Jordan's 9th Birthday

Jordan turned 9 on November 1st.  I can hardly believe that I have been a mother for 9 years.  I am so grateful to have been given the chance to raise this sweet boy.  He has blessed our family so much.  He is teaching me each day to be a better mother.  Jordan is enjoying 3rd grade and learning lots.  He played baseball this summer and I got a  lot of complements on his arm.  So we are excited to play again this summer.  Mike and I both are so glad that Jordan is our first born and that we get to love him for eternity.

 He got his very own camera for his birthday.  He LOVES it.  He took it with us to scouts and took lots of pictures there.  All the boys thought it was so neat.

 His Army robe.  He LOVES the army right now.  But he makes sure and tells me that he just likes to pretend army but never wants to really be in the army.

I think that we have Buckeye fan in our house. 

 Can the men in my life just smile for the camera sometimes!! 

Halloween 2010

We had two Halloween's really this year.  We went to Mike's cousin, Wendy's house and did trick-or-treating.  Since Halloween was on Sunday and Marysville did actual trick-or-treating on Sunday, we went somewhere that was doing it another day.  They trick-or-treating on Thursday.  It was REALLY cold and the kids did not really want to stay out too long.  They did not get too much candy, but I could handle that.  Mackenzie dressed us as a Rock Star.  She designed her own costume and boy did she look grown up.  She borrowed some of Wendy's High Heel boots and she could work them.  It was a little bit scary to tell you the truth.  Haliee was a purple dragon.  I bought this costume when McKay was her age and I could not wait to use it again.  She was SOOOOO cute.  Then Laci was a giraffe.  Jordan wore this his second Halloween.  Jordan was a death guy I guess.  I really don't know what he was but he loved it.  Then McKay was a skull.   Then we had our ward trunk-or-treat and Grandma and Grandpa Pickup were here to celebrate with us.  I was glad to have the extra hands because Mike was out of town.  McKay and Jordan changed costumes for this night because they could not wear masks.  So McKay pulled out the Superman costume and Jordan dressed as a pirate again.  The kids had lots of fun getting candy from all the cars and Laci even figured out what she was supposed to do.  She held my hand as we walked to each car and lifted her bag up to get her candy.  By the time that we were done, her bag was getting a little bit too heavy for her to raise, but she sure tried.  We had a great Halloween and look forward to next year and coming up with even better costumes.

Family Update

Laci is 16 months old and what can I say, she is fat.  But we LOVE fat babies.  She is super fun right now.  She is learning all around her.  Her first real word, other then dada, is shoes.  We kind of.  She says the SH part and then tried to get someone to put her shoes on for her.  She wants to be outside all the time.  She will be very sad when the Ohio winter gets here and she can't get out too much.  She is getting all 4 of her molars in the back, so she is a little temperamental.  But I will be glad when they are through and I can relax a little about choking.  Laci is a very happy baby.  She has the biggest smile that can melt just about any one's heart.   One really cute thing that she does is in her room, she has a play kitchen.  She will put food or dishes into the microwave and slam the door shut then the push the buttons on it.  It is so funny.  I wonder if I really look like that when I am making food.

My mom took this picture I just thought it was so funny!  Everyone was being goofy and it was so natural.  I wish we could see that kind of face Hailee was making.

Hailee will be 3 on Nov 28th.  She thinks she is 7 of course.  She is loving just about anything that Mackenzie loves.  She wants to be just like her big sister.  I LOVE it.  I don't think that Mackenzie minds all the much either.  Hailee talks really well and is very interested in reading already.  She will bring me books and ask me "what dat say momma".  I don't think she understands, but again she is just doing what she sees everyone else doing it. 

ALL my kiddo's looking cute for the camera.

