Sunshine, blessed sunshine

We have had beautiful weather lately and today it was in the high sixties. For north Idaho that's pretty warm so we had a fun afternoon at the park. It was Cole's first time in the swings and he loved it. 

E speaks

Brooklynn, Ethan and Braden were helping Dad put his ratchet set tools away and there was one piece that wasn't fitting into its spot. Braden had tried, and now Brooklynn was having a turn trying. Braden said to Brook, "Let Ethan have a try."  But Brook didn't want to share. So Ethan started to get frustrated and said, "Brooklynn that's not part of Jesus' plan."  Haha!  Now that's a rebuke for not sharing! 

Spring Ride to Owyhee Dam

Yesterday, Sue and I had a nice ride to Owyhee Dam.  Very pretty location, very quiet and a nice ride.

Cancun - Once More...maybe the last...

So this is our bi-annual biggie and likely our last big one for a while.  We had a wonderful time with a couple from our ward - Curt and Shawna Rigby.  This was Curt's first time ocean diving and their first to Cancun so it was especially fun to show them around one of our favorite places in the world.
We came in one day early and stayed on my last remaining points with Marriott at a nice place in the Hotel Zone.  Pretty nice but I would not go back just because Cancun locale is really packed with people and $$$Expensive.  Going south is so much better and more things to do...so we had a couple of days of down time then Monday the girls enjoyed a day at the pool while Curt and I went diving with Bull Sharks and did a reef dive.  This was out of Playa Del Carmen.  Saw three sharks and the reef was OK.  It's getting a little less attractive over time.  Tuesday was all day to Chichen Itza, Ik Kil cenote and Ek Balam - Great Day..  and long.  Wednesday was snorkeling at Xel Ha - awesome place!  We saw a 4.5 foot barricuda, a huge school of tuna and tons of tropical fish.  Curt brought a go pro and so we got some cool movies and pics.  Thursday was an awesome dive out of Puerto Morelos to a 90 foot deep sunken ship that's in a national preserve.  This was really cool!  We got to see some 8 foot wide Eagle Rays and got to swim through the ship from stern to bow and out a cargo hatch...pretty spooky.  The second dive is called the aquarium because you feel just like you are diving in a huge underwater park - very dense with coral and life.  I just wanted to settle to the bottom and watch the show.  Thursday night was another big one - we went to XPlor Fuego.  It's an all inclusive with Dinner, huge zip lines - one is almost a mile long and 4 wheeling through underground caves and tropical jungles.  Friday we got up early and watched the sun rise one last time and just had a nice relaxing day.  What a fun vacation.  It's taken us a week to recover.

Here are few of the highlights...

Marriott Beach Resort

Tulum

Chichen Itza

IK Kil Cenote

EK Balam - One of the few you can climb

EK Balam - Very Steep

Friday Morning Sunrise...ahhh

Huge School of Tuna

4.5 foot Barricuda
hanging out under a floating dock

Huge Eagle Ray - 8 feet across!

Why Moms get NOTHING done

This is sooo Suzy right now.  I was watching this video and she dumped out half of the laundry I folded-- haha!  When you see those little handprints and that sweet face, it's all worth it though!

A special afternoon...

I know this is not a great picture - but this is our sweet Grandma Afton.  I love this picture because of her cat, BB.  She only snuggles up to grandma - no one else.  She seems to know when grandma needs her or is feeling low.  

(2015)  (2007)

When mom and dad went out of town for a week - aunt Michele took over tending to grandma - but on Saturday afternoon she needed some help for a few hours.  So I went over and spent those few hours with my sweet grandma.  

Grandma has dementia and forgets to eat - so I got out some peaches and filled a little bowl for her.  I wasn't sure she would eat but she did - and then asked for more!  I was so happy!  Then we talked and she held my hand.  She doesn't really remember who I am - but remarkably - she remembers my Ava!  So we chatted about her for a bit and then it got quiet.  I decided to find a book to read and all I could find was book 1 of the Harry Potter series.  So I started reading.  After the first chapter I asked her if she liked it and she said, "No."  But then asked me to keep reading, so I did.  We got through 3 chapters before aunt Michele came back.

It was such a simple afternoon - but one I will always remember.  Grandma has always been, and will always be an amazing women, and a great example to me.  I love her with all my heart!

Our Visit to Hogwarts...

You heard me right... Hogwarts!  Last Friday our family attended the annual Cub Scout Blue & Gold banquet but this year it was a destination celebration!  Our AMAZING cub master transformed the gym in our ward building into the great hall at Hogwarts.  It also included Olivander's Wand Shop and the Three Broomsticks.

First you had to enter through the platform at 9 3/4 ...

Upon entering the gym, you were met with the house tables in the great hall and a special surprise at the front of the room.

The sorting hat!  Our cub master called all of the scouts up to the front to be sorted into their houses before dinner.  This hat really talks and really sorted 14 boys.  Afterwards they received an appropriately colored tie and sat with their friends at the proper house table. complete with floating candles above.

The room was decorated in every corner.  There was a potions classroom where the scouts made 2 potions with the cub master and in the back were the two shops from Diagon Ally.

The cub master made wands for each of the boys to take home - and in true Hogwarts fashion - "The Wand Chooses the Wizard".  She pulled a wand "core" from a cauldron for each boy.  

