When I Grow Up

One great thing about being mom is that you never have to decide what you want to be now that you're grown up. Take a look at all the professions I've tried out today alone.

• Painter- painted a hand me down bookshelf
  
• Property manager- work for our house in Iowa
  
• Housekeeper- constant dishes, laundry, sweeping, trying to get rid of the STICKINESS that is my two little girls
  
• Nanny- reading books, changing diapers, dressing, playing catch, etc
  
• Life guard- the girls love the neighborhood pool
  
• Chef/Baker- Peanut Butter Banana Bread recipe here. Plus all the other meals and snacks that moms are in charge of
• Travel agent- Disneyland here we come

We get paid in a much more rewarding way too.
--Hearing Brooklyn say new words everyday
--Seeing each goodnight kiss between sisters
--Mackenzie's cards
--"Good dinner mommy" or "mmmmm"
--Laughing
ie: Me to Mackenzie: Give me some skin!
Mackenzie: It's MY SKIN! (folding her arms)
Me: That just means give me 5.
Mackenzie: Oh, ok sure

Holiday Weekend

The best dad in the world had a backyard campout with Mackenzie over the holiday weekend. I thought I better stay inside in case Brooklyn needed me. Mackenzie stayed up late asking for scary stories.


We celebrated Pioneer Day by going to a movie and having friends over for some fireworks. The two lovely ladies below took care of our kids while we went to Harry Potter (loved it).

We had a good time with the fireworks but most of the kids were done after 5 minutes. No matter- we just kept going till every last one was gone.


Thanks to those came before us to allow us such a great life!

Are we cool or what?

Here's proof that Robert (left) and I (right) are natural born surfers.

Cards

Mackenzie is constantly making people cards. I'm not sure where she picked it up but it can be cute but also not cute as she goes through an unseemly amount of paper. Usually it is just a little scribble and then she folds it up.
Today Mackenzie made me a card and this is what she wanted me to help her write on it:

Dear Karin,
I love you. I'm glad you are my best mom. I won't say hate.

4th of July

When we got back from Hawaii we went straight to Twin Lakes to see Mackenzie and Brooklyn and to celebrate the 4th at my family's cabin.

It is so perfect up there. I loved being there with my kids. It's great to share that place with them as I remember having such a ball there as a kid. These girls just love yogurt and there's no better place on earth to enjoy it.

Robert and I ran in the 5 mile race around the lake. It was extra fun since cousin Shannon, cousin Lance, auntish Vicki and unclish Rich did it too. (I wish we had a pic of us all together).

Pair A Dice

Does anything say paradise liking sipping a pina colada at a luau?

For our 6 year anniversary, Robert and I decided to celebrate like never before (vacation in Hawaii with no kids). We dropped Mackenzie and Brooklyn off with my parents in Fallon and it was off to Maui. We had a fabulously relaxing time.

We stayed in a beautiful place (great pools and beach), enjoyed going to the movies, eating in peace, surfing lessons, scuba diving, boat ride, funny magic show, and a little shopping and a lot of window shopping.

Here we are in our hotel lobby (great view).

We just loved having some one on one time. We played some cards and Robert's highlight was beating me at speed.

It was the perfect vacation. We had a lot of fun, felt rejuvenated by the end, and Oh-So-Ready to see our kids again. Thanks to everyone who helped with Kenzie and Brookie while we were gone.

My Big Kenzie Girl

Mackenzie is getting so grown up. She just finished her first soccer season. At the beginning, she wouldn't go on the field without her dad. By the end she would go in and run with the other kids for a few minutes until she drifted into lala land. See picture below

Mackenzie's favorite part was doing a team cheer and then slapping hands with the other team after the game. Wait, I take that back- snacks at the end were the highlight.


Mackenzie really enjoyed her little preschool class this year. Her favorite things were the daily art projects. I'm amazed when I think about how much she's grown from the beginning of the year to the end.
Here is a picture on the last day of school with Miss Sharon.

When school was over the kids would walk out to the lobby holding this rope and singing "Hi HO. Hi Ho. It's home from school we go. Our work is done we've had some fun. Hi Ho..."

So cute.