The Boyd 5

Summer Memories

2011-08-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

Our boys

The boys and I at Shallow Bay on Sucia Island

Mom, Dad and kids

Drew and the boys took a plane ride on his 36th birthday with our neighbor on Orcas

Lachlan taking sailing lessons

Summer really just started weather-wise but the boys will be back in school next week. I'm excited for them because they are excited but honestly I'm going to miss the little buggers. We've seriously had a wonderful summer even though the weather was less than perfect.

We spend about 4 weeks (not consecutive) out on Orcas. Lachlan took sailing lessons twice, which he LOVED. While Lachlan was sailing Cohen and Mack and I hiked. I cannot believe how well Mack does. He's hiking about 4-6 miles now. It's so fun to do this with them! When Lachlan was done with sailing we would play on the beach all afternoon or swim in the neighbors pool. I just love being with my kids...what a blast. We also spent many days at the beach, taking bike rides and having beach days at home. We also spent a day with my highschool friend Trina and her kids at Lake Cavanaugh. We also camped in our trailer at our annual church convention which was the highlight of our summer! I'm sad to see the summer end but excited for a new school year.

Yesterday we spent a couple hours in the boys' classes. They will be at the same school this year and that will make things easier for me. The boys loved seeing their teachers and some of their friends. Mack will start preschool a couple afternoons a week too. He's excited about that!

Drew is working like a mad man as usual. Running two businesses is keeping him on his toes. We are now doing marine work at Countryside and we were able to get an Evinrude/Johnson boat service dealership! We were thrilled about that. Things are going well on the work front but we could be busier (in terms of business)...come on econemy!

All for now...I will write more in 3-6 months or maybe before!!

Home

2011-04-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

Home is a wonderful place to be but I will miss Maui. We had such an absolute wonderful trip! Two beautiful weeks spent with my family can make a girl feel very spoiled! The weather was good and we spent a day in Kipahulu where my childhood girlfriend now lives. Wow...what an experience. They live simply and it is quite motivating to thing about slowing down and enjoying each moment.

These last months have held big changes for us so it was so good to have time away. In February we started our own business. Countryside Service, LLC started doing business on March 1st. The middle of March we purchased Blue Ribbon Steel Buildings. http://www.blueribbonbuildings.com/ We have been very busy. Drew is so excited to be overseeing these two businesses. Blue Ribbon literally fell in our laps, and I'm sure people will wonder why we bought a business like this in this econemy but they have stayed steady these last 4 years and have had a profit each year. It's a business with a good reputation and name and has been in the valley for over 30 years. So, if you need a residential pole building...call us :). Countryside Service is what Drew has been doing for the last 10 years so when my father offered to lease us the shop we couldn't pass it up. Everything was in place, so we created an LLC, got a license, bought some supplies and are good to go! So cross your fingers that these changes will be good ones for us. We did A LOT of long and hard thinking about all this, lots of sleepless nights and we are hopeful!

So we are rested from vacation and ready to roll!

I had tons of pictures I just loved but here are some of my favorites!

Snow...and lots of it!

2011-02-24T14:05:00.001-08:00

They said we might get snow but I did not believe them and I told the boys not to get excited. But yesterday we woke up to about 5 inches! School was closed and the boys and I were out in it by 8 a.m. The snow kept coming down...by last night at 10 p.m. we had about 20" and it had stopped snowing! No school today and the boys have been out many times today playing on the wall of snow Drew build for them with the tractor. However, I am sick with the flu today so no fun for me-boohoo- especially when I was hoping to be playing right along with them. Oh well, the view is beautiful from here.

The table outside yesterday morning

The boys sledding

The table and view this morning!

9 and 3

2010-12-30T14:40:00.001-08:00

Lachlan is 9 as of yesterday and McKenon is 3! I can hardly believe it and time seems to be flying. Yesterday I told Lach that in 9 years he will be applying for college ready to leave the nest. He started crying and said "Mom, I will never leave you"! Oh how on some days I wish that were true, but we all know in 9 short years if we have prepared him right he will be ready and so will I (maybe). He's such a wonderful child and I cannot imagine my kids setting off on their own. Makes me want loads more kids-I will miss these special times with them. I love them to bits.

Mack spent his birthday morning in the ER after jumping off the ladder of the bunk beds last night. His foot is fine and he told me this morning "Mommy, I will never jump off that again I promise" but I just bet he will. It's actually rather amusing to see a 3 year-old crawling everywhere he wants to go. Boys are active and he is no exception. Oh, by the way the foot is fine just a bad sprain. Mack is potty trained as of about a month ago! He's so ready to start swimming lessons in two weeks! That is what really pushed him to finally train-he's so tired of watching his brothers swim! He keeps telling everyone "I'm potty trained and I get to go to swimming lessons".

Winter break has been hard because the kids were sick the entire time. They seem to be better and we are headed to Orcas for a few days! So excited and it looks like the weather will be cold but beautiful!

Wishing you all a very wonderful 2011!

McKenon is 3
Lachlan and all his buddies went to Planet Jupiter
Lachlan and Keegan his good friends since 1st grade

Back to school

2010-09-08T14:16:00.000-07:00

Both Lachlan and Cohen are in school now. They are so so happy to be there! Cohen is thrilled to be in kindergarten, and Lach is happy to be back with his friends and meeting new ones! Mack is enjoying a little time with just me but asks several times every morning where "Lach and Yo" are and when are we picking them up? We've enjoyed doing quite a bit of swinging and reading while the've been at school.

Next week I will start working in the classrooms. Cohen in the mornings and Lachlan in the afternoon once each week. I am really looking forward to this time. Mack will be spending one day a week with my Mom or sister which he always LOVES! In some ways it's nice to get back to schedules but I am already missing summer lazy days!

I think summer is over here. The weather has been rainy and very cool. Everyone seems excited for fall and winter but not me...give me summer over those two seasons any day!

Here are some pictures from the first days of school.
My big 3rd grader!
Lachlan's 3rd grade class
Ready for school!
At his desk...Mack wants to go to kindergarten too
Cohen lined up with his class

Tomorrow is September already!

2010-08-31T15:44:00.000-07:00

School starts tomorrow. I was a little in denial until last nights school potluck and that got me excited about the year ahead. Lachlan's school program Visions is going to be doing some really fun things so it's something to look forward too. Cohen starts kindergarten in 1 week. He is so so excited! I'm looking forward to working in the kids' class one day a week.

We had a fantastic summer. The weather wasn't perfect but we ended up spending a ton of time at Orcas and 4 days at the river, a day at the waterslides, a day hiking and a couple days at the beach (other than Orcas). The boys had a blast, and I had so much fun spending time with them. We ended the summer at our annual church conventions which were unspeakably perfect. We actually took our trailer this year and camped up there which really made it special. Cohen cried and cried when it was time to leave. So many things were shared that made my "to do" list very long, but I am hoping for a great year until next convention!

In addition to tomorrow being the first day of school, tomorrow is also September. Cohen turns 6 at the end of the month! I think he will also loose his first tooth this month. A lot of firsts for him! I am hoping for a beautiful September before fall. I always love the vivid colors that start happening in September.

We have a new DOG! She's an 11-month old labradoodle and just a dolly. Georgia has been with us for just a few days but I can tell she's going to be a great part of our family! She LOVES the boys and they adore her. I found Lachlan and Mack in her kennel with her early this morning :). I also am training her to run with me and she's so smart and doing really well on the leach. We also got a couple kitties about 5 weeks ago. They are sweet and love the kids. We are hoping they will be very good mousers!

Here are some recent pictures: The boys at the beach
Our kitties Lucy and Sully

Hike up to Lake Ann

Madeline, Hannah, Lachlan, Landon & Cohen at waterfall on the hike to Lake Ann

Miss Georgia Rain and her boys :)

SUMMER!

2010-07-17T08:13:00.001-07:00

As of July 5th summer finally arrived here. I was getting really worried. We had a week of really high temps while on vacation on Orcas. What a treat. We had a wonderful 2 weeks away at our "home away from home". We mainly relaxed, hiked everyday, kayaked, boated and swam in the neighbors pool. We just loved not having any kind of a schedule. Drew got a week with us which was our first vacation this year.

The boys are doing so great this summer. I love that they go with the flow with just about anything. They love to go, go, go like their Mom and Dad and everyday I get "what are we doing today?". Lachlan starts sailing lessons on Orcas on Monday so we are headed back up tomorrow afternoon. He is very excited about it. He will learn everything he needs to know to sail his own vessel. I am hoping next summer he will take the next course. Cohen is doing great. He loved sleeping in the tent at Orcas. His grass allergies have been manageable and he's loving swimming, hiking and biking. Cohen is very excited for kindergarten! McKenon is growing like a weed and really looking like a 3-year-old! He's getting close to being potty trained. I'm not real great about being consistant with it or I think he would be all done with diapers. He is talking tons. He's got these words he learns and the way he uses them are just hilarious. One of my favorites is "Mom, turn around" most of the time I am facing him but what he is telling me is "look at this". Everything is "I know" right now :). He, of course, knows everything! "Sorry" is also one of his favorites even though I know he meant to do something naughty. He's a crack up! He wants to do EVERYTHING the big boys do which is very interesting.

Here are some pictures from our recent time on Orcas:
On our way to Orcas!

Orcas 4th of July parade

Drew's 35th birthday on the 4th!

Beautiful sunset from the cabin

boating!

Matia Island

Captain Mack

Nicole & David came up for a night

Little critters

2010-05-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

Last night we found out why we've had a hole in our firepit. We tried filling the hole with water, we've burned and still we have 4 new baby bunnies that are popping their heads out. They are so cute! 1/2 domestic (from the neighbors) and 1/2 wild!

Here are a couple pictures of the little critters.

May 2010

2010-05-06T14:23:00.001-07:00

Spring is such a busy time for us! Okay, we are always busy but spring seems the busiest! We are getting the garden ready and trying to get all the things in the yard done so we can enjoy summer. Oh, we are also finishing up the school year which means lots of extra activities.

This picture cracks me up of Mack...he doesn't know why he's hunting eggs but he found one and is very excited about it!

Lachlan's class went on a beach walk last week. It was a blast! The volunteers from WSU were so awesome. I've decided it would be something I would really enjoy when the kids are gone in 16-20 years :)....can someone remind me because I have a feeling my brain will be gone by then! Anyway, off track there, the beach walk was great. Next week we go see the tall ships and a play. The following week it's off to the Aquarium in Seattle. Then there are just a couple more before the year ends! We are all excited for summer!

Lach's class on the beach walk

VISIONS big yearly benefit auction is this wkend and I will be very happy when that is finished for another year! It's been a lot of work but I think it will be really great!

The weather around here has been anything but spring-like. It's been very cool and just when the sun comes out I think "okay, I might be able to get some of that Vitamin D stuff" I go outside and it is just too cold...then I get grumpy. I would like some warm sunshine!

In spite of the weather we've been finishing up the landscaping! I've been waiting 5 years to get it done and now it is so close! All the hard work is finished and I am buying and placing plants. I want it to look just right so it takes time! I can't have anything too tall because it would block our view. So, it's almost there! I think I have most of the main plants in and will fill in here and there through the years.

Rocks are in!

Everything done but the plants!

Spring color in the front of the house

We took our new (old) trailer out for the first time last wkend. What a ball. We went to Deception Pass State Park for just one night. The boys were beyond giddy! Mack was so excited too even though he didn't know why. He just kept saying "trailer"...smile. The night went well and we are excited to use it again next week at Fort Ebey. Cross your fingers for good weather!

Deception Pass State Park

Beautiful light!

The garden is growing as it should despite the weather. We are eating spinach out of it and lettuce will be ready in a few days. I'm anxious to get everything planted but it's too soon yet. Another 1-3 weeks if the weather warms up.

Another veggie garden (we now have 2)

Another funny one of Mack

Hello April

2010-04-10T15:48:00.002-07:00

Well, it's spring! It's one of my favorite seasons! Summer is around the corner, and to be honest I can't WAIT! I love summer because it means all my kiddos are out of school and all the hard work of the year has paid off...we get a break. Only 2 more months!

The last couple months have continued to be busy. Lachlan had his 2nd Market Day of the year. We made 70 bags of homemade carmel corn and he made $601 in Market Day money-after he paid his employees and spent a little! It's very neat to see him understanding business a lot more this year and wanting to "put more in the bank". Cohen is loving his preschool. They incubated eggs and on March 17th 5 little babies were hatched. Of course it was very exciting! Can you believe I sign him up for kindergarten this next week! He's so excited! Since he will be going to the same school as Lachlan he already knows his teacher and where his class will be!

