According to Makenna....

Turkey way or Beef turkey = Beef Jerky

Bicki bar = granola bar

Tatootooie= Ratatouille

The rest of the Utah trip....finally

We spent practically all of Saturday at the pool. We took them both out this time so it was Jordyn's first time. She didn't like it at first but once she got used to the temperature of the water, she loved it. We went back to the condo to take naps and then back by the pool with the whole extended family for a yummy dinner catered by Famous Dave's barbecue!! Yummy!! It took great effort to keep Makenna out of the pool to eat. She was back in as soon as we were done but now she had all of her cousins to join her. And then we got smart and went in to the indoor pool when the sun went down. It was so nice and warm!!

I kept telling Makenna to turn around so I could take her picture. She kept telling me no so I said that I would just take a picture of her bum. She said, "Noooo!! Don't take a picture of my bum!!" This is the pic that I got;)

The next morning, the whole family came to our condo before they left to go home (we were staying an extra night) and we had brunch. Then Nancy and Aunt Cathy organized an ancestor treasure hunt where we learned about the family that came before us. And then they shared Gordon's poems (I shared one in a previous post) which were awesome!

After everyone else left, we relaxed and just hung out with Travis' parents. The playground and pool were right out back from the condo so we let Kenna play and run around.

All I have to say is Little Einsteins. Jordyn just sat there staring at it. It was so cute.

Snuggling with grandpa.

Relaxing in the hammock on our porch. We also found a snail that fascinated Kenna. She's looking at it in the bottom pic. It's in front of that wet streak on the ground.

Ready to go home!! Jordyn was ready to sleep before we even got in the car. I asked Makenna to take the pic of her when she fell asleep. I think she did a pretty good job.

This is what I saw when I looked back when we were almost home. Is that just precious or what???

Utah Trip....day 1

Since we were already going to be in St. George, we took advantage and left early Friday morning so we could go up into Pine Valley to hike and have a picnic lunch. We met my parents up there and had some yummy chicken before we started hiking. We decided to take a different route to the lake and it ended up being the very long way there!!!! My dad turned back to get the truck while we kept hiking and we got to see a whole family of deer. If you look closely to the bottom pic above, there is a deer in the middle looking right at us!! We saw the baby first and then saw the whole family just hanging out. They didn't care that we were even watching them until we got a little too close (and Makenna got a little too loud;) and they hopped away like rabbits. It was so neat to have Makenna see that. When Papa picked us up, she kept saying that she wanted to go back and see HER deer!!

We also stopped off at my sister in law Julie's, to see the house that they are building, to visit for a few and so I could get my hair cut (thanks, Julie;) We left there, got some dinner and met all of Travis' family at this nice, new park. Makenna was still in her pants from hiking but we let her run through the water things they had and she had a blast. She was a little timid at first but there was no stopping her once she started. It was cute to watch. She also ran wild on all the playground equipment. She is definitely our little monkey. She loves the monkey bars and will just hang on them forever!!

Travis' parents rented a condo for the weekend (which was super nice...it was as big as our first house) and so we got settled in and then took Makenna to one of the many pools that they had. It was her first real time in a swimming pool and she loved it. She didn't want to get out but she was freezing since it was nighttime. I finally convinced her to get out by telling her we would come back the next day. It was a busy day but it was fun!!

Didn't see this one coming!!!

This has been one interesting week!! Everything decided to break all at once. When they say, when it rains, it pours.....they were right. I just wish they were actually talking about real rain. First, our dishwasher decided to break because our sweet Jordyn climbed up it and started pushing a bunch of buttons and made it freeze up!! Then, Lady decided to be sick and we had to take her to the vet! Then Travis and I were playing around and we fell on our vacuum and totally busted it. It still works but it's crippled now;( And then of course, on the way home from work on Wednesday, the service engine light came on in the altima!! That one was a blessing though. Travis ended up looking at our warranty info and it was set to expire on Monday!! Helllllooooo!!! So, we paid the money to get it checked out and they said it was just an exhaust leak which means nothing! But then later on that night, the light came back on again!! So Travis, took it back down there and they said there had to be something else going on and they wanted it all day. That was finally the last straw. We have had that car in the shop many times this last year and they were very expensive repairs!! Plus, it's just very annoying to have to take it in all the time. It's a big waste of time. And it is pretty scary to have a car that has needed expensive repairs without a warranty to back it up. So, we decided to look for another vehicle. We weren't planning on just running out and buying something quickly but we found one that we really liked for an awesome deal!!! We couldn't pass it up because it was cheaper than base models and it has some nice little extras (like chrome wheels with high performance tires for Trav;) It was also at a dealership that sells very expensive cars like Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Bentleys and Aston Martins!!! So needless to say, they weren't very busy so Travis pretty much had the place to himself and there really was no pressure at all because it was already at such a low price. It all just depended on the trade and even then, they gave us a good deal. I'm so glad because the Nissan place we looked at before was so rude and everything there was at least a couple thousand more for less car. So, we definitely didn't see this coming. We had no idea that we would have a new van (that is less than a year old) this weekend. We weren't planning on it but I know it was a blessing because everything fell into place at just the right time. I am however hoping for a better week next week. We can't afford for everything to continue to break at the rate it did this week;)