Dinner was wonderful.  We had lasagna and salad and bread sticks.  If you happened to pass by the Three Broom Sticks - you would also find pumpkin owl cupcakes and real butter beer.  It was so tasty!

On the tables were authentic looking boxes filled with Bertie Botts Every-Flavor Beans and smaller boxes with chocolate frogs and wizarding cards inside.  Brycen was very fond of the chocolate frogs.  (But not so happy having his picture taken!)

This was an amazing night!  So much detail and hard work went into this night.  I absolutely LOVED it!

Cole is crawling!

This first video is one of many unsuccessful takes.  Those with weak constitutions, look away! :)

This video is a bit better.  He's been able to get around pretty well by rolling to his destinations so the only thing that has really changed is his speed.  He's going to keep me busy!

Happy Valentine's Day

Drew and I started our Valentine's Day on Friday night.  About 1+ hour away is the small mining town of Idaho City.  It is small and old and has little to offer.  Then recently this beautiful resort was built and it is luxurious!  (Way too fancy for this small town.)  Drew and I got a babysitter and headed up the mountain to a soak in the natural hot water with my sister and bro-in-law and some of my cousins and their spouses.  We had a great time and I highly recommend it!

The next morning I prepared a special breakfast for my family.  I hope they liked it as much as I did - I think this will be a new tradition in our family!  The table was set and the food was delicious!  (if I do say so myself!)  

I made sticky-buns and the cutest little breakfast casseroles in a muffin pan!  Sooooo good!

These kids deserve the very best!  

After breakfast - these kids were super silly!  Carter found some extra whip cream and Ava and Brycen found some silly faces!  We have so much fun together!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love notes from Jacob

Love this kid:)

Building Forts

These guys go the extra mile when building forts at our house. None of this broom handle and blanket stuff. We tip the whole couch over! Haha! 

Love how these guys play together. 

Happy Valentine's!

Just wanted to say Happy Valentine's Day to all of the people I LOVE!!

At school the boys had some Valentine fun and had to make a valentines box. Jett's had colorful hearts all over it with a joke written in each heart. And this is Tucker's! I was so proud - he did this ALL by himself! He's so creative and knew exactly what he wanted to do. The heart says "join the heart side".  We all had a great holiday full o'love! 

Feeling Loved . . .

For Valentines this year, the MacKay men were in charge. In the past they've cooked us a lovely dinner and perhaps done an activity. But this year they changed things up a little. First we went out to dinner at Geisha!  Yum!  It's a fam favorite with fun and delicious food cooked right in front of you. Then the men surprised us with pedicures!!!  It was so awesome!  They had all looked up YouTube tutorials and Jason did a great job!  One of the funniest moments was listening to Shannon squeal-- she loves pedicures, but her feet are very ticklish!  Haha!  I felt very pampered and loved this year-- Jason is such a good man. 

An Update on us...

Well, life is busy - but that's what makes it so much fun!  Drew has just about finished his first 2 weeks at Star Fire and he loves it.  The guys have welcomed him in as one of their own and he has proven himself on the few calls they have already responded to.  Plus, the station is undergoing a little remodeling and Drew has become quite the asset.  It seems he has a tool for everything + the knowledge to back it up.  When they want to take a hammer to it, Drew shows up with a better tool and does it right!  His stories about it are pretty funny!

 I...went...snow...skiing!!!  I haven't been skiing since I was 16 so this was a little scary, but a lot of fun too!  I fell on my butt a few times but I was really surprised how well I remembered what to do.  I actually wasn't terrible!  Yay for me!

 Ava is Awesome!  She is my creative artist.  Recently she has been getting the crafty bug and here are a few of her creations:  a LEGO house, a snowman made out of one of Drew's old socks and some rice, and a tee-pee made out bamboo skewers and paper towels.  I swear she can make anything! 

She has also been painting and here she sewed a purse for her best friend Clara.  I LOVE that she is so creative!

 Brycen is Mr. Popular at school.  I don't think he really know it, but he is.  Almost everyday he has a play date with a different friend either at our house or theirs!  This morning he decided he wanted to "do his own hair".  I think he looks pretty cool, don't you?  Brycen is still the sweetest boy.  He still loves to snuggle with his mom and I love that.  However, I'm starting to learn that certain comments I make can be "so embarrassing".  I'm trying to learn and be more careful!  :)

 Carter is hilarious!  He says the funniest things everyday and Drew and I often quote him.  After a tantrum full of weeping and wailing, he will suddenly stop, wipe his tears and say, "I not cwying!" hoping this announcement will make up for the fit he just had.  He still wakes up at night crying.  He says "I scaowed of the fire cwuck".  (I'm scared of the fire truck)  Still hoping we can get past this one someday! 

Yeah - we have an awesome family!  I feel so blessed!

We're down to ONE child in diapers people!!

Yes, it's true. I can hardly believe it. After years of three-- then two, then three again-- kids in diapers.... We are down to ONE folks!! Woohoo!  The final breakthrough came with #2 and Ethan's proud report of "two blops!"  Hahaha!  I just about died laughing!  Gotta take the hilarity of potty training when it comes. As we all all know, it ain't all fun and games!  Anyhow, CONGRATULATIONS ETHAN!!!