Mack continues to "Wow" us with his toddler talk :). It's so cute. He knows how to say his brothers names and it is hilarious. "Yach" and "Yo" and he talks about them constantly. He's just talking up a storm! He loves to play and everything is "play, play, play" especially outside! He spends hours outside playing with the boys and sometimes just sitting on his John Deere "riding" with his keys in hand. Drew found him 3 old sets of keys and he is constantly asking for his "keys".

Drew and I have been working quite a bit on the outside landscaping in the back. It is coming right along. I will post some pictures when I finally take some! It's been 5 years since we've been in this house and finally all the landscaping is almost done! I can't wait to be done and finished with it! We rototilled a new garden spot and are leaving the other one mostly fallow this year. I've started putting carrots, lettuce, beets, cabbage and spinach in. I'm having a little problem with my neighbors domestic bunnies so I haven't quite figured out what to do. Drew has some ideas that involve a gun and I hope it doesn't come to that!

Here are a couple recent pictures:

Lachlan had a day off school and I took the boys skiing by myself...won't be doing that again soon...Cohen is Heavy!

A common sight...the boys jammin'

Spring Market Day

The boys strangling Drew in a hotel pool

A walk around Greenlake made me very thankful for Lake Padden...Greenlake is a busy place!

St. Patrick's Day

Mackie with a MESSY face

The boys and Auntie Leota making monkey bread...yum!

2 year pictures

2010-02-08T14:52:00.000-08:00

My friend Shannon of Sweetpea Memories Photography came over to capture Mack's 2 year milestone. She chased him all around the yard on a beautiful January day. At the end he was covered in mud from a puddle he found (see collage) but thankfully that was when we were all done. It was a really fun photoshoot. My little guy is growing up.

My favorite picture

Cohen getting in on the action

Working hard with the shovel

His hand is in his pocket...so cute!

Again, check out the hand in his pocket

Off and running

Action shot!

What's up?

2010-01-28T14:24:00.000-08:00

Well, really nothing new here but I didn't want to keep you in suspense! Life is busy as usual...school, errands, working at the school, duties for school, homework, reading to the boys, remodeling...you know the norm.

Actually, since the earthquake in Haiti my thoughts have been on our friends there, the loss of life, the orphans and the absolute utter sadness. It makes me very thankful for ALL that I have here.

Lachlan won a Citzenship bracelet at school and was honored for it yesterday at an assembly. He also had his 2nd Reader's Theatre this year and it was wonderful. I cannot believe what a better reader and performer he has become. Tuesday we spent with his class a the Whatcom Museum, which was awesome. It was a beautiful day so we went to Boulevard Park after for lunch.

Lachlan and Cohen have begun swimming lessons again and they are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30-5:30. They finish their first session today and start again next week. They love it. Mack, however, does not. He starts trying to take his clothes off as soon as we get there because he wants to swim so bad. So last week we took him to Family Swim and he just loved swimming. But this week he was so mad he couldn't swim at lessons. So, we have our wonderful neighbor/babysitter Stephanie (13) coming to babysit today to make it a little easier on me and him!

Here are a few pictures from Mack's birthday and other happenings:
Beautiful day on Orcas. A blue Heron
Drew and Mack walking to Eastsound on Orcas
Lachlan's Reader's Theatre "The Hat" by Jan Brett
Mack's Monkey cupcakes
Oh, super yummy!

8 & 2

2009-12-30T15:39:00.000-08:00

Lachlan turned 8 yesterday...yes 8. I really can hardly believe that 8 years ago today I was holding my 1 day old first baby boy. I had no idea about being a mother-I only knew it was what I wanted so badly for so long. Now, he is not quite so cuddly and I have learned so much. Sometimes I think back to the special time when it was just him and wish I could go back and enjoy it some more. Now I have awesome conversations with him and am amazed at what a respectful, wonderful boy he is! 2 boys have been born since then one 2 years ago today...

I can hardly believe that McKenon is 2! 2 precious years ago my labor was just beginning and went very quickly! My beautiful boy was born here at home and it is such a special memory for me! He's also not quite so cuddly anymore but I can still rock him before bed and he lays his head on my shoulder and we sing. It's precious time that I know will pass quickly, which almost brings tears to my eyes. Soon he'll be 8, Cohen will be 11 and Lachlan will be 14!

So all in all I am so very thankful for my 3 boys. They have taught me to be a mommy and I wouldn't take one moment away that I've had staying home and raising them.

Happy Birthday boys!

I'm MOM

2009-12-17T14:33:00.000-08:00

This is a Mack latest and greatest. He now calls me "MOM", only Mama when he is crying for me or hurt. MOM....okay is it just boys? Or maybe it's me? All my boys have never really called me "Mommy", it's "Mom". It seems only when they are really needing me am I "Mommy". So about a month ago I start hearing this "MOM" from the backseat. I think to myself, that cannot be my 23 month old calling me "Mom"...but alas it is! Now I often hear "Um, Mom"...unbelievable! He also calls Daddy "Drew" copying me, but I think "Drew" is endearing compared to "Mom"...I don't want "Mommy" to already be gone! Maybe it will come back? My sister's 2 daughters who are 11 & almost 15 still call her Mommy! NOT fair I say! I'm putting my foot down! "Boys, you have to call me Mommy for a few more years PLEASE!"

Beside the above it's been a wild month so far. Have I mentioned December is NOT my favorite month? 3 birthdays (including mine), countless Christmas things to do, baking that never ends (I'm a crazy baker and actually enjoy it), Christmas programs etc. So it's been a little crazy! I really want to enjoy it all but sometimes I get caught up in having everything perfect and don't enjoy it. We did get some snow the other day so that made up for all there is to do!

I do wish everyone a happy holiday and a HAPPY 2010!

Here's some pictures to make you smile :)

Bedroom/bathroom remodel

2009-11-18T15:34:00.000-08:00

I am just really thrilled with how the bathroom/bedroom is turning out. When we bought the house there was a room off the master that was meant to be a bathroom but the previous owners did nothing with it. Drew and I really wanted to have a bathroom of our own but the roof and many other "things" for the house got in the way. Now we have it and we are absolutely delighted! Next Monday we should have a glass door on the shower so we can finally use it. We had new carpet installed on Sunday and now our bedroom is like a new room too...boy what a difference! We have a few little things left in the bathroom to do like the trim but everything else is up and working! Here are some pictures:

Before
Progress
We removed the door and extended the wall to have a more open bathroom
Looks a little different!
Shower finished just waiting on glass
up close of the tile
New carpet feels like a new bedroom
Vanity

Aside from the excitement of the bathroom, life is moving along very quickly as usual. Lachlan's has had too many 1/2 days to count, which drive me crazy, and the holiday season is drawing very near. I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving next week and although business is still dreary there is so much to be thankful for! The weather has been really cold this week so I wonder if we will have snow again this year? We are hoping to go skiing next week too!

Market Day at Lach's school. He made and sold candles this time...and sold out!

The boys playing in the box that held our new toilet :). Unfortunately, it didn't last long!

Mack has been chatting up a storm. My new favorite is "Yah"...love it! He is always so tickled by everything new. He's a load of fun. He wakes up so happy. He is very busy though and I've forgotten how annoying it is to have toys ALL over my kitchen when they should be in the playroom.

HALLOWEEN!

2009-11-03T14:30:00.000-08:00

The boys had a ball this year dressing up, going to the schools fall festival and trick-or-treating. We had fun enjoying it all with them. I don't mean to brag but they are just super fun kids to do stuff with. Cohen was a little under the weather last week so we took it fairly easy. On Friday night we went to Lachlan's Fall Festival. He was so into it...going from game to game collecting all the candy he could. I didn't see him most of the time. I love that he is becoming so confident and sure of himself. Cohen still stayed close and Mack was all over the place. Our little school did a great job!

Halloween started off with a visit to Terry and Donna's. Terry was dressed as a Knight and when we walked up to the front door he was still as could be. The boys later said "We thought he was a statue" :). Mack was absolutely freaked out about his mask but as soon as he took it off all was well. We did a little trick or treating around their neighborhood with some of the kids from Lachlan's school. After that we headed to Great Grandma's house and saw Grandma and Grandpa too (Drew's mom and stepdad). They loved seeing the boys. Then we went trick-or-treating in our old neighborhood and it was a hoot to see some neighbors we hadn't seen for a while. A lot of them couldn't believe the boys were so big and that we had another baby! Time flies!

Mack is 22 months now! He's getting so big and doing such fun things. He's a little ham and loves attention.

The bathroom remodel is almost done. The tile will be done this week and then I'll get some pictures posted.

I've been making lots of soups and new recipes lately. It's been fun to try some new things. The soups have been a big hit! Soup always tastes yummy in the cold weather. Our favorites have been Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup, Chunky potatoe swiss chowder and potatoe and leek.

Enjoy November! We have so much to be thankful for!

The cowboy, the surgeon and the lion

The lion is escaping!
Can you tell Terry's a big hit?
All these kids go to school with Lachlan

Suncadia

2009-10-26T14:24:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Mom and Dad taking the kids for 2 nights we got away just the 2 of us. It's the first time in over two years since we went somewhere overnight by ourselves and we've never left Mack.

I dropped the kids off with Mom and Lachlan takes me aside and says "Two nights seems really long now Mommy". Lach tends to be the one who likes us around the most :). Mom said he got a little sad but did great. Mack and Cohen did too.

We had a really nice time. They upgraded us to a Penthouse one bedroom Lodge room for the same price. It was over 1,000 sq feet with a full kitchen and gorgeous view. We left on Wed afternoon, had dinner in Bellevue and then headed to the resort. What an awesome place! We biked around the resort where there are tons of paved trails and just lazed around. It was nice to have a chance to really talk and have fun!

It was good for us and good for the boys to have some time with Ma and Papa. Here are some pictures. Not too many because it is kind of boring to just take pictures of us :).

The view from our room

The Lodge

Fall stuff

2009-10-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

We've been busy with the remodel of the bathroom (I'll post pictures soon). It should be done in 1-2 weeks and then we will move everything out of our bedroom for new carpet. It will be so nice to have our own bathroom. On a difficult day I think Drew will know where he can find me...with the door locked :). I'm super excited for the boys to have their own space too...sometimes "Mom, open up I gotta pee" gets old when I am trying to shower, do my hair etc.

5 little pumpkins

Lach had his first Reader's Theatre of the year. It was great. He did so well. He's really reading
well!

Cohen is doing great at preschool...he absolutely loves it. I get the question "Mom, do I have school today" everyday. Makes me happy that he has no problem being away from me.

McKenon will be 22 months this week...almost 2! He's super most of the time. Last night, when I put him to bed I was in the kitchen making my weekly grocery list when I heard a thump then a cry. I went in and he had climbed out of his bed! Lach and Cohen never did this so this is new for me. He was sobbing and I hugged him and told him he couldn't climb out of his bed anymore. I don't think he will until he learns he can put his feet on the bottom of the crib...or maybe he just won't try again. Have I ever mentioned he still tastes everything...he's by far my most oral child (see picture below). This last week it was MORTAR from the remodel! I didn't know that he could get to it in the garage...but yep he ate some. I was freaking out because obviously it's not good to eat. Cohen happened to be in the garage with him when it happened so he promptly told me but still I wasn't sure how much he got. He was fine though. Then it was sand from the boys' sandbox in their room...he came out with a blue face...at least I know that is nontoxic. I can't figure out why he eats everything he comes in contact with but I keep hoping he will outgrow it (SOON PLEASE)! Otherwise, he's doing great.
Morning smoothie!

So far we haven't got the H1N1 flu but it is sure going around the schools and Drew's work. Yuck...I for sure don't want this stuff and worry about Drew getting it with his heart condition. I won't fret til there's something to fret about though.
The boys flying kites in the fall wind!

So everything is good...we even got away just the 2 of us. See the next post!

2009-10-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

I LOVE THIS LITTLE FACE....and yes that is dirt he's been eating!

Mack at almost 22 months

Fall evening

2009-10-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

The other night it was COLD when the sun went down but we built a fire and had hot apple cider. A great time was had. The boys always love building a fire with Daddy. Drew also did some tractor work on the property and I got some pictures of the sunset.

Observations of Cohen

2009-10-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

Cohen, Mack and I went out for our walk today. He was riding his bike when he saw the next door neighbor's hen and her chicks. She has about 10 chicks (how does she do it?) and we saw them maybe a week ago and they were a lot smaller. Cohen says "Mom the last time we saw them they were babies and now they are just kids...they grow up quick" ....priceless.