Jordan just turned 9 and he is growing into such a handsome young man.  He is busy doing all the little boy things.  He loves to build things with Lego's and try out new video games.  He is the "Star of the Week" in school this week and Mike and I get to go talk to his class.  He is very excited to have us all come in.  Jordan played baseball this past summer and he was REALLY good at it.  He could throw the ball all the way across the baseball field and straight to the base he was aiming for.  Not bad for his first real year.  He is in cub scouts and loves learning new things.  I love that I get to do with Jordan each week and see all the fun things that he is doing.  (I am the wolf leader and he is a Bear now)

This picture pretty much sums up Mackenzie.  She is loves to put on a show.  I don't know how many times we have seen her dance recital.  We love to watch.  She is a little mother to her little sisters and MOST of the time, they love it.  She is doing dance again this year.  This time she is trying out ballet and jazz.  She really loves to dance and I must say, I love watching her.  Her recital is in May and I am already looking forward to it.  Mackenzie is doing GREAT at reading.  She loves to read.  It is fun to watch her world come alive as she learns about everything around her.

McKay is almost 8 and really looking forward to being baptized.  When Jordan was baptized, he was very excited to get ready for his special day.  I look forward to that too.  Plus when he is 8, he will get to join cub scouts and I will get to be his leader.  That will be fun.  McKay is a math guy.  He gets that from his dad, not me.  He is really cute to listen to when he is trying to explain something about math to Mackenzie.  McKay is very helpful with the little girls.  When they are tired of Mackenzie's help, the usually will run to him.  He is checking out drawing books from the Library and loves to practice.  I find him in bed with his light on drawing way after he is supposed to be in bed.

Morning Kisses

Laci has decided that she is going to be an early riser.  In on week, she woke up at 8:00, then 7:30, then 7:00, then 6:15.  She then decided that 6:30 was her new getting up time.  This has taken me a little while to get used to.  So in the morning, I bring her in my bed with a bottle and try to get her to lay there with me.  One morning, she was sitting up and I had my arm around her.  I was half asleep when all of the sudden, I feel her sweet little lips kissing me.  She kissed me twice just because.  It was awake after that.  I wanted as many kisses as she would share with me.  I have NEVER before got a kiss from her without having to ask.  It was definitely one of the sweetest moments of motherhood.

My Cub Scout

This summer, Jordan has his first experience with cub scout day camp.  He LOVED it.  He went Tuesday thru Friday all day and they worked on lots of scouting things.  He got to shoot a Bebe gun, a bow and arrow and do lots of things that his mother might be a little nervous about watching him do.On Friday night, they had a family night.  The families could go up to the camp and watch them for a little bit.  They had a camp fire and dinner, but we did not come ready.  This was our first year and it was not explained very well, so next year we will be ready for it.  It was great to Jordan progress into a cub scout this past year.  I look forward to many, many more scout activities with my boys through the years.

Family Vacation

Last month we took a little drive down to Texas to visit Grandma and Grandpa. The kids were all excited to swim in grandpa's pool and play with uncle Dewey.  They had a great time.  It rained a lot while we were there, so many of out activities were canceled.  But none the less, the kids enjoyed all the time we had there. 
Mike drove with us and had a couple days vacation and then flew home to work.  I spent the next week there with mom and dad.  It was crazy with all 6 of us, mom and dad and Andrew and Meredith.  The house was messy (sorry dad) and there was always someone in the kitchen.  A couple of days before we left for home, we were having a nice relaxing morning.  Grandma was reading with McKay in the living room, I was making eggs in the kitchen, Grandpa was working in his office and Jordan and Hailee were sitting at the bar stools in the kitchen at the bar.  All of the sudden, I heard Hailee fall off the stool and slam her head on the tile, HARD.  I ran over to here and she was screaming.  I held her and was a little upset myself.  My dad came running down the stairs to see what has happened.  He asked me to hold her.  As I handed her to him, she passes out.  Her entire body went limp.  I have NEVER been so scared in my entire life.  My dad who normally stays calm, YELLED and the yelled to call 911.  Andrew was still home from work and so he went and got the phone.  She was only out for a couple seconds, but it seemed like forever.  After she opened her eyes again, he laid her on the couch and I went and tried to keep her still and help her calm down a little bit. She had started screaming again.  We decided to just get in the car and go to the ER.  As my mom was helping me get ready, the police came to the door.  He said that the EMT's were going to be there in 1 minute.  I had forgot that they were coming!!!  So they checked her out and decided that they wanted to take her to the hospital to make sure that nothing else happened, like throwing up, seizures or something worse.  So Hailee and I got to ride in and ambulance to the hospital with lights and sirens and running all the red lights.  I would love to say that I never have to do that again.  But in the end she was OK.  She did have a concussion so we had to watch her a little more but she bounced back and was running all over that same day.  In fact, it did not slow her down.  That night I found her in the my mom's sewing room, literally she was in there for 30 seconds and she cut her own hair.  It kind of looks like she gave herself a mullet.  So that day, I had to call Mike twice.  I am not sure which was harder for him to hear, that she had a concussion or that her beautiful hair was cut... :) 
To end our trip, I decided to get an eye infection.  Yep, I looked hideous.  I had an infection and the medicine that they gave me, turned out that I was allergic to it, so my eye just got worse and worse and worse.  Finally after a whole week, I went back and they gave me another antibiotic drop and they cleared up.  Only 4 Dr visits later.
So I was very glad to be back home and have our vacation over.  We miss Grandma and Grandpa very much and had so much fun doing all the fun things with them at their house, but it is nice to be home.

