GIRL

Picture taken by our ultrasound tech and paintings courtesy of Dax and Wyatt (don't worry, they painted a boy sign too!)

I don't know if you heard...but we're having a girl!

It's been a few weeks since we found out. It's been a little wild. It's taken a few weeks for it to sink in. I'm not sure I will even be entirely convinced she's a girl until I am holding her in my arms. But we've had a few ultrasounds and they're 100%. It's a girl.

I really thought it was a boy. And, if I'm being honest, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed it wasn't. I know boys. My boys are the world to me. Our home is what it is; crazy, rambunctious, wild and loud, because of the boys. Throwing another boy into the mix wouldn't mean much change. I think there is something special about family's who have all the same gender. I could totally picture myself strolling around with three little boys. OK, so I'm sure I'd look like a frazzled train wreck going about daily errands rather than enjoying a leisurely stroll, but still, I could picture it. I loved the idea. In my heart of hearts I thought it was another boy.

But now, he is a she. Wow. Here we go! The shock has worn off. The overwhelmingness at starting with nothing, has not. But the excitement and joy has grown and grown. We are thrilled! The boys were hoping for a sister all along. I wasn't sure how that would be for her having these two as older brothers. One of my sister's already said, "She better be tough". At first I thought she was right. But seeing the way they have loved my growing belly, giving her daily hugs and kisses, talking to her and planning her name (so far we have "Girl" from Wyatt and "Marah" like Sarah with an "M" from Dax) they are totally smitten. They will be her protector, her defender, her number one fan, her older brothers. And it is that thought that has me even more in love with them and even more excited for her. She will be one lucky little girl!

Let's be honest though...I don't speak girl! All's I know is superheros, dinosaurs, race cars, wrinkled clothes, shaggy hair, bruised knees and dirty fingernails.

So tell me, what do I need to know about a girl?? I need all the help I can get!

flying.

This is Austin's Grandpa, Ralph Eyestone. Isn't he handsome? There were few occasions where I was able to sit and visit with him before he passed away. I met him for the first time the summer Austin and I got engaged. We met at one of his and grandma's favorite places to eat in Torrance, CA. Subway. It meant so much to Austin that I meet his grandparents before we got married. I loved that about him. I can specifically remember Grandpa Eyestone at our sealing in San Diego. He lovingly pushed his wife around the temple grounds in her wheelchair and posed for pictures in his dark sunglasses and blue sweater. The Grandpa Eyestone I knew was quiet and sweet but he had a wonderful presence. It was comfortable to sit in a room with him and not have to say anything at all.

He passed away in California the same weekend we were blessing Dax in Utah. Instead of Austin's family traveling to Utah for Dax's blessing, they traveled to California to attend the funeral. Austin flew to California on Saturday morning, attended the funeral Saturday afternoon, then flew back to Utah on Saturday night and blessed Dax on Sunday morning with only my family in attendance. It was a bittersweet weekend that I will never forget. I was so sad that I couldn't be there at the funeral and I was so sad that Grandpa never met Dax. I knew it broke Austin's heart.

Out of all the wonderful things I knew about Grandpa Eyestone, the thing I know most was his love for flying. Not just planes like the picture above, but kites. It's one of the things that Austin talks of most when speaking of his Grandpa. He spent so much time flying kites with his grandchildren and it's one of Austin's fondest memories he has.

Even though Dax and Grandpa Eyestone never met, I like to think they share a special bond. They definitely share a love for flying kites. Dax has been asking for weeks to fly kites. There is never much of a wind in AZ, but this week, things cooled down and yesterday was a perfect kite flying day. We headed to a big open park when Austin got home from work and called Austin's dad, Grandpa Mac, to come join in the fun. Dax is a really good kite flyer, a total natural. You should have seen him driving that red baron plane through the sky. He could have stayed out there for hours, and I could have watched. Wyatt on the other hand was bored after two minutes and happily played at the park. I was so touched as I watched Austin, his dad, and Dax, three generations of boys, fly kites.

