So Much Going On

It has been a long time since I updated the blog and a lot has been going on.  Today I had a mini-go-live.  We put in a PeopleTools Patch to our system, so I have been at work most of the day. I am feeling pretty relieved to have that done. 

Last weekend my parents came down with Lexie and stayed with the kids so that Brian, Butch and I could drive over South Bend and meet Tammy and go to the Notre Dame vs. Michigan Prime Time (aka late) game.  It was fun to be in the stadium for the night game and it was awesome that Notre Dame won, even if ND won because Michigan kept giving us the ball whenever they got close to the end zone. 

Mackenzie is doing really well at school.  She brings home handwriting everyday and also does a lot of coloring.  She seems to really like her teacher, Mrs. Zuchowski.  She is enjoying having gym and being independent at lunch and getting to punch in a code to buy her milk.  She also likes when they get to go to the library.  She says she doesn't like anything else, but I think she just gets tired of being asked. 

When we got back from Chicago she wrote this for me:

Awesome!

Mackenzie is also going to gymnastics twice a week.  One of her classes is a half an hour of gymnastics and then a half an hour of ballet.  She literally gets on the bouncy floor and doesn't stop bouncing until class is over, except to do whatever task they ask.  She really seems to like the crab walk. 

Isaac can start gymnastics when he is four.  For now he is really enjoying his class at daycare and he seems to like having alone time with Mom or Dad when the other takes Mackenzie to gymnastics.  He is an extremely busy boy.  He doesn't slow down all day, both his body and his mouth.  He has also decided that he doesn't always need a nap and honestly he seems to do fine without one.  I can't believe that he is three and a half.

Next week we are headed to Chicago for the Notre Dame vs. Miami game at Soldier Field.  When Brian and I went back to Chicago 2 weeks ago for the Estonian show we went to the old house to dig up hostas and day lilies and we stopped by Granny's Corner.  We mentioned that we were going to try and bring the kids the weekend of the game if we could find a babysitter.  Lucky us, Granny's Corner has decided to have a sleepover the night of the game, so the kids are going to spend the night with some friends while we go to the game!  Seriously, Granny's Corner is the best daycare ever.

Busy Birthday Weekend

The kids and I had a very busy weekend.  Friday was Mackenzie's birthday so we got to do birthday presents and have cake that night, which is always fantastic.

Brian was working the rest of the weekend so it was just the three of us most of the time.  Saturday morning we went grocery shopping.  The kids were very good at the store in order to ensure they got their treat, Pop Tarts.  The kids used to ask for Pop Tarts a lot because other kids at day care got Pop Tarts for breakfast.  I have never thought that Pop Tarts were a very good breakfast, but I have gotten them for them at other times so they could have them for dessert.  In the past they have never really liked them once they got them and Brian and I have always ended up eating the extra calories.  Well the page seems to have turned on Pop Tarts at our house and the kids loved them when they had them as their treat yesterday.  Now if only I could avoid them somehow . . .

After grocery shopping we went to watch Carson play soccer, and to wish Aunt Shannon a happy birthday.  While we were at the soccer game we were very close to a playground and the kids thought that going to the playground would be more fun than watching the soccer game.  I told them that we were there to watch the soccer game, but that we could probably go to the playground the following day, since it is almost in their cousin's backyard.  They weren't too keen on the idea yesterday, but they were very excited about it this morning. 

Here is a shot of the kids at the playground with their cousins:

They had a fantastic time at the playground and afterward playing in the Rogers' yard while we waited to see Grandma and Grandpa and wish Nathan a happy birthday.  This afternoon Mackenzie and mom did a little sewing whil Isaac played with MagnaTiles and I think that everyone is going to sleep well tonight.

I almost forgot that Isaac and I watched Notre Dame beat Purdue while Mackenzie hung out at Grandma and Grandpa's Saturday afternoon.  Go Irish!

First Day of School & Sewing

Mackenzie started school today. It was a little weird to watch her get on the us at daycare and go to work and not see her at her school at all. I didn't ride the bus to school, so maybe that is why it was weird for me.

Grandpa Butch picked the kids up from CDC this afternoon and when I went to Grandma and Grandpa's to pick them up (a very tired) Mackenzie wanted to spend the night at Grandma's.  I thought that maybe she should come home so I reminded her that her new sewing machine was waiting for her.  So after dinner we got her Pixie unpacked and set up.  Fortunately Aunt Bonnie (who gave Mackenzie the Pixie for her birthday) had it pre-threaded so we just had to plug the foot pedal in and plug it into the wall and it was ready to go. 

 

 Mackenzie did a couple of practice runs and then wanted to make something.  Isaac got some leftover robot fabric out of the closet.  It had been used to make a beanbag for Thomas and Nicholas and it was cut in an interesting shape and I thought it might make a decent bag so off Mackenzie went with me helping to guide the fabric.  She gave it to Isaac and he thought it made a good hat:

Then it was decided that the bag needed handles so back we went to the sewing machine.  We found an extra piece of long fabric from Isaac's quilt and sewed a tube, turned it right side out and attached it as a handle.  Here is Mackenzie modelling the new bag:

 

Isaac still thinks that it is a great hat, now with chin straps :)  Mackenzie has all kinds of ideas for other things she wants to sew.  I think a pillowcase is next . . .

Birthday Party

 

Mackenzie decided that she wanted a fairy birthday party this year, so we made it happen yesterday.  A few girls from her CDC class came over along with a couple of my co-workers and a lot of family and it made for a really great party.

 

Brian made a Tinkerbell cutout for the party where the kids could put their face in as Tinkerbell and it was a hit with the girls.  Here is a shot of Mackenzie as Tinkerbell:

I made a lot of decorations for the party including big tissue paper flowers and giant tulle poof balls.  Mackenzie decided that these would be great for a parade, so the girls started out the party by parading for all of the other guests.  The girls took turns leading the parade.  Here is a shot when Mackenzie was in the lead:

The living room was the main party area.  Here you can see some of the decorations as well as some guests.  On the table are kits for the girls to make their own fairy as well as fairy headbands.

 

Manu is graciously modeling a headband in this shot with Mackenzie:

 

And here are a couple of action shots of us making the fairies.  I didn't think to take a picture of the girls with their finished fairies, but they were basically made out of floral wire, wood beads and fabric flowers and I thought they were super cute.

 

Finally here is a shot of Mackenzie getting ready to blow out her candle and of everyone else getting ready to eat cake!

The party was a lot of fun and the rain held out for us so that it was a pretty nice, although hot and humid, day for the party.

Today is Mackenzie's first day of kindergarten so hopefully I will have a new post soon.