McCallum Turns SIX

Today we got to celebrate McCallum's Birthday.  Tomorrow is the day, but it's Sunday tomorrow so we had to party today!  All Mac has wanted for the past... well forever, is to go to Cowabunga Bay water park.  We saw a good opportunity so we took it.  Spent the day at the water park and had a blast with some friends that were there.  We actually crashed another birthday party that Ryan was invited to the same day and just went with them.  They are good friends so they didn't mind and all the kids got to play together so it was a Win Win!  Mac and Ryan were both so brave and went on every slide in the park!  Some were pretty big too!  It was a ton of fun.  Then for lunch Mac just wanted a taco from Taco Time... so that's what he got!  After a long day we finally ended with some Steak and Cake!  Not to mention the presents!  Ryan really wanted to spend her own money to get Mac some dart guns and it was a big hit.  Jared and I decided to finally get the kid a basketball hoop and a few balls.  It was so much fun!  I love to celebrate my kids, but I hate to see them grow up so quickly!!

All Mac wanted was a Hulk Smash cake.  I didn't want to do anything big though because it was just the four of us eating the cake so this is what I came up with... I think it turned out pretty good.  Best part was that I didn't even have do make any of it.  Just assemble!  I know that's cheating, but this year was really really busy with both the kids going back to school. 

Happy Birthday Mac!  You are a kind, fun, sweet, tender, crazy, tough, silly kid!  Life without you would be dull and boring!  I never thought I could love a boy like I do this one!  If I didn't have you I would be nothing!  I love you!  -Mom

Back To School

Another year has started and another summer has ended for us!  The kids had to say goodbye to sleeping in and having lazy mornings and long days at the pool.  They have traded those days in for school days now!  Ryan started the third grade this year and I can't believe how much she is growing up!  On the other hand, Mac started Kindergarten this year!  I am a sad mom with no kids at home.  I say that lightly though... Kindergarten is only half day so it's not like I'm enjoying all the freedom yet.  I do, however, miss my kids when they are gone!  I wasn't ready to end the summer.  Last year I think I was ready to go back to school but not this year!  I want my lazy mornings, my long days at the pool, and my kids back!  Regardless, these kids are going to do some amazing things!!

 Mac waiting to go into the first day of Kindergarten with our friend and neighbor Moya

First in line for the big first day of Kindergarten!

I should also give a little update on my boy.  We had to have three teeth pulled just a few weeks ago to give him some room for bigger teeth.  The orthodontist thinks that if we pull his teeth and give him room for the bigger teeth to drop in then we wont have to do any braces till he is about 12 years old.  I guess Mac's mouth is so crowded that his teeth wont fall out on their own.  Rather the teeth will keep growing in behind or in front of his baby teeth.  Right now he has a hold in the bottom row and just one tooth up in the middle.  Too me it still doesn't seem like enough room for his big teeth to come in, but I'll have to trust the experts on this one!  In another 6-8 months we will be pulling more and then another 6-8 months again more.  By the end we will have pulled about 7 teeth out for the boy!  Poor kid!  However, Mac was so brave this last time I am a little less worried about it now.  He didn't complain or cry!  He was brave and just got the job done!!  What a stud!!

Mac getting numb so they can pull out three bottom teeth 

 Don't let this picture fool you!  Mac looks like he is miserable, but we just got inside from playing catch with his new lacrosse sticks that we bought for him because he was so brave.  He is just straining his face so that we can see the hole in his smile.  Poor kid... He can't even eat normal foods without having to have them cut up into small pieces for him!

Mac's house of Horrors!  These teeth are tiny but check out those roots!  It's like a scary movie inside that little box!  The tooth fairy paid a good amount for those roots though so it's not all bad!

33 Years

Yesterday was Jared's Birthday and I wanted to wish him another happy birthday!  He is the best dad and husband I could ever have hoped for!  When I met Jared it was probably his smile that I loved the most.  Then I got to know him and I just found myself needing him.  I love his boyish and often times inappropriate humor, his quick wit, and his old man tendencies!  He is the perfect man for me and I love him more and more every year!  Happy Birthday Jared!!

