A picture a day

I stared a new blog last year meaning to supplement this one....but it has kinda taken over. But I've been slacking on that one too! Anyway, I am renewed and I am going to be posting a picture a day. So head on over and check it out!

http://mckenziepics.blogspot.com/?m=1

Thanksgiving

It's only January and I'm just getting around to Thanksgiving pictures - I'm so on the ball.


Doing a craft project - thanks once again, Pinterest!

Our finished products

Each of the kids got the pick one of their favorite pies and they got to help make that one:
Kaden - Pecan Pie

Lexie - Chocolate Cream Pie


Bailey - Apple Pie


Making Apple Turkeys



Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot - this was our first year and it was so much fun! This will definitely be a family tradition from here on out!

We got to spend Thanksgiving at a cousins house in Mesa, which Matt's parents, sister, and grandma. Here is Nan with some of the kiddos. We don't get to see her very often so we're glad we got the chance.

I wish we would have taken more pictures at dinner. It was a beautiful and yummy dinner - with lots of good company. We ate dinner outside because the weather was gorgeous. Later in the afternoon we went over to their stake center with lots of their friends and family and played a massive game of dodgeball. It was a lot of fun. Thanks Amber and Brent for having us!

All and all in was a really good day. It is always so nice when Matt happens to have the day off for a holiday. It was great to spend some quality time as a family. We have much to be grateful for!

Cruisin!

Matt and I got to go on a cruise back in October. It was a 10th anniversary / graduation present cruise! The cruise was supposed to stop in Cabo, Puerto Villarta, and Mazatlan. Because of "supposed" local violence they cancelled the stop in Mazatlan (I think it has more to do with the port doubling their fees). And then our PV stop got cancelled because of a hurricane - geez louise! So we ended up having 2 days in Cabo (no complaints here) and a day in La Paz. All in all in was a great trip - a huge treat to get away from work, home, kids, stress, etc. and to just have fun together. We laughed and had a great time all week long!


Matt just LOVES all the pictures I take :)

I HIGHLY recommend having a balcony - we loved it!

I told him he had to smile......and this is what I get?

Being out of the balcony at night was so cool.

I think this was on the tender (boat that took us to the dock in Cabo). Our ship is in the background.

Cabo was gorgeous!

Snorkeling

I asked a lady to take our pic....this is what we got :)

Matt decided to try parasailing. It was so stinkin cheap! But then we get on the boat and the handrails are all broken off and held on by rope. And then they open up the parachute...and there are patches of duct tape all over it. It was hilarious.

La Paz - it was gorgeous. Very quiet, slow paced fishing town. Definitely not touristy like Cabo

The entertainment on the boat was GREAT!

We made friends with a couple of the employees on the ship. I can't remember his name for the life of me....I'll have to ask Matt.

Our friend, Guapita (of course we had to take this pic on the one day I was super sick, nauseated, and grubbin it).  Anyway - it was so fun to visit with her and learn about her life in the Philippines.  DEFINITELY makes me grateful for my life, all the opportunities I have, and livin in the good ole U.S. of A!

A huge thanks to my parents for taking our 4 crazy kids! I'm already saving for our next cruise! :)

Kaden's Baptism

Reading to go to the church - he was fighting his nerves for sure.

Some of the crew - we didn't get one before some of our friends left. Logan - such a stinker - hiding right behind Matt. We are grateful for everyone that came - especially Logan & Shayla, who drove 3 hours with 3 little kids to be here and had to turn around and drive home to work that night. You guys are amazing - it meant a lot.

Kaden was DONE with pictures by this point!

Kaden is lucky to have 4 wonderful, supportive grandparents who love him!

Kaden and Nana with his baptism blanket she made.

We are so proud of Kaden and his decision to get baptized. We talked a lot about it in the months before and he took it very seriously. He showed a lot of maturity in his discussions and questions about baptism. The whole thing went very smoothly and with very little nerves/stress on his part - I was so relieved. It was a great day - thanks again for everyone that came and showed their support!

Baptism Pics

Our amazing friend, Jen, took some baptism pictures of Kaden. She worked her miracles and got him to cooperate - he HATES pictures. I am still in denial that my little Kaden is 8!