McKee Family Fun

Us McKee's, we know how to party! Here's how 10 days of McKee family fun went down:

 

Jordan and Maddie decided to come to California to bid us farewell to New York. State fair, pioneer day, lots of fun.

 

The boys and I decided to hitch a ride back to Utah with them to say goodbye to Ash's fam. Water park, cousin baths, Kai's fall (the least awesome part of my summer!), fireworks and mostly, lots of fun.

 

Then my parents decided to make the trek to Utah so we could go to a family reunion and celebrate my dad's birthday (early, but awesomely). Chocolate covered cinnamon bears, family stories, my awesome traveler boys and lots of fun.

 

And then, alas, we all went back to our respective homes. Except for us homeless Wigginton's, we came back to my parents home! And so the party continues ;)

 

The petting zoo at the State Fair was definitely an adventure. I am not an animal person. At all. So petting zoo's are not my favorite. But in the name of raising normal, functioning and enlightened children I always enter. And those darn animals see me from a mile away. This deer in the picture above didn't realize that my skirt was not her lunch. She robbed me of all my decency (here's my panties California!) and still wouldn't let go of my skirt. Me + petting zoos = major, major anxiety!

Everett was just as afraid of the animals as I was so he bailed pretty early, but T was in animal heaven. He pet and fed everything he could see (except for the donkeys, he's a total rule-follower, that boy) including a llama a million times bigger than him! So fun.

The boys would rather not have to share everything--but holy cute picture of the California State Fair!

Handsome Uncle Jordan with little Ever.

My beautiful parents near the gardens. The gardens were nice but it was seriously a million degrees outside so we didn't stay there long. Hot!

Uncle Jordan and Aunt Mad with the boys. Sure do love those two!

The boys with superheroes. Love them.

Me and Smokey!

State Fair food is the best--slushees, corn dogs, chili fries, lemonade, yum!

The cousins had so much fun together, for the first 24 hours at least. Then, there was the fall. Poor Kai-Kai! To make a long story short T and Evie were playing pirates at the park when Kai fell after trying to put an imaginary flag on top of a flagpole. After falling 6 feet and smashing his face on his way down, he had a seizure on the ground. I called 911, Ash stayed with Kai Kai and before long he was being taken to the local hospital on a stretcher, and later transferred to Primary Children's to stay the night in the Neuro Trauma Unit. He broke his nose in a couple of places, broke his cheek, broke his lip and had a severe concussion. He came home the next day, but was on strict instructions not to play, or run, or move really. The rest of the week was really long, trying to keep four babies entertained in the house, but we saw some really tender things between cousins (Dr. Talmage was all over Kai's care and always asked, "I'm going to have popcorn, did the dr. say Kai Kai could have some?" It was adorable!) With all of the craziness there were a lot of Utah friends I was not able to see which made me so sad, but I'm super glad I was able to be in Utah to help Ash when all of this happened. It definitely couldn't have happened at a better time.

There is a house in Herriman (right around the corner from Ash) that is designed as an exact replica of the Up! house. Such a fun place to see on our walk one afternoon.

Little Avery-girl is one of my favorite people in the world. She is so sweet and I love being her aunt! Every day I would pick her up after her nap and she would fall back to sleep on my chest. It was the highlight of my everyday. I love that little lady so much.

Sweet Avers.

On Friday Kai-Kai had an appointment with the ENT doctors at Primary's so I dropped him and Ash off at the hospital and took Avery and my boys to the "This is the Place" monument. They loved running around outside, and it wasn't long before Ash called us to pick her back up. Unfortunately, they told her that Kai would need surgery the next week (this last Monday) to correct his nose. Poor kid is three-years-old and already got himself a nose job ;)

We stopped by the Salt Lake temple on our way back to Ash's house and took some too-cute cousin pictures.

And a picture of the girls!

When we got home the kids crashed. And then Avery woke up, and then she fell asleep on my chest again. Love!

Since Jord and Mad drove us to Utah, we were without a car. Good thing Ash has a station wagon. T and I were super cool riding in the back together while the 3 littles squished in the middle!

When my parents got to Utah we went to dinner at Café Rio and then visited the Oquirrh Mountain temple. It's beautiful, as all temples are, and none of us had seen it before.

We talked and laughed, the kids re-landscaped the grass (!), and we all decided who we'd want to play us were our life to be made into a movie. The results were awesome. I can't wait to see Mario Lopez,  Sandra Bullock, Blake Lively and others acting out our lives on the big screen ;)

Saturday was the Boyle Family Reunion and on our way through Provo I showed Talmage the hospital where he was born and the house where we brought him home. He didn't think it was half as sentimental as I did!

