Crazy Hair Day

This is what we came up with for this year! Carly couldn't help herself and had to pose for the pictures. Such cutie pies.

End of an Era

Mac got these Lightning McQueen shoes for his second birthday and he has LOVED them. I must admit I am not the biggest fan of character shoes but his love for these shoes was pretty sweet. I think he thought he was invincible while wearing them. As you can see he wore them with a lot of heart, clear through to his socks. I was sad to see them go! I felt like I was throwing out part of his childhood. But, it was time to move on! We didn't keep the shoes but I had to take some pictures to remember them.

Note the bald tires.

Happy Birthday Brad!

Our Bubba is one! On one hand this year has flown by, but on the other hand it feels like he has been in our family forever. His latest big accomplishment is mastering walking. While we were in Utah he decided he was done crawling and has been walking ever since. I love this picture - he looks like he is about to punch the air really hard.

It can be challenging getting a picture of Brad since he LOVES to try and grab the camera.

Memories from the first year: that cute little baby laugh, a CAT scan, a chipped tooth, not sleeping through the night, loves yogurt, strawberries, and peas, loves playing the piano and being outside, loves swinging at the park, loves his brother and sisters, and of course loves being held!

Easter

Easter is one of my favorite days of the year. I have so many fun memories of Easter at my Grandparents house. It always smelled so good and Grandma always had a special treat for us. We had a great time celebrating Easter in Utah with family. It was a tad cold but that is Easter in Utah for ya! The cold didn't phase the kids during the Easter Egg hunt. It is amazing how searching for candy can just warm you right up.

Mac has caught on to the 'get as much candy as you can as fast as you can' philosophy of Easter Egg hunting. Brad, not so much.

He was happy with his one green egg. He thought it was a ball and kept throwing it and laughing. Finding eggs everywhere!

Analyzing the loot. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa McAllister for such a wonderful Easter!

It's a Party!

We had Brad's birthday party in Utah. We had a little piggy cake, cousins, and presents. A perfect party!Mac is really into blowing out candles lately. Since Brad couldn't care less we let Mac have at it.Brad was pretty calm about the whole cake eating experience. He is basically a professional eater so he took it like a champ.All done! Victory! He got lots of help opening his presents. Mac took right over playing with them. Ahhh brotherly love. We love you Bubba!

Cousins are the BEST!

There is nothing better than playing with your cousins. Age and gender do not matter; cousins will accept you unconditionally. Here they are making up a play. Gotta love Carly's facial expressions.

Mac with his new cousin Avie and cute cousin Shelby. We love our cousins; we wished they lived CLOSER!

Kindred Spirits

Brad and his cousin Shelby LOVE food. We caught Brad feeding Shelby after she had finished eating. Brad shoved food in as fast as he could and she ate it all. It was pretty funny.

Some Pre-Birthday Fun

Kate and Melinda came to see us while we were at my parents. We got to play lots with them and take some rides on the four wheeler. They brought gifts for Brad and he had lots of fun opening them. Of course his favorite thing to play with at my parents is the fireplace! I know I am biased but that smile with the dimple and blue eyes just melts my heart.

...and of course the box is just as fun as those dang cute shoes.

Trips vs. Vacations

McKay and I decided (sometime in the 24 hours we were driving) that you take trips with your kids. Vacations are when you go without your kids. :) Needless to say, we LOVE our kids. This is McKay after a few days of our "Trip."

An Easter Egg Dye

We switched things up a bit and did some silk-dyed Easter eggs. They turned out really cool! Plus it was fun to do more than the kit! You wrap 100 percent silk around the eggs, wrap them with cloth, then boil them with water and vinegar and viola!

The eggs getting their dye.

We also did some of the traditional dying. Mac (who was not at all happy in the picture below) settled down and had lots of fun and broke two eggs. It was great!