Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Today we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house with my mom. We booked tickets back in May to go in August, but Makena kept asking when it was her turn to go inside. So I asked my mom if she would come with us today so that Makena didn't have to wait until August to go in. We will go again in August. It is a very pretty temple and Makena really enjoyed the "big light" hanging in the Celestial room. It was pretty cool when we did go into the Celestial room (it is located on the East side of the temple) the sun was just shining in the room very bright. It was like heaven to me. I am grateful for temples and what they mean. I am glad I have my family for ETERNITY!!




The sun was very bright so everyone is squinting or covering their eyes.

Paper Eater

I caught Makena today eating ANOTHER paper...this time it was her new Dora book that I had just bought the week before. After I found out she was eating it, I told her, "I guess now the book is Kali's. She doesn't eat books!" Makena didn't think that was nice at all. I couldn't believe she was eating it. What am I going to do? Maybe for dinner tonight I can just put some paper on her plate. She seems to like that a lot more than food.

Jump, Jump, Jump

We put Tyler in the jumper today and he went CRAZY!! He LOVED it and had such a fun time jumping, laughing and just smiling. Sorry about the video...don't know how to turn it the other way.

Hair Cut

Today I took Makena and had her hair cut. Both her and I cut our hair. When I told her I was cutting my hair short, she wanted her hair short too. Here is an after picture of her hair cut!

Pool Party

Gretchen loved going on the slip n' slide!

Ryan playing in the water.

Tyler - he had a great time playing in the water.

Makena in the pool.

Kali in the pool. Both girls liked dumping out the water!

Ryan, Kali, Gretchen and Makena all in the pool.

Ryan liked playing in the water going on the slip n' slide.

Gretchen running down the slip n' slide.

Tyler sitting on the grass.

We went to Grandma Boyack's for a little pool party and lunch. The kids had a great time playing in the water. They got to swim in the pool, go down the slip n' slide and jump on the trampoline with the sprinkler underneath. Makena also got to teach Sadie a couple of tricks. We had a great time and really LOVE going over to Grandma's house. WE LOVE YOU!!

4 Year Check-Up

Today, Makena had her 4 year old check up. She also got her 3 kindergarten shots. I had prepared her that she was going to get shots when we went to the doctor's office. She kept saying, "but I'm not sick." I told her she needed the shots so that she could go to school. She wasn't happy about it and even cried as we drove to the office. Doctor Dallen came in and checked her out and said, "everything looks good. You have a tall and skinny kid, but I bet you already knew that. She is a sweetheart." Makena was okay with Doctor Dallen coming in because I told her that he wasn't going to give her the shots. Then he left and the "girls" came in and pulled out the shots. It was very tramatic for Makena, but she was brave and did a good job. She got 2 tokens at the end so she could buy some prizes. I told her I would take her to lunch for being so good. She picked McDonalds and had a great time playing with cousins on the toys.



Her measurements: 39 1/2 inches tall (50%) and weighed 31 pounds (20%)

Guess??

Yesterday at church, Makena talked about faces in Sunbeams. She colored this picture at church. When we got home, I noticed part of the paper was gone. Can you guess where the rest of the picture is?....that's right, SHE ATE IT!! I don't know what to do with her and eating paper. Quite disgusting, but she does it all the time and says it tastes good. Silly Child!!

Cake and Ice-cream

On Saturday, we had Makena's birthday cake and ice-cream with Grandpas, Grandmas, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. She had a blast. She wanted a princess cake and vanilla ice-cream (the only kind of ice-cream she will eat). She had so much fun opening up her gifts and seeing all the princess and Dora stuff and all her favorite treats. She had a great time. Thanks for all that came, it made a sad day (see puppy story below) turn into one exciting day!!!

