"She's a Maniac, Maniac"

Jill has this song on her blog right now. So we spent a good portion of the morning like this:

Mckinlay would have done quite well in the 80's, don't you think? Funny thing is I had her dressed (minus the sweat band) before we came across the song.

(Pardon the giant mess in the video. I'm in the process of cleaning out closets and cupboards. So those of you who know my house is usually messy, at least this mess has a purpose. :))

Ms. Bucket Head

Have I mentioned this is Mckinlay's favorite thing about the beach?

This is why we're on bath #2 for the day

We decided to try our hand at finger painting today.
Each of her works of art were done for very specific people chosen by her. So if you are lucky, you might be the happy recipient of an original "Wuv-esss" (see video in post below).

I'm still trying to figure out who "Boom-boom" is though. So, if you think it might be you, let me know and I'll send your picture off directly.

What's your name?

I was born in the wrong decade.

Don't you think this look works for me?I needed a break from house cleaning. If you need one to, click here. Some of the photos made me laugh out loud.

"Hi Mama!"

As I pranced into the bliss that was our future...

...I had no idea life would be so good!

Happy anniversary babe!
So much!

Thanks Emily!

On our last day in Utah we got to have a photo shoot with Emily! Lucky us! Here are a few of my favs, but check the rest out here. And check out this darling shoot with Rebecca.

Thanks Emily! You are amazing!

We're back.

And we're tired.

But wouldn't you be after playing, zooing, eating, cousining, museuming, family reunioning, partying, quacking, sytycding, chalking, snuggling, raspberrying, talking, "ou-sigh"ing, fire trucking, sewing, swimming, relaxing, visiting, merry-go-rounding...

Thanks for everyone who made Mckinlay and my trip so fabulous! We love you and miss you already!

AND we missed you so much Ty! We can't wait for you to get home tonight!

Cousins Party

Girl Friends

My girlies + Bajio + pedicures = perfect combination

Love you gals! Thanks for a fun day!

Bunny Ears

I love my li'l bro and sis.
Even if Tyler is growing a mustache.

Maddel-san's Birthday Party

Maddel decided that she wanted a themed birthday party this year. Why do you think she chose to have an Asian theme? To revolve the party around "Grandma's Chicken" of course!

Here are a few highlights:

Of course we dressed up. Maddle sewed Mckinlay's costume just for the occasion. Darling, no?

The Geisha Girls.
So glad Erika and Margot were here too!

Too bad we took this photo after Papio shaved his foo-man-choo.

I would like to call special attention to Tyler's footwear. You can't see them too well, but they are wooden blocks.The food was fabulous! And we even had homemade fortune cookies.

Happy 22nd B-day Maddel! So glad Mckinlay and I were here to celebrate with you!
We love you!!

Memory Lane

1. As a comment on our blog, leave one memory that you and I (or you and Ty or Mckinlay or all of the above) had together. It doesn't matter if you know us a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. If you want to play, re-post these instructions on your blog and take a stroll down memory lane too.

Dear Aunt Di,

You sure know how to win the heart of an 18 month old little girl with a passion for dress up. You had her from the "Ella" bag. Thanks Aunt Di! It's not every little girl who has dress ups imported from Hong Kong!

We sure love you!

Hello Utah.

Family, a back yard, sprinklers and freshly picked raspberries. I think Mckinlay is going to love our vacation.

Summer Tradition: Kimball Farms

Just in case you were wondering, the portions haven't gotten any smaller.

That's Jared's ice cream she is hand feeding herself.

Also Jared's ice cream.
Sorry 'bout that! You were done, right?

4th (& 5th) of July Fun!

We have had a great weekend celebrating the 4th with friends. Here are some of our favorite pictures. WARNING--there will be a lot. Consider it a catch up now that we have a new camera.

Happy Jo sent me some 4th of July fabric, so the little firecracker got a new dress.The Christophers hosted a back yard BBQ and we had some quality kiddo photo shoot time.
So of course, we got several new photos to add to the Marcus + Mckinlay collection. Mary planned some games for the kids (which were hilarious to watch) and adults (probably equally hilarious). For the record--Ty and I won the 3 legged race.
This is my favorite picture from the day. Obviously she didn't get anywhere, but she sure had fun sitting there.After Ty saw that Mckinlay could climb up the ladder by herself he decided...
...it's never too early to start training for the 2024 Summer Olympics. I think she has a chance.

