happenings in April

We got together with the Gunnells one Monday night in April for dinner and FHE. Mila and Ev were so cute together. They mostly just stared and each other and offered the occasional poke. I am going to miss this family so much as they're headed to DC for work. Love the Gunnells.

Caught him just like this, reading a book on his truck with his hat on. So serious.

The Baab and Shosh came to town! It was SOOOO fantastic to have them here. It is such a party every time they come, I always look forward to it. Unfortunately, we shared our germs with them and I think they're still recovering.. but we still made some good memories. Shosh and I headed to Park City one day with Evalyn. It was so fun to have a girl's trip up to PC. Much needed shopping and spending took place. It also just gave my Mom and me a chance to chat about everything and anything. Love conversation with my Mom. She is the best. While we were gone, McKay hung out with Babu, accompanying him to Lowes to buy hinges for Ashley's window display (for the bridal shower) and to Walmart. He even scored some chocolate milk, some sugar cereal and some marshmallows. Lucky boy. He loves hanging with Babu.

Does she look twice the size?? Must be the angle. Although, they HAVE both been in size 4 diapers since she was 4 months old. So lucky to have healthy babies.

Uncle Coo-Coach McGee (aka Grayden) came to visit us, too. Lesson still not learned (obviously): SUNSCREEN! Roasty toasty. Brenan couldn't shave for a week. These two had a lot of good times together: bball (playing and watching and side-walk-chalking, right Grayden?), wave riding at Provo Beach Resort, snowboarding, multiple Little C's pizzas, etc. It was a successful trip for Grayden.

The perch.

Dinner out at Los Hermanos. Delish.

Pre-b-day celebration for Ev. McKay thought it was great :)

Yep, that's the love of my life right there.

Spaghetti debut. I've realized I always commit to bathtime when I serve spaghetti. It's a natural consequence.

Rain, rain.

Starting to walk with help. Can't let the blankie have a rest.

Soon-to-be Sis-in-Law Bridal Shower

I loved getting the chance to throw Ashley a shower before everyone left Provo for the summer. It was held on April 14th and was such a blast. She had people from all over the place come to celebrate her engagement. So excited for Dillon and Ashley to get married in June.

Here she is with her sister and 3 of her nieces.

Ashley and her maid of honor, Devin.

Silly.

So glad my Mom could be here to help and enjoy the festivities. And bless my Dad's heart for hanging that darn window pane in my living room. He is a rockstar.

Beautiful Ashley.

Last minute night-before preparations for the shower. Bless that heart again, painting the hinges for the window display.

Working on a fabric banner together. McKay's a real scrapper at heart.

Cocount cake. So delicious and so pretty! Perfect for the occasion.

The spread.

 

Easter eggs

McKay loved helping me dye Easter eggs this year and even wore his special Home Depot apron for the event:

After we dyed them, we took them to a grassy area in our neighborhood and rolled them down the little hill. Viv and McKay had so much fun doing it. Ev enjoyed sucking on them, of course.

vintage baby

This is a jumper I used to wear when I was little. Notice how she's keeping those legs up?!

fun with "Bivian"

McKay lovingly calls his friend Vivian, "Bivian." This poses a problem since he calls Ev "Buvvalyn." It gets quite confusing. Here we are at the dinosaur museum on BYU campus. I couldn't get the two older munchkins to slow down long enough to snap a good pic, so these are our action shots.

How can our little boy be THIS BIG?! Turning 3 is just around the corner.

His personality shines every day. The other day we were driving in the car and he leaned over to his friend, Vivian Browne, and exclaims, "BYU MADNESS! DO YOU HAVE BYU MADNESS!" We have no idea where he came up with this.

This morning he was talking with my mom, the SHosh, and she asked him if he was going to play with toys today. He said, "Uh-huh. I'm going to play with Evalyn and share with Evalyn." Warmed my heart.

We've been telling him little stories at night before he goes to bed... stories about a little turtle named Joe who has a little sister named Lila and a friend named Rachel. Joe seems to have a lot of the same daily 2-year-old struggles that McKay faces, but he always ends up learning a good lesson and making a good choice. McKay LOVES these stories (didn't realize that he would attach to these stories so quickly or I'd have thought out some better names). Oh, and we stopped by the duck pond at BYU and spotted Joe the turtle and his whole extended family. McKay couldn't have been more excited.

Listening to conference today, McKay was self-entertaining pretty well. At one point he was pushing our shopping cart around the living room. He made his way over to the hard wood floor and said, "I'm at Walmart!" Brenan etch-a-sketched him a temple during conference, too (a request McKay always asks). After Brenan shaped it out, McKay lovingly hugged it and said, "I love you, temmmmpppppllllle!"

A few weeks ago I was writing some letters in the kitchen to get in the mail. I was needing to concentrate so McKay was playing in the living room. I kept asking him to return to the living room so I could finish up. He walked in at one point, hopped up at the table and said, "We should be together, Mommy." He was so right. Later, while playing with him in the living room, he told me that he was glad I was there.

Fireman

Painter.

Is someone tired? She only sucks her thumb when really hungry or ready for bed. Yes, she is using a piece of bread in the same way she snuggles her bed-time blankie.