Can I just say that it's much easier to get kids into a van than a car!!!!! Too bad we didn't have this last weekend for our trip;)

Posterity

Today is pioneer day. Both Travis and I had ancestors that came over to the Great Salt Lake. I'm thankful for their sacrifice and I always wonder how I would have handled being a pioneer. I don't think I would have done so hot. The theme for our family reunion was remembering our posterity and the treasures that they left for us. I learned over the weekend that Travis' dad writes poetry. I have no idea how I didn't know this;) He wrote this poem and I wanted to share it so that hopefully one day my girls will read this and get to enjoy it. I will eventually get to post about our trip but I still don't have my computer so it will be coming soon;)

The Old Oak Tree

Once there stood an old oak tree

filled with acorns plump and round,

a majestic sight for all to see

its arms upright as though toward heaven bound.

Through summer heat and winter storms

it stood so straight and tall

giving love and protection to everything

all creatures great and small.

But came one winter cold and dreary

and with it wind and snow

and though it had stood for many a year

weak and weary its trunk did grow.

On one bleak and blustery day

it groaned and fell to earth.

and with its passing we felt the loss

of a friend we had known since birth.

When winter had passed there came the spring

with its warm and sunny skies,

and there stood a forest young and strong

right before our eyes.

Our dear old friend whom we had thought

we nevermore would see

was with us still vibrant and young

clothed in the robes of posterity.

Like the mighty oak are we

standing tall and straight

and when our lives on earth are done,

we'll pass through heavens gate.

But here on earth we'll be remembered

and live for evermore

through our lives of those we blessed

and the posterity we bore.

By: Gordon R. Millett

10 months and family fun....

I realized that I haven't posted in a week. It's been a combo of Travis painting the den and having a ton of crap in front of my computer, us being out of town for his family reunion and just not feeling like it;) We had a great time in Utah and it was nice to get away. I will post pics soon of all the fun. Makenna also continues to make me laugh. We decided to get some dinner and then walk around the St. George temple and I was trying to get her to hurry up and eat her burger. She then tells me, "Hold your horses!!!" We about busted up laughing. Travis tells her that all the time and it was just too funny coming out of her mouth.

Jordyn also turned 10 months on Friday and she got another tooth!!! I guess she likes to get new teeth on her monthly birthdays;) When looking at her, its her second one to the left on top. This makes eight in all and I hope she takes a little break for a bit;) She still weighs around 20 pounds. She's pretty much leveled off in that category. She crawls and cruises around the furniture too much to gain much weight right now. She's also gotten stingy with her kisses lately. She picks and chooses when she will allow us a kiss;)

The little things....in detail

My good friend Jess referred me to this blog and I love it. This woman is an awesome writer and has such a strong testimony and is a big inspiration to a lot of people (strangers that have never met her) even while going through a tragedy. She has become a missionary to people because they are asking questions about our church just by reading her sweet testimony on her blog. I bawled the first night I read it but it has helped me to want to be a better mother, wife, daughter and sister. It has made me want to love on my girls more and to not take little things so seriously. When I start to get frustrated with my girls, I remember that these things really don't matter in the real picture and it's stupid to get so upset. I need to remember that it's really such a short time that our babies are babies and that I need to enjoy and appreciate it all. She also challenged people to write down the little things about our children, good or bad, because that is what we remember, and miss, when they are gone and grown. So, that is what my next two posts are. And I recommend this blog to anyone but I am warning you that you will cry!!!

The little things....Makenna at 3 years old

*She is a mommy's girl. She usually wants me to do all the singing and putting her to bed. She's not as bad as she used to be but she is still very clingy to me.


*She is very particular about certain things. She has to have her blanket upside down (I don't know why pooh's feet have to be by her head) with the soft side on her (that part I don't blame her for). I also have to say goodnight to the einsteins (they are on her clock) and shut the door very softly.



*She is very smart. The things she says amazes us all the time. She sounds like an adult.


*She loves to sing. She knows the words to many songs including "Follow the Prophet" and "Love is Spoken Here".


*She is a big helper. She picks Jordyn up for me when she goes towards the stairs or the bathroom. She also gets diapers for me and throws things away from me. She also loves to feed J.J. and asks to do so often.


