Mckinlay Cousins Week

Alli and the kids drove up to our house this week, while B was in Japan on business. So these guys got to spend the week together.

There was lots of dress up, movie watching, treat eating, stamping, necklace making, and just plain fun. So much in fact, that we're going to do it again next week for the 4th of July!

While the kiddos played and slept, the Mama's sewed. We refashioned dresses for ourselves, and made these little cuties for the girls.

These two are so fun together! We really feel lucky to be so close.

Can't wait for more fun, and sewing projects
{and some manly-construction work}
next weekend!

She's on the move.

I watched this happen today:

It took about a minute.
She's not "crawling", but she's scooting, rolling and pivoting all over the place.

Heaven help me.

If you want to giggle, check this out:

The grin kills me.
Good bye granny gums,
hello toothy grin.

"OK Cutes, now let's just slow it down a little.
You're growing up too fast!"

Summer kick off weekend

This weekend we went to the 21st annual Parade the Circle sponsored by The Cleveland Museum of Art. It was a lot of fun! In addition to the parade, there were all sorts of free arts and crafts for kids. Mckinlay was in heaven. Parade AND crafts AND a snow cone. It was almost too much to handle.

Here she is waiting for the Parade to start.

My mom pointed out she looks like Dolly Levi in this photo. Can't you just see her singing "Before the Parade Passes By"?

Since we're throwing out the Babs references, it would also be fitting for her to have sung this one. According to the weather report it was supposed to be a really rainy day. Fortunately, the weather held out and it turned out to be gorgeous.

So gorgeous in fact, that we hit up the pool.
We've been counting down the days until it opened. Now it officially feels like summer.
{We think Lizy liked her first trip to the pool. She looks pretty darn happy, despite the spit up on her face.}

Grandpa Passey

Ty's Grandpa passed away yesterday.

Here he is with Mckinlay a few years ago.

I liked Grandpa Passey from the start.

I remember the first Sunday I went to Ty's house for dinner he and Grandma were there. He had some pretty sweet glasses on. Not the glasses pictured, these were black thick rimmed cat eye-ish glasses with little rhinestones in the corners. I told him I love his glasses and from his response I could tell he was rather fond of them too.

Then Grandma leans over and says to me:
"It's no wonder you really like them. They are actually woman's glasses. But we'll just keep that between us."

We'll miss you Grandpa!
And one day I hope to find a pair of glasses just like yours.

Mckinlay and Lizy's Clubhouse

We found our new "clubhouse" as Mckinlay named it, on the "tree lawn". For those of you not from Ohio, basically we found it on the curb in front of someone's house. Like with the trash. Just like in Boston, but here they have a name for it. You can place big items out on your "tree lawn" {the grassy patch between the road and the sidewalk} with the hopes that someone comes along and gives them a new home before trash day arrives. I could do an entire post on tree lawn treasures. Maybe one day.

Back to the clubhouse. I cleaned it up and Ty and I set it up. The next day Mckinlay went out to play in it. She asked for my phone, which I handed to her. She called up my mom and said:
"Hi Happy Jo. I need you to print out some vinyl letters for my new clubhouse. "

So print out vinyl letters she did.
You can't refuse a request like that.

Turned out really, really cute.

Now Mom, if you could just figure out some vinyl to cover up our neighbors super awesome mess of a backyard, then you'd be super awesome too!

Anyone want to buy some vending machines? How about a giant stuffed gorilla? If so, I know where you could find some.
No seriously.

Photos by Em

Another {MAJOR} highlight of the trip was our photo shoot with the adorable Emily and her darling assistant Natalie.

I'm in love with the pictures. She totally captured their little personalities.

I couldn't choose just 3-4 to post. So I choose 12.
Believe me, choosing 12 wasn't easier either.
{click to enlarge}

I'm not sure how I'm gonna decide which photos to put up in the house.

Thanks again Em. Love them! and Love you!

If you live in Utah, or if you vacation there like we do, book a photo sessions with her. You'll be happy you did.
Check out her photo blog here.

We're back.

We made it home safe and sound. The girls were fabulous travelers. I would take these two to the ends of the earth and back.
When we got off the plane, I said: "Mckinlay, you were such an awesome traveler! You deserve a gold star." A few mins later she said "When are you gong to give me that gold star Mom?"
Shoot.
I forget that 3 year olds take everything quite literally. Kinda like the comment I made about Ty dying if we were to stay in Utah any longer with out him, that caused Mckinlay to burst into tears.
"My Daddy can't die!"
Oops.

Here is a quick summary of the rest of our trip:{click to enlarge}

1. Girls pedicure day. Gotta love having a Medical Spa in the family! Thanks Grandma and Carrie!
2. Memorial Day BBQ/sprinklers in Liza's Dollar store swim suit. A favorite find.
3. Party with friends. How I love these gals!
4. Visit with Great Grandma.
5. Planting in Grandma's children's garden.
6. Snuggle with Grandma in the garden.
7. Super fun girls night party. Check out all the food!
8. Introducing cousin BFFs Maggie and Eliza.
9. Swinging {and squinting} with cousins Maya and Peyton .
10. Megs, Breezy and our girls. A dream come true!
11. This is what you get when you ask Mckinlay to take your picture. You should have seen attempts 1 and 2. At least this time she got our heads. Of course she can take photos like this, no problem. Figures.
12. One of my sewing projects. Mom and I stayed up way too late every night doing some project or the other.
13. Posing with Madelyn. Love this picture!
14. Snuggles with Happy Jo and Pappio.
15. Chuck E. Cheese smiles.

What a great 3 weeks. Thanks for all the fun everyone.
Now back to real life, but it feels so good to be home.