3rd Year (in dental school) -from Bryan's phone

Just saw Bryan uploaded some pics from his phone a while ago, as a 3rd backup to save our pics.  I'll go through and add some captions.

Eating an oreo like a pro

Candy Christmas tree at the Weston Hotel

McKay and his buddy Reagan

Christmas party nativity.  McKAY stole the spotlight

Rainstorms are fun

A little rest.  Grass is a novelty in SF.

Bryan got to go to the Ducks game with his friend

                                  

We cut down a Christmas tree in Oregon over Thanksgiving break

Taking a rest on the couch before going to see Santa

Tree lighting in Ashland, OR

Fishing on Thanksgiving 

Sleep Selfie

Scooter riding batman saving the world in smart and final

Handsome dude

Giants world series

Giants Championship parade

Point Reyes

                                  

Roof top party when watching the blue angels

 Bryan took the kids to Sequoia by himself one day while I was working.  

Post St. George marathon Family Pic.

 Bryan and another nice fish from his September fishing trip

McKay is a little obsessed with dressing up, even if it is a cat costume at H&M

We were the K flippers at a Giants game in August

Santa

Last year, for Christmas all McKay wanted was a 99 cent pair of gloves.  This year, he wants a lantern. We went camping for the ward campout a few months ago and McKay's friend had a little lantern.  He has talked about it a few times since then.  We saw santa at Macy's the other day and he told him he wanted a lantern for Christmas.

Santa: "Do you want anything else"
McKay: "Nope that's good"

They had a nice little chat about cookies, then it was Jane's turn...

And all smiles after!

Night clinic for daddy this week= gingerbread house making fun

 Get to open a Christmas book each day.  

Reading Christmas stories about Jesus with daddy

McKay's conversation with Santa got me thinking about  Christmas and how commercialized it is.  The parties and gifts are so fun.  I'll admit I get so excited about gifts for the kids, christmas activities, food, and parties.   However I love that all he wants is a lantern.   I love the symbolism of a lantern/light and the savior, who is the whole meaning of christmas.  This year I put an advent calendar in the kids room with scriptures about Jesus for each day.  My kids have loved this tradition.  McKay loves pretending to read along as we read about Jesus.  A couple friends also challenged us to read the book of mormon in two months (Novemeber/December).   Both of these things have made this season really special for me.  I know Jesus Christ is my savior and am grateful for the opportunity to teach my children about Christ and Christmas.

Our little Buster is 4

I was reviewing old blog posts and I forgot how much we called McKay "Buster" when he was little (What Bryan named him in the womb, after Buster Posey).  We love our little Buster.  I started this post a month ago and never finished.  Our little Sunbeam turned 4 this week, so I decided it was time.  

Day of Primary Program.  He wanted to match Dad. 

McKay was in his first primary program a few sundays ago.   His part was "Jesus Christ is our savior."  He said "JESUS CHRIST" really loud in the microphone and whispered "is our savior." He wore a little suit coat grandma got for him and demanded Bryan wear a suit coat also.  Christ and Char Yim are his teachers and are great with him.  They gave him fruit snacks and bribed him the whole time.  He sat up there with a smile on his face, and sang the songs while looking at us in the audience.  He also insisted on holding a hymn book while singing his songs.  He also did a little nose picking up there along with his little sunbeam friends.  It made me feel slightly better he is not the only one who developed this lovely habit.  I must say I was quite impressed with performance.  I fully expected him to get stage fright and run away.




This boy has been cracking me up lately.  McKayisms:

1.  2 am the other night, he ran into our room and yelled "THERE IS A TURTLE IN MY BED!"
Bryan: "oh ya thats nice. there is a turtle in your bed" in a confused sleep
Mckay:  "THERE'S A TURTLE IN MY BED!!!" (upset, almost crying)
Me: "No, there isn't a turtle in your bed."
Bryan eventually went in and cleared out all the bed turtles.  Then he told us there was a crab quesadilla in his bed and he ate it.  Oh the imagination of children!

