***Mike plays a game with the kids. For every yellow car they see they get 1 penny. If he finds one they subtract 1 penny. If the kids reach 100 they get 1 dollar. Makes our time in the car VERY exciting and competitive.****

LENT

Tonight we shared with the kids the significance of Ash Wednesday. I hope to make this Easter more meaningful than years past. In other words, it's more than hunting for eggs. The three big kids seemed to understand most everything and in the next 40 days we will do projects that should help. Our first project included the kids coloring a Lenten Tree (think Advent calendar for Easter). Each day they will be coloring in a piece of fruit hanging from the tree which represents one day of Lent.

Before the kids went to bed we had them each pick one thing that they would be willing to give up. Bailey, after much contemplation, decided to give up "activities at bedtime". She cleared her bed of books, colored pencils, puzzles and sewing projects. This one is going to be hard! Buddy gave up gum. Which, at the moment, is the most request treat at our house. Brooklyn is making the biggest sacrifice of all. She is giving up her beloved THUMB. To all you previous thumb suckers, myself included, say a prayer for the poor girl. She is being BRAVE!


This good friend may become just a distant memory.

CAMERON RAE SPARKS

I must admit, although you could have guessed or already know, that I am addicted to BABIES! My addiction is genuine and sincere. If there is a baby around you can bet that my fighting claws will come out for a chance to nuzzle my nose. Our lives were forever enriched by the birth of baby Cameron Rae on Monday morning. Justin and Rachael are the proud parents of one sweet little snuggle. And I mean little. We had our first visit with Cameron a few hours after she was born. It didn't take long for me to come up with an excuse to peek at her toes and to hold her tiny body. Rachael even let me give her a bottle while I was there...I was MELTING.

Welcome baby Cameron, you have our hearts already!

A little HOUSEKEEPING

I had every intention of starting this blog to keep friends and family updated with news of our adoption. Well, Tate is home and I am still going. I don't have plans to stop at this point...mostly because I know it keeps my dad entertained throughout the day. I figured, however, that I should probably scale back to just one site. Basically, I need to know if you want to continue following. And yes, I am still keeping it private. If you want access, please send me an email or add a comment letting me know. No hard feelings if you are just plain bored or are tired of seeing pictures of my kids! :)

Twins Again

You're probably sick of hearing it, but Baby M and Tate are so much like twins. We love to see the two of them together. I'm sure within the year a gap will start to develop. Baby M is getting to be such a big boy and wants to say most everything now. He is quickly passing Tate up in size too. However, right now they are pretty much on the same level with most things. The cutest thing to watch is Baby M taking care of Tate. Just like the other kids he loves to sit on the couch and hold him in his lap. Tate will forever be our baby.

Cup of Joe

I don't remember the details very well, but I do remember the conversation. Mike was asking me to stop off at Starbucks to get him TWO coffee tumblers. I tried to explain that we had a few at home, maybe ONE would be sufficient. No, he insisted on TWO. That was about two months ago. Why did it take me until tonight to figure out what he was doing? Who knows, but it didn't occur to me.

This is what he has been doing- Mike gets up at 5:15am. After he gets ready he goes downstairs and makes TWO cups of coffee which he puts in his Starbucks tumblers. I am still in bed at this point. :) He leaves the house at 5:40am and picks up a guy named Billy. Billy is the other coffee drinker. The two of them drive up to Goleta (45 minutes North; without traffic) for work everyday. My precious, thoughtful husband brings coffee to his friend. His sweetness makes me smile, and miss him; he is in Ohio this week.

The timing of the package at our doorstep today could not have been planned any better. Or maybe, coffee was on my mind and that is how I figured out the TWO cup mystery. Either way, I have a surprise waiting for my SWEET. Mike and I don't exchange gifts during 'expected holiday exchanges'. We are NOT surprise people (he will see this post before he gets home; yep, no surprise really). Christmas, Birthdays and Anniversaries are gift-less, that is unless we specifically ask for something (side note- we are getting a new camera for our Anniversary in June). Our first few years of marriage, if we gave anything it was homemade. Now it's nothing at all and that's how we like it. This allows us to be spontaneous and at the same time get what we REALLY want. We feel the freedom to get something special (a new purse or tennis racquet) when we are out shopping together. Christmas, for example, to us feels like a burden; just get me something because you are expected to. It's insanity if you ask me! Our gift getting and giving theory doesn't work for everyone, but it does for us.

Now for the non-surprise. I ordered Mike a single cup coffee maker. I know it will be special and it will make his morning routine easier. It wasn't a gift checked off my holiday gift buying list; why, because I don't have one! And that, my friends, is freeing.

