Hididdileedee ~ a pirates life for me!

"Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates." ~ Mark Twain

So, we all know that pirates were a naughty folk, pillaging, looting and pretty much causing problems every where they ventured. Then why is it, they are so freakin' cool? Come on arrrrrrghhh.

The other night we went to Pirate Island Pizza, here in St. George. I think I had more fun than the boys. I did refrain, however, from buying the wench t-shirt, though it was difficult. 

There were cannons, eye patches and peg legs (also a pretty good salad bar). Then after we enjoyed our Tortuga Pizza, we set sail for the arcade. That was a lot of fun too. I do recommend it ye scurvy dog.

 
 Today, we went for a little bit of a tamer route, and voted for McDonald's. 

I cannot believe how long it has been since my last post. I am a lazy blogger.

A lot has happened. Our little family is doing so well. Keyan is four years old and full of life, adventure and curiosity. He is always so busy, I can never keep up. He is the poster boy for youth and adventure. I love him so much.
Dylan has grown and grown. He is now 17 months old and so cuddly. He loves to give kisses and hugs and to be with mommy, daddy and brother. He also loves balls and beep beeps (cars) and loves to imitate his older brother. They are so wonderful together.

I went back to college last year. I am going to pursue a nursing degree. I am in the process of finishing all of my prerequisites and then will apply at the program at Dixie College. I cannot tell you how excited I am. So, far I have done really well in all my classes and am hopeful to continue doing so. EEEEE :)

Justin is doing well at the vision center. He loves his job. Recently, his uncle sold his clinic to another Dr. Things have been going well with the new doctor and Justin has a good relationship with him. My work has also been going really well, which is such a blessing in this "crappy sucky" economy.

Things are going good. Luvs~

Good Eats!

I've started a cooking and baking blog titled,
"McKenzi's Kitchen ~ Good Eats!"

I will be posting my cooking adventures and recipes on it! I hope you will take a peek! I've added a link to the side.

Enjoy!

New Year

Hi Everybody,

Life has been a little bit crazy lately. Justin got his appendix out last week and I've been battling a dumb kidney infection. But, things are finally looking up and we are both feeling better.

Other than that, life has pretty much been the norm. (I guess that isn't completely true, running after a three year old and tending my 5 month old is never boring - you know what I mean moms!)

I'm almost done with my school work at Dixie, only one more class to finish up. I'm very excited!

Keyan has been doing very well in pre-school and he loves all his classmates. And Dylan is growing like a dyl week (as we lovingly call him).

I recently had the boy's pictures taken at Kiddie Kandids, I'm very pleased with them. Enjoy!

SMILING SMILING

Sorry it has been so long since my last post, as you know, I am absolutely awful and this blogging stuff.

Anyway, so things are going really great. Dylan has been growing a ton, he is not almost 17 lbs. I have shrimpy babies that grow way fast into really big babies, Keyan was the same way. At three months old Dylan now wears 12 month clothing. LOL!

He is also smiling like a mad man! I love it! It is so fun when they start doing this. Keyan adores him too and has adjusted well to his new found brotherdome.

As far as the rest of my life, work is going really well. I am just lucky to have a job in this crumbling economy. Intermountain has taken some hits though and had some lay-offs, our clinic, luckily is sound and doing just awesome. Justin's work has also been steadily busy, actually busier than last year, so we are really blessed and are able to keep on keepin on.

I am also please to announce that I've lost 55 lbs!!! As most of you know when I am pregnant I gain an insane amount of weight! LOL I usually deliver my babies weighing at about 210 lbs or so, so I am excited to be back down to normal or close to again. I've become addicted to Turbo Jam at the gym, I love that class! So much fun.

On Thursday, August 14th at 1:45 am, we welcomed Dylan James Luke into our family! He weight 6 lbs 9 oz and was 19 inches long. Interestingly enough, that was Keyan's exact weight and heigth as well.

Everything went really well, I was only in labor for about 5 hours or so, not too bad. Had a lovely epidural :-)!!!!!

Keyan is adjusting pretty well I think. He says he loves his baby, though at times he has seemed a little put-off that he has to share the spotlight. :-) But, he is really doing well too. I love my boys.

I'm doing really great too. With my first pregnancy I had a lot of pain and emotional stuff afterwards, but, cross your fingers, so far I feel fantastic. No pain and no emotional problems!!! HURRAY!!!! Just feeling good and lots of love.

Justin is doing great too. He was excited and anxious about our new family members arrival, but he couldn't be a happier dad.

