Christmas with my parents...

My parents are in Utah for Christmas to spend it with my brother's and their families. We usually do our Christmas with them on Christmas day, so we decided that before they leave we would do our Christmas with them. So went up one weekend to open presents, go to church with them and eat a turkey dinner. I am so glad we did. It was so fun.

She would not open her eyes for the picture. I took five or six pictures and everytime she would close her eyes on purpose. Silly girl!

Mac is really into action figures right now. So he was excited!

And my mom makes a mean turkey dinner! YUM!

Merry Christmas

...celebrating birthdays . discovering legos . snow days in spring . being approved to adopt again . eating healthier . a get-a-way without kids . eating out of our garden . memories made at the lake house . friend and family visitors . camping in a tent . taekwondo . catching a fish for the first time . oak turning two . a family road trip . visiting our birth families . driving our new minivan . mac turning five .  and counting our blessings!

updates

I have so much to catch up on...

Christmas with my parents before they left to Utah.
Mac's birthday/birthday party
Mac's Taekwondo testing for his orange headband
miscellaneous holiday activities
Our little family Christmas
Christmas with Hubs's family
A snow day!
And Mac's five year check up

five year check-up

Mac went in today for his five year check up. He did so great! He cooperated for everything they asked him to do, which they had a few more "tests" because of his age. He passed everything with flying colors. The nurse and his doctor were really impressed with his cooperation, concentration and how smart he is. I already knew he is a really smart boy, but it is nice to have professionals say that :)

His stats are...
Weight: 42 lbs  (59th %tile)
Height: 43.5 inches (3 ft 7.5 in) 61 %tile

 Mac was also able to get caught up on his immunizations to be ready for kindergarten next year. He got three shots and although he put up a little fight at first, he did great and was really brave. For his bravery we stopped at the mall to get a cinnabon and play at the mall play place.

I really love our pediatrician! She is so nice and she always makes me feel like I am the most amazing mom in the world. And  today she happened to walk by when I was at the front desk. And when she saw me she took the time to stop and say hi to me and ask how I was doing, although I would be seeing her in like 30 minutes for our appointment. How awesome is that?!

I am just amazed at what a big kid Mac is now. He really is no longer a little little kid or toddler. I can hardly believe that he will be losing teeth probably in the next year and will also be starting kindergarten. The day he was born just really doesn't seem like it was that long ago.

cuties/funnies

Above picture: I asked Mac to go get dressed so we could go run errands. He came out looking like this and because big brother was wearing his skeleton pajamas/costume, Oak had to wear hers too. Wasn't in the mood to put up a fight, so I got to run errands with these cute little skeletons. They got a ton of smiles from everyone! I know it totally made my day.

My kids were playing dress up and Oak was in her princess dress-up walking around the house bowing saying "Thank you, thank you!" over and over. At the same time Mac was in his room trying to decide whether or not to put his spider man costume on or his knight costume. Last minute he decides the knight costume and says, "What is a princess without her knight?!" 

We were talking to the Elders and Oak was telling them how old she was and when her birthday was. One of the Elders got excited and said they had the same birthday so he asked Oak for a fist bump (or "pound" as we call them). She wouldn't do it and left him hanging so I gave him the fist bump instead. Oak looks at me with a mad face and says, "hey, you took my pound!!"

Oak had gotten hurt...
Mama: Where's your owie at?
Oak: (Whimpering and sad) My pinky toe...now I can't go 'we we we all the way home'.

In talking about getting bigger and growing up, Mac says, "I don't feel like I am five, I don't feel like I got bigger, I still feel like I am four." (he wasn't saying it with a bad attitude at all, just as a fact.). And then when he was opening his presents the morning of his birthday from us and his birth mother, Oak started to cry because she didn't have a present to open so he gave her one of his presents to open so she wouldn't be sad.

When we got home one day from running errands the mail man was in our driveway delivering some packages. One was from Mac's birth mother. I told Mac that we got a package from C and he says, "That's my birth mom! I am so excited I got a package from my birth mom!!" Super duper LOVE open adoption!

 Oak was wearing a hat of grandpa's that looked like a cowboy hat. She was going around the house walking funny and saying in a deep voice, "I'm a cowboy!" Then she walks up to her daddy and says in a deep voice, "Cowboy, can I have a drink of water?!"

Oak has spent all morning carrying around baby Jesus and Mary from our Little People Nativity. 
Me: Oak, where is baby Jesus and Mary?
Oak: In the oven.
Thankfully it was just her play kitchen oven.

Daddy was drinking something and Oak wanted some, but it was right before she was to go to bed.
Oak: Daddy can I have a little bit?
Daddy: No you can't.
Oak: Just a little bit??
Daddy: Nope.
Oak: Can I have a big, big, BIG bit???
Daddy: (laughing) You can't have a big bit either.