Puppy Love

This is for all of the Dog Lover's out there. I am not one of you. I don't understand the relationship. However, my son LOVES his dog and she LOVES him. And that is all that really matters, right?

National Holiday

Yes, you assumed correctly. President's Day is a MAJOR holiday at our house. :)

Valentine's Day

I LOVE Valentine's Day. What is there not to love about today?

Lots of Baking...can you say CHOCOLATE...


Snuggling with LOVED ONES...



Fun projects for school...




And a great excuse to make CRAFTS with a purpose.





Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day with LOVE.

Jewelry

I am not big jewelry person, but when my friend Jeanne shared this I was smitten. Happy Valentine's Day...to me!

****here is where I found it...http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=57955

TATE LOVES YOU

First off- A BIG APOLOGY. I turned my camera to the side because I was holding it with one hand. Now I can't figure out how to turn the video around. So, for your viewing pleasure you MUST turn your head. MY BAD!

Tate just learned the sign for 'I Love You'. He keeps his little arms tucked once you ask him to do it once, because I assume he thinks he won't get them back to the right spot. He is also saying the word LOVE. To some it may sound like an anxious shout, but it's music to my ears.

Dearest Bailey,

It's 11:00pm and I am sitting in bed desperately hoping that you will wake up and walk into my room sleepy eyed. Last night you came in and asked to sleep with me since Daddy is out of town. When you did my heart skipped a beat; I am sure of it. Of course I said yes, so you got in and snuggled up close. Will you always smell this sweet? I nuzzled my nose into your head and we stayed the rest of the night attached; holding hands like we usually do.

Bailey girl, I am writing you this letter because I want you to know how important you are to me. I would take a thousand games of UNO over getting a pedicure any day. Hanging out with you is one of my most favorite things to do. I loved the bagel chip and cream cheese snack that you made for me the other day. You are always thinking of others and know how to make your friends feel special.

This past week felt extra long with everyone getting sick. In your own wonderful way you made each of us a priority and helped to make us better. I know Tate loved hanging out with you on the couch and watching movies. I watched you gently rubbing his forehead and knew just how much you love your brother. And Buddy and Brooklyn had such a fun time doing artwork at the table with you on Friday. You kept them busy so that I could love on the little guys who were feeling sick. We were partners. I think we make a great team.

I was hoping to plan a special time for the two of us today. Instead of doing schoolwork maybe we could make cookies together and then watch a movie while the kids are napping. If Papa is available we might even be able to go get dinner together tonight (yes, with Tate too). I know you would also like to go to the craft store to get a few more things for your Valentines (you are so creative!). What do you think?

I love you, sweetie girl, and hope that I show you everyday just how incredible you are.

Love,
Mom

Husband Tag

Mike is out of town on business for the next few days so I thought it would be fun to write about him while I sit at home missing him.
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Husband Tag

1. When and where did you meet?
It was the day before my first day of college. The girl that lived across the hall, Alyssa (now my BFF), and I walked down to the Junior/Senior dorms on campus to visit friends. She knew Mike from High School. Mike's next door neighbor, Elliot, and I meet the day before at a picnic and were "dating". Mike and his roommate were watching a Japanese cartoon; which he claims to have never watched since that day.

2. How long did you date before you got engaged?
6 months. My dad told me not to invest too much time into someone if I wasn't going to marry them. I never dated anyone longer than 3 months...except for my man!

3. How long have you been married?
We will celebrate 10 years on June 5th. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

4. What does he do that surprises you?
Sometimes he will get on a cleaning rampage. I love it!

5. What is your favorite feature of his?
I love his calves.

6. Does he have a nickname for you?
Honey and Sweets.

7. What is his favorite dinner?
He would love a good Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes. Too bad I have no desire to ever make it.

8. What is his favorite sport?
Basketball

9. When and where was your first kiss?
Early February 1998. It was late at night and we were standing next to my car. It was raining really hard which made it that much more romantic and unforgettable.


10. Who said I love you first?
That would be Mike. It was the day he moved to Arizona. We were standing by my car on a very busy street. I kissed him and said goodbye. That was a tough day.

11. What do you admire most about him?
He is the most loyal friend. And also his Work Ethic.

12. He’s sitting in front of the TV: What is on the screen?
Probably sports if he is alone. If I am there we are watching The Office, House or Friday Night Lights

13.What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?
We like to eat late at night (ok, 9:30 is late for us) and watch one of the 3 listed above while snuggling on our favorite red couch. However, for our first 6 years of marriage we did not have a t.v.. We used to play a game that involved hunting for signatures printed on our wedding picture. Oh, the simple things.

