Multi-Tasker

Here is Mark riding his 4-Runner and also sword fighting at the same time. He would have a sword in his hand 24/7 if I would let him!

Police Woman Makenna

I think she looks more like a "Charlie's Angel" here!
Getting ready to go make her arrest

Calling the Police

Makenna still says that she wants to be a police girl when she grows up. She has been on this police kick for quite some time now. So when I was at Target a couple weeks ago and saw the police dress up stuff in their dollar section I couldn't resist. She loves putting her police hat on and going to arrest people. This particular day they rode down to our neighbor Gary's house and she had rode her 4-Runner through the neighbors yard so he told her that he would have to call the police on her. She quickly turned around and headed home. Next thing I knew she was riding back with her police hat and her phone. I said Makenna what are you doing? She said, "I'm calling the police on Gary." So she rode back to his house and opened her phone and told the police to come get Gary. She just cracks me up sometimes. =)

Diving For Rings

I forgot that I had taken this video of Mark a few weeks ago diving for rings. He loves to try to get more than one when he does it now. Matt's mom and dad have also been taking Mark and Makenna swimming a lot at the pool at the apartment they are staying in while they build their house. Judy took them yesterday and said they both can jump into the deep end and swim across the pool now. Even Makenna without any floaties! I told her I can't wait to come and watch!

Ahoy Matey!

I had gotten the kids some pirate stuff for Mark's birthday party that they enjoyed playing with even after the party was over. They loved dressing up and fighting with their swords and yes, guns. I caved. It was obvious though that Mark was still more into the fighting then Madison and Makenna. He's such a boy!

Tennis Lessons

Mark started tennis lessons this week. He was very excited as he loves tennis lessons. He did really well the first day, but today he had a different girl "teaching" him and it didn't go as well. The one girl isn't helping them by telling them where to stand or where to place your racket to better hit the ball. He likes it though and is doing good.

Beach Day

Mark, Madison, Tyler, and Makenna
Madison, Grandma, Mark, Makenna, and Grandpa Jumping Waves

Jumping Waves

Jumping Waves

We all headed out to the beach yesterday so the kids could play and run around. They enjoyed jumping and splashing in the waves and building sandcastles with grandma and grandpa H. Tyler slept the whole time which was good for him and Bethany. It was a great day!

Mark's Pirate Party

Grandma J made him a Pirate Ship Cake
Grandma and Grandpa H got him the red "Jeep" that he wanted

Digging for treasure

(In mid-air) Racing Braedon down the slide

Mark had a Pirate Birthday party this past weekend to celebrate his 5th birthday. We decided since it's usually so hot on his birthday to have a pool party. It was definitely hot enough (over 90 degrees) so the kids had a great time. They enjoyed going down the water slide and splashing around in the pool. They also had a chance to dig for buried treasure which they all enjoyed as well. Mark got all of the Toy Story 3 stuff that he wanted and of course a 4-Runner like Makenna's that he asked for too. Overall it was a successful day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!

MARK IS 5 TODAY! I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT! We are so impressed by him everyday. He is such the little man. He actually tries to be a father to Makenna and tell her what to do, but otherwise he is really good. He loves to play sports. Right now baseball and tennis are his favorites, but he does loves to play soccer and hockey too. He loves to swim right now. He can hold his breath under water for 17 seconds now! He dives for rings and dive sticks all the time and swims from one side of the pool to the other. He has gotten really good. He is still my sweet boy most of the time and loves to cuddle with Matt and I. He is getting so creative and watching him and Makenna play is so funny with all the stories and situations that they come up with. He also still loves playing with his knights, but has also developed a love for batman and superheros. He is really excited to start a new school this fall which is at a Luteran Church and he calls it the castle. We just can't believe how fast these years have flown by!

Mini Golf

Here are a couple videos of Mark and Makenna playing minature golf at Navy Pier. Sorry for the noise...it definitely lived up to the name this day of the "windy city!" Makenna was trying her hardest even with Mark as a goalie most of the time. I had to explain to him that this wasn't hockey it is golf...there are no goaltenders!

Navy Pier

Arriving at Navy Pier Park
Makenna on the Carosaul
Mark and Grandpa

The Lighthouse ride

Makenna loving it, Mark holding on tight!

Grandpa and Makenna on the Ferris Wheel

Mark playing Minature Golf

Grandma helping Makenna learn to golf

We decided to head up to Navy Pier on the 5th for a fun family day. Craig and Judy decided to join us and we had a great time. We started out with a maze, then went onto the ferris wheel and some other outdoor rides before heading into the Children's Museum. It wasn't even too crowded which surprised us so it ended up being a great day. Makenna loved the lighthouse ride, but Mark held on for dear life. We think maybe he still is having memories of the Tower of Terror ride from Disney. =) They both liked minature golf at first, but grew tired of it. Makenna hits the ball like me, right and left handed depending on where it is. Mark even got a hole in one!

4th of July

All smiles together
Standing all Independent

Mark being Mark

Running around

It's a Race!

We hope everyone had a Happy and safe 4th this year. We had a fun and busy weekend. Here are some pictures of Mark and Makenna on the 4th before we headed off to Church. We just decided to have a low key day this year and had Matt's parent's and sister over to celebrate. The kids went swimming and had a great day!

Classic Conversation

Here are a couple pictures of the rash guard we found Makenna in Maui while we were at Makena Beach. They had no t-shirts or anything that said Makena Beach so this was all we could come up with. We didn't let her or Mark know that it is spelled wrong and even so Mark threw a huge fit that he didn't have one with his name on it. It's a little big, but she can grow into it. She looked like such the little surfer girl it was too cute.

On a side note...We were driving home the other night from vacation bible school and Makenna must have seen some rocks along the road to which she started the following conversation:

Makenna: There are some rocks over there. I'm allergic to rocks.

Ashlee: Makenna, you're not allergic to rocks.

Mark: Yeah Makenna. People are only allergic to pets and food.

Ashlee (stupidly): Well, people can also be allergic to things outside like trees and grass.

Mark: You can't be allergic to grass.

Ashlee: Yes you can, just ask Uncle Doug.

Mark: But he goes out to play in the grass so he's not allergic.

Makenna: I'm allergic to grass.

Matt: Then you can't go out to play on the grass if you're allergic.

Makenna: That's okay, then I'll just play on my swingset.

Matt: How are you going to get to your swingset without walking through the grass?

Makenna: I didn't mean that I was allergic to the grass. I am actually allergic to grass seed.

Matt and I couldn't help but smile to that one...

No idea where that came from, but it was too funny...she will always find a way won't she. :)

Pool Diver

Here are some pictures of Mark swimming and diving for rings. He has gotten so good at swimming and getting all of his rings and dive sticks. He loves it so much. He can even swim under water pretty far now. Mark and Makenna both still love swimming and are improving with it everyday! We are just so happy that we've had some decent days this summer to go in the pool!