Emails Sent

Ok I think I have sent an "invite" to everyone who gave me there email to read our private family blog. 

If you didn't get an invite let me know!  I didn't not leave you out on purpose!

Also, if you haven't given me your email yet no worries.  Give it to me anytime. 

A new post is up on the private blog so go take a look :)

As far as this blog is concerned... be patient.  I was certain that I was going to keep updating it, because I love writing blogs; but I am not SO sure anymore if it is the BEST thing for me to spend my time one.  So we will see.  Hopefully/most likely I will be back. :)

Hope life is treating you all well.  We are dying for warmer weather.  The sun is tricky.  It looks like it is warm and then you go outside and almost get taken away by the cold wind.  grrr...

Have a great day!

"Mommy" I am Watching You

The day in the life of Adalyn Pace...

-Eating anything that I eat (including cake for breakfast...oops!)
-Putting on makeup

-Nursing her bear, baby, and anything else that she feels might be hungry
-Running into things (today it was a can of tomatoes, Saturday it was the couch)

-Dressing herself in mommy and daddy's dirty clothes (gross!)

-Spent 20 minutes just trying to figure out how a bra is suppose to go on.  hehe good times!
-"helped" mommy make bread.  She loves sitting in her High chair and watching the mixer knead the dough. 
- And loved on Jensen boy


I love this stage where she wants to be just like mommy and it reminds me that she IS watching my EVERY move.  I have been reminded of this quote time and time again in the last month...

"Your children will become who you are.  So be who you want them to be."

-anonymous

 

I have prayed time and time again that I can teach Adalyn all that she needs to know to help her navigate this world when she grows up.  I always worry that I won't  know what to say or I would forget to teach her something really important.  BUT I realize that honestly, doesn't matter what I formally "teach" her, because my actions will always speak louder than my words.  Kids are smart and they can read between the lines. Our actions can't be fake.  They will know.  

 

Of course my mother was always a good example to me.  She is gold in my eyes.  (especially since I became a mother myself). 

 

There was one time that I specifically remember when I was making a choice that I KNEW she did not agree with.  I was talking to her on the phone outside my apartment during my freshman year of college.  I was telling her about my choice and I was expecting a motherly lecture to follow.  But instead she choose to support my decision.  I am sure many prayers were offered by her on the days and weeks following our conversation on my behalf.  And you know what, I felt them.  Her choice to support me meant so much to me.  She knew that if she tried to FORCE me to choose the better choice it probably would have made things worse (I am stubborn like that).  I actually know it would have made things worse.  It was that support and love that helped me figure things out and ultimately change things for the better...  Not a lecture TELLING me what was right.

 

Raising kids in this world is tough and I am nervous to send my kids out into it.  They will make mistakes and fall down, but I hope and pray they will ALWAYS know that we (McKay and I) love them and support them.  Just like our Father and Heaven loves us forever and ever no matter what.

 

       

Have a great day!

Another Blog

Well folks I can't believe that I am doing this but I have started a private blog that will now act as our family Journal. 

Honestly I never wanted to make my blog private (I am still not doing it 100%, I will now have two different blogs).  I am not a big fan of the added hassle of a private blog and I don't really trust "private" blogs anymore than regular blogs since a hacker is a hacker and they can basically get into anything that they want.  So I have always just tried to not share too much personal information on my public one. 

But as time has gone on I have been wanting to write more and more details of our lives and about our children to have for the future.  Yet I have started to not feel very comfortable with sharing so much and I feel I need to be more cautious.  So I brainstormed a few options, but I just love the way blogger is set up and is really simple to use (For non computer geeks like me).  I also love that a blog is a really easy way for grandparents and family to see how we are doing without me having to email each one individually (since we all know I would probably never actually do it).  I realize that what I have already shared is out there for good, but we are going to try and move forward and do better. :)

 Many of you probably have other ways that you keep a family record, such as a scrapbook for your kids and such, but for me this is it so I NEED to keep doing it or we will just end up with a bunch of pictures stored on our computer and no story to tell.  This new blog will be our family journal/scrapbook/history. It will be fairly detailed about the happenings of our lives and may get slightly boring to the outside world, but if you want to follow along we would love to have you.  :)

Please leave your email in the comments section here and I will add you.  Or send me an email at mckayandkajsa@gmail.com or send me a message on Facebook, or text me, or call me, or (you get the picture)  Honestly don't be shy if I have ever known you (past lives, cities, school, etc.) I would love for you to stay in touch with our family so please give me your email!

As for this blog... Stick around (well if you want to).  I will still be posting here often with this or that.  Probably mostly things that other moms and women can relate to, not really sure exactly, but I am not giving up on it yet.  Some pictures of the kids will still show up here and a few things from our lives, just in case you aren't into the whole private blog thing like me.  So that is that.  Thanks for reading and commenting this blog has been a great outlet for me as I navigate my way through marriage and motherhood.  Have a great day!   

Happy Monday!

Just wanted to pop in and wish you all a good week. 

Last week was full of regular things.  It was beautiful and everyone is happy and healthy around these parts. 

One big highlight from the week was a new cement patio in the backyard (we have been planning it for over a year so it was nice to finally get it in).  McKay is working around the clock to get the rest of the backyard ready so that we can plant grass and Adalyn is hoping for warmer weather so that mom will take her outside more.  Jensen is learning to grab toys and sit up in the bumbo and mommy is trying to find time to practice the piano.  

