HAPPY BIRTHDAY MACKENZIE!

Mackenzie turned 9 years old today!  Where does the time go?

It seems like just yesterday she was this age...

Wasn't she beautiful even then?

Loved to be on stage...

Here are some of the things I love about Mackenzie:

1.  She loves her sister and her brother and is such a good help with them.

With new baby sister, Kayla.

2.  Mackenzie has personality.  She loves to laugh and join in the fun, dress up.  At first her parents worried that she was slow to talk, but she is a great conversationalist now.

3,  Mackenzie loves to sing and is developing her talent on the piano.  She loves to play and is picking it up very quickly.  She has inherited her mother's love of music.

4.  Mackenzie has beautiful eyes.  I think she got a little of my grandmother, Mabel Alexander's beautiful round eyes with thick lashes.  She got her mother's beautiful blue color, however.

5.  She is a willing helper.  She helps with her sister and brother and is great at helping with chores and cooking jobs.  She always helps decorate our Christmas tree.

6.  She is a good friend.  She has many neighborhood, school, church and family friends and is kind and thoughtful.  Here she is with her cousin Halle.

7.  Mackenzie loves the beach as any California girl should.  She loves the water, but I often see her being creative in the sand. She is very imaginative and creative in all her activities.

8.  Mackenzie loves to play soccer. She has been playing since she was little and really puts a lot of effort into playing and has been a valuable player on all the teams she has played on.

Baby Ethan is born.

You can tell she loves him.

  Mackenzie is willing to try new things.  She had never been around horses, but at almost  6 she was bold and willing try the whole experience of riding and did a good job.

She loves Papa's dogs, but mostly when they are little.

  She is a good swimmer and has lots of fun in the pool with family and friends.

Turning 8 years old

9.  Mackenzie has a testimony and wanted to be baptized.  She was so excited for this special day when her dad baptized her.

With cousins at Grand Camp.

10.  Mackenzie is a good student.  She tries hard in class and excels in many areas.  She especially loves math.

She is still growing taller and still beautiful!

Happy, happy birthday, Mackenzie.  I love you so much!

FINALLY, BEN IS FIVE TODAY!

Ben has been wanting to be five since he turned four and now he is!  I am so lucky because his family moved in close to me.  I get to see him every week.  I get to go to his soccer games.  I get to hug him often (if I sneak up and surprise him, at least.) I get to hear his happy voice and look into his big brown eyes.

I am also glad because I have pictures from his whole life in my digital file already.

I remember when this darling boy was born.

I remember when he was blessed!

His parents (and grandparents) were crazy about him.

Here are some things I love about Ben:

1.  He is enthusiastic about everything! It is fun to be with someone who enjoys life so much.

2.  Ben loves his brothers.  I remember when this picture was taken, Ben was barely 9 months old and not quite walking yet.  But he wanted to be where Toby was.  He made you hold his hands and let him "walk" to where his brother was.  He has been Toby's closest companion and friend ever since.

3.  Look at those eyes!  One look into them and he can have anything he asks.  I love his beautiful brown eyes!

4.  Ben is very coordinated and might be an athlete when he grows up a little.  You should see him on a skateboard already.

5.  Ben is a happy boy and joins in all the fun he can find.

6.  I love how beautiful Ben is.

Did I say Ben loves his brother and wants to do everything he does?

 

7. Ben is smart.  He learns quickly and masters just about anything the older boys can do.

8.  Ben is fearless.  He will ride any ride they will let him go on and isn't afraid.  He loves to try new things.

Will Ben get to be a surfer like his father?

He tries anything.

9.  I love that Ben can play all by himself sometimes and use his imaginaton and creativity.

10.  I love that Ben is all boy and has lots and lots of friends to play with.

Ben and Jack showing off their muscles and strutting their stuff!

Lots of cousins!

 

Donuts are the best part of soccer.

Chase and Ben scare Nana with their frog.

I love you Ben.  Five will be a great year for you!