Happy Times

Last week I was a little bummed about Mack, so it was nice to have a weekend with family. We spent the entire weekend outside! On Friday evening we headed to a state park. The kids loved all the stairs to hike up and the adventure of finding caves! We found one and became interested in bats! We have been looking at pictures of bats and searched outside in the evenings for bats.

 

 

It was the most perfect weather! We stayed until dusk and headed home to have a carb load for Mark-he was running in the Tough Mudder race the next day.

Saturday, we had a play date with some great friends at the park.  The kids love venturing to all the beautiful parks we have!

 

Then we hit up ANOTHER park on Sunday!  I was going to run while Avery rode her bike, but instead we all went as a family around the lake.  Avery loved ringing her bell as we passed people.

Mark went out with a friend on Monday, so the kids and I decided to explore our far back yard.  Mark made the coolest path for the kids to ride their dump truck!  This day we decided to run/walk it and play a little hide and seek.  We are very lucky that friends bought the land behind us and have opened the fence.  This allowed some new adventures in a wide open field.  Avery had no fear (I fear snakes).  Cooper has enjoyed tagging along.  I wish it would stay like this forever, but that's why seasons are so nice-so you can appreciate them as they come. 

Whenever we drive into a neighborhood Avery asks, "Is this a neighborhood?" We tell her yes and she goes into a long explanation about how she wants to move to a neighborhood and how we have lived in our house too long-like 6 months!!  These conversations are hilarious (just like when she tells me she is going to have 10 babies when she turns 6)

  I used to think this too, but looking at how much fun we have outside, there is no way!  I explain to her all the things she wouldn't be able to do-like using the restroom when your in the middle of playing outside:) and driving the dump truck all over. 

I hope she starts to see how lucky they are to have all this land!  Not sure where the whole "we need a new house" thing happened (that might have been me complaining!! haha)

 

 

Happy Friday!!

I love getting pictures at work from Meme!!! It brings a huge smile to my face!

 

This is Avery reading the Bible! 

 

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Dry Tears? No Such Thing!

 

I recorded his (Mack) progress...did I mention how I hate to do it? As soon as I did celebrate, his numbers dropped...a lot.  

I have found a running partner in the mornings and we have started to have some good talks-it's so healthy!  Today I brought this up-I was really down, and she said, "if you don't celebrate the little things you would go crazy!"  I completely agree, but it doesn't make it any easier.  I just feel if I don't celebrate it will stay good!  Many, many times someone asks about Mack...the next day (after I say he's great) he ends up in the hospital.

We went to the doctor for our 4 and 3 year checkups as well as Lincoln's 18 month.  It went great!  We left (for the first time) with no prescriptions!  All Healthy!  Our doctor gave Avery her kindergarten shots which are live shots.  He said since Mack's numbers were so great it would be fine.  He also stated that if we wait, we would encounter times when Mack's numbers were low...I laughed!  No way!  We were on our way up!  Then Wednesday came around-I should have known something was off because the phone call was later in the day (obviously they were talking about it).  In the end the drop is no big deal to the doctors, but to us...it is emotional!

My aunt (who has beat cancer twice!) randomly sent this to me with no knowledge about Mack's new numbers this week!

 http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vt872YI3qUY&sns=em&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dvt872YI3qUY%26sns%3Dem

Here I am, at work, in the bathroom...tears rolling down my face.  It might mean more because it came from my Aunt! She is so strong!  I immediately sent it to a dear friend going through a VERY hard time.  This means so much and goes deep into what I'm feeling.  It might even help someone else reading this blog.  Mack is STRONG!  We are a family who will get through this emotional roller coaster!

Trucks and Tiaras

This year we decided to have their birthday parties on the same day, but we did two different themes.  It has been easy up until now to do the same thing-now they are developing their own interests.  Avery wanted princess (shocking) and Mack wanted trucks (this changed weekly, but we went with trucks).  It was fun to plan special details for each.  It was also a lot of work!!

They are both great kids and deserve special detail.

 In the kitchen and outside were the truck themed decorations.  We had dip sticks and spare tires!

 The dinning room and living room were filled with princess objects! 

 There were manis and face paint offered.

 We laid out jewelry, tutus, tiaras, and much more!

 Aunt Sarah did their cakes-holy moly!!!  She is amazing at this!  We can't thank her enough!

 This year we invited a few friends, but it was mostly family-which has 5 cousins!!

 Annabelle is a good friend of Averys' from school.

 My dear friend Rachel stopped by with her two babies!

 We only had one other boy there-Luckily, it was their cousin Cohan.  Mack was happy to have him there!  Haha, but the girls loved the trucks too.

 My dad and brother grilled hamburgers and hotdogs.

 We are very blessed to have lots of equipment at anytime.  Some was from Mark and this piece was from our next door neighbor.

 Their cakes were absolutely beautiful.

 They were spoiled as usual.

 The kids also got to ride in a golf cart.

 Uncle Jack and Aunt Meagan got Mack a scooter-it's been a huge hit.

 We had lots of adults helping to make this day fun.  I think every kid had a blast!

 Then, at the end Mr. Seth gave the kids a real ride.  It was like a roller coaster spinning around!

 Avery and Mack were exhausted!  It took us awhile to catch up on sleep after a party like that!

Hip Hip Hooray

I always hate to get too excited about Mack's progress.  It usually ends bad, but we've had two great weeks with great numbers!! I have to celebrate our guy!!!!

These numbers are the best we've ever seen!!! Hip Hip Hooray Mack!!