Missy AKA Bella

Makena loves dogs and has been wanting a puppy for quite sometime. First we had to talk Jarel into getting a puppy and when he said yes, we started looking. I have been looking on line at KSL and also at the Humane Society trying to find a little dog with no fur (Jarel has allergies to those types of dogs.) We went last week and looked at a little weener dog, but I decided that I didn't want it after I saw the parents. I wanted a smaller dog. Makena was disappointed, but I told her I would keep looking. Yesterday, I found one. It was a little 9 month old Yorkie up for sale. I called the lady selling her and she said we could come look at her. I didn't tell Makena where we were going. She got in the van and asked "where are you going and what the basket with blanket doing in the van." I told her just to go see a lady. When we got there, we went to the door and when we were let in, there was the puppy and Makena's eyes got so big and she was SO EXCITED. I told her that we could get her and bring her home with us. On the drive home, the puppy sat on Makena's lap and fell asleep and was so content with her. We got home about 11:15ish and took her outside, played with her, Makena even watched a movie and the puppy sat on her lap and fell asleep. It was cute. The puppy attached to Makena quickly. The puppy's name was Bella that her previous owner gave her, but Makena thought that would be silly to call her that because we have a little girl named Bella next door. So Makena called her Missy. I was thinking, "this is going to be fun and Makena is so happy right now." Then about 1:00, my eyes started to itch, then it went to my nose, my forehead and whole face. I had no idea that I would do that and that I had allergies to this little puppy. We gave Missy a bath, washed all of the Missy's bedding trying to see if that would help. We even left for a little bit and went to dinner and then I stayed outside trying to decide if it was allergies to the puppy or something else. I knew last night, that we wouldn't be able to keep Missy. After being outside and my itching not as bad, I went inside and within 30 minutes, the itching started up again. I felt like the worst mother in the world. Here I brought this little puppy home and made Makena SO HAPPY and now I was going to take it away from her. It was heart breaking and I didn't want to tell Makena. Missy would follow Makena anywhere she went. If someone came over to see Missy, Missy would run right to Makena and sit on her lap. Makena was her protector, and friend. So How was I going to tell her? We called the previous owner and asked her if their were others interested in this little puppy. There was and so we called them. We told Makena that we wouldn't be able to keep Missy and that a lady was coming to look at her. She started crying and just held onto Missy. I let Makena stay up until the lady came and when the lady decided she didn't want the puppy, Makena's face lit up and said, "Missy gets to stay?" Jarel said, "just until the morning." Makena was excited that she would be able to feed Missy in the morning. We put the puppy to bed, we all went to bed and the phone rang. It was another lady interested in the puppy, she said she would be by in the morning. We went to bed, my eyes still itchy. We got up this morning, my eyes not quite as itchy (the puppy never went into our bedroom), but as soon as I went into the living room/kitchen, the itching started. Despite some people's thinking that I should try it for the weekend, I knew deep down it wasn't right to keep her and we had to let her go. The new owners came this morning and took her home. Makena, bless her heart, was so good with this. She didn't want to cry in front of the new owners, and so, as soon as they left, she started to cry. I had told her that we couldn't keep her because Missy made mommy's eyes hurt, but a nice family with kids would come get her and love her just like she did. Makena is the type of person that if she has one piece of candy left and she really wants to eat it, and another kid wants it, Makena would give it to them. She is a SWEETHEART. I told her we would go to the store and get a dress-up, to somewhat make up for the loss of a puppy (not much, I know). So, how ironic...I had to talk Jarel into getting a puppy (thankyou for letting us get her) that didn't have fur so he wouldn't be allergic to it, and I ended up with the allergies to this little puppy. I know this puppy is at a good home!! Although we only had her for 1 day... I know that Makena never will forget her 4 legged little friend, MISSY.

Missy

After a night alone, Missy was cold, so Makena was warming her up with her toy. You put the toy in the microwave and it heats up.

2 friends watching cartoons this morning.

Missy didn't want to go into the cage so Kali and Makena did!

Cute Makena

Cute Missy

Makena and Missy, their first watching of TV together.

Makena playing outside with Missy. The reason Missy's hair is cut short is because Missy had an allergic reaction to her food 2 months ago. Missy was scratching her hair out and when it was growing back in, it was growing in crazy. Some hair long, others short. So the previous owner decided to cut it all short so it would grow in all the same length.

