Party Time

Noah just celebrated his 4th birthday. On Sunday we had a family party after church. I let him pick whatever he wanted for dinner and he chose burgers and homemade mac and cheese. So I made homemade burgers and mac and cheese. We also had some yummy fluffy jello and my delicious potato salad. It was a tasty dinner and nice to hang with the family. After dinner Noah got to open all his awesome presents (thank you everyone) and then we sang happy birthday and had jello cake. It was a nice, relaxed birthday and everyone seemed to have a good time helping Noah celebrate being 4.

I love our boy. There is just something special about the little guy and he holds a special little place in mine and his dad's hearts. He is a very sensitive boy and it is certainly teaching us patience and how to deal with things a little more calm and with a little more kindness. I do have to praise Jay in that area. He really deals so well with him. Noah may be one of the most challenging kids but he is also so sweet and incredibly hilarious. His love of snuggling and his ability to make me laugh every day are the things I love most about him. I just love our little guy so much and I am so happy and grateful to be his mom. Happy Birthday Bubba, Monkey Man, Noah!
Superstar!

Me and my boy.

Presents. Yay!

This kid just couldn't wait to open gifts.

So Aunt Jenn gave him a gift and when he unwrapped it it was in a camera box. He looked at it and said "this is boring". Oh my heavens it was hysterical.

He got a couple Kung Zhu pets that he had been asking for.

Counting the money from Grandma and Grandpa. He got 10 $1 bills. That's a lot for a 4 year old. He was totally excited.

Zoey read the card to him that she made for him. I love that he cared enough to stop and take a moment from opening gifts to hear what the card said.

Why, you ask, is there a picture of this card? It's because a funny moment goes with it. Noah opened the envelope and pulled the card out after a bit of effort. Then he looked at the card and opened it up. It opens up and down instead of from side to side. He opened it just fine but I guess he was perplexed so then he just rips the card in two. He brings the card to me and says "how did that happen?" I told him it was because he pulled it apart. He just looked at it for a moment and then moved on. I said the power of the force was just strong in him I guess. We all just thought that the moment and what the card said on the front made the situation more funny. It was so hilarious and I think many of us were in tears from laughter.

Can you tell he was excited to get "Legoanajones"? That's Lego Indiana Jones for anyone who doesn't catch what Noah calls it.

Aunt Pam somehow became the holder of all Noah's things. It was just funny. He would finish opening something and then go hand it to Pam.

4 whole candles.

If I remember right it took 3 or 4 blows for him to get all 4 candles out. Silly boy!

His AWESOME Grandma and Grandpa McKinlay got him a Power Wheel. He was so surprised. The first time he jumped in it we hadn't charged it yet so we didn't think it would go at all. It did though and he about took out everyone with it. It was too funny watching him try to drive it at first. Too cute though.

All smiles on his party day.

Cute boy in his new big boy hat. I am trying to get him to love baseball caps because I think he looks so cute in them.

Wearing his cap and playing his "DS" that Aunt Pam got for him. This boy sure was spoiled this birthday. I am glad for him and thankful he has so many people who adore him as much as I do.

One Big Day

Today was a big day in the McKinlay family. 4 years ago today our boy Noah joined our family. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. What is even more crazy though is that also today was our first babies first day of school. Zoey had her first day of Kindergarten. I just can't believe how the years fly by. I know they are still little but to me they have already grown so fast. I miss their baby days for sure but I am also so very much enjoying them as they get older. Life has started on a road to new adventures and we are all excited and ready for it.

The Many Faces of Olivia

Squishy smile

Typical open mouthed grin.

The reprimanding look.

The puppy dog/looks like she is going to cry look.

A silly look at her chubby cheeks. She is still small but she is getting some meat on her.

Finally, a good look at why her Aunt Mar calls her a turtle. She has a pokie lip like a turtle. I think it is cute.

I just want to squeeze her and kiss her and snuggle her all the time. I love this little girlie!

Love seeing the kiddies all snuggled in our bed watching TV. I can't believe how alike the 3 of them look. Love them to pieces.

Lego Creations

Whether it be with paper and markers or craft stuff, or Noah's big legos Zoey is quite the creative girl. It's like she can just see something in her mind and then make it come to life. It is a talent she most definitely got from her father. I can't do anything with legos but build what the instructions show me I can. Zoey has some sort of imagination and talent.

If you can't tell, it's a duck.

This is the sword and shield she made for Noah. Awesome!

She begged me to take a picture of her looking tough with the sword and shield. Silly girl.

Fun in the Sun

Since the little pool was a flop Aunt Jenn bought a fun hose attachment for the kids to cool off outside. They have had a great time with it and I think enjoy it more than just sitting in a tiny kiddie pool anyway.

I love the simple things that bring smiles to my kids faces. LOVE IT!

Little stinkers attacking Mommy with the water. It did feel nice though.

Just a Cute Baby

She is so cute with headbands and I love her rainbow pony onesie.

She really does love to chew on her hands.

My little owl baby. Olivia has the biggest eyes. So beautiful!

Build-An-Olivia

Zoey thought it would be fun to put her Build-A-Bear's skirt on Olivia. It fit and looked rather cute. The funny thing is that I didn't think about it much after that and she ended up wearing it all day.

Here's her sexy baby pose. Ha Ha. She is too cute.

Kylie made these awesome sandals for Olivia out of some of those little plastic bracelets. I thought it was pretty clever and very cute!

Deming

A couple weekends ago a bunch of the family here in Tucson went to Deming for a baby blessing. It was the opportunity to spend time with extended family we hadn't seen in a while. It was also a chance to do one last thing with my brother and his family before they moved. It was a nice short weekend and it really was so enjoyable spending time with all the family.

We drove like an extra 40 minutes to Las Cruces to eat at this restaurant that is very similar to a place we frequented when we lived in El Paso. It was so yummy and so worth the drive.

These are the birds inside the restaurant. There is also a tank of piranhas but I didn't have a chance to snap a picture. Too funny that there is a big old bird cage in the middle of the front lobby of this Mexican food place.

All the family that was there minus myself and Olivia who were behind the camera.

The nasty lollipop my brother bought to gross out the kids and totally freak out Elyssa.The only place Olivia would be content and not freak out. The restaurant was so loud and I guess she wasn't having that so she thought hanging out outside was a better idea. Thank you Grandma for helping settle her so Mommy could finish her food and enjoy dessert.

A pretty sunset on the drive back from eating.

Miss Olivia was not a fan of being in the car for 3 hours. She did so so but was so happy to get to the hotel and just chill and stretch and wiggle on the bed. She also didn't do so well being out of her element for a weekend. It was kind of a long 2 days for Mommy and Olivia.

Happy to have some play time with Zoey's bear.

Can you spot the teeny baby in the big bed?

My dad and his only sibling, my Aunt Tommie. It was so great to see her.

Cousin David snuggling his favorite baby.

My cousins 2nd to youngest, Sarah. She is a stinker but such a cutie.

The little man who brought us to Deming. Nathan is the 5th and last child of my cousin Cathy. He was born just a few weeks after Olivia.

Zoey and Natalie (my cousins #3) have a great time playing together. So cute to watch them interact. Zoey is only like 2 weeks older than her. They get along really well.