Mack Attack

A.k.a., McKay, Mackers, Macker-loo-eez, Mack-ee-looz....8 months old now!

Weekend

Last weekend, our plans morphed from an overnight stay in Lancaster, PA to visit the family-oriented theme park "Dutch Wonderland", to a day of yard work, playing in a fantastic rainstorm, and dinner at IHOP (where kids eat free after 4!).

You know, changing plans isn't always bad.

THIS is what all the fuss was about?!

Remember my post a while back lamenting that we had not gotten the digital converter box for our TV, so I was unable to watch my fave dance show?

Well, we got the coupon and we got the box.

And you know what?

LAME!

We got more channels before the box. Furthermore, the ones we got didn't skip in and out because it was "unable to find signal".

On a side note, when we try to "adjust the signal", it sounds like an old Atari game. So that is one good thing.

I am through complaining.

Nothing Short of Miracle

Some miracles you can buy.
After 2 unsuccessful attempts at individual swimming lessons for Lucas and 1 for Gabey, we just finished a 2-week, 8-session group lesson with miraculous results. The pictures of Lucas doing a front float are a far cry from the little boy who wouldn't put his face in the water when this all started. And Gabey, who wasn't quite as hesitant as Lucas, but not thrilled with the idea, was turning somersaults (literally) underwater by the end. Huzzah!

Thank you to my friend Wendi for (1) suggesting this pool for the lessons, and (2) taking these pictures with her fancy-schmancy new camera.

Solids

They're a hit!

Utah

McKay and cousin Scout

BFF's Lucas and cousin Alex

Jumping to Uncle Andy at the lake

Gabey using my nursing shield as a superhero cape while sis Al laughs and McKay makes a classic McKay face

Mommy, look how high I climbed!

Climbing at Daybreak Lake in South Jordan.

Swinging at the lake. Isn't a he such a little Cory? Especially when Cory wears that hat...twinners.

Rasmussen cousins, minus Lincoln and Tad (missed you, Scott and Brooke!)

Blogger and I are having issues and I cannot move my pictures. Thus, you get ALL the pictures first then ALL the words.

We returned from a 2-week (1-week for Cory) visit to Utah a couple of weeks ago. Always fun to visit the Motherland. Highlights of the trip included....

1.Being with family

2. Taking the kids to the Utah Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House, with Grandpa giving us the tour.

3. 4th of July bbq

4. Playing with cousins

5.Getting a speeding ticket after dropping Cory off at the airport after deciding last minute to not go to the family reunion (a big reason we had gone to Utah at this time) in Idaho because McKay was sick. So, it was just me and my boys at my parents' house. Fortunately, my sister Ali came to babysit us for a bit, and my brother Andy and his family. We went to the Daybreak Lake and played.

6. Talking to my mom while we were both up at unreasonable hours of the morning...me with a baby, her with her crazy sleeping schedule

7. My sis Al taking me to get a new swimsuit. I haven't been swimming suit shopping for about 15 years because I've worn hand me down suits. Ha!

8. Going to the pool with my sis Jules and my mom and our 5 kids...how did THAT happen (the 5 kids part)?!?!

9. Watching family videos so my sis-in-law Maida could laugh at me wearing my hideous headgear (OK. I laughed, too).

10. Visiting Provo and BYU

11. A make-up consultation, thanks to my madre

12. Meeting our newest niece/cousin, Scout, and being able to be at her blessing

13. Meeting my future bro-in-law

McKay and his cousin Abi...she liked to give him "love pats" and he liked to pull her hair.

Southern Virginia

Virginia Beach

Colonial Williamsburg

We took a quick trip this weekend to Williamsburg and Virginia Beach. Unfortunately, the 2 hour drive to Williamsburg turned into a 4 hour drive due to traffic, so we didn't have a lot of time to spend there, but it was fun to get a taste of it. Cory and I decided we'll have to go back for a little us only vacation next spring. Any volunteers to watch our children for a weekend?

We stayed the night there -- how excited were the boys to stay in a hotel (very) -- and then drove an hourish the next morning to Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach was the most crowded yet of the beaches we've been to out here (VA, SC, and DE)...then we realized this is the first time we've actually gone to the beach in the middle of summer. We all had a great time.

Lucas is getting braver about going farther out into the waves with me. A year ago Gabey wouldn't go near the shoreline, but this time he was playing in the waves as they crashed to shore and wasn't phased when they knocked him down face first. McKay was intrigued by the water running over his toes, and was then lulled to sleep by the sound of the crashing waves.