SAYING GOOD-BYE

Part of attending the MBA program at BYU is an internship during the summer between the two school years. Morian's internship is with Deloitte in Chicago. We debated long and hard and eventually came to the conclusion that the kids and I would stay here in Provo while Morian went out to Chicago for the summer. Work started June 2 and he flew out June 1. Both Devin and Mackenzie fell asleep in the car on the way to the airport and it took them a little bit to "wake up." They didn't get all sad that "Daddy" was leaving; I'm not really sure how much they really understood about the whole situation. But we made plans to talk on the computer every other day or so so they would still be able to see him and we wouldn't feel so alone!

SWIMMING

A couple days before Morian left (more on that in the next post), the kids wanted to go swimming. I didn't get in the water, but I had fun watching them all play together. We got the floaties from Patty so the kids could sit in them and play around in the pool. I'm not too good at holding both of them and it's not really fun that way anyway!

MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day was May 26 this year. We got together with Morian's family. First up was a hike. The kids all did really well, even though it was pretty hot!

 Kenzie was so cute- she only wanted to hold Angie's hand, while Kaden was pretty much glued to Morian's side!

HAIR CUT BY MACKENZIE

On May 23, I finished making lunch and went to tell the kids it was time to eat when I found Mackenzie hiding under the table with scissors in one hand and a pile of hair on the floor. Oh no!

She does't look too sad about all that hair gone!

 She pretty much just cut the hair on this side and it wasn't too short, thank goodness!

LAGOON

May 17- We decided to take a family trip to Lagoon before Morian leaves us for 2 months. We got there a little later than we wanted and ate lunch before even going into the park, but we made the most of our day and had lots of fun! We rode lots of rides and got hot in the sun!

Kontiki

 Moonraker

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

May 15- Devin's last day of preschool

They had a little program for any parents that could come where they sang a couple songs they had learned.

CITY CREEK

On May 8, we finally made it to City Creek Center. We met up with some friends, David and Heather, who were in town. First we ate lunch by the dinosaur play place for the kids then we spent some time chillin' in the Disney Store. Then we headed over to the fountains. Devin had a blast running around and being silly and he got soaking wet!

FUN WEEK AT PRESCHOOL

The second to last week of school for Devin had a different theme each day. The first day was Pajamas Day. The second day was Crazy Hair Day. 

SHARI'S GRADUATION

May 2- Morian's youngest sister, Shari, graduated from Southern Utah University Suma Cum Laude (however you spell that!) with a BS in Communications and a minor in Graphic Design. Go Shari!

We took a trip down to Cedar City and met up with Shari, Patty (Morian's mom), Angie (another of Morian's sisters), Craig (Morian's dad), and Grandpa Black. We ate lunch at Winger's (unfortunately did not have the best experience there) and then our personal family hung out at a park for a little while until it was time for the ceremony. The kids did pretty well, though after Shari walked (thankfully she was near the beginning) we spent most of the time outside.

GRANDMA BLACK

Earlier this year, Morian's grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was told she had about 6 months to live. This was really hard to hear because one, she had always been so healthy. In the 9 years or so that I knew her, I never once saw her sick. Two, she was the first of Morian's family that I met when we started dating and I got to know her (and his grandpa) pretty well and I love them like they are my own grandparents. She did one round of chemo but then stopped so she could go on a cruise that had already been planned. She was able to go and enjoy herself. But she ended up getting sick after she got home and just went downhill fast. We were able to get up to visit her on April 17 (good thing they just live up in Logan).

Our family with Grandma Black

Her mother was also in town (she is 96 years old) and so they wanted a picture with Mackenzie, showing a spread of 5 generations (minus the one in the middle, which would be Morian's parents).

MORE EASTER FESTIVITIES

April 20- Happy Easter! After church we headed up to Morian's mom's house to have dinner and an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. Fun times!

Kayden, Mackenzie, Devin

HOPPY EASTER!

April 19- We got together at my brother's house with his family, my parents, and my cousin, Nick, to have lunch and an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. All four of them were so excited to get out and find eggs!

EASTER PARTY

April 16- MBASA Family Easter Party

We all got together at a local park and had some fun Easter/Spring-themed kid games, as well as a visit from the Easter Bunny, and an Easter Egg Hunt. There were so many people there, it was crazy! But Devin and Mackenzie still had fun!

Game #1: Cake Walk for a cupcake. Yum!

ANDY GRAMMER IN CONCERT

April 15-

My sister, Sirie, called me and asked me if I wanted to go see Andy Grammer in concert at BYU. She had ended up with tickets because the person who bought them couldn't go and unfortunately, Spencer was working. So we went out and had a little girls' night!

The opening act was a group called

I think they're a pretty local group. But they were good and had some fun songs.

SHAVING CREAM SLIDE

On April 9, a friend from MBASA had a little kid spring party. The main attraction was a shaving cream slide. Lather up the kid slide with shaving cream and slide on down! The kids had a blast!