Family reunion--these are all of the people (in attendance) that came from my Great-Grandma Dorothy. I love how the organizers had us take pictures by direct descendent.

Sisters.

Ash and I saw this street sign on the way to Springville and stopped on the way back to take a picture. It's mostly funny because Talmage had started calling the two little kids "Averett" when they were fighting!

Brick Oven for Dad's birthday dinner.

And for dessert (as if any of us needed dessert) we had yummy cupcakes from the Sweet Tooth Fairy in Provo. Best cupcakes ever! Happy early birthday Dad and thanks everyone for some serious McKee family fun!

Seeing Brennan

{written a few weeks ago}

The first thing I told Talmage this morning was that he was going to see Brennan today. He hopped off that couch with his eyes full of hope and screamed, hands raised triumphantly in the air, "I'm going to see Brennan today? I'm going home? We're finally going home?"

The words stung. Because that home right next to Brennan's where T and Evie so badly want to return is no longer ours. We're all missing our Stanford family something fierce these days.

Talmage talks about it all the time, Evie too. Just a few days ago Everett told me, "I want go our home." And we were sitting in my parent's living room (aka, our every summer home) so I was confused. Until I realized he meant he wanted to go back to Palo Alto. But again, the new residents on Thoburn Court probably wouldn't appreciate us barging through their, I mean our, I mean their front door.

And so it was no wonder when I told Talmage that Brennan was coming to visit us I got such a fabulous reaction. Sure, he was slightly deflated when he learned that we weren't going back to Stanford for the reunion, but he was also very excited.

We had a lovely lunch. And by lovely, I mean the best cheeseburger, animal style, that In 'N Out had to offer. Brady chased the big boys around the outside tables until all of them were dripping with Sacramento Valley sweat and I cuddled that Connor-baby and tried to suck all the goodness out of dear Natania. I knew our time was short, but I wanted to be selfish and keep them to myself, forever even (in a not-stalkerish sort of way!)

But of course the inevitable happened--they had to leave. I felt the tears well up in my eyes and Evie said, "I no want dem weave," but that Talmage, he outstaged us all. First came the tears, big crocodiles in his dark brown eyes. Then came the sobs--deep, soulful and sincere. And then his body just went limp. He couldn't walk, I couldn't hold him, he just cried and screamed and flailed his body on the hot asphalt. Bless Brady for helping us to the car, and telling T that he was going to try and come visit us in New York. On the ride home, in between massive sobs, Talmage kept saying, "Did you hear Brady Mom? I fink they are going to visit us. We're going to see them again Mom." And inside I felt my heart crumbling just a little. Because although just a few tears left my eyes my insides wanted to throw a little tantrum as well. I guess we're not all that different, me and T.

I was his sounding board all the way home--he misses his home, his friends, and even his aircraft carrier that is in some box on it's way to the city, he told me. And I told him I totally understood, because I do, and I want him to know that those feelings are normal and natural and frankly, beautiful.

So we had a great conversation that was well beyond his years about life. Oh, life. It's so full of tragedy and joy, despair and elation--and what T is learning is that they come all together, packaged wildly in the same second even. Because just after he was missing his friends deep down to his soul he ate milk shakes with his Mema and declared it the "best day ever." And then we read a new book about New York City and he excitedly showed me the Natural History Museum on the map, and talked about how he can't wait to ride the subway again. "But I will still miss my friends," he said. So we decided we'd print out pictures of our dearest and hang them by his new bunk bed. And I bet before long some pictures of new friends will be joining the old ones. It's bittersweet, with an emphasis on the sweet. Although we can see the joy and goodness without overlooking the bitter. Life is confusing and complicated, and life is darn beautiful.

Hopefully these boys are learning resilience (and are not being scarred for life), and hopefully we'll all be feeling settled soon.

TEvie in Tahoe

We ventured to Tahoe to spend some quality time with our Wigginton family. We've missed a few years of Tahoing and were glad to introduce Evie to the beautiful blue. Despite James being swamped with BAR study (we thought law school was bad, ha! bar study has been a beast), the little boys and I ended up having a lot of fun visiting with Cousin Lacey, going to the beach and exploring all things Tahoe.  

 

Auntie Care and Talmage-boy relaxing on the back deck of our cabin. Many-an-afternoon was spent hanging out on those lawn chairs. One day I came outside and T told me, "Mom, can you go back inside? I'm having some special alone time with Auntie Care!"

