Happy Birthday Shane

I can't believe that my baby is turing 3 today. I have no idea what happened to the last three year. It seems like just yesterday Shane was born and we were all shocked by his headful of jet black hair. Shane may have been our little surprise but he is such a blessing to our family. I can't imagine life without our little man.

Shane you are all boy! You have so much energy and a love for life. You love to do all the things boys love to do ... play in the dirt, play with your trucks and trains, make all those sounds that boys make, wrestle with your dad, go down the big water slide and you could run and play for hours. You also have a sweet, loving side. You love to cuddle with me when you wake up, you love giving hugs to everyone, you always are looking out to protect me ... telling me to be careful when we are going over a bridge or seem to be in a situation that could cause danger. You have the sweetest little dimple and the biggest brown eyes that melt your mommies heart. There are times your sweet little puppy dog eye make me forget what you even did. Shane I love listening to your sweet little heart when you pray at night. I love the way that you love your sisters and have so much fun playing with them. Even if it means you are wearing a princess dress some days. Shane I feel blessed to be your mommy and I pray that God continues to mold you in the man he wants you to be.
Happy Birthday my little man!
I love you!
Mommy

Theater In The Park

The kids love going to the Theater In The Park. When we head to the big park (that's what they call our favorite park) they always ask if there is going to be a show. This week a local college theater group acted out three books. Two of the books happen to be ones the girls really like. They had so much fun watching and dancing to all the music.

The first book was Fancy Nancy. The girls love Fancy Nancy books especially Emma. They are right up her alley. It was especially fun since they had just gotten a new Fancy Nancy book from grammy in the mail.
The second book was Lily's Purple Plastic Purse. They had fun watching, singing and dancing. As you can see Shane was mesmerized.

The last book was Diary Of A Worm. We hadn't read this book before so it was fun to hear something new. Shane loved the worm that he could put his head through.

The girls standing up and ready to do the actions!

Shane had fun getting his groove on. He is quite the dancer. I think you would call this his Monkey Dance!

Playing In The Park

We have some friends that we knew in college, became great friends when we lived in AZ and now we are in Sioux Falls together. It has been neat to see how God has orchestrated our paths crossing. We are so thankful for their friendship. It is fun raising our little ones together. This was a night we met for dinner in the park. As you can tell our kids don't have any fun together.

Shane and James are little buddies. Not sure what Shane is telling James but he thinks it's pretty funny!

James and Emma are quite the pair. The both have a love for life. Life is a party for these two little ones!

The night ended with a train down the slide and lots of giggles!

Fun With Pictures

I got some fun pictures of the girls from Alexa's Garden party and have had some fun making collages and doing some photo editing! Here are a some pics!

Alexa's Garden Party

Alexa decided she wanted to have a Garden Party with her little friends. She was a little bummed when she found out that quite a few of them were on vacation and wouldn't be able to make it. She had 2 special little friends that could make it and I think in the end up be a fun little party. She loved every minute of it!

The decorations were hung!

The food was prepared! We had Fancy Flowers, Ladybugs, Caterpillars, Garden Goodies, Butterflies and a little Bug Juice served from a watering can to drink!

The guests arrived and the Garden Party began!

The girls were so cute!! They said, "Let's do that thing where we hit our glasses together!

Meet the Garden Girls!

For Garden Party fun we painted pots and planted flowers in them. We played toss the water balloon in the flower pot and we finished the evening off with some manicures with flowers on the fingers.

The candles were lit, Happy Birthday was sung, the cake was eaten and the presents were opened!

Thanks Garden Gals for making Alexa's 6th birthday so special!

Happy Birthday Alexa

I can't believe that my little girls is turning 6 today. There is something about 6 that sounds so old. She keeps saying to me mommy are you going to cry because I keep getting bigger. I assured her I'm not going to cry today but it does seem like she's growing up way too fast. Alexa is such a blessing to our family. She is loving, gentle, nurturing, can be very serious but also very silly, a wonderful big sister, mom's big help and a joy to have as a daughter. Alexa Grace I thank God for you today and pray he continues to mold you into the girl he wants you to be and one that loves him with all of her hear!

Birthday tradition here at the McDonald house is going out for breakfast with daddy on your special day. Alexa loves going out for breakfast especially if it means she gets to go with daddy all by herself.

Happy Birthday Alexa!
I love you!
Mommy

Nine Years Ago Today

Nine years ago today I married my best friend. In many ways it seems like we have been married forever (in a good way) and others it feels like just yesterday. I'm so grateful for the man of God, the husband and the daddy that Eric is. I'm thankful God chose Eric to be my partner to walk through life with me.

Happy Anniversary!
I love you!
Julie

Lovin' It At The Lake

One of our favorite places to be in the summer is at the lake. My parents have a cabin on a lake about an hour and a half from our house. We feel so blessed that we have such a wonderful place to spend hot summer days with papa, grammy, aunts, uncles and cousins. It is so much fun to see the kids making memories that will last them a life time. We don't tell them we are going to the lake until the day of and we always have sad kids when it is time to leave. This past weekend was the first nice weekend we've had at the cabin. It was finally warm enough to do all the fun things the kids love to do at the lake. I'm sure there will be more pics in the weeks to come.

The kids love riding in the boat. The especially like it when papa lets them drive. Don't you think Emma is ready for a day on the lake?

My parents got a new boat that we trying to figure out how everything worked. The radio was one of those things. Shane was thinking it was a little too loud until we figured out how to turn the volume down.

Loving life on the wave runner with daddy!

Fun the sand and the water!
Alexa's first fish of the season .... a small mouth bass! She was pretty proud but eager to get it right back into the water!

Emma started her fishing season off with a big catfish! All smiles from this little fisher girl!

Doesn't she look like a pro?

Another highlight at the lake is going to town to the little ice cream shop. It is always fun pick from the flavors of the day. Everyone enjoys a yummy treat at the end of a fun day!

Happy Father's Day Daddy

I am so thankful for Eric and the wonderful daddy he is to our three little blessings. He loves them, plays with them and disciplines them each in the way that they need. I am thankful for his godly example and leadership in our home. I love that he has made a point to date his girls even though they are only 5 and 4. They love their daddy time especially if it means going out for breakfast or ice cream all by themselves. I always thought that there was nothing quite like seeing a daddy with his girls and then came Shane. It has been so much fun to see Shane bring a different daddy out in Eric. I have to say there is nothing quite like seeing a daddy with his boy either.

At lunch today the kids were talking about the things they love to do with dad. Alexa said she loves to go to the lake with daddy and go on the wave runner. She likes it when daddy takes her out for breakfast all by herself. She also loves bed time stories with dad because he doesn't read books but he tells stories.

Emma's favorites were also going to the lake with daddy and going on the wave runner. She also likes bike rides and playing at the park with dad. She says he's a good pusher on the swings. Emma also love daddy's big hugs.

Hands down Shane's favorite thing to do with dad is wrestle. He also loves going on the big slide at Wild Water West with daddy. He remembers it from last year and talks about it daily. Now if only it would warm up over here so we can hit the bid slides.

Emma asked me what my favorite thing to do with daddy was and then quick piped in before I could answer with "I know you love to go on dates with daddy and have some peace and quiet!" I love it that the kids know that their mommy still loves to go on dates with their daddy! Thanks daddy for making dating mommy a priority.

Happy Father's Day Daddy!
We love you!

Summer Fun

It is finally warm enough to break out the swimsuits and have some summer fun!!!

Are we ready for this?

What did you say?

This is the best!

Helping daddy fix the sprinkler!

On the run!

OOooo ... it is a little cold!