We are also looking forward to a few weekends in a row of visiting family out of state in the next few months and warmer weather (oh wait I already said that).  

This is such a fun stage of life for us and we are trying to soak it all in (and soak in as much sleep as we can possibly get, but lack of sleep just comes with the territory)  

 

 

Can you believe how big he is getting?!  look at this picture only taken TWO months ago...

 

He is HUGE!  Always amazes me (oh and please ignore my crazy wet hair)

 

 

Did you notice that Adalyn and her bear were matching :)

 

New shoes are the best!

 

Hope you are all having a great day!

 

 

    

Adalyn- 20 months old

My baby is 20 months old today!  I think... hope I counted right :)  I don't really plan on doing monthly updates on her anymore, but I did want to do a little post on what she is up to these days and when I looked at the calendar it just so happened that she was 20 months old today.  How convenient! 

This girl has finally learned a few more words than uh oh!  She now knows "no" great right?  She also has learned mama (and who mama is) and even though she now says it a million times a day when she wants something I still think it is cute to hear her say my name.  Also, yesterday she just learned how to put two words together.  So she will say "cheese please" or "more please".  This is progress people!

-She still babbles a ton
-HATES nap time, bed time, anything to do with sleep.  She screams through family prayer because she knows right after we say it she is going to have to go to bed.  It takes her a good 20-30 minutes of crying to fall asleep.
-Tea parties and pushing her toy car around are her favorite past times along with reading to herself and watching Elmo.
-Starting to love getting dressed (of course HER favorite outfits are not really my favorites, but we compromise)
-She is bossy, sassy, sweet, and busy.  I am learning to like this toddler stage and am grateful for a healthy little girl. 

 

Not wanting to take a nap so she is playing with her bows instead...

 

She is now getting old enough that we are able to do a few planned activities during the day.  This preschool loving mom thinks it is pretty fun!

Pillow mountain-

 

 

She can't climb out of her crib, but she can almost climb into Jensens crib!

Sensory time with jello!  

 

We love you cutie pie! 

 

 Have a great day!

 

Busy Week Menu

This week is kind of all about me.  Surprisingly I have quite a few things going on this week (most weeks grocery shopping is about as exciting as it gets).  But this week I have a piano lesson, my week for a temple session, Bunco, Relief Society activity, Zumba, and a couple 5 mile runs so I am going to be one busy mama and McKay is going to be one busy daddy watching the kids.  Overall I feel like McKay is very sweet in allowing me to have a few hobbies and activities that I can get out of the house and do.  I know in a few years having hobbies won't really be realistic as we have more kids and they start having their own activities so I am soaking it up while I can. 

On top of all of my activities I started babysitting two more little kids this week.  They are both older than Adalyn and she is slowly adjusting to letting other kids play with "Her" toys.  Girlfriend hasn't had to share a lot in her life yet, this is going to be a great learning opportunity.  :) 

So there is the long version of "we have a busy week so I planned simple meals".

We are also slowly figuring out what our version of the word of wisdom's "eat meat sparingly" is.  Two weeks ago we had meat 3 times followed by a big steak dinner for Easter so last week was a no meat week.  By the end of the week this nursing mama was definitely ready for some more protein so we are having it twice this week.  Overall I think that we have decided that we will eat it on an as needed basis (probably 2-3 times a week).  I never realized that changing what food I eat would be such a physical, mental, AND spiritual journey but it has definitely affected us in all aspects of our lives.  We are VERY far from eating the perfect diet, but we are close to finding a REALLY good balance that works for us.  It doesn't take so much effort and thought anymore, our somewhat healthier food choices have just become a natural part of our lives.

SO what IS on the menu this week?:

1- Baked Italian Ziti and Baked Asparagus (we have had this one many times and is a quick family favorite, made with ground turkey) 

2-Skinny Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo (one pot wonder, sort of)

3-  Zucchini, Black Bean and Rice Skillet (Once again we have had this one a lot)

4-Crockpot Tortellini soup (we do not usually buy tortellini, but it looked too good not to :)

5- Breakfast Pitas (we have started having breakfast dinner Thursdays since it is my busiest day of babysitting and cooking doesn't usually happen)

6-Broccoli Parmesan w/ 3 Bean Salad (random combination, but at least we will get a few veggies in)

And there you have it.  Hope they all turn out!  Have a great night!

Easter 2013

Easter has been a pretty relaxing holiday for us the past few years because we usually have to teach our classes at church so we end up not going to visit family.  Which is kind of sad, but we have just tried to start some of our own traditions.  Here is the short and sweet version of our Easter weekend...

Easter bunny sets out gifts Friday night

No basket, just candy for mommy and daddy :)

 

Candy and waffles for breakfast on Saturday, while looking through Easter basket

Her sunglasses are the cutest!

Easter bunny was into the basics this year so the kids got puzzles

 

 

 

 

Avocado, egg salad Sandwiches for dinner

Dying eggs right before bed

Last year of "dying" Easter eggs (we will be doing stickers or crayons for a while.  WAY to messy!)

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday morning relaxing and thinking about our savior and his amazing sacrifice

New matching clothes for church

 

 

 

First time cooking steak for dinner.  It was delicious!

First walk of the year around the neighborhood

Beautiful spring day!

Have a great day!