Mackay-grams

I'm realizing lately that I post all kinds of cute little daily things on Instagram that don't really merit a full blog post, but that I really DO want to preserve and remember as part of my kids' childhood. So, here' a conglomeration of our lives over the past month or so.  Enjoy!  

I took this from our front yard!  Happy New Year! 

Every so often, Jake gives me the sweetest little money gifts. In this one he said that Daddy was steering the ship, I was standing at the stern holding Suzy, and he was up on the crow's nest. Braden and the twins wet at home because they're too small for this adventure!  The figures at the back of the ship are bad guys that we put off the plank!  I love how his creative mind works!:) 

Reading Calvin and Hobbes:) 

Learning to drink from a sippy!  Time to wean--woohoo!

Specialty paper airplanes complete with jet engines and rockets!  I love their creativity! 

Fun with our friends the Nielsens. 

Bray is my helper in the kitchen. One of our favorite things to make-- banana bread! 

She'll be walking soooooon!! AAAA!!!

Ninja baby!  Haha! She even has a star to throw! Lovin the "killers" onesie Uncle John. 

We have reached the "unloading" stage. 

Drew's 1st Day

Well, he got an early start - and it turned out to be a great day!  Today Star was scheduled to train at Station 1 in Meridian inside "The Rat Maze".  Meridian has constructed a maze that is designed to test your skills in small dark spaces and also cause a little panic too.  They want you to feel closed-in and help you learn to control it, think clearly and move past it.  Drew said the maze was completely dark and he had to crawl through it with all his gear on.  He ran into cables and obstacles and at one point they dropped the floor out from under him!  Drew was able to go through it twice and said he did well both times.  

After a long day of training, Drew returned home to a small family party to celebrate his first day.  The kids and I made him one of his favorite dinners: chicken enchiladas with spanish rice and guacamole (drool), and decorated the house with lots of love for our hero.  Ava made a card that she taped together and put inside one of those "primary slide-show boxes" - the kind that rolls the papers across the "screen".  She made a whole show of all the cards from the kids and I.  Then after dinner we had chocolate cake and a dance party!

Star Idaho Fire Dept.

Captain America made a celebrity appearance!

We are so proud our daddy!

We have Twin Sunbeamers!

We got silly taking pictures... and fell down!  Woops!  Haha!

Suzy Updates

I feel like I have a million mini-posts to catch up on and they mostly involve Suzy, so here we go...

Sky High

We got an early "jump" on Jett's birthday this year with a super fun birthday party! I got a groupon to a fun trampoline place called Sky High Sports and we invited a bunch of friends from school to party it up with us! We had about 16 kids! We had a private court to jump and play dodge ball for an hour then went to a room for snacks, cupcakes and presents. I'm not great at throwing parties, but it worked out and everyone had fun! Happy birthday to Jett!!!

(I only took these photos and forgot about pictures during the rest if the party - oops!! We had fun!)

Congratulations Drew!

(I wrote this the day we heard the news!)

It's been almost 3 years since Drew first started his journey in the fire service.  There have been many interviews, written tests, practice tests, service hours and physicals.  There have been many highlights: making new friends and learning new skills.  And there have also been many low points: barely missing the cut-off for hire, frustration with office politics etc. 

Today marks the highest high.  Today is the day we have fasted and prayed and worked so hard for.  Today, Drew was offered a job with Star Fire!  We are both in total shock!  This came out of nowhere.  Usually we are aware of all the chatter and potential for new jobs out there in our area, but today Drew was totally blindsided - in the best way possible!

Yesterday, Captain Chris Head from Star fire called Drew and asked him to come out to the station for a tile bid.  Drew thought it was kind of odd since they have a construction guy on their staff.  But he brushed it off and agreed to meet today after 2:30.  When he arrived, he spent the next hour looking at the "job", making suggestions and taking measurements.  As Drew was taking the last few measurements, Captain Head asked him to join him and the Fire Chief in the office when he finished. 

Drew made his way to the office and the chief told him he was going to need 2 bids.  Drew thought the chief wanted the job split into 2 parts.  The chief continued to explain that he need one price for the job if Drew just did it normally, and another bid if Drew were to do it "on shift".  Drew was confused.  "You mean while your crew is on shift?  I don't understand." 