Kids say the darnest things

2009-10-06T16:58:00.000-07:00

The boys crack me up. Right now it is Mack and his toddler talk. To be honest most of the time I find it very sweet, but sometimes VERY annoying! He is obsessed with the moon right now. He loves "Goodnight Moon" and "Guess How Much I Love You" and many other books with moons in them. This last month he has discovered the moon in the sky which is so cute, but also annoying. Annoying because when he says "moon" it comes out "moo". So we are going down the road and he sees the moon (the moons been full too so we've been able to see it all day) "Moo Moo" he says. And if he can't see it for a few minutes he freaks a little. Then comes "Moo Moo" again and alls well...until he can't see it again...over and over. You get the picture. Then today at lunch he's eating and says "Moo Moo"-I'm thinking is he saying "moon" or "more"? So I say "moon Mack". He says "no, Moo Moo" okay it's "more" but now he's heard "moon" and he won't stop with "moo moo" while he is eating more grapes! Also he is on a person kick. He wants "Da Da" when daddy is not here and now that my parents are in Maui he wants "Ma and Bapa" (Ma and Papa) and he is not happy to hear Daddy is at work and Ma and Papa are gone.

Cohen is on a egg salad sandwich kick. Can't get enough of them. So he's been getting a lot of protein lately. I just smile and make more eggs.

Lachlan lost another tooth...he was excited the tooth fairy visited even though he hid his tooth-I think it probably took the fairy an hour to find it :).

All in a days work. Can you tell I love being a Mommy?

Cohen's 5!

2009-09-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

I'm saying it once again...I can't believe it! Cohen is 5! Wow....it really flies! He had a super birthday. He was so excited to have the family over, loved his cupcakes and his presents! He wore the crown he got at preschool most of the day. It was a special day for him! I think he knows he is loved. Cohen and his dog Jack Cohen and his herd of dinosaurs Presents! Cohen with GG, Grandma and Grandpa Cohen with his Ma and Papa

Hiking with my family on the perfect day=perfection

2009-09-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

We had the most wonderful day hiking up to Winchester Mountain and Lookout. It was gorgeous and perfect weather. We pulled Lachlan out of school for the day (okay we are terrible parents) but we called it a "field trip" as he learned a lot about nature, mountains and got to see all the fall colors. I absolutely LOVE doing this stuff with my family and can't wait until Mack is big enough to go too. Today we left him with his Ma (my mom) though and I am really glad we did considering how steep it was at the top and how busy he is! Although I really missed him-especially not having his little smile in our pictures. The views were breathtaking. The trail started out of two lakes called Twin Lakes and they were so beautiful. They have camping right there so we think it would be fun to camp at the lakes one of these years and do some hiking all around the area. There are working mines and it would be really cool to check them out. I would love waking up in the morning to the views too. It looks like the fishing is great in the lakes as well. The boys gorged on wild blueberries (so did I) and the fall colors were so pretty. The lookout was 6521 elevation and the views were really unbelievable and the pictures don't even compare to seeing it in person!

Starting out at Twin Lakes
wild blueberries
Mt. Baker and mountains in every direction
The very tip of this mountain was our destination!

we should have brought sleeping bags!
The perfect lunch spot
Mt. Baker behind us
6521 elevation

Mt. Larrabee behind us
Twin Lakes from the top
hiking down

I need one of these!

2009-09-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

I LOVE my Cuisinart food processor but it is old...well old compared to this! Check this baby out!

Beautiful huh! I think so too..."Santa, I've been good!". Oh, and did I mention how much my family would appreciate all the wonderful creations I could do with this? Unfortunately, it's a little spendy and from Santa this year I am getting a new bathroom...but my birthday is also in December...oh, yeah I'm getting a new bathroom for that too! Oh...well maybe next year!

Cohen's first day of Pre-K

2009-09-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

Cohen had his first day of Pre-K today. He had a great day and told me all about it when I picked him up. I thought he would be a little upset because his teacher was sick but nope...no problem at all. He can't wait to go again on Thursday! I'm so proud of him!
Cohen in his class
Almost 5 and 2nd year of preschool

An evening at the park

2009-09-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

Our boys
View of a passing ferry
Mack's first time eating an icecream cone all on his own! He ate the entire thing!
Drew and I took the boys to Washington Park for a picnic last night. We had such a good time. Drew made fried chicken, salad and veggies from the garden. It was a beautiful evening. We took a walk around the loop walk and enjoyed the views. It absolutely made my day to spend this time with my family.

Missing my sweet Lachlan (who's at school)

2009-09-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

This smile is infectious!

Can't believe I am saying this but I've really been missing my Lachlan this week since he's been back to school. Sure, it can get a little crazy with the 3 of them, but boy he's one fun kid to have around. Things are SO much quieter w/out him here all day! I miss the little grin he gives me from his dirt pile outside too. I'll miss him on Friday when I take the two younger boys hiking w/out him. He will miss me too because he loves to hike (more than school). I love my kids to pieces!

Just thought I would share my thoughts today. I'm going to be better about blogging. It's so much more personal than Facebook!

Late Summer

2009-09-07T20:10:00.001-07:00

Boy, it has been a while. Sorry. I've just been so busy enjoying the beautiful weather I haven't had time to post. What a great summer it was. There wasn't a day that we weren't doing something in the sun. The boys, Drew and I enjoyed it completely. I am finally starting to catch up here at home from running all summer. We had wonderful days at our annual church convention in August too. The garden is still doing great and we've added another garden spot to our property for the boys to have more corn to sell for next year. School started last week for Lachlan (2nd grade) and Cohen will start his 2nd year of preschool next week.

Mack is now 20 months! He started saying more words just this week. The most fun one is "pobby" for potty which I am hoping he will want to use soon. He's been so fun this summer too. He continues to love being outside with the boys...especially if it involves water. He loves getting wet and playing with the hose. He loves to dance and sing and everyone tells me how big he is getting...I'm a little in denial :). Wish he could stay small a little longer. He's also mastered running, which is very cute. He is really trying to stay up with is brothers!

Drew and I are having our bathroom remodeled starting tomorrow. Actually in our bedroom there is a bathroom, or a space for a bathroom, but the previous owners never did anything with it. So, we are having a wall extended, having it tiled etc. It will be really nice to have a extra bathroom and I will post pictures when it is done. We are hoping to be done in 4-8 weeks.

Here are some recent pictures:

Hiking the Mt. Baker area
Madeline, Hannah, Lachlan, Landon & Cohen
Lachlan, Cohen, Mack, Wade and Dean
Mack & Brielle at Orcas
Hannah's 11th birthday-love this picture of her jumping!
So hot that Julianne, Kaaran & I took a dip
Lachlan & Cohen
Drew & Mack
The boys listening to "Music in the Park" at Orcas
Our little pilot/construction worker 20 months
So tired he went to sleep with his binkie inside out!
The Boyd Boys Farm Fresh Veggie stand with Mom
A perfect northwest evening to bike ride with Terry & Donna

Hannah & Mack cuddling at Orcas
Lachlan's first day of 2nd Grade!

Summer

2009-07-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

We've had a wonderful summer so far. It has been very busy and so fun. We went up to Orcas the week of the 4th and enjoyed 5 nights with my Mom and Dad. Drew came up Friday and we celebrated his 34th b-day on the 4th. We had a ball the the weather was perfect! I took Lachlan and Cohen hiking one morning while Mom watched McKenon which was really fun too. I took a ton of pictures but will just post a few.
Mom & Dad with Lach and Cohen
34!
Boys at the Parade
Beautiful evening on Orcas
The 3 boys

We got home from Orcas on Sunday night and I left for Lake Chelan on Monday afternoon. Drew's Mom & stepdad have a timeshare there and they were not using it so they asked if we wanted to! Of course, a free 3 bedroom condo for a week? I jumped at the chance to take the boys. I invited my sis along with her kids and off we went. We had a blast. Friday morning Kevin picked us up in their boat and we headed 40 miles up lake to a campground where they were camping all week. My cousin Monty, his wife Jennifer and their two kids were there, my Uncle Doug and his 3 kids were there and Julianne, Kevin and Brielle. It was a gorgeous spot and brought back a lot of mememories from my childhood. We are hoping to go up lake with Julianne and Kevin next summer and stay a little longer (if they will have us!). We tubed, Drew wakeboarded and a wonderful day was had!
Hannah & 18 month old Mack
Kaar & I
Merry-go-round
Love this picture of Drew, Mack & Lach
Julianne and I tubing with Lach & Cohen
Brielle & Mack
All the kids
Doug, Jonathan, Makylee & Caden
Drew and I

Mack turned 18 months a week ago. So hard to believe! He is 25 lbs and 33 inches about the same as the other boys. He's a busy boy but listens most of the time. He sleeps well and loves to go to bed. He stopped nursing last week which seems like a good age. He's just doing great and is almost always fun to be around. He's just learned to really throw rocks and loves it. He talks a lot but sometimes is hard to understand! He loves animals too but hates insects!

Now that we are home for a week or so I am trying the catch up. The garden has grown a ton, and we are having a complete garden meal tonight! The boys love it and were so excited to get home and eat peas, raspberries etc.

Hope everyone is having a great summer!

Spring is almost gone

2009-06-11T13:33:00.000-07:00

I can't believe spring is coming to an end and summer is upon us! It has felt like summer here. I heard today that this is our 23 day of dry weather. I just LOVE it. The garden is growing, we are already eating loads of lettuce and next week zuchinni will be ready! I love spending time out in the garden while our boys are playing. Lachlan is out of school next Wednesday and it can't come soon enough. I have lots of activities planned for summer and am really looking forward to it. We are going to Orcas for a week, Chelan for 5 nights- thats just in July. I am really looking forward to conventions in August too.

Mack is 17 months! I can't believe it! He is the happiest little guy. I don't know if I have mentioned it or not but he gives the BEST hugs. Full arms wrapped around the neck hugs. Kisses too. He loves to hug everyone...even people he doesn't know. He also loves to touch people. For instance, the other day we were at the grocery store and a woman was passing us and he reached out and touched her arm. She turned quite surprised and he gave her the biggest smile. I think it made her day. He makes my day usually every day. He loves to sing, dance and his favorite thing is being outside with his brothers. He stands at the window and points that he wants out! The only thing he does not like is riding in the car so we haven't taken many long trips and I am not looking forward to any we have to take. He's a great sleeper too-7 p.m. to 8 a.m. usually and 2 hour naps! I love it...

Here are some recent pictures:
Watching the gravel truck
He loves books
17 months!
The boys
At the beach
Mack loves the water
Cohen
Lachlan
The nudest
Daddy and Mack

Where have we been?

2009-04-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I posted last. The weather's been so good I haven't spent much time indoors. We've been digging in the dirt a lot! Mack is loving the time spent outside (he MUST be a Boyd boy)and wants to go out every time the boys are out. It has been nice because I can see them from the kitchen so they are all able to go out while I am making dinner. Lachlan keeps a pretty close eye on Mack so that's nice too!

I have really enjoyed getting the garden going. We've planted quite a bit. Carrots, onions, peas, romaine, spinach, flowers and more to come. I also planted my hanging baskets. Seems this time of year there is always a ton to do outside. This is always a busy time of year at school too. Cohen has his spring program on Thursday and his first piano recital the end of May. Lachlan has field trips every month but this month and next they have 2. Last week we went to CreativiTea in Fairhaven to paint mugs for Mother's day and then to Western's plantatarium. It was a very fun day. We were even able to have a picnic outside...the weather was perfect. I've been spending a lot of time getting ready for the VISIONS (Lach's school program) annual auction and rummage sale. This raises funds for all the extra activities the program gets to do. It is a busy time but next week will be the only week where I will be crazy busy. The boys are also starting another round of 4 week swimming lessons 2 times a week at the Y. They love it-this will be our last month of lessons until next fall.

It seems unbelievable for me that Mack will be 16 months in 2 days! He is doing great. Talking tons and at times running from me! He still loves "doggy" and "da da" but now has added "tacktors" (tractor) to his list of favorite things. He is almost weaned, which is wonderful in so many ways and sad too! I will miss it but he's ready and I am ready for a break and wkend away with Drew...just us.

All for now...here are some pictures from the last month:

Julianne and Brielle came to stay a couple nights
The kids had so much fun!

McKenon in April
Lachlan's class at Western
Cohen is two-wheelin it now!
planting potatoes

2009-04-04T16:38:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful trip to Maui (as you can see below). When we arrived it was raining and we had heard that the winter has been rainy and cool...we were a little down about this. The next day we woke up and the sun was shining and it didn't stop shining and it was very warm about 85 every day! We had so much fun snorkeling with Lachlan and playing on the beach. We were able to see a turtle up close right on the lava where the kids were playing. We watched it eating for a very long time and were so close we could have touched it! The boys found it fascinating and so did we.

Cohen really took off with his swimming this year. It was really fun to watch him diving down and trying to catch fish with their nets. Lachlan also loved the swimming and boogie boarding with Landon, Madi and Hannah. Mack loved the water too. If we were out swimming w/out him he would try to come out to us so he was never far behind! He also loved the sand and eating the sand.

