GNO

McKenzie and I had a little girls night out last night. It was so much fun. She worked very hard the last couple weeks to earn all of her stickers so I told her she could have whatever she wanted. I was a little nervous to offer anything she wanted, but I did and she decided that she wanted a puffy vest that she saw at Children's Place a while ago. So, we went to South Towne Mall and got dinner, rode the carousel, and shopped. We got the puffy vest and even found a shirt to go with it. She was very excited when we found some frog pajamas and couldn't wait to wear them home! I am a little nervous for her to grow up and be a teenager because last night she was already showing a great interest in the shopping and buying stuff. When I told her we were leaving the mall, she said that we couldn't leave yet because we only had 2 bags, and she wanted lots of bags. We went in a couple more stores and got mad when I didn't buy the "really cute shirt" I was looking at. We passed Claires on the way out of the mall, so we had to make a stop in there and look at all of the "beautiful things" in there. Then, she talked me into a cookie from Mrs. Field's when we were really leaving the mall. It was so much fun to hang out with her. I love having a daughter!

First Day of Pre-school

Here is McKenzie as we are getting in the car for her first day of preschool. She goes to the busy bee pre-school which is taught and run by a good friend of mine. McKenzie doesn't usually have much separation anxiety, so I wasn't too worried, but of course being her mom, I was a little concerned about how she would do. Well, she loves it. She has been there for 3 weeks. She has great teachers and they do lots of fun activities. Because her birthday is in June and they won't be in school then, they celebrated her birthday last week. When they do that, the parents send a poster with pictures of the kid and a treat for all the kids and they do a spotlight on the birthday person. It just happened to work out that we were in Monroe visiting Bodie's family the day before her birthday celebration at school. Bodie's sister Tori is amazing when it comes to scrapbooking and especially making cards, so I had her help me cut out some stuff for the poster on her Mom's cricuit machine. The poster turned out so cute. Reine (McK's teacher) said that the only problem with it is that it was too cute...especially since her son's birthday was this week and she had to do the next poster. Oh well, we had fun!!!

McKenzie's Tutu

So we were at dance the other day and this little girl had the cutest tutu on. We went to the mom to find out where she got it and it turns out that she made it. I thought it was so cute and McKenzie would love it, so we went to the store today to get stuff to make one. It turned out really cute, but of course McKenzie doesn't like to wear it. I did get her to wear it long enough to take this picture though!!!

Dancing Queen

McKenzie has been a dancing fool this last week. About 6 of our Young Women in our ward are on the Tooele High drill team. They had a dance clinic last week, so they called to see if McKenzie would like to go to the dance clinic. They practiced Tues, Wed, and Thurs night from 6-8 and then on friday night they performed at the football game. I was a little nervous that she wouldn't want to do it, which would have been fine. But I also kind of thought that she would get out on the football field and start crying (sound familiar Amanda?) Well, she did it and it was so cute. The video is of their dance and then they lay on the grass for a few minutes while the older girls do their dances. The second clip is at the very end, they all jump up and step and clap. I was so proud of her...she has obviously inherited my dancing skills (not her dad's as he's got rythm) McKenzie also started a tap/ballet class with her cousin Lucy this last week. She loved getting all dressed up in her leotard and tights and tap shoes! Really, she had so much fun dancing and she gets a huge smile on her face when anyone tells her that she did a good job. It has been a lot of fun.

Party Attire

So, I told McKenzie the other day that we had to get ready to go to a party at Grandma Diane's house and this is what she ended up with! She is a very social girl...as long as she knows the kids she is playing with....when we are getting together with people she doesn't know she is pretty shy. A lot of times she will warm up a bit though. She had a pretty good time trying to get my friend Kelly's daughter to laugh when we went to lunch when they came in town for a visit. She is such a fun kid. I couldn't ask for a better daughter...even though she tells me to leave her alone every time I try to correct her behavior! She still says that I am her favorite Mom and she is my favorite girl. I am going to enjoy that while I can!

4th of July

McKenzie at the parade

Bodie after the run

McKenzie's tumbling at the park

Bodie started out his 4th of July holiday with a 5K run with his friend Cole. He really hasn't run much since high school, so I am very proud that he even finished! Also, he proudly wore his Topham T-shirt. McKenzie and I watched the parade at Cole' s house, which is conveniently located on the parade route. We had a lot of fun. McKenzie got help picking up candy from Cole and Lindsay's family. by the time we left, her purse was full to the top. I think she was wondering how things could get any better!

After the parade, we went home and got re-grouped before heading off to the park where McKenzie was doing a tumbling performance. We got there a little early so she could play before the performance and we were glad we did. There was a bounce house and huge blow up slide for her to play on until it was time to do her tumbling. She of course was the best tumbler there, it is always fun for me to watch her. When the tumbling was over, we were in line to get a balloon flower when we saw some friends that have a daughter McKenzie's age, so we stayed a bit longer so McKenzie could play in the bounce house with her friend.

After the park we went home and had a BBQ, just the three of us. Then, we loaded Conan into the car and went to the top of the mountain to the Kennecott overlook. We watched all the fireworks shows in the Salt Lake Valley. McKenzie fell asleep on the way up there and when she woke up the next morning, she asked when we were going take Conan up in the mountains and watch the fireworks. Luckily she hasn't said anything since then!

McKenzie's 3rd Birthday

I know I am a little late posting this, but McKenzie is now three years old. She was so excited for her birthday because she wanted to be 5 so bad. She is now dealing with the fact that she has to be three first. It has only taken a few weeks! Bodie made McKenzie a doll house for her birthday. It is big enough for her Barbies to fit in and McKenzie thinks she can fit in it too. She loves to crawl in the rooms on the bottom, but makes it very clear that I am not to try to get in because I am too big and will break her doll house. She had a fun birthday party with family and friends on saturday night, complete with a pinata and an Ariel cake.

McKenzie painting her doll house

On her actual birthday, we went shopping with Leslie and her girls and my mom. It was a perfect day. I was happy to be shopping and McKenzie was happy to be with her cousins! We came home and made her favorite dinner, chicken nuggets and corn on the cob and ended the night with cupcakes and more presents. It was a good time for all of us!