Mac is FIVE

This sweet, beautiful, amazing little red head of ours is FIVE! I seriously can hardly believe it. 
 I have been thinking about the miracles and events that lead to him joining our family. Thinking about those things deeply, makes my eyes water and my heart burn with gratitude. He is such a

 precious miracle, and his little spunky spirit made me a mom. He filled a very deep hole that was in my heart, one that only he could have filled. Thinking about his birth mother quite honestly brings me to tears as I will never be able to fully thank her for her heart wrenching sacrifice. I am truly grateful that she is still a part of our lives. The love we have for her runs very deep and that will never change. Adoption has been my greatest blessing and has made my life more beautiful than I could have ever imagined for myself. Heavenly Father certainly knows what he is doing! Happy Birthday BIG RED! We love you to the moon and back!

Favorite color: blue

Favorite  toy: transformer

Favorite  fruit: pears

Favorite  tv show/cartoon: transformers

Favorite  movie: star wars

Favorite  thing to eat for lunch: peanut butter sandwich

Favorite  outfit:  Halloween shirt

Favorite game :  candy land

Favorite snack: cheese & cracker, applesauce, grapes

Favorite animal: shark

Favorite song:  Cello Wars

Favorite book: Where's Waldo

Best friend: Parker, Jace & Athens

Favorite breakfast: Malt-o-meal

Favorite thing to do outside: Play with my friends

Favorite drink:  smoothies

Favorite holiday:  my birthday

What do you want to be when you grow up:  police man

Other things about our birthday boy...

*He loves to be cold. He hates to have too many clothes on and gets way too hot at night.

*He prefers to take showers over baths now.

*He loves action figures and will play with one certain one for a couple of days, carrying it around everywhere he goes.

*He is an orange belt in Taekwondo and will be testing for  his orange headband the day after his birthday. He is doing so great in it and although he hates taking the time to go (so do I), he loves it once he is there doing it.

*I seriously love his freckles and I ask him if I can kiss each one every day. 

*He is becoming a bit easier in the eating department. He is still very picky, but is better at being willing to try new things and he is starting to understand that he has to take a bite of everything made for dinner and does it without much of a fuss.

*He is still taking naps when I make him. Which I do on Taekwondo days because if he hasn't had one he will fall asleep in the car and then throw a fit about getting out of the van to go to class. So to avoid that I make him take a nap and then we are in for it for the night as he won't go to sleep until about 10pm those nights. 

*He is still an early riser with occasional mornings where he sleeps in past 7am. We just bought him an alarm clock and have been trying to train him to not come out of his room until the clock says 7.

*He can clean his entire room and make his bed by himself. Most of the time it takes alot of prodding to get him to just get it done instead of playing. But once he gets his mind to do it, he is pretty quick.

*He can sound out small words, and is getting better and better with practice.

*He can get himself dressed without much help at all. 

*He has most recently figured out how to zip his coat himself and button up buttons on pants (not snaps).

*He seems to be having a harder time with independent play, and wants someone to be playing with him at all times.

*He loves chocolate like his Mama!

*He still prefers water over any other drink.

*He loves to talk and always has alot to say.

*His imagination is amazing he can tell some pretty cool stories.

*He is starting to wake up from dreams and remember them. He will come and get me and have to tell me every detail before he can fall back asleep.

*He is excited for us to adopt another baby (whenever that may be). He is asking at least once a day if we can name the baby __________(what every name he has come up with that day).

*He has informed me that he does NOT like surprises. There is NO telling him that we are going to do something fun, without telling him what it is. So I either have to tell him the details and suffer through every two minutes asking if it is time or just don't tell him at all.

*He is getting good at telling me directly in a calm way what his opinion is.

*He gets very overly excited about fun things we may be doing and it causes alot of problems. He has a hard time just being excited and throws fits over it not happening now. I have been trying to teach him to change his words from "I want to do it now!!" to "I am so excited I am going to get to...!!" 

*Thankfully his full on meltdowns happen less and less. But they are still pretty intense when they do happen.

*He is an amazing drawer and he really loves to draw. Every single piece of paper in our house has some sort of monster / alien drawing on it.

*He gives the best snuggles, kisses and hugs!!

*He is really funny!

*He surprises me sometimes with his understanding of adoption. I love that it is normal to him and I know that will help him to love his story. 
*His logic is usually spot on. And sometimes better than most adults.
*He is getting more coordinated for sports which is increasing his likeness for sports a little bit. 

*He is great at carrying a tune. 

Oh Christmas Tree...

We took walk down Candy Cane Lane to get to the trees.

Found our tree!!

Love how the kids watch daddy!

