McKenna

McKenna Kaye was born on Tuesday, June 14
She weighed 7 lbs 14 oz and was 21 1/4 inches
She is so beautiful and we are so in love with her!

On our way to the hospital... see 'ya later belly!

Just after she was born... what a magical moment

Proud papa!!

Just chillin' under the warmers... she loves the warmth, just like her mom!

Cole adores her and couldn't stop kissing her

Garrett was so sweet and sang her "I Am A Child of God" and "ABCs" while rocking her

My Mom with McKenna -- she is named after her

Miss McKenna all dressed up! Isn't she darling?!

One Happy Family! So glad she came to our family -- we love her!!

Nursery Complete....

....Baby Needed!

Spring Snapshots

I know it's been forever since I blogged, so here is a quick picture update of our Spring events. Get ready for lots of pictures!!

Cool display at the Children's Museum -- the real Darth Vador outfit!

Dinosaur part of the museum...

On night I found Cole like this when I went to tuck him in. He loved falling to sleep in that box!

The boys love wearing "mis-match" jammies -- so silly!

Cole played Coach Pitch baseball this year and really loved it. Isn't he the cutest little baseball player you've ever seen?


Memorial Day we went with friends to see some fighter planes... pretty cool!

Garrett got into a little mischief, but couldn't get himself out. He was crying when I found him. Did I mention he is into EVERYTHING?!

Our first garden -- Russ made the boxes and I planted. Can't wait to eat it!

Fun at Conner Prarie -- a historical museum

Cole's preschool graduation -- next stop: Kindergarten (I'm not ready for that!)


Cute Garrett hiding from other kids at the park... love that little guy!

Picking strawberries at the patch -- we made some yummy jam!

Civil War commemoration at Conner Prarie - the boys kept trying to figure out who were the "good guys" and who were the "bad guys". I guess it depends on where you lived!

Playing at the park (and splash park, but they didn't like getting wet, so mostly played on the playground).



Can't wait for summer for even more playing!

Dominican Republic - 10th Anniversary Trip

Russ and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in March and wanted to go somewhere warm and tropical. We waited an extra month so my parents could come and stay with the boys over my Mom's Spring Break (she is a teacher). THANKS Mom and Dad for coming! We heard good things about the Dominican Republic and chose a resort in Punta Cana. We had a FABULOUS time and loved every minute of it (except for a few sunburned body parts!). It was the best way to spend time together -- in a place without cell phones and time to lay on the beach, relax, read, and escape from the business of life for a few days.

I am so grateful for Russ and for the wonderful man, husband, and father that he is. I still count myself lucky to have him in my life and can't imagine it without him. It's been a crazy ten years -- we've lived in four states, had two kids (and another on the way), Russ has completed three degrees (BA, DDS, MS), we've rolled with the ups and downs that come with life, and now find ourselves in Indiana (who knew!). I love the adventures and am grateful to have Russ by my side through them all. I can't wait for another ten years!! Love you, Russ!

I Can't Cook, Therefore I Blog...

I am in a rut with cooking dinner -- or I should say my lack of cooking dinner. I wish I would have known that cooking would play a major role in my life when I ignored my mother's requests to join her in the kitchen to learn those "domestic" things. I would rather have been mowing the lawn or cleaning the pig pen, which is what I did, and now I am paying for it. I was a "cool girl" -- the outdoorsy, tom-boy type that surrounded me with a lot of guy friends and activities that were mostly outside. I didn't think that cooking would ever play a role in my life. What was I thinking? I thought I would be a mother someday, so why didn't I think cooking would come with it? I had a sign hanging in my kitchen after Russ and I got married that said, "I kiss better than I cook" -- not because I am a good kisser, but because I am a really bad cook and Russ knew that when he married me.

So, rather than cooking right now, I am blogging about my lack of desire to make anything edible. My boys will never say, "My mom is the best cook" the way my brothes did about my mom and how Russ talks about his mom. Sure, I can bake bread and cinnamon rolls, but as for day-to-day cooking, I am wothless. Plus, being seven months pregnant doesn't help my cause any. Nothing sounds good or really tastes good at this point. But, eating junk doesn't do much for me either. I am in a definite lose-lose situation.

