Thomas and His Friends

Cade loves Thomas the Tank Engine. When I say love, I mean love...like Thomas is part of our family. If Cade ever talks to anyone on the phone he is sure to tell them all about the latest adventures of Thomas and his friends. The other day Kevin got Cade a new train - James, the red train. This train holds a special place in Cade's heart. I think it might be because he has an Uncle James and a friend named James. These pictures are of Cade watching his new movie James Goes Buzz Buzz. He wants to watch this movie every moment of every day!

The picture below is Cade watching the part in the movie when James gets stung by a bee right on his nose and the other trains call him James The Rednosed Train. Obviously, Cade is very bothered by this.

Monsoons!

There's nothing quite like an Arizona monsoon, and this season has been wonderful. I love all the afternoon rain we are getting. Today we had a major storm. The freeways were flooded, there were accidents everywhere, and there was quite a bit of damage done around town. Check out our parking lot!

I had to park and wade in to our house. It was great!
The storm drain was pretty flooded.
Obviously our parking lot wasn't designed for quick water redirection. It'll be interesting to see what it looks like tomorrow!

Rain, Rain DON'T Go Away!

It's monsoon season--YEA!! Today it started raining so hard! Paige and James were here playing with Cade and we all opened the door to watch the rain, but it was pouring in on us and the kids didn't like that so...

they slammed the door shut and ran into Cade's room to watch out the window. They were so excited they were jumping up and down. I was surprised at how long they watched it! I think they crave the rain as much as we do.
Then Cade decided to watch the rain through the door again. Wait, did I say "watch" the rain? I meant LICK the rain through the screen door. Gross. I couldn't get him to stop so I just let him...and took a picture. (Am I a blogging mom or what?!)
After the Buchanans left Cade and Myla played in the rain for a little while longer. Cade was jumping and dancing. Myla was watching him with a huge smile on her face. To her, Cade is just the coolest kid ever! We hope the rain sticks around for a while longer. Although it gets pretty sticky during the day, having the scent of rain always in the air is so worth it!

Myla Walking & Cade Talking

Here is a video I took today of Cade and Myla. Myla is now walking a lot. In fact, she hardly crawls at all! She loves keeping up with Cade and seems to be a much happier little girl now that she can walk around and do everything Cade does. Today we caught her standing on top of Cade's big car that he rides around. She fell off and bumped her head on the rocking chair. She didn't even cry, she just got right back up there. It's so much fun to have two walkers now. Check back in a week...my story may change. :)

Birthday Celebrations!

This weekend Myla attended her first birthday party! We went to the first birthday party of Amineh, Kim's little girl. Kim was my college roommate and is one of those friends who will be there no matter how many miles or years separate us. This was the first time I'd really seen her in years and it was like nothing had changed. I am so blessed to have a friendship like that.

This is Kim's family...her husband Mohammed, her daughter Amineh, and Kim! They are a beautiful family.
This is the best picture we could get of us with our daughters. They were a little squirmy after all the present opening and playing.
Myla and Amineh eating birthday cake.
Amineh was so cute eating her birthday cake.

Our Night with Harry

In honor of the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' release, Kevin and I had a Harry Potter themed date night. Oh yes, we sure do know how to keep the romance alive! There's nothing like Harry Potter to light the fire. :) We did have a lot of fun.

