Introducing Lucy

This is Lucy, the newest addition to the Mack family. Randy has always been a dog lover...we had a golden retriever for 5 years named Sadie that we decided to give to one of Randy's co-workers when Isaac was born. So after a 5 year break, Randy could stand it no longer, and I finally gave in. We decided we were not going to get a big dog though (at least not while the kids are little), and we were not going to buy a puppy either. So we've been checking the Fresno SPCA website for a couple months and have visited as well a couple times in the past few weeks. This past Saturday, her cute little face was peeking out at us when we went to visit. She had to stay a couple days to get spayed; we got to bring her home yesterday. The vet thought she was about a year old. The kids love her, and she does great with them...no nipping, growling, or running away. She usually just sits there, or even rolls over for a tummy rub. She slept in her little crate right outside the back door all night, and is laying in her little bed at my feet right now. A new adventure...as if 3 kids wasn't enough.

Audrey's Drama Debut

This past Friday, Robinson Elementary performed their spring musical, "Doo Wop Wed Widing Hood". Audrey was excited to be a part of it! Being a fairy tale, the chorus was costumed as animals or other story-book characters. Audrey was one of six mice on stage. She did great! The whole cast would stand and dance when there was a musical number; otherwise, they would sit and watch the action happening center stage. With six songs total, and a running time of an hour and fifteen minutes, that's a lot for a first grader to focus on! Near the end, she did get a little antsy and started wiggling a loose tooth. We were very proud of her for deciding to do this and finishing up strong (there was a week in there that she thought it was too hard to learn the dances and decided to walk herself home instead of stay for practice)! Thanks to all of you that came and saw her performance...she was so happy to have you come!

The past two weeks

The past two weeks have been FULL, with Audrey's birthday right in the middle of it all, so let me fill you in! Two weekends ago Randy and I got to spend a couple days in San Diego. For those of you that don't know, part of Randy's job as a physical therapist at Children's Hospital includes working with the hemophilia clinic on site. Twice a year, the National Hemophilia Foundation has conferences to further educate and network those working in this field. November is their annual conference...and Randy has been able to travel to lots of big cities all over the U.S. for this! In April, they hold the regional meetings (CA, AZ, NE, and HI). This year it was in San Diego. I love to come along to be able to get some time to myself (while Randy is in meetings during the day) and to also get away with Randy (we usually explore the city and get a great meal in the evening). So Saturday morning we dropped off the kids with their respective babysitters (thanks to everyone that helped out) and headed south. The conference didn't actually start until Sunday morning, so we could take our time getting there. The Dodgers were playing the Padres in Dodger Stadium that night so we made a "rest stop" of the game. The Dodgers blew the Padres out of the water 11-1! It was a great game! We made it safely to San Diego after the game and enjoyed the rest of the 3-day weekend in the warm 85 degree weather. Sunday, I went into Balboa Park for a little "culture". I attended a FREE organ concert at 2 p.m. in the Spreckles Organ Pavilion, which boasts the largest outdoor pipe organ in the world! Then I walked down El Prado to the San Diego Museum of Art for their annual Art Alive exhibit. It was amazing! Each year the museum invites floral artists in San Diego to create an interpretation of a painting or sculpture (already in the museum) with flowers. They place the floral interpretations in front of its respective art piece all over the museum for its 3-day exhibit. Unfortunately, we forgot the camera at home...so click on the Art Alive icon to see some past pictures, or ask me to show you my mini pictures in my cell phone some time. Sunday evening Randy and I enjoyed a great dinner with some of his colleagues at Fleming's Steakhouse! And Monday, after a relaxing morning and lunch, we drove home in time to say "goodnight" and "Happy Birthday" to Audrey. The story of the weekend wouldn't be complete without mentioning that I got in a minor fender-bender Sunday afternoon on my way back to the hotel from Balboa Park (although I can't even call it that because neither fender actually got dented, just scratched). However, the girl I bumped into made it into a much bigger deal than it needed to be. Ask me about it sometime if you want to hear the whole story.

The morning after we got home (Tuesday), Audrey's class went on a field trip to the Fresno Art Museum. My friend Marcy helped out by watching Isaac and Violet so I could go along as a chaperone. They toured the kids around the museum, through the outside gardens, and then ended in the classroom where they had a short art lesson. They have a good size classroom in the back of the museum where they give summer art lessons to kids 8 and older (maybe next summer for Audrey)! Friday night we had family over for a birthday dinner. And Saturday afternoon Audrey invited 10 little girls to help celebrate that afternoon. She had a pony party, so they started with decorating their own cowgirl hats. After that we headed outside for a horse relay race (they had to keep a sugar cube in a spoon while "riding" their horse), then inside for pin the tail on the horse. Last, Audrey opened presents and blew out the candles on her horse cake. Enjoy all the pictures! Audrey using her new camera that Randy, Isaac and I picked out for her. I'll have to post some of HER pictures soon. Audrey, Isaac and Violet enjoying Hullaballoo (a new game from Grandma Arlene) Violet giving Baby Levi some love! Veronica, Kharma and Audrey doing their craft. Some of the girls, and Isaac, enjoying their snack of Trail Mix and veggies with Ranch dressing. Isaac holding out the sugar cube for his horse. Lizzie on her leg of the relay. Audrey Nicole getting ready to pin her tail on the horse. The horse cake.

