Happy Halloween!

Today was pretty fun. It was the first Halloween McKenzie has really enjoyed. She loved getting her face painted up and loved prancing around in the poodle costume she picked out.

We went to Grandma Jodi and Grandpa Kens house first, took an afternoon nap, hit Grandma Terri and Grandpa Randy's and then went to the downtown trick-or-treat at four. It was the first time we've done it, and it was actually really cool! The weather was perfect and McKenzie had a blast walking down the sidewalk with the other goblins getting her share of candy. Afterward we went to Aunt Ashli & Uncle Cody's and to Great-Grandma Barbara's. It was a full day, but McKenzie loved every minute of it.

McKenzie with her paint on, but before the costume. Check out those sparkly cheeks!Hugs with Grandma Jodi
"Holy Cow! I got playdough!" This was by far her favorite bit of loot from the day.
McKenzie and Grandpa Randy beg treats from the firemen.
When we got to the grass outside City Hall, McKenzie randomly did a somersault and started rolling on the grass. It was cute, but I still dont know where she came up with it! Funny girl!

What a fun day!

The Price of a Child

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talkabout sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* re moving a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs,
* and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, So one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

Love & enjoy your children!!!!!!!

More Fall Pictures

More pictures from yesterday... I can't decide on my favorites!

Mischevious

McKenzie is feeling better, minus a few sniffles. She's starting to make up for all those missed meals when she didn't feel like eating. Now I can't keep the food coming fast enough! What a good change!

But one thing I have noticed today, is she is all about testing the limits! Every time I turn around she's into something she shouldn't be. She's climbing on the furniture, dumping out the cats water dish or getting into my scrapbook stuff and coloring herself bright red with a stamp pad. I can't keep up with her!

And for some reason, she thinks the laundry room is awesome today. She wont stay out of it. Frankly, I am okay with that, not much she can hurt there besides dirty socks and a few pairs of shoes. But she keeps saying "Bye bye mommy!" and shutting the door. Then, she's ticked off when she can't get out again. Crazy girl!

Deer Hunt

Cris and Randy may have gotten skunked on the deer hunt, but they did get some neat pictures. (taken near Kamas)

The most wonderful day

Have you ever had one of those perfect days, where everything just makes you so thankful for what you have? Today was one of those. I ended up not needing to go in to work today, so Cris and I had a day off together for the first time in what seems like years. McKenzie stayed up late last night, so she actually let me sleep in. I slept until NINE! NINE!

We decided to take McKenzie to Gardner Village to see the Halloween decorations. McKenzie NEVER sleeps in her car seat, but she did today. Before we had even left Tooele, her head was slumped over to the side. It was the first time I have driven to Salt Lake and not had to listen to Elmo play on the DVD player. Cris and I actually had a chance to have an adult conversation! Wowsers!

When we got to Gardner Village, McKenzie was SO excited! She saw the horses first thing and couldnt wait to get to them. They were offering pony rides, but we have tried to have her sit on one in the past and she freaked out a little. We decided to pass on the ponies, and went to the petting zoo instead.

After she was through, she kept hanging on the fence with the ponies. She was mesmorized. I felt myself start to cave, but Cris was worried that she might not hold on and get hurt. McKenzie and I both flashed him our best puppy-dog eyes and he relented. It was the best $3 we ever spent! She had so much fun and thought she was such a big girl! She got a little grumpy for the first time when we told her we had to leave, but even then, it wasn't major.

We put McKenzie back in the car seat, after browsing through the Village, and she zonked right out again. On the way home, we decided it might be a good day to have some family pictures taken with the fall leaves. I called my mom, who agreed to meet us in the canyon, and we got some really cute shots. Thanks, mom!





After that, McKenzie played quietly with daddy while I made dinner. They cleaned up before I was done and now the house is clean, McKenzie has had her bath, the dishes are done and I have a few free minutes to share our fun with you. Did I mention today was a GREAT day?

Pumkins

My father-in-law sent me some pictures of him and McKenzie picking pumkins from the garden a few days ago. I thought they were adorable and couldnt resist sharing!

McMoving

So, Cris is moving to manage yet another McDonalds beginning Tuesday. This time it is the new Saratoga Springs store near Lehi. (I am guessing he must have done incredibly well on his corporate inspection last week, because Saratoga is a high profile store. Go Cris!) The address is: 173 EAST STATE ROAD 73 if you want to drop by and say hello!

Besides the long commute, this should be an interesting store. They are one of the first stores to be built with their new "upscale" image. Here's a photo of their lobby area:

In fact there is an article about the store: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660205661,00.html

The company Cris works for owns 25 stores in the Salt Lake area... and Cris has managed SEVEN of them now. (Tooele, Lakepoint, Magna, Hunter, and 17th South & Redwood) Going for a new world record, or are they just transferring their "problem" from one store to the next? Tee hee! Just kidding. Cris is excited about the change, so this should definitely be a good thing. Wish him luck!

Scary!

This afternoon Cris had an important phone call that he needed absolute quiet for. I did my best to entertain McKenzie, which basically meant giving in to anything she wanted to keep her quiet. The first thing she wanted to do was sit on the counter and help cook. I was making chicken noodle soup, and she had a blast stirring away. Then, she wanted to get a couple of cans out of the cupboard to stack. We opened the cupboard door and she screamed "Monster! Scary! Boo!" For a minute I couldnt figure out what she was talking about. Then, I saw the can of frosting sitting on the shelf - Pilsbury frosting. The dough boy strikes again! So much for keeping her quiet! I couldn't stop laughing. Maybe I have taken her on too many scary trips down Wal-Marts halloween aisle? LOL!

My Sick Little Baby

Yesterday I thought McKenzie was just bothered by her teeth (which is definitely part of the problem) but this morning she woke up with a really stuffy nose and the sneezes. She's being pretty good about it, as long as I can wipe the boogies in only one wipe - anything more than that is torture!

She's been so warm and cuddly and content to sit and rest - which she NEVER does! Heck, right now, she is half snoozing while watching Elmo in the living room. I've walked through the room to do laundry, or just check on her, and she only asks for a hug. (Tender!) Normally, she would follow me and do anything to be the center of attention, so this is absolutely strange.

I am sorry she is sick, but, today has been a nice day, too. She's extra cuddly and lovey, quiet, and she needs me. I love it!

**I just had to come back and edit this post. I peeked out into the living room and McKenzie is out cold. She had been laying on a HUGE pile of blankets and pillows (how can I tell her no, she's sick!) but in sleep had wiggled off, so her face is mushed into the carpet. Funny, but still cute.

Halloween Dance Party

McKenzie's dance class had a party yesterday for Halloween. All of the kids were asked to wear their costumes. McKenzie was SO excited to wear her poodle costume, and especially loved that I put makeup on her. She pranced around like she was Miss Thing!

I was excited and thought maybe she would really participate in the class, but I was wrong. This time was one of the harder classes for her. I dont think she felt super good (2 year molars are coming in) and just wanted to be left alone. Ashli and the other teachers tried so hard just to get her in the photos. I am told to stay the course, that most of the girls in the class were just like her for the first 3-6 months, so we'll see. Right now, I feel like I have the bad kid in class, though! Ha ha!