Kevin made bangers and mash, a British dinner that is mentioned in HP books. Really it's sausage and potatoes. It was really good. It was so cute actually, because Kevin cooked some roasted zucchini to go with it. He asked me check on it in the oven and I thought it looked a bit funny but just blew it off. When I ended up taking it out of the oven I noticed that it wasn't zucchini at all, it was cucumber! To someone who had never eaten zucchini before he married me, cucumbers and zucchini do look a lot alike. Has anybody ever had roasted cucumber before? Wouldn't recommend it....nope, not at all. But the rest of the dinner was so good. And I didn't have to cook it at all, which, I have to admit, was the best part!Myla has taken to stealing food off of Kevin's plate. Apparently, food tastes better when it comes from Daddy's plate. I love the look in her eye; it says, "Daddy, I'm so cute you won't care that I'm stealing your potatoes."
To continue the Harry Potter theme we made butterbeer for dessert (also mentioned in HP). We looked up the recipe on the internet and decided to try it out. So we bought the ingredients (see above) and had a go.
It looked pretty, but was so sweet and weird tasting that we decided one mug was plenty for us. I'm not even going to waste your time with the recipe. It ain't worth it folks.
Then we played Harry Potter Scene It where Kevin effectively kicked my butt every single time. Anyone who knows Kevin isn't surprised by this. The guy has a freakin' photographic memory. But it was fun.

I think we had enough Harry Potter for one night. Before Kevin went to the store to pick up Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows we watched an episode of Grey's Anatomy, favorite show at the moment. Then Kevin came home with the book, I promptly snatched it from his fingers and stayed up until 4:30am reading it. When I couldn't keep my eyes open for another word I went to bed. The next day all I did was read. Kevin was such a good sport for watching the kids so I could read. I'm useless when I am reading a good book...it's like no one else exists. I finished it late yesterday afternoon and now can resume my normal life. My review on the book? It was everything I expected it to be...and then some. So, blogging friends, it's over. You won't be hearing any more about Harry Potter from me. I'm hearing a collective sigh of relief. :)

Sweet Moments

I took some sweet moment pictures recently and just wanted to post them.

Myla loves her Daddy. Kevin layed down for a moment when he came home from work and Myla decided to cuddle with him in whatever way she could.

We get together with the Magnusson side of the family every 3rd Sunday for dinner. This is my nephew Breck, my niece, Emma with my cousin Toy reading to them. The kids love "Aunt" Toy!

This is my mom with Cade. Cade calls her "Mama Kitty Go Night-Night." He associates his grandparents with their pets. He loves MKGNN. Hey, that's a long name to write out every time, so I abbreviated.

Bradley (James and Jamie's son) and Myla giving kisses. They are about 3 months apart in age and love to give kisses! Cade and Myla love to play with Kevin. Myla recently discovered one of Cade's toy light sabers (we keep the real light sabers in the closet in case we have an intruder -- hee hee).

Harry's on the Way!

I have to apologize if I scared the capootie out of you when you looked my blog today. If you had your speakers on, Dumbledore's voice booming through your quiet house probably made you jump...it did me! I'm just a teensy, weensy excited for the 7th and final book to come out. For all of you who are suddenly reconsidering your friendship with crazy Christie, I'm not a Harry Potter freaky fanatic...I don't have any HP tattoos, haven't named any of my children after a character, haven't created a website totally devoted to HP, and don't spend every waking minute thinking, reading and talking Harry Potter. I promise. I'm just someone who enjoys the books and am a little excited for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to come out. So can we still be friends? :)

Myla's First Pedicure

Okay, first of all it really wasn't so much a pedicure as it was a four person wrestling match. Kevin was trying to hold her feet still while I was trying to hold her toes still and paint them; meanwhile, Cade was trying to get the polish brush out of my hand so it could be "Cade's turn" to paint (as he kept saying over and over...and over again). It was actually a pretty funny scene.

The finished product!
Mommy & Myla's matching toes. The official color? China Girl.Mommy's Girl!

And there you have it...

72%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Mingle² - Online Dating

Whatever that means...I'm thinking it can't be good! :)

Cade's New Train

Cade got a package in the mail from his favorite Utah cousin, Aiden (or as Cade calls him, Annie).

Inside was Cade's most favorite thing ever--a new choo choo train! The look on his face when he saw it was priceless.
He kept hugging it. It was so cute!
After the initial, "Wow, a choo choo train!!" he quickly climbed down from the table, assembled a short train track and arranged all of his trains. His new black train is at the head of the train officially replacing Thomas (gasp!).
Thank you Aiden, Aunt Aubs, Uncle Ryan and Oliver for making Cade's day (and Kev's and Chris's too!).

