Great Educational Game

This game is sooo much fun. Mac and I played last night then today I realized you could zoom in to part of the world. How well do you know the US? North America? or even the World?

Eliza the Cutie Pie

So as not to fall in the "The third child does not get as many pictures of them" category here is a cute picture we took of Eliza after church today. This was an outfit she got for Christmas (the cute shoes too). Yes she is standing up by herself. We put a blanket over her favorite toy and she loved it.
Also as a side note everyone survived this past weekend without me. I was at a conference. Mac had all three kids by himself and did great! I will write more about that later.

Parker turns 2!!!

Yes he, and I, made it to his second birthday. It started out with my family's tradition of donuts with a candle. (We normally got them in bed but there was no way Parker was getting a chocolate donut in his bed.) This is his face while we, Mackenzee and I are singing to him (Mac worked his entire bday so we really didn't celebrate until Saturday) If you have read any of my blog you know Parker doesn't like to make things easy. This is how the pre donut experience went:
Me & Mackenzee: Happy Birth...
Parker: NOOO
Me: What?
Parker: ZenZee too (he wanted Mackenzee to have a candle in her donut too- probably because she had asked and I had told her no because it is Parkers day- you have to give him credit for caring)
Me & Mackenzee: Happy Birth...
Parker: NOOO
Me: What?
Parker: ZenZee (pointing to the candle- he wanted hers lit)
Me & Mackenzee: Happy Birthday to you... (finish song)
Me: Blow out your candle. (Mackenzee does and Parker keeps trying. He finally accomplishes it with the help of sister and mom) Yeah Parker you are so big.


Me: How old are you Parker?
Parker: This is him saying three while holding two fingers up.
Mackenzee: Am I 5 now since I blew out my candle?
Me: Just because you blew out a candle you are not 5. You have to wait until your birthday.
Mackenzee: Oh.


Saturday we had a little party. We were going to do Buzz Lightyear but couldn't find any decorations. So we did Peter Pan (equally as important to Parker) Here is his cake:Yes I made it. See the scaffolding- giant pretzel stick? Everything was going good until I was about half way done icing the ship, it started to crack in several places. The pretzels did the trick. I dont know if you can see from this angle but Wendy is walking the plank. Parker loved the cake but had a hard time letting me use his figurines. We had a few friends over for cake and ice cream.

I think he was a little nervous of the candles so Mac helped him.

All the guests. I was filming so my friend got to help hold the babies.
I don't know if you can see the tablecloth but it is Neverland with Capitan Hook plates, cups and napkins. Then the treat bags are little treasure chests. Parker also got a pirate balloon.
Next it was present time...
Disney Figurines... Disney Lego... Disney Plush... Disney PJ... Basketball Standard... Remote Control Car... Pirate Book... Money. Thank you all!!!

He played the rest of the day with all of his new stuff. Tomorrow we are going to Disneyland for the end of his bday celebration (hoping it does not rain). And let me tell you he is EXCITED to see Buzz and maybe we will be lucky and see Capitan Hook--- come to think of it I have never seen Peter Pan.

Back in the saddle again...

Mackenzee has been asking to ride a horse for about a year. Keep in mind that my children are terrified of animals so we didn't know how this was going to turn out. A friend of Mac's at work has horses and has offered to let us ride them. She just happened to ask over Christmas break when Mac was going to bring us over. When we pulled up Mackenzee decided she didn't want to go anymore because there were two dogs out. So my brave husband (this is funny in itself because he is afraid of dogs too) had to go request the dogs get put away. Once that was taken care of she did pretty good. Although Mackenzee was not fond of touching the horse riding it was another matter. She got right up there and rode for a little bit while Parker stayed far away in daddy's arms.
Next Daddy got on and Mackenzee got to ride with him. I think this is Mac's dream seeing how he would love to own a horse. He has a great love for horses due to his grandparents horses. Side note: my great-grandparents had a horse that I rode and I don't want one, in fact I don't like them so you will not see any pictures of me on the horse.
We finally got Parker on the horse although he didn't stay long. I think he just wanted his daddy and his daddy just happened to be on the horse. Doesn't he look like he is having fun!!!
While I was going to the car to get tissues they put Eliza on the horse. She looked so cute up there. I don't think she cared one way or the other.

After sharing the horses with his kids Mac trotted around for a little then got off. He realized that his legs are not used to being on a horse and was a little achy. He showed Mackenzee how to brush and clean up the horses. Mac also developed a greater appreciation for his dad for riding behind the saddle when he was little. Mac was sore the rest of the day but he had a great time with his kids and the horses.

It's Christmas

Christmas Sunday
Mac had to work so I got everyone ready for Church. I cannot complain though because This was the first year Mac has been home for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We feel so very blessed. These were taken after church so they are not as good as they would have been before church. Parker also stripped off his suit coat and tie in the first 1/2 hour of church. Oh yes which brings me to church. He brought a chocolate gem donut in one hand and a squirt gun in the other because 1) Mom had no energy to fight him when daddy is gone and 2) these are the most important things in a two year olds life. He finally finished the donut after the Sacrament and I took the gun away when he started "shooting" everyone.
































Christmas Eve
One of our very good friends took all three kids so we could clean up and get everything ready for the big day. I was very grateful not to have to try and do this with everyone here. We were able to get almost everything done. We then picked up the kids and had our traditional Christmas dinner: ham, cheesy potatoes, watergate (pistachio pudding, cool whip, pineapple) salad, green beans and egg nog (for me- no one else likes it).

Next came the traditional Christmas Eve present (PJs). They were all so cute it their matching Santa pjs.























Then the Nativity story. After the kids did pretty good on getting ready for bed. Mac and I just wrapped a few more things and got everything set up. We were in be really early, much better then the 2 am from last year when I had to do everything by myself.

Christmas morning
Gift to us from the kids sleeping in! No one got up during the night either. Eliza got up at about 7:30 and Parker followed soon after. We had put the gate up so he could not go to the living room. Of course he wanted to go so we told him to get Mackenzee up he shouted NOOOO. So instead we all played in our bed until Mackenzee got up.

They were very excited with their gifts, especially from Santa: Macknezee- reversible Bell dress, Parker- vacuum that actually picks up stuff, Eliza- penguin bowling set. I dont know if Parker was more excited about his ornament (Hallmark Mickey, Goofy and Donald on a train). I did have the video camera on but we ran out of tape after about 20 second










After playing with their toys for a little we headed up to Papa and Dranma "Grapes". We ate dinner with them and Lorena & Mike. It was a very relaxing day and we all had a great time.