Girly girls play cars

We're babysitting cousins Addy and Eli for a week while B & Ali go out of town.  I've quickly realized we do not own any boy toys.  Some friends were sweet enough to pass along some cars, trucks and a ramp to save Eli from having to play ponies, pet shops and dress-up all week.

 The cousins arrive tonight, but I got out the ramp and a box of cars out yesterday.  The girls were so pumped to use them this morning...but I had to laugh.  Our play time went something like this:

The cars all greeted eachother with "Hi friend!  What do you want to do today?"   Then they decided on a picnic at the beach.

Mckinlay paired up all the husbands and wives and put some best friends together too.  

The purple sparkly VW Bug is the fave.  Eliza was toting it around saying "Ohhhh sparkly car!" over and over.

Mckinlay said "I think we're all supposed to be tow trucks -- but really, I have no idea what a tow truck is."

Hopefully Eli doesn't mind playing cars girly style!?  Or maybe he'll teach them how to crash and race?

On a different note, today is this little cutie's 2nd birthday.  

More on that later.

Halloween

 I realize it's Thanksgiving next week, but in case you were wondering, Halloween was awesome.

Soccer

 Saturday we the last game of the season.  

It was a muddy, muddy, cold, but fun, soccer season. 

Here is the team:

There were 2 boys on the team, they just didn't show up to the last game.

Mckinlay loved being on a team with Molly

and LOVED that she got a trophy

...although the juice box is winning out in excitement in this picture.

She has named her trophy, found a special place for it on her shelf and asked me to "come in and look at it at soon as I wake up in the mornings and right before I go to be at night."

Sounds a little obsessive, right?  I think I'll just chalk it up to excitement -- and to the fact that Ty told her it's a big deal because "Mom has never won a trophy for anything before in her WHOLE life!"

Thanks for the reminder Ty...

Patterson's with the girls.

Saturday morning was beautiful -- cold, but sunny!  We bundled up and headed to Mckinalys' soccer game...only to find it was cancelled because the field was too sloshy. 

Since we were already half was there, we decided to head to Patterson's for donuts, apple fritters and to play on the swings there.  We didn't realizes until that day that Patterson's is connected to Orchard Hills park.  We spent the next 2 hours exploring, finding bridges, slogging through puddles, and just hanging out together.   

Probably the coolest discovery was when Mckinlay noticed this puddle shaped like Woody.

 

We made sure to keep checking for dry undies 

 and this mama just enjoyed being with her not-so-little girlies.

See what I mean about not-so-little!?

 Seesh!  Where does the time go?

By the time we were ready to head back , Mckinlay was pretty done wearing her hat and sweatshirt (this girl doesn't like to dress warm).  She wanted me to carry her stuff.  I told her it was her choice if she didn't want to wear them, but she had to hold her own things.  A few mins later, the girls were lagging behind and I heard Mckinlay trying to convince Eliza to hold her stuff "because it is really awesome..."

Apparently, she couldn't convince her to hold both.  Just the hat.

How refined is you palate?

A couple weeks ago Ty and I hosted a party.  A "How refined is your palate?"  party.  We came up with idea last year and decided to host another one.  It was lots of fun.

Here's basically how it worked:

We divided the night into 3 courses (appetizers, main course and desserts).  Each couple brought a name brand and generic item that fell into that category -- for example Kraft Mac and Cheese and Value Time Mac & Cheese.  The table were divided into option A and option B and we each had two plates of food to keep the options straight.  Everyone kept track of their guesses on a score sheet, so we could determine who had the most and least refined palate.

 We had so much food!  By the time dessert rolled around we were pretty stuffed -- but of course, managed.  This year we even had filet mignon!  Whole Foods organic, grass fed vs. Giant Eagle.  Oh la la!

 This year Kathy won most refined (only getting 2 out of 18 wrong!)

  

and Matt lost won least refined (getting more than 2 out of 18 wrong...).

I like this picture because it's pretty defining of Ty and I as a couple.  I'm holding up (and also have a mouthful of) filet and Ty's got the root beer.  Yup.  That about sums us up.

It was a really fun night.  Thanks to everyone who came!

Bye-bye diapers!

Hello big girl!

I spent last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday potty training Liza.  

Day one and two, were almost entirely spent in the hallway (so as not to be too far from the bathroom), sitting on a towel, coloring, watching movies, eating, having accidents, drinking, doing stickers, art projects and drinking some more.  

Day three it clicked!  We ventured out of the hallway and haven't had an accident since!  We're even been to a soccer game, church and today we spent the morning running errands.  I'm pretty proud of her -- it's so rewarding to feel like my camping outside the bathroom paid off!  Fingers crossed she decides to keep it up -- you know, after the novelty wears off.

