Arizona

Well, this post is going to be really boring because I forgot my camera in Arizona! McKay and I ventured down to the heat last week and we were rewarded with great weather and a fun week with family. My mom met us down there, we stayed at my grandparents' house, and then my dad flew in later in the week for my cousin's wedding. We all had a fabulous time.

Some things we did:

• the zoo-McKay enjoyed it. Most of the animals were "moo" but he did get the wild dingos and foxes correct ("dogd" and "cat").
  
• Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple-I thoroughly enjoyed this with my aunt. Mom was kind enough to stay home with McKay and put him to bed. The pageant started with Adam & Eve and ended with Christ's resurrection. It was so neat and a spiritual reminder of the Easter season.
• McKay's professional 18 month pictures taken-that was an experience. I told my mom going into it, "I have very low expectations due to the fact that this little boy probably will not sit still for one second." I was right for the first little while. He did not want to sit or stand or sit on my lap. He wanted to MOVE!!! Arrrgh. Finally, with some serious fruit snack bribing along with him holding a ball (his comfort toy...ha ha), he obliged and actually smiled for a few. Thank goodness!
• Shopping and going to lunch with mom. Aren't moms great? I am so glad my mom came to hang out with us that week.
• My cousin, Nick's wedding. Again, the camera would have been really helpful at this because their reception was absolutely beautiful and SO FUN!
• Playing games like sequence, scum, quiddler, and "what were you thinking?" with grandma
• My favorite part of the trip: taking McKay on walks at 6:30 am (he woke up kind of early because of the time change) and it would be 75 degrees already! Oh it was so so so so nice.

Maybe I could be a snowbird and live in Arizona in the winter! But, I would miss Kimball, who probably wouldn't go for that plan. We did see a dairy in the middle of the city in Phoenix. I tried to tell Kimball that it is possible to dairy farm in the city. ;) ;) ;)

Seizure

It's been a rough week. McKay had a seizure on Wednesday due to a high fever. It was very long (about 10 minutes) and made me (and him) really really sad. I hate watching seizures, as I have seen a lot at the hospital. And this time was no different, except for the fact that I am very emotionally involved with my little McKay. :-) We found out he had strep throat. After 3 days of him not eating, continual fevers, and mommy fretting, I am ready for the antibiotics to start working their magic!!!!

These pictures were taken a few weeks ago at the new Cedar City pool. McKay loves this place! We go a couple times a week. As you can tell, he has no interest in smiling for the camera. He's got to explore!

As of late...

This was a fun blanket to make, inspired by my sister-in-law, Heather, who made one first. I know it isn't too aesthetically pleasing, but I really wanted each fabric to have sports balls on it to document how much McKay loves balls.

Our little boy (or big boy) who wants to be relaxed when he sleeps

Our house siding blowing away. I felt like I was in Wizard of Oz yesterday. It was so windy and I started hearing loud noises from outside, so I checked, and sure enough, our house was blowing away. Thanks to a great neighbor who helped hammer down the ones that were still flapping around up there. And as any good luck generally does not follow a predicament such as this, we woke up to a couple inches of snow and it has been snowing all day on my (siding-less) house. :(

Growin' up

I think he looks grown up in these pictures. In just a few weeks, we will experience a long-awaited event: NURSERY!!!!!!!!! Kimball has so generously taken care of McKay in church for several months now due to my primary calling. And I think he is ready for some spiritual enlightenment again. :)

His favorite way to go down slides is on his belly, feet first (even the water slides at the swimming pool)

McKay got jimmered this past month. He enjoyed watching basketball on TV, mostly because he was watching a "ball" the whole time. (We may have heard that word a time or two.)

Change

This weekend marks our 1 year mark of being in Cedar City. What a lot of change we have experienced in the past year. I feel like my whole life I have dealt with change. By the time I went to college, I had already lived in 3 different states and experienced 4 different wards. College life can be described as 4 years (or 5 in my case) of constant change: roommates, apartments, wards, classes, boyfriends, lack of boyfriends, highs, lows, etc.

Although life does seem like it has slowed down a bit since the college days, I still feel like things change on a regular basis. Change can be hard, very hard. I was reluctant to move to Cedar City. I loved Salt Lake. Everything about Salt Lake was comfortable. We had awesome friends, a fabulous ward, I had an amazing job, I was taking a great sewing class, and life was just good. But I knew our time wouldn't last because I knew Kimball wanted to go back and work with his family and the farm.

Elder Snow, of the seventy, said this:

"We need to “get on with our lives.” Most of us do not seek or even welcome dramatic changes. But change is an essential part of life’s experiences.

Many of these changes come as we naturally make our way through our earthly journey. Our lives change as we progress from childhood through youth and on into adulthood and finally old age. Schooling, missions, marriage, employment, and retirement are all examples of milestones of change.

Too often we are reluctant to enter the next stage, begin the next challenge. Maybe we are too comfortable, fearful, or lacking in faith."

Let's just say that I feel like have adjusted well here. I have made friends, Kimball's job is finally slowing down a bit to where we see each other more often, McKay is happy, our ward is great, etc. I wouldn't say I welcome change, but I made a decision soon after moving here to just "get on with life" and try to make the best of it. Change is still hard but it is inevitable in all of our lives.

Another quote that I love, love, love is from Elder Uchtdorf about looking for the good:

"Have you ever noticed that people can usually find whatever they are looking for? Look hard enough, and you can discover both good and bad in almost anyone and anything. People have done the same with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since its beginning. Those who look for the good will find a kind and compassionate people—a people who love the Lord and desire to serve Him and bless the lives of their fellowman. But it is also true that those who look for the bad will certainly find things that are not so ideal."

It's definitely not easy to always look for the good in life, but I know that it makes my life better. I want to teach McKay and any other little ones I have to always look for the good in anything. I also want to teach them that change can be really good, even if it is hard.

Snow

McKay and I "played" in the snow last week. Mostly he just headed for the rocks, which are way more fun than snow.

Before you think that I am a negligent mother by not putting gloves on his hands, I will just tell you that I tried. He just pulls them off. Isn't his hat cute?

Dish Soap

Those of you with hard wood floors know how bad it is if water gets on your floor. I take extra effort to dry the floor well after cleaning or after doing the dishes...

Last night, a certain someone (who shall remain nameless) started the dishwasher for me (very nice of him) and about 30 minutes later, I came to the kitchen to find this:

Yep, some of you are laughing because you've done this yourself before. And some of you are thinking, hmm...I have never done that before, but I've heard of people who have. The addition of one word on the label: washer instead of just dish can make all the difference. :)

McKay loved the action. He got down on the floor to look at what we were looking at, and he held the screwdriver for daddy, which made him feel really special.

P.S. McKay walks now. YAY!!!! He is a big boy, and he always has a huge smile on his face after he reaches a destination.