Things are getting a lot closer for baby to come. We are getting very excited and more than a little bit anxious of the arrival.
I can't wait until I'm not pregnant anymore. I really don't like being pregnant, I love babies, but pregnant - ugh.
I've been trying to get everything ready for him to come. I got my crib all fixed up and the strollers and baby carrier ready. I've washed all the clothes. Now it's just a waiting game.
I'll keep you all updated. :-)

Mother I Love You, Mother I do

Mother's Day was last Sunday. I love Mother's Day, not just because I am a mother, which by the way it the most rewarding and special experience I have ever been blessed to be a part of.

But, because I have a wonderful Mother too, that truly loves me. She is so special and wonderful, I am so grateful to have a wonderful mother like her.

I hope that I can be as significant to my children and my Mother was to me.

I love you Mom.

TEAM BLUE

IT'S A BOY!!!

Ugh Pregnant Ugh

So, as many of you now know. Justin & I are expecting our second child this summer. Yes this summer, don't ask me how we always get summer, LOL. And if I have one more person say to me - "Oh you poor dear, you are going to hate this summer being pregnant", I'm gonna go nutty on them. :-)

We are very excited though & nervous, I don't think that nervousness will ever really go away. It's a good nervous though.

We get our ultrasound next Wednesday. I predict it will be another boy. Which would be fun. I love Keyan and he's a great boy, I would love another. I would love a girl too, some cute thing to dress all froo froo & be girly with. So, we'll see!

I am not really enjoying being pregnant though, and I'll tell you why. Because before you really look pregnant, you just look like a big butter ball. You know that stage where people are looking at you and shaking their heads saying, "poor dear, she is really letting herself go, isn't she?"
So, I can't wait until I at least look pregnant and not just like a big fatty! I think it will be a couple of more months. :-(

I will update you all as soon as we know if it's gonna be a little bro or a little sis for Keyan.

Luvs

Okay - I have to tell you something funny, because it really is the funny things in life that amuse me.

Number 1-

Okay so I'm sitting at work with my friend Terrie, she is a phlibotomist and likes to poke people with needs, we call her the vampire (hey it's her job). Anyway. So she is really bored, because nothing was happening that night. So I come stand by her and she is drawing an elephant butt - yes the rear side of an elephant.

I ask her - "Terrie, why are you drawing an elephant butt?"

Terrie saysm "Well, it's the only thing I know how to draw."

Okay - I don't need to say anymore. Needless to say, that made my night.

Ramblings

Okay, so it's seriously been forever since I've done any blogging here.

I have a myspace account that I frequent sometimes as well.

So let's see what's new?

Well, we just moved into our new house last month! I love it, it is a smaller home, but it is beautiful and I adore it.

We actually have a garage and a yard!!! I KNOW - YEAH!!!!!!

Keyan just had his 2nd birthday and I, my 26th! I know, one year closer to the big 30. You know honestly I don't care, I think I'm am more at peace with who I am now than any other time in my life.

Things may not be perfect, but I think I am more accepting of everything. I love my son, I love my husband and my family. And really that's all that matters in this life.

I am so excited, we are going to take a real vacation in November. We are going to go on a cruise to Mexico. I'm so excited.

I have enjoyed going and visiting my grandpa at the rest home lately. He has a lot to say for a quiet man. I love him - he's always singing these old funny songs and I just love how old people form his generation talk sometimes. We had a really good conversation about World War II the other day.

I don't know what it would be like to have to live through that hellish experience. It really makes me appreciate all that our troops and our veterans have done for our country.

Hello everyone -
I'm really surprised the ground hog foresee's Spring in the forecast. Did you know he's only predicted Spring 19 times in his very long career. I'm glad though, I'm sick of this Winter crap, that's right you heard me!
That's why I live in the desert!
I started a new job in December, as a dispatcher for Southern Belles. I really like my new job, I'm able to be at home too, so that's a big plus for me! My bosses are wonderful and nice.
Justin and I just had our four year anniversary last Wednesday. Crazy, I know, time seems to be flying by like crazy. Especially since Keyan was born. I guess it means I'm getting old.. haha - NEVER! J/k

Sing Us A Song, You're the Piano Woman!

Just last week I started my newest endevour, yes, I am a piano teacher! It's kind of my side project. And I'm really enjoying it.Currently, I have four students, all under the age of ten. I was really nervous to start teaching again, but I really love it. I think I was mostly nervous that they wouldn't like me personally, you know. But, all is well. :-)I taught piano lessons to three kids when I was sixteen. It was a lot harder teaching when I was a teenager. EEEEK.

I've been spending quite a bit of time with my Grandparents lately. It's been nice, but I'm worried about my Grandpa, he isn't doing too well. He is very weak and sick most of the time. It's hard seeing family go through these things. But he is a very strong guy (emotionally), he's really being positive about it all.

