Hangin' with EZ-B!

This is a new toy that McKenna got for her birthday (thank you Martha and Tommy)! As you can see it's a hoot and she loves it. McK's "special friend" (betrothed to be exact:o)) Ezekiel came over while his mommy and I worked on MOPS stuff. EZ is alllll boy and McKenna thinks he's the best (I do too)! E calls McKenna "Men-ah"....you'll hear him on the video! They love each other and are hilarious to watch.

The rest of the trip...

McKenna's birthday wasn't the only fun we had while we were in TN. A BIG thanks to Amy and Chris for having us over for some YUMMY food and fun by the pool!

Uncle Will, Eli, and Dave........McK and Aunt Mary.............Jake, Matilda, Anna, and Elliot


The kids and Gran..................Jake's new bday present!....Go Dave!

It's always fun to watch McKenna and cousin Eli play.

Then it was off to N.C. with my parents for a family friend's wedding! McKenna had lots of fun playing with Gigi and Pop!


Being cheesy............................................showing Gigi how to crawl!


Poolside fun at the hotel!


Pop and Gigi got McKenna beautiful pearl earrings and a matching bracelet for her first birthday. She'll have to grow into her bracelet, but the earrings make her look like such a little lady!

The girls...................................dancin' with my man................dancin' with Pop.


Allison and Ray have been friends with my parents since before I was born. Their daughter, Amy, got married. She was a STUNNING bride and it was so neat to see my parents with their life-long friends. It was a beautiful wedding and fun reception.

We finished off the trip with celebrating Father's Day in the hotel room before we left to go our separate ways. We got to exchange cards, gifts, and had a nice breakfast together!
Pop and Gigi, we can't wait to see you guys again this July!!! Time can't go by fast enough. Love you 2!

Birthday Bash #2

Birthday Bash #2 was spent at Dave's parents' house in Cleveland, TN. We drove up on a Monday and got to spend several days with family before McKenna's birthday and party on Thursday. These are some pictures from Thursday's festivities. A BIG THANK YOU to Jerry and Judy (Dave's folks) for hosting the event! It was so nice to be surrounded by family to once again celebrate her ACTUAL big day.

Some more yummy Publix cakes....


My parents were able to join us. They drove in from Oklahoma and got to share in the special day! What a blessing it was to have both sets of grandparents there!!!!

McKenna and cousin Eli hanging out and playing sweetly. McK was obsessed with Eli's pacifier. She always wanted to take it out of his mouth. Eli was a good sport!


That's my girl...in a tutu playing with a truck :o) Thank you to Rachel Clayton Carlen for making McK's tutu. It added to her birthday ensemble and made it complete :o)

McK got more wonderful presents. We are now completely stocked with big girl toys and activities!


A girl's first birthday outfit could not be complete without a party hat! Thanks to Gigi and Pop for bringing it! Thanks to Uncle Keith, Uncle Kevin, and Aunt Hannah for picking it out!

Random Cuteness!

I was organizing McKenna's clothes the other day and found this tutu in her closet. Of course she was right there in the room with me, so I put it on her to see her reaction. She loved it. It didn't slow her down one bit. She had fun playing with the fabric, and I think she thought she looked pretty :o) I would walk back and forth from her room into the living room or kitchen to put something away and McKenna would crawl to wherever I was...I found her in the hallway and had to snap some pictures of her cuteness!

.......................................I see London, I see France...I see McKenna's underpants!

Kitchen Helper!

McKenna follows us all over the house now that she is seriously on the move. She is no longer doing the army crawl, she is a big girl on all fours :o) She has a special basket in the kitchen that she can get into while I'm cooking/cleaning. She likes to be wherever we are. She also loves opening and closing the cabinet doors and banging on the pots and pans with spoons and spatulas. There have been a couple of times where she has gotten right under my feet...so having the basket in place keeps her out of trouble...for a little while at least!

Birthday Bash #1

We started celebrating McKenna's birthday early June with lots of her friends (and ours). I had planned a big birthday "fiesta-themed" party with all the fixin's. It was to be a pool-side party with all the Mexican food a person could wish for....and it rained...and rained...and rained.

Sigh.

Our true and wonderful friends, Chad and Dana, allowed us to move the party from their neighborhood pool into their beautiful home. So in we went, hauling all of the fiesta-goodness with us. We set up shop in a matter of minutes and tried to make the best out of a disappointing (for me) situation. After only one tearful breakdown (by yours truly)...everything was wonderful. Tables were set up, toys were spread out, the food was arranged in perfect order, and people started to arrive.

There were kids EVERYWHERE! It was awesome. It was such a joy to be surrounded by so many that we care about and that care about McKenna.

Thank you one and all for helping us celebrate McK's first year. Your presence is what made the day special and memorable. Thank you for all that you have done to love and support our family this past year. We love you and treasure the many friendships!

Gabe and McKenna.................Mr. Ezekiel..................McK and Miss Avah!


Chad and Ellison lovin' on Brielle......The kiddie Table..........Kendall, Josh, and Asher....


Kids, kids, and more kids everywhere, having a good time. A Big thanks to Shelby and Ellison for helping entertain all of the little ones...and for the great decorations around the house!


YUMMY cakes by Publix :o)


McKenna is ONE!...She loved us singing to her...Mommy & Daddy helping to blow out the candle!


The men chillin'.........................She got so many wonderful presents! Everyone was so generous!
We finally made it to the pool after the party was over!