2 year checkup

We had Mac's two year checkup today, before we leave for the Mediterranean tomorrow. She weighs 25.5 lbs and is 33 and a half inches tall. 25th percentile for both, which is pretty consistent since her 6 month checkup. I almost started crying on the way home at the thought of leaving her for two whole weeks! We haven't been apart for more than a few days since she was born, and I already miss her. We spent a good deal of the day just spending quality time together.

--here we are playing with her train--

--here she is closing and opening the door (her new favorite game)--

--this is her flower girl dress for the wedding she is in at the end of the month--

I have to write a few things that only moms care about now - just so I can remember. Everything right now includes "too." Some of her favorites: "mommy, rylee go to the park too?" "mommy, i have cracka too?" You get the jist!

She is also running, jumping, climbing on everything, The doctor said that her language and motor skills are pretty advanced, which means we need to keep our eye on her even more!!!

I will make sure to take lots of pictures and do some mega-blogs when I get back!! Maybe I can talk gramma rue into blogging while I am gone!

McKenna playing with her new toys

McKenna is 2!!!

Today is Mac's official birthday, but we spent all day yesterday celebrating! We decided that since McKenna LOVES the teletubbies, we would do a teletubby theme. I had a hard time finding decorations, because the show is only in reruns. But with a little help from photoshop, ebay and my own creativity, we had a great time! We bought streamers, balloons, plates and cups the color of the teletubbies, and added our own flare.

The night before the party I made a Teletubby train cake. I also made Oreo surprise cupcakes. The morning of I decorated them, prepared the Po pizza ingredients, and made brushetta (Tinky-Winky Toast). We threw soda, beer and wine in the cooler, and I made home made Laa-Laa lemonade, and Tubby Tea.

--yummy oreo surprise cupcakes!--

--Teletubby train cake (hard to decorate!!)--

At the beginning of each episode of Teletubbies the sun comes up over the horizon with a laughing baby face. We put together our own McKenna-ized version.

--Official Teletubby sunshine--

--Mac's face on the sunshine--

I also made signs that explained what was going on, and Josh made his own sign to put on the door that said "Laa-Laa takes off her shoes." This is hilarious to anyone that has ever watched the show, because it sounds just like what the narrator would say :) The family started to arrive, and thank goodness Denny and Kathy got there early, because I was a wreck trying to get Brushetta in the oven, and make enough toppings and pizza dough for 30 people! They really saved me!

--Karie, gramma, gona, with Paula and Sam in the background--

--Mike, grampa, Shelly and Damon in the background, Karie, gramma, gona and sam--

--Tali and aunti Em--

We had quite the guest list: Gona, Baca, Aunti Em, Uncle Mark, Kade, Tali, Mike, Bridgot, Grandma and Grandpa Great, Karie, Damon, Shelly, Nolan, Sashank, Vandana, Avi, Dick, Paula, Sam, Willum, Char, JJ, Maddy, Josh, Me and McKenna. Scott, Melissa, Austin, Stahr family, Andersen family, Stone family and Abby couldn't make it. Almost everyone that we invited came, and thanks to all for making it! After most people had arrived, I handed out their pizza order forms.

--I made pizza's on the grill for everyone, special order!--

The pizza was a big hit. I make them like rustic, Italian style, and they are yummy!!!! I did have quite a hard time grilling while it was raining...had to cover all the ingredients up and then uncover them every time I made a pizza. But, everyone seemed to have fun while waiting for their food!

After lunch we opened presents, and man did McKenna make a haul! She got clothes, books, a tiny tikes castle, an elmo shape game, some coloring books, sidewalk chalk, a baby doll, cinderella and horse toy, kitties and kitty carrier, jack in the box, alphabet game, sand and water outdoor toy from Gona and Baca, a party kitchen from Grampa Rue, some teletubby dolls from mommy and a necklace from daddy. Daddy got me a mother and child necklace with McKenna's birthstone in it for my birthday/mother's day. He got McKenna the same one for her birthday, but with my birthstone in it...so cute!!