Drew and I had a nice evening out with Madi and Hannah babysitting. Boy, it was sure nice to have such great sitters! We also went out with Kaaran and Mike one evening too. We were spoiled!

Some down sides to the trip were we left town with Lachlan having a fever and Cohen getting the bug. Lachlan's fever seemed to go away the next day but he was extremely congested and had a horrible cough. Cohen started getting congested and a very bad cold but he never got the fever, thankfully. On Sunday morning we were woken up by Lachlan at 1 am with an ear infection. Took him to the doctor and he had a double ear infection and started antibiotics. Cohen was doing pretty good at this point. The next day both Mack and I got it. He was really fussy, but again he didn't get it as bad as Lach. He was also getting 4 teeth! I felt better by Thursday. Unfortunately, Mackie was very fussy a lot of the time...being sick and out of his schedule. But everyone helped so that made it easier on Drew and I. We got very little sleep during the night because it seemed like Mack woke every hour or two...oh, life with kids! At one point Cohen came in and peed all over our floor...and I said to Drew "I think we have to go on a vacation (just the 2 of us) on our vacation" :).

We really missed not having my Dad with us this year too. Mom was only there 1 week which was not enough either. It just wasn't the same w/out Ma and Papa :(.

Really though, all-in-all we had a wonderful time. It was really hard to leave the beautiful weather but we are very thankful the sun has been shining since we got home! Now it is back to reality and getting the garden going, which I am very excited about!

Hope everyone is doing well.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Orcas getaway

2009-03-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

We went to Orcas last Thursday and stayed through the weekend. The weather was cold but very nice-Friday was crystal clear and beautiful. We've been trying to get the boys ready for summer hiking trips so we did a lot of walking and hiking. We walked into town on Friday which is 5 miles round trip, we hiked around Mountain Lake on Saturday, which is 4 miles around and we did a bunch of walking in addition to that. They did great especially with the cold temperatures...they didn't complain once. Thankfully, Mack loves to ride in the Ergo baby carrier on my back...he just loves it!

Mack just turned 14 months! He is doing great! We head to Maui next Thursday which we are really looking forward to. My dad won't be there this year because someone has to stay at the dealership and Mom will only be there a week, which will just not be the same, but we are hoping to have a good time. We are not sure what we will come home too because business has been really slow but we are trying to keep a positive attitude through this, although it has been difficult especially the not knowing! It feels like life is changing that's for sure!

5 inches of snow this morning! Can't believe it! I am really hoping for a nice warm spring and NO MORE SNOW! It was beautiful this afternoon though with the sun shining on the snow.

Until we return home here are some pictures:

View of Baker from the cabin
Three of my favorite people

14 months old!
Love this picture!

February is gone already?

2009-02-27T14:38:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that it is the end of February! The weather has been pretty nice lately with the exception of some snow but I really enjoyed it this time because it did not stay. Very beautiful days.

There is really nothing much to report-life keeps humming along at a very fast pace. Drew's role at the Dealership has changed, and he is very busy in both departments. We can only hope that business will pick up soon. He is happy about the changes, but again would be more happy if they were selling more cars! The boys' swimming lessons are over for now, and I feel really good about them swimming in Maui this year. Both Lachlan and Cohen passed their courses and will move up to the next step in April when we start again. Cohen is actually swimming/floating on his own now and Lachlan can swim the length of the pool with no problem. They both love their lessons. Lachlan decided to stop choir for now and just do swimming and playing outside here at home. I am happy the boys don't like to be too busy. We went skiing last Saturday. Lachlan is doing great and Cohen is still learning. It was a beautiful day.

Mack has a couple of his first year molars now. I had no idea he was getting them so they didn't bother him much. He is starting to run a little and is getting very confident walking. He is saying "duck", "doggy" and many more words. I am also very happy he is drinking whole milk now and we've cut back on nursing quite a bit-only morning, nap and bedtime. He has also cut out his a.m. nap. He is so happy too-rarely cries. When I take him to school to get Lachlan everyone comments on how happy he is...always smiling and anyone can hold him. He has started hating it when I leave the room...normal 1-year-old. He also sleeps from 7 pm until 8 am usually...couldn't ask for better and I feel VERY rested!

We leave for Maui in less than 3 weeks. I am very excited to go. I am making lists for groceries and generally just gearing up for it. Our flight is direct to the island which makes it a lot easier. I hope Mack does well on the plane. The boys will be entertained with books, dvds and Lachlan will be doing some homework. We will be gone for 2 weeks again. I am looking forward to just relaxing (as much as you can with 3 kids) and spending every day with Drew.

Well, I'll post a few recent pictures. Hope everyone is doing well!

Lachlan bombing down the hill
Kelsay and Darryl chicken fighting with the boys
Lachlan singing in the musical "Flounder" at the Lincoln Theatre

Mack's photo shoot

2009-02-10T07:43:00.001-08:00

Please check these pictures out from Mack's 1 year photo shoot-Just copy and paste it. Let me know which ones you like the best! I will post some when I get around to it too! It is such a hard decision of what I should choose for wallets and photos for the wall so I would love your opinion.

http://jenmartinstudios.blogspot.com:80/2009/02/lil-mack-turns-1.html

Mack is walking...finally!

2009-02-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

Our little Mack has been trying to walk for 2 months. Finally, he is walking more than crawling! He's into everything and is very proud of himself. Besides that exciting news life has continued to be very busy. The boys are taking swim lessons twice a week, Lachlan's choir, Cohen's piano...too busy. But, I am managing. Our house is torn apart which is driving me a little nuts. All the windows are in and trimmed on the outside. All the trim for the inside is painted, but we just need to put it all up...never enough time. I will post more pictures soon. Here are a few from Cohen's swim class and two of his little friends Sarah and Ava. I will eventually get some posted of Lachlan too.
Sarah, Cohen & Ava-you can't see it but he had his arms around both the girls-it was so cute!
Thumbs up

It's been awhile...

2009-01-19T16:18:00.000-08:00

Life has been busy just trying to catch up since the holidays. We have all but one of our windows in and now we have about 300 feet of trim to paint and put in the interior both around the windows and the baseboards and closets. Oh, also all the painting of walls and ceilings in the halls and dining room. Also hanging our new chandelier too. It seems never ending but the end result will be beautiful. So my house is a complete mess with saw horses, paint and trim everywhere...oh well...it just makes me that much more in a hurry to get it all done!

Lachlan lost his other top tooth. I kept telling him I could pull it for him but he refused to let me until finally he came to me with "I just can't get it out" I yanked once and out it came! He looks so cute with both missing that I had to snap that toothless grin!

Cohen had a little visit to the ER this morning. You know the morning is not going well when your oldest child comes in screaming "Mom, Cohen fell off the ladder"...your heart drops and you start running. Well, he fell quite a distance onto the cement. He has a large gash on his chin but what I worried the most about was the side of his face where he landed. He would not stop crying and shaking so off we went. By the time we got to our ER his face wasn't hurting so bad. They said he needed stitches but ended up being able to just use steri-strips...much easier on Coco. He was very brave at the ER I might add!

After his fall we managed to salvage this beautiful day and do what we planned. Hiking to Fragrance Lake with my sis and her kids. We had a blast. Cohen was totally fine and did not complain once (is he a great kiddo or what?). The lake was a little frozen and the boys had a ball trying to break the ice with the largest sticks they could find. Mack had a ball riding along in his pack watching all the kids and dog.
Me and my riding partner
5 of the 6 kids
Kaar and Mack
Madi and Mack
Puppy kisses from Marley

1st b-day party

2009-01-05T10:02:00.000-08:00

We had a little party for Mack on Saturday. We had been so busy putting in windows that I didn't have a whole lot of time to prepare. I made his cake in about an hour, ran out of frosting and it wasn't real cute but he loved it! He had fun getting all the attention, loved his balloons and seeing all his family. It was a fun afternoon.

Should I eat this?

This picture is so cute...
"do I have anything on my face?"

McKenon is 1 year!

2008-12-30T22:07:00.000-08:00

Great balance!
Mack is 1 today. I really am having a difficult time believing it. It just feels like this last year has flown by...maybe it is just having three to keep up with now with two in school...I don't know but I do know that I blinked and a year is gone!

Mack is such a joy. He is fairly easy going but can be demanding sometimes especially now that he is saying "Ma Ma" and pulling on my leg. But overall he is a happy, easy little guy that just flows. He is almost walking. It has been odd to me to try to figure out why he isn't walking yet. Lachlan walked at 10 months and Cohen at 9. Mack is standing and dancing, clapping in place but is just starting to take some little steps. I think it is because we aren't home as often for him to practice (he spends a lot of time in the car) and his brothers give him everything he needs! He has a wonderful little personality and loves attention! His newest tricks are clapping, he loves to dance, and he waves with this adorable little hand going from side to side (picture a little princess on a float-elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist, wrist). He also loves to play the piano and is so proud of himself when he makes music! He gives wonderful, sloppy kisses and says "Ma Ma", "DaDa", "Doggy", "please" and "ba ba" (we think this means one of his brothers), "nana" and other things we can't understand yet! He completes this family quite well and we just love him to pieces! Lachlan said the other day "Mom could we please have 10 more kids?"...he loves being a big brother! I will post some pictures after we have Mack's little party on Saturday.

Lachlan's 7

2008-12-29T20:48:00.002-08:00

Our big boy turned 7 today...very hard to believe that he's getting so big! He has chosen to have his birthday party on his 1/2 birthday in June but because this is the day he was born I try to make it special. We spent the morning with a friend and her husband (I went to high school with both and they have two children ages 2 & 5 and now live in CA) at Jungle Playland. Lach had a blast and so did the rest of the kids. Tonight we went to dinner at Drew's Grandma's and his Mom and step-dad and step-brother were there also. We had a little cupcake and ice cream and Lachlan got to open a few little gifts. The highlight of his day was this morning when his Ma & Papa (my parents) brought over his very first pocket knife...he could not stop grinning...and within about a 1/2 hour cut himself...but was still smiling and telling me "it's okay Mom it's only a little cut" :). We feel so priviledged to be raising this very wonderful boy that brings us so much joy! Here are a few pictures...
blowing out the candles
Cohen, Lachlan and Reggie
Our boys
First pocket knife

December blizzard

2008-12-17T14:11:00.000-08:00

It is still snowing...we have about a foot! Here are some pictures from today. We also had the priviledge of having some of our ministers stay with us-Brandon F. and Darryl-what fun for us and the boys!

Here are some pictures. I am going to try and take Mack out after his nap so I will hopefully be able to add some more!

"Who is this guy?"
Brandon F. and the boys jammin'
Ready to go outside!
"Hmmmm interesting..."
Our wonderful neighbor digging us out and building but piles for the boys

The boys

11 months!

2008-12-01T14:07:00.001-08:00

Mack turned 11 months yesterday...time is flying. He is such a wonderful little guy. Smiles all the time! He started saying "Ma Ma" and grabbing my leg on a regular basis. He is also saying "Na Na" when he is hungry which is most of the time :). You would not believe what this kid eats! These three boys will probably eat us out of house and home! So, our littlest guy is growing like a weed and changing. He still isn't walking...I can hardly believe it. Both Lachlan and Cohen were walking or running by 11 months! He probably realizes he really doesn't need to walk when he has two brothers at his beck and call. He still loves to eat paper! He's consumed many of the boys' precious books...oh well! He loves to put things on his head too. He thinks it is hilarious...probably because it gets a good laugh out of us.

Lachlan and Cohen are doing good too. They loved Thanksgiving and are really excited about Christmas! They love to go look at the all the Christmas lights and we've already decorated the house. It is a fun time of year for them. Lachlan will be in a play too. It will be crazy for us but fun for them! Also-3 birthdays (mine, Lachlan's and McKenon's) this month, although Lachlan's we will celebrate in June on his 1/2 birthday.

Hope everyone has a good week.
11 Months!

Cohen in his special Turkey hat he made at preschool
"This Turkey is good!"

Space Suit Day

2008-11-25T13:49:00.000-08:00

Vision's Teachers-Lach's teacher is the one on the left- Ms. Johnson
Astronaut Lachlan
Lach's buddy Keegan

More school stuff. We had spacesuit day back in October but I had to share these wonderful photos. Lachlan and Drew created his suit, and he got to be an astronaut for a day! It was so much fun. I spent the morning in the class. They got to dehydrate and rehydrate food, make Tang and have their pictures taken in front of this beautiful backdrop some of the parents created and do some other space activities...it was a wonderful day!

