McKell Turns 8

This is my beautiful McKell and her baptism pictures. She is truly as sweet as she is beautiful. She is such a blessing in my life....I love you McKell.

McKell's Baptism

McKell & Jason

McKell & Grandma & Grandpa Banks

McKell & Grandma & Grandpa J

Our baby, McKell, was baptized on February 6, 2010. I still can't believe she is 8 years old!! Where does the time go? She is such a beautiful and sweet little girl. She was the only child baptized from our ward that day. Her baptism was beautiful, with sweet talks given by Grandpa Banks and Grandpa J. Afterward, we had a dinner at our house with so many people I can't even begin to count them. We also had a family birthday celebration for Connor's birthday. His birthday was just two days before on February 4th. (A big thanks to both kids for sharing their days...less headache for me!!) I want to let McKell know how much we love her and proud we are of her!!

Snow Canyon

What do we do in the winter when we've had enough of winter?? We go to St. George!!! We spend the morning in beautiful Snow Canyon!!! Now...back to Highland and more snow!

You're having a what???

So we have an "announcement"!! Just when we thought life was ready to calm down....my favorite oldest daughter, Kelsey, decided it was a good time to share her news! Not only is she pregnant, she is 6 months along....due on April 10th!!! Ultrasound revealed the baby is a girl...cute!! To make a long story short, and after much deliberation and prayer, she has decided to keep the baby....which means I am now going to be a grandma!!! Go figure!! I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'm not 30, let alone that I'm now going to have a grandchild!! WOW!! Now that the initial shock has worn off, and things have started to fall into place, I am getting excited to have a little baby in the house again. I know...don't be jealous y'all!!! :)

Hey Tooth Fairy...can you spare some change??

McKell lost a tooth recently and put it under her pillow with a note for the Tooth Fairy. Of course our Tooth Fairy is lame and never comes on the same night that the tooth is placed under the pillow. However, late fees are added on to her regular payment. So one night I decided to help the Tooth Fairy out and take care of paying McKell for her tooth. As I read her letter to the Tooth Fairy, I started to laugh. Her letter said, "Dear Tooth Fairy, Can you please leave me $20? Thanks, McKell" I thought it was funny and sad at the same time. I knew she truly believed in the Tooth Fairy and her ability to leave lots of money. I showed the letter to Kelsey and told her to write a letter saying that the Tooth Fairy could not leave $20 because she would run out of money, but that she would leave $2 because McKell's teeth were so special. The next morning, I went into McKell's room to wake her up. She was laying in bed with her $2 and the letter. I asked her if the Tooth Fairy brought her a letter and if I could read it. She hid the letter and told me I couldn't read it. Then she said "Mom, the Tooth Fairy writes just like Kelsey!!" Wow, she's no dummy!!! I explained to her that the Tooth Fairy just has cute girl handwriting like Kelsey. Later, McKell confided in Kelsey that the Tooth Fairy writes just like her and that she won't give you $20 if you ask for it.

On that note, Connor lost four teeth this month...thanks to the dentist. He told me the other day that I owe him $4. How do you figure that, I asked. He said I lost 4 teeth....pay up!!

Oh what do you do in the summertime?...

Summer has come and gone all too quickly this year. Of course, we enjoyed every minute of it and packed in as many activities as we could. This explains why I haven't updated my blog all summer:) Anyway, I think I am the only mom in the neighborhood who was sad to see the kids go back to school. I think I love summer as much as the kids do.

OUR SUMMER TOP 8:

1. Cruise to the Bahamas. Celebrating our 20th anniversary.

2. LaGoon. We bought season passes this year and really got our money's worth. Where else can you have as much fun on a hot summer day in Utah?

3. Lava Hot Springs with the Banks'. I think that place gets more crowded every year. Jason questions why we travel to Idaho to swim every summer. Once we are there watching the kids play with their cousins and grandma and grandpa, we remember why we go.

4. Park City on the 4th of July. We spent the weekend at a hotel in Park City. The fireworks in Park City are amazing. The Alpine Coaster at PC Mountain Resort is the best!!! Imagine flying down the mountain on a little sled!! Good times!

5. Being with Friends/Sleepovers. A good share of my time was spent answering the door to all the neighborhood kids who came to play. Connor seems to be the little boy magnet in the neighborhood. The little heighbor kids are so cute, and say the funniest things. A lot of their conversations involve bodily functions, etc. We had many, many sleepovers this summer. Too many to count. The best was the boy sleepover. We pitched a tent, invited anyone who wanted to come, and had a sleepover. The boys roasted marshmallows in the firepit and made smores. Then we brought the TV out and watched a movie. McKell and I slept in the tent with them just to make sure they were safe. I vaguely remember them waking me up at the crack of dawn to ask if they could light a fire in the firepit. My kids know if they ask me anything while I'm sleeping, I say yes just to get them to go away. Eventually I did wake up just in time to see them started a large bonfire about 5 feet from my tent.

6. Banks' Water Party: Grandpa and Grandma Banks had their annual summer water party in the backyard. The kids love this day because they get to squirt grandpa with the hose.

7. A. F. Canyon: Several nights were spent having dinner and roasting marshmallows in the canyon. We are so lucky to have American Fork canyon 15 minutes away, yet sometimes it is hard to find the time to get there.

8. St George: We ended summer with a trip to St. George and Zions with our friends, the Goffs.

I have to admit that my favorite part of summer is staying up late and watching TV, playing the Wii, or just talking with kids. My hope is that my kids will look back on their summers with as many fond memories as I do.

Baseball

Connor and his BFF, Jordan, played on the Alpine All Stars this summer. Even though they didn't make it to the finals, they had a great time...and I got to spend every afternoon in the sun watching my favorite boy!!