Santa Clause and Carousals

We took the kids to see Santa clause on Saturday night at the Riverfront Park by our house. Last year McKenna cried and wouldn't take a picture with him so this year she kept telling me "mom I am not afraid, I will sit on Santa's lap so I can tell him what I want for Christmas. I won't cry." It was so cute.
True to her word, we got there and she went and sat by Santa and told him what she wants for Christmas. She said she wanted a barbie house with lots of barbies and a table and chairs. Graysen actually sat on his lap too but didn't really have an expression just a blank face. I think Santa knew what he wanted though without having to be told.
Santa gave them each a bell which they continued to shake for the rest of the night, and in McKenna's case swing it around so it almost hits everyone....good thing she was a good sport about putting it and keeping it in her pocket the rest of the time.
We got to ride on the carousal with the kids which was really fun. The kids absolutely loved it, McKenna was the very essence of pure joy and Graysen had fun even though he was holding onto the pole for dear life. They were so sweet and I am so glad we could create these special memories with them.

I love my family and am so grateful I get to spend time doing little fun things like this and see the happiness that it brings to all of us. I am grateful for the Christmas season and for the special spirit that is everywhere. What a wonderful time to celebrate the birth of our Savior and to create traditions that will last a lifetime.

Pumpkin Patch 11

We were up in Beaverton for the weekend so we decided to go with Grandma and Grandpa Allen to the pumpkin patch. We were so glad because Travis was actually able to come with us this year. We go to the Lake View farms one in North Plains which we love.
McKenna was so excited to ride the train and the barrel ride. It was so much more fun for Graysen too since he was just a little one when we went last yearThe kids had a blast riding the train, Kenna got a little scared when we went through the tunnel where there are scary things in there, but she still liked it.
We got to the pumpkin patch and Kenna and Graysen helped us with the wheelbarrow so we could get our pumpkins.
Graysen and Kenna both picked out the pumpkins they wanted and they did a great job!
Graysen would try to pick up the bigger pumpkins and would just grunt and get frustrated that he couldn't pick them up.
He was so excited about all the pumpkins and just kept running around and saying "ooh" It was really funny to watch. Kenna was content on rolling them all over the place and putting them in the wheelbarrow and trying to help push it.

They played in the hay bale maze which they both thought was pretty neat and loved just running around in there with all the other kids. They also climbed on top of the hay bale mountain

We took the boat back which was fun because there were sea monsters that popped out of the lake and a shark which McKenna thought was so cool.
Kenna got to ride in a barrel pulled by a tractor which was really fun for her. I loved seeig the esxcitement and joy on her face. She was so happy that grandma and grandpa treated her to a fun ride.

We had a lot of fun and will definately be going there next year again. It was so nice of Grandma and Grandpa Allen to be able to share this fun time with us too and we were glad they came with us.

Fun days at the Park

We have been trying to go to the park as much as possible before the rainy season begins and we are confined indoors. McKenna and Graysen love the park and get so excited every time I ask them if they want to go.
They have a lot of fun playing with eachother and it is so nice that they can entertain themselves for the most part when we are there. They each have their own thing that they like to do.

Graysen's favorite thing to do at the park (aside from trying to drink out of the dog water fountain) is to go down the slide. He will just climb up the stairs and go down the slide over and over again. He just loves it! His face is so cute and he tries to climb up it but he just falls down and laughs.

McKenna used to really love swings, but her new love is the Monkey Bars. She is so good at them. She used to be only able to do about one or two, but she just kept practicing and now can go back forth at will. She is so strong and so proud of herself. It makes me so happy that she has that kind of focus and determination to keep trying something until she figures it out. She does that with everything and I think that is so awesome.

I love my little monkey and my sliding man. I am glad they like playing outside so much and it is nice to be able to get out of the house. I can't wait to see what their new loves will be in a few months or if they will stay the same.

Ears and Tears

So a few months ago Courtney came to Oregon with her girls and Lexi had her ears pierced. Ever since then McKenna has been asking if she could get her ears pierced too like Lexi. I was fine with it, but Travis thought she was too young because it was going to hurt.
Well one day Kenna had asked Travis if she could get her ears pierced and he told her it was going to hurt like someone pinched her hard. She knew it would hurt but wanted to do it anyway, so he told her she could get them pierced.
We went up to Beaverton last Saturday so Travis could play golf with his dad and so my mother-in law and I took the kids to the mall to get Kenna's ears pierced. She was so excited and couldn't stop talking about it.

We took her to clairs and she sat in the chair bouncing up and down with glee. We picked out some pretty white gold balls and she wanted to sit on my lap while they pierced them. I told her it would hurt a little bit and to hold really still. When they did the first ear she was like "oww" and then just hung her head and started crying. They did the other one really fast. She cried for a little bit, but as soon as we showed her how pretty they were in the mirror she forgot all about it hurting.