I know I wasn't the only one thinking of Grandpa Eyestone yesterday. I love that wonderful people from the past can live on through the lives of our children. I can't wait until Dax realizes how special that quality truly is. I love that Dax, even without knowing, has this passion for flying kites just like his Great Grandpa. And because families are forever, that one day they can talk all about it.

five.

More tiny toes are coming our way! And we couldn't be more thrilled!

Birthday Boy(s)

This picture pretty much sums up our Wyatt boy. A little raggy. A little unexpected. A little spunk. A lot of fun and laughs! He is such a character who I can't even believe is three years old today. Dax kept asking him all week, "Wyatt, can you even believe you are going to be three?" I wanted to burst into tears every time he brought it up. How can my baby be three?! It has been the most fun having TWO boys. I feel so blessed to have two little knights in shining armors to love and spend each day with. Wyatt has such a fun personality that you just smile when he comes around. He has been such a joy in our lives and I love watching him learn and grow. Here's a few things you should know about him:

His favorite color is red. And whenever he tells anyone, he makes sure that they also know that his lion's favorite color is orange. Yea, we're still working on breaking those two up.

He asks for eggs every morning for breakfast. Every. morning. Note- he only gets them about twice a week.

He loves to wear sweats. He is a big time lounger who wears sweats and warm up pants any chance he gets. I think he may have even worn them under church pants once or twice. It just wasn't worth the fight.

His favorite phrase lately is, "Holy moly guacamole". It's adorable.

He idolizes his brother. And his dad. I hope that never changes.

We must keep apple juice and crystal lite in this house at all times or there are problems. This kid does not drink milk. Juice is it.

Despite every effort to break him of this habit, Wyatt wakes up every, no really, every morning by 6am. No matter how badly I don't want to open my eyes and see him, every time I do I think how stinkin' cute he is.

When he grows up he wants to be a police man. He has never said anything different.

He loves to read to me. It's the best because he starts at the back of the book and gives an excellent cliff's note version of each story. It makes bed time way fast.

Every penny he finds he sticks in his pocket and says he's saving it for the "naquarium". I think he has saved enough. It's probably time to take them back.

He can spot any Target a mile away. I have taught him so well.

He has been potty trained since March, but every time he goes to the bathroom he forgets to put his underwear back on, his pants go on backwards, he forgets to flush the toilet and he locks and closes the door on his way out. There have been many times we have been out an about and I finally realize my two year old is going commando. Makes us laugh every time.

He has told everyone that he is turning five today just like Dax did last month. I haven't done a birthday post for Dax yet, but he had a wonderful Dinosaur party with lots of friends and has told me countless times that he does things better, faster and is smarter now that he is five. Except yesterday he told me he missed being four. I think I kinda knows how he feels. I miss my twenties too! :)

Happy Birthday my sweet boys!

Christmas Recap

Christmas this year was a piece of cake. Well....it should have been. The boys very humbly asked for one thing each from Santa. They knew far in advance what they wanted Santa to bring them and there was no deterring from it. If you asked Wyatt what he wanted for Christmas, he'd say as fast as he could in speedy language, "a lego Batcave". If you asked Dax what he wanted he would recite every single word from the commercial, "the Criss Cross Crash race track from Hot Wheels." Man, was I lucky!

I have this thing. If they ask Santa for it, I better well do anything in my power to make it happen because I don't ever want them loosing faith in good ol' Saint Nick. I was pleased as pie that these two things could be found at Target, Wal-mart or Toys R Us and I should have no trouble tracking them down. Little did I know...

The Trio Batcave went on sale at Target the month of November for 50% off. Wouldn't you know there wasn't one in the state of AZ? My sister in law covered at least 10 Targets in CA with no luck and my mom was in Timbuktu Kansas with my sister and couldn't even track one down there. Online was a flop and the two Wal-marts I checked didn't even carry them. It wasn't even Thanksgiving yet and I was feeling doomed. Then, like an angel sent from heaven my sister spotted one at another Wal-mart, and although I payed more than I would have liked, we got it, hid it and I was so happy to cross that off my list.

