Poopyhead

Zachy and Mackenzie.

It's hard to explain the changes that take place in their relationship. It's ever evolving. As he grows and she grows. As she learns and he learns.

They are more interactive in their games. He follows her lead quite well. Unless he doesn't want to. And he's gotten able to express that. Also quite well.

He taunts her at times. He used to like to take her things for the reaction, but I'm not sure he really understood what her reaction was. Now he knows. For sure.

He will also give her hugs when she's upset.

Today at the zoo, he was on the jungle gym and she climbed up after a few minutes. He yelled out with excitement...Kengy! Kengy!

Sometimes she will say that he says something. Zachy called me a 'Gooble de doo.' Oh really? And what does that mean? I don't like it.

The other day she said,  Zachy called me a poopyhead.

While I doubt this was initially true, he practiced his new word.

Over and over.

Until he uttered it perfectly...

Kengy Poopyhead!

And, no matter what she says, I think she liked it.

FridayFaves7.15.11

Given how busy life is, my goal is to, at a minimum, post FridayFaves each week, which will be a favorite memory from each day of the week. One for Mackenzie and one for Zachy.

Shouldn't be too hard, right?

Well, maybe narrowing it down to one each!

Saturday...

• Zachy riding his bike in the driveway. Round and round he goes. In the Zone. His 'report card' on Tuesday said that one of the activities he enjoyed that day was 'talking about bikes and riding on bikes.' Sounds like my boy.
• Taking Mackenzie to her first play and her trying so hard to follow the rules of being at a play. She did GREAT! Used her quiet voice, even when she really really really felt like she was ready to leave.

Sunday...

• Mackenzie sitting in the shopping cart playing games on the phone during a shopping trip with Mommy and Grammie.
• Zachy throwing a piece of paper at the YMCA. He was so adorable he drew a crowd! And he was so intrigued by how it floated in the air, he didn't even notice me leaving.

Monday...

• Zachy saying 'Bye Bye Gramma' after she walked out the door.
• Mackenzie performing her first doll haircut and then trying to hide the evidence in a large trash bag.

Tuesday...

• Zachy giving my own ball to throw in the house alongside him. And laughing as I did. I am sure I will regret that someday, won't I?
• Mackenzie fave of the week: Mackenzie's sweet, sweet groggy smile first thing and saying 'I love you Momma.'

Wednesday...

• Zachy proudly showing Dad the picture he made at storytime. As soon as Dad walked in the door. He'd even taken his nap with it.
• Mackenzie goofily telling me before bath that she has to decide when it's time for her to potty. Being a Big Girl!
• Sibling Bonus: Zachy pushing Mackenzie and then hugging her. Love Sibling Sweetness!

Thursday....

• Zachy insisting on helping me lint roll the couch. Such a little helper!
• Mackenzie drawing me a picture at school because she missed me. I missed her too.

Friday...

• Zachy fave of the week: Coming home from the store with Mackenzie and Zachy sitting in the back of Dad's car with a determined look on his face and a squirt bottle. Can you say: Armed and Dangerous?
• Mackenzie telling me to take two more bites of my salad and then we will go to the store. She even put up two fingers for emphasis!
• Sibling bonus fave of the week: Mackenzie sitting on the floor crying and then Zachy sitting next to her and putting his arm around her. Doesn't get better than that (except the Mackenzie crying part, of course).

There you have it. Some good memories from this week. Have I mentioned lately just how lucky I am? Well I am. Incredibly.

MyCrazyKids

Today concludes the kid's summerbreakathon. While I already confessed that today was not the best of days, it wasn't bad either. Just didn't go as planned.

That said, the kids were pretty funny today. When they start to play off of one another, it's a riot.

Mackenzie spent a lot of the day treating Zach as her own live baby doll. For the most part, he played along. Quite well. She dressed him. Tried to change his diaper. Took him on a walk in the stroller. Fed him. Her own live baby.  Seemed to work, for the most part.

When they weren't playing MommyM and BabyZ, they were getting into trouble. Zachy really seems to like when Mackenzie shows him how to get away with things.

After I got out of my two minute shower, I noticed it was quiet. I called out and heard nothing back. I find them in the kitchen, standing with the refrigerator door open, eating random things. Mackenzie's response? I didn't do it, Zachy did. Did you see me with your eyes? I know better, Zachy doesn't.

Nice try. She does that a lot these days. Blames things on other people. Zachy. Stuffed animals. Pretend babies. People who are nowhere to be found. The age of mistruths has officially begun.

For the record, I do feed them. You wouldn't think so. Later in the day they started to eat dog food. Seriously. The thing is, half the time they won't eat what I make. Something tells me the last five sentences are going to come back to haunt me someday.

Then there was the bathroom incident. Again, quiet kids. I find them in the bathroom. Putting lotion on. Mackenzie starts to lecture me, tells me I can't be in their house and to go away. Zach starts to laugh and chimes in, pushes me and says Go! Go! Next thing you know they're brushing their teeth.

I have no control. They are two months away from two and three and I have no control.

But they do make me laugh.

Yes they do, my crazy kids.

And, I love them.

