Thank You, Grandma Grace, for the...

Party Hats!  No party is complete without them!  What a hit!  I guess you still have the touch, after all those years!  You were right, I'm sure no website on the internet could demonstrate how to create something quite this cool!

So this was one of many birthday celebrations for Brooklyn's third birthday.  The actual day was the 9th of March, a Monday this year.  These photos are from a celebration we had the Friday night before at my mom's house.  The kids had a blast!  Thanks for the awesome "Mad Hatter" cake, Mom.  And Grandma, you know the kids loved your hat creations!

Aunt Pip, we loved the awesome treasure hunt.  Pure joy.
Grandma Grace, thanks for the other fun birthday traditions, in addition to the treasure hunt, like "Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?" and of course, thank you to Megan Tanner for "Don't Eat Pete."  Unfortunately, the game board didn't make it, but it was on the agenda and will definitely be played during our next visit!

Some of Brooklyn's AWESOME gifts included: sand toys, cute beach T and flip-flops, the Tinkerbell movie, a puzzle and matching book, and the Fancy Nancy game.

3 Cheers for the 3 Mouseketeers!

"I'm Free!" She'll tell you when asked her age.
I admit I'm not a huge amusement park fan, but when my mom said she wanted to take Brooklyn to Disneyland on Brooklyn's 3rd birthday, how could I possibly say no?  Then when we thought about it more, if I was going to drive Brooklyn an hour or more to Anaheim, I might as well get into the park too.  So, if I'm buying myself a ticket, wouldn't it be worth it to spend the extra $50 or so to get a season pass?  This is is why Disney is still in business my friends.  Did I mention that a ticket is magically free on your birthday?  Our story doesn't end here... Stephen called me up the morning of the trip and says "I think I'm going to take the day off."

To which I replied, "Don't you have stuff to do today, though?"

To which he replied, "Nothing I can't miss."

Fast forward to 11:15 A.M. we are parked in section 5 of Donald Duck and riding the tram to "the happiest place on earth."  So much for a low-budget birthday and a "free admission" on your birthday. (Did I mention that since she's now three, she's no longer free on every other day, so Brooklyn got a pass too.

She better be smiling!  (I know, I'm totally frugal and still slightly unconvinced that this was the right course of action.) In case you are wondering, STEPHEN insisted on buying the princess hat with mouse ears!  Secretly I think he may have been equally excited about this adventure with Brooklyn.  I wanted to surprise her, and he kept wanting to spill the beans.  I knew he was excited when he was getting all anxious in the parking structure with comments like, "Hurry up people! What's taking so long? The attendants are all escorting us to a row of spaces that we just pull in, one after another."
Caden, Caleb, Calvin, and Carol all have passes too.  They met us there along with my mom.  Calvin worked, however.  Good job, Calvin!  I'm glad someone takes his job seriously!  Just kidding! 

So the longest line we waited in was that of the Disney Princess Photo shoot.  I should post some pictures of Brooklyn in line and compare them with her subdude look in these ones.  I know she was convinced they were all the REAL DEAL.  (She also posed with Mulan and Snow White.)
All-in-all, we had a good time.  I think the best part was the bugs life section of California Adventure because the lines were short, and the rides were the perfect entertainment level for the pre-K audience that we had.  
Here's the goof troop with their fearless leader. 

I was just glad the park had a "baby station" at the end of Main Street where moms could nurse their babies and change diapers away from the regular public bathrooms and various attractions.  I also scored a cute pin at this place for Ian that says "First Visit."

Disneyland,  we'll be back!

Happy Birthday, Big C!

Don't be deceived by the horns, this kid is not only cute, but was and continues to be my favorite brother for endless reasons.  Because we are celebrating his birthday this month, I'll share a few things about him that make him special.  
#1. He always kept my sister and me in line, especially when the parents were not around.  He was the ultimate rule-reminder and enforcer.  I think if teaching doesn't work out for him, he may consider a career in law-enforcement!

#2 He coached me along with certain sports skills like throwing a baseball, shooting and dribbling a basketball, and how to defend a basket.  (Can you tell what he favorite sport is?) Some of this coaching came out of the need for a worthy opponent(which I never was).   
#3.  He was always a good friend.  Because we are pretty close in age, we did a lot of things together like drive to seminary, attend stake dances, and go out on "group dates," sometimes with each other's friends!  We always confided in each other too.

