Judah turns 4

Happy Birthday Judah! I cannot believe you turned 4 today. I feel like most parents say this: on one hand it seems like just yesterday you were born; and on the other hand it does feel like many years ago. How true that is. Judah, you bless me and honor me. You are a joy to me. You challenge me and you inspire me. You make me laugh. I love to cuddle with you. I love how grown up you are. Your independence is such a great quality that I love seeing in you. Thank you Lord for Judah and the blessing that he has been, is and will be to all of us. Thank you for his health and his smile. For his beautiful blue eyes. Thank you for the treasure and reward that he is to us. I praise you for the perfectly formed and precious Judah that you have gifted me with as one of my sweet sons. Amen!

There are too many pictures from our recent trip to Bailey to be with Michael's parents (and enjoy the snow that recently came to Colorado) and of Judah's birthday that I just can't post them all here. So, I uploaded many of them to a web album and you can view those photos HERE.

Cousins visit

My parents are watching my niece and nephew for 5 days while my brother & sis in law are on vacation. Yesterday they brought the kids down to see us and it was a fun visit. Thanks mom & dad for always being willing to watch your grandchildren whether it's for a few hours, over night, or for a week! You are such great grandparents & I sure appreciate & love you!

Great Company

I think that it's important to pass on information about a company you've done business with and been pleased. Designs on Demand is a company I have used 3 times for ordering custom coffee mugs, mouse pads, magnets, etc. with photos on them. Each experience with them has been great. I've given their products as gifts and had some made just for us. I think their prices are reasonable and their service is just awesome - personal email communication and custom orders. I highly recommend them. Check out their web site HERE

I'm not being paid or encouraged by anyone to leave this information - I just feel it's important to pass on a good company when you find one. :)

What's missing?

Can you tell what Allen lost at school today?
Hint: The tooth fairy will be visiting tonight!

Happy, Sweet Boys & Dad

HILARIOUS video of our cat Simon

Long ago, we had a cat named Simon. He was a funny cat. We recorded this video and my dear, sweet, wonderful husband edited the clip and put it in a format that I could upload (Thanks Honey!) CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Allen & Immigration Day

At school, Allen has been studying the arrival of immigrants to Ellis Island.
One assignment he had was to make an "ancestry doll" out of a clothespin and present it to his class along with facts about his ancestry. We are from the MacKay Clan from Scotland. So, Allen and Michael made a Scottish doll with a kilt and tartan made out of plaid fabric.










Then, all of the 2nd graders participated last week in "Immigration Day". Each child was assigned a name, country of origin, health status, literacy status, etc. Allen was "Patrick O'Leary" from Ireland and he couldn't read or write. The kids traveled to different "stations" at "Ellis Island" just as their ancestors would have done. Due to poor health (ear infection), Patrick O'Leary a.k.a. Allen was deported twice before being allowed to become a U.S. citizen. He received a green card complete with photo, was sworn in as a U.S. citizen and received a fresh banana, since many of the immigrants didn't have fresh fruit, especially bananas or oranges, in their country of origin.

What a GREAT time it was for Allen to learn through playing the part of an immigrant!

We Miss You Kyra

This weekend marked 1 year of Kyra being gone. She was with us 8 wonderful years. We enjoyed going through pictures and old videos of her this weekend with the boys. We laughed and cried. She was so special to us!