All the while hunting for this Batcave I had seen the Criss Cross Crash race track a handful of times. But each time my boys were with me and there was no hiding this huge thing in my cart. So, the weeks pass and suddenly, like the lame-o that I am, I go to Target to buy it and it's sold out. As is the case with every Target within a 60 mile radius. Wal-mart doesn't carry it. I am left to facing Toys R Us. Not my favorite. We call and call Toys R Us all around town to no avail. It is now the 22nd of December and Austin and I are in complete panic mode. We laugh at ourselves that we are making ourselves nutso over a silly race track, but like I said. It was the ONE thing he wanted from Santa. I wouldn't be able to face him Christmas morning if Santa didn't bring it! We end up calling a Toys R Us about a half hour away and they have six but they won't hold one for us and neither one of us can get up there until that night. Austin calls when he gets off work and they are gone. UGH! To make matters worse, the race track was on sale (which as pricey as the silly thing was, was a good thing) and when you buy it you get a 10-pack of Hot Wheels cars for free. What a deal, but this is just plummeting our chances of finding one! Our only saving grace at this point was the fact that the week of Christmas, Toys R Us was open 24-hours. Lo and behold I find a store in north Scottsdale, about 50 minutes away, that has four. Austin and I are on our way home from Phoenix from the Forgotten Carols, it's December 22nd, raining cats and dogs, and it's 11:15 at night. He takes the babysitter home, and bless his heart, drives to Toys R Us an hour away and actually gets it! You would think at midnight he would be safe. Oh no! The place was packed! He arrived home close to 2am and we laughed our heads off at the crazy things we do for our kids.

I gotta say, these are the fun stories we can tell our kids about years and years down the road. And Christmas morning sure was magical around here.....for being so simple! HA!

I had great intentions this year. Really I did. But these puppies never made it in the mail. I hope no one has been cursing me under their breath for not getting a Christmas card this year. Trust me; they were printed, just never sent. I even went as far to email all my favorite people who I didn't have addresses for and updated my address list. It was rearing to go! Then sickness came. Then Christmas party after Christmas party came. Then shopping came (but that's always the case). Then preparing for the new year of Primary came. Then Christmas came and went and I figured a New Year's card would be the ticket. I thought, "That's a brilliant idea and gives me some extra time!" And now New Year's has come and gone. Yup, I pretty much suck. Please forgive us! We love you and still send our best...through the always reliable world wide web.

I know, I'm pathetic.

New Year's Resolution #64: Get Christmas Card done by November this year

Disneyland 2010

I have some major blog catching up to do! I think I'll start back up at the beginning of the month when we spent a great two days at Disneyland and California Adventure. I am a firm believer that Disneyland is magic. No really. Magic. I grew up in California and I have NEVER seen it rain there. I think there is an invisible bubble around it. It truly is the happiest place on Earth. And nothing is better than watching your children experience that magic first hand. It was a perfect trip! It all started last February...

Austin and I volunteered to play softball with families who were less fortunate and who were trying to get back on their feet in Phoenix on Valentine's Day. They were families who were living in small apartments maintained by the Salvation Army and it hardly seemed like service spending two hours with such fun people playing a sport we both love! Austin pitched and I played outfield and we had so much fun playing with these sweet humble families.

In return, we received two free passes to Disneyland and held onto them tight for this special up coming trip. My parents treated us as a combined birthday and Christmas present for our family. We stayed at a beautiful place in Carlsbad and spent day one at California Adventure and then one of my sisters family joined us for day two at Disneyland.

Here are just some of the highlights and fun!

Dax LOVED Soarin' Over California and Wyatt was too small. While Dax rode the ride four times, Wyatt didn't mind waiting around in Radiator Springs and making pals with Goofy.