Harry Potter at Midnight

If you note the time of this post it is after 2:30 am. Kevin and I just returned from the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. We are a little wired right now, so I decided to blog. We got to the theatre at around 10:30 and it was full! Apparently arriving an hour and a half early wasn't early enough. We sat in the front row. It was no big deal, except I got a bit of motion sickness and our necks are a little cricked. It was worth it...we enthusiastically give it two thumbs up! But don't take our word for it--go see it (if you need a viewing partner, I'll definitely go again)!

Dumbledore's Army

Once again I was not disappointed with the movie. The book is huge, so of course they had to do some things differently, and cut out a lot...but I think they did a great job. I'm actually too tired to really form any real review about the movie...it was awesome! There you have it. I had to have documentation that we were there! This is after the movie.

Many thanks to my sweet little brothers, David and Richard, for staying the night with the kids so we could go to the movie! You're the best.

Partners in Crime

Since the day Cade was born he and Jared (my sister's son) have been inseparable. They are 3 months apart and are like brothers. Nicki babysat Cade when I went back to work, so she is like a second mom to Cade. Jared and Cade act like brothers in every sense, they play with each other, they fight with each other, and they love each other. Here are a couple of pics of them during the past 3 years: Cade: 1 1/2 months, Jared: 4 months
Jared: 10 months, Cade: 7 months
Jared: 1 year, Cade 10 months

They loved watching TV. Still do!

Both: about 1 1/2 years old Playing in the dog cage. They could play in this for hours!
Cade: 2 1/2 years, Jared: 3 years Superboys! I just took this on Saturday. They both love Superman.

We are lucky to have so many wonderful cousins in our family!!

4 Things...

I've been tagged by Rachel (aka "Slipstitch"):

4 Jobs I've held:

1. Burger King girl
2. Pizza maker at Golfland
3. YMCA camp counselor
4. Educator

4 Places to go for a weekend getaway:
1. Utah
2. Flagstaff
3. California
4. Utah (as you can see we are big travellers)

Movies I Can Watch Over & Over:
1. Notting Hill
2. Top Gun
3. Harry Potter (any of them)
4. Clueless (c'mon, you know you love it...)

My Guilty Pleasures:
1. Baking cookies just to eat the cookie dough
2. Apron Night
3. Shopping for kids clothes (especially little girl clothes)
4. Blogging

Places I Have Lived:
1. Flagstaff, AZ
2. Key West, FL
3. Ft. Lauderdale, FL
4. Mesa, AZ

What were most likely the first things you thought of when you saw your significant other for the first time?
1. "Oh, our new district leader. I better introduce myself."
2. "Okay, he's pretty quiet."
3. "I like his freckles."
4. I was a missionary. Really I didn't think anything too interesting. I had no idea he would be "the one."

Places I have Been on Vacation:
1. Cozumel, Mexico
2. California
3. Utah
4. Oregon

Favorite Foods
1. Mexican (I'm craving some restaurant chips and salsa right now.)
2. Watermelon
3. Avocado (on crackers, in soups, on sandwiches, by itself, in guacamole - anyway you slice it
4. Potatoes

If in a "jam" with your spouse, what tactics do you use to get out of the doghouse?
1. Put on my sweet voice and try to reason
2. Give him space...then jump on his lap and try to make him smile
3. Really give him space
4. Give in and apologize for the stupid thing I said or did

Websites I visit (almost daily)
1. Hotmail
2. Blogspot
3. Netflix
4. azcentral.com

Best 1st kisses landmarks.
1. Our first kiss was at the park on Harris and Southern. Hallowed ground :)

Places I'd Rather Be right now
1. Sleeping
2. Anywhere cooler than here
3. Vacationing
4. Temple (I like that Rachel)

Ok, I tag Kerry, Aubrey, Jamie and Nicki (all the sistas!)