School activities

2008-11-21T14:24:00.001-08:00

We've had a lot going at school lately. On Tuesday we went to the Museum of Flight in Seattle. This was an awesome day! Lachlan LOVED it...I could hardly get him to focus on the educational part of it-he just wanted to check it all out! He loved seeing the Concorde, Air Force One and the 400 models of WWW I and II that they have displayed. All the kids really enjoyed the control tower where they could hear and see the planes landing and leaving Boeing Field! We had an hour program where the 1 and 2nd graders got to be young aviators-this was great too. Lachlan was WAY ahead of the other kids with making paper airplanes...wonder why...all that paper airplane creating at convention! We have such a great group of kids so that makes it really fun. Here are some pictures:

Beneath the Blackbird...WOW

My four charges-Keegan, Richard, Cooper and Lachlan
Concorde
Astronaut Lachlan

This week we also had Market Day. This is a real market and "Visions" money is used. It is so great. It is treated completely as a real market so they have to have business licenses, there are fines, taxes etc. Drew and I even worked so we could buy some things. Drew did banking and I did set up and clean up with the help of Cohen and Mack. Lachlan decided his business would be "Orcas Island Rock Works". My parents picked up the rocks from Orcas and he painted 10 rocks which were his rock paperweights, he made 10 rock people and he made 10 bags of what he named "Firerock Skippers" skipping rocks and everything was $10.00 each. The skipping rocks sold the best and he ended up making quite a bit of money for next Market Day which is in the spring! We've already got some ideas for that. It was so much fun to see what all the kids created! The older kids had loads of great items and made lots of money too. I could not believe the amount of people who came. A lot of kids who graduated from Visions took the day off school so they could come spend some of their past account (which if you graduated is still good), and teachers and family members too. What fun! It was a lot of work but well worth it and a great experience for the kids to learn how business and money, banking etc works.
Lachlan and one of his employees Cohen
Drew helping with banking
Lach and Haley manning their stores
lots of people shopping
Even the principal came and bought a rock

Another funny!

2008-11-17T19:45:00.000-08:00

My kids are always cracking me up! Yesterday we were at my Great Aunt's 90th birthday party and after we had all eaten they were going to do a "toast" and cake. So, the kids start filing in for cake, and Lachlan kept saying "I don't care for any bread-I just want cake". I could not figure this out...and finally it dawns on me...he does not want toast :) just cake! Too funny...he had no idea what a toast was...and then try explaining what a "toast" is! I must of thought of this 15 times today and just burst out laughing...I know it probably isn't too funny but the look of utter disgust on his face...unforgettable :).

Snaggletooth and So Big!

2008-11-08T15:06:00.000-08:00

Something is missing
This last week Mack got 2 more teeth, and Lachlan was so excited because he lost one of his top teeth! He worked so hard getting it out at school that his teacher was so relieved it was finally out (she said he was driving her crazy playing with it)! He wanted to lose it at school because he would receive a tooth holder with a string to tie around his neck (very exciting). He was beaming when he came out of class to greet me with his toothless smile :)! I loved it. He looks so much different with a tooth missing, and I am anxious for him to loose the one next to it so he matches! Cohen has been saying his teeth are loose all week too...he always wants to be like his big brother.
Sleeping baby
So Big!
McKenon is getting SO big as you can see below. He is responding to questions now and loves to try to blow kisses and amaze us with his many talents. He has also just started to get very concerned when I leave the room or hop out of the car to grab the mail etc. Stranger anxiety is hitting too. He loves to flirt but when it is someone that he doesn't know and they get too close...he starts to frown and pucker his lip. This week he also figured out that he can climb in the warming drawer of the oven...he's been working on that for weeks. He gets in and then starts almost jumping...I'm worried he might break it...so I get him out and he goes right back to it...oh well. He is learning some "no no" things so that I am glad about that. He is such a sweet boy...if only he would stay little a little longer!

Mackie excited

2008-11-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

Here is a little video of Mack at Terry & Donna's last night. He was very excited about their kitty Tucker. When he gets excited he blows and moves his hands and whole body. Too cute. We all had a good laugh.

Here are some pictures too:
The boys wrestling with Darryl
Trick-or-treat at Terry & Donna's (Terry is the Knight in shining armor)
Batman, a pirate & a frog

Mack is not quite sure who this is

10

2008-10-31T09:47:00.000-07:00

McKenon is 10 months! I can hardly believe our littlest guy is almost ready to walk. He is into everything! Everything still goes in his mouth too. The other morning we were in a hurry to get out the door I went to pick Mack up and guess what was in his mouth? A hairy caterpillar! Can you believe it? He was eating it! Drew and I were extremely grossed out and have no idea how the little critter made it in the house. Lachlan ate a slug and Cohen ate a worm so it really isn't too much of a surprise that Mack likes bugs too but still extremely gross!

He seems to be feeling much better after getting on a stronger antibiotic and he is sleeping finally! Yeah! He hates his medicine and I have to force it down his throat but it seems to be working, and he is back to his happy self. He also has two new teeth and two more about to break through. He is such a content little guy and we are enjoying him so much. Here are some pictures I took yesterday.
Watching his brothers play outside

Enjoying fall

2008-10-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

A random picture of McKenon from last week
We have had a great fall so far. It has been busy with a lot of school activities and running here and there. Lachlan is really enjoying his school and field trips. Next month we go to the Musuem of Flight which I think we both will really enjoy. He is also in a Children's Choir and loving it. Cohen started piano lessons with his Kindermusik teacher this month and just LOVES it! He likes preschool twice a week too. McKenon is doing great except he has been sick for about 2 weeks and has an ear infection that is not going away. So sleep is one thing I am NOT getting...oh well I know it will pass.

Business is extremely slow right now so we are hoping we can weather through this slow time. It is a tough time for everyone.

We went to Orcas last weekend and the weather was outstanding. Nicole and David joined us and we had a ball. The guys have been on this oyster kick every time we are up there so Drew and David had to get fresh oysters first thing Saturday morning. 3 dozen! So we got a big fire going in the firepit and cook oysters on the open flame. They ate them all. I'm not a huge oyster fan but everyone else loved them including the boys. I made hot apple cider with spices and we sat around the fire. It was so much fun.

Here are some pictures from Orcas:
Drew trying to wrestle Mackie into his jammies and the boys trying to wrestle him!
oysters!
Mack loves apple cider
Big smile...more please!
Don't these two look great with kids?
Fall leaves

Moments to cherish

2008-10-10T14:35:00.001-07:00

Lachlan was out of school today so we went hiking. As most of you know I am not one to sit at home on a nice day. The boys were so excited to go to one of our favorite places-Bowman Bay near Deception Pass. Thankfully, they are like their Mommy and Daddy and love to hike around. We only went about 4 miles (round trip), had lunch on a beach and then played a bit on the beach. We had SO much fun and it made me love them a little more. I don't know how many times I heard "I love hiking" and "Mom, look at this". Even though we've hiked many times at Bowman Bay they always find new things to enjoy. I am glad we are instilling in them a love of nature, the ocean, trees, mountains etc. Lachlan also carried a backpack this time. He had to because I was carrying Mack on my back. He did great! Thankfully, he didn't mind and was his normal happy-go-lucky self. Cohen never complained which was so nice, and Mack loves riding in the Ergo carrier so he was happy too. I am still grinning from such a wonderful day. It was great to turn off the radio (and all the doom and gloom) and just enjoy a beautiful fall day and best of all it was FREE!

Tomorrow night: Date night!

Have a great weekend!

Not the greatest picture but the view is the best!

Lachlan took this picture and it would have been great if it wasn't blurry!
My wonderful boys

A weekend away

2008-10-07T13:16:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful weekend up at Orcas last week. The weather was pretty good, and we got some hiking and walking in despite a afternoon of rain. Drew and I celebrate our 13th anniversary TODAY :) so it was nice to have a relaxing weekend even with the kids! We're hoping to get out for a date night one of these days too. Hope everyone is having a great week!
My wonderful husband and best friend! Thanks for 13 super years!
Do you think Mack is loved?

Mackie is 9 months!

2008-10-03T13:51:00.000-07:00

Our little doodle is now 9 months! He is growing like a weed, and now weighs 19lbs 11 oz and is almost 29 inches! He weighs more than both the other boys did at this age. He is still such a happy, smiley boy. He's eating like crazy too and just started eating meat this week...he is a little carnivore :). He is babbling quite a bit as well "bababababa..." and "mamamamamamamama". He is our only one who hasn't said "Da Da" first. The only thing that is really hard about him is that he puts EVERYTHING in his month. At least 1-5 times daily I am pulling paper out of the roof of his mouth, and he finds dead bugs and flies in the tiniest corners of the windows or doors...disgusting!

I think the thing that melts my heart the most about him is the interaction between him and Lachlan and Cohen. They just LOVE him! Even when he chews up their books they never make a big deal about it. They always want to do things for him and love it when he smiles and makes goofy faces at them. They don't just love him-Mack loves them to pieces too. It is so fun. I hope that they are forever best friends.

I took some pictures of McKenon and as you can see from his rash around his mouth he has 4 teeth just about through!
I go bananas for bananas!
So smily
I really like these touch and feel books
Goofy

AARGH...Cohen's 4!

2008-09-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

Well, the pirate party was a success. Our little pirate had a wonderful 4th birthday. Most of the family was able to make it so that made it extra special! I made dinner of homemade spaghetti, bread and Cathie made a wonderful salad. It was so much fun to get together. Cohen's cake turned out really great, and he LOVED it. He also got some great toys...lots of Playmobile. He also got a chainsaw and monster truck race track-he was out chainsawing very early! He and Lachlan are having a ball playing this morning. I can hardly believe he is 4!

enjoying the meal and conversation
The pirate ship-there is even a plank on the other side!
Landon & Cohen
The cannon's are lit
Drew with his Mom & Grandma

Off to preschool

2008-09-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

Cohen started his first day of preschool today! I can hardly believe it's his turn to leave Mommy for 2 mornings a week. He's definitely ready and had a wonderful time. He's getting so big, and is still so sweet and sensitive. Today, when I picked him up from school, he said "Mommy, I missed you SO much, but I had a weally fun time". He feels like such a big boy because he can be like Lachlan and go to school. Friday he will be 4 years old! We are going to have a party so I will post some more pictures soon!

The first of many days of school!

September

2008-09-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

This month has been so beautiful so far. Over two weeks of beautiful days and gorgeous sunsets. Summer has finally arrived! I guess we might see it end here in a couple days but we have been enjoying it sooooo much. This is the most wonderful place to live when the sun is shining...remind me of that when we have had rain for 4months straight please!

We finally got the bikes out the last couple of weeks. We took a bike ride and picnic in Anacortes last week and I took the boys for a bike ride after school this week. They love Daddy and Mommy riding with them. We are almost done painting the house, and I will post some pictures soon! It will be so nice to have it done! The trim is the part we have been working on off and on for the last 2 months!
Ready for riding
Mack's first bike ride!

We had dinner at Terry and Donna's last night! We had a ball-thanks again guys. The dinner was wonderful and the fire and s'mores were a huge hit. The company was the best of all though!

Gooey and oh so yummy

Lachlan is loving school. It is nice when every day when I pick him up he has a smile on his face and is eager to tell me all about his day (mostly about recess). The only thing he is having a problem with is eating his lunch...he's in too much of a hurry to get to recess. He promises me to do better this week!

Hope all is well with you...

Photo Shoot

2008-09-05T14:38:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, Jen, from Jen Martin Studios came to take our family pictures. We really just wanted to get a picture of the 6 kids but since she was coming here we decided to get pictures of all of us! I think they turned out really good-tell me what you think. Jen's link is in the Friends and Family section on the right. I added tons of pictures because I didn't know when to stop-they are all so cute!

The end of summer

2008-09-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

The end of summer is here for us with Lachlan off to first grade today. I can hardly believe it! It went way too quick and there just wasn't enough sun or warm weather for us Vitamin D deprived! We went up to Orcas to close the summer with a wonderful 3-day weekend. David and Nicole joined us and we had a ball. The weather was mostly nice too! We strolled the Farmer's Market, hiked and ate a lot. If not for the fact that both Mack and I had colds it would have been perfect.
Nicole telling the boys a "once upon a time story" that Lach requested
Eating fresh oysters
Cohen

Lachlan batting rocks

In addition to having a first grader our youngest son is now 8 months! I wish time would slow a little bit so I could enjoy this a bit more. He his crawling every where and just starting to pull himself up to standing. He's getting so big!
8 months!

