They're ONE!

FINALLY  I got it posted!  (you may need to back-date this one for the blog book...)

BROOKLYNN

Favorite Foods:  Besides strawberries or anything sweet, Brookie LOVES broccoli!  I know it sounds unbelievable, but if she actually begs for it and LOVES to snatch it from my plate. 

New Words: "Up!"  "Mommy!"(esp. when she wants something!)  "A-duun" (all done) "uh-uh"(if accompanied by a shoulder shimmy it means NO, without shimmy sometimes it means yes and and sometimes it means no:) ... I think "u huh" and "uh uh" are still a little mixed up)
New Skills: She's walking!!  It's not full speed yet, but just watch out world, here she comes!  Boogy'n down--Brookie loves to dance and shake her little hips! Pulling all books off of her bookshelf.... not sure if this is really a "skill."

ETHAN

Favorite Foods:  His sippy.  Once he sees that sippy he starts squealing, waving his arms, and anything else on his plate is now obsolete!

New Words: "Up!" "Owie!"(not sure if he knows what this means, he seems to just say it when he wants attention.) Shakes his head for yes and no!

New Skills: He's walking!! And, he's taking notes from his brothers.  Ethan wants to run sooo badly-- whenever he starts to topple, he'll actually try to counteract it by running faster!  Sometimes it works, but mostly I think he aims for the lovesac(beanbag) and is happy to crash!

People ALWAYS stop me whenever I go out with the twins.  Mostly, I enjoy the "so cute" comments, but sometimes, esp. when I get a "you poor thing" kind of comment, I just shake my head and wish they could understand how much fun these kids are.  I love the double smiles, and double blessings.  I love being able to watch and compare-- to be a part of such completely different individuals as they grow up side by side together.  I love how they play with eachother.  I love their little hugs and giggles and arms around my neck.  It's such a joy and privilege to be their mother. 

Visiting Sister Hunsaker

At the beginning of this year I made a list of 34 goals for this, my 34th year--some silly, some fun , and one being to visit Sister Hunsaker.  Brother Hunsaker is a truly special member of our ward. He never fails to call each and every ward member on their birthday. Even the littlest kids. It was a privilege for Jaime and I to show Brother Hunsaker our love and appreciation by taking the kids to visit his wife this morning. She suffered a stroke a few years ago, and it has beaten her body, but not her spirit. We sang songs and danced and visited until we wore both Sister Hunsaker and the kids completely out.  The Hunsaker's inspire and bless us. We love them dearly.

Rain in July?? In VEGAS??! (and it hailed the next day!)

Oh well, we had fun at Addy's water party anyway!  haha!  The kids were wet from the rain and their water balloons!  It was a good time, and still plenty warm.  I felt like I was in Florida again with so much moisture in the air.

 Afterwards the boys wrapped up in towels and watched a cartoon.  Good times with good friends-- thanks Tamara Bell and Karen Wisan.

Happy 4th!

We feel so lucky to have the MacKay family so close here in Las Vegas.  Since the 4th of July was in the middle of the week this year, we just had a family fun and swim day!  It was actually somewhat cloudy and cooler than normal that day--beautiful outside.  Everyone could actually play and enjoy outside without getting toasted.

 
 

LOVE the swimsuit baby Bella!



sword-fighting with Daddy!



Brooklynn loves to splash! --it's a recent discovery!



The Annual Eagle Nut Feed

He Passed!  Drew is officially a Volunteer Fire Fighter with the Eagle Fire Dept.!  He passed his tests with flying colors and now he gets to participate in fun events like the Eagle Nut Feed.  For those of you who don't have a clue of what that is - let me explain...

I'm not sure how it all started, but basically, this is the largest event of it's kind in the country.  Thousands of people show up every year for cooking contests and to sample the best Rocky Mountain Oysters around!  What is a Rocky Mountain Oyster you may be asking yourself?  Well, they are bull testicles!  That's right folks, and they are shipped frozen to the Eagle Fire Dept. by the truck load!  

On Friday, Drew and the other volunteers unloaded the "oysters" to be cleaned, peeled and sliced in preparation for the cook-off later that day.

Then representatives from all the news media groups in Boise came to compete in a Nut Feed Cooking Competition!  The guy in blue from KBOI channel 2 News was the winner.  NOTE: You can see Drew in his bright red shirt watching.

This is a close-up of what they looked like cooking.  I am told that EVERYONE got to try some to help with the official judging.  Today the event is open to the public.  Hopefully the Annual Eagle Nut Feed will be just as good this year as in years passed.  (I think I'll pass though!)

Almost there...

Drew and Ben and Jayson did a wonderful job on getting us closer to our goal for a new remodel at this end of the house.  It's really coming along and now all that's left is setting the vanity...Over a month to get here...arrghhh... and the carpet and the painting, and the shower door, and the blow in insulation.  Oh...and moving back in.  And then selling it :o)..  Our neighbor walked over and told us that he's already got a couple of interested buyers who can't wait to see it.  Seems like things are lining up for us.  In case you have not heard...we are getting ready to move to Boise so we can retire in about six years.  We figure we can sell this place and pay cash for a nice place in Nampa if it all works out as planned. 

Anyway, here are a few of the recent pictures of the progress we have made...

 It used to be this big room... but it's all divided now with walls and a real closet and a super shower and toilet room.  Oh the simple joys...

 Toilet on the left...shower on the right...

 Pouring the floor was a fast job!  That stuff really sets up fast...  I think Drew and I did 15 or so bags in about 30 minutes!  And it's heated!  Way cool...I mean way hot!  well warm anyway...

 This are sliding barn doors - closet on the left and bathroom on the right

 Love this closet.  It has a ton of space!!

And the shower?  Well...what can I say?  Drew did it!  Pretty cool...the shower door guy came by yesterday to measure for the custom door.  All he could say was "Wow"  I've never measured a shower before that is this perfectly square.  He was impressed.

City kids getting a Rural education!

I've heard that on the list of things that every person should do once in their life is milking a cow.  Well, for Matt and I, that task is now checked!!  We have a family in our ward to has a milking cow and they were kind enough to let us come over for FHE and teach us how to do it.  It was fun despite the cramping of thumbs, dodging the cow going #1 and #2! and getting swatted by her tail in the face a few times.  (We tried not to think about the fact that her tail was most likely coated with said #1's and 2's.)  Now on Thursdays at 6am and 6pm, I am going to attempt to come every week to milk to the cow and I get to keep the milk!

 Matt and I both got a chance to practice.  Since we were just getting the hang of it, we didn't keep any of the milk.  If you'll notice the stuff on the floor that looks a little chunky its because one of her udders has mastitis. OUCH!

Riley sittin' in a water bucket.  Shes such a cutie!!