How perfect to sit on Santa's lap at Disneyland! The boys got to tell him what they wanted, a Bat Cave and a Criss Cross Crash Hot Wheels Race Track (more to come on that), and I got to avoid the hundreds of people and the madness at the mall. Plus, I thought he was the best looking Santa I had seen in forever!

This picture cracks me up. What the heck does he think he's gonna find?!

Thankfully my mom and I had my dad and Austin to take the boys on all the crazy, crashin', spinnin', make us puke kinda rides in a Bugs Land. They had a ball!!
We started the morning off at Disneyland with the famous character breakfast. It's a buffet style breakfast with Minnie and 15 of her closets friends and it was FUN! I have no idea where Wyatt was. Oh! Probably stuffing his face with one of three plates of scrambled eggs he made Austin get him!! My mom found a old friend, Eeyore. Years and years ago when I was eight our family went on a 4-day Walt Disney cruise to the Bahamas and we have this classic picture of my mom with Eeyore during the last night of fancy dinners on the ship. When we saw Eeyore was eating breakfast with us we had to recreate this picture. Even all these years later my mom still looks the same! One of my favorite pictures from the trip! So cute!

Another one of my highlights of the trip. It was one of those rare, tender moments when I could actually see the brotherly love between these two funny boys. Dax was being such a great big brother and lovingly introduced Wyatt to one of his heroes, Aladdin. He was a great Aladdin and was so sweet with the boys. I think it was one of their highlights too!

We could not have asked for a better trip or more fun! I love Disneyland at Christmas time and it was a great time spent with loved ones! Thanks again Mom and Dad! We love you!!

Gilbert Arizona Temple Groundbreaking

I wish I could put into words what a wonderful experience we had yesterday at the site of the future Gilbert Arizona temple. We drive by this spot (less than 5 miles from our home) weekly. It's en route to Costco, the mall, the freeway, JoAnn's, Old Navy, In-n-Out....basically all our favorite places. The boys know the massive field of dirt as "the temple" and look for the big trucks and construction workers each time we pass. As we walked onto the site yesterday it had been transformed with 5,000 chairs, a stage with a beautiful choir, a cute old man playing the organ under a rainbow colored umbrella, lawn chairs and blankets and thousands and thousands of people. I was simply overcome with the spirit. At one point I bent down next to the boys who were happily playing in the dirt and explained to them that on the exact dirt we were standing and playing, there was going to be built a house of the Lord. I hope they know how truly special that is. Throughout the services as the speakers spoke at various moments Wyatt would look up with excitement in his eyes and repeat words he had heard over the speakers. "Temple!" he'd exclaim. "Book of Mormon!" "Faith!" "President Monson!" Each time he would grow more and more excited. I was so touched that he could feel the Spirit and was recognizing the words being said. He was so adequately expressing the joy I was feeling listening to the speakers and wonderful authorities who were there to preside at the meeting. As we were packing up to leave I could tell he was thinking about something. He looked around at all the people in the field of dirt and then at me and asked, "we build a temple?" I had to chuckle. "No" I said, and explained that we didn't build a temple right then, but they were going to start. That fills my heart with so much happiness. I am so grateful we have this rare opportunity to see that field of dirt transpire into a sacred holy temple.

I love how the umbrella is duct taped to the side of the bench. I think it was a little warmer then expected!

Multi-Stake Choir

There were at least 30 "gold" shovels each with a picture of the Gilbert Temple on the shovel and each was engraved on the handle that read "Gilbert Arizona Groundbreaking November 13, 2010"

Elder Claudio R. M. Costa, Presidency of the Seventy and his wife Margareth

My sisters, Nicole and Jennifer

Gilbert Arizona Temple

3rd Annual

Earlier this week we had our 3rd Annual MacGillivray Night of Frights and Spooky Delights. Every year I create a spooky dinner for our family and it is really becoming one of our most anticipated traditions of the year. I can't truly express what traditions mean to me. I love them. Love. Them. I love family ones that have been around for years and decades, passed from one generation to the next, and I love the ones that are special to just my little family, like our Halloween dinner. No matter how silly or ridiculous it is (and this year it was), I think family traditions are what life is truly about. It doesn't matter that you are eating a completely hideous dinner (just you wait), it's having those moments when you are with your loved ones, having fun, and making memories that will last a lifetime. To me, nothing is better.