MBASA CLOSING SOCIAL

 On March 28, we had the MBASA closing social. We got together at Springhaven for dinner and a program. And for those who wanted, to spend the night. (I totally did!)

This is not everyone in MBASA, but it's probably pretty close! What a great group of girls! I'm gonna miss quite a few of the second years who I have gotten to know this year.

(Can you find me?!)

FIRST HAIR CUT

So, other than a few random trims to Mackenzie's hair, she has never had a hair cut in her 3.5 years of life. For the past few weeks or so, she has been saying she wanted to cut her hair, usually saying she wanted it short, like on her head, short. I agreed that she needed a hair cut but I didn't want her to go that short (nor did Morian!). So I took her to a girl from MBASA who cuts hair. Mackenzie did really well, sitting super still and being happy.

Hair Before

 (her hair is not naturally curly; it had been braided after a bath)

FIRST DAY OF SPRING

To celebrate the first day of Spring (March 20), Rita's Ice was giving away free Italian ices. Yes please! Devin and Mackenzie got cotton candy and I got raspberry lemonade. Yum!

ZUMBA

I attend a free fitness class at a nearby LDS chapel on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We do strength training and some kind of cardio, usually Zumba. Everyone brings their kids and just let them run around and play while we exercise. It has been great! And when we dance, the kids, Devin especially, liked to join in. I always tell myself I need to video tap them doing it and I finally did it! I just used my phone camera, so the quality isn't the best, but you get the idea!

STUDIO C EXTRA

On BYUtv, they have a show called Studio C. It's a clean comedy show. They do several live tapings and it's so popular they do a random drawing to pick those who get to attend. I never get picked (bummer) but I was sent an email asking if I wanted to sign up to be an extra if needed. Heck yes I did! And then I actually got picked to be an extra! All I knew was that I needed to wear exercise clothes, as I would be an extra marathon runner. When I got there, I was actually invited to eat dinner with the cast and crew. Thankfully, another extra was there and I was able to sit next to her and talk to her while we ate so I wasn't totally alone! Then it was down to wardrobe and make-up. Turns out we weren't just runners; we were both to be pregnant marathon runners! The skit I was in was not taped before a live audience because it used a green screen. We went through the skit like 4 or 5 times and then we were done. It was fun! So, watch for me!

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

Since my mom's birthday is Feb. 18 and my brother, Micah's, is the 20th, we usually get together right around then to celebrate both birthdays together. This year, we went bowling at Boondocks, had dessert at my brother, Ethan's, house, then went to dinner at Mimi's Cafe.

Devin and Mackenzie were pretty excited to first to bowl, but Devin was done with it about halfway through. He started throwing a major fit, but thankfully he eventually calmed down. We let them run around in the play area for a little while after the game to get their spirits up!

Mackenzie and Devin

 Micah (just turned 26), Mom, Sirie

VALENTINE'S PARTY

On February 13, MBASA had a Valentine's Party for the kids. They were able to make cards and wreaths, decorate and eat cookies, and throw bean bags through hearts.

Devin and Mackenzie were pretty excited to make cards for Daddy!

Frozen Party

On January 16, MBASA had a "Frozen" party for the kids where they got to make crowns, paint ice, and drink hot chocolate while listening to music from "Frozen." (At this point, we still had not even seen "Frozen," but the kids had heard "Let It Go" before and knew it was from "Frozen.")

Here is Devin modeling his crown.

 Kenzie absolutely LOVED the ice painting! She did it when we first got there...

 and went back again after making her crown! So fun!

 This was taken later on at home. She really wanted me to take her picture and she just looked so cute!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MORIAN!

This year, Morian turned 31! Whoa! Since we were ultimately at Disneyland on his birthday, that became his present from me and the kids! I'm not even sure what his Mom gave him (she gave it to him along with his Christmas presents, so they all blend together!). But he did get an actual gift from my parents- 

 yet another expansion for Dominion! That brings the total up to 8 now!

DISNEYLAND: Day 3

(Warning: LOTS of pictures!)

Our third day was spent back at Disneyland. This time we had a better plan for how our day would go and we definitely made better use of our time!
Our first stop was the Fantasy Faire to see the princesses. We got to see
Cinderella,

DISNEYLAND: Day 2

We spent our second day at California Adventure. We heard about the craziness that is Cars Land, so that was to be our first stop for a fast pass. There was a huge crowd of people so we sent Shari up ahead to get the tickets for us. While we waited for her, we saw Lightning McQueen and had to get a picture with him!

Right after the picture, we saw Shari again. She had remembered that the fast passes were at A Bug's Land, so she headed over there while the rest of headed over towards the Ferris wheel. We saw that the line for Toy Story Midway Mania was super short, so we rode that. Shari almost made it back to us in time to ride it with us, but not quite. I didn't get a very high score because I was trying to help Mackenzie shoot. Both kids had a lot of fun on that ride!