Sweet Carly

Sweet Carly made me lunch yesterday. I was halfway through my PBJ when she told me I better take a picture so I could put it on the blog! She was so proud of herself. She even took the yogurt out of the container and cut up my string cheese. I was quite impressed with how well balanced it was. Today she and Anna made me lunch and I got PB and honey, grapes, tomatoes, and TWO sticks of string cheese (they each wanted to cut one.) Thanks for the treat sweetie pies!

La Playa

Some family came into town and wanted to go to the beach so we decided to join them. Anna and Carly went a little earlier with them then I came. I know all you native So Cal people are going to cringe when I say this but for my posterity's sake I need to let them know that I think the beach is slightly overrated! I haven't quite figured out what is so fun about sitting in the wind wondering why you have goosebumps in the middle of the day in July. Is it the sandy chips you eat that makes it so fun? or maybe the seagulls trying to steal all your food? the umbrella that refuses to stay in the ground and wacks your 2-yr-old on the head when it gets blown away? the sand in your eyes? the backache you have from trying to carry all your stuff and kids to your spot? trying to convince yourself the water is warm while your toes are turning purple? the two hours it takes you to get ready for the beach and the three hours it takes you to clean up? the sandbox in your car after the beach? Believe me I could go on... but I won't. Brad screamed the entire time and Mac cried almost the entire time and I was only there about 30 minutes. It didn't take much convincing to leave the beach and play at the pool (sorry no pics of the pool - we were too busy having FUN!) I guess these cute pictures made it all worth it.

Lynette and I trying to save the umbrella.

Sandy chips.

Needless to say I won't be attempting the beach again until all my children have passed the age of three or if McKay is with me. (maybe)

Pony Rides on Pioneer Day

They had pony rides at our stake Pioneer Day this year. I was a little hesitant to wait in line for them because a few years ago I waited in this really long line and then we got up there and Anna wouldn't get on the horse! They promised me this time that if I waited in line they would ride. So I waited in line while they ate dinner - it was only about 30 minutes of dust blowing in my face. I didn't know if Mac would do it or not but he marched right up there and sat on that horse. He thought he was sooo cool. He had just had some watermelon so you can imagine what he looked like after the ride with dirt blowing on his sticky face. The girls thought it was wonderful!

I couldn't get Mac to smile but I could tell he was having fun.

Santa Barbara

Anna has been having to see a doctor in Santa Barbara for her elbow so when she was going to get her cast off we decided to celebrate and make a day out of it! She was a little hesitant at first with her cast off but pretty soon started moving it a little. She probably won't have full range of motion for a couple of weeks. We rented a Surrey and pedaled down the beautiful beach. I was a gorgeous day and the kids thought it was great! McKay and I were the only ones actually pedaling but it wasn't hard (maybe McKay would say differently.) Brad was a trooper. The ocean breeze would take his breath away sometimes but other than that he enjoyed the bike ride.Mac was in heaven! He loved wearing his helmet and sitting up front in the basket. We would look over at him and he would be sitting there smiling. We stopped to get an ice cream cone and Mac kept telling us he wanted to ride the bike. We rode it for almost two hours (including our ice cream stop.) The kids are already asking when we can do it again.

After the bike ride we decided to play at the beach for a little bit. We only played for about 40 minutes (it was starting to get cold!) but it was still fun. Mac did not like the cold water. He wanted to be held the whole time.

Street Fair

Now that Anna can read she kept reading all the signs around town that said 'Street Fair and Fiesta - this weekend!' She kept asking us if we could go. What 6-yr-old wouldn't want to go to a Fiesta? We went and had a great time. We discovered that the point of a Street Fair is to eat as much as possible. That is why we only have one picture - we were too busy eating to take any more! Everything looks and tastes good. McKay had some very authentic Argentine Empanadas. We loved the snow cones with free refills, especially since it was close to 90 degrees. I think we will have to make this a yearly event!

Children's Museum

We were desparate for something to do one day so we decided to go to a children's museum in Oxnard. I have to admit I was pretty skeptical, but like I said I was desparate. We were having to get pretty creative with the whole 'no swimming' thing. It ended up being pretty fun. It is small, but I appreciate small when I am trying to keep track of Mac. They let the kids hold some fun sea creatures. It was definitely worth it - especially since when it was all said and done it took over three hours! Holding a star fish.