Oak had her first pony ride at the tree farm. She was so excited! This picture totally makes me smile every time I look at it. Her face is too stinking cute! At first she was a bit apprehensive but at the same time really wanted to ride it. Once she was on, she was hooked! Daddy says we are in trouble with liking horses so much. Good thing she has an aunt with horses.

Giving the horse hugs.

No wonder everywhere we go people are commenting on Mac's hair lately. Look how red it looks. It is much longer than I usually let it get, so it looks really red. He will be going in for a cut this week so I can take is five year pictures.

Oak instructing Daddy on how to prep the tree.

Of course she had to get wet.

It took days after we got our tree but we finally got it decorated. Mac has been SO excited to do this. 

I love how the ornaments are all clustered at the bottom of the tree from the kids decorating it.

I love that this is how they have been posing lately for pictures. Love my kiddos.

And our cute little family with our decorated tree!

Oak's first dentist visit...

Oak had her first dentist visit last week. She did so great! I have been continually impressed with the hygienists at this office, they are serious miracle workers when it comes to getting kids to cooperate. Mac has been going since he turned three and he is always SO excited to go. He cooperates for everything they need to do to clean his teeth. And if any of you know my son, you know how amazing that is. 

Anyway, Oak let the hygienists count and polish her teeth. We had to wait awhile for the dentist to come since he was doing actual work on a patient. So by the time he got to her, she wouldn't open her mouth. Mac was helping trying to coax her and show her what to do. And as soon as the dentist was telling me how we would sit knee to knee and lay her down between us, she opened her mouth for him to see. The first thing he said was, "Is she a right thumb sucker?" It is pretty obvious when you look at her teeth. When she smiles her top teeth aren't sitting flat to her bottom teeth. But the dentist said we don't need to worry until permanent teeth come in. I am grateful that she only sucks her thumb with her bear and that we can get rid of the bear at any point to get her to stop. Right now she only gets it when she takes a nap and goes to bed for the night. 

Mac had his teeth cleaned at the same time. He did great and I wasn't even with him, because I was helping Oak in a different chair. I was a bit disappointed that our favorite hygienists wasn't there. But the other two that worked on my kids were still great. Neither of my kids got x-rays. Mac had them done his last visit in June. 

Thanksgiving...

I was so grateful that my dad was able to get out of the hospital the night before Thanksgiving! We didn't spend Thanksgiving with them, but they went to their good friends house for dinner. So they were well taken care of. 

We however did go to Hub's sister's house for dinner and the best thing was that everyone in Hubs's family was there!! So we were able to get an updated family picture (although it will be out of date come March with a new nephew). I love family pictures and was so excited that my brother in law emailed this to me.

The day was so great with kids running around shooting Nerf dart guns at each other (which Hubs decided that mac needs some for his birthday and Hubs can hardly handle the anticipation of playing Nerf guns with Mac) and playing hide-n-go-seek and enjoying company of family. I have awesome nieces who love Oak and will take her to go play and I can trust that they will keep a good eye on her so I don't have to follow her around everywhere. Dinner was yummy and then all the guys went to a movie like they do every year. The women got ready for a full night of shopping. i didn't go, but they were able to pick a few things up for me. They literally went from 9pm to 7am. I don't know if I could have handled that, I really hate shopping. I love spending holidays with family.

Now on to the next holiday...

November in pictures...

Stickers have been the favorite thing around here lately. I am constantly finding them on the bottom of my socks and on every surface of our house. 

When I was at Time Out for Women my amazing Hubs took the kids to the Lake House with his dad for the weekend. They were able to get a little fishing done.

My dad spent nine days in the hospital right before Thanksgiving. We went up to the hospital to visit him every single day. So thankful he is doing better.

This is Macaroni and Tomato Juice. I grew up on it and it is so yummy! I have been eating it for lunch almost every day lately.

For Oaks birthday some friends gave Oak a Build-A-Bear that she could take and get stuffed herself. So on a day that it could be just her and I, I took her in. She loved it!

So proud!

My cuties on Thanksgiving.

I can't remember what upset McCoy, but he was mad at me about something so he went and wrote my name and drew a broken heart next to it. The house underneath was because he was going to leave home because I had broke his heart. As soon as I explained to him about what ever it was that he got upset at me for he decided I hadn't broke his heart and crossed it out and drew a new heart with a check mark next to it. I about died of the cuteness. 

I am trying to get more pics of me with my kids.

It was a beautiful day and the kids were having fun playing outside in the sunshine.

Oak loves to build towers with the blocks. While getting ready for church I was super impressed that when she realized she couldn't reach the top of her tower that she pulled the stool over to help her. Look how straight her tower is?! 

Another of her impressive towers.

I bought her a really cute princess dress up on clearance after Halloween and she refused to wear it and decided that the buzz lightyear dress up was way cooler and she wore it the entire day.