Happy Birthday Audrey

This past Monday, Audrey celebrated her 7th birthday! Hard to believe that my pre-Easter baby is so old! As the years have passed, I have seen her change from a baby to a toddler, and then a toddler to a little girl. And this past year she's seemed to change from little girl to big, elementary school girl. She's grown a couple inches, lost seven teeth total, and decided that she likes clothes and shoes with sparkles or horses! She still LOVES to read, and is tackling chapter books now (Junie B. Jones is her current fave). She is doing great in first grade and decided to participate in the school musical this spring! She also started piano lessons with me this past January and is liking it so far. She can't wait for the weather to warm up so she can swim every day...but until then she enjoys drawing and pretend-teaching her bears and dolls. We just love her so much, she is such a great kid and we wouldn't change anything about her!

MCC Sale

It is interesting how, as a parent, we try really hard sometimes to create memorable experiences for our children. We plan special vacations, we take one kid at a time on a "date", we repeat a certain event so that they will see it as a family "tradition"...and then, after all that, their little minds choose the things they want to remember, the things THEY think were the most fun, or memorable. Well, the MCC Sale is definitely something our children look forward to, and already have fond memories of. Case in point, we showed up early to church a couple Sundays ago, and the donuts and coffee (which are typically placed in the gym) were placed out in the courtyard. First service had just gotten out and there was about fifty or so people (most with grey hair) mingling outside. As we turned the corner into the courtyard, Isaac saw everyone and immediately exclaimed, "Woah, what is this? Another MCC Sale?" I laughed out loud...yup, put a bunch of older, Mennonite folks out of doors around some good food, and to a four year old, it's just like the MCC Sale.

But for those of you that are not Mennonite, or have never heard of the MCC Sale, let me give you a brief synopsis. MCC stands for Mennonite Central Committee. They are a relief, peace, and developement agency based in North America, a part of the Mennonite and Mennonite Bretheren churches. The monies raised over this past weekend (and at the other sales/auctions) may be used to build wells that provide clean drinking water, or bring blankets and basic sanitary items to war refugees or those displaced by the earthquake in the Congo. It may help teach a family how to garden, or raise goats, or sew clothing so that they can have a skill that will sustain them financially and better the lives of themselves and their village. It may provide AIDS kits to doctors in Africa. These are just a couple ways that MCC helps promote world justice and seeks to live out the words of Matthew 25, "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." The MCC Sale is not only a great place to give your money away, it's a great place to catch up with friends and eat great food! We went Friday night to eat dinner, catch up with friends, and look at the quilts and antiques to be auctioned off. And on Saturday morning we went back, at 6:30 a.m., to run in the 25th annual MCC Run for Relief. Randy ran the 10K race and I ran/walked the 2 mile race with all 3 kiddos. And speaking of memories...when we told Audrey we were going to do this she said, "And afterwards we get to eat pancakes and German sausage, right?" She remembered from last year the great breakfast after the run...that's my girl! I pushed Violet in the stroller, and actually had to jog at first to keep up with Audrey and Isaac. They both wanted to run off and on for the first 1/2 mile. It helped them warm up with the cold wind blowing! We all finished the run, ate our breakfast, and spent the rest of the morning walking around the Fresno Pacific Campus and chatting with friends. Audrey helped me pick out a new pair of earrings in the Ten Thousand Villages tent (my first purchase for myself in 2008, by the way). And after a bowl of home-made ice cream, we headed home for a much needed nap. Well, the kiddos and I napped while Randy watched the Dodgers play the Padres (and the cheating Jake Peavy). All in all, this weekend was, once again, a family favorite!

Open House

Last night was Open House at Robinson Elementary. The whole family went, excited to see the rainforest Audrey's class had created and all of Audrey's wonderful artwork. We got to visit for a bit with Audrey's teacher, Mrs. Elkins (although I see her all the time, and am in the classroom almost every Wednesday) and meet Audrey's art teacher! Robinson's K-3 classes were lucky enough to get a special art grant from the state of California that started last year ('06) and goes through 2010. The kindergarteners have a music arts teacher that comes once a week, the first graders have a visual arts teacher, and the 2nd and 3rd graders have performing arts teachers (for drama and dance). All this to say, Audrey has a natural bent towards the arts and has had a wonderful time exploring her class curriculum through that medium. I was amazed to see some of her artwork! Ask her sometime to show you something she's drawn! Audrey, Dad, and her self portrait (a lesson in symetry)...can you tell which one's the real Audrey? Isaac was fascinated with the tadpoles (now with back legs). He watched them wiggle around practically the whole time we were there.

I VOTED!

Yup, after all these years of watching American Idol and just letting "the public" decide who stayed and who went home, I finally picked up my phone and voted for who I think deserves to stay another week! You sang great, Michael Johns!

Opening Day Party

Yesterday was Opening Day for Major League Baseball. In celebration of the Dodgers 1st win of the season (they played at 1 p.m. and beat the Giants 5-0) we barbequed outside for dinner and played in the great, 70 degree weather! Here's a couple pics from the evening. SISTERS! Our dad, and our Dodgers, both #1. Isaac loves to swing! Violet's way of swinging, since she can't yet balance on the rope swing. Sliding down the slide. Super strong!