Lachlan was a little apprehensive with starting school today. He's starting at a new school in a program called "Visions". I think it will be a great fit for him and very fun. I will work in the class about 2 hours a week-parent involvement is a must. The theme this year is "Space". They are going to build a rocket, go to the Boeing Museum of Flight and the Science Center and many other field trips related to space and flight. This will be wonderful for Lachlan since he always talks about being a pilot. I am hoping today when I pick him up he will have a lot of exciting news of his day, his new friends, his teacher etc. I think it will be an exciting year.
Lach at his desk

August pictures (so far)

2008-08-22T20:24:00.000-07:00

Not too much too report. We've taken a few trips to Orcas in the last few weeks. I took the boys up a couple days before Drew and although it rained one day we had a good time (more fun when Daddy came and the weather turned sunny!).

Here are a couple pictures from that trip:
The boys build forts in the cabin when it is raining :)

Can you tell the've had smores?

A few days after this trip we decided to head up again. So I get the whole car packed up because I decided to drive-on (we always walk-on) because it was the middle of the week and I thought the ferries would be in good shape. Wrong. We get to the ferry landing an hour early, drive to pay and the woman tells us "the ferry broke down". So what to do...wait til the 2:30 pm and walk-on, drive-on or go home? The boys are really wanting to get up there because Kaaran and the kids are up there. I do what I always do when I don't know what to do-call Drew. I am telling him my woes, asking him what I should do. I just know the ferries are going to be really late with this one ferry down and don't really want to be waiting until 6 pm to get to Orcas. So Drew tells me he will call me back. He calls back a few minutes later and tells me "Your flying up!" I couldn't believe it! I was a little nervous about the cost but he assured me he would take care of everything. I was completely shocked. After all these years of going to Orcas we've never flown. Let me say it again Drew "you are the most thoughtful, wonderful husband!". Needless to say, the boys were beyond excited. We went to the park to have lunch and they told everyone they talked to. We got to the little San Juan Airlines terminal, took off and were in Eastsound in 10 minutes! It was NOT long enough for the boys, but I think it was the highlight of their summer! They loved every minute of it! We were up there by 1:30 pm and Kaaran and the kids were waiting. It really is the way to go if you can afford it! So quick and easy! They were even able to put all my stuff in including my jogging stroller! Lachlan told me that he liked flying in the small airplane, but he is going to fly the jets! Here are some pictures from that trip:
The boys
Slightly excited!
The beautiful San Juan Islands
The arrow (click to enlarge) is Cascade Lake where we hike all the time.
Madi & Hannah on a drift wood raft.

In addition to the trips to the Island we also celebrated Hannah's 10th Birthday at the water slides. It was such a hot day-perfect! Mom came and celebrated with us and also watched Mack so I could do some sliding with everyone. I didn't take any pictures but Mom got a cute one of Cohen:

Mom also took this one of the boys one day. It looks like Cohen is comforting Lachlan about something-very sweet. I'll close with it.

On the move...

2008-08-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, one day before our annual church convention, Mack started crawling! He is definitely on his way now. He loves being able to get around to whatever he wants. Here's a picture and you can see how messy our playroom always is!

Our church convention was so wonderful. Four days of receiving so much...I just want to remember it and apply it! It was so fun to see all our friends, old and new, and visit with people we only see once a year. McKenon got to meet some new friends many who are blog buddies, which included Jonathan, Eli, Jack, Toriana, Brielle and even baby Kylie who was just a little over a week. Lachlan and Cohen had a ball. Lachlan's favorite friend was Hunter and Cohen enjoyed playing horses and Polly Pockets with Zariah (it was so cute). Drew and I enjoyed visiting with good friends.

Unfortunately, I took no pictures when I was there. I did have my camera but it was always a walk to get it so I decided that if anyone posted pictures I would cut and paste them to my blog :).

Next up: pictures from the month of August...hopefully I will get to it this week.
Zariah and Cohen (stollen from Jill's blog)

Until we see you again...

2008-08-04T09:25:00.000-07:00

I refuse to say "goodbye" to our good friends Trevor and Carissa and their boys Wade and Dean, instead I will say "until we see you again". They are moving out of state, and last week we went to a potluck to say goodbye. We will miss them so much! Thankfully because of e-mail etc. it is fairly easy to stay in touch. Best of luck you guys!

Cohen and Dean
The four boys

Our Mackie Doodle is 7 months!

2008-07-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Already 7 months...he is getting so big and accomplishing new things every day. He is sitting up well and just starting to crawl. He is my latest for crawling and for that I am very thankful :). He can pretty much get where ever he wants but is usually just content to watch his brothers in the sitting position. He loves to chew on anything, pull anyone's hair, smile, giggle, eat and give hugs and kisses which involve a little pinching. He is generally a very content, easy going kiddo and almost always happy to be packed around by anyone.

Here he is at 7 months! Can't imagine life without you McKenon!

Thanks Auntie Kaaran for my new pj's they are so cozy (not to mention cute)!
Ready to crawl

This and that...

2008-07-28T07:14:00.001-07:00

Nothing much here. We are enjoying the summer. The weather has been cool but mostly nice. The boys and I try to do something every morning. We go for bike rides (they ride I push Mack), to the library, to the park, to the lake. It's been fun. We've been painting the house. The main part of the house is all done but we still have some trim work to do. I didn't realize house much work it is, but it does look really nice. I will post pictures of before and after when it is complete.

Anyway, here are some pictures from the past two weeks.
I love peaches!
Cohen taking our kitty for a stroller ride
At a potluck up at Gerald and Angela's. Mack and Laura

Our friends Trina and Ryan came to visit-this is their little girl Ainsley. She loves babies.
Cohen riding his bike
Lachlan
Mack in his little pool with Lachlan helping him learn to swim.

Peach pie funnies

2008-07-11T09:00:00.001-07:00

The other day I made peach pie. This doesn't happen very often and is very much a summer treat! Cohen who doesn't get much wheat exclaimed "Mommy this is excellent- delicious". As we were getting ready for meeting, after eating the peach pie, Lachlan said "The sugar has hit the system". It went on to be an interesting evening...no actually they were pretty good and we all loved the pie!

I can't resist adding a couple pictures of Mack:
The boys put these sunglasses on him
First swing ride!

The 4th

2008-07-08T07:28:00.000-07:00

Drew turned 33 on the 4th. We had a wonderful week at Orcas. I went up on Tuesday with my Mom, Drew came up Wednesday and my Dad came up on Thursday. The weather wasn't outstanding but it wasn't horrible either. We hiked, the boys biked, played on the beach, sat around the campfire and ate a lot! Drew had a really nice birthday-very relaxing, and he was once again thankful for another year. The weather this week has been beautiful and we are enjoying it so much!

In other news, McKenon had his 6 month WCC yesterday. He is doing great and growing like a little trooper. He is 17lbs 6 oz., 27 1/2 inches long. He has slimmed down and is now long and lean (with a little chunk :). He loves his food now.

Here are some pictures from last week:
Mom and Mack
Dad and the boys
Me and my boy
PALS!

Sleeping baby

33!

The many faces of McKenon-6 months today!

2008-06-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

He's 6 months already...I can hardly believe it. Drew and I were just commenting on how very fast it has gone. I have so enjoyed this little bundle so far. He is so sweet and just rolls with it most of the time. He loves his Mommy very much because now he is getting a bit of stranger anxiety. He started food on Saturday and much to my surprise he had no problems swallowing. I've started the other boys a little earlier and there was a bit of a learning curve...not so with Mack he has it down-literally :). We go in to the doc in a week for his WWC so it will be interesting to find out his weight and height. Mack likes to put any and everything into his mouth. He greets me every morning with a big smile and "Hee" (which is of course "HI"). He is rolly polly and is oh so huggable and smells so good...can you tell I kind of like him?

This week is Drew's birthday week as well. His b-day is the 4th. We will head up to Orcas tomorrow for the rest of the week! Drew will come up on Wednesday I think. I'm hoping the weather is good. Drew's Grandma's b-day was yesterday and it was Lachlan's 1/2 birthday (he wants to celebrate his b-day in June now because he is a december baby) so yesterday we got together for a bbq and cake with the family. It was such a nice afternoon.

Drew, his grandma, Lachlan and Cohen
Happy birthday!

The faces Mack makes (pictures taken today):

Eating solids for the first time

Potluck

2008-06-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

Rob and Christina had a wonderful potluck in the park in Lynden. It was a beautiful evening and very fun to be with everyone.

Johanna and Mack
Carissa and I (this is blurry-sorry)
Our wonderful elders and Friends Kathy and Laverne with Cohen
Lachlan and Wade
Lach, Cohen, Wade and Dean

Wenatchee

2008-06-30T08:46:00.000-07:00

Took a little trip last week to see my Grandma, my cousin Julianne, her husband Kevin and their 4-month-old daughter Brielle. We had a really nice time. It was a special treat to see Emily, Clara and Melanie! The boys had a ball in the pool and at the park. The weather was beautiful too.
Nanny and Mack
Brielle (4 months) and Mack
Little hands
All the kids
Cohen swimming
Mack Loungin'
Lachlan
Julianne and the kids

Summer has started!

2008-06-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

We kicked off the beginning of summer with a trip to Orcas Island. I left with the kids on Thursday last week. My sister and her 3 kids joined us. Drew and Kaaran's husband Mike came up on Friday. The weather wasn't hot but it didn't rain and was pretty comfortable. We hiked a lot and the kids had fun playing. We had a really good time. I head to see my cousin and Grandma in Wenatchee on Wednesday and back to Orcas next Tuesday with my Mom & Dad for the 4th (Drew's b-day)! It is going to be a busy couple weeks. The boys are really excited!

Mack turns 6 months next week-I can hardly believe it! Time to start solids. I've already started making some food (and froze it) for him. He is getting so big and is getting ready to crawl. He is a lot of fun and is game for most anything. He loves the backpack and falls asleep right away in it.

Hope everyone is doing good and happy summer!

Five kiddos hiking
Having lunch on top of Turtleback Mountain on Orcas
A picture of McKenon from last week

Almost summer...

2008-06-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

This last week was really busy. Lachlan finished kindergarten and now we have a first grader! Cohen finished his Kindermusik class and then Father's Day. It was a fun week, but I am glad to have the school year behind us (and early mornings!). The weather is cold again today, but I will try not to complain...we did have 2 days of sun. I'll post some pictures.

Cohen's last day of Kindermusik-riding the "City Bus"

Last Day of Kindergarten
Lachlan and Caleb
Washing the desks with shave cream
Father's Day:
Dad and Mack
Lachlan and Landon
Pappy and Lisa
Mom & Mack
Kaaran and Mike

Trying to stay warm here...

2008-06-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

Well, once again our Northwest weather has thrown me for a loop. It is so cold! Taking Lach to school this morning it was 46 degrees! We had a whopper of a storm last night too...rain, wind, lightning and thunder. Checking the KOMO weather page it said that there has only been one June day so far that has been above 60 degrees...which apparently is a record since 1917...I don't want to beat any more records in this department. My garden is stunted too...everything is just sort of staying the same size except the weeds. Anyway, this is my rant today because it is just a bit discouraging. However, we are suppose to see the sun starting on Thursday, I sure hope so!

Despite the weather things have been really busy. Lachlan's last day of school is Friday. He will hopefully be going to another school next year so he is going to miss all his friends he met this year. He will still be in public school but a program called "Visions" which does mostly what he does now but they apply all the learning with field trips and hands on activities and parents have to be very involved. We had our interview last week, which went fairly well, so I am hoping to hear soon. I can't believe we have a first grader!

Cohen has his last Kindermusik class tomorrow, and he is so excited. He has been going to his music class with his Great Gram and his Grandma. Tomorrow, being the last day, I am going to go and we get to ride the bus around town and then go to the park for a picnic. He asks me everyday when his picnic is going to be. He has absolutely loved his music class (thanks so much Gram and Cath) and my little singer just keeps on singing :).

Mackie has also found his voice this last week. He just started babbling "ba ba ba ba"-so cute. He also continues to drool constantly despite getting his first teeth. Drew and I were able to go on a date on Saturday night and Drew's mom and grandma watched the boys. What a wonderful break it was! We went and walked at Washington Park and then went to dinner...which was incredibly relaxing. Our fine babysitters reported that the kids were great but Mack kept looking around all over for me and when he couldn't find me he would start crying "Ma Ma Ma Ma"! He hasn't been without his Mommy much. It was good for both of us though!

This is longer than I intended. Hope everyone has a great week! Here are some pictures from the last week:
Some pictures from Lach's field trip to the Children's museum...this is Lach in the boat
Lach's good friend Jamillia
This was great fun!
Hard to get too down about the weather when this face greets me in the morning...such a happy boy

Big Mack is 5 months!

2008-06-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Lachlan is back to school today...and so happy. We had a very relaxed weekend and did pretty much nothing...very good thing for getting well. He seems fine now. Cohen now has a runny nose, but a runny nose could be allergies and I don't really care as long as it is not a fever!