--hard to tell but it is silver with a tall figure on one side (mommy) and a shorter figure on the other (mckenna). My birthstone (aquamarine) is in the middle--

--McKenna and Avi before presents--

--playing with her castle--

--the sunglasses were a hit!--

After presents we got McKenna her own piece of the train and sang happy birthday. With all the people who were there, we had quite a chior! She sat there and ate it up (both the attention and the cake!)

--Happy birthday sweet girl!--

We hadn't practiced blowing out the candles, so her friend Sam had to help! He did a great job, then everyone chowed down on the cupcakes and train!

Thanks to all who came, we had such a wonderful time! We had originally planned on having it outdoors, but with the weather, we had to reorganize our entire main floor to accommodate so many people! We had so much fun, and are so happy that we could share it with all the wonderful people in our life! Thanks so much to Aunti Em, Mark, Gona and Baca for helping to host/serve pizza/clean/and basically coordinate such a huge event!!

--the first thing McKenna wanted to do this morning was play with her "kit-ton"--

--Now my baby is official 2 years old!!! I can't believe it!--

McKenna playing

I ran upstairs to grab a letter I needed to mail. While I was searching for it, I heard McKenna singing to her baby. She was rocking her and singing "rock by baby....teetop....rock rock...down baby." I thought it was the cutest thing, so I grab the camera to get it on film, and of course she wouldn't perform...oh well, still cute :)

--here she is giving her baby a binky, making her dance, and giving her a horsey ride--

Going to the park

McKenna has been asking "where apwil go?" I told her that April had to go bye-bye. Then she responds with "ya, apwil go hom." She also reminds me that "apwil toy me" informing me that the toys she is playing with are what April got her for her birthday. Here are some last photos. We miss you April!

--how can you come to Iowa and NOT wear a corn hat--

--at the costume shop...pretty hilarious--

Yesterday was beautiful weather. It was 75 degrees and McKenna announced "mommy, me go park" so we got our shoes on, and left. She insisted on wearing her coat, even though she didn't need it. She also make sure that all the snaps are snapped before we move.

--all the trees are blooming, spring is FINALLY here--

--she rides this "ti-sickle" all the way to the park, with some pushing from mommy--

--can go up and down the slide all by herself now, the little ones, AND the big ones--

--she enjoys the slide more than the swing, but still has fun for a few minutes--

I wish the weather would never change, and that we could go to the park everyday! Thanks for helping me appreciate the little things McKenna, like picking up the bark off the sidewalk, and putting it back in the play area, and how much fun it is to go down the slide on your tummy.

April Part Two

So, after the bridal shower on Saturday, we stopped by Denny and Kathy's so April could see where Josh grew up, and meet the horses. Then, April and I came home, made fajitas and went to Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The movie was pretty hilarious. Typical predictable romantic comedy, but funny just the same. There was a disturbing amount of full frontal nudity in it...which seemed odd and unnecessary...but who knows?

Sunday we wanted to go see Salisbury house. It is a really large castle in Des Moines, and they normally give tours twice a day. For whatever reason, they were closed Sunday :( So we went to Homemakers Furniture to look for a book case for Mac.

--this is the bedroom set I would love to get her for her big girl room--

After Homemakers, and a nap for McKenna, we headed to Perry so April could check out the farm, and drive a tractor.

--driving the tractor--

--can't do this in San Diego--

We ate dinner at the Machine Shed after Perry. We wanted April to have some Iowa pork before she left, and that seemed a logical choice.

--April and Mac riding the pig at machine shed--

--posing with the corn--

--the girls and the giant corn--

On Monday we spent another day shopping. We went to Valley Juction so april could buy some authentic Iowa gifts for family and friends. Then we headed to Jordan Creek to do a little more shopping, and to eat at PF Changs.

It seems like the trip just flew by, even though I knew it would. Hopefully she will venture out this way again so we can do Salisbury house, Legends, and so the weather will get above 60 and we can actually have a bike ride down by the river!

