She's here!! McKenzie or "Kenzie"

So the long awaited arrival of our puppy has come. We got her last Saturday. Eric and I have wanted a lab ever since we were married, but we had to wait until the kids were the right age. It is just like having a baby again. She potty's on the floor, she cries, but boy is she cute. She is already part of our family!! We love our little kenz kenz. :)

Kenzie learning to sit.

Kenzie asleep on Shane

Do you see a pattern?!?!

Shane holding McKenzie.

McKenzie fell asleep on the coach and Shane covered her up with a Dora blanket since she is a girl.

Shane loves her so much!!

Kenzie playing with the giraffe toy that I bought her. Giraffe's are my favorite animal.

Chewing on the toy.

Sleeping next to her kong.

She looks like she is in a field. Can you tell that Eric needs to mow! ;-)

Shane training McKenzie in her penned area. We penned off the hallway for her to be when we need to do something. That way she won't have to be in her kennel all the time.

Shane saw that she was sleeping in her area so he got her a pillow and a blanket. What a nice brother. ;-)

Shane showing McKenzie how to pose. LOL

She is licking Madison.

Madison holding her. Madison is still trying to get used to having a dog.

Kenzie chilling..

Kenzie on Eric's chair with Shane

Chilling with Eric on the deck watching the kids play.

We will update soon with more pictures of her since she is getting so big so fast!!

Our 8th Anniversary- April 28th, 2001

I was supposed to do this post yesterday, but we had a busy day and I was tired and fell asleep.

I am still 8 years later so amazed with the man that I married. I love him so much and he is a great husband and father. I love anniversary's because it is a day that we can reflect on our relationship.

Our wedding day!! 4.28.2001

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico- 4.26.2009

Since we went to Mexico last week we decided that we weren't going to go out alone that we were going to take our babies with us. Shane and Madison were so excited. Shane got in the shower and did his hair. Madison wanted her hair in pig tails. They got very excited!!

We took them to The Vintage. Shane had fish and chips and Madison had spaghetti. Then after our dinner we had cho0coate fondue. The kids had a great time. The hard part is that the restaurant was pretty slow for kids. We were in the restaurant and Shane said "mom is this an anniversary restaurant?". I told him no people can come here for anything.

I thought that was really cute.

Eric and I across the table from each other last night.
Madison took this picture. She is a great photographer.

Shane and I at dinner

Madison at dinner with her lemonade!!

Shane with his banana, marshmallow and strawberry to dip in chocolate.

Shane dipping it in the chocolate.

Right before it went in his mouth! YUM...

Madison enjoying her fondue fruit!!

Madison posing with her chocolate!!

Shane and Madison showing how much they liked the chocolate!!
Aren't they so cute?!?!

After dinner in our jammies. She didn't want to be in the picture.

Madison and I. She sure got into it fast!!

Eric and I. She took a great picture of us!

She took some of herself!! Where does she get that from?

and more...

We had a great Anniversary and it was great to share that with our kids.
I am so thankful for my wonderful husband who lives and breathes for his family.

Here's to 50 more years!!
Love you Eric.

Happy 6th Birthday Shane!!

I can't believe that my baby boy turned 6 today. He is a very special boy. He is such a sweet and loving son who is full of energy. I am so glad that he is a part of our family and that I have the privilege of being his mom. It is so fun to watch him grow up and to see his excitement for the world around him. He says the cutest things and is so loving to his family. He was sitting on the couch the other night and he looked at Madison and said "Madison I love you". He then looked at me with the straightest face and said mom "How come I love Madison so much?" That is just one example of what a loving and sweet kid he is. Time goes by way to fast. It seems like yesterday that I brought him home from the hospital and now he is 6. Where does the time go? Days like this help me realize how fast time goes and how I need to cherish every minute with my beautiful children. He is such a joy to have in our family!!

Shane and Mommy the day he was born

Shane and Daddy when he was just born

Shane's hospital picture. He was a beautiful newborn.

Shane's birth announcement picture. He was 3 days old.

Shane when he was a couple of weeks old

He loved that pillow.

Denise and Shane sleeping..

Shane at around 1 yr old. I loved when he would stick his bum up when he slept.

Eric and Shane first thing in the morning. They were sure happy boys!

My happy blue eyed boy.

Shane 2 weeks ago on the beach. He wrote his name and then wanted to stand by it!

Shane with his cousin Alia. He sure loves her!!
You would think they are brother and sister with how he treats her.
He really watches out for her.

Shane at Easter last weekend! Isn't he handsome!!


Happy 6th Birthday Shane!!
I love you so much.

It's a boy!! Samuel John

Nicole had her baby and he is the cutest little boy!

Samuel John

He was born at 5:07 am
March 29th

7 lbs. 6 ounces
18 1/2 inches long

Baby Samuel

Me with Samuel at 6:00 am. That was early!!

Shane with Samuel

Madison and Shane with Samuel

Madison, Ben (Nicole's son), Corey (Nicole's step son), Samuel, Shane and Alia (Denise's Baby)

Congratulations Nicole!!
You did a great job and Samuel is absolutely beautiful.
Enjoy every minute with your bundle of joy. We love you!!

It's a girl......

When you saw the title I know you were puzzled because
I am not pregnant and Nicole is having a boy.

But.....

Our puppy was born yesterday!! :-)

We finally decided that it was time for us to get a dog.
Our kids are old enough now and we are ready to get a dog for them. We haven't chosen which one is ours, but one of these females will be ours. We are still trying to decide the name. Shane and Madison wanted Sandy and I wanted McKenzie "Kenzie" and Eric doesn't care. So on the way to swim we had a discussion about the dogs name. I told Shane and Madison that we can name it Sandy, but I would call it Kenzie. Then after a little more discussion Shane said "I have an idea Madison. We can name our next dog Sandy and we can get a yellow lab. Yup that's what we will do." Eric Said "next dog?". Shane said "yup". Eric then said "I don't think we are getting another dog." Shane said "yup we are getting a yellow lab so we can name this one Kenzie and the next one Sandy. Then Madison said "You can name it Kenzie, but I am calling her Sandy". Does that sound familiar or what?

So long story short I am not sure what we are naming her, but we will have a puppy in 8 weeks!! The kids are very excited to meet their puppy!!

"Rules for Shane's Room"

Isn't he cute?? He came up to me yesterday and said "mom, I have made some rules for my room." Knowing his age I knew it was going to be something about no girls allowed, but I let him finish. He said "NO girls allowed in my room only boys". I said ok.
Then I went to his room and this is what I found.....

YES!! You are seeing it correctly he wrote on his door. My first thought was how cute!! He is growing up so fast. He can write He and She. My second thought was how in the heck am I going to get this off of his door. I said "Shane you can have rules for your room, but they need to be written on paper and then taped to your door". He said "mom, I am so sorry". I said that is ok, let's go in the kitchen and we can hang a sign on your door. I then said "when did you learn how to write he and she?" He said "in class today". While he made the sign I used the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to get the ink of the door. Of course it worked. I love those!!
Here is the updated door.....

We then went to swim and he lost his tooth in the changing room. When we got home I said Shane you have a problem. You said no girls in your room so when the tooth fairy comes she is going to think that she is not allowed in your room. He said "OH NO!!" I need to change my sign.
Here is the updated sign....

It says "she", but he wanted to write next to it "Tooth fairy and Madison only", but he didn't have enough room. I was still sad that I wasn't allowed in. He said "mom you are a girl!!"
He is growing up to fast!!!