#4. He was my Dad's pride and joy and probably his source of sanity at times in a house full of three girls.  Calvin was my dad's privileged companion to many Laker, Dodger, and UCLA games as well as the annual L.A. auto show.  Calvin had his own reading material in our house, including several Calvin and Hobbs comic books, Boys' Life Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and of course, the Sports section of the LA Times. 
#4 It seems like both of us lucked out in getting more friends because we had each other.  This was sort of a problem in Jr. High and High School.  I sometimes suspected that girls wanted to be my friend because they thought I had a cute brother.  On the flip side of that, I got to know about some top secret stuff that he and his friends did at Scout Camp or Fathers and Sons outings.
#5. He showed me responsibility and the value of money.  One of his first jobs included mowing the lawn for Mrs. Hall down the street.  He's carefully stash away the small envelope of bills that she sent home with him each week.

#6 He taught me that the best gifts were thoughtful and home-made.  My most memorable birthday gifts came from him.  They included: letting me use his room for a sleep-over for my 10th birthday party. (My friends and I had a hay day taking pictures posing in various accesories we found in his room - a coon-skin cap, a leather whip, and various retro baseball caps.) Another favorite birthday gift from him was a birthday song that he composed for me and sang with my then-boyfriend at a BYU singles ward talent show.  Talk about guts!

#7 He gave me one of my favorite nicknames.  (If you don't know it, you'll have to ask him.)

#8 He is Brooklyn's favorite McKendrick uncle because he can always get her to laugh her irresistable cute laugh from lots and lots of tickling!  He also reads her stories with plenty of animation. 
#9 He is just plain hilarious when he imitates people in the stories he tells.  The retold event always holds a higher entertainment value than the incident itself.  Maybe he should extend his services at Northview High and become the drama teacher as well.  I'm sure Evelyn could give him some pointers!  

 

#10 He is an inspirational basketball coach who has been known to take his team members to the movies or just lends out his "lucky" shoes to a player in need.  

Basically I'm so lucky for all the ways my life has been influenced by him and sometimes I am so jealous that my sister-in-law scored the coolest husband ever! (Right next to my own man, of course!)

Sleeping with my Favorite Boys

I couldn't resist.  This is a typical late-night or early-morning scene in our bedroom.  Can you guess who's missing from this sandwich of Badgers?  

Almost caught up

So all of you don't look at this one post and think that there is just this singular update, I want you to know that I've gone back to December and filled in some of the gaps.  The first of these new posts is entitled "Catching UP."  Please scroll down and enjoy :)

-Stephen

PS:  these new additions have not been approved by Desirae and are subject to change.

Growing Boy

Here's a catch-up post of our growing boy.  He's two months already, how time flies!

So far, Ian has seemed to be a little fussier than his sister and has kept me up longer at night initially.  Brooklyn even laments, "maybe he has a bubble in his tummy," sometimes when he cries.  However, he has conquered the long stretch of night time sleep pretty regularly this past week.  This is a huge relief because his night time feedings would not put him back to sleep immediately.  

During his wakeful hours, he alertly watches his big sister as she happily "entertains" him and tells him of all the things he can do when he grows bigger (watch movies, talk, walk, just the essentials).  He also responds to people talking with him.  He tries to imitate our mouth movements and makes cute noises. 
The picture below is his "one month" picture.  He looks a little more tan in it than he does now,probably because his jaundice had not completely cleared.  Now he's pretty much glowing white (like his daddy), or a "healthy white" as Grandma Evelyn would say.  I didn't have a stuffed animal chosen yet for his one month shot, but from now on, his monthly poses will include this friendly giraffe.  Let's see how long it takes Ian to pass him up in size.  They are about even right now!

Overall he seems to be a happy and healthy little guy.  We are so blessed!  

That reminds me, we will be blessing him at church February 1st for anyone who lives close enough and needs an excuse to visit!  Let us know if you would like to come and we'll fill you in on the details!

New Years Day/Pip's Birthday

We then headed up to Covina to celebrate New Years and Pip's birthday!

Pip wanted to celebrated her birthday with a delicious dinner at OutBack Steakhouse.  I stayed behind to be with Brooklyn and Ian because they were both asleep. 
It certainly looks good.
As a christmas gift, I detailed the outside of Jim's car.  It's hard to believe looking at this picture that his car is 10 years old.  As you can see, I had a little help from Brooklyn.