The Mac Kinnon Family

We were playing out in the yard today and one of our lovely resident guarder snakes was slithering through the rocks (probably seeking warmth) and Mac was so excited and of course wanted to catch it.  After several attempts he turns to me with a look of shock on his face and says "the snake bit me".  He as calm then all of a sudden he says "it hurts", it starts bleeding and the tears start to roll.  Poor guy!  After cleaning it and some ice he was fine and he's ready to try to catch the snake again!  Afterward the snake kept peeking out of the rocks, I told Mac it was "watching" him!  Uncle Mike would be proud.

Mac earned his "Tiger Cub Immediate Recognition Emblem" (a white paw print that hangs on his shirt pocket and you attach beads to it) tonight along with his first orange bead for "Achievement ID" for completing his first project in his tiger cub book!  Way to go Mac!  After the pack leader did his thing, the kids worked on their den project which Mac enjoyed.  It involved a hammer and nails, what's not to enjoy for a boy, right?  Emily did great, she hung out and played with some of the younger kids.  They kicked off popcorn sales...so now Mac has to sell lots and lots of popcorn!

A while ago when I had the kids at a paint on pottery place I saw a cookie jar that I liked and thought it would be awesome to have the kids paint it for me.  I like to bake and usually have some sort of sweet around so I put a bug in John's ear.  Last weekend while I was away at my retreat my wonderful husband took the kids and they made me an awesome cookie jar.  The kids picked the paint colors, John helped a little but the kids did the majority of it. John was going to wait to give it to me for Christmas but Mac couldn't contain himself and wanted me to have it!  It is so special and awesome and I LOVE IT! 

This morning Emily was sitting with Willie, watching out the window singing to him.  We couldn't hear what she was singing but she and Willie were having some quiet time together!

John and I had to attend a work function for John tonight so we had a "new" babysitter for the kids.  When we got home we asked if they went to bed easily for her, she said overall they did but wanted to sleep together.  This is how we found them, guess they preferred the floor!

Mac's class (and all of the 1st and 2nd grade) participated in a jog/walk a-thon today to raise money for their classrooms to help fund some supplies, field trips, etc. that schools have lost.  He was to call family and ask them to sponsor him for laps.  The teacher said that 20 was the most laps kids did, so we figured Mac probably would do ten.  Mac was a superstar and did 24 laps, he was amazing!  I underestimated Mac, myself and some family members donated $5/lap....oh boy! I volunteered for the event and got to meet some of the kids in Mac's class.  It was fun to see all the kids doing their best.  One boy in his class did 30 laps, another who was a little peanut did 27, they all worked really hard and did a great job!

Emily was cast as a mouse in her ballet studio's performance of the Nutcracker.  She is so excited and I'm sure she'll be super cute.  The little ones only have to perform in 2 of the 4 shows, they seem to understand the little ones well.  Guess we'll be spending alot of time at the ballet studio over the next 10 weeks......

Mac is starting cub scouts, his uniform came in the mail yesterday, he couldn't wait to try it on!  He is really excited to get started, we'll need to get his den numbers sewn on and few other things but it will be fun.  He has his first meeting next week, he's so darn cute...even with a cheesy smile!

Emily had her first gymnastics class today and loved it.  She jumped, rolled, bounced, walked on the balance beam and "walked like a bear".   She behaved and listened like a champ, I'm very proud of her!

Some nights Mac and Emily like to sleep together.  They look awfully uncomfortable......but they do love each other!

Emily's ballet studio is putting on the Nutcracker production over Thanksgiving weekend.  I hadn't even considered having her "audition" since she is so young and new to ballet.  While John was with her at ballet yesterday the staff pushed him to have her audition, they needed lots of "little ones" for mice.  After talking with Emily she was super excited and wanted to try out.  So this afternoon she happily went and "auditioned" and did great.  She had to act like a mouse, while we were eating dinner she demonstrated!  We will know on Wednesday if she will be in the production....it may be the cutest thing ever if she is! 

John took Emily to her new session of ballet and got some great photos, Emily really loves it!

I went to a "women's retreat" this weekend which was focused around fitness and it was awesome.  We did two 5 mile runs, yoga, paddle boarded, had great lectures and discussions on nutrition, goals, obstacles and yummy fresh organic meals from a local restaurant.  It was awesome.  Since I was gone from Friday night until about 10:30 this morning John got to spend lots of time with the kids. They had a great time and the kids really enjoyed having some alone time with the daddy! He got Emily to ballet, signed her up for a nutcracker audition, picked lots of blackberries in the yard and ate well.  He is such a great dad and husband, thank you to John for letting me get away for a great retreat, I think he's as pooped out as I am!

The kids had their 6 month check up with our new dentist last Friday.  The dentist and staff were awesome, Emily did amazingly well, she didn't freak out at all, even with a male dental technician (having a TV to watch a movie on helps)! Mac did great too as he always does, although he's got more cavities.  I know teeth are different, some are softer than other and although I know were not doing anything wrong it sure makes me feel like I'm missing something.  We brush twice a day, floss once, use mouthwash and tap water, long ago eliminated juice and gummy snacks on a regular basis....it's so frustrating.  On top of that she's was the second dentist to tell us to start saving for braces.......

Emily had a great first week at preschool.  Tuesday I stayed with her for the day, then yesterday and today she was solo.  She did great, no problems when  dropped her off, she went right over to one of the other children and started playing.  She seems to be having fun and feels like a big girl going to "school". 

Emily had her first day of preschool today, I had to stay with her for the day today it was fun to watch her.  She started her day with waffles on her "special plate", then after taking Mac to school we went to her new preschool!  She really enjoyed playing in the "sand" table.  She drew, played alot, had circle time and sang songs, had a snack then went out to play on the playground.  Besides the sand box her favorite toy was the horse!  It was a good day, tomorrow she should have alot of fun.

We had a wonderful opportunity to go to the Mariners game today.  Mac has been really wanting to go and John's Aunt and Uncle (Pam and Glen) has some tickets and asked us if we wanted to join them so it was perfect timing.  We took the ferry over after church and walked to the field.  It was a warm day, it was a blessing the seats were in the shade.  The kids had a great time watching for a while, then got a little bored and were performing ballet moves and all kinds of hat tricks.  John and I enjoyed the game as well but I think we chatting and talked more with Pam and Glen then watching the game, it was so wonderful to meet up with them and catch up, they are so wonderful!  After the game the kids got to run the bases on the field which was the highlight for the kids.  Emily even ran by the red key costume thing without freaking out!  The clip at the bottom is a video of them running.  It was a great day and we all are very tired! ...