Thanks for coming to visit April!!

April's Visit

We were so excited to have April come visit us! She arrived Thursday after work. We pretty much just hung out, ate dinner and caught up. Friday we ventured across the state to Cedar Rapids, where we watched Cirque Du Soleil. It wasn't nearly as good as shows I have seen in the past, probably because those were in an actually tent that really set the mood. This was in a stadium, so it wasn't quite the same with bleachers and basketball hoops. The show started with lots of music and some funny antics. There were acts that included some rhythmic dancing, acrobats, contortionists, flipping and balancing on a bicycle. All in all, very entertaining!

We had pretty good seats, but the show was only about half sold (probably because we went to the early Friday afternoon show.) We weren't supposed to take pictures, and some old crochety lady yelled at April during the first half for taking some, so we moved to better seats for the second half of the show. There we got some pretty good shots, considering it was dark, we had the display turned off, and we were trying to hide the camera from all the "security."

--some acrobats that we thought were twins. At some points they were holding on to each other with legs and feet...it seemed impossible--

--these guys were ridiculous...I don't know how their arms didn't break off--

--again, who does this?--

--here are some clowns pretending to be the strong men above--

--part of the flipping act--

I was so busy talking on the way home, I almost ran out of gas. I was so nervous that I pulled off into the middle of nowhere, also known as Oxford Iowa. I out $70 worth of gas in the car...so close to empty it was scary. Then we saw a little diner, and thought what the heck, we are hungry. It was a cute little place, and not at all what we expected, glad we stopped :)

Of course on the way home we hit the Tanger outlet stores. We stopped on the way to the show, but only got about an hour of shopping in, so had to stop again to finish shopping. We went to Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, Nike, Carters, Coach, Fossil, Wilsons, and so many others...I think we did pretty great. I got Josh some sun glasses, and a few things for McKenna and myself, including an amazing purse. April scored at Banana Republic picking up a really smokin black dress and skirt. All in all, a successful shopping experience!

Saturday we lounged around until Emily's Bridal shower at 2pm. I showed April a few of the mansions in the area, and then we headed to Old Chicago in Ames. Emily is always hilarious, and we had a good time. Played some games, and it gave me an excuse to dress Mac up all girly.

--cute little spring dress--

--happy girl--

--drawing pictures--

--trying to keep her entertained during present unwrapping--

--Mac and Mommy--

--emily and her princess present--

--April and McKenna--

I will do more updates later as we get more pictures of the rest of the trip.

Bon Jovi!!!!

I have been wanting to see Bon Jovi perform since the 80s. I LOVE everything he has ever written/sung/done, and it doesn't help that he is nice to look at :) Sunday, I dragged Josh to the concert with me. McKenna stayed the night at Gona and Baca's and got to play on her new swingset that they bought her!

Daughtry opened for Bon Jovi, but they didn't have any neat lighting or screens. It was hard to see him, and he didn't really connect with the audience in my opinion. I still thought he did a great job, and I have only voted once for American Idol...and it was for him, so was nice to see him live!

--Daughtry kept facing his drummer--

--Up close--

--up close of Bon Jovi--

--another up close shot (still really hot huh? :) --

--Josh made a comment that Jon doesn't even need to sing his songs anymore because the crowd knew all the lyrics to almost everything. So much energy in the arena!--

--who wouln't like 60 foot pole dancers...very classy :) --

--us before the concert--

--The lighting was amazing!--

--At one point, Richie sang a song to distract us, and Jon came out into the audience to sing Bed of Roses! He was only a few feet from us!--

--Another sweet lighting setup--

--Daughtry came out and sang Dead or Alive with Jon--

--you can see it was a sold out crowd--

Bon Jovi sang for over two hours, we definitely got our $100 a ticket money's worth. It was by far one of the best concerts I have ever been to. He sang a lot of new stuff, but also sang some of my favorites: bad medicine, always, livin on a prayer, bed of roses, i'll be there for you, and so many others...2 and half hours is a long time to sing!!!