Sweet Creek and Labor Day...

We decided to go on a hike on Labor Day. We invited Hubs's parents and then a happy surprise was my mom getting to come too. This really has to be my favorite hike, it really is breath taking. Mac kept on telling his grandma's and grandpa, "We are going hiking at a beautiful place that has water falls and bridges."

At the trailhead. Mac would not get in a picture so we had him take the picture.

Mac is a totally great hiker! He was at full speed the mile to the falls.

My little water lover! He can never get enough!

I don't think that actual falls is that impressive, but the whole hike is what makes this place beautiful.

Mac and the water again. Love this boy!

Mac taking pictures again. Most of his pictures end up being blurry because he moves the camera before the camera is done taking the picture.

He took this one too!

On the way back we found a great spot where he could walk in the water.

His cute little wet footprints on the rock.

Getting his socks and shoes back on.

Love this pic because it just shows what an awesome daddy this man is!

On the way down. You could tell Mac was getting tired because he was slowing down alot. Then all of a sudden he had like a second wind and he was going at full speed again. Then the last five minutes of the hike he just wanted his daddy and because Hubs is such an awesome daddy he carried him the rest of the way. He was laughing because he was carrying about as much extra weight (from the kids) that he has lost in personal in the last 7 months.

It was a great day and I loved that we got to enjoy it with our parents.

And then the day ended by Hubs being willing to put the kids to bed so I could go to see The Help with my Mama.

Sunday Gratitude...

I am thankful...

01.  for my sweet little family that we fought so hard for. They were so completely worth every pain and heartache!

02. that I got to see my parents today for the first time in nearly a month. I was getting a bit homesick not seeing them for so long.

03. for a pretty amazing and awesome husband. yes he is!!!

04. for the cooler evening temps. so much easier to sleep.

05. to have gotten most of the garage cleaned. and I mean three full car loads to goodwill and just about every single box gone through that we haven't touched in years.

06. that Mac has finally taken to riding his big boy bike and will even ride it on evening walks through our neighborhood. I have never seen him so determined about anything with our complaining and giving up. And a great way to wear him out before bed.

07. for the one and only cucumber that our garden produced. It was so yummy! We go for quality, not quantity here (just look at my beautiful kids)

08. for the little tradition that we have on our way to church every Sunday. Every one gets to choose a Primary song and we sing it. If not every one is singing the car stops, it will only go if every one is singing. And our last song it always "When I go to Church" and we make sure it gets finished just as we see our church building.

09. for the yummy apple crisp that we had for dessert tonight.

10. that my kids' grandparents will get on the floor and play with them. Something I never had and have wanted for my children.

First Day of Preschool...

 

**Post Edit below

So today was the big day! Mac's first day of Preschool. He was really excited about it too, which makes it so much easier to let them go. He loved his chalk board countdown and it really helped prepare him as we talked about it everyday when we took a clothespin off and he traced the number of days left. Today when he took off the last clothes pin, he looked at me SO excited and said, "I get to go to Preschool now!" It made me feel good that I had prepared him for it.

We tried to make the morning special. So daddy decided to go into work late so we could make Mac breakfast. Smiley-face pancakes. He is always asking for these, but we never have anything to make a good smiley face when he asks. Then when he was done he was excited to get dressed and brushed his teeth, get his shoes on and I never had to ask him twice for any of that. He even cooperated for pictures. All of that is a very rare thing. When we had some time before it was time to go (since it takes about 5 seconds to get there) he was getting very impatient. When I finally told him we only had 5 minutes left, he said, "I don't want 5 minutes I only want two!" **A few minutes before we took him for his first day Hubs gave Mac a Father's Blessing. And Mac sat for the whole thing. It was very sweet and I am glad that my husband is worthy to do this for our children to help them get through their lives.**

He is going across the street (literally) to our neighbors house for Preschool and gets to go with two of his other neighborhood friends. G, his teacher, said he did great! Which melted away alot of fears I have for him and going to school. He came running out full of energy acting like a crazy kid, I think because he had to control all that energy he has for 2 and half hours. I am very proud of him and I hope he enjoys learning as much as I think he will.

When we finally went in our house and sat down for lunch, he pretty much talked non stop about everything that they did. It was really cute! We even called daddy at work to tell him.

And as for me, it really wasn't that hard. And Oak took her morning nap the whole time and I had 2 and a half hours all to myself to get housework done and not feel bad about neglecting my kids while I did it. I think this will help me to be able sit and play with them more, since I will have the added quite/personal time.

And

Special smiley face pancake breakfast.

Daddy is always awesome at making Mac's food fun!

Two too cute kids...

Oak showing off her smarts! And her "I like to rub my hands in my hair during dinner/it is so hot in our house my head is sweaty" hair. She actually does say the words, but you can't hear them very well.

Mac so loved the ocean and he was just so cute running in it and enjoying every bit of it.

Ocean lovin' and sand eatin'...

After we left Grandpa C's house we headed for our favorite beach, Sunset Bay. We love it so much because it is really protected from the wind so it is usually warmer than most other beaches. It also has a rocky area with tide pools, but we didn't get to do that while we were there.

At first Oak wasn't too sure about the sand. She stayed right on the blanket. Once I got her away from the blanket she loved it. Loved it so much that she was literally eating handfuls of it.

Mac played in the sand for all of about 5 minutes. What he really wanted to do was play in the waves.

Gotta love a sandy baby bum!

Doesn't he just look so big?!

The only way I get in pictures is take it myself, at least I have been remembering to do that much.

She thought the shovel was a lollipop...silly girl!

Daddy showing Mac the art of making a comfy seat in the sand.

Just before the sand eating. YUCK! She had shoved so much in her mouth that she was choking on it.

Love sandy baby feet too!

We finally let Mac go in the water!

He was a happy boy!

Oak really liked the water too!

I think my favorite picture! Mac just enjoying himself and playing in the ocean.

She was not happy because Daddy wouldn't let her walk or sit in the water.

One last run before we left!

Great Grandpa...

On Friday afternoon, Hubs had an impression that we needed to visit his Grandpa C. He only lives about two hours south of us, but we don't get to see him often. We hadn't seen him since last summer at the lake house and we hadn't visited him at his house since Mac was one.

So early Saturday we packed up and headed out. It was so good to see him and I think he really enjoyed having the little kids there. He seemed really happy and upbeat. Hubs was named after him and Mac was named  after Hubs and him. So we were glad that Mac could see him and we get some pictures of them together, the three C's.

Oak teasing the dog. She couldn't get enough of her.

Mac looks so cute.

When I got these picture of the kids with grandpa, you could tell he was proud and just loved them. In this picture with Oak, he was stroking the back of her head. So sweet.

Oak for some reason really like the dog bed and kept on diving in it, oh brother!

Mac found this cowboy hat and was totally enthralled with it.

To keep Mac entertained for part of the time I let him use the camera and take pictures. He LOVED it. He took this one of Grandpa C and Hubs. I liked it much better than the one I took of them.

bride...

Hubs's little sister was married a couple of weeks ago. And I had the pleasure of being their photographer at the Temple. I LOVE taking pictures at the Temple. J was such a stunningly, beautiful bride. These are just my favorite photos and just the few that I have had time to edit so far. We miss her terribly and every time I think about her not coming home for the summers anymore, it makes me really sad. But we are so SO happy for her and L.