Keeping up with May...

We have sort of been turned upside down lately...good, bad and crazy. In the meantime, I'm trying desperately to catch up with all the fun we've had! ***side note: CANNOT get over how smokin' hot my handsome hubs is in the pic to the left. He's always hot, but YOWZA!!!!! Holy Hot Husband, Batman! ;-)

Mid-May we gathered at my Godparents' home to celebrate Shelby's 13th birthday (pics at the bottom of this post). McKinley had so much fun playing with all the kiddos and swooping his new Mickey Light Sabre around the house --- thus making Mommy a nervous wreck!

Cary was on vacation for a week near the end of the month. We had such a great time together! Got lots of landscaping projects finished and love the results. The coolest thing was that Cary got to take McKinley to his Lowe's Build & Grow Clinic! Just the boys! They had a great time making the catapult - so cute! Wish I could have been a fly on the wall, but I'm so glad they were able to enjoy their manly time.

During that week we also had a wonderful family picnic on a beautiful, warm day. McKinley seriously enjoyed having both of us with him to play his little games of chase.

We've also finished up another round of renovation...a GIANT, Mammoth-sized WINDOW!!!!!!!!!! It's gorgeous. Now to find window treatments that we love...fingers crossed.

Finally, BIG NEWS! We are currently pondering our preschool choices, McKinley will be attending preschool in the fall! WHOA!!!!!!!

This has been a super busy month for us! Gotta keep up!

Lynn

A Little Dirt Won't Hurt

I believe I have previously posted about the Terre Haute Community Garden and my cousin, Judie's involvement in it as a charter member. Well McKinley enjoyed visiting and playing in the garden last year, so this year she again signed up for two fun plots for all of us to use together. We have been so very busy and have only had a chance to visit once when we planted some great veggies and herbs. In the meantime, taking a cue from Family Fun Magazine, McKinley and I set out to make these adorable plant markers/garden stakes. Ours vary slightly from the magazine's, but I think they turned out perfect! Instead of using old caps (because our local recycling places do not accept caps, so we have to throw them away) we used craft foam, milk jugs and flower picks (in place of floral wire...which definitely stands up better to the Indiana elements than the flimsy floral wire as suggested by the mag).

We finally finished enough of the stakes to take a nice bunch of them out to the garden...and how cute they are peeking out, like little colorful bees, from the dark dirt and green plants! McKinley definitely felt a sense of accomplishment and pride in seeing the plants grow and putting our cute little stakes beside them. At the end of our time there today we even discovered a little friend among the beautiful lettuce: a sweet little ladybug (look closely in front of my fingers!). If you know me, you know I love ladybugs and think of them as a little sign from God that my grandparents and my Dad are watching over me from heaven. There's a whole history to this - including the day Cary proposed, the two ladybugs that were resting on our car when we got back in...they were watching! Anyway, today I'm sure that was my Dad. It has been a wonderful time lately...which I will share soon, but it was my sign that he was there, was happy for us and would always watch over whatever we do! Deep for a little ladybug...humor me.

We have a few more stakes to make and a few different plants to get in the ground, but all in all, today was a great learning experience for McKinley --- and fun too! Not to mention the fact that there is a railroad crossing nearby and a train passed while we were toodling in the garden! I have a feeling I'll never have to beg him to go there...

Aside from the Community Garden, together Cary, McKinley and I planted a few things in our own back yard. A few posts down from this one (back in April, I think) we started some seeds together. They quickly sprouted and threatened to take over my kitchen, so out they went! We are eagerly watching a few sunflowers, a couple of watermelon plants and an already vining pumpkin take off for our viewing pleasure. McKinley LOVES to go check on his little plants, where we also placed some of our little bee markers so one wouldn't forget where they were when mowing/weed eating.

Can't wait to see the yummy goodness we reap from this year's garden!

Lynn

Mother's Day Recap

We had a wonderful day in Bloomington with our families...here are the pics to prove it!

The only bad thing is that we forgot to get a picture with my Mom and McKinley, other than a side shot where neither of them is looking! Hello? Good one, Lynn...

Anyway, despite the cool air, we really had a wonderful time together.

Lynn

Park Playdate!

Savannah + McKinley = Major, non-stop, all-over-the-place, resting-in-the-middle-of-the-equipment, playing chase, giggling, jumping, swinging, sliding CUTENESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Putt Putt, Anyone???

Hooray for Mid-week Family Outings!

Tonight the three of us had SO MUCH FUN together at Bogey's playing mini golf. This was McKinley's first round of the sport and he LOVED every second! We took along his little tiny putter (a real set that my Aunt and Uncle gave him before he was born! So cute!) and he happily hammered it away for 18 holes. It was precious when he would pick up my ball from the cup for me and say, 'Here ya go, Mommy! I got it for you!' That sweet boy...side note: you are welcome future girlfriends of McKinley - and daughter-in-law of ours. Manners go a long way!