4th of July!!

Our awesome neighbors, the Picketts, had a 4th of July BBQ for a bunch of friends in the ward. It was so much fun! We ate, swam, played water volleyball, laughed, chatted...all the fun stuff. Thanks Picketts for a great time!

Beka Pickett & Landon (Did I get the right twin?!)

Myla was kissing on Ty Blake the whole night. Being one of the only girls that age, she sure has her pick of the handsome little men...Braden and Landon and Ty.

Although cute little Julia Starks will certainly give Myla a run for her money!

Daddy is oh so much fun!

Stacey Reed & her cutie son Jace--they are probably watching the killer game of volleyball going on.

Jason Buchanan tossing James in the air. James is quite the little fish! I was impressed at how he was just swimming around in his little floaties, having a great time. Maybe James needs to give Cade his swimming lessons next year.

Heath Reed, Danny Pickett, and Kevin playing water volleyball--all the wives sitting on the edge of the pool "magically" seemed to get pretty wet with the hubbies playing volleyball.

Aren't they the cutest ladies around? Stephanie, Rachel & Ty, Maren & Braden, Jill, Beka & Landon.

My sweet Cade. He was a little more comfortable with the water. He especially like to jump in.

Life Lessons Learned on Vacation

Hi all, this is Kevin and I thought I'd offer a list of things I learned while on our recent vacation (see Christie's post below for full details). Hopefully you can learn from my experiences so you and your fellow vacationers don't have to learn the hard way.

1. Don't forget to bring an ample supply of headache medicine - you will invariably need it.
2. Driving during the day is no better than driving at night when you are travelling with toddlers.
3. Even if your toddlers are well mannered in their car seats, don't forget to occasionally change their diapers - ewww... icky.
4. When travelling with sinus pressure, elevation changes involve a lot more than just popping your ears - you'll want to "pop" your whole head.
5. Air mattresses are not the quietest of things - they WILL wake up anyone else in the room when you roll into bed.
6. Twin sized blankets do not substitute for Queen sized.
7. Apply sunscreen evenly.
8. Even if you have never sunburnt in a certain spot, never understimate the sun's ability to get you there this time - see #7.
9. A sinus infection can ruin fun fast.
10. So can chest congestion.
11. So can a sprained knee.
12. When riding a water weenie (the 5 person inflatable pulled behind a boat), make sure everyone has their swimsuit drawstrings tied securely.
13. Never go to a musical with another man, even if he is your brother.
14. "My Fair Lady" is not a good substitute for "Rambo" on a guy's night out.
15. Talking in a british accent can become annoying to those around you, even if it is jolly good fun.
16. Just for good measure, read #7 again.
17. When playing "Chinese Firedrill" in the dark, avoid cattle guards - they are suprisingly effective on people too.
18. Band-aid's of all sizes are essential when on vacation.
19. It never hurts to have trained medical professional in the family.
20. Never underestimate your ability to enjoy so many things going "wrong" when you have your family there to help you through it, and help you laugh at it.

Thank you McMillan clan for the awesome vacation! It was a blast!

We had so much fun on our trip to St. George. It is a tradition in Kevin's dads side of the family to go to Tuacahn every year in St. George. Tuacahn is a beautiful outdoor amphitheatre where wonderful plays/musicals are performed. This year we watched Cinderella and My Fair Lady. They were good, but the highlight of the trip for us was going to the lake and playing in the water. It was so much fun to go on the boat, do the water weenie, go water tubing, and take the wave runner out. (What a wild ride was had on the wave runner. I'm a little bit of a wimp, I prefer to be a passenger--but Aubrey kicked butt on the wave runner. So much fun! Thanks for not throwing me off Aubs!) The kids loved playing in the water with their cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles. Everyone was so wonderful! We came home with a little sunburn and a lot of great memories.