McKenon turned 5 months last Friday. The day before he got his first tooth! Now he has both bottom ones. Hard to believe he is getting so big. He is easy and very sweet. He is sleeping about 9 hours straight now from 7 pm until 4 or 4:30 am then up around 7 am. I am very happy about this schedule.

That is pretty much all for now. Here are some recent pictures:

I'm 5 months!
First tooth!

I will close with these two sillies!

We're home!

2008-05-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

Always a smile
We got to come home tonight. Although there is no clear test for Kawasaki Disease they ended up doing a ton of tests and an echocardiogram. From these tests and the way Lachlan looked/acted they decided that it was NOT Kawasaki's. So after telling us his heart looked perfect (a wonderful thing to hear when Daddy has a heart condition) they decided to send us home. Also his temperature disappeared after he was admitted last night...wouldn't you know it. When we were being discharged they actually got a test back and were able to tell us it was Adenovirus...basically just a bad bug with no treatment and no lasting side effects. It was a relief to have an answer! Why the fever lasted as long as it did, we don't know, but we do know what it is and that he is okay. So...after a very long night and day we are home and quite honestly I cannot wait to sleep in my own bed...we are all exhausted. It made me very sympathetic to all those children and their families we saw at Children's who were much, much sicker than Lachlan. Children's Hospital is a wonderful facility and without it Drew would not be here! Thanks for all your thoughts! Next post: Mack is 5 months today...hopefully I will get to it this week!

Headed to Children's

2008-05-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

Quick post to let everyone know we are headed to Children's Hospital for treatment for Kawasaki's Disease for Lachlan. Everything should be fine and I will keep you posted.

We're still here...barely

2008-05-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

Lach has had a high fever for almost 8 days now...it sort of went away on Saturday and Sunday then was back with a vengence on Monday morning. I took him to the doc yesterday. His symptoms are 102-103.5 temp, red eyes, swollen lymph nodes and "dry" cold. Yesterday they sent us for blood tests and a chest x-ray. Lachlan was so brave through it all-they also did a few more tests in the office. He has an elevated white count (non-specific) and everything is pointing toward a bad infection. However, they are worried about Kawasaki disease, and he has some of the symptoms of that. Tonight I took his temp and it is still high 102.5 so I think we are off to the clinic again tomorrow. From what the doctor said if the labs are inconclusive they will call Children's Hospital to see if we need to head down for further testing for Kawasaki's. They cannot treat it here-only at Children's. The worry with this particular disease is if left untreated it can cause coronary anerysms in the heart. There is no real test for it-basically just ruling everything else out. I am just exhausted with worry. I want him to wake tomorrow with no temp, being his bouncy, easy going self. Send a thought our way...

The sun shined!

2008-05-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

Well, the last 3 days were just beautiful! Wow...such a treat! We enjoyed every moment of it too! Friday was the first day of sun which we spent here with my sis and her little guy, Landon. The boys played in the pool and just enjoyed the sun shining. It was Kaar's b-day so it was fun to just hang out. Saturday was so hot but we had a lot to do here and we took advantage of the good weather. I spent the whole morning on my parent's tractor getting one area ready to seed with grass. It is looking really good and I think we will seed tonight. I moved tons of rocks only to have more rock come up. Drew did some wood cutting-we have tons to cut up. We spent the rest of the day just working but it was really enjoyable with the weather being so nice...the boys played in the pool some more.

Sunday afternoon we went hiking. We went on a 4 mile hike up to Fragrance Lake in B'ham. It was a beautiful hike and we all enjoyed it. We then spent some time at Larrabee Park and then in B'ham and dinner out. What a wonderful way to end the weekend. It is cloudy now, but we have to keep in mind that it is this rain that makes this place so beautiful!

Here are some pictures:

My guys (see Mack's foot)

A little update on McKenon:

Our littlest guy is doing so great. He is such a wonderful baby. He is growing so quickly and changing weekly. He loves his jumperoo and will spend a long time jumping in it. He loves to flirt with everyone and tries to get attention by making a little coughing sound, and then you look over and he just grins. He also rolled over both ways this last week! I was having a really hard time moving him to his crib. We started putting him to bed in his crib about 6 weeks ago and I was really missing him next to me. We decided when he would wake up for his first feeding he would just stay in our room. Well, it just was not working. He would wake and then continue to wake us up about every hour after his long stretch. I was really tired but still not wanting to put him back in his room! I just wanted to savor this time. But last week after waking me up so much I decided he would just have to cry so I started putting him back in his bed after his feed. Well, turns out that is all he needed. He really started sleeping well...I think he was just having normal wakings, and I was tending to him so he would just continue to wake. He never even had to cry because he just woke in his bed and went right back to sleep. He is now going 8 hours straight then 2.5 to 3 more! However, it is a little bitter sweet for me. I miss snuggling him in bed-but I don't miss being awake. I am loving rocking him to sleep in the evening...that fully fed, limp, sleepy baby on my shoulder is just the absolute best feeling in the world...oh how I will miss having more babies! However, they do grow into busy, busy boys!

Here are the latest pictures of our littlest man:
4 1/2 months

I found my feet this week!
I love my jumperoo!

Mother's Day

2008-05-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

Some pictures from Orcas last week

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mommies (sorry I am late on posting this). I hope you all had a wonderful day with your families.

My day was very special. The boys made me beautiful cards and I received some wonderful, unexpected gifts. Lachlan planted me some seeds (don't know what they are yet) and he got me a iPod (Daddy might have helped). From Cohen I got a beautiful card and a docking station/radio for my iPod and from McKenon I received an Itunes gift card! Boy was I spoiled. An iPod is the only thing I have wanted for a long time! Now I can go for walks with my favorite music.

We went to meeting yesterday and then we spent the afternoon at Drew's grandma. It was also his Mom's b-day so we had a really nice afternoon. We had kebobs on the grill and a bunch of other yummy things. When we came home we walked to my parents to visit (they are 1.5 miles away).

I had such a nice day...I love my kiddos so much, and my husband, who is so thoughtful and always thinking of creative fun things to do for me! Thanks for making my day special guys!
My card from Cohen
My card from Lach
Drew, his Mom & the boys

4 Months!

2008-05-02T12:24:00.001-07:00

Well, McKenon is officially 4 months old! Today we had his well-child check and his is doing great! He is a very big boy! Here are his stats:

Weight: 16 pounds 7 oz.
Height: 26 inches.

My big boy Cohen (he was 10lbs at birth) stats at 6 months:
Weight: 15 pounds 1 oz.
Height: 25 3/4 inches.

Lachlan's at 6 months:
Weight: 12 pounds 7 oz. (Mack is a full 4 pounds heavier)!
Height: 25 inches

So...he is doing so great! I just can't believe he is so big. He is in the 75th percentile for weight, height and head circ. He obviously has no trouble eating-at all. I wish he could be a little smaller so I could enjoy the baby stage a little more but that is just not to be. Oh well, I am still enjoying him immensely! He had his shots and did great too...now he is sleeping.

As you will notice in the pictures below he has bright blue eyes. All 3 of the Boyd boys have bright blue eyes. Why is this amazing you say? Well, Drew and I both have dull brown eyes! However, three of the boys' great grandfathers had blue eyes...very strong recessive (according to the doctor only a 1 in 4 chance of us having a blue eyed child). I was hoping for a brown eyed baby to shake things up a bit but nope...they are beautiful though.

Last but not least-Lachlan started riding his dirt bike this week. He got it when he was 5 but after running into a barbwire fence hadn't wanted to ride it. Everytime our neice Hannah comes over she rides it, and Lachlan decided he was ready. Well we haven't gotten him off it. I was going to take some pictures just now but it must have run out of gas because he isn't riding. He is very excited to do some things to help Mommy so he can earn some extra money to buy gas-we will help him but he has to contribute too (esp. with the price of gas-it requires premium!).

All for now! Hope everyone has a great weekend! We are headed to Orcas tonight...Yipee! We are hoping for good weather!

Taken this morning

Week in a nutshell...

2008-04-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

"Auntie Gretchen I love my new hat!"
Washington Park
BBQ

We had a good week last week. The weather wasn't so great but we made the most of it! Friday night we went to Anacortes and walked the 3 mile loop (the boys rode their bikes) at Washington Park and played at the park-it was a beautiful evening. Saturday turned out beautiful so we got a lot done. Drew and my Dad cut tons of wood, I washed all the windows inside and out and spread bark. The boys played from 7 am until 7 pm outside. We had a picnic table custom made for us...and I love it! I picked it up Saturday morning. We had a family bbq Saturday night which was really fun. We had a fire in the firepit too.

Some of the things I loved most about the week was watching the four deer that visit us daily (and eat the dandelions), watching the eagles soar right above our house, taking our daily walks and watching the two oldest boys play outside. Cohen loves to spot the daffodils everywhere "Mommy there is a daffodilla". Lachlan just started piano lessons and that is going well too.

Then there is Mackie (as the boys love to call him). He is growing like a weed or maybe a daffodilla. He will be 4 months this week! Why does it have to go so quickly? I am trying to enjoy every moment!

April 20th...I think not

2008-04-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

Excavator
Tulips
Having fun
Lachlan feeding Mack a bottle

The calendar has to be wrong. Last Saturday it was 78 degrees-today we have 4 inches of snow so far. I know it won't last (at least I don't think so) so I had to get some pictures and post them. The boys are loving it, but quite honestly I am ready for spring and the warm weather with it!

3 month pictures

2008-04-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

I had these taken of Mack today. I think they turned out pretty cute. I thought I would share them even though I won't have them in my hands for 2 weeks! He is such a happy, sweet baby...I'm enjoying him sooooo much! Which is your favorite? Mine is the closeup and the one on his tummy.

How does your garden grow?

2008-04-13T19:59:00.001-07:00

Days like yesterday make living in the Northwest worth it. It was warm and just beautiful...picture perfect. We got our garden started! Earlier in the week my sweet husband went and got some organic compost (manure)...high grade stuff from a farmer who raises organic beef. This is good stuff as far as cow pooh goes. It had been composting for over a year and hardly had any odor, much better than previous years when we smelled it for about a month! So yesterday we started putting in our garden. We have our lettuce, carrots, radishes, potatoes, and peas in so far. We left a big space this year for dahlias so I'm excited to have some flowers in the garden. We also extended the garden for more corn. The boys were so excited to get going on it, and it is very good for them to learn how to grow food...considering this is our veggies for the whole summer. This year I plan to can the beans which I have never done.

Drew did some wood cutting since we are still busy getting the acreage cleaned up. Our neighbor has been over with his excavator helping and it is looking so good.

I mowed our field which I always enjoy. My allergies were really bothering me though. It was so fun to watch the kids while I mowed. The wind wasn't blowing but Lachlan was bound and determined to get his kite in the air so he ran and ran with it and if he ran fast enough it would stay up...he ran about 3 miles and got a bee sting...but he slept very well last night!

I noticed Cohen was singing a lot yesterday. He loves to sing and make up songs. His most recent is so sweet I have to share "I love Jesus. He is my bestest friend. I love him so...." He told me this was a new hymn he loves. Too cute.

And McKenon? He did what he does best...smile, coo, chew his fingers, smile some more, sleep, smile, sleep...you get the picture. What a great day-too bad today was 20 degrees cooler...oh well I think spring is coming?

Here are some pictures:
Potatoe planting
Check out the big rig in the background!
A little help from our kitty
McKenon loved the mower noise when he was in my tummy and loves it still!

Maui 2008

2008-04-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful trip to Maui. We spent almost every day on the beach. The weather was wonderful. We had sun everyday and a little wind. On our favorite beach we were able to get out of the wind which helped with McKenon. I was amazed how well Lachlan did this year in the water. He was body surfing, boogie boarding, trying to catch fish in the ocean. He also enjoyed swimming in the pool. At first Cohen was a little cautious but that did not last long. He was swimming with his water wings on and even getting tossed by waves...loving every minute of it. We found Mack to be very island compatible. He was great. He slept for 1-3 hours every day on the beach, ate, smiled and slept some more. Never fussed all day except around dinner time when he was ready for bed. As you can imagine everyone wanted to hold him. He's such a good baby.

I managed to get out almost every day for a VERY early morning walk/jog. I usually was walking by 6 am because the boys were up early every morning (they never got real used to the 3-hour time change). Drew tried to go walking after I got back. I found the mornings very peaceful and it was nice just to have some time to myself. Unfortunately because we were up so early we were also to bed very early...we were so tired from playing all day long in the water. I got to snorkel with my neice, Madi quite a bit which was really fun. We even got to see turtles. Drew loved body surfing.

The highlight of our trip was seeing Gretchen. She totally surprised us because she was not suppose to be on Maui. She was only going to be there for 24 hours and we got to spend about 3 hours with her. It was so special...thanks again Gretchie!

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Three months!

