Stretching my artistic muscles

My love of photography has always been present but when I had Mackenzie, it became more than just something I'd learn " some day". I felt a responsibility to capture special moments for her, photos that would jog foggy memories later in life and help recreate feelings she had as a child. One of the best material gifts I've ever gotten is my DSLR camera , given to me three years ago by Mike. I love every bit of photography, from seeing a photo in my mind and figuring out how to make it happen before I even push a button to editing the hundreds pictures I've taken. With the help of some good photography friends, I've really learned a lot over the last year. Because I post so many photos, friends that I haven't seen since high school now recognize my kids before they recognize me when we run into them around town. Lately, I've been branching out and taking pictures of people other than my two favorite subjects. I have no desire to take pictures professionally but I can't describe the excitement and joy I get when I capture a photo that I know a good friend or family member will love. I have a long way to go with lots left to learn but it sure has been fun along the way. I got to snap Logan's 9 month pictures today. I don't know who was more thankful- Cass for me taking Logan's pictures or me for her letting me take them! Here's a favorite:

He makes it so easy! Look how beautiful he is!

Mission accomplished!

Mack's New Years resolution was to learn to tie her shoes and to grow freckles. Phase one: completed!

Happy Birthday, Mike!

Mike's birthday sent him flashing back to 1992 when he was snowed in for his special day. Colorado got about 6 inches of snow in our area but varying amounts across the Denver Metro area effectively shut down anything exciting, including the beer cruise Mike was planning on attending. Instead, he opened his gifts and then had the day to himself -working on his train layout a bit, reading and making his own dinner ( at his request!) He cooked up some very tasty ribs and we cut into the cake Mack and I made. Once the dishes were cleared, though, Mack , who had been battling a viral infection, spiked another fever and , upon inspection, we noticed her throat looking suspiciously like a strep infection had invaded. After a little deliberation, Mike decided he would take his girl to The Children's Hospital ER ( It was the Long family's 3rd trip there in two months) . It wasn't the place he planned to spend his birthday but I know there is no place he'd rather be. The rapid Strep test was negative so Mike and Mack stocked up on popsicles and headed home. All cozied into bed that night, Mike said " 33 feels a lot like 34",a very "Mike "thing to say :)

Mason enjoying Mike's cooking

11 Months

Mason is 11 months! Here's a run down of his new tricks:

Stair climbing
Self feeding
Expert Cruiser
Climbing into things ( like the bathtub)
Making driving noises as he pushes his cars and trucks

Favorite pastimes:
Knocking down his sisters towers
" feeding" people things
Bouncing balls
Stalking the Trash guys
Watching the happenings on the street from the screen door
Demolition of any kind
Mashing food into his hair

We are just over a week away from our big trip to Michigan, Mason's first big trip...anywhere! I have a feeling the month of April will fly by and we'll be celebrating our little one year old before we know it!

Trash Day

Trash day is suddenly worthy of tons of excitement around our house. Mason can be playing, totally involved in what he's doing, but when the trash truck pulls up, he hurries over to the door or window and watches until the truck drives out of site, chattering and screeching all the while. Lucky for Mason, he gets to watch on our trash day and the neighbors!

Birthday fun continues

Mack got so many thoughtful gifts for her birthday and we're having so much fun trying all of them out!

My brother and his family got Mack a scrap booking kit that kept her busy for two hours. I think we have a future paper crafter!


Andy and Andrea sent Mack a gift card and she picked out a dinosaur excavating kit. With in minutes of it's arrival, she had it open and was carefully dusting and tapping away at a hidden T-rex. She was all business with her safety goggles on . When those clouded up with dust, she decided her swim goggles would feel better. An hour later, she had this beauty free!

Suck 'em up!

My sister, Nicole, found a gift that had Mackenzie written all over it for her birthday. All the kids were jealous when Mack unwrapped this bug vacuum! Not only does it suck up the wiggly creatures before they can skitter away, but as soon as the bug is inside the canister, a switch is flipped and the bug is safely sealed inside behind a magnifying glass! This has provided a few afternoons of fun:

First worm of the year!

Not to be left out, Mason tagged along with us while we scouted for bugs ( and by " tagged along" I mean fussed and cried REAL tears until I just couldn't deny him). Last week, he played in the sand box for the first time and since then  is set on having his hands and...mouth.. dirty as much as possible.

Another milestone

 Guess who's got her very first loose tooth?

There's a whole lotta wigglin' goin on over here, and eating of crunchy foods. Mackenzie cannot wait to place her pearly white underneath her pillow. We've got a ways to go but I think we'll be visited by the tooth fairy soon!

Countin down

Yet another count down in underway in the Long house. We are less than two weeks out from our departure for Michigan!  With an ever growing list of people and places to see, we are getting pretty antsy!

Get your rain boots on!

Hello, again!

Mack takin' a spin on the merry go round

I hardly feel like we earned it, but spring has arrived in Colorado ( Not to say that winter won't show it's face again. It's been known to snow here into early June). Mack and I celebrated the first warm day with a trip to the park.

Happy Hansford week!

All smiles, even Buddy!