*She loves hot dogs!!! She would have them constantly if I let her. And she always has to have ketchup AND ranch with it.


*She has just figured out that she loves gum and tries to get it whenever she can.


*She loves to go to story time at the library.


*She loves Little Einsteins, Arthur, and all the princesses even though some of those movies are 'scary'.


*She loves to be outside. It's hard during the summer since it's too hot but she is out all the time when the weather allows. She loves her bike!!!

*She loves playing with her cousins. She's still learning how to share though and hates it when it's time to leave a friend's house.



*She has to have her popcorn and chocolate milk while watching a dvd after her bath. It's a good way to relax before bed.


*She pretends to nurse her baby and treats her like I treat Jordyn. She tells her, "shh, shh, shh...it's ok"


*She loves on her Lady (and Lady is finally letting her love on her) and helps out by letting her outside and says, "Here you go Lady". It's so cute how she says it.


*She helps me do laundry by giving me the hangers. She hung up my underwear one time.



*She loves to do the dishes but I don't let her do it very often since she likes to leave the water on and waste it.


*She is a girlie girl for some things and a tomboy when she wants to play with her cousin Gunnar.


*She loves to play trumpet and even has her own that her daddy gave her. Whenever he gets his out to practice, she has to run and get hers to play as well. Travis says she gets a better tone out than some of his students;)

*She also loves to pound on the drums and all the percussion instruments that are at daddy's work.

*She gives kisses freely and constantly tells us that she loves us sooooo much!


*She loves taking pictures and does a really good job of it.


*She has the most beautiful curly hair. And I hope she loves it when she gets older.


*She can throw a super sized fit when she doesn't get her way.



*She's not a good breakfast eater.


*She adores her little sister.


*She's a big snuggler and loves to cuddle a lot (which I love;)

I love my Makenna!

The little things....Jordyn at 10 months

*She is an expert crawler. She also cruises the furniture like a pro. I have a feeling that it won't take her long before she is walking.


*She will crawl super fast once I call after her whenever she is going towards something that she's not supposed to.


*She waves bye-bye most of the time (when she feels like it).

*She loves the stairs!! It's such an attraction to her. We have to put up a double layer of pillows in front of it to keep her off of it. (And it's still not keeping her off. Miss smarty pants watches Makenna get past them and does the same thing.)


*She has the cutest little dimple just under her left eye.


*She loves the mac and cheese baby jar food and bananas.


*Sometimes she is hard to get to sleep and other times, she goes down in seconds.


*Sometimes she only sleeps for half an hour;(



*She gets very frustrated at times.


*She won't let Makenna take her toys anymore. She has gotten smart to her sister.


*She loves to give kisses. We make such a big fuss over it that she squeals and smiles whenever she does it.


*She has this crazy squeal when she gets mad that is so cute that we have to laugh.


*She is a big love bug. I would say she is equally a mommy's girl and a daddy's girl. (especially now that I'm working and she gets daddy all alone;)



*She loves to sit and stare at our fish.

*She just stares at the tv when Mickey Mouse comes on. Loves it!!


*She doesn't sleep very long in her naps and is very hard to put to sleep at church!! She won't go to sleep if she hears people talking which is very hard to not hear at church!! I have to find a very secluded spot where it's quiet and as soon as I get around people, she wakes right back up.


*She's really starting to get stranger anxiety. She used to go to people but she will scream now unless she is familiar with them.


*She is absolutely a wonderful baby. She's so mellow and easy going. She's starting to get an adorable, funny personality!!


*She either buries her head into your shoulder or takes off crawling if Travis says, "I'm going to get you".


*She's very ticklish and has the cutest laugh when you tickle her.


*She has the cutest chubby thighs you ever did see.


*She has tiny, little baby feet that are very chewable.


*The hair at the back of her head is already starting to look curly so I think we are going to have two curly haired girls.


*She adores her sister. She gets a huge grin on her face whenever she sees her.


*She's starting to get hard at church.


*She's interested in everything. She tries to figure out what is going on at all times.


*She loves to play with Travis' chin hair. (and his computer....much to his chagrin;)


*She doesn't like to sit still in her exersaucer or high chair (much to mommy's chagrin;)


*She loves the water. She loves to take baths.


*She's a big lover. She gives these sweet monkey hugs where she hangs on me.

I love my Jordyn!!

So Precious

It's true when they say our children mimic us.

I love that she uses my neck pillow as her boppy for her baby and that she has to cover up with a blanket. Absolutely too sweet for words.

P.S. We have been telling her that her shows are on when the big hand on the clock is on the '6' since Caillou is on at 12:30 and Arthur is at 4:30. So she watches the clock alot and lets us know when they are on;)