I admire people who love to cook and spend hours in the kitchen, working to make a masterpiece that is inhaled in a matter of minutes, only to be left with a big mess. It doesn't really seem worth it to me. I guess that's why I don't really like Thanksgiving -- too much work for food that is just average. Why not save the hastle and just order a pizza?

I used to tell Russ that I wanted to take a cooking class, but am not sure knowing how to slice onions (that I don't like anyway) would help my desire to cook. Maybe I should just hire a cook -- that sounds like a better option to me.

I am a very picky eater, so when I find recipes that look good to me and take out the ingredients that I don't like, it tastes just like everything else. I am not adventurous at trying new things -- I stick to the things I know.

So, I guess I have wasted more time as I put off cooking dinner. Russ is going to shoot skeet after work and I have to have something on the table before he goes. I have two chicken breast thawed, a few cook books that I've looked through and put away, and several websites that I've scanned, and still nothing. I guess I am hoping for a miracle. Maybe dinner will magically make itself. Probably not, but here's to hoping!

Cole Turns FIVE!

Cole's birthday was so much fun! He just turned FIVE and for some reason that seemed like a big deal to me. Could it really have been five whole years since he was born? Where has the time gone? I am trying to get myself prepared for this fall when he starts Kindergarten and then the next year will be full day first grade and then before I know it he will be leaving on his mission. Can't time just slow down a little?

Cole had a small birthday party with a few friends from the ward. The theme was LEGOS -- his newest obsession. We played "Lego" (aka - Bingo), had a guessing jar full of legos, built legos that the boys got to take home with them, a balloon popping game, and had cake and ice cream. It was simple, laid back, and lot of fun.





Cole is such a special little guy. Each night when I tuck him in (after he's asleep), I can't help but kiss his cheek and try to remember his at each phase. He has always seemed older than his age to me - he must has a mature spirit in his little body. Here are some fun things about Cole:

-He is an adventerous eater and has recently enjoyed shrimp, crab legs, and crepes
-He is an amazing reader - reading on a second grade level (which is great when he can read anything he wants, but bad when he can read everything like things in the newspaper or on the TV that I would rather not have to explain yet...)
-He is "into" Legos and Star Wars (I hate Star Wars, so I think I'm being cursed!)
-He is very affectionate and is always giving hugs and kisses (and got in trouble at school for trying to hold hands with classmates -- he is so tender hearted)
-He has a stubborn streak in him and when he puts his mind to something, you better look out!
-He loves playing his Leapster and computer games (especially starwars.com and pbskids)
-He LOVES playing games -- UNO, Battleship, Yatzee, Jenga, Chutes and Ladders -- and is really good at them too! He beat me at Battleship the other day and usually wins at UNO.

Garrett's Birthday

My little Garrett turned THREE! I can't believe he is already that big. His birthday was on Sunday so we celebrated on Saturday by a trip to the Children's Museum. Garrett took his friend, Daniel, and Uncle Jeff (Russ' brother) was also in town and it was so fun to have him along. After the museum it was lunch at McDonald's. It was a fun day. Sunday we opened presents, went to church, and had cake and ice cream.

Garrett is so much fun - here are some of the things I love about him:
-He still loves instruments of any kind and loves to play them LOUD
-He doesn't really like to play with any toys... he just destroys and makes messes!
-He will only eat cereal without milk
-He LOVES strawberries and will eat them for any meal
-His favorite character is Frank from the Cars movie
-He loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
-He loves telling jokes and thinks he is so funny
-He loves reading books...he can actually focus on them for a long time
-He is very independent and says, "I can do it my whole self!"

Garrett has a personality that is larger than life, and while some days it drives me crazy, I love how spirited he is. I'm so glad he is a part of our family!

Garrett wanted a guitar cake - it was my first cake using fondant and I think I'm converted (frosting is too hard!)



Loving his new scooter - he calls it his "red scooter from Toys'R'Us"

Fun at the Children's Museum