Christmas 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We celebrated Christmas Eve with the Braegger's over at our house and laughed a lot as McKenna and Rylan played with their gifts. On Christmas morning we had my family over for breakfast and then we watched McKenna open up her gifts. She was so funny because she still wouldn't tear into the gifts but delicately take off the wrapping paper. She was so spoiled by everyone and has had so much fun playing with her new toys. In the afternoon we went over to my parent's house and had Christmas Dinner and then enjoyed just spending time together as a family. I am so thankful that we have family that lives so close and for the wonderful influence they are in my life. I always cherish celebrating the Christmas Season with my family and loved ones.

Zoo

We had the opportunity to go to the zoo last week and we had so much fun. Grandma Wyand was nice enough to get us in for free with her membership and McKenna had so much fun. I would say her favorite animal was the baboons. She ran up and started making monkey sounds and would tell them "hi." She also loved the kids play area and brushing the goats. Which by the way were the most docile goats ever, they just laid there while McKenna brushed them and gave them hugs. She of course had to go on the carousel and laughed and waved to everyone the whole time, especially my brother Jacob. She wanted to hold his hand half the time and even cuddled with him in the monkey enclosure-she loved Uncle Jacob:)

New Family Pics

Last week we ventured out to the Mesa Arts Center to have our pictures done with my sister in laws family. It was a fun time if you consider that McKenna wanted nothing to do with any of it and Chris was annoyed because the photographer wouldn't tell us when she was going to take the picture. She definitly went more for the random shots. There were a few that I liked out of probably 200 photos and she did make us a beautiful Christmas Card. I don't know if they would have turned out better under other circumstances-McKenna could just care less about pictures right now.

Catch Up

I cannot believe that we are in December already. I feel bad that I have not posted anything in a while especially about our wonderful Thanksgiving week. My Grandpa Wright was here for about 2 weeks visiting from Colorado so it was great to have him here in town. McKenna towards the end of his trip would wave at him and we did get her to give him a kiss goodbye which was a start. The day before Thanksgiving we went with my family to Zoo Lights and McKenna had so much fun. I think her favorite thing of all was riding the carousel. She loved it! She waved at everyone and gave hugs and kisses to her tiger and leopard-she is obsessed with all things animal and loves them sometimes a little to much:) We had an amazing Thanksgiving lunch at my in-laws and it was fun to see everyone there and then we went for dinner at my parents. Throughout the day I just kept thinking how lucky I am to have such an amazing family. Moving on to other business-McKenna started nursery officially about 3 weeks ago and has stayed by herself the last 2 weeks. It was weird going to Sunday School and actually being able to listen-it was way too easy. I'm enjoying my new calling in YW -I'm just so impressed by the young women in our ward-they are all truly special. We got our tree up and McKenna helped with the decorating until she found a reindeer and bear stuffed animal in our Christmas Stuff after that she tended to them only. Last night McKenna, Jessie, and I went to our ward Christmas Party. (Chris had to work of course). It was an evening in Bethlehem so everyone dressed in biblical attire. I just wore my bathrobe but I didn't have anything for McKenna so I took one of my old t-shirts and and cut it into a beautiful hot pink robe. She liked it even better by adding her necklace and Elmo sticker. We had fun and McKenna actually was pretty chill I think because she was so tired and she has had a sinus infection for the last week. She has to be on antibiotics for 20 days-crazy. I think she is finally starting to feel better though:)

Twilight

Was the movie as good as the book...No of course not. However, I still loved every moment of it. Sure there were a few cheesy parts but some parts in the book were cheesy too. Vampire Baseball-need I say more. I am so happy that they just announced that they are going to make New Moon and hopefully they will spend more time on it knowing that it will make money. I was able to see it on Friday night with my two sisters and it was so much fun because we all love the books. The only sad thing is that I will have to find some other book to obsess over until New Moon will be made.

High School Reunion

It was a crazy weekend seeing some people that I haven't seen in 10 years. That's right it was my ten year high school reunion. It was great to see everyone and I thought that most people looked exactly the same if not better than what they looked in high school. The reunion itself was held at Chase Ball Field in an upper level sports lounge and it was a great venue for the event. There was dinner a little entertainment and some great conversations. The only thing I was surprised about was the lack of people. We had like 550 in our graduating class and only 120 people were there. Hopefully more will make it out to the 20th! Oh and thanks to Tommy for keeping Chris occupied with some awesome picture taking:)

High Heeled Shoes

I heard this clomp clomp sound coming from the hallway a couple of days ago and this is what I found. McKenna has been obsessed with shoes for quite some time and now she likes to wear mine all over the house. I must admit that she walks pretty well in shoes that are way too big for her:)

Halloween 2008

I was so excited that McKenna actually wore her costume because a couple of months ago she cried when I put it on her. She thought she was so big this year holding her Elmo bucket and going trick or treating with her cousin Rylan. We went around two streets in our neighborhood and that was more than plenty since it took us almost an hour to go that far. Nana and Grandpa Braegger came over to and it was nice of them to hand out candy so Chris could come with Angie and I. The night ended sort of badly when McKenna opened a glow in the dark necklace and got some of that goo in her eye. We had to flush her eye which got her face wet which she is not a huge fan of so it was sad, but we got it all out and she was fine.