She also got to pick out her very own earrings.
She chose some Hello Kitty ones and she can't wait to wear them.I should have gotten a picture of her in the chair, but I didn't :( She is very happy she now has her ears pierced like Lexi and shows them off to everyone she sees.

School time

My little girl is growing up. She had her first day of preschool today. She has been looking forward to going to school all week and it finally came. As soon as she woke up she asked if it was time for school yet and she had to wear her hello kitty backpack all around the house.
We got her all ready and she picked out a cute outfit and told me what she wanted in her hair. She looked so grown up and so cute! She looks like she could be in kindergarten already, but I am not ready to let her go to school every day yet, I would miss her too much.
Me and a few other ladies in my ward are doing a co-op where we take turns teaching each week at our houses. There are 6 kids total and so I think it will be really fun. We will see how it goes. I will be nervous when it is my time to teach, but I am sure it will be fine. This is my first time doing something like this, and Kenna's, so we will see how it works out, but I am excited about it.
I dropped her off and she went right in and started playing, she didn't even care about me or that I left so I guess that is good that she isn't apprehensive about going to school at all. She told Graysen on the way that when he was older he could go to preschool too, and that she would be back later. It was really cute.
McKenna said she had so much fun playing with her friends. They learned about

Just Dance

McKenna loves Angelina Ballerina the movie, and so when I told her we were going to put her in a dance class she was sooo excited! She is always dancing and twirling around the house and she loves music.
We went out and picked her out a dance outfit and of course she had to put it on right away, and of course it had to be all pink just like Angelina Ballerina. She looks so cute in it and is looks forward to going to class every week.
She had her first day of dance class yesterday and she had so much fun! It is kind of funny because she is so tall that she towers over all the other girls there. If she wants to do ballet she will have the perfect little body for it since she is tall and skinny.
She listened to her teacher really well and had a lot of fun doing all the dance moves. I was really surprised at how good she was at doing the things they asked her too. She was really sad when it ended, but she will have something to look forward to each week.
I can't wait until she has her dance recitals, she is going to look so cute and it will be so fun to watch her dance. I hope she will keep on with it later in her life, but for now she has fun and likes it so that is all that matters.
I love my little princess dancer!

Escape to Nauvoo

So I know I should have posted this a few months ago but things have been a little crazy. We went to Nauvoo in May for about 5 weeks while Travis was in China. I had to do something to keep my mind off him being gone so I wouldn't go crazy since he was gone for 3 whole months. I had a really fun time with my parents and sisters and brother and all my neices. My mom and dad always had a full house while we were there and we loved it!
McKenna was especially so excited to be able to play with all her cousins She doesn't get to do that very often any more so it was really nice for her. Graysen of course just was as happy as ever and just loved all the attention from everyone. It was his first time meeting his Uncle Brett and Grandpa and our new addition to the family Uncle Don whom he just loved.
Can I just say that my kids did amazing on the plane. I seriously couldn't have asked it to go any better then it did. I was very blessed because I thought that it was going to be a nightmare. They got extra brownie points with me that is for sure.
We got to go to Iowa city and spend time with my brother and sister and law and there kids and go to the Amana colonies which was really fun. I got to meet my nephew Everett for the first time too and he is adorable! We also went up to Galesburg and stayed with my sister and her two kids for a little bit which was really fun too. I got to be Annie's patient which was nice cause I got my teeth cleaned and it felt good.We were always doing something, my parents spoiled us a lot! We went to see a lot of the little things in town that I hadn't seen yet and we went to the pioneer park a lot and to Carthage again and just had fun doing whatever.
We went on oxen rides and horse carriage ride, it was a blast. We went to the zoo and played outside a lot.
I got to go to the temple with my sister and her fiance which was really nice. I am so glad he will be part of our family cause he is a great guy.
My mom and I went on walks in the mornings and got our excercise on.....the hill with a double stroller that wasn't a jogging one was not especially fun, but oh how it gave us a workout. I was dying by the time we got up the hill, but at least we made it. We would also sit out on the porch or in the back on the swing and just look for fireflies and watch the sunset and just talk. It was those times I think I enjoyed the most and will always remember them. I love my parents and I feel like I became closer with them and with my other family while I was there since I don't get to see them that often any more.
Graysen had his first bath in the sink which he thought was so fun!
He also cut more teeth while we were there so that was a little hard on him but he was still a good trooper all things considering.
We also all took the kids horseback riding at these people's house my parents know. It was so much fun, the kids were extactic and were talking about it all week. It was the highlight of McKenna's trip that is for sure. It was so fun to see how much fun they were all having and to see the joy on their faces. It was a fun day.
I had so much fun spending time with my family. I just love visiting Nauvoo. There is a special spirit there and I just feel kind of at home in a way. I have decided I love small towns now and wouldn't mind living in one.
So that is my little escape to Nauvoo and I am actually going back to Nauvoo in August now for my sister's wedding and then for Christmas so I am super excited. It will be so fun!