Liza LOVED all the attention -- but Mckinlay -- not so much.  It's been a pretty hard week for her.  This picture is pretty much an explanation of the week:

 Poor thing just had to get some attention too.  She has earned herself a special mommy-daughter-date this week. 

I also like the above picture because it reminds me of this one {third picture down}.

My favorite thing about Potty Trained Eliza is when you ask her "are your undies still dry?"  She checks, then gives you a big cheese with a double thumbs up.  She came up with the whole thumbs up business on her own and I think it's pretty adorable.  What's not adorable though, is when yesterday after asking the Bishop a question, I gave him a double thumbs up.  And then did it again.

Not so cute coming from a 29-year old.  

Argh.

P.S. On our first venture out of the house, I may or may not have had her ride in the car without pants on in cause she had an accident...I'll not mention the fact that is was freezing cold.  That would just make me seem like a rotten mother.

"We are a family..."

Whenever we are together as a family, doing something fun, Mckinlay stops and with wide eyes sings: "We are a family (pause) & we love each other!"  It's turned into our little family thing and I think it's pretty adorable -- because you know what, we DO love each other!
{Pardon the cheese.}

Sarah B. took our family pictures a few weeks ago.  Talk about love.  I think she did such a great job of capturing our family just being our family.  

Wanna see?

Wanna see more?  

Click here.

P.S. Can you believe how much the girls have grow up from last year?

This past week...

 ...we went to a "High School Flashback Party" where we dress up in different high school clique attire.  I dresses as a cow girl and Ty as a "cool guy".  Please notice the earrings.  I couldn't look at him all night.  It was a little too unnerving.  I wish you could have smelled him too.  He made sure to put on extra cologne.  We made quite the pair.  We ate cafeteria style food and played games testing our high school knowledge.  Thanks for the fun party Hatsuho!

 ...we celebrated my 29th birthday.  Mckinlay bought me nail polish (of course!), and Ty and I got to go out on a much needed date.  I think this week was the busiest week of his life, so it was nice to have a night to spend together.

 ...someone had a very muddy soccer game.  

{I kind of think those are the funnest kind.}

 ...we cleaned up some big messes.

{which never seem as bad when they are made by cute little stinkers}

 ...we finally explored the river right by our house.  Remember how we've lived her for over 2 years and haven't been there yet!?

...oh yeah, and someone came home from his mission!!!  Wahoo!

Welcome home to my little BIG brother!  We love you and are so proud of you.  Can't wait to see you at Christmas!

"Legs Loveless"

 Mckinlay had her first soccer game this Saturday. 

It's been much anticipated for many reasons:

Molly is on her team,

Uncle Tyler {who will be home from his mission in 3 1/2 weeks days!} plays soccer,

& it meant she could wear her new shin guards.

I've started calling her "legs."  She is definitely the tallest kid on her team.  If the hat blonde hair doesn't give her away, the legs do.

Liza seems to like this whole soccer thing too.  She gets to snuggle up, eat snacks and cheer for "Sissy.

Preschool

 Yesterday was the first day of Preschool for Mckinlay.   

To use the word excited would be an understatement.

{is it just me or does she look really, really old here?}

She had an orientation day a few days ago where I got to go with her to met her teachers and to see her new classroom.  You can see below how awesome her classroom is.  Everything is sparkly and new and to be honest -- I'm a little jealous she gets to go everyday.

 

Yesterday morning we had a special first-day-of-school breakfast.  We had heart shaped cinnamon rolls with sprinkles on tip.  When she say them she said "this really is the best day ever!"  She also got to open a back to school package sent by Happy Jo.  

Right when we got to school she saw her friend Molly.  They ran straight toward each other and hugged and hugged.  It was pretty darn cute and fun that they were able to walk in together.

We got her backpack and coat hung and she was ready to start!  

It's gonna be a great year.

{a very windy} labor day.

 It feels like fall.  

What better way to welcome it in then spending a cold windy day at the beach!?

We had been planning a big beach day with friends for weeks, but apparently Mother Nature wasn't aware of our plans.  It was about cold and so, so windy.  But you know, it was lots of fun!   

We're lucky enough to have Grandma and Grandpa here for the week {so they had to come}

and we even had some other "die hard" friends come along!

The kiddos didn't seem to mind the weather.  The little boys even swam -- although it was probably warmer in the water than out of it!?

Thanks for the fun everyone!  It's was a great way to end the summer. 

{and maybe it's a good thing summer is over because someone has outgrown her swim suit!}

Now bring on the fall!  

And that means schools starts!!