Lake Powell 2016

Another fun trip to Lake Powell with the Zollinger family!  We all had a blast, only Andrea and Isaac were not able to be with us due to work.  Not sure what the highlight was for me... maybe it was surfing with Ryan or cliff jumping with both kids... or possibly watching Mac scatter bread in the water around himself while he waited with his spear for fish to come!  I really enjoyed the lake with the kids and Jared.  It was even fun with the little kids too.  Korie is only 18 months and we are buddies!  Grace was only 1 month old and I loved getting to cuddle her and love on her cute little face!  It was all so good... however, I should probably mention at the end of the trip Alex nearly was killed and Natalie ended up with 4 stitches!  Other than those little problems it was a pretty great trip!

The story is... we were bringing the house boat back into the slip and we had a ton of wind.  It didn't help that this was first time my dad had ever tried to drive this boat so it was not a good day to learn on.  As my dad was approaching the slip Alex, Jared, Jeremy, and Paul were going to jump to the dock and help guide the boat in.  Natalie, BreeAnn, and I had all the kids out on the ski boat.  We had been out swimming and boating but were now watching to see how things would shake out with the house boat.  As my dad got closer to the slip the boys jumped to the doc.  Alex didn't have far to jump, but he lost his footing and went head first into the lake.  He is lucky he put his arm up to catch himself because his head drilled his arm right at the edge of the dock!  He would probably have lost consciousness if he had not done that and might have drowned--he was not wearing a life jacket.  As Jared was trying to pull Alex out of the water the house boat was still being pushed forward and Alex was very nearly crushed by the boat.  A few feet to the side and he would have been killed for sure!  lucky for him everything worked out for the better and he escaped with a massive headache and some bruised ribs... although he is getting them X-Rayed today to see if they are broken!  We will see.

As for Natalie, she had her hand in the wrong place at the wrong time and pinned her first finger on the right hand between the ski boat's tower and the house boat's slide as we were bringing in ski boat tot park for the night.  she passed out when cleaning the finger and so we took her in to the doctor and came out with stitches.

I don't know if the Zollinger family can do Lake Powell without drama?!?  We still love it though!

The High Dive

My girl was the girl who couldn't be bribed to even just put her face in the water.  She has always had a very real fear of water.  This past week she has shocked me and made me so proud!  When this girl puts her mind to something, look out!!  If you listen close you can hear Ryan's good friend Lilly in the background cheering Ryan on!  Later that day Lilly also tackled the high dive for the first time!  Cutest little friends you've ever seen!

First Tooth!

Mac is just growing up so fast!  Right after graduation he goes and loses a tooth!  Just a few days ago I was at work when I got a text with a picture of Mac with a hole in his mouth!  I'm sad I wasn't there...but then again, I think that stuff is so gross I wont watch anyway!  Mac had been wiggling this tooth for about a week and not making a lot of progress with it.  As he was biting into an apple he made it really lose.  Dad came in and did what he does.  Grabbed the tooth and squeezed and out it came!  I still think it is strange that people help pull their kids teeth!  Congrats Mac...no you look like a cute boy with a hole in your mouth!

No more Pre-K

Mac on his first graduation and then Mac on his last graduation

Today Mac did such a good job at his preschool graduation!  I was thinking he probably wouldn't sing too much but he surprised me!  He was really getting in to it!  I couldn't be more proud of my boy!  He finished his third and FINAL year of preschool!  Now we are off to Kindergarten!  His teacher Mrs, Sherry was the best!  I am so grateful for good teachers who are patient and kind!  She did so much for my boy, I am just so grateful!

The kids sang a really silly song about "I'm a skunk in your trunk" Mac was so cute pointing to me that it was my trunk that the stinky skunk was in.

Mac and his friend Dexter.  The only other boy in the class!