Update

Things have been so , so busy here! It seems we go from one activity to the next and , though we love it, it's making the summer fly right by!

We've been to countless birthday parties, bbqs, trips to the museum and playdates. Mackenzie is developing quite the sense of humor but no one finds her funnier than she finds herself. She seems to be getting back to her old self though a case of the terrifying threes can show up at any time. She's such a fun , fun girl and loves to be out and about.

Mackenzie and Makenzie celebrating Makenzie's 8th birthday:

Of late, Mike is either working, sleeping or doing home work. This quarter in school has been especially challenging with the move and starting a new job. Though he is busy with work or school, he has had a few chances to get out and soak up some rays at the swimming pool or hang out with friends at a BBQ. I'm hoping those chances will come more often when things quiet down with school.

I've started an online photography class and I'm really enjoying it. It helps to know that back ground information and I'm hoping it will help me get more intentionally decent shots rather than just the occasional lucky snap. Seems I'm getting better, though and I really enjoy it.

On top of all the running around we've been doing,we've also started our house hunt. It's been pretty trying. We've looked at about 7 houses and loved two enough to put offers in only to get into a bidding war and lose. We absolutely love our realtor and she's just as determined as we are to get us in the perfect place. I'm sure there will be more to follow on that front....

On the horizon we've got a visit from Nicole next week and not long after that, a trip to Kansas for Andy and Andie's wedding!

Here's a little friend Mack found while helping me water the garden:
She isn't the best gardener but her intentions were true . It's her own unique way of dead-heading the plant:

Just another day on the farm

Mack has become quite the farm girl. She can effortlessly catch a chicken ( by the wing...her form still needs work), feed the turkeys and climb to the top of the hay stack!

Feeding the herd:
She is " rocking him to sleep". I think he's wishing he were a nugget:

The " top of the world!"

Something to remember....

The other day , I was doing what all moms do- multi-tasking;checking off things on my mental " to do" list and picking up stray toys on my way to grab Mack's pajamas. As I'm on my way back to the bathroom-jammies in hand, I hear Mack's excited voice say " LET THE SHOW BEGIN!" . Fearful,I quicken my step just in time to stop her from using a bath tub toy funnel as an exciting new potty. I'm really glad I stopped that one before it happened.

Isn't three fun?!

New members

Today Mike, Mack and I all became Brighton United Methodist church's newest members. This was the first church we visited upon landing in Colorado. It's the only UMC in Brighton which is where we hope to eventually live so we thought we'd start thing, thinking we'd have to shop around a bit. From the very first visit to this church, Mike and I felt very comfortable and at home there. Though it's bittersweet to leave behind the South Lyon church family, they are still apart of who we are and we think of them often!

Nope! Can't do it.

I just can't look at this picture of my Sunshine girl with out smiling. What a treasure she is:



Lost in thought:

Lady bug hunt

While playing in the garden the other day, Mack found 15 lady bugs! Most of them were found atop the sunflower plants so she really had to stretch for them. Don't you love this hat? Mack does , too. I'm on a hunt of my own to find another one since this one quite frequently gets stuck on her head!

Ballerina Mackenzie

Gram's got Mack a real ballet out fit. She loved it so much, she even wore it to lunch later that day . You can imagine all the compliments she received:

Here she is combining two of her talents- noise making and ballerina:

A rude thing....

Since the day I taught Mack how to use scissors, I have also taught her that they are used for paper only. Each time we start a project, I remind her that she is never to use scissors to cut her hair. So you can imagine my reaction when Mack came to me, a strand of hair in one hand, her safety scissors in the other. She knew by the look on my face that I was very upset. All I could say was " You are NEVER to use scissors on your hair!" Her face crumpled and tears of the most sincere regret poured down her face. After some time in her room to think about her actions, we sat on her bed to have a chat. " I'm so sorry mommy!" She said and the tears flowed again. Never have I seen a little girl so sincerely sorry. When I asked her later why she was crying, she said " Because you said a rude thing!" When I asked her for more detail, she said she didn't like it when I said " You NEVER cut hair!" because she didn't like that I was sad. My heart broke for her that day because I knew how deeply sorry she was and still is to this day. So here's a picture of the damage which could have been much worse. My sneaking suspicion is this is Mack's way of being Rapunzel who had a snippet of her hair cut off ( in approximately the same location). We had, indeed, just watched Tangled the night before:

Mike's old " new" job

Mike has been working the last (nearly) two months on the Burn/Trauma unit at the University of Colorado medical center. He's really enjoyed his co-workers and the patients. There is a comradery amongst the team that he didn't feel at U of M and an atmosphere that Mike will flourish in career-wise ( there is lots of opportunity for his advancement in the nursing side of things and the research side). So it's no surprise that Mike immediately accepted the offer to forgo another cycle on the travel nurse team and stay on the unit permanently. His manager has heard nothing but great things about Mike who's co-workers have all ranked him in their " top three" of nurses to work with and there is speculation that Mike will soon be promoted to charge nurse! To top that, he's received many compliments and sentiments of gratitude from patients and their families . I am so proud of Mike and we are so excited for what's to come in Mike's career!

If you wanna know more about UCH's burn/trauma unit, click here

Cousins

I can never pass up on a chance to get a picture of Mack with family, especially cousins. Cousins are built in best friends. I know for both Mike and me, our cousins are apart of many special memories. So, though they quarrel and tattle sometimes, I know that Mackenzie will look back on memories with them and feel the same way.


Times when the kids are together is often bittersweet since it makes me miss the Hansford crew who are in Arizona. I can't wait to see them again . Until then, I hope they can feel the hugs and kisses we are sending their way every day.

Check out Mack's self designed cowgirl outfit:

First summer zucchini

Look what Mack found in the garden yesterday:
Everyone is already standing in line for Gram's zucchini bread!

Oh, Colorado!

Something about the summer scenes around here make me want to learn more about nature photography! Check out these pics I snapped tonight. One side of the house was surrounded by these thick gray clouds while the other was a beautiful , clear sunset!


The BRIGHT sunset on the western side:
Gus isn't sure he has the same appreciation as I do:

More odds and Ends

Here are a few snapshots that didn't really fit into other blogs but I thought would be fun to share them:

This is Mack playing house with her little friends. I will try to get a video of her playing because her conversations and interactions are so involved now. The other night after I'd put her to bed, I heard her telling her stuffed animals " Now you sit here and you here and I will drive. Don't touch this, though. It might be hot. OK? Excellente! ( with Spanish accent and all! ) "
Another toad friend wasn't quick enough to escape Mackenzie's grasp. She is really gentle with them but I don't think there is any such thing as " gentle enough" for these guys:
Mack's become quite the little artist. Here's her drawing of a cat. Do you see how she wrote the word next to it all on her own?


I found this shirt on clearance for $3 and I could not pass it up. I cannot think of a more perfect shirt for our little Mac' N 'Cheese lover. It's a size 6 so I'm hoping that means we'll get lots of use out of it.

Gram's on the mend!

My mom has surgery last week to remove two bulging vertebrae in her neck. The surgery was done with the hopes that she'd regain the use of her hands and alleviate back pain. It was a very long and complicated surgery but it seems the desired goal was accomplished. Although mom hasn't had the energy to fully test the surgeons work, she has been able to paint for a little while with no pain, something she hadn't been able to do before.

This picture of my Aunt Janis behind the hostess desk at the hospital still makes me smile. I am glad she was there to make the time pass . She has always taken such good care of my mom.

My mom is not one who slows down easily. Here she is her first morning home checking her garden:


And of course, she had her pajama clad partner in crime right beside her for the excursion:
Mack was pretty worried about Gram's after the surgery but the incision site didn't freak her out as much as the neck brace she wore for a few days .All in all, Mack is loving having Gram's home every day . I'm not sure what she's gonna think when it's time for her to go back to work!

Being Free!

We made the most of the long Independence day weekend by filling it full of food, fireworks and fun! With mom having just had surgery, we tried to keep things fairly quiet around the house. On the 3rd, Mack and I traveled to Keenesburg for a BBQ with the Reynold's clan. Mackenzie had a blast playing in the water with " the boys" ( as she refers to Brock and Malachi) before eating and then heading to watch fireworks.

Mackenzie's first look at fireworks. " WOW!" She exclaims:
Mack's favorite type of firework " Spaghetti"


On the fourth, my dad grilled sausages and hotdogs as well as the best , fresh corn! Later, Mike built a fire pit and we roasted marshmallows, made s'mores and watched the sun go down. Once it did, Mike set of a few fireworks to celebrate the day.

Mack made this flag all on her own!:
Grammy sent us a July box of goodies which included these shirts along with many other fun treats:
Mack waiting for the fire to get going:

There it is! Bring on the marshmallows and s'mores!


My dad in deep thought: