These are a few of my favorite things....

I simply love the point in our bedtime routine where , teeth are brushed , books are read and Mackenzie says " Let's just talk for a while". One of two things happens then a) she asks me a question that has been plaguing her little almost three year old mind like " Why do I poop?" followed by an explanation of her digestive system OR b) she starts a sentence that goes something like this: " Because I don't like it when I hear that siren. Because it's loud. Because someone needs help. Because daddy's at work. Because he isn't here. Because...." Then I love kissing her little squeaky clean cheeks and feeling her arms wrapping around my neck for a big hug and hearing her say " I love you, mommy. For ever and ever. and EVER!"

Ludington

Since we were in the traveling mood ( and the weather was being cooperative), we decided to pay G.G. a visit! We got a late start but arrived just in time for dinner at a local restaurant. When we got home, I challenged G.G. to a game of Rummy to which she agreed and then promptly beat both Mike and me at nearly every hand.
Eventually Gramma offered a show of mercy, suggesting a game of domino's instead.While we readily agreed, our luck was only slightly better. We did realize that we both really like playing domino's!
Mack quickly remembered how to use the candy dispenser that my Grandpa made. I found her helping herself to a few M&M's:

The time to go home always comes too soon! I am always inspired when I spend time with my Grandma. I hope this spring/summer brings lots more visits and that many more memories.

Zhender's Splash Park

After three weeks of 80+ hour work weeks, I decided to surprise Mike (and Mack) with a trip to Zhender's Indoor Splash Park in Frankemuth. We all needed a chance of scenery and, with Mike having 6 days off in a row, this was just the time and place for it!

We stopped for a bite to eat before hitting the hotel. Mack was so excited about the water park, she could hardly stop bouncing! Here we are finally heading out the door:

I was itching to try out some action shots on my camera but opted to get in the water instead. We swam for 2.5 hours before we were all ready to cuddle up in jammies. After a quick rinse in the tub, Mack had the right idea:
And you can bet we were up bright and early the next day:
We wandered around down town for a few hours before the pool opened again. Just after lunch, Mike and Mack got ready for the pool and jumped in. The park was so bright and big, it was easy to float away the day on the lazy river. :

Mack tried everything ( aside from one of the bigger slides). Her favorite was the kids slide which sent her sliding into about 2 ft of water. She didn't even reach the bottom of the slide before she shouted " AGAIN!". The second day, Mike and Mack decided to try taking their tube down the largest of the slides. They climbed what seemed like a hundred flights of stairs before they finally reached to top. In Mike's words, the slide was " fast and dark".
So fast that Mike lost his glasses upon entry to the water:
A very nice life guard helped him scour the bottom of the pool to find them. There was lots of father daughter bonding time . Here are two of my favorite snaps:

That " DUH!" moment

Mike, who was in a particularly affectionate mood, was cuddling with Mackenzie on the bed when this conversation took place:

Mike: I just love you so much. I wish I could keep you this size for ever.
Mackenzie, focused on the TV show she was watching, says nothing.
Mike: But if I kept you little, I never get to see what you grow up to be.
Mackenzie, still unaffected by the conversation,remains silent.
Mike persists: What do you think you'll grow up to be?
Mackenzie ( finally looking at Mike): Tall.

Beautiful Ballerina

My little ballerina has very interesting fashion sense

And she's quite creative

She can wear a pair of heels with the best of 'em

Gooey, glue-y hearts

We are tired of snow man art projects around here and , since Valentines day is less than a month away, we have moved on to hearts! Here we are making gooey, gluey hearts:

1/4 c corn starch
1/2 cup water
Mix together and heat until nice and "gooey"
8-12 inch pieces of yarn
Food coloring ( optional. We used "red" since we were using boring white yarn)

You know it's really messy when even Mack wants to wash her hands!
Wipe any "extra" goo off of the gluey yarn and put it into the cookie cutters:
They needed a day to dry:
And here they are :

"I just can do it!"

Anyone who has spent any time around Mackenzie during the last few weeks has likely heard her say " I just can do it!" What can she do, you wonder? ANYTHING! At least that's what her nearly three mentality tells her. She wants to ( and can do) most anything that she's seen me do once or twice. Here are a few pics of her favorite " can do" things:

We searched for new tooth paste that dispensed a pre-metered dose so she could squirt just the right amount:
Picking out her own outfit and dressing herself is a must. Sometimes it gets a little tricky:
Cheering when the goal is accomplished is a must:
She doesn't do that fancy stuff yet, but she can get most of the tangles out:
Peeling her own orange:
It's a lot of fun to watch her gain independence. Every day she learns something new and I couldn't be more proud of her!

Practice makes...for lots of editing!

I am having lots of fun learning how to use my new camera. With the help of my friend, Meg, I've managed to adjust the "advanced" settings for my need. She tells me that practice is truly what makes for a good photographer so practice I do! Little did I know that with taking pictures comes editing pictures. I haven't gotten much into all the details of photo enhancement, mainly just cropping and making fun collages, but that's enough to keep me busy. ( You can see how Mack feels about being my subject)

Music Class

After much thought, I decided to re-enroll Mack into music class. At the end of the last session, she seemed a little disinterested in the class and more interested in the soccer players in the next field over. Over Christmas break, Mack asked to go music class every day to see what Ms. Marie is doing. That was enough of a sign that we needed try it again.

Since the new session began, Mack has been eager go to and has really blossomed in the class. Last week, she raised her hand to share with the class that her favorite food is pasta!Here are a few pictures from music class with Ms. Marie:

Waiting to go ( After much practice, I mastered the art of the double french braid!)

The class is held at an indoor soccer field. Marie has tons of toys to play on, climb over, push and spin. During the first half hour of class, the kids get to play, run or jump to their hearts content:

Playing on the merry-go-round. It's always her first stop:
Reading inside the tomato and looking so grown up!:

She loves to climb up this ladder, cross the bridge and go down the ladder on the opposite side:
Learning to cross the balance beam solo:


Time for music class, March, Mack!
Look at all those instruments:
Mack's the leader! This song starts out with everyone holding hands but ends up with just the kids and Marie holding hands and making a train that weaves in and out through the parents:
Class ends with parachute time, which requires everyone to use two hands ( hence the lack of pictures)
This music class has been so good for Mackenzie. Not only does it teach her about rhythm, beat and coordination, it's taught her to listen to direction from someone not so familiar and how to participate in a group. Mackenzie loves Ms. Marie and asks for her often. She told me the other day that she needed me to take her to wake Ms. Marie up for music class. I asked her where Marie lives and she said " In the soccer field!"

Starfall.com

My sister introduced me to a fantastic website called starfall.com . It's a preschool- early elementary site dedicated to the phases of reading and math. Mack plays on the " Learning to read" section and the site is so easy to navigate that she can do it all on her own!

Friends!

We met up with Angie, Hannah and Mia at " The Tree House" this week. Angie is a fellow March Mama and we met through the cafemom.com group. It's always fun to hang out with her and the girls because we have a lot in common, although I am envious of her " SuperMOM" skills and her ability to sew ( to name a few). Our trip to the Tree House was so much fun and after a little prodding, Mack finally decided that she would try a little climbing. After her first trip down, she could only be stopped for a quick bite of lunch.

Angie treated the girls to a slushie!
Buddies:

P.S. The Tree House is such a great place! Clean and wide open, mom's don't have to worry as much about germs or losing their kids in the nooks and crannies. An added bonus- it's a nut free facility which is a big relief for Angie because Hannah has nut allergy! Thanks for introducing us, Angie.

What does Duncan think ?

Cats are hard creatures to read but every now and again they send a very clear message. Here's how Duncan truly feels about life in general:

Stretch those muscles!

Mack thinks it's so cool that Mike and I exercise. When she sees us in our work out gear, she immediately heads to my bedroom, returning with my 4 lb dumbbells. As she lifts them, she grunts and strains just like a real body builder. After a few reps, she declares herself " stretched" and resumes regular activity.
( I myself had just worked out so pardon the....ick)

Couch fort

Once a week or so I'll pull the couch cushions off and, using them, the kitchen chairs and a big blanket, will make Mack a couch fort. She loves to read her books , play with her Zhu Zhu pets and have her snack in the fort. Once the fort is erected, it usually stays put through the day ( or until the popcorn Mack had for snack finds it's way to the floor ).

This day the fort sparked a new game: Mack was a Pirate Princess looking for lost treasure. The lost treasures were sealed behind doors but, coincidentally, Mack had the key to all the doors in her crown! What exactly is this lost treasure you ask? Chocolate and jewelry, of course! And, in case you're ever in need of lost treasure, the dryer is the best place to find it!

A photo op of the Pirate Princess herself:

And now she's the Pirate Queen:

The Rat Pack

Ok, so technically, they are hamsters. But " The Hamster Pack" isn't as catchy.

As reported in the Christmas post, Mack got a Zhu Zhu pet ( with a few accessories) for Christmas. She loves " Sweet Pea" so much, he became a regular ( and slightly creepy) member of our little family. Seeing how Mackenzie's love for her pet, Grammy couldn't resist when she saw a few of the pets at an after Christmas sale. That day , two more pets ( and a carrying case and blanket) entered the house, thus creating " The Rat Pack"

From Left to right: Sweet Pea, Kashier ( CAW-sure) and Ginger:
I have no idea how these names came to mind, but they have stuck. Now I'm finding Zhu Zhu pets in the most interesting places. Hey, it keeps life interesting!

"Bowling class"

What you need:
3-6 two liter bottles ( empty)
A ball of any kind

What you get:
" Bowling class" ( as referred to by Mackenzie)

Rules:
-For those three and under, the game is to be played topless.
-Set up the "pins" in any fashion. Roll the ball towards the pins ( NOTE: Do not throw the ball. This results in a TIME OUT)
-Shout and clap. Repeat. If you knock down all the pins, don't forget to shout " STRIKE IT OUT!"
-Repeat. Over and over. And over.

Nice form, Mack!

Setting up her own pins and sporting a bit of a plumbers crack:

Super Daddy!

Daddy is a super star! Not only has he mastered the art of the matching outfit, he's now learned to braid hair! Mackenzie is such a lucky little girl to have such a great daddy.

The process: Though everyone looks a little bewildered, things went fairly smoothly:
The result:
And it stayed in all day! Bonus!