When my dad got out of the hospital, he came back to my house to stay for a couple of days since he couldn't drive yet. We let him sleep in Mac's bed and Mac went and made his bed special for his grandpa to sleep in. It was so sweet and adorable!!

Oak playing with Uncle Laren. 

The kid table at Thanksgiving. 

Mac playing with grandpa after getting home from the hospital.

We are Beaver Believers even when we lost in the Civil War. 

She is just too darn cute!!

Today is a...

...stay in our jammies,

build a fort, 

eat banana bread for breakfast,

watch a movie in our fort,

take a break to dance to Micheal Franti,

eat more banana bread,

and laugh and giggle with my babies

kind of day.

Just what the doctor ordered for the sickies in our family!

giving thanks...

I have so much to be thankful for.

Especially this year!

I am pretty sure a list won't fully cover it all.

But it is a start...

I am thankful, grateful and blessed...

...for my health.

I had a serious health scare this year and although I feel like I was good at holding back the fear until there was actually something to worry about, it was terrifying. I am grateful it turned out to be nothing serious.

...for my little family.

they are my life, my world and my every breath is for them.

...for my husband.

he works so hard to make sure we are taken care of. he has to balance so much in his life and he does it for our little family. I would not change my life with him for anything.

...for my parents.

my dad has been in the hospital and it has been scary to see his health decline and to actually think about the fact that I won't always have my parents with me on earth.

...for my extended family.

I love living so close to my husbands family, they are a pretty amazing family. and it has been an amazing getting to see so much of my family this year.

...for adoption.

this path has made my life more beautiful than I could have ever imagined for myself. because of this miracle I am a mother.

...for our amazing birth families.

I sometimes have to pinch myself with how enriched my life is to know these special people. their sacrifice is my joy. and to love them and my babies is the only way to thank them enough. because of them I am a mother.

...for the gospel.

without it I would be in a very deep, dark place. because of the gospel I can find joy in my sorrows.

...for my Heavenly Father.

I have no doubt he has gifted me my life. that he knows and loves me in every way possible. that his hand has guided me through so many things.

...for my Savior.

he has done everything for ME.

...for the Temple.

I get my family FOREVER. I want nothing less for the family I have worked so hard for and I want nothing less for my children.

...for my needs met.

I have a beautiful, warm home, food in my pantry, a car to get around, insurance to help cover medical costs, opportunities to make wonderful memories with my family. No one needs any more than that to make them happier. 

...for a new day.

to wake up every morning and be alive, to be able to live my life. to be able to start new every day and try to be a better, person, wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.

...for tender mercies and answered prayers.

they are real! I am living proof! I am reminded everyday of these in my life and could not be more grateful.

cute and funny...

It has been awhile it seems since I have done a funnies post. I haven't been that great at keeping track of all the funny things my kids do and say, but let me tell you there is no shortage in our house. Love my babies!!

Mac:  My parents are needing some help with some things and my mom was being stubborn about me helping her so I was firmly scolding her about it. And Mac breaks into the conversation saying, "Don't talk to her like that, you are not Grandma's Mom!" My mom and I were hysterical, lol!

Oak: we were walking down a large, long, empty hall at the hospital. Mac was running ahead of us and Oak was right next to me yelling "Mac walk please! Mac walk PLEASE!" Then a man was walking toward us and Oak says politely to him "Excuse me sir." as she walks by him.

Oak: She takes something off my dresser and looks at me and says, "I am taking this...don't say no!" Love her!

Mac: We were talking to him about how awesome it is that he has a mom AND a birth mom. And he says, "Do you know what else is awesome about me?...I have red hair!" ...DEFINITELY!!

Mac: He wrote out his name and then put a dot at the end..."Mom, look Mac dot com!"

Oak: "Mama, you are beautiful!!"
Me: "Thank you Oak, you are so beautiful too!"
Oak: "You are pretty cute."
Me: Thank you, I think you are pretty cute too."
Oak: "Mama, you are AWESOME!!"
Me: "Wow! Thank you Oak! I think YOU are so awesome!"
Oak: "I so proud of you Mama!"
Me: "I am so proud of you big girl!"

Oak: I was giving Mac my normal little pep talk as he was leaving for Preschool, "Be a good listener, follow directions, be a good friend and be a good example." Oak on her own adds in, "Don't say the S word at Preschool." (The S word in our house is the word stupid). 

Mac: He will randomly ask questions about us adopting another baby and it is just too sweet. Today he asked me when we get another baby if he can hold it. I told him yes and he said, "You mean our baby will be small enough for me to hold?!" He was so excited! He also has announced that we will name our next baby Junior Asparagus

McCoy: He was told to eat three bites of his dinner before he could be done. He says, "If I liked it, I would eat the whole thing!" I guess he has a point...