2008-04-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

Mack turned three months when we were on vacation. He is the most wonderful, easy, sweet, adorable little baby...think we like him?

Friday Night Fun

2008-03-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

We had a ball last night with our friends Trevor and Carissa and their boys Wade and Dean. Thanks guys for coming...we need to do it more often. Carissa thanks for holding Mack so much it was a break for my arms!
Game time

Silly boys
Sundaes!
Trevor and Carissa
A picture of Mack from this last week

Cohen...the climber

2008-03-10T09:04:00.001-07:00

Cohen has been really climbing lately. He tries to climb on the counter all the time, he climbs trees but yesterday was a little more climbing than I am used to seeing. Drew looked out the window to check on the boys and Cohen had climbed up the front of the van and was dancing on the roof! He was having a grand time. Lachlan, knowing better but greatly encouraging, was on the ground dancing. When we asked why he climbed up on the van he stated "it was an accident"...I don't think so. We didn't get a picture because we didn't want to encourage any more of that behavior and he loves having his picture taken. We got a great laugh though!

Visiting

2008-03-10T07:15:00.000-07:00

Brielle Kristine
Little cousins
Julianne and McKenon
A little size difference

McKenon and I headed over to Wenatchee last Friday to see my cousin Julianne and her new baby. Brielle is a little dolly (stress little here). She has had some jaundice and feeding issues so she is so small but is starting to gain now. She seemed such a delicate little flower next to Mack the little moose. Mack was a good little traveler over and back so hopefully he will enjoy flying! The rain is back this week so I am anxious for some sun!

Is it March already?

2008-03-04T13:32:00.000-08:00

We are going to "spring" ahead this Saturday! Yeah more daylight! I love spring and summer so am really looking forward to more light and more evening. I can take my walks ALONE soon and the boys can play out longer.

We leave in 2 shorts weeks for vacation so the days have been filled with getting packed etc. All the kiddos are better (crossing my fingers here), and it has been really fun seeing McKenon's little personality coming out. He smiles all the time, coos and has even started sleeping in his bed during the day so I am able to get a bit of a break. I can't believe how much I am enjoying him and it is so fun to see the boys giving little hugs and kisses to him...they keep telling me all the things they are going to teach him...so sweet.

We took the boys skiing last Saturday. It was Cohen's first time. He just went on the rope tow a couple times with Drew and then wanted to hang out with me in the lodge. Lachlan got new skis, and we really thought he would have trouble because they are so much bigger...nope he did just fine. Drew is going to take him again before we leave because he needs to get up there more. I can't wait til I can join them next season.

Cohen started Kindermusik last week with his GG (great Gram) and Grandma. He did great...no problems this time. He is excited to go tomorrow.

I've been volunteering in Lach's class quite a bit. I really enjoy it. I love helping the kids and watching them learn. He is doing so good and I love watching him with his peers. He is such a kind, thoughtful boy and is always willing to help his friends.

I head over to see my cousin and her new baby on Friday. I am excited to see little Brielle...I'll post loads of pictures when I get home.

Have a happy day!
Bathtime
Smiling at himself in the mirror
2 months
The Boyd boys
Cohen skiing with Drew
Lachlan

His shirt says it all...

2008-02-28T08:47:00.000-08:00

Mack 8 weeks

Too bad these pictures are a little blurry...I had the setting wrong on my camera! In case you can't see it his shirt says "I'm in charge around here"

Our week

2008-02-25T11:55:00.000-08:00

The big boys seem to be better and McKenon is also getting better. We got the report back last week that he has RSV. The week was worrisome because he was so congested. Drew and I spend many a night peaking over his bassinette to see if he was okay. He had laryngitis horribly. He no longer has a fever, his laryngitis is better, but he has an awful cough. He coughs so hard he throws up...I just feel terrible for him. The cough gets bad at night so Drew and I take turns staying up with him. He doesn't cough as much when he is propped up on our chests. Today I took him in for his 8-week checkup and his lungs were clear. The doctor said probably another week of the cough. He weighed 12lbs 8 oz, 23 3/4 inches long. Despite being sick and not eating as well he is doing great. Drew and I both have a cold but I don't really care as long as the kids are okay.

On the plus side, the weather was beautiful last week. We took a walk everyday. It helped me keep my sanity. We planted some primroses too. Cohen picked the flowers and both the boys helped plant them. It has continued to stay nice which is a bonus after so much rain.
Mack ready for his stroller ride
Lach planting
Cohen's turn

Congratulations to Julianne and Kevin!

2008-02-21T07:41:00.000-08:00

Their baby girl was born this morning at 5:33 am. Her name is Brielle Kristine and she weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was 20 inches long! We are so excited for you. What a lucky girl she will be to have parents like you! I will post a picture as soon as I get one!

Rocket Launching

2008-02-20T12:00:00.001-08:00

Today we received a gift for McKenon. In it was a gift for the boys. From Joe and Nancy Boyd they received a rocket launcher! Lachlan was completely beside himself and luckily the weather was good so he could go launch some rockets! I've had to repeat many times that there will be no launching in the house! Thanks again guys!

Orcas Trip

2008-02-18T13:22:00.000-08:00

Despite continuing to be sick, sick, sick here at the Boyd house we decided to go to Orcas for the 3-day vacation. I took Lachlan and Cohen in on Friday to the doctor before we left. They both have double ear infections (2nd in 4 weeks for both). Lachlan had 103.4 temp yesterday so they felt pretty awful. Cohen was also wheezing at the doctors (I had no idea) so he now has a puffer to use until his lungs clear. I was so glad I took them in! Mack now has his 2nd cold and I am taking him in this afternoon because he seems to have croup. I need to ask what I need to watch for in regards to RSV and pneumonia. We've had this stuff for over 4 weeks now, and I am sure all of you are sick of hearing about it! I am sick of telling about it! Hopefully this week we will all be on the mend!

On a side note, today at the doctor McKenon weighed 12 lbs 9 oz! He's a chunk! Also he is sleeping 6-8 hours a night! The last 2 nights he has slept 8 and 8 1/2 hours! He has croup the doc said and did a treatment for it. They also tested him for a few things that I haven't gotten the results back from.

Here are some pictures from the past week:

"I like to eat" Mack 6 weeks

An early morning view of Mt. Baker from the cabinLachlan flying his kite early in the morning

Smiles-7 weeks old

Go fly a kite...

2008-02-10T14:56:00.000-08:00

What to do on a rainy, windy day in the Northwest? Well, we started out yesterday with wanting to go sledding. So we got all geared up and went to our favorite sledding place about 45 minutes away. It was raining and we couldn't even get up the road...so we found a park that had snow, had our lunch and the boys were able to do a little playing in the snow. Here's a picture:

After arriving home we decided to go out and fly kites. The problem was we had no kites. So after calling every outdoors store in the valley the only place we could find them was Target. They had some left over from summer for .34 cents...definitely in the budget! So off we went to pick them up. What fun! We had a blast!

Cohen
Lachlan
Mack catching a ride
Drew and the boys

Reading material

2008-02-10T14:48:00.000-08:00

I have really enjoyed reading this book about raising boys. It has been a big help in understanding why boys do certain things and how to relate to them. Since we have 3 of them I know I will be referring back to this often. I've read other books about raising boys but they have just been real general information. This one is an easy read and discusses important development issues from birth to adulthood...a must read for any Mom and Dad of boys! I highly recommend it...I know I need all the help I can get!

5 weeks and growing like a weed!

2008-02-05T14:12:00.000-08:00

Mack is 5 weeks now. He is a little less fussy in the evening and is sleeping really good at night. He still has a little cold but is on the mend. He is really chunking up and I will be anxious what he weighs next week for his 6-week appt. He is getting rolls and has a double chin!

Lachlan got a double ear infection on Saturday, and Drew got the bug on Sunday...I still haven't got it but I am not out of the woods yet! Both the boys seem to be feeling better now so that is a bonus. The weather has really be yucky...snow and then tons of rain. I am ready for Maui next month.

Cohen is starting Kindermusik once a week with his Grandma and Great Grandma. Today he went to sit in on one of the classes. He cried and wouldn't participate except the last 10 minutes! It is fairly common for his age to do this, but I was hoping he wouldn't be afraid. I will go with him for his first class and leave a little early...any ideas if this will work? It would be really special for him to do with his Grandmas. It will be nice for me to have a little time just with the baby too! Cohen is kind of going through a little adjustment period since having the baby...I remember this with Lachlan-not a lot of fun but it will eventually end. He can be a little defiant and has been throwing tantums, which is not normal for him.

Here are some recent pictures:
These are what our evenings are like...not too exciting!
Do you like my beautiful old blue robe? Drew would like to burn it.

This outfit was Cohen's and I just love it...check out the slippers below...we love dressing our kids like frogs

McKenon is one month!

2008-01-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

McKenon is a month! Wow...time goes quickly. Life is busy, hectic and I wish I had a little more time to enjoy my growing boy. He is doing well except he has a pretty bad cold (courtesy of his brothers). He is not sleeping as well as last week because he is sick but we are managing. He is starting to smile and really putting on weight now.

First smiles

To add a little more about the illness in our house, Lachlan came down with a cold early last week. It wasn't very bad just a stuffed up nose. Cohen got it Thursday and McKenon got it on Saturday. Well on Monday it got much worse for Lachlan. Yesterday, Cohen felt worse and had a fever. Lachlan's eye started getting red last night and today it was swollen shut (pink eye). Cohen has a sore ear this morning. So we are off to the doc here soon. When it rains it pours! I am just hoping Drew and I can avoid getting this! Nobody said this Mom stuff was easy!

I keep forgetting to add this funny that Cohen says. If I am nursing Mack and someone comes over or calls he says "My Mom is milking the baby"...cracks me up!

Time does fly!

2008-01-23T19:14:00.000-08:00

Today we had Lachlan's 6-year well-child checkup. I know he has been 6 for almost a month but I sort of feel like I missed it considering his baby brother came 24 hours later and 9 days late! He is such a big boy now. He talked so big to the doctor telling him all about school, his teacher and his brothers. It was cute (I won't tell you how the shots went, however).

Something I read on Renea's blog has been on my mind since I read it "The days are long but the years are short"...so true. I can agree some of the days are long but the years pass so quickly...how have we been married for 12 years and how is Lachlan 6? They are years filled with wonderful memories, but they have passed so quickly!

I have been taking it easy (or trying). It is really hard to take it easy when you have to feed, drive, put to bed etc. every day, all day. I did develop mastitis, which I had not had with Lachlan or Cohen. Not fun (speaking of long days)! Luckily, Mom was there to help again (thanks Mom)! I am feeling better today but still not 100%. Hopefully, I won't get it again, but if so I will be armed with an herbal remedy if I start to feel it come on.

McKenon has been sleeping really well. I realized that he is a very noisy sleeper so once I stopped tending to the noise he has been great. He sleeps 5-6 hours straight, nurses then 3-4 more. No complaints here. A rested woman is a happy woman! I am so enjoying this time with a sweet baby again.

At the zoo last Saturday. It was so cold this was the only picture I took!
Mack 3 weeks old

Miscellaneous photos

2008-01-17T08:34:00.000-08:00

McKenon is growing like a weed, and I can tell his face has really filled out. He has his fussy moments in the evening but does fairly well during the day. He is also sleeping good at night. I usually get a great stretch of about 4-6 hours first then another 3 so I can't complain too much.

Apparently I have been doing too much though. My midwife put me on bedrest for 24 hours. I really felt like cleaning the entire house, doing my workout DVD and making a pot roast dinner was okay two weeks postpartum, but yesterday I started bleeding heavy...so here I sit waiting for Mom to come help me (have I mentioned I am not one to ask for help?). I just need to learn to take it easy...but it is very hard when you have 3 boys...they certainly know nothing about bedrest. So until tonight and for the next week or so no more exercise. I guess even though I feel like doing my body hasn't caught up.

Here are some recent pictures:

First bath...he loved it.

Fell asleep in the swing

Being a Mom...best job in the world (most days)

2008-01-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

What can I say except I am in love with my new baby. I really think he is the most adorable baby ever. He doesn't sleep much during the day...I don't really care. He loves to be held most of the time...I love it too (most of the time). I am just in awe of him. Here he is my third boy and he is just as precious as the first 2. I am so glad God gave us this great capacity to love. It is truly amazing. I am so very thankful I get to stay home and be a mom.

The other night at meeting everyone asked what the baby's name was Cohen answered "Mackie-doodle". That is one for his baby book. Lachlan always thinks McKenon is trying to tell him something "Mom he said "Oh" or "Mom he is smiling at me" it is so cute that they love their brother as much as Mom and Dad. They have also been teaching him all about excavators and tractors.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.
The boys teaching Mack a little about excavators

A little snooze in the bouncer