Fun on the Farm

For some reason I love pumpkin patches and everything that comes with it. I think it is because growing up we would always go to a pumpkin patch in California near my great grandparents house and I have so many fond memories of it. Once we moved to Arizona we went to one up north in Dewey for a few years and more recently I was introduced to Schnepf Farms. We ventured there with my sister in law Angie, my mother in law Janet and cousin Rylan and had so much fun. (For about three hours and then the girls were done:) We went on the hayride, rode the merry-go-round, fed some sheep, and went on the little train that they had there. McKenna loved the rides and Chris and I both took turns taking her on each one. She also loved the animals in the petting zoo, especially the goats. I don't think I have ever heard her laugh so hard. She also gave the sheep some food and then proceeded to hug them afterward. It is great to see her having these experiences even if she will not remember them. I guess that's why we write about this sort of stuff-

Cruise

Chris and I just got back yesterday from our wonderful vacation. McKenna did great with my parents and we had a marvelous time on our cruise. We did the four day from Long Beach that has ports in Catalina and Ensenada. Catalina was beautiful as always and we took a semi-submersible sub around the cove. We saw some pretty fish and best of all we didn't have to get wet. Ensenada is pretty much how I remember it-ugly and dirty. We took a bus to see the not so great blowhole and did some shopping in the local flea market. Then we had our guide drop us off on the beach and we rode horses for about an hour. Horseback riding is hard work- Chris and I loved our little vacation but by Thursday I was really missing McKenna, so the cruise was the perfect length. On Friday we got to take my dad out to breakfast in California before heading up to Vegas for my cousin Mallory's wedding. When we saw McKenna she reached up to me and I picked her up and she held my face in her hands and just stared at me-it was cute:) She wasn't really mad at us but she was a little unsure of the situation. After an hour though she was her old self. Friday night Chris and I went to see the new Criss Angel Cirque Show at the Luxor-don't waste your money. The show had a few highlights, but mostly it was just so-so with Criss Angel talking way too much. Saturday was the big day for Mallory and Josh and their wedding was gorgeous. I'm sad though because I don't know when I will see her next because they will be living in England-he is from there. McKenna was exhausted by the time the reception started and since Chris was the DJ I had little miss all to myself. By the end I just gave up and let her have her pacifier-bad I know. We had a wonderful time but home sure is nice too.

So Much Fun

McKenna and I have been having so much fun in parent-tot class we have been taking. She loves the climbing, balancing, music, playing etc... The only thing she is not too fond of is the parachute. Each week when the teacher gets it out she looks at me and shakes her head no and runs away. This last week though she helped me hold it while the other kids ran underneath it and she laughed-it was progress anyway. She recently formed the habit of carrying one of my purses around the house and she likes to take it with her in the car, it is the cutest watching her grow into a little girl. She now loves to wear shoes all the time even in the house and will attempt to put them on by herself. Like mommy all the way there:) She is just at such a fun age right now-talking jibberjab, being affectionate, running everywhere. Hopefully she will do okay when Chris and I leave on Monday for the cruise-I'm sure with Aunt Jessie there she will be okay. I'm already thinking how sad it will be to leave her, and to think that I wanted to take a week long cruise. It will be a much needed vacation for Chris and I though so hopefully everything goes smoothly.

Six Year Anniversary

On Saturday Chris and I celebrated our six year wedding anniversary. I still can't believe it. We had a wonderful day that started off with me getting flowers and a wonderful card. I surprised Chris later that afternoon with a reflexology massage from a new place that just opened up by our house. WE both loved the massage and it was a wonderul surprise for Chris. After that we went to dinner at Texas Road House-which was excellent-we had never been there before. The rolls alone are worth going for. Then we went to see Kung FU Panda at the dollar theatre. I know it was a weird choice but there really wasn't anything playing elsewhere that we wanted to see. It was a great day, but really everyday with Chris is. He is for me the most handsome, adoring, caring, loving, talented man that I know. Which makes me pretty lucky since I am married to him.