For the first few holes McKinley did what he was 'supposed' to do, playing the hole all the way through from where his ball landed. Suddenly though, he had a better idea. Why not just whack the thing from the box, go pick it up and put it right beside the cup? It's SO much easier to tap it in than to chase the thing around hit after hit after hit! Oh, if my Dad were alive, how he would appreciate such a maneuver! For a few minutes we pondered whether to correct him, but decided not to just yet. After all, he truly is learning to TAP the ball, as opposed to smack it like he does when chipping. He's learning! We'll get technical later.

I know it was such a little thing, but those 'little' things are my favorite. I love little moments like tonight! McKinley is so fun and so loves to be involved with everything. From taking turns to cheering wildly when we sink the ball.

Here's to the first of many mini-golf tourneys for the Vernon Fam!

Lynn

McKinley, The Ring Bearer & A Big, Big Weekend

Today was the long awaited wedding of our long-time friend Jodi and her HUSBAND, Dave. It was a super fun, super hectic day full of emotions and laughter and some great dancing.

Last night, at the rehearsal, McKinley showed his 'tough guy' face while rehearsing his big duty as Ring Bearer. Proof that he would happily serve as comic relief for this special time. In an attempt to NOT smile while ALL eyes were on him and the flower girl, this new - and hilariously funny - scowl appeared in the place of our usual 'all smiles' boy. Nose and lips scrunched together, eye brows pulled down as far as they would go and jaw set...he was a sight! Everyone was cracking up!

After that 'grand' entrance, we rehearsed most of the actual ceremony. McKinley took a break and sat with Cary in a nearby pew. When the pastor blessed the wedding rings, she said, 'In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit"...being Catholic, this is something we hear a LOT. McKinley is uber familiar with this as he leads our nightly prayer, crossing himself and saying the above. So...when the pastor got to the, "Holy Spirit" part, McKinley boisterously pronounced, "AMEN!" That boy has natural comedic timing! It was a precious thing to hear...it made everyone giggle, made Mommy and Daddy beam and was a sweet little affirmation of why we were there.

Soon we were onto the Rehearsal Dinner where McKinley officially became acquainted with his new buddies, Carrie and Chris. Chris invented a little game called 'the jump button'...officially McKinley's new favorite game...where Chris instructed McKinley to hit the jump button on Chris' arm, at which time Chris would LAUNCH McKinley WAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY up into the air as far as he could reach, then come back down to Earth. Peals of laughter rippled through the banquet room! Soon, it was time for McKinley to open his adorable Ring Bearer gift: a 'Ring BEAR-er' and a book about a little boy who was a ring bearer (right up our alley - we LOVE books!).

Soon it was off to bed so McKinley could sleep in as late as possible - there would be NO napping on the day of the wedding!

I was up bright and early for my hair appointment and a few small errands, so Cary and McKinley enjoyed the morning together then met me at the church at 1pm. When I saw that little boy in his precious tux (and his handsome Daddy in his pinstripe suit) I could not have been more proud. He was a sight! Seriously adorable!

I'm so happy to report that McKinley and his flower-girl-side-kick EASILY made it down the aisle. Yes, McKinley still had that face that would soon be dubbed "The McKinley Face" by the photographer - but it was cute, none the less. During the ceremony, McKinley chose to sit with Daddy, Nonna & Papa (my Godfather) while the flower girl literally took a nap on the step of the altar. When the organ played that familiar 'going away' song, the flower girl jumped and McKinley scooted right up to me to head out the door, as instructed.

That went by so fast!

Next we had lots of pictures, then headed to the reception. McKinley sat between Cary and I and with Andrea and Andrew - a couple who were also in the wedding party. McKinley requested Splenda in his iced tea (a treat), insisted on sampling SEVERAL slices of cheesecake and proceeded to dance his little self all over the floor for HOURS. He closed the place down. Literally. We have no idea where all the energy came from, but he was certainly lighting up that dance floor!

Carrie and Chris again buddied up with our boy, dancing away all night, making runs for iced tea, and fishing for pennies in the nearby fountain. My favorite parts of the night were watching McKinley dance the dollar dance with Jodi (totally made me cry...), dancing with my two favorite men for a slow dance, and all of our friends who were there (Sara, Shawna, Jodi, Jill, Carrie, Chris, Lisa, Randy and the boys, Brenda and EVERYONE ELSE!!!!) hitting the floor with McKinley to cut a rug. It was heartwarming and so much fun for me to watch and be a part of...totally an emotional day!

I think we have made some wonderful new friends, and I cannot express how honored we all were to have shared in the official beginning of what promises to be a beautiful union. Congrats to Jodi & Dave! Happy Wedding!!!!!

And to our little ring bearer - you were precious to watch. I especially loved it when you totally crashed and fell asleep in my arms minutes after arriving home. Love you so much!

Lynn