14. You’re out to eat. What kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
Bleu Cheese, because he is going to share it with me!

15. What is one food he doesn’t like?
Anything with CURRY.

16. Where did he go to high school?
Palm Dessert High School.

17. If he was to collect anything, what would it be?
He used to collect baseball cards. Now THEY are collecting dust in my father's attic.

18. What is his favorite cereal?
Anything that is loaded with sugar. He loves the little assorted boxes.

19. What would he never wear?
Probably the color PINK.

20. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do?
SPEND MONEY!!!

21. How many states has he lived in?
Two. California and Arizona; where he did a short 3 month stint before he decided he couldn't live without me!

22. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind is it?
Yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

23. Did he play sports in high school?
Yes, Basketball...and his mother has every game tape and newspaper article from the glory days if anyone is interested. Wait, how could I forget, she brought them to us as a gift. Now the 20 large plastic boxes are in our garage!

24. What could he spend hours doing?
Fiddling with his Crackberry.

Thank you ISN'T Enough

I could not have survived the past few sick days if I did not have help from big sister extraordinaire, BAILEY. She has wiped noses, prepared snacks, changed clothes, picked up toys, and gently rocked each one of her siblings. I want to do something to show her just how much she means to all of us. Any ideas?

Boogers and Soup

The kids have been sick the past few days. Not all at once and not all of them, but a few have been under the weather. The ONLY bright side to being sick is spending the day doing next to nothing. Yesterday that's exactly what we did.

Most of the afternoon I was looking forward to making a big pot of chicken and vegetable soup. Really, is there any thing that sounds better for a sick day?



Baby M was one of the sickies. His little nose has been slightly runny for the past few days. You know what a runny nose means, right? Yep, dried boogers! When he got up from his nap Bailey was quick to help him pick a few. I'm only giving these details because it was rather cute. Of course at two he doesn't understand that boogers are not to be shared. Baby M was so excited about the recent findings that he carried them safely downstairs and into the kitchen so that Mama could see them all. What a sweetie ;)

Weekend Retreat

We are SPOILED! At the beginning of each year Mike's company plans a weekend retreat to thank their top salespeople. Most years we gather at the Ojai Valley Resort and Spa. Which, in MY opinion, is the most WONDERFUL place to visit ever. It is located just 15 minutes away, but somehow we feel like we are escaping "real life"(even if for only a few days). Every year we have either been pregnant or had a nursing baby with us on the trip. This year was no exception- we had Tate.

Here he is enjoying our bed without having to share mommy and daddy with his siblings.






And this is the look we got when it was time for HIS bed!


The Ojai weekend is always a nice time for Mike and I to regroup and reconnect. Thanks to Stacy the other kids had a FABULOUS time at home as well. Maybe next year the trip will be for just the two of us- what a concept!

Remember Miller?

If you have been following this blog for the past few month you should remember when our friend Miller was born (you must also be bored out of you mind if you are still reading our blog; we are not that exciting). Miller spent the first few days of his life in the hospital. Here is Miller today; happy, health and obviously very LOVED. When Miller Time is around you can assume the McKay household is in a tizzy.

Brooklyn would have sat there for hours if we had let her. She will be a WONDERFUL mommy someday.

Lesson in Patience- REPEAT

I think we are going to have to repeat our lesson this week. We are working on the Fruit of the Spirit- PATIENCE. The concept of what patience means hasn't been hard for the kids to grasp but rather the act of having patience has been challenging. We have now read the story of Noah building the ark SEVERAL times. I am putting a strong emphasis on the fact that it took 100 years for the ark to be built. Kids, you have only been alive for a hiccup of that time.

So, yesterday we made Patience bags. The kids decorated the bags and then colored a picture with the word PATIENCE on the front. I placed the bags in the middle of the kitchen so that they could see them throughout the day. They seemed to be doing okay with waiting to open the bags, although I did have to remind them that a good attitude was all part of the process. When Brooklyn got up from her afternoon quiet time she was convinced that it must be time to open her bag. "Mom, PLEASE can I open the secret bag now???" I reminded her she had to be PATIENT and wait for the right time. She quickly responded with, "those bags should be called 'you'll have to wait forever to open it bag'."

I'm thinking we might need to repeat this lesson in the future!

Water Day

While part of the Country is closed for Snow Days we enjoyed a Water Day.

LAKERS

Why is it that Daddy gets to take them to all of the 'SUPER FUN' things?

Just sitting here wishing that I was at the game too.