Happy 9th Birthday Parker!!!

Today my baby boy is 9 years old!  It is so hard to believe...it seems like only yesterday when I held him in my arms for the very first time.  I still remember not having a name picked out for him...we kept going back and forth...until they let me hold him for one quick second before taking him away...I looked at his sweet little face and knew he was my Parker McKay!

Parker, I want you to know what an amazing little boy I think you are!  You have the hugest heart...and it is made of gold.  I don't know anyone who is more sensitive, more thoughtful, or a better friend than you are.  You are always thinking of others before yourself...and you are always there with that amazing smile of yours and those huge blue eyes to cheer me up when I'm having a bad day!  You are so good to your brother and sister...and you are always the first one to give up having things your way just to keep the peace!  I am so blessed to be your mom and I thank my Father in Heaven every single day for sending you to me!

Never lose your love of life or your compassion for others.  They are what define you...and you are AMAZING!  Happy Birthday Parker!  I love you!!!!

Happy 12th Birthday Mason!!!

Happy Birthday Mason!  It seems like only yesterday when I held you for the very first time!  I still remember looking into those big blue eyes of yours and being scared to death at the thought of being responsible for someone so tiny and helpless!  I also remember how much I loved you the instant I saw you!  I still feel the same way every time you look at me and smile!

These past 12 years have flown by!  I still don't think I know what I'm doing...and it still scares me to be responsible for someone who is almost taller than me now...but regardless...I have loved every second of being your mom...even on our worst days! 

I guess this officially makes you a "tween"!  If I could give you any advice today it would be this...slow down...enjoy the time you are in...take advantage of the time you have with Rylie and Parker...and with me and your dad...because before you know it, you will be all grown up...and have a life all of your own!  Don't be so anxious for "tomorrow"...because if you give it a chance, each and every "today" can be amazing!  Take the time to enjoy the little things...to remember who you are and the things that are important to you!  SMILE and be happy!  Laugh and be a little boy...I promise there will be plenty of time for all the big kid stuff!  Don't take everything so seriously...and remember...it's ok to laugh at yourself every once in a while!

I know life can be hard, and that it isn't always fun...but just remember what an amazing person you are Mason!  I hope you know how proud I am of you!  You have a thirst for knowledge like nobody I know...and you have one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know...you should show that side of you more often because that is when you truly shine!

I love you Mason!  Happy Birthday Buddy!  I hope you have an amazing year!

Happy 6th Birthday Rylie!!!

Today Rylie is 6 years old...I can't believe it!!!  She has grown up so much this year!  She can read, she can add and subtract, she can ride a bike, and she even has her first loose tooth!  She walks into Kindergarten all by herself...she won't even let Parker walk her in...she can even fix her own hair!  She is getting way too independent!  It is all going way too fast!

Rylie makes every day a special day!  She is very funny and very quick on her feet!  She is the girliest girl I know...but at the same time, she falls in the tadpole pond at the soccer field at almost every practice trying to catch one!  She has a heart of gold and she worships the ground her brothers walk on!  She is the biggest daddies girl I have EVER seen, but she loves doing the girl thing with her mom too!

I never imagined when I held her in my arms for the very first time that not only would I love her more than I ever imagined possible, but that I would have so much fun being her mom!

Happy Birthday Rylie Kate!  Thank you for all the joy you bring into all of our lives!!!  We love you!!!

Rylie's First Concert

Rylie had an early birthday present this week...she got to go see her favorite singer in concert...Taylor Swift!

Of course I liked this present because I got to go too!!!

Here we are at Red Robin...we had to stop at one of her favorite places for dinner!

Did I mention the bonus in this birthday present...Sammi got a Taylor Swift ticket for her birthday too!

Here the girls are walking to the Staples Center...they were so cute!

Did I mention how excited they were?

Here we are just before we went in...

Since this was for their birthdays...we didn't hold back!  Our first stop was for glow sticks and programs...then on to the t-shirts!

Yep...I got one too!

The girls were so cute...taking it all in!

We were pretty far up...and even though there were screens, they loved using their binoculars!

Rylie loved Kellie Pickler, but when Taylor Swift came on stage...well...let's just say that it was a moment I will never forget!  The look on Rylie's face was priceless!  She insisted that we "practiced" Taylor Swift songs for the week before the concert, every time we were in the car...and it paid off!  She and I love "Our Song" any way...but there was just something about singing it with Rylie at the concert...it was the best!

Rylie LOVED all of Taylor's sparkly dresses!!!