The Hansford crew pulled in from Arizona a bit late as they had to wait for the storm that was centered on us to pass through. It worked out well, though, since we could reschedule Mack's birthday party so that they could be here to celebrate. It's always so much fun to sit back and watch as the kids get to know each other again  .  Mack was so excited to hang out with her cousins! I could barely tear her away from play time unless she was hungry!

Taylor Bug has been waiting a long time
to get her arms around this boy

So hard to believe they'll be ten in a few months! Despite that fact,
sometimes I can close my eyes and still see them as little toddlers, dressed in their
princess dresses

Sweet moment

Mason hangin with Auntie Nikki while we waited for lunch

Work out with Mack

Mackenzie has been occasionally working out with me over the last few weeks. She's picked up some really great moves!

Stargazers

Mike got Mackenzie a telescope for her birthday. It'd been in it's box in Mack's closet until the last two nights because of cloudy skies. But now that we are having a healthy dose of spring here, they've been out scopin' out the skies!

Read to go!

Mike using his laser pointer to show Mack
the Big Dipper

They found Jupiter AND four of it's moons

Catching up

Remember the mini-castrophes I  alluded to before?  Well, they got even worse when Mason shared his tummy bug with me and I to Mackenzie. This was not the best timing since Mike was already feeling really sore after his procedure. So you can imagine how much worse it all got when , on top of all that, our dishwasher began leaking! We knew that the people who'd put in the hardwood flooring had floored in the dishwasher so we knew exactly what this meant. My sister happened to be in town with her family so there was a full weeks worth of plans already made. Mike began tearing out the flooring ( Thankfully he was feeling much less sore and I had a few percocet left over after my c-section.) When all was said and done, Super Hubby had fixed the dishwasher and completely replaced the flooring in the kitchen in just over 24 hours . He'd have had it done that day except that the subfloor needed to dry. I can't say it enough...this man is just too good to be true!  10.5 years later, I'm still pinching myself.




With the ever curious Mason on the loose, Mike asked if I could take the kids to my moms. Off we went while Mike worked magic in the kitchen .

Nap on the go! THIS may have made the
whole ordeal worth it.

Lucky day! Papa brought home this years chicks
while we were there to give daddy space to work with out helpers.

Mason is not chick friendly. He had to watch from afar.

Mack and Mason watching the guys across the street play basketball

Happy 5th Birday, MC!!

Birthday recap in pictures!( I apologize in advance for the way this post will show up. Blogger doesn't like so many pictures in one post)

We celebrated Mack's birthday with her classmates
early because, lucky for us, Mack had her actual day off.
I picked chocolate cupcakes for Mack and her for her
teacher who is pregnant and craving chocolate.

Presents trickled in over the week and Mack
was so excited for each and every one!

With Mack's new reading skills, I thought having a scavenger hunt
would be a great way to start off her day. Each clue was taped to a
small present all leading up to her real present.

Mike and I worked side by side after the kids were in bed.
He assemebled the bike while I wrote the clues that would lead Mack
to it.

Just as we finished the balloon wall, Mack emerged to go potty.
It's always interesting to see how she will react. She doesn't really like surprises
but sometimes she is happy about them. This time she wasn't so excited.
" I just need to pee!" She said in her groggy morning voice. From here, we started our hunt!

A short snippet from the hunt

Surprise! Her brand new Cars bike!

Her goodies! Complete with sugary cereal just for her special day

Despite her cool reaction to the balloon wall, later it was all she could talk about.
Mack, Mason and Ellie had fun with the balloons for days after. She took a bath
like this before Grams came over to stay with Mason while we took Mack for a day in Denver.

Mack wasn't feeling her best on her birthday. We later learned she was
in the early stages of a tummy bug . She snoozed on the way to Denver.

We wanted to take Mack to The Old Spaghetti Restaurant
for her day. That restaurant was closed for a remodel. Imagine the luck
when we found old faithful! Unfortunately, it's a happenin' place for
downtown workers and the place was packed. We took the shuttle
to the Cheesecake Factory where Mack ordered...mac and cheese :)

Little girl , big city

Next was a trip to the three story
bookstore housed in an really neat old building.
We spend a few hours at The Tattered Cover
where Mack  picked out a few books but looked at nearly every single
book and we read a couple, too.

Our last stop was to the family doctor where Mike
had had his vasectomy. They only do them on Thursdays
and this was the only  day that worked with his
schedule. He was a real trooper but just couldn't go anymore .

To end the night, we had pizza and cupcakes
with Grams, Mason and the cousins.

A snow storm covered the state and forced us to cancel Mack's birthday party.
She took the news like such a champ telling me that she'd already had
so much fun and she was glad she at least got to have cupcakes with her cousins.
It sort of worked out because my sister and her family were due to arrive from Arizona on
Sunday evening so there were 20 family members on hand for dinner at Gram's house . Here she is opening presents
, laying on the blanket my mom made for her.

Mack had her 5 year well child exam and a well child she is!
Still in the upper 80's for her height , she's definitely got height on her side.
All her busyness has her down a few percentiles but she's just perfect as she is!
44.75 inches tall
43 pounds
We were advised again to be ready to work hard to keep Mack
challenged at school but Karen gave us the ultimate compliment
when she said that we are her model family!