Dear Macey

You would have a fit if you knew that the minute you leave the house for preschool, Collin goes downstairs and thoroughly enjoys playing with your most sacred toys, even getting in them.

 

I think it's safe to say our whole family loves preschool. 

Unfortunate photo of the day.

Dear, dear Randy.

It's not my fault I caught you at a bad camera angle.

It's like my Mom used to say, "avoid the very appearance." 

I just want to know- do you always smile when you... spray things? :)

Mini getaway.

Randy's older brother Rick just built a cabin about 2 hours South of where we live. The Slade family took a trip there to "break it in", but I wasn't able to go because that was the weekend of the race with my family. I was sad I missed out, I heard it's beautiful. Joelle, Rick's wife, has the best decorating taste and I was just dying to see it! Well, as luck would have it, I got my way.

Rick decided to build a skate ramp up at the cabin for his boys. He asked Randy for some help. I know what you're thinking.... skate ramp? So what, couple pieces of plywood with something underneath so the boys can catch some air? Uhhh, no. I could not BELIEVE it when I saw it! Randy went down one weekend to help Rick and they didn't get it all done, so Randy was going to go back in a couple of days to finish it. I felt like a little kid tugging on his shirt when I asked... "Can... we come with you?"

Rick said that was A-ok and so we packed up our bags and were off. We got there just as the sun was setting and it was GORGEOUS. The cabin is at the tip top of a mountain and has a stellar view. My favorite part of the cabin was the wrap around deck. And the lights. I turned them on first thing and Randy said, "I knew that would be your favorite part." :) Randy of course got out his hammock (he sleeps in it when he goes on camping trips with the Scouts, he pretty much takes it everywhere) to enjoy the scenery. Macey of course jumped in the hammock with Daddy. Collin of course pushed his push toy around the deck. And I of course got out my camera.
 

I didn't get any pictures of the cabin itself because I thought that might be a little weird to take pictures of someone else's house. Ha. But it exceeded my expectations! It was beautiful and in such a perfect spot! Thanks for letting me and the kids come and distract Randy a little, Rick and Joelle! :)

Redneck.

I'm going to start this post out by defending this post. I do not think every little boy that wears a tank top looks like a redneck. But, some do. And my boy is one of them.

So before Collin was even born I saw this AWESOME little shirt online that was on clearance for $2. The shirt said "My Dad is Rad". LOVED IT.  I say "rad" all the time and get made fun of. The only problem was it was a tank top. At that point I wasn't really sure how I felt about the whole little boys wearing tank tops... but I went ahead and bought it anyway.

Well as I was sorting through Collin's shirt drawer the other day I found it at the bottom of the pile and decided, what the heck. I put the outfit on him and went and grabbed the camera. I called Randy out to look at how cute. I swear I didn't tell Collin to pose.... he saw me go outside with the camera, followed me out and showed me his guns first thing. Right then I knew... my boy can't pull off a tank top. He totally looks like a redneck.

Maybe it was the awful farmer tan, maybe it was his innate sense to show his muscles... I don't know. But whatever it was totally ruined it for me.

Collin showing his muscles (without being told to, it must be something the tank top brings out in him) 

and Macey trying to get in the shot.

Bear Lake: Take 1

A nice sandy beach on a hot day is one of my very favorite things. I yearn for one every summer. We've (I've) made it a goal to visit at least one beach during the summer as a vacation. I'll admit California's beaches are probably my favorite to lounge at... well next to Maui's and Cancun's but let's be honest, that's not happening anymore for a while. And this year either was California. The closest thing to the ocean here is Bear Lake, and how I LOVE Bear Lake!! The water is gorgeous and the beaches are great. So when Randy made the executive decision that yes, we would go to his 10 year high school reunion in Logan (which ended up to be so fun with only minimal awkward moments! I didn't end up bringing my camera there though, sadly. I just love Randy's friends! I've adopted them as my own.) I had it all planned. We would make a weekend of it and I would get my coveted BEACH!

So we ended up going on Sunday afternoon (I know, I know... lay off me, we were on vacation!) and as we were getting further into the canyon the storm clouds that were off in the distance earlier kept getting closer and closer. When we finally reached the beach, the storm was right on top of us. It was pouring rain and SO cold. We just sat there in the car, staring. I was ready to cry. I can't tell you how much I was wanting this. Something about a beach on a hot day is so relaxing and such a stress reliever. And you know me, I'm a big ball of stress so I felt like I NEEDED this. I was almost in tears as I watched the huge raindrops hit our windshield. After about 5 minutes it stopped raining, but was still very cold and very overcast. It was in the 60's. Not my ideal beach time. I was ready to call it quits before even getting out but Randy was determined to make this a worthwhile drive. He hopped out and grabbed all of our stuff and the kids and set up at the beach. I sat in the car for probably 5 more minutes, pouting. Finally I got out in my sweats and figured I might as well make the most of it.