Scooter

Just had to do a quick post of Makena and her scooter that she got for her birthday. She didn't get to ride it outside as much as she wanted...due to rain, but she has been riding all over the house! She she opened up her scooter she shouted, "and it has a basket for my little dog (her stuffed dog)."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAKENA

Today Makena turned 4. Time sure flies when you are having fun. Jarel and I decorated the living room/kitchen last night after she went to bed. When she woke up the morning and saw it, she was so happy and surprised. She asked, "is today my birthday?" It was cute. She had a little birthday party with her friends. When the girls came in, she gave them a lei necklas. We played pin the sail on the sailboat and then they decorated sugar cookies. Makena's cookie was more sprinkles than cookie. Makena opened up her gifts and was so excited with everything she got. She had a great time. Tonight we are off to Chick-Fil-A for her birthday dinner. We are having her birthday cake and ice-cream on Saturday night. We are suppose to be having a swim party Saturday night as well, lets hope it is good weather! Makena is into dress-ups, loves dogs, loves to paint her finger/toe nails, favorite treats are tootsie rolls, likes to jump on the trampoline, likes to play outside, and is just a fun/good kid. She is very sensitive and a big helper. She likes to be a "mom" to all her siblings, friends and cousins. WE LOVE YOU MAKENA!!

Alyssa and Emily decorating cookies.

Gretchen frosting her cookies. She LOVED the cookies!

MacKenzie and Makena. They used enough sprinkles for a dozen cookies!!

Makena opening up her gifts.

Opening another gift. She loved them all and couldn't wait to play with them.

Cute Girls!!

I made flip flops for the girls to take home. They enjoyed them.

RAIN STORM

I love it when it rains so hard during the summer. It was a down pour. The rain gutters couldn't keep up with all the rain. It was also hailing, thundering and lightening. It was SO COOL and so fun to watch. I stood out on my porch for quite sometime just watching it come down. At one point, I had to go outside and move a rain gutter pipe (I really don't know what to call them) and I am still drying off from it.

Rain was pouring off the house. The rain gutters couldn't keep up with all the rain.

Water overflowing out of the rain gutters

The hail coming down and sticking to my flowerbeds.

5 Months

Tyler is 5 months now and weighs in at a whopping 20 pounds! To celebrate his 5 month mark, I gave him rice cereal! He did a great job with it and liked it. He ate about 8 spoonfulls and then wanted the good stuff...MILK! He is so fun and so big. I LOVE IT!

Tyler's 5 month picture on the couch. They always sit in this same spot every month for their picture.

First taste of rice cereal

Doing pretty well eating.

Enjoying the rice cereal.

Birthday/Pool Party

Yesterday we celebrated Uncle Bren'ts birthday with a POOL PARTY at his in-laws. This was the FIRST time that the girls have gotten into a big swimming pool. Makena was so EXCITED to go swimming, she couldn't hold still while sunscreen was being applied. She got into the pool with her GEAR on, and soon realized that not touching the bottom of the pool was no fun. She QUICKLY got onto the steps and stayed CLOSE by to the steps. If she ventured out with Grandma or Dad in the pool, there was a TIGHT GRIP. Once she got into the "TURTLE" and she felt SAFE, she was out into the deep end and having a great time. She didn't want to get out and go eat, but when the rain started, she was out and getting dried off. Kali was the complete OPPOSITE, she really didn't want to get into the pool at first, and when she did and then someone SPLASHED her, that was the end...then Jarel came into the pool and took Kali out and Kali was a little FISH. She was swimming all over the place and had to do it all by HERSELF. She LOVED it. She liked getting out of the pool, walking to the steps and then getting back into the pool. She was even BRAVE and jumped off the diving board. We had a BLAST. We were able to SWIM, play on the "PLAYGROUND" and even saw HORSES and COWS!! Thanks Uncle Brent and Aunt Chelsea for the GREAT time!

Grandma, Makena in the "turtle", Jarel and our fish, Kali!

Grandma, Makena and Kali

Uncle Chad and MacKenzie

Jarel and Kali

Kali jumping off the diving board. Way to go!!

Tyler...I love his smile!

Jarel and Kali

MacKenzie jumping off the diving board...Way to go, Brave Girl!

Makena

Kali