McKenzie is 8!

McKenzie was so excited about her birthday that she was up by 5:45 this morning.  She normally wakes up closer to 9, so this was extremely unusual!  I had planned on surprising Kenzie with a donut for breakfast, but instead she went with me to pick them out!

 Kenzie wanted to get right to present time.  As soon as Daddy returned from his morning soccer game, she greeted him with, "Can I open my presents now?"

 She was so happy to get some Lego Friends sets from my parents.  She has been eying those for awhile.  But she was happy with each and every present --

 -- case in point: this is a kleenex box cover.  McKenzie was extra excited because, "It came with kleenex, too!"  I love that she's easy to please.

 Our gift to our little scientist was this microscope set.  McKenzie has already collected several little items and looked at them on her little slides.

 She was very pleased with her pile!

 In the afternoon, Kenzie had a few friends over for a little water party.  First they had fun making a huge mess with shaving cream and corn starch.  I was so very glad they were outside!

 Today set a record for the temperature getting to 105 degrees.  It sure felt like it, too.  The girls were more than happy to be sprayed with the cold hose water.  Then they cooled off with push-ups.

 The big hit was decorating their own cupcakes.  They all turned out pretty cute, too.

This year actually marks the first year McKenzie has not picked McDonald's as her birthday dinner!  She chose to go to Chuck-a-Rama.  So we stuffed ourselves, and the ice cream made a good birthday dessert, too!  Happy Birthday, Kenzers!

Little Brother

Cameron is so happy when he's included!  Kenzie and Parker were reading books, and Cameron yelled, waved, clapped... anything to get their attention.  I finally plunked him down inbetween them and he was thrilled!

The Capitol

 Here's Cameron at our little picnic lunch with Daddy.  We met him for his lunch break before I took the kiddos to see the State Capitol Building.  

 "Oh, my gosh!" Kenzie exclaimed as we arrived.  "It's a national monument!"  That made me laugh.

 It was getting super toasty outside, so we didn't walk around very long.

 Once inside, we started on the first floor and Kenzie again exclaimed with excitement, "Mom, look!  It's the Liberty Bell!"  How disappointing to have to explain to her it was just a replica.  At least she's learned a few things at school, though!

 Here Kenzie instructed me, "Mom, I want a picture by this one because I like Science."

 We rode the elevator to each floor (a major highlight for the kids - it was a glass-fronted elevator so they could see out) and admired the artwork.

Here we are checking out the Senate chamber.  Kenzie had a hard time with the word, "Chamber."  "But that sounds like a prison!" she kept saying.  "Can we ride the elevator again?" Parker wanted to know.  Cameron just filled his diaper and then fell asleep as soon as we got back in the van.  All in all a typical little outing for us!

Ears

This morning Cam Buddy got tubes put in his ears.  We had to arrive at 6:30am, and Cameron was extremely good considering he was denied breakfast.  I wanted to take this picture because I thought his little hospital outfit was cute.  (He only seems sad because I had put him down for the picture!)  The rest of the time we rocked in the waiting room and he watched the other kids play.  The doctor said all went well, and upon awakening, Cameron drank his bottle of apple juice in record time.  We were back home a little after 9am.  I'm pretty tired, but Cameron doesn't seem to be yet.  He's busy rolling around the front room squealing at his siblings!

Lemonade Stand

 This morning after swim lessons we picked up a few friends to play with the kiddos.  They decided right away to have a lemonade stand.  Kenzie has begged to do this for the longest time, so she was thrilled.  We went through several pitchers of kool-aid and lemonade, and the kids manned their cardboard box stand for about three hours.

I loved this picture - everyone has a punch mustache.  They enjoyed sampling their wares!  They made $19 (it helped that the summer preschool went by!) and want to donate it to the children's hospital.  I was impressed by that.  I expected to hear lots about, "Look how much money we're making!" but the first thing the girls did was make a sign on their money jar that said, "Money for hospital," and Kenzie even put out her picture of her and Allie.  It was very sweet, and a great way to keep everyone entertained!

The Start of Swim Lessons

 Kenzie and Parker were very excited to start swim lessons this morning!

Parker decided he was going to be braver this year.  So far, so good.  He was willing to put his face in the water and blow bubbles (something he barely attempted last year).  Kenzie is a little fishy and jumps right in.  Cameron sat on my lap, clapping for Parker.  Speaking of clapping, he just learned how to do that yesterday:

It's pretty cute.  Now Parker and Cameron have a new game.  Parker claps, then Cameron copies him.  Parker thinks it's hilarious, and Cameron loves the attention.  In fact, that's what they did the entire time I showered this morning.  Whatever works to keep them happy!

Happy Father's Day

To the Dad who teaches 'em young the most important things!  :o)

Summer Vacation So Far

 Last year Parker was too scared to go near the sprinkler.  This year he decided to be brave, so he donned his goggles and tentatively headed out...

 ...but it only took about 5 minutes before he was like this!  What a big kid. 

 I turned 30.  This is the cake I made.  It was even richer than it looks!

 This morning we went to Riverton City Park.  Poor Cameron has another ear infection, so he's been miserable and we've stayed home a lot so we can let him nap.  Today he seemed a little happier so we hurried to the park before he needed his morning nap.  (Update for grandparents: Cameron gets tubes put in his ears on Wednesday.)

 

I do enjoy that Parker and Kenzie are good friends and will play together at the park.  Hopefully Cameron will start feeling better and we can get out more!

All Done!

 

 Saturday was the last soccer game of the season for Kenzie and Parker.  Here's Kenzie with her pals Skyler and Lilly.  They have played together since kindergarten.  Each year they improve and seem to enjoy soccer more, which has been cute to watch.

 Cameron is the best little spectator.  He sat in his stroller and crumbled a leftover roll all over himself.  

Parker was so pleased to get his trophy and his donut.   (Later that day Parker asked Daddy why he was going to play soccer.  Daddy said, "Well, why do you go to soccer?"  Parker said, "Um, for the trophy?")

And as of this afternoon, McKenzie is done with 2nd grade!  To celebrate, she wanted to have a tea party.   So we got out the china and had kool-aid in the little teacups.  And now summer can begin!