The chief shook his head and said, "No, if you were on shift." 

Drew still didn't get it and the chief and Captain Head had to spell it out for him.  They were offering Drew  a position with Star Fire Department!  Drew told me it still took a few minutes to register what was happening and when it did, the full force of the meeting hit him.  He told me he was in complete shock and kept saying thank you and shaking his head in disbelief.  He said they all got a little emotional too. 

When Drew called to tell me what happened, it was my turn to be in shock.  I started crying and all kinds of scenarios and family planning played through my head all at the same time.  I was in the car, but as soon as I got home, I started balling and fell to my knees to thank my Heavenly Father.  I poured out my heart in gratitude and cried even more. 

I am so thankful that I have a Heavenly Father who is aware of me and my family.  I know he loves us and is watching over us.  Today is a monumental day for our family.  A fire job means security for our family.  It means relief from self-employment.  It means Drew gets to do the job he really wants to do.  I am so proud of him - I can't even express in words how proud I am.  He has worked so hard for this.  He is my hero!

 

Drew starts 1 week from today!

Happy Birthday to Me...

Since my birthday is so close to Christmas, it always feels like a bit of an afterthought.  It's nice, but a little lack-luster.  For the most part, I'm okay with that - 'cause really, I can't change it right?  But this year my birthday was sooo wonderful!  Drew spoiled me big-time!  First, I received so many beautiful cards from Drew, my parents, my in-laws and my kids!  Then Drew arranged for the kids to go to Grandma & Paka's house for a few hours and he took me shopping!  First lets be clear - I rarely buy anything for myself unless it's on some crazy clearance sale.  So my closet is sadly outdated.  Drew took me shopping for clothes and didn't complain once!  He even carried my bags and then took me out to get a quick bite before we picked up the kids.  Shopping + hubby + food + no kids along for said shopping = the best night out!  I am a lucky girl!

THEN... Drew set up a dinner on Sunday with our closest friends.  He put the whole meal together with dessert and it was delicious = marinated grilled chicken with rosemary roasted sweet potatoes and green salad with cheese cake and triple berry topping for dessert.  Drool...

Our friends also brought a cake and a gift card.  They are the best friends ever!

On Monday, the boys and I went to Nana & Papa's house for a birthday lunch.  My mom is soo creative!  This lunch was beautiful - and of course it was also delicious!  She made little sandwiches using cookie cutters and garnished each one with more cookie-cutter toppings.  In my family we communicate with food.  Everything is better with food and every special event has something to eat.  I like that about my family.  :)

(Kind of a weird pic - but I don't have any other recent photos)

Thank you EVERYONE!  All of the well wishes were so kind and thoughtful.  I feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life!  Happy Birthday to me!

Cole's 6mo Pictures

Out with the old, In with the new

9 years, and 2 kids later it was time to get a car that fit our lifestyle. 

We are selling the Bronco... (This is an old pic from Matt's college days with one of his roommates.  Probably around the time he got the bronco.)

 We sold the Mazda...(This pic is from when we first bought it in 2007.  It was a great little car and we kinda miss it already)

And bought a 2009 GMC Yukon!  It has a lot of great features and best of all, we all fit comfortably!  My knees don't touch the dash anymore with the infant carseat behind me and I feel confident behind the wheel in the snow.  It will be an adjustment with being a one-car family but we are happy to have the change.

Happy New Year!

When the new year rolls around, I tend to look back and contemplate my life.  Have I achieved any of the goals I set forth last year?  Have I made a difference for anyone else in my small circle of friends and family?  

As a mom, I am constantly trying to find new ways to make our home more peaceful, meaningful, and organized.  When I look at my children, I can see how they have grown, and in my heart I hope and pray that I contributed something good to all of that.  Truthfully, I know I did... but anyone who has been a mom knows how it feels to try so hard everyday to do better amid the chaos, and still fell inadequate.

Well, when I look back on 2014, I am please to say that I have found many nuggets of fun, teaching and learning, trials and triumphs.  It's been challenging but also so rewarding.

So now I say, "Farewell to the past and bring on the future!"  I welcome it with open arms and  renewed hope for great adventures and lots of fun with my family!