Late Night Laugh

The other night, Jordan was cutting himself some slices of cheese.  While he was doing that, the boy had a little bit of gas.  Mike and I were in the dining room and heard.  I said "Jordan" and Mike asked if he just tooted.  Mike and I both laughed a little bit.  Jordan looked around the corner and said "What are you two laughing about?  I was just cutting the cheese".  That really sent us in the hysteria and he did not even know what he just said.

LOVE ROCK

Yesterday we were at the park.  Jordan and McKay were collecting little pebbles that were everywhere.  Right before we were about to leave, McKay came up to me and handed me a rock.  I asked him what it was for.  He said to me "It's a LOVE rock".  I asked him why.  He said because it was shaped like a heart.  I just love that McKay.  He keeps me laughing. 

Laci Milestones

I can't believe how fast my baby is growing.  On Sunday, she took her first step.  She has been standing for a while but had yet to try and move.  On Sunday she did.  It was so exciting.  Then on Monday, I looked in the living room and she was WALKING.  She does this cute little squat and then stands straight up.  She was just standing and decided to try and walk.  Mike and I both saw and could not believe it.  I have never had a baby walk before they were a year old. She is a whole month ahead of all her siblings.  I tried to practice with her, but she just gets to excited and falls on her fat little bum.  She does best when she thinks that no one is looking. 
Also, today we were at lunch with Mike and I was letting her "drink" from my straw.  She has never actually been able to get anything out.  Well today she did.  She shocked herself at first and then loved that she could do it.  She gave Mike and I her cute little cheesy grin.  I LOVE that smile, messy face and all.

Before too long she will be a year old and this mama will be really sad.

Captain Skunk Beard

Today the kids decided that they wanted to paint.  I bought these wood masks that you can paint at Joann's for 1.00.  I had been saving these for a while.  I set up a table in the garage-genius idea- and the kids went to town painting.  A few funny things were said while we were there painting.  First, Hailee was painting just like the other kids and they looked at hers and said, "Hailee paints really bad".  I had to remind them that they were 2 once before and they painted exactly the same.  The funniest thing was when McKay was talking about his mask.  He was painting a pirate.  As he was painting, he said "this guy is Captain Skunk Beard".  I laughed so hard.  How did he come up with that.  I love when they say cute things like this.

I saw this picture and HAD to put it up here.  This is so funny!!!

Born to Dance

I love this picture of Mackenzie and her dad.  She was so excited to have her dad there to watch her.

Mackenzie had her first dance recital this past month.  It was so much fun.  She was born to do this.  She was VERY good.  Especially since she was the only on in her class that had never done dance before.  Mike and I smiled the whole time she was on stage.  Mackenzie was so excited to wear makeup for her performance. She was SOOO PRETTY!!  I think that we might be in trouble in a few year!!

