4 Month Appointment

I was so relieved to have a day off today. The last week has been nothing but travel..so staying home and cuddling with my kids is just what I needed! Today was Zachary's 4 month appointment. He weighed in at 16lbs 2ounces, 17 inch head and 25.5inches long. He is between 60-70th percentile for all three...just right! I was sure he would be on the higher end of things, but I guess I am used to little girls, not little boys :) Just so happy that he is healthy and so well tempered! No complaints from this momma!

Being Silly

--such a happy boy, always!--

Kenna's Last Day at Heathers

Today was Kenna's last day at Heather's. She has been such an awesome babysitter, and has watched her since she was 4 months old. She has grown up with the kids she is with and has always been very happy there. It is becoming very hard to drive all the way to ames to pick her up or drop her off if Josh can't do it. And, we wanted Zachary and Kenna to be together. Eski is just a few minutes from our house and watches my friend Charlene's kids. Zachary started there already and she is anxiously awaiting Kenna's arrival!

--looks like her going away party started with doughnuts--

--jenna enjoying her doughnut--



--wyatt--

--nick--

--building jewelry--

--heather got her some cute gifts including a car--

--the whole gang--

--kenna and her BFF Cole. Looks like a prom photo doesn't it :) --

--jenna, cole, kenna, nick & wyatt--

--story time with taylor (heather's daughter)--

--watching a movie--

It was so nice of heather to throw her a little party. I am most sad that she won't get to play with Cole everyday. Although he taught her things that I wish he hadn't (all about guns and being ninjas) she always had great stories to tell at the end of the day about their adventures. Her favorite memory will probably be playing in the sandbox or on the teeter totter!

We'll miss you Heather!

Auntie Em's Birthday

Auntie Em's birthday was Monday. We all met there for a BBQ and some laughs! Was great weather and everyone but Baca got to come!

--grins from Zachary--

--Demonte, Tali, Kade, Kenna all playing dolls--



--uncle mark got flowers for aunti em!--

--blowing out the candles--

--tali and kade made her birthday cake--

--gifts from gona from her new york trip--

Time to Play

Everyday I am amazed at how different my little munchkins are. McKenna was a quiet baby who was content at playing on her playmat or looking in a mirror. Zachary has been wanting to stand since he was one month old and is really his happiest when he is bouncing or when you walk around with him. I have a feeling he is going to be a handful. Kenna never put anything in her mouth, Zachary is rarely caught without his whole fist shoved in his mouth.

So last weekend we pulled out the exersaucer. He is so happy. Standing up, stuff to play with and drool on, what a cute boy.

--kenna showing him how it works--

--he loves the mirror and the colored rings!--

He Found His Thumb

Summerfest

Yesterday was the last day of summerfest. We decided to stall nap as long as we could, so Kenna could stay up for fireworks. Then, after her nap we went to the carnival with Andersen's. The girls loved the rides this year! They were old enough to be giddy and Kenna had no fear, wanting to go on the really scary ones.

After the rides we ate dinner from our favorite local restaurant, Yannis (they had a booth there) and went home. We took baths and got the kids in their PJs. Zachary fell asleep, but Kenna was psyched for fireworks! We had the agreement that she couldn't be whiny or we would stay home. She did great! We packed up the car with lawn chairs, popcorn and blankets around 9:30. We drove around till we were close enough to see the fireworks, but far enough away that we could jump in the car fast to get home before the crazy traffic!

--meeting Chloe at the carnival--

--riding the elephants--

--rockets--

--way fun slide....she loved it!--

--Zachary was very content watching from the stroller-- 

--she loved the roller coaster--

--they were screaming like the big kids!--

--our "spot" right outside the car--

--she thought the fireworks were "so cool!"--

We had such a good time. We have such wonderful kids. And to make things even better Zachary slept till 6:30 and Kenna until 7. We had to wake them up this morning!

Our 300th Post

I thought it only fitting to do a "McKenna's favorites" for our 300th blogging post!

Movie: Sleeping Beauty - we watch this at least once every weekend!
TV show: Go Deigo Go! - I think she knows more spanish than some of my friends did who took it in high school!
Food: grilled cheese sandwiches, milk, eggs, grapes
Game: candyland, memory, puzzles
Activity: playing in her pool, moving all of her bikes from the garage to the front porch, playing with the train table at the library, going on a bike ride with daddy, having a picnic lunch at the park
Dessert: anything, but she loves fruit snacks or cupcakes
Color: pink
Song: "Once upon a dream" from sleeping beauty (surprise)
Time of the Day: Always happiest right after she wakes up
Friends: Chloe, Kevin and Nolan
Bribery: she will do almost anything for a sticker....or a sucker. I think this is pretty normal for most kids :)
Book: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Lady and the Tramp, and a book called "Mine" with Bert and Ernie
Sayings: "I can do it myself!" "Why?" "Can I do____mommy?" At least she asks about everything!

