Mckayla and Brilee having a great time. They were celebrating McKayla's 10th Birthday. They went and got pampered at Hot Nails with Pedicures. After Hot Nails, they went to eat at Applebee's. It was a great time. They laugh so much and just enjoyed the time.

Summer Cooking Class Anyone?

McKayla decided that she wanted to have a cooking class with the kids in the neighborhood. She thought she was gonna have about 4 kids, but when it was all said and done she had double. She was amazing (of course I am biased) and she had a blast and was so darn cute with the kids. Here are some of the pictures I was
able to get when I came to check in on the class.

McKayla showing off her balancing skills as well as cooking.

Kylee

Bree

Gracie, Bree, and Hannah

The whole gang!

Hannah thought I should take one more picture! How cute is she!

Of course Jackson couldn't miss out on a cooking class. He borrowed the hat
from one of the other chef's.

Gracie, I tried and tried to get a big grin, this is her, she is always happy.

Do they look like they are having fun or what. I am sure they will be back for week 2. I mean who doesn't want to learn how to cook cupcakes and decorate them. Oh yeah and eat them when they are done.

Banana Bread Delight

McKayla made Banana Bread for the first time. She got the recipe book out and choose the recipe. She made this all by herself. It turned out amazing. I think she surprised herself. She even shared some the the Varsity Scouts later that evening. Jake H. loved it so much that he had seconds.

I think her bread turned out almost better than mine does.. Great Job!!

McKayla's Birthday Haircut!!!

Yes I know the pictures are out of order... So start at the bottom and move up.. It was fun to watch her get her hair done. Buff did an amazing job as usual.. McKayla loved her hair and felt like a beauty queen. Thanks Buff your the best...

Young Womens 12th Birthday Welcome!!!

McKayla is finally going to be in the Young Women's Program. She is so excited. They came and decorated her windows on her birthday. Who can believe that she is already 12!! Does she look happy or what?

In-n-Out Birthday Surprise Lunch Party!!

McKayla's 12th Birthday Party! My Friend planned this surprise party for her. I am so grateful to have people like this in my life. You know who you are!!! Love ya!

She love going to In n Out, and the Girls that came with her. They were all so sweet to her. She loved all the gifts they gave her. They all knew the perfect gifts to give. She love it! Thanks girls for being a part of her birthday.

Happy Birthday Fondant Cake!!

Here is McKayla's Birthday Cake. I asked her what kind of cake she wanted this year and her reply was I hate frosting. So my next question was well there is Cheesecake? No I don't like that either. She hates to much sugar. So I thought how about a Fondant Cake. Well to my surprise I learned alot.... I have never made a cake like this until now. I asked a few people if they had made them and only 2 people had done it. So I googled as I usually do.



Here I am with a great big smile on my face! It was so fun to make this with McKayla. She loved it even thought it was far from perfect. We both learned a lot about fondant. Next time we make one it will be much prettier..


Here is McKayla proudly holding her cake that she loved to pieces... Happy Birthday Kayla.

Carmeled Apples

McKayla has been wanting to make Carmel Apples. Here is the finished product. She had so much fun making them. She learned that its not so easy to cover the apple with Carmel. After she did that she dipped them in White Chocolate and then sprinkled some Brown Sugar and Cinnamon on them. They were yummy!!! You did great McKayla!

McKayla wanted to make Carmel Apples. She is growing up so fast. She was able to make these and they came out looking amazing. They tasted awesome too..

Here they have been dipped in the carmal. Then next they were drizzled with white chocolate and cinnamon and sugar.. The are so yummy!


This is the final product and She was very proud of herself for making these. It was a little challenging becuse I was making my jelly at the same time, but nice to be able to cook together.

School Programs and Talents Shows!!

I was running is circles yesterday two programs on the same day!!!

McKayla had one awesome 5th grade school program about the states and freedom. They sang about 10 songs and talked about voting. Our rights and freedoms. We are all not really that different after all .. I almost started to cry at that point. It takes me back to old days and new ones too... It is so true for each one of us at all times in our lives that we are really not that different after all. We all have one heart that beats the same.. They sang a song about this.

I went to Parker's Talent show and I was over taken by the talent these teens had at this age. The singers, musicians, drummers with buckets, gymnastics, comedians, Hawaiian dancing, and then my son on the unicycle. He sure love to ride that for people to watch him. He loves to see people smile. He just loves to do it. In fact, he is having a new one delivered in by UPS today on the front door step as I type this. So Laurie, If you see it get dropped off make sure it stays there..lol.. I just had a really fun day watching my kids. I was happy to see them so happy and enjoying life as a pre-teen and pretty much a teen... I am a proud mom today, I love you guys... Keep it up.. Love Mom *Ü*

I have been tagged!!(Thanks Erin)

I am supposed to post the 4th picture from the fourth file.

Here it is.

This is McKayla and Abbey on Christmas Day 2001. They were so little. I can't believe how BIG! Little ole, kayla is now! Hope you enjoy this tag as much as I did. Now I tag Cyndi, Rennie, Lindsay, Andrea, and Kristin M.

I can't wait to see all your cute pics..

The Girls 1st Annual Halloween Party!!

Brillee is in the big pink glasses, Emilee is from Star Wars, Stefani is a Hippi Girl, Megan is a Dance Girl, McKayla is Clown, and Maddi is a Hippie Girl. (Left to right Top to Bottom.)