I believe this is a sea urchin.

A 2-yr-old's Birthday

Mac is 2! He had a great birthday. The kids kept asking me what we were going to do for Mac's birthday and I kept saying stay home! We drag Mac around to so many places that I am sure it would be a real treat for him to just stay home and play with him all day. That is what we did until about 5 pm we took him to the park and pushed him in the swings - a favorite activity! I think he had a great birthday!

Celebrating with Bryn, Alisa, and Zack at Grandma Barlow's.

Mac got lots of Lightning McQueen stuff for his birthday including some pajamas. This is Mac and Brad both in their Lightning McQueen pj's.

Mac and his racecar cake. Anna and Carly helped me make this. We thought we did pretty good! We got pizza for dinner - one of Mac's favorites.

Mac got this Lightning McQueen trike and he loves it! One of the buttons you push says 'outta my way, I'm Lightning McQueen!' So Mac says that as he rides his bike around - it is pretty funny. (I shouldn't say he rides the bike because he can't quite reach the pedals so he has to 'fred flinstone' it around.)

He loves to help his Daddy! We love having Mac Man in our family!

More Birthday Pics

Everyone on the McAllister side of the family but my cousin Mark. It was super fun to be with everyone! It has been a long time since this many of us have all been together!I get told all the time how much Brad looks like Brock and McKay. I believe it!

Mac got his Lightning McQueen shoes from my mom and had to put them on instantly. He even did a little dance for us!

Just cowing around

So July 10 is Cow appreciation day at Chic-fil-a. If you dress up like a cow you get a free meal. Not being one to pass up free Chic-fil-a I told the kids were were going to do it! They were a little hesitant at first but then decided it would be fun (maybe the fact I told them they had to buy their own kid's meal if they didn't dress up motivated them a little too.) We met a bunch of other cows from our ward there and ended up having a great time eating FREE Chic-fil-a. (FYI - I am not super passionate about free food in general because it usually ends up being a little gross but free Chic-fil-a is another matter!) Mac kept his cow ears on almost the whole time. He LOVED the dress-up cow that was there too. He kept walking up to it and saying 'hi cow!' It was really cute.

This little calf just melts my heart.

We are definitely eight cow women for doing something like this!

Fourth of July

This is definitely a fourth of July we will remember! On the night of the third Anna came running to us saying she had fallen on the grass and hurt her elbow. McKay held her for a second and we thought she would bounce back pretty quick but she kept crying and saying how bad it hurt. When I noticed it starting to swell I knew we had a problem. We found an urgent care open and rushed her there. McKay and Brock took her and an hour later McKay called and told me some crushing news. She was supposed to go to Primary Children's Hospital in SLC and will probably have to have surgery. The tip of her elbow had broken off and needed to be set. She had a priesthood blessing and I went with McKay to the ER at Primary Children's. She was being a good sport and having a lot of faith. They tried to put it back without surgery but were not successful so they admitted her to have surgery the next morning. She was in a lot of pain and very tired (it was about 2 am at this point.) She was able to leave the hospital at 11 am the next morning. The worst part of the whole experience was how crushed she was that she missed the parade. There is a parade in my parent's hometown and she and her cousins were going to ride in the back of my dad's truck and throw candy. She has been looking forward to this for at least two years. I have to admit I couldn't hold back the tears either. It was so hard to tell her she had missed the parade. We also were going to run a 5K and the kids were going to do a mile run with their cousins. We tried to look for the good in the situation and saw a few kids that looked barely alive so we were grateful our problem was so minor. But, it was still very hard on her. She has tried to have a good attitude but not swimming for a few weeks and missing the Fourth of July fun has been hard on her 6-yr-old spirit. She gets her splint off this Friday so bring on the water! We are grateful for excellent Doctors and supportive families and priesthood blessings to help comfort us! We were able to see the fireworks so the Fourth of July wasn't a complete bust!

Watch out Fourth of July 2010 - we are going to live it up!