What do I love so much about the beach? This right here. Ahhhh, immediate stress relief. One of my very favorite things: feet, meet sand and water. If only it was sunny and hot and I was in a swim suit instead of sweats. ;) But still... Ahhhhhh.

Macey didn't even notice how cold it was and went right for the water. We went to Bear Lake last year and she had a blast! She was also looking forward to this for a long time. She had a better attitude about it than me. 

Collin was just tiny when we came last year so obviously doesn't remember it. He wasn't so sure about the sand. He had a hard time finding his footing. 

 I love this picture. He's like, mom? What IS this stuff?

He was extremely cautious with the water. He just walked along the shoreline until he decided he wasn't so interested in the water after all and that maybe the sand was cooler. 

Probably the only good thing about the awful weather was it made for great lighting with these pictures!

Building a sand castle with Daddy. Or more like, telling Daddy what to do while he builds a sand castle. :)

And then there was Collin. What's this? The beggining's of a castle? Well, not anymore, suckas!!

 Surprisingly, Macey was ok with Collin wrecking it and finished the job.

After the castle was gone, Collin thought that maybe the shells that were brought over to decorate it should go back to their rightful place. This is him throwing the shells.

Collin was cracking me up. While Macey was more than occupied by the beach and water Collin was bored by it in about 5 minutes. Pretty soon he looked and found his chair and was like, what is this doing here?

It should go here!

Sandy feet!

This was our sign it was time to go. Collin is our wanderer. When he starts to be more interested in cars than whatever we're doing that's when we pack up and leave.

I snapped one last picture and we were off. Pretty good thing, too because it started raining hard about 5 minutes after we got in the car!

I titled the post Bear Lake: Take 1 because I'm HOPING we can do a Take 2 this year before it starts getting too cold! That just didn't suffice my craving. Here's hoping the weather holds out and we can find a free weekend! Bear Lake is the best!

SHOES!

I told my family this story but it's one of those I definitely need documented so I can remember and laugh. Collin has been learning lots of new words lately. He catches on quickly!

Well, the other day I was laying down on the couch like a good mom trying to take a cat nap when Collin came up and SLAPPED Randy's giant flip flop on my face and said "SHOE"! I'm pretty sure my face was red for an hour, that thing is a boat and you know you can get a good slap with a flip flop! But oh my gosh, it was so funny slash cute. He had the biggest grin on his face. After that he ran and found the other flip flop and came over to me with raised eyebrows and big eyes again saying, "SHOE"! Haha. He was so proud of himself. I so wish I had caught that on camera. I would have won America's Funniest Videos, that's for sure.

Anyway, Randy couldn't get enough of that story. We went shoe shopping a couple of days after that happened... the plan was for me and Randy to get shoes, but Randy ended up giving up his shoe purchase so that we could get Collin these bad boys. Oh my gosh. I'm pretty sure they haven't come off his feet for 5 days. It's the first thing he wants to put on, and sometimes... it's the only thing he wants put on. :) Honestly though, I don't know who loves the "SHOES" more, Collin or Randy. Randy says he wants to get some matching shoes now. I told him that's gay. ;) (Only because he makes fun of me when I try to match our family!)

Here is a pic of Collin after I had to hog tie him to change his diaper in the morning. He immediately ran off to go put on his SHOES. Of course his hands are down there. Pretty sure it's a boy thing.

I think it's hilarious. I don't even know how he walks in those things cause we bought 2 sizes up (thinking ahead for winter and socks)... but he still is a fast mover! Just hurts more when he steps on your feet. :) 

Girls Night!

Last week we were in the backyard playing when Macey came up to me with a flower. She wanted to pick the petals off and make a wish with each one. She would hold the petal next to her mouth, whisper the wish into it, and then blow it away. It was pretty cheesy, but SO Macey. Her first wish was, "I wish Mommy and me could go on a day date." AWWW. I just had to take advantage. How sweet is that? I asked her what she would want to do and she came up with the idea of going to a theater "futer" and watching a movie with popcorn and soda! Uhhh, OK! Those are all my favorite things! We ended up going to see Shrek at the dollar theater. It was so fun getting all dressed up and hitting the town with my girl! She loved every second and so did I!

It would be an understatement to say Macey loves getting her picture taken. She is way into posing right now, obviously. She saw me take the camera outside, ran and got her umbrella and came out like this. 

Not the greatest picture of me but eh. (Notice the pose? She's pulling her skirt out... such a girl.)

After we took a couple of pictures together Macey ran over to the 4-wheeler and was all, take a picture of me on it, Mommy! So I grabbed the camera again and she yells HURRY, it's freakin' hot on this thing! HAHA. Oh boy. I need to watch my mouth. Hey, at least she doesn't swear. ;)