The men-folk took part in their very own version of the polar bear dash. It was dusk and beautiful when they dove in, but I was way too chicken to join them. Plus, I was needed behind the camera!

We took out a kayak a few times, and it was always easier when James came along. I took the boys out by myself a couple of times and always returned with screaming children. Talmage refuses to enter any kind of water without his goggles fastened to his head. Such a cute little dork!

There is a gorgeous nursery down the street from the cabin and I took the boys to check it out a few times on morning walks. Here they are rockin' out ;)

The boys really liked swimming in the water. We usually went in a few times a day and Everett (who is my water-chicken) even had a blast splashing around. Can you blame them? That water is amazing. 

We were at the beach when all of a sudden familiar faces paddled on up. Auntie Care and Uncle Bryce were enjoying Lacey's naptime! Talmage helped them into shore.

My sweet little poser at a super sweet beach-park in Tahoe City.

Papa and GG with the boys. T and Evie kept them busy, and they kept the boys well-fed! You should have seen their eyes dance when GG bought them Sponge Bob mac and cheese. Little kid heaven!

This was a special Papa moment with the little boys. Since James was studying full-time, Papa was giving me a much, much needed breather. Thank you!

I think this picture of Care, Bryce and Lace kayaking is just lovely.

One day we took the kids swimming on top of Squaw Peak. Last time we were up on top Talmage was 4 months old and got his first nose bleed! Luckily, there was no bleeding this time and a whole lot of fun. T was excited to show Auntie Care (our swimming expert) how he could "swim wif no fwoaties and takes breaths!"

Me and my boys enjoying the beautiful view of Tahoe.

This lovely lady turned 30 and we celebrated with a delish cake with 30 candles! Happy birthday beautiful sister!

Lacey was a little nervous for anyone to hold her, but by the end of the week we had developed a few little routines that let her know we were friends! (High five, pound it, hug, repeat.) Anytime someone was able to hold her I tried to take a picture and capture the moment.

My sweet little beach babies!

The girls took Talmage on his first rafting trip, which was a major success. He thought he was so big because he got to go all by himself, and we had lots of fun letting him paddle, swim in the river and sing boat songs.

Rafting might have been the highlight of this trip for me. It was so much fun!

By the last day of our trip James was going completely stir-crazy (by that time he hadn't even left the house in 3 days) so we went on a hike to Vikingsholm. It was a beautiful day for a hike (and then a swim) and it was so good to be all together.

My last time at Vikingsholm I was putting my babies chubby toes in the cool Tahoe water, this time he was independently swimming in it. Wow, 4 years changes things!

Papa with his grandbabies. Thanks Papa and GG for a fun family vacation in Tahoe!

He's 2. It's Terrible ;)

I guess I should mention that my baby is two. Two years old, that little pillbox! I've been in a state of mourning since his birthday--less because of the actual age and more because of his newfound attitude. Serious, serious two-year-old attitude. You better believe I've seen my fair share of attitude (my first kid was Talmage for heaven sake) but Evie has taken me more by surprise. He was so darn sweet for his first 23 1/2 months and about a week before his birthday BAM!, he turned into a grumpy Gus. He's given me a run for my money this summer, but just lately he seems to be chilling out a little and we're getting along better. Maybe that's why I'm finally blogging about his birthday, or maybe I just finally have a working computer again ;)  

 

We celebrated his birthday with a big bash at Papa and GG's house. He was very specific about his birthday wishes: "I want BIG pawty!" and "I want baw (ball) pawty!" I took his lead, and the party was a lot of fun. We had his favorite meal--hot dogs, Cheetos, fruit and lemonade and he was in two-year-old heaven.

 

Ever was obsessed with his birthday cake--it was ginormous and covered with sports balls and sprinkles!

Our boys were the only children at the party, but I decided since it was a two-year-olds birthday party we all needed to act like two-year-olds. So we did! We drank out of these cute cups and I think everyone actually enjoyed acting like a kid.

Yummy food and lots of presents. Everett now has every single ball ever invented and he love, love, loves them!

Evie blowing out his birthday candles on the big cake. It was a great party! We were so blessed to spend it with so much family. I wish I had pictures of everyone...I should have insisted on a group photo.

A few days later (and just a few hours after I returned from a last-minute trip to New York to find us a  new pad) we celebrated his actual birthday with cupcakes and two candles. Everett LOVES having happy birthday sung to him and thinks it's his birthday whenever we start singing that song. It's really cute!

 I love that little shy, flirty, sweet smile. What a cute little stinker I have!

 Blowing out his candles in one big huff!

Happy birthday Everett Knight. I love everything about you and am so grateful you are in our family.