Mackenzie's "Incredible" 7th Birthday

Determined to see what's inside!!
YAHOOOO!! For new roller blades
Mackenzie is 7
Nickolas and Logan enjoying the party

pizza anyone?
Lukas and Daddy watching the bumper cars
Lauryn and Mackenzie
Emily, Grandma Susie, Lauryn and Mac
Make a wish!!
Mommy, Nickolas and Mac
Playing games
Luke figured out the games real quick!
This ride was right about Jack's speed...
Auntie April loves to play!

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY MACKENZIE NICOLE!!

Mackenzie turned 7 today!! We had an "incredible" party at John's Incredible pizza with our family. Everyone feasted on pizza, pasta, salad, bread sticks and plenty of dessert. The fresh mini doughnuts were a huge hit for everyone. We played video games, bowled, rode the rides including the mini roller coaster and enjoyed cake and presents. Mackenzie received some wonderful craft projects (which she loves, because she's so creative!) new clothes, books, a game, money and roller blades which she hasn't taken off since. I am praying she doesn't try to wear them to bed tonight... ha ha. We had such a good time with our family and we are so grateful that we are close enough to enjoy these special moments. So Happy Birthday to our crazy little princess Mackenzie. We love you so much and are blessed you are ours. Okay now a funny note. We have been keeping a family gratitude journal for about a year now with our kids that we update every few days or when we remember. Before bed we'll go around the room and ask what things each are grateful for that day and then I write it down in the book next to their name. Mackenzie had asked me if she could have her very own gratitude journal since she can write now, so we bought her one for her birthday. I found it later this evening in the kitchen and wondered if she'd started writing it yet. She had, and this is was she wrote:

I am gratfle for my famaly = I am grateful for my family

I am gratfle for frenz = I am grateful for friends

I am gratfle for Niklis = I am grateful for Nickolas

Then she must have asked all her friends who were in the garage playing today what they were grateful for and this is what she wrote:

Jourdin is gratfle for Sokr = Jordan is grateful for Soccer

Jack is gratfle for diprs = Jack is grateful for diapers?

Josh is gratfle for name tags.

Anyhow, it struck me that even when we don't think our children are paying any attention to what we are trying to teach them, they are. It made my heart smile. Today I am grateful for Mackenzie and her shining example to all of us.

A day with Shouka

Daddy and Mackenzie
The best ride of all
All this playing has worn me out!!
Jack dancing with Sylvester up on stage


Mac, Luke and Jack watching the walrus play
Cute humongous walrus
Luke, Mac and Jack petting stingrays
Super girl
Who doesn't love the merry go round?

Batman
Up Up and Away
Bugs and Daffy
Shouka the whale
Buddies forever

We spent our Saturday at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom over the weekend. It was a beautiful 75 degrees. The kids had a blast and since Nickolas is so little he slept most of the day. Because our kids are such animal lovers (especially Macknezie) Discovery Kingdom is the place to go. There is a great assortment of rides for young kids along with plenty of animals and activities perfect for little hands. We loved the "shark experience" and petting the sting rays. Thomas town was a big hit and we rode the merry go round about a dozen times since there were virtually no lines. We watched Shouka the whale do her thing and enjoyed the penguins. The highlight was when Mackenzie and Jack got to go up on stage to dance with some of the characters during the looney toon talent show. Everyone is already asking when do we get to go back again?

Maybe for Halloween!!

Cousin Sleep-overs

Mac, Tristyn, Randy and Jack reading bedtime stories
Randy and Karson playing Horsey
Tickle Tickle Tickle
Big Hugs for Uncle Randy

Superheros Jack, Luke and Kaden
Painting fingernails with our cousins
Grandma Nonnie enjoying the grandkids
Popcorn anyone??
Lukas loves popcorn too!



Thought I'd say a few words about our cousins (My Sister Julie's kids) Our kids love when they get to have a sleep over with their cousins. Although it doesn't occur as often as they'd like we have a blast when they come over. They are such great kids. These pictures are from two separate sleep overs so I could capture some fun moments. The girls love to paint fingers and toes. The boys love to play super heros and the little boys love to eat popcorn of course. Grandma Nonnie was sleeping over both times as well which the kids love because she is not only fun herself but the kids love her dogs Kozy and Roxy.

Is cloning really possible??

Nickolas
Lukas

Randy and Nickolas
Randy and Lukas
Lukas
Nickolas

Okay, so when it was time for Nickolas' baby blessing at Church I dressed him in the same outfit that we blessed Lukas in, which I had saved. Once I saw the pictures we took, it occurred to me how much these boys really resemble each other. We also noticed that Randy had on the exact same suit and tie in both sets of pictures (he only has so many ties to choose from I guess) It appears that cloning really is possible...

Double the Blessings

Papa Mickey and his newest Grandsons Randy, Papa Mickey, David and boys Papa Cal, Nickolas and Randy Uncle Chris and the boys
What a special day it was today! We had double the blessings at Church today. Nickolas and Logan (my sister Emily's baby) were blessed today. Most of our family was there which made it really special for us. We were sitting in church waiting for the services to begin when my brother Chris walked in... We didn't know he was going to fly in from Utah so Randy had tears in his eyes when he saw Chris because it meant so much to us that he was there.

After Church we all came back to our house for lunch. Everyone loved the homemade foccacia my Mom made and of course the famous hom-o-witt rolls with honey butter. Plenty of yummy food for everyone.

I am so grateful for Randy and that he is such a wonderful Father to our children. They are so lucky to have him for their Dad. Our children are lucky to have wonderful Grandparents all around and Auntie's, Uncles and cousins who love them. WHAT A BLESSING.

Okay, one funny thing about today: The house was buzzing with family and friends of course and Lukas was eating lunch with my Dad and Randy at the table. Lukas turned to Randy and said " I don't like all these people, I only like you and Mommy" You must know that Randy and My Dad both are not much for crowds and would much rather hide out in the"man cave" So, after having 2 social butterflies (Mac and Jack) we have Luke who is much like his Dad and Grandpa. I thought it was funny. So the day is over and I'm off to nurse #4 ( We keep calling him Luke, poor thing, we'll remember his name soon enough I hope) Oh, yeah it's Nickolas :-)

Night Night Ya'll.

Happy Labor Day 2008

Who doesn't love cotton candy?! Yum!

Jack, is that a blue edible mustache??

Lukas taking a whack at the pinata

Some of the girls making jewelry

Randy, what a fun day we had!!

Happy Labor Day!! What a blast we had today. We had a block party with all of our wonderful neighbors that we love so much. The kids played all day together in the court riding bikes, rollerblading and skate boarding. The girls made jewelry and flower leis while the boys ate cotton candy until it was coming out of their ears. We rented a cotton candy machine and boy did that go over well! Later we drug out the barbecues and grilled up everything from steak to burgers to carne asada (excellent food Fred and Jonathon) We enjoyed more food than we could all eat and plenty of desserts for everyone. The day ended with a fantastic rooster pinata chock full of more candy candy candy!! All the kids had a turn whacking the poor bird until he dumped candy all over the street. Thank you Salazar family for supplying such a fun activity! What a great day we had. It was pretty windy so we had to abandon the bounce house idea, but we had a terrific time. What a blessing it is to have such great people as our neighbors...