First Hike of the Season

Yesterday Ken and Annie wiped the dust from the hiking books.... grabbed the sunscreen..... a leash for Abbey, donned their hiking apparel and headed out for Stewart Falls. I stayed home to babysit Grandma.... at least that is my cover story. The truth is I'm as out of shape as I've ever been..... apparently running up and down a flight of stairs a dozen times a day doesn't get you fit enough to propel yourself up the mountain trails. It looks like they had a great time and Annie took over my photography job.... the beautiful photos make for good motivation to pry myself away from my sewing machine and strap myself onto the treadmill. It's not Colorado but pretty dang close as you can get.

Our Goodnight Song

This is a video of the song we sang to each other every night before we went to sleep.

Sleep tight, Sandman's a comin'
And he'll be here mighty, mighty soon
So if you don't cry, he'll be comin' by
With a great big lollipop moon

How I love my pretty baby
Sweet and precious little baby
How I love my pretty baby
Honest to goodness I do

Day 22 - Last Day With The Munchkin'

It was a day of indoor projects and outdoor play for singing in the rain....

Kenzie is a lover of life..... a lover of humanity...... and animals too. She's a doer, independent, and imaginative. She's mischevious and her most endearing laugh is when she's about to play a trick on you. She's full of every emotion..... joyful elation and pure happiness.... sadness, madness, and poutiness. Her parents have done a great job in helping her give a definition to what she feels. And Kenzie feels what she feels..... then she is off to conquer new horizons. We've been happy, even if we had to run a little faster, to share this roller coaster ride of hers. We will surely be missing her.

Day 21 - Kangaroo Zoo

Last night Mackenzie loaded up her backpack.... it must have weighed 50 lbs..... and said she was getting ready to go to school in the morning...... so bright and early this morning she pops out of bed..... cheerfully says she has to get dressed and will I do her hair.... WHAT? That is a task that takes at least an hour of cajoling. Yes, don't you remember I'm going to school today. Well Mackenzie it's a long drive to Colorado to go to school. No, school is at that jumping place. Silly me.... I never seem to catch on to any of her bag of tricks.

So, first we had to do some cleaning chores.... as you know Kenzicans loves to clean. She thoroughly washed my garbage can and said, "It's so clean and shiny now, that even the garbage will look beautiful." Gotta love a child's perspective.

Then Erica came over and did some pudding painting with her.... she even got to to give it a final touch of sprinkles and then the best part..... art, good enough to eat. Erica told me about Kangaroo Zoo.... a place in Pleasant Grove that also has jumping things..... and when I can't distract Kenzie any longer..... we head out.

This place had more jumping toys for her age, yet the tall ones that are still fun. There were a ton of kids, so she got in the social interaction she is craving.... poor thing, she's starting to feel a bit stranded on Grandma's deserted island. We ended the day with a Happy Meal instead of Grandma's horrible home cooking.... all in all we had a pretty good day!!

Day 20 - Shopping Anyone?

Today we went on our most coveted adventure and I forgot the camera. She has just been waiting and waiting to go to Jumpin' Jacks. Reanna couldn't go with her because she was sick so I told her she would have to play by herself and she said that was ok because she was going to make some new friends..... which she did. That kid really has the friendship factor going on. It doesn't bother her a bit if she is snubbed..... she pouts for a minute and then scouts out her next potential friend.

Part of our night routine is taking Grandma Porter dinner. Sometimes she stays a little bit longer (Grandma only lives 3 doors down) Well, tonight she was gone longer than usual and I figured I better go and "save" my poor mom. Just then she bounced in the door. "I've been grocery shopping." I asked her where had she gone without telling me.... and she said, "it was only at Grandma Porter's house." I just love her little assortment of goodies.... she even brought a treat for the dog and I love the single pretzel. It reminded me of the days my kids would go over there at Christmas time and shop for presents for each other. Too cute.

Her other night job that she loves is feeding Abbey. She likes to make Abbey shake so she can get a treat (the dog.... not her)

Day 19 - A Day Behind

The best part of this day was getting to play dress up.... the green outfit was her mermaid dress AND getting to go on a bike ride to the park with Aunt Annie. Aunt Annie taught her how to twist in the swing and then let it go. Big time fun.

Proof of the cousinhood Jana.... she found these goggles and had to wear them everywhere we went today.....

Day 16 - Turn Down Day

Nothin' goin' on day..... kinda rainy.... drizzly.... and coldish. We just hung out with a bowl of popcorn and watched a couple of movies. However, we did go out and do the weekly shopping. Getting Kenzie ready to go, I said.... Now, Kenzie, we're getting ready to do the grocery shopping. "I know, I know," she said, "we're not going to buy any toys, or any candy, and not any clothes..... only food." After we were done I praised her with what a big girl she had been and she looked up and said, "Oh, grammy, it was my pleasure." That girl really knows how to work it. Yes, she left with the rainbow lollipop she wanted. The little project we did..... coloring macaroni..... was for projects we have lined up for next week. Doesn't it look gorgeous?