2. My parents were in town yesterday, coming back from a vacation.  My mom walked down the stairs in her nightgown and McKay said, "I like your sleeping dress, grandma!"  I love that boy.

Wearing his awesome $3 goodwill wet suit.  Loves boogie boarding with dad.

3.  McKay is a sweetie.  This morning the kids woke up at 6:45.  We have a rule where they cannot leave their room before 7:00.  Jane started crying, and Mckay consoled her and started talking to her.  Then I heard, "I have to go to the bathroom Janie, but I will be right back."  She started crying, and he said, "Ok I won't go, I will stay here."  My heart just melted, and then I ran into the room to save his sheets.

Partners in crime

4.   McKay is the best big brother.  A few days ago when Kylie asked who is best friend was, he said Janie.  That makes me so happy.  I remember my dad always saying he wanted us sisters to be best friends.  I would for sure say my sisters are my best friends, and I want the same for my kids and hope their friendship lasts.

We had a pretty low key birthday celebration this year.  McKay wanted his friends to come over and eat his batman cake, so they did!  And of course he wanted to wear batman costume on his special day.  I love that his friend ivory decorated her face like a tiger for the celebration.

McKay loves his doctor costume, magna tiles, and books he got for his birthday.  I love this sweet boy so much.  I will forever cherish the moment he was born and made me a mom for the first time.  He still has the sweet, mellow personality he had when he was a baby.  He teaches me new things constantly.   I can't imagine life without this handsome dude, and I am forever grateful to be his mom.

Are you happy, mommy?

The mom job is not always the easiest in the world.  I have tough days that sometimes make me want to pull my hair, but I don't because Jane does it for me.  Today, she thought it was the funniest thing in the world to grab huge handfuls of my hair and giggle with a wild look in her eye.

We just got home from Oregon last night, and we are all exhausted and cranky after our lack of sleep.   I did not want to miss out on the monthly SF free museum day and my kids usually benefit from getting out of the house, so I thought the Conservatory of Flowers could be the perfect cure to our crankiness.  Wrong! Jane ran in one direction, while McKay tried to touch the tadpoles in the pond.  For my kids, lack of sleep equals a gigantic amount of energy.  They sprinted to try to open the emergency doors, and most of the time McKay said "I want to go home!"  There was crying from both, resulting in the quickest outing ever.  While I made lunch, a bomb quickly went off in our place.  Toys EVERYWHERE, leading to an even crankier mom, a fight to clean it up, and an early nap time.  

As I was tucking him in, McKay said, "Are you happy mommy?"  He asks me this regularly.  Sometimes it is after he was not on his best behavior, and sometimes it is just out of the blue.  If I don't respond right away that I am happy, he always tells me to be happy.  

I am so grateful for the sweet boy's little reminder about 

what is most important.  While there are tough days that require much patience and discipline, they do not interfere with my happiness.  In response to this question, yes I am happy.  I have the happiest job in the world!  I am so happy to raise these sweet children.  I am happy to be sealed to my husband, and to know my family can be together forever.  I am happy to know Jesus Christ is my savior and there is life after this.  I hope to always keep this prospective and not let slip-ups in my day influence my happiness. 

Golden Gate Bridge pictures

My extremely talented neighbor and dear friend snapped these pictures of our family the week she moved.  I will forever treasure these pictures in front of the golden gate bridge.  San Francisco is an incredible city with rich culture, variety, and outstanding architecture.  The entire city is filled with picturesque views due to the rolling hills throughout.  Everyone has a different niche in the city depending on location, tastes, tradition, and hobbies.  I love how different people have completely different experiences in San Francisco.   The view of the golden gate bridge is one of my favorite things of the city and one thing I will miss most.  I love running across the bridge and the incredible bridge view as I pull into my neighborhood.  My heart will always be in San Francisco.  I really do not know how I will leave this place.

Thank you so much Gena!