I bought scary teeth at the Dollar Store. We were gonna do a Tooth Bobbing game kinda like Apple Bobbing. WELL, lets just say a few of the girls started getting a little freaked out. So they just ended up putting them in their mouths and we took pictures.
"The Bone Hunt"Brilee, Stefani, and McKayla posed for a picture just waiting for the rest of the girls to come to the party!! They all had a blast!! Okay so toward the end of the party the Costume Box came out. All the girls started changing up their costumes. It was so dang funny to see what they would come up with. Well Stefani came up with the funniest by far. Her hair matched this wig she put on and it looked like "Uncle Earl" as they called it. It was the perfect mullet. Brilee had the mask on and the red cape. I wish I had the pictures that I took on Brilee's camera too. I got a ton of cute one on hers.
This was Stefani in the pink Hippi costume, Then Stefani in the Black Dress Coat, so you can see the Difference!!! So Funny!

Stefani, Come on Girl you wanted your picture taken "Can you at least smile for me"

Can you "Roll your Tongue"?? Everyone could except one girl..

Emily definately makes a great Star Wars figure doesn't she. She is so dang cute!!! Look at those ear muffs!

Happy Halloween Everyone! I hope you had a Boo-licious time!

Just what the Dr. Ordered!!

2 Seperate Doctor Appts
2 Co Payments
One busy Mom
2 Tired Kids
8 x-rays McKayla
1 hospital cafateria lunch (shared)
3 Booster shots Parker
2 Really sore legs Parker
1 Unhappy Child= 1 Big I Owe You

McKayla had a appt with Dr Marsden to have her feet checked. She has a really knobby bone type knob thingy on the outside of her foot. They did X-ray's to make sure nothing funny was going on with her feet. Dr. M called us tonight and let us know that the pic's looked great.. We were relieved. They also did a bone age on Kayla and that was great also. She is 10years 3months old and her bone age is 10 years. So we are very grateful tonight that all of her tests came out normal. We will watch McKayla's feet for the next couple of weeks and if they don't seem to get any better we will taker her back in again for further testing.

Parker had a appt with Dr Nygaard. He needed his shots, and so he had to get his well checkup too. He was so tough, I know that shots are painful especially the tetnus shot. He did great. He also had to get the ole "cough" test done. Dr Nygaard asked him if he wanted his mom to leave the room and of course he said no. He was thinking it would be just like last year. lol.. I thought so too. However, I do have to say I was a little embarrassed and told them both that I think I would wait outside the next time he(Dr. Nygaard) did that because I don't remember him doing that last year. He then lets me know that he doesn't do that exam until they are 12. Sooo, I then realize I have just been embarrassed and caught off guard..By this point we are all laughing and I'm sure my face was probably pretty red. Sorry Parker I didn't know! I'm sure this isn't the first or the last time right! I still can't believe my little guy is 12. Time really flies doesn't it. Parker also has a slight scoliosis and Dr. N. wants us to help keep an eye on it. So we will do that. Well I am grateful for such a caring Pediatrician. He truly cares about my kids and takes the time to make sure they get the care they need.

I just want to say how grateful I am to have healthy kids. I know what a blessing it is to have children who are healthy. I am grateful for a husband who loves me. I am grateful for my parents teaching me so many things. I am so grateful for friends who help me to realize all the wonderful things around me. I am thankful for my testimony. In case you are wondering, I am going to try something new that I found on one of my friends blogs. I am going to try to list several things that I am grateful for each time I post.

Room Mom!!!

Today was a fun day. I was able to take Parker to lunch at his favorite place "Alvaro's". He is out early due to SEP's. He is such a fun kid. The Report card thing appears to be working still. I am so proud of him and how hard he is working to keep his grades at a 4.0.

I went to a Room Mom Tea Party at Sandstone today. I am going to be Mr. Horrock's room Mom this year. I did it when Parker had him in 5th grade also. I am excited. I know McKayla is excited also. The first activity we are planning is the Halloween Party so if any of you know of any great ideas send them my way. Its so much fun to do this because you get to be help plan the fun things they do throughout the year. I love doing this.

School's Out Early!! SEP's!!

Well this week has been fun! I went and met with McKayla's teacher. She is in 5th Grade this year. She is doing awesome so far. She loves her teacher Mr. Horrock's. She is reading the book Shiloh and has to do 6 small reports on the book in the next 6 weeks. She is a member of the Student Council and is so excited to help make a difference in the school.

Jackson is in 1st Grade. His teacher is Ms. Webster. She is awesome. Jackson is doing great so far also. While we were meeting with his teacher she asked Jack if he had any questions. This is what he said. "I want to know if tomorrow you can let us use that sink to wash our hands? She says, "You need to wash your hands when in you go to the restroom or after during recess." He asks, "Why?" She says, "Because the water comes out so fast it gets all over the place and then when one of you sees someone washing your hands then all of you think you need to wash your hands." He says," Well then tomorrow can't you just explain to the kids how to turn the water on half way so it doesn't come out and splash everywhere."

The whole time he is trying to reason with Ms Webster he is rubbing is hands together just wondering if she could just explain this to the other kids it would really work. It was so cute.


Jackson and McKayla are loving being in the same school and they are already talking about how next year he will be alone and have to find someone else to walk home with.