Today we spent the morning at good ol' Revere Beach:
Somebody was pretty excited about her "legless-Loveless" status (the "---less-Loveless" joke never gets old, does it?)
We had a great weekend! Thanks to all our friends for making it so fun! We need to remember to get group photos. But at least we got one of the whole family this time. I swear I always go on our family outing. I just don't have any pictures to prove it!

On a more patriotic note--Ty and I have felt very patriotic lately. We went to Plimoth last week, we just finished watching the new John Adams HBO series and now it's the 4th of July. If you haven't seen John Adams, we highly reccomend it. It really gives you a sense of what it was like back when our nation began. We are so grateful for our freedom and for all that our Founding Fathers did to make this nation great. We are defiantely proud to be American!

Happy 4th!

What better way to start of all the 4th of July festivities than with a delicious breakfast.

Hope you all have a wonderful day of celebration!

It's Like Thunder. And Lightening.

I think we better "knock knock knock on wood."

We've been having these crazy rain/lightening storms here in Massachusetts lately. Every day for the past 2 weeks at some point in the day, the clouds roll in and everything will get really gray really fast and then the rain pours and the lighting comes. Then it clears up.

On one of these days, a week or so ago, right as it started to pour Mckinlay and I both looked out the window just in time to see lightening strike IN OUR PARKING LOT! It was so wild! We saw this flash of light and heard the "BOOM/CRACK" at the same time. Crazy!

Yesterday Emily pulled into our parking lot to drop Mckinlay and I off after another of these storms and this is what we found:
Lightening struck the tree! Luckily there were no cars parked in any of these spots. Fillmores, you are SO lucky you already moved! Can you imagine the damage that would have done to your car? Yikes.

So, whoever said lightening never strikes in the same place twice was wrong. Very wrong.

A visit from the Becks

Amber and Jordan stopped off in Boston for a few days to visit us on their way to New York. Amber and I have known each other since the Copper Rivet Days (has it really been almost 9 years!?). Back when I had all my high school/beginning of college drama and when she was dating/newly married to Jordan. Good times!
The first day we went to Plimoth Plantation. It was totally rainy and I will spare you the picture of us in our blessed blue "Plimoth" ponchos, but still fun, despite the rain...and not only because we went to Burdick's after.

Day two, we toured Fenway Park. Then they went off to see the sights down town.
Doesn't Mckinlay look like she could be their child?
Fenway still has some of the original ball park seats. Here is Mckinlay showing them off.
Thanks for coming out you guys! Who can resist good food, good friends and a good lightening storm? I won't mention how we almost died, and almost spilled our hot chocolate, in this place.

And thanks for the photos, which I unabashedly stole from your blog. :)

Strawberry Fields Forever

We went strawberry picking with some friends on Friday morning. Good thing we went early, otherwise I'm pretty sure we would have melted.
There really is nothing better than eating a warm, freshly picked strawberry. Ummmm.
Little strawberry shortcake over here sure had a good time picking and eating (Notice the strawberry juice on her shirt? She was covered by the time we were through.) every single strawberry in sight.
...Well, that is until she realized that she couldn't step over the strawberry bushes by herself which made it hard for her to be right next to me at all times. But who can resist this little cupcake. I mean seriously.

Thanks for the pictures Emily and Ginny (and thanks for inviting us!)!

*And good news loyal blog readers. Our broken camera woes are almost at an end. Our new camera should be here in time for our 4th of July festivities! And you know that means lots of pictures ahead.*

A new niece!

Madelyn Kate
Born Sunday, June 29
7 lbs. 9 oz.

Congratulations Melynn and Spence! We're so excited for you!

MORE GIVEAWAYS!!!!

Roosters-N-Rickrack Pinafore GIVEAWAY!!!!
&
Ice Cream Social Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Couldn't resist entering these too! Could she be any cuter!?

Strawberry Quart Caplet & Sailing Frock

I recently found this darling blog and she is having a giveaway! I had to enter, because I'm pretty sure she had Mckinlay in mind when she made this darling frock. :)

Check out her fabulous site. It's loaded with sewing inspiration!