My sister in law also created me a myspace account: http://www.myspace.com/111906635 Go check it out sometime. Yes I have joined the masses.. haha

What I Remember...

September 11, 2001
I was getting ready to go to work at Re/Max First Realty, it was probablly 7 in the morning. I was so tired, when I turned on the TV and heard that a plane had hit the twin towers, I don't think I really understood how bad it really was.
I remember driving to work. I was the receptionist at the front desk. On either side of my desk were two large television sets, that were usually used to monitor stocks and play real estate commercials for Realtor's clients while they waited to see them. However, that day, we all watched the twin towers.

I kept wondering how many people were stuck in the buildings, I'm glad there were less than we feared, but it was still horrible.

I think the thing that I remember most was seeing the people jumping from the buildings. And, I thought, how bad is it that these people have completely given up. I am extremely acraphobic, and the thought of that just makes me ill.

I remember how sad humbled we all were, to know that we aren't perfect and were still vulnerable. And how we all strived to be a little bit better, I know I promised myself and God.

Since then, whenever I find myself complaining or being negative, I try to remind myself that I should be a little more humble, and grateful for what I do have.

I'm so happy to be an American.

That's absurd. I love it.

I'm A SLACKER! I know, I know.. haha. Hey, I'm lucky I get this much time in, so lay off.. haha j/k.
Last month Keyan celebrated his 1st Birthday! It was fabulous. He got tons of new toys to play with, mostly loud boy trucks! And got to enjoy some delicious free birthday cake, compliments from Albertson's and Smith's!
Keyan's hair is getting a little out of control I think, however, my mother-in-law strongly disagrees with me. Everytime I give him a trim they act as if it's sign of the Apocolypse. Sigh... I even had a little old lady say that's the cutest little girl I've ever seen! Haha.. Hopefully my girls if any will be as blessed with good hair!

We caught a scary spider, well not caught, massacred with RAID, in our house the other day. While I was growing up we called these huge spiders Wilbur. Which is funny, because I went over to my neighbor's house and they called them Wilbur too? Coinscidence? I think not.

The six week body makeover is going well, I've lost 20 pounds total. It's gonna be more like the 16 week body makeover, haha. And if I lose 10 more pounds I will be back to pre-baby size! Hip-hip hurray!

I am totally in love with three tv shows lately, House, Rescue Me and Lost! Two of which premiere next week! Yippeee.. I always said I would never get into a medical drama. But, what can I say , it's good.

Till next time .... :-p

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Hellooo everyone. Man am I slow or what? Oh well, what do you expect from a busy Mommy.

On May 3, 2006 we took Keyan to a Wiggles concert in Las Vegas, he loved it. It was a lot of fun! We went to some buffets and to Em's Chocolate Factory, which wasn't as cool as I could have hoped. Way too expenssive and a lousy tour. But, well worth it just to get out of town! The wiggles were fun, they sang and danced and stuff. Keyan especially likes Captain Feathersword.

I went on the 6 Week Body Makeover two weeks ago, and I am very glad. I've already lost almost 10 pounds! YIPPEEE. It's hard losing the stupid baby weight.

We've been going up to Pinto a lot lately. I love it. It's great to get out of town, where no one can bug you.

Work has been okay, I really wish I didn't have to work though... dreaming dreaming...

Zoloft was a Fun Ride

Well, I'm officially coming off of Zoloft.

About four months after Keyan was born I started having a lot of anxiety. I thought it would go away, but it just kept getting worse. Just another fun thing that effects some women after delivery. BLAHHHH

Anyway, I've been on Zoloft for six months now and am going to try coming off slowly. I honestly have nothing but good things to say about the drug. I noticed it working within a week of taking it and felt so much better.

I am getting a lot of exercise now and eating well, taking my vitamins. Hopefully by doing all those things it will be an easy transition. I only had a few minor withdrawl symptoms so far!

Anyway... WISH ME LUCK! Haha... I think pretty much the whole reason for the anxiety was hormone related, that should be worked out by now. :-)

Life is pretty amazing isn't it?

I love spring. There really is something spiritual about it. As I was taking Keyan for our morning stroller walk this morning I thought about it. It's like an awakening, symbolically. Everything is coming to life with a new start. It's cheerful and beautiful.

I just love it. I'm a sucker for a dafodil too. What can I say (shrugs).

Dad, Justin, Keyan and I all went out to Warner Valley yesterday on Dad's acerage. It was beautiful, the beautiful red desert plateaus and the sand dunes, totally awesome! We cooked hamburgers, hot dogs and some pretty good tin foil dinners. We all smelled like camp fire, it was great!

Then Justin and I took a quick four wheeler ride.

I just love family, it's so important.