She even moved to a small stage just below us...the girls loved the view they had of her then!

Sammi took a cat nap in the middle of the concert...but she was up and at 'em by the time Katy Perry came on stage for a song with Taylor!

We all had a great time!  It was so much fun taking Rylie to her first concert...and I think she liked it too!  Happy Early Birthday Rylie Kate!!!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!  We hope you are having a wonderful holiday...and that you haven't been "rolling" around as much as we have!  (The 6.9 earthquake near Mexico had us feeling like we were rocking on a boat earlier!  Oh wait...now they are saying it was a 7.2!)

So it seems like the older the kids get...the faster they decorate the Easter Eggs!

We think it took us longer to set up than it did to decorate the eggs this year!

Rylie even did some art work on her eggs!

Parker wasn't too sure about that color!

Mason looks at egg decorating as a science...

Rylie LOVES Easter!  She has been on a count down for weeks!  All of the kids were up and had their baskets found before 7 a.m.!  Rylie found hers in her bed next to her Big Bear!  She couldn't believe that the Easter Bunny went in her room while she was sleeping!

Parks found his in the cereal cupboard...his favorite place in the kitchen!

Mason found his on the top shelf in the laundry room!

Parker even got Mason an extra little present for Easter since he hasn't been feeling good.

Rylie got matching dresses with Elizabeth and Felicity...so she and I got our "girls" in their Easter Dresses and we fixed their hair...one of our favorite things to do!

Aren't they cute!

Here we are with our "girls"

Rylie has a plan...today she and Elizabeth are twins, tomorrow she'll match Felicity!

After it got a little warmer, we went out back for an Easter Egg hunt.  To Shane and I, there was one egg that was more obvious than any of the others...aparently Parker didn't see it...

...neigher did Rylie...

...Parker and Mason couldn't see it...

...no matter how hard they looked!

Mason FINALLY saw it...believe it or not...it was the last egg to be found!!!

Me and my kiddos!

Did I mention how much they LOVE looking for Easter Eggs?

Shane and the kids

They found all the eggs in probably 5 minutes...the moral of the story...aparently we need a bigger house for the baskets to be hidden in...and a bigger yard for the egg hunt!

Yeah...Parker all the way!!!  Happy Easter!

Only 2 Months Behind!!!

Ok...so as a general rule of thumb...from now on...even though I will always have the best of intentions...my blog is probably going to be behind! Life is just too crazy...but like I said...I'll try to keep up...or not to get too far behind!

So...here we go with the recap! The first Friday of the month is usually Pack Meeting for our Cub Scouts. Parker is still fairly new, but he has been working really hard...and he loves it! Every time boys move up in rank, they get to pin their mom:). Parker received his Bobcat at our last meeting! He was so excited! The Space Derby is coming up soon...he has been working really hard on his spaceship...and it is going to be FAST!!!

This year the Second Grade Classes at Chapman Heights went to The Living Desert for their field trip. Parker was really excited, not only because it was his field trip day, but because Shane got to go with us! (His office is right by the Living Desert!)
Here is Parker with his wonderful teacher, who we LOVE, Mrs. Martin...and his buddies Brody and Kenny!
Here we are waiting for the live show to begin! Even though it was in February, it was a warm day in the desert!
Our school had it's second annual Family Valentine's Dance the Friday before Valentine's Day! Rylie loved every second of it! Mason and Parker complained, but they loved getting chased by all the girls!
Parker and Brody
Susie is on the PTSA Board with me at school. We joke quite often that we are the other half of each other's brain...which in my case is probably true more often than not! Here she is with Brody and Sammi!
Rylie and Lauren with their dates! I had to post this picture...for the simple fact that, only Lauren, Tim's 5 year old, could get him to a dance!
As you can see...Rylie and Lauren were all over it!
Earlier that day was Rylie's Valentine Party in Kindergarten! Julie and I helped at the cookie table...and loved munching on all the candy hearts and m&m's! (Kindergarten parties are the best!)
For Valentine's Day, Rylie gave one of our favorite things...Chocolate Covered Strawberries!

Here is Shane with his little Valentine's!

...and me with mine!

Mason did his first science project at the end of February! He came up with his topic all by himself! He wanted to know what kind of water made plants grow best! He worked really hard on his project! He did a great job!!! Of course, he told me that he and his dad had it all worked out when I tried to help him, so I considered that all the encouragement I needed to step back and let Shane help him with this one!