So this year, I think things were a tad bit spookier. I had so much fun looking for ideas and found a great combo of things the boys love to eat that I was certain they would get a kick out of. That totally backfired. Dax wouldn't even touch his dinner. Would not touch it. He just stared at it. We couldn't stop laughing when at 8:00 Wyatt was fast asleep with a full belly and we were microwaving Dax a quesadilla. Maybe I need to tone it down a little next year....NAH! It's too much fun!

Centerpiece: This one was so easy and the spookiness was priceless. It's nothing more than a head of cauliflower in a jar with some colored water. Can you tell what it is? Yup, "brains". So creepy.

Spooktacular Graveyard Dip: While I made a seven-layer dip, Austin helped the boys color these hilarious tombstones that he was so clever to name. Just stuck them in the dip and made ourselves a little graveyard. Wyatt loves to dip so this was right up his alley. Monster Toes: I LOVED the way these little guys turned out and they were seriously delicious despite really looking like toes! First cut a wedge in cocktail wieners. Then cut tortillas into strips and wrap around each wiener and secure with a toothpick. Throw them in the oven for 6-7 minutes and then fill the toenail with ketchup. YUM! Slimy Worm-burger: Dax seriously thought these were too gross to eat...he wouldn't even touch them. Slice hot dogs and drop them into boiling water for a few minutes and they start to curl. Dunk them in some BBQ sauce and you've got slimy worms. :) The plan was to finish the night with orange chocolate covered popcorn but we never made it to Michael's for the chocolate. We settled for pumpkin pie. Pretty much Dax had no problem eating that. Go figure!

shaggy

What do you think? Is it about time to cut this shaggy mop?

Let's Ride

Yesterday was one of those days. The kind of days where there is not one thing on the calendar. The kind of days that seem to be very few and far between lately. I sometimes find them nestled in between days full of pre-school, work, play groups, soccer practice, church meetings, appointments, and errands, but not very often.

The boys so needed one of those days.

So, after lunch I told the boys, "Let's ride". (I try to sound like a cowboy when I say it but let's be honest, it does not come out "cowboy" at all.) The boys jumped for joy, grabbed their shoes, and headed straight for the garage because they knew exactly what it meant. Besides being so busy, we have had too many unbelievable hot months to even think about going for one of our rides. Today was the day and they were pumped.

Lately, my adorable Wyatt has been a wrecking ball. One who tries my patience in every way. Who has a voice, an opinion, a scream, a tantrum, a melt down, and a need at all times. Neither boy was very terrible at two, but with Wyatt turning three right around the corner, I can see those "terrible's" and they don't look pretty. He's a little naughty. A little mean. A little antagonistic. A little boy. I keep reminding myself that it is just a phase. Some days I handle it better than others, but this day, we definitely needed a ride.

The boys lead the way. I follow behind. We played games, picked flowers, starred at clouds, stopped and explored more times that I can count, had scooter races, inspected bugs, played at the park, ate snacks, and met new friends. And the boys petaled their little hearts outs.

After 4 hours of being out and about enjoying the beautiful day, forgetting all about what was left at home, and enjoying each other (minus the sand throwing in the before mentioned new friends face) I vowed to say to them "Let's ride" more often. Because guess what? My little Wyatt wasn't quite the wrecking ball I was thinking he was. He just needed some of my attention. I was the one that needed the ride. Not them. They are as quirky and funny and loving as they have always been. I was the one who needed to stop and slow down and enjoy my sweet boys. My little buddies. My ridin' partners.