Summer is Here

It is a quiet moment here at our house on the first day of summer break.  The kids get a "free" day today.  No routine or anything structured today.  Once we get a little break, we will begin a more scheduled summer.  But today we are being lazy.  The boys are playing the wii, riding their bikes and watching cartoons.  Mackenzie is off playing with all the neighborhood girls, and Hailee is trailing behind anyone that will let her. 
I have some goals over the summer.  Since last summer NOTHING got done because I was pregnant the first 1/2 and had a new baby the second 1/2, I want to make sure that I get at least a couple things accomplished this year.
First, I want to teach my children to work.  I am making chore list and each job will detail everything that needs to be done in that job.  These will not be hard jobs, but things that they can do with little help.
Second, I am going to make sure that we keep up on the things that the kids have been working on in school.  Have reading time everyday and some math.  I have made play money and have coins and I think that we are going to play store a few times to practice money.  I also am going to start giving the kids allowance for their jobs (2.00 per week) and help them learn to save and pay their tithing.
And Last, I want to make sure that we do lots of fun things.  We are going to swim (my kids all time fav), make crafts, go to movies and have play time with friends.  May not sound too exciting, but these are the things that keep my kids happy. 

So here is to a GREAT start of SUMMER

Nana and Bopa

Tonight when we were reading scriptures, we were reading about Abinadi when he was talking to King Noah about the Resurrection.  After we were done, the kids started asking some questions.  They talked about some people that they knew that died.  We talked about my Grandma and Grandpa Pickup.  We would spend a lot of time there when we lived in Utah and when we went down to visit from Idaho.  My kids had a special relationship with them.  Jordan asked me to try and call them.  I PROMISED him that they would not answer.  When we were just about done talking Jordan said " I remember your Nana had the best fish".  This made me smile because my Nana did have the best fish.  She always had a bowl of Swedish fish out.  Especially when she knew that we were coming down.  This is one of my memories of my grandma and it one of Jordan's as well.  I love it!!  I miss them so much some days.  They were such a big part of my life and I will miss them always until we meet again on the other side.  I look forward to that day.  Jordan did ask how we would find them.  I don't know the answer to that, but I know that I will see them and all the family that has gone before me.

The other day I found a framed picture of Mackenzie when she was about 2.  I had it on the dresser in my room.  One night while I was getting the boys to bed, I found McKay gazing at this picture.  He said with picture in hand "I just love Hailee's smile"  I said "McKay, that is not Hailee"  "What" was his reply. "Who is it"  It was Mackenzie.  His little face scrunched up in a look like, wait, what did I just say?  He slowly put the picture back down on the dresser and I said "but isn't Mackenzie so cute too".  He looked away and mumbled "Yes".  PRICELESS!!!!

Laci

Laci is 10 months now.  I can't believe it.  She is so big!!  Here are some facts about Laci

• She loved to dance.  Sometimes we turn music on the computer and the girls will dance.  She crawls over to me and uses me for balance and dances right along with the two big girls. 
• She speed crawls.  When she is really excited, she puts her head down and crawls as fast as she can.  This can be dangerous depending on where you are.
• She will not eat baby food anymore.  Well, just baby bannana's.  She wants whatever we are eating.  She loves green beans and Boston Markets creamed spinich.  Yummy!
• She always wakes up happy.  When I go to get her from her crib, she is standing "yelling" for me and smiles to cutest scrunched up face when I go to get her out.
• She says "dada" all the time.  I don't think that she knows what that means, but she says it and Mike LOVES it.
• She has 4 brothers and sisters that love her to pieces.  It just melts their mothers heart!!!
• When Hailee is looking for Laci, she askes me "mommy, where Yaci You"  She can't say her "L's"yet.

"No I am not Booster"

Last night, we were out front saying goodbye to some friends.  I had told Mackenzie to get off McKay's bike.  She turned and looked and me and said, "why" to which I said, because it is McKay's bike and I told you to get off.  She kept riding.  Under my breath I said "oh, she is in big trouble"  McKay must have heard because he yells to her, "you are in big trouble missy"  to whish she yells back "no I am not booster".  McKay comes over to me (I had heard the whole thing) and says, "she called me booster"  I started to laugh.  He did not think that it was funny.  He stormed into the house while I was trying to stop laughing.  He came back out and I told him that I was laughing not at him, but that Mackenzie called him a car seat.  He laughed, just a little bit, but still did not like being called any names.  What a way to say good bye to your friends huh!!!  I had to save this.  It was too funny!!

Laci

Laci is getting to big. She is almost 8 months old and just started to crawl.  She is so happy and smiles so big that Mike says if she smiles any bigger she would swallow her face.