Want to Race?

(**Guest post from Mark) I haven't posted on here in forever so I thought I would share some of my most current exploits. I am excited for kid #3 to come and am wondering what in the heck we were thinking having another kid.  What idiots!  No I am excited and am curious to see the new kid and have another little personality roaming around here.  My kids are one of the true joys of my life and I love coming home to them running up to me all excited yelling Daddy!!  Mckinley is getting so big and is always up for new adventures and has a scheme in mind for everything.  It is fun to see her learning new things and starting to figure out what is going on around her.  Kingston is a true boy and loves motorcycles almost as much as his dad does.  It was one of those proud dad moments when he got his big motorcycle for his 3rd birthday and jumped right on it put his head down and took off.  His serious face was classic and i think we may have the next Valentino Rossi on our hands (not that anyone who reads this blog knows who Rossi is).  It was a great day for me and I hope he continues to love bikes and we can ride together.  

 

  I also had another day at the track at Miller Motorsports Park and that is always a fun time.  My dad came and watched and also a great surprise Tisha brought the kids out to watch as well.  It was fun to have support from the family out there.  I think I am ready to upgrade to a faster bike for next time I was milking all the speed I could out of the SV650.  I love riding on the track and think I will only ride there from now on.  I have no aspirations to be a racer or even very fast out there but it is so much fun I think I will do it until I am too old to hold up my bike anymore then I will start driving cars out there. 

We will see what the next few weeks hold but I am sure this new addition to our family will be a great one and I am excited and nervous.  Family of 5 here we come!

Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant.

This year, we were given a "Floating Holiday" at work that we could use in the place of any "holiday" we chose. I had to use the day before I go on FMLA with the baby and about a month ago, I asked for the Friday before Memorial to squeeze every ounce out of the long weekend. It was quite fortuitous because Heidi Kay decided to burn up her Mother's Day presents by coming to visit me! We haven't seen each other (except Facetime) in 4 years and it was an excellent visit! I wish the weather would have cooperated more so our yard sales adventures would have been more fruitful but overall, it was such a nice break. The French toast from Kneaders drowned our sorrows from the rain on Saturday, pedicures, shopping, X-MEN (with Mark as the "third wheel"), Hoarders, Creamies, and walks. The weekend went by too quickly and before I knew it I was taking her back to the airport. As we pulled away, Mc said, "I miss Heidi"- I feel ya kid! Nice to have a friend that makes it feel like no time has passed and even though our lives are busy and always changing, we can pick up right where we left off.

Onward and Upward

Flowers from Mimi

The Mckinley Support Group. Kingston was there too but was too busy playing to participate. 

Cute chalkboard mat from Alex

Miss Sally and Miss Jessica

We have a kindergartner! It was a bittersweet day for sure. Mc said she had "water in my eyes" as we drove to school and she realized she wouldn't see her besties Deya, Abby and Brookie (the twins) once she starts Kindergarten. Pretty sure I cried from that point, all the way home. Just sad to think that she is done going to the Little Blue Schoolhouse and will be a full blown school kid! You don't realize how quickly time is going until you stop and think about what you feel in your mind JUST happened but was really six months ago.

She was so excited to do her program and it was so sweet to hear her turn to her friend and say "That's my dad. I love my dad". She looked like a doll- beautiful hair, her darling dress and her sweet smile. She was exceptionally excited about her "presents" and waving to everyone that came to see her. 

They sent us home with her Kindergarten testing- we need to work on her address, her home phone number and counting to 50. She is SO ready for kindergarten and is going to rock it!

Ladies who Tea

My dear friend Charity called on Saturday and invited Mc and I to an Afternoon Tea at the Grand America. It was a splendid time made even better by the fact that the $38/per person price tag did not apply. The scones and lemon curd were to die for, the hot chocolate and cream were plentiful, and it was delightful to see our little ladies in that kind of setting. Mc was so well behaved (mainly because I think she was tired) and drank "tea" to her heart's content.

The Ladies- Charity and her daughters (Brighton and Avery), Krystan and her daughter (Stella), Mckinley and the stripey, overly pregnant lady.

Perfect manners. Ladies always use a napkin.

It is perfectly acceptable to slurp hot chocolate ("tea") through a straw.

Blue and Pink Steel.



One benefit to having an older sister is the endless possibilities in wardrobe choices (much to Mark's dismay). This weekend I scored a case of Barbie clothes for $5 and Mc has been in heaven. Today, she decided a life-sized doll would be a much better canvas and Kingston, he was more than willing to oblige. While hydrogenous models may be big right now, I think I prefer my little boy in stripey t-shirts and skinny jeans. Although, his little headband and floppy Mary Janes were pretty cute.

Williamson Party of Four

Our last family picture before the baby comes! There is an open spot on Mark's other knee, so naturally, it seems like that is just how it should be. The kids just seem so big! Kingston is fully potty trained, Mckinley is counting down the days to summer break and nesting is in full swing.

The Mother's Day weekend was wonderful. Saturday, I went and did Baptisms with the Youth, had free "Mother's Day" breakfast at Kneaders and  Mark let me take a 3 hour nap. Mark and I celebrated our anniversary that evening at Flemings where they loaded us up with swag! We got a baby bib, chocolates, a $25 gift card and a card signed by our most exceptional waiter Vincent.  We then hit the Body Worlds Animal Exhibit which was pretty cool. We had the place to ourselves which makes it even better. It was an excellent way to spend 11 years together. I am one lucky lady.

Mckinley showered me with drawings, chocolate, a magnet picture and two cards saying she loves me because I call her "poop stain" and "ragamuffin".I am grateful every day that these little people chose me to be their mother. I feel inadequate most of the time and there are ALWAYS things I can do better but, on the flip side, they know I love them and would do anything for them. Now and forever.

Mc's portrait of me.

Easter 2014

Holidays seem to be getting better as our kids start to understand more and more what they are about. Mc came down super early to let us know the Easter Bunny had arrived and they headed down to collect eggs/candy. Mary Ann had had an easter egg hunt the Saturday before and Mc had learned quickly (after watching the "seasoned" children) that shaking an egg would let you know if there was change inside. She didn't quite get it right- most of the eggs she collected from that day forward were full of jelly beans, which she doesn't like. 

The kids were spoiled as always. Baskets from the Easter Bunny with shoes, little toys, "Frozen" and treats. Candy and money from Mary Ann. And yet another basket from Mimi & Papa with toys, clothes, swimming trunks, and Mc even found the Silver Egg with the $5 bill. We now have WAY too much candy (the beguiling serpent of one who was trying to pass a Glucose test the following day). 

We did take a few minutes on Sunday morning to watch the #becauseofhim video that the church had published. It helped us to remember the Savior and what he did for us- every day, I get a fresh start. A chance to try again. We were later edified by Mr Williamson in sacrament as he was offered the pleasure to speak. He has such an enthusiasm for speaking and I love the ease at which he teaches. He is a keeper.

The kiddos and their Easter bags.

Easter outfits and their bunny ears. K has fully adopted his dad's "too cool for school" hands in the pockets stance.

The Chicks (and Kingston) at Mimi's.

Kingston told Mark, "This is you daddy, if you were a bunny".

The Egg Hunting Party at Mary Ann's.

More basket fun. Even the baby got a basket full of goodies.