in the meantime...

While it is fun for Mackenzie to pretend to drive in the Honda - she realistically gets to practice in her yellow bug....

"Is there something on my windshield??"

"Cruisin', with the top down"
"is that road construction?"

"nope - just Foster"

driving with Miss Mackenzie Jean

Things Mackenzie has said,

after riding while we help teach our niece Sadie to drive a manual transmission:
*"Give it more GAS!"
*"Sadie don't drive too good"
*"I think we hit a tree"
*"Be quiet Mommy - Sadie can do it"

Therefore, she decided to try out her own skills...

step 1 - check your mirrors

"Oh boy, do I look cute or what?!?!?!"

"Oh no - is that a booger? I thought mommy said no to picking while stopped!"

Step 2 - plug address into GPS....thank goodness for BBY technology to guide me!

step 3 - turn right on out of here....

and I am cruisin' now!!

look out world (in 12 years or so)

Amateur scrapbooker in the making

Mackenzie tries her hand at Mommy's favorite hobby...and finds she likes it (especially anything glittery or sparkly - just like Great Aunt Sue!) See the ice cream stickers - she picked those out herself one day when she accompanied me to the scrapbook store and was so excited to buy the ice cream stickers that I couldn't tell her no. (I am hoping I can steal a few to use on my projects) Either way, they were WELL WORTH THE $$ in that it kept her quiet and occupied for quite some time!! And i was happy to share my crafting love with her, as well. She is even working in her own special heart shaped album, that she will proudly show off to you. :)

friends: old & new

(Sara calls this picture: "Guess who has the bigger boobs" - I just call it cute!)

so thanks to the wonders of Facebook - an old friend and I have gotten back in touch with each other, after a 13 year hiatus of losing touch with each other. Sara & I now keep in regular contact and see each other occassionally, including introducing our girls last Fall. But this past weekend, we decided it was high time for the whole families to meet - and Sara and I hadn't seen each other for a while, so we wanted some QT as well. We met in Iowa City and had a fabulous time together, making new friends and reconnecting with the old ones. :) Hopefully, a tradition to be continued for quite some time.

New Friends: Mackenzie, Rachel & Matthew

Old friends all grown up, with children of their own.

Hubbies and New Friends, bonded over Star Wars: Allen & Jamey

working for the hee-haul

So short story version is that we were in Iowa City this past weekend (more on that to follow), but due to move-in @ the University - there were TONS of Uhaul trucks in Iowa City and none in Bettendorf - in particular, at the Argo store. So got the opportunity to transfer some equipment with us on our way home. Probably nothing major, but please rememeber - I have never driven a Uhaul myself and we did have Mackenzie to think about as well. As seen below, Mackenzie loves "hee-hauls" in theory but was none to keen about the ride in one {even though it meant she got to ride up front (with air bag shut off)}. She was quite enthralled with the towing of the car beind us - seen below, her supervising of the loading of the car.

Getting her toys settled in the cab.
What I hoped my Uhaul would not look like upon arrival in Bettendorf.

Mommy made it safe and sound!

Mackenzie and Daddy in their truck -

obviously, someone is a little bit more excited about the road trip.

Ironically - i have been wanting/planning to get a picture of Mackenzie with a Uhaul so I could blog/scrapbook about "hee-haul" so this provided the perfect photo opp for that story!!

Happy Shark Week!!

In honor of Shark Week (and beloved Lake memories) -

Sarah acts out Shark Week in the hot tub, much to Parker's delight. :)

Tune in for the real thing this week on Discovery.

What is this?

Why it is a "hee-haul",

where Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Jon, Uncle Jason & Uncle Jason work.

Story and pictures behind these "hee-haul" pics to follow....