This is my friend Raye! She lives in Denver. She and I met when Parker was 5 weeks old. He was admitted to Denver Children's Hospital...and Raye was our nurse. We have been friends ever since! I haven't seen her since just after Rylie was born.

At the end of February, my dad's best friend passed away. I was able to fly up to Denver to attend the funeral with him, and to spend some time with Kelsey and her family! It also gave me time to see old friends! This is Raye's baby girl, Tessa. She was born in December! She is absolutely beautiful...and her hair is to die for!

My dad with Kelsey's kids! Yes...there are two sets of twins!!!

So, with this trip, I finally got the chance to meet my new nephews!!! I must say, I fell in love with them from the moment I saw them...and I still miss them!!! This is Carter and Taylor. When I was there, believe it or not, I could tell them apart...I should have been able to...these two are not identical! But now, looking at the picture...I can't tell who is who!

These two on the other hand...are identical! But...I can tell you that Gavin is on the right in blue, and Kaden is on the left in red! (Right Kels?!) They are almost 5...and they are awesome! Total boys through and through! They kept me on my toes, and they taught me (well, actually reminded me...it had been a REALLY long time) how to play Super Mario Bros!!!

This is Kelsey's little princess, Samantha! She and I were roomies while I was there! Sam is almost 7 and she is such an awesome helper to her mom! She and Rylie are buddies...I just wish they got to spend more time together! We live way too far away!

This is Kelsey's hubby, Mike. We were laughing at how he completely dwarfs me! (I know...it seems like everyone does, I don't know why it always shocks me when I see pictures!)

And here I am with my sister, Kelsey...the superwoman! I don't know how she does it...but I can tell you this...she so didn't need my help! Not that I thought she would...so I just gave her a brake so she could go to Target ALONE! She also got in a few dates with Mike while dad and I were there! She is a pro at the multiples! She's also a great cook! We had a great time together! Just wish it could have been longer!

So, for the past two weeks, the kids were on spring break...I know...it was soooo early this year! We didn't get to go away or anything like that, since sports completely rule our lives in the spring! But, we did get a few days at the beach last week! The weather was perfect...and it wasn't even crowded! I absolutely love the beach...for lots of reasons! The above picture sums up why I love taking my kids there...their faces say it all!!! There is no such thing as a bad day with the kids, when we spend the day at the beach!

Rylie is the boogie boarding queen! The first thing she does after getting her sunscreen on is hit the waves!!!

Tuesday we went with Adrienne, Carter, and Sam. Carter is so funny! Adrienne is going to have her baby any day now. When they were talking about going to the beach, he said, "I think we should take another responsible adult with us"...I guess he didn't think his 39 week pregnant mom was going to be able to rescue him in the event of an emergency! I'm not sure I was what he had in mind, but all was well and we had a great time! He and Parker are buddies and have so much fun together!

Adrienne and Sam...she still builds sandcastles at 39 weeks! I can tell you this...I wouldn't have been able to get back up if that had been me! Even more amazing, when Rylie tripped while crossing the street, and her shake went flying, Adrienne bent down and grabbed it before any of it spilled!!! She did yell, "Save the Shake" as she dove for it - but I think any pregnant woman would have!!!! It was one of those you had to be there moments! We all laughed about it the whole way home! Rylie was very grateful to her for saving it...and so was I! (Because if Ry had lost hers, she would have gotten mine!)

LOVE IT!

We went back again on Friday with Lauren and Shane!

Both Mason and Parker are playing Club Soccer this year. They are on the Spartans - I think...they just changed their club name! Parker plays all over the place, but usually spends half of the game as the goalie! He is amazing!

They changed their colors when they changed their name, so these are just loaner jerseys...but the green does make for a nice picture!!!

So, Saturday morning, we headed out to the soccer field first thing in the morning. Then we rushed home for Baseball Opening day! Shane is one of Parker's coaches again this year!

After opening ceremonies, it was back to soccer! Here is Mason. He is in his second year with the club team. He chose to focus on soccer this year, so he isn't playing baseball.

This actually panned out to be a nice header!!!
Some of the other things that have been going on...Mason is an 11 year old scout this year. He has been doing lots of different things to earn merit badges. One of the things I think he has enjoyed the most is the fact that as an 11 year old, your dad has to be with you for campouts. He and Shane have gotten to freeze to death camping out together at the end of January, hike together, and a few other things!
Since Easter falls on Conference weekend for church, the kids got all decked out for church yesterday! Rylie can't wait for the Easter Bunny to come this weekend!