preetty sure that is why.

Man I hope she doesn't lose that view on the world anytime soon. Gotta love her.

Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday.

A valuable lesson learned

The kids the other night after Mackenzie decided on her class picture outfit for the next day
Austin so big and grown up this year - running around the yard chasing the kids, kicking and throwing balls...and to think last year he was just sitting in his bouncy seat.

Mackenzie showing off her painted nails and curly hair.

Austin climbing up the bunk bed - we had to cover the ladder, we had seen him make it up two rungs. I'm sure he would have continued to the top...he has that daredevil, untouchable attitude like his brother.

Last night I taught the kids a valuable lesson that every kid must learn...

....How to zip two sleeping bags together to make 1 big one! I mean every kids has to know that right. After the kids spent the whole day running around outside with the neighbors, we hunkered down for a good family movie night with popcorn, Anastasia, and lots of awesome snuggles.

After the kids were in dream land, we decided to give Aunt Caitlyn the opportunity to babysit and Aaron and I headed out for an impromptu date of a couple drinks. It was nice, although I was tired so i wasn't the best company I'm sure, but it was just nice to be out.

A little video for your viewing pleasure. Austin LOVES playing Peek-a-boo these days, and it is so cute, when we all pray before dinner he sits with his hands folded too, just like a big boy.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

About 2 weeks ago we had some great friends over. Their twin boys are Austin's age and we met them in baptism class. It was so neat to see all the boys together - all so grown up.

What a nice change of pace

This weekend was a much needed change of pace for me. I've been super stressed at work, the frustrating thing is that it isn't the work itself, it is the politics around it that are stressful. Man, to think of how much energy gets wasted with this type of stuff. So yesterday we got out as a family and did our Wal-mart shopping, then we came home and unpacked and did lunch. Austin went down for a nap, so we went outside with the kids. Ended up deciding to clean the cars which was a MUCH needed event - and event it was! I was exhausted afterwards. Aaron finally got the Christmas lights down - yes, we STILL had our Christmas lights up - total hoossiers I know. And I washed all 6 of the car seats. Good to finally get it all done. We went for a walk last night and Mackenzie rode her bike the whole way. And we went to the movie store to pick out some movies to watch. Today I took Turner and Mackenzie to church. They were so good. It is just little things like that that remind me just how much they are growing up and how fast it is happening. I think we may all need to go for another walk again. Tonight for dinner we are all going to a restaurant with a gift card i got for my birthday. It has been good to not have a ton of school stuff hanging over my head. I got most of the stuff done yesterday morning, so i even allowed myself to sleep in today until the kids got me up. It has just felt so good this weekend to escape into the comforting arms of my family. I wish I didn't have to leave them. But I know I need to, tomorrow I need to get right back to work and the politics will have been there waiting for me all weekend. And I must forge through them and come out the other side victorious because I don't have a choice. It is my only option. I can only attempt to not bring them home with me, but you can't just turn off one part of your consciousness when it is time for the other. I certainty can't not think about my family when I'm at work, how could I expect myself to never think of work when at home. Well, I think just in typing this I've exceeded my allotted time of thinking about it today, so back to home life. I think a walk is calling my name!!

So it has been a packed weekend

No it can't be

• It can't be that I signed Mackenzie up for Kindergarten Tuesday night.
• It can't be that the same night she advanced up to the next level in gymnastics where the next youngest girl is 7! (can you say child prodigy! lol)
• It can't be that my little guys were feeling sick again last night, poor little guys.
• It can't be that I've gained 4 pounds in the past 2 weeks (ok maybe that can be since I'm eating nonstop and going through a major sweet tooth phase...MAJOR)
• It can't be that Aaron and I had "the first baby talk" last night, and were both thinking how darn cute it would be for Mackenzie to have a baby sister and the boys to be the protective older brothers...if only I could guarantee girl....we have not decided to have another one, just talking:))
• It can't be that I'll have 9 credit hours of school under my belt in only 2 weeks!

It just can't be, but I guess it is! Oh I can't wait for the weekend.

Direct Line

Yesterday morning I took Mackenzie and Turner on a walk and we decided to walk down to the park in the nearby neighborhood. They were having a blast playing when I said, huh, it looks like it is going to rain today, look at those storm clouds. Within minutes we were feeling rain drops so as quickly as I could pull the wagon, we headed back home. We didn't end up getting too wet and got home before the real downpour started. As we were in the garage, Mackenzie said "I just prayed to God that he gives us some nice sunshiny warm days." I thought, oh how cute. So we proceeded inside to bake cookies since the outside was now like a hurricane. About 20 minutes later the rain magically stops and the sun shined through bright as ever. Mackenzie just turned to me and said "I prayed for that." Oh, just makes me want to cry just thinking about it again. So glad that she got the proof that God is listening. I always thought she was an angel, but now I think I have my proof. I mean, not just everyone has the direct line!
I'm so glad that Mackenzie has gone to the religious school. Man does she love it. She says our prayers every night at dinner and they usually go something like this "thank you God for giving us this perfect perfect world for me and my family. I love my brother and mom and dad, I am so thankful for my whole family. Thank you for dying on the cross for us so that we all could be saved. You are an awesome God. Amen" I really need to become a better Christian for her so that she has a good example to follow. I don't want her to loose this.

Well we didn't end up making it to the zoo this weekend :( When I got home on Friday the kids were playing outside and doing ok, but when they woke up Saturday morning it was a different story. Mackenzie's fever had returned and Turner was burning up. Luckily, beside Mackenzie having a little bit of sore throat and general not feeling so hot, that is all. Austin started a fever when he woke up from nap yesterday, but everyone seems alright so far this morning. No throwing up, no running to the bathroom, so all in all, it is a "good" sickness. So here is my little confession....can you keep a secret....I kinda liked it. They sure have been giving us extra snuggles this weekend. But of course I want them to get better!
So this weekend has been grocery store, laundry and school stuff. I've been working on my paper a lot to get it ready to turn in on Tuesday. I'll be glad to have it off my plate. Hopefully I can get a little further on my other assignment today and have that pretty much ready too. Oh gosh I almost forgot, I went running again yesterday! It felt so good to get back out there. I REALLY need to start running again, I think the 3 miles of feeling all my fat jiggling around was proof of that. Hopefully the rain will hold off ling enough today for me to get back out again.

I hear it is beautiful outside today. Can't wait to get out of work and enjoy it. And tomorrow we are planning a trip to the zoo - can't WAIT!!
The kids have been a wee bit sick this week. Mackenzie has been the worse, upset stomach, fever, sore throat. Last night she woke up and was gasping for air because her throat was so dry and sore. Poor thing, glad that she was laying right next to me so I could comfort her and get her water to help. She is so the sweetest little girl in the world.
Turner has really taken us by storm lately with how gosh darn cute the kid is! I tell ya, he is going to have the girls eating out of his hands. He is so precious and is just running up to us out of nowhere for a kiss or hug. Last night we all sat around and played Candy Land and he can really play it now - like Mackenzie and him could sit down and play it all by themselves - oh my gosh, when did they grow up!?!?!
Austin is getting SO BIG. Watching him just walking around outside like the other kids is so weird. He is still changing in to a toddler before my eyes. Last night i was saying it was time for bed, and he kept running over and pulling himself up on the couch with Aaron to save him. So cute. Have I mentioned that the kid's favorite place is up on the couch!

Well better get back to work so I can get out of here at some point to enjoy this weather.