VeryVERY much.

FotoFriday6.3.11

I think, I think, I think I can get back on track somewhat. We're settling in just fine. Actually, if anything, it's difficult to be as consistent as I'd like because we've been out having so much fun! Five days out of seven this week have included friend fun. How awesomely incredible is that?

This week we made a new friend, Sophia. She's five and the daughter of our Realtor.  They came over Sunday and the girls got along fabulously. The kids played with Caleb and Ben twice. Ari and Cate cam over yesterday and today we went to the zoo with Montana.

Can you say: Fun week!

Ari tried to take Mackenzie home with her in the van. Betty and Veronica. Cate and Zach are...figuring one another out. After the Ari/Cate playdate, Zachy didn't nap. Oh and Mackenzie had woken up at 4:45am. About 5pm, I was on the couch, one kid on each side, both fast asleep.

Good times! Here are some photos from this week. A day early, but I work tomorrow (kids are out of 'school' this week, so I took one day off and work my other day tomorrow). Not everything is included because the camera was broken for most of the week.

Coloring. Note the pretty view outside our window.

Playing train on his crib.

Dancing to Barney.

I caved...I let him have a cup. And he didn't treat it like a science experiment!

Yay Zachy!

From the Zoo....

You know life has been full of fun when you find Miss Mackenzie like this...

DayNine

Where to begin? I feel so out of blogtouch. We have moved. We have moved. We have moved. Hallelujah.

The kids LOVE their new home. Mackenzie LOVES being in 'town' and closer to people, places and things. Everyone is happier.

Today was day nine in new our home. Let me see if I can give a brief summary of how things went our first week and two days here.

While Mom packed up the rural house, M & Z wanted to make sure they weren't left behind.

A week ago Thursday, Dad brought home a big moving van. M & Z thought it was pretty cool. (M uses the word 'cool' now as in, 'Such & such is so cool.')

The next day we woke up, Mom packed up her car, including the kids. We headed into town, to our new home. Zach immediately went to work on the project he adopted the first time we saw our home, before we even knew it was our home, putting rocks in the water.

Meanwhile, Mackenzie helped by taking out the empty boxes.

LUckily I'd been off the day before we moved, so the playroom was play-able. Took a few days to get it in order, but it was definitely play-able. And thank Goodness, cause Saturday we had a playdate! C & B and Momma J brought over pizza and the kids got to play.

 Have I mentioned how super-duper big & awesome our new playroom is? It really is. Every time M shows it to someone, she says, And there's even a bed in here in case we have someone sleep here.

Zachy and Gunky had breakfast together on Sunday morning. Could they be any cuter? Seriously.

Oh, and while we're on cute Zachy, he has slept just fine in his new home. Puts himself to sleep, in his crib, sleeps all night. He's one well adjusted boy! M has also slept fine, I just wondered how he would do, since he's younger and, well, since he actually goes to bed by himself.

Later on Sunday, Missy. Good ol' Missy, made it out. She's our Farrel cat, which explains the cat trap.



Rufusdog arrived on Wednesday. He was a bit nervous at first, but once he figured out he could start digging new holes in a new yard, he adjusted.





As we continued to settle in, the kids played.

And helped.

For Zachy, that is helping. Mom thinks so too, as long as it keeps him busy. Until they all fall down, of course.

Friday, we had playdate #2. That's right, TWO playdates in a week. Have I already said Hallelujah?

A & C and Momma T came over on Friday. What a great time the girls had! And Z too.

This weekend, we continued to unpack, but still had some fun. Today we went to a park. And a dog park. Simple fun. There were lots of kids there. Z loved watching some older boys play. M really wanted them to invite her to take a turn in their human hamster ball-thing. They didn't. She handled the disappointment well.

That's sort of our week. Except for all the trips we made to Walmart and Target. Daily, I think. Tomorrow we are going to our Zoo. Wednesday we have yet ANOTHER playdate. Life is good! It shows in their smiling, loving faces.



FotoFriday5.6.11

Today we moved our first boxes into our new home. Life has been busy and I haven't been able to keep things up to date, but here's a few recent photos. And some of the last ones from our 'current' home because next week at this time, we should be pretty much moved in. WOW!

Mackenzie took a nap about a week and a half ago.

First nap in a LONG time.

She passed out, literally, on the couch.

Zachy is going through a dress phase.

Dancing....

The dress.

She wears it all the time.

But only at home..

It's from last summer.

Baby and Gunky wearing.

In slings.

Homemade by Momma.

He picked out his outfit and even said 'Cheese!"

What's UP with the pose, Miss Mackenzie?

RuralParkFarwell

Counting down the days until we move to town. We don't have a solid date set, but probably about two and a half weeks to go.

Today we went to our little 'park.' The kids had a nice time. It was an absolutely beautiful day. Mackenzie swung in both the big kid and the baby swing. I felt a bit sentimental. Seems like only yesterday she had her first swing venture there. Same with Zachy, although not quite as long ago.

My kids have spent there first years here. And, for that, I am grateful.

Here's some pictures from our day....

Good-Bye Little Park. Thanks for the Memories...