The Mac Kinnon Family

We had another long journey today, from St. Louis to Colorado Springs.  We've been doing just over 400 miles a day and were finding that is about the max we can do driving alone.  Mid-day we both get very tired, we call people to stay awake, even with one of the kids in the car it's a long journey without another adult!  I needed a break so Emily and I stopped at a rest stop for some fresh air, she was too cute!  We are happy to have arrived in Colorado.  It is beautiful here, cool and relaxing.  The kids got to play at the playground, Emily wouldn't give up her chocolate bunny!  We get two glourious days here, we're going to do a 13 mile bike ride tomorrow (Emily will be in the bike trailer)....we'll see if Mac makes it!

We traveled from St. Louis to Abilene, Kansas.  Mac rode with John all day today and was very helpful to John.  Emily and I did well, we only stopped twice in our 400 mile day!  It is extremely windy here in Kansas, storm watch in effect.  Our camper is shaking like a boat on a rough sea right now. I'm a little freaked but John says it's all fine.......Off to Colorado tomorrow!

Day two brought us to St. Louis, we had a good day of driving with no major problems.  Both kids wanted to ride with me today so I didn't get alot of quiet time in my car!  After we got to our camping spot we rushed into St. Louis to visit the Arch.  We had dinner and went up into the arch.  The kids were tired but held up well, Mac seemed the most impressed by the view from the top.  It was an amazing sight!

We left Williamsburg today to begin our next adventure, it's been a fabulous three years.  The kids were tired from a very crazy week so the ride went really well.  We had a new game for each of them and they got to take turns either riding with John or myself.  I think we are loaded up for whatever adventure we find along the way!  We made it to the West Virginia/Kentucky boarder tonight and all went well except we blew a tire on the camper about 10 miles from our campsite.  So off for a new tire in the morning! 

While Linnea and I were putting our kids to bed last night, our husbands were reliving their childhood playing Pac Man and Astroid!  Listening to them as they chattered and cheered each other on was priceless.  Boys will always be boys!

Tonight is our last night in Williamsburg, our wonderful friends invited us to park our camper in their driveway tonight and let the kids play, hang out and enjoy a great dinner together.  Mac and Dixon have been great buddies for the past several years, Mac is going to miss his alot.   They have so much fun together, we've shared lots of great times together.  Linnea has been my "crazy" friend that talked me into most of the races I've done this past year!  Moving is tough, saying goodbye to friends is the hardest part.

John took Mac and his buddy Dixon for a bike ride today, they rode almost 10 miles. Mac did great, it was his first long ride.  It's going to be an awesome summer with lots of biking!

Mac has his farewell program for kindergarten yesterday.  The finished today for the year, it's hard to believe how fast a whole school year passed and how much Mac has grown since he started.  He loves school and really did well this year, we are so very proud of him.  His class did 4 or 5 different things they learned this year, I picked my top two videos (first and third).  The second video was his teacher's (Mrs. Hamilton) presentation of the kids kindergarten certificates.  The kids each wrote what their favorite part of kindergarten was, Mac's was making binoculars for safari day!  Then she read some character words of how each of his classmates described Mac.  It was awesome.  I'm so sad school is over, he is growing up way to fast!  Off to first grade.....

Mac's been talking about a salamander he's been making in art class for weeks now.  Today he brought it home, it is pretty neat!

Early in the spring Holly (my sister), who is now a breast cancer survivor, decided to form two relay for life teams.  She asked if Mac's class would color 100 luminary bags for the event the end of June.  For several months the kids have been coloring the bags which I got back the end of last week.  They were adorable, I picked a few of my favorites out to take a picture.  Too darling, such great work for 5 and 6 year olds!  If your interested in learning more about Holly's teams, "Holly's Hero's" can be found here:  http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11CA?team_id=939014&pg=team&fr_id=29181 and "Live, Love and Laugh" is here:  http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=29181&team_id=947554 She still needs some walkers if anyone is interested, donations are also welcome to...for a great cause!

Mac had his last tball game (for him) this week.  He really has blossomed this year and seemed to really enjoy playing and was actually doing really well.  The team has a few more games before the season is over. The team said goodbye to Mac, which was sad.   It's been a great tball season!

Moving is all fun and games, the planning and thinking of where your going.  Then reality slaps you in the face with the packers show up, then the movers, then you have one crazy week trying to get your house ready for tenants.  Our week has been extremely crazy and busy, we haven't had any down time.  Tonight is our last night in Williamsburg.....we start our journey tomorrow!

Here in Williamsburg they had a inaugural half marathon, "Run for the Dream", last year I decided this would be a great challenge.  Of course I convinced John to do it to, he's a more seasoned runner, but this was my first.  After many months of training we did it and I feel great.  What a beautiful race and great way to end our last weekend in Virginia!  We'll catch up on the blogs soon, it's been very hectic here!

 Oh boy what a couple of days.  We've been preparing for our PCS (for non-military folks, that's what they call a permanent move), it's been crazy.  Yesterday we told the kids they needed to pack what toys they wanted to take with them on their journey, Emily was very efficient and about a half hour later comes down from her room and puts 5bags by the door, along with and umbrella, Belle and Rapunzel.  After they went to bed I looked in her bag, she had almost every baby, 4 baby blankets, snow boots, dress shoes that were too small along with a book.  She is too funny. Today was chaotic.  3 packers show up, tell us they are packing us up in one day, typically it takes two.  Crew worked over 10 hours but they got us packed.  Stressful day....makes me dislike moving more and more.

Today was John's birthday and the kids were super excited to celebrate this evening.  Both kids got up before John left for work and wished him a happy birthday.  When he got home they wanted him to open his present, a new watch that he really needed.  Mac had fun helping me pick it out and I'm very surprised that Emily didn't tell John what it was (at least to my knowledge!).  We had a great dinner, which I had put on a plate that I found that John made when he was 6.  He didn't notice it until Mac was laughing so hard that he didn't realize it.  After dinner, instead of cake John had the "zoo", which was a childhood treat of an very large ice cream sundae with a fudge, strawberry and pineapple topping, nuts, whip cream, banana's and ice cream of course.  The kids loved it as much as John, Mac had to get closer by getting up on the table to eat!  Happy birthday to my wonderful husband and fabulous father!  WE LOVE YOU!