I hope that the next 300 posts will bring me as much joy as going back and reading the past ones have!

Parade

Today was the annual Ankeny Summerfest parade. What an event. The parade is two hours long and by the end the kids have an entire grocery sack full of candy, coupons, pens, stickers, popsicles, and so many other goodies! Kenna and I left around 7:15 to go scope out a spot. Every year people set their chairs and blankets out the night before. So, it is hard to find a great spot in the shade! So, we ventured out early to get a good seat. Luckily we found a place right under some giant shade trees right at the start of the parade. We had to save a place for the Kohls, Andersens, ourselves, and Auntie Em and Kade. It was PERFECT weather! Low 70s all morning!

--Kenna sitting patiently for an hour waiting for the parade to start--

--Zachary and Macie Kohl--

--JJ and Maddie Kohl--

--Kade, Kenna and Chloe, Kenna has her bag ready!--

--Zachary's view of the parade--

--look at all the people!--

--daddy and kenna--

--long john silvers gave out these hats, daddy saying "arrr"--

--andersen's and char and macie in the background--

--never seen zachary fall asleep with his hand in his mouth before. He HATED the sirens!--

After the parade we went to lunch with the Andersen's. The rest of the day daddy spent washing our cars while kenna helped and played in her pool. Mommy and Zachary weeded the flowerbeds and garden. Tomorrow we are hitting the carnival and fireworks! We'll see how well the kids do staying up till 10!!!

Before I Forget

Some funny carspeak by McKenna:

We have two vehicles, an orange murano, named Murry by Kenna, and a gray altima named Walley, again, Kenna's choice. Today all of us were driving the murano to menards. A gray altima passes us. The normally very talkative Kenna is silent for a few moments, then she pipes up "Hey...who is driving walley?" It must be very strange to see the same car as ours driving next to us with both mommy and daddy in the murano :)

Then later we were filling up with gas. Of course she asks "why" I respond that cars use gas when they go, so after they go so far they need to get more. She then says "so cars kinda eat gas, right mommy?" I told her that cars weren't alive, but it was similar to eating. She said "well since murry ate all his gas, then he gets a cupcake." Too funny little one :)

Chatty Zachary

I definitely have morning children. Nights are sometimes a struggle, but they are never happier than right when they wake up. Lately Zachary has been getting up around 6:30-7. He doesn't cry, he just talks to himself in the crib. Then after he eats, no matter where he is, he continues his discussion.

Here he is laying on the couch looking at Rylee and trying to talk to her - too funny!

Kenna's First Dentist Visit

Luckily there is a dentist in Kathy and Denny's office. Josh goes there every 6 months and they agreed to schedule an appointment for Kenna. It works out well, because then Josh can let Kenna go visit Gona while he gets his teeth cleaned. I wasn't there, but Josh said she did great. We have been talking about the dentist for a week or so, and she was really excited to show him her teeth. Looks like she is doing a great job of brushing (with some help from us) and all is well!

On a side note, I would like to thank my wonderful children for both going to bed before 8:30 tonight so I could update the blog! This has become more of a habit lately, and I LOVE it!!!

--look all clean!--

--so proud of her teeth--

--letting the dental hygienist clean them up--

--look at my big girl!!--

Impromptu BBQ

On Thursday Kathy called and asked if we wanted to go to Grandma Great's for a BBQ dinner. It sounded fun, so we packed up the kids and drove to Perry. I had never had pork on the grill, and it was awesome! And in honor of Kathy and Denny buying some beach front property in Mexico - I made black bean and jicama salad. They were down there over the 4th and decided to buy a piece of mexican beach. Right now there is no house on it, but who knows what the future brings! We are already planning out what fun we will have building sand castles :)

--Baca showing Zachary the koi--

--Bridgot and Grandma Great--

--Auntie Em and the kids--

--wow...are these two related? Same look :)--

First Day Back

Today was my first day back at work. There were A LOT of changes that happened while I was gone for 14 weeks. But it was good to see everyone and sort of get back in the groove of things. Zachary did great at Eski's. There was so much going on he didn't sleep much, and he hadn't pooped in over 2 days. So the first thing he did when he got home was giggle with me for a few minutes, eat, poop and fall asleep. Ahhhh, good to be home!

Mom had mentioned I hadn't posted pictures of Zachary for a while. So here are a few to tide you over mom :)

--zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz--

--4th of july outfit, with socks from aunt janice-- 

--sitting in his bumbo eating his hands--

--big grins--