Ready...Set...Relax!

Today is the end of day four of our family vacation.  It's everything a vacation should be.  The weather has been an absolute perfect 80 degrees and a slight constant breeze cools the house perfectly.  I imagine that this is what Aruba feels like...I've never been, but it's pretty close to perfection.

We've only been up here in Michigan on beautiful Crystal Lake for a few days but with all we've done it feels like weeks.  Between the beach, tubing, bbq's, campfires complete with smores, homemade ice cream, water skiing, evenings w/ friends on the front porch watching the sunsets, a trip to Frankfort and mini golf, this family of seven could not be having a better time anywhere else on earth. 

On the agenda for tomorrow?  We honestly never know and I love it! When we are up at the Lake time seems to stand still.  I can almost hear Tim Allen whispering in my ear a sweet narration of our time.  The sandy beaches and gentle rolling waves make for a natural stress reliever...and that's exactly what we needed.  Between the camps, VBS, parties & picnics this summer has been busy but fun.  The kids are growing up so quickly and the activity level doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon.

Speaking of kids growing too quickly...  Yesterday as we spent some time with friends up here and it was bittersweet.  They also have a set of boy/girl twins only their blessings are 18 years old and heading off to college in a few weeks.  Their parents stepped away from the campfire to tell me how much fun the last few days had been and to cherish this time with my own kids up here because it really does go too fast.  As she stood there with tears in her eyes I couldn't help but give her a big hug.  I too had tears in my eyes just putting myself in her shoes 12 years down the road. I knew what an amazing time we have here on Crystal Lake and as I watched their family have one last bonfire complete with smores I knew what must be in her heart.  She was truly treasuring that moment.

It's not something I usually do, posting on the blog here while vacation but tonight everyone is in bed little earlier and this Mama just needed some extra time to relax, unwind and process.

Pure Joy

From the day she was born Mackenzie Kate has been the perfect addition to our family.  On July 16th 2009 we were blessed with a 9 lb. 11oz. baby girl and I'm finding a little difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that she is turning TWO!
What can I say about my baby girl?  Well, that she is no longer a baby.  Does that make me sad? Yes.  Will I be having any more babies?  Only if God chooses.  Are WE planning to?  Absolutely not.
I have loved every moment of watching my precious little girl grow up.  Mackenzie is our big, brown-eyed beauty who is always smiling.  She lights up the room just by being in it.  She giggles with her sister, laughs uncontrollably while being tickled by her older brothers and laughter is never in short supply as we watch her explore this world. 

Pretty sure she could polish off a watermelon all by herself.

Mackenzie is definitely the "baby" of the family, getting just about whatever she wants, whenever she wants it from her siblings.  As a mother I hate this on so many levels but on the other hand, the way her older siblings are so caring and attentive to her makes my heart happy.  (By the way and for the record I do not give in, which I've been told by my children makes me a very not nice mom.  I'll deal.)
Mackenzie loves to play with baby dolls, naming them each "Kenzie" or "Ray"...her favorite little 8 month old.  She loves to read, sing & dance, color, ride her scooter and right now, most importanly, she loves Dora the Explorer.

Our baby girl can be heard over the monitor most nights an hour past her bedtime, singing Dora's theme song or a version of Diego's.  Her spanish vocabulary has grown to point where when she wants certain things she asks for them in spanish.  Speaking of her vocabulary...

Mackenzie starting talking around a year just like all the other children but somewhere around 18 months it really took off.  There is nothing she cannot communicate to us and the words and phrases she chooses to do so sometimes catch me of guard.  The other night at dinner she asked me if it her garlic bread was too hot.  I told her 'no' but said she might want to blow on it.  She came back at me with this "if I boe too hard I might boe the house down."  She often  asks to have things that are hers by saying "I have my long'ins now?"  That's 'belongings' if you don't speak toddler.  It took me a while to figure it out but now there's no mistaking what she says.  There have been many times where she has gotten in trouble and she's already learned from her sibs to make up a story about it.  So, James and I have all we can do to not start rolling on the floor laughing while hearing them as we try to effectively discipline her.

Last night at dinner she was the last one at the table because she wouldn't eat her dinner.  Brett whispered to her that it would be so yummy to eat her zuccini and Mackenzie said "I not like the flavors in here."  When hearing her talk you must see the hand guestures and facial expressions she makes.  She's a real character!

This is a pretty typical MK face

Our sweet girl is just that, sweet.  Mackenzie Kate loves to cuddle, kiss & hug.  My new personal favorite is when, completely unannouced & unprovoked she will come up beside you and softly say "I yuv you" followed by the most gentle kiss and hug you can imagine.  It really melts you heart.  Mackenzie is the first one up in the morning.  Every morning she wakes up calling for me (loudly) or I can hear her singing one of her many songs as I race to get her before she wakes up the whole neighborhood.  When I scoop her up she is always smiling and I can't tell you how amazing it feels to have her little arms wrapped tightly around my neck as we make our way downstairs.

When I look at our little Miss Mackenzie Kate all I see is pure joy.  Not only is she so full of joy but she also seems to create it while entertaining those around her.  We can't help but giggle along with her when she's telling stories. 

I'm afraid the only part of her that's slightly "baby" that I have to hold on to is some of her baby rolls.  As the days go on I see them slimming away as she turns into a beautiful little toddler while she races around her big, wide world.  Every day Mackenzie makes our lives a little better.  I can't imagine our family without her. 

I love you, Mackenzie Kate.  The joy you bring to our lives is something to be treasured.  You are a blessing and I can't put into words just how much I love you.  You are one of a kind and the laughter you bring is contagious.  Happy Birthday, sweet girl!