Mackenna

Look What We Found...

Each night before we head to bed, I go and check on Mackenna to make sure she's tucked in a comfortable for the night. Well on this particular night I went in to her room and she was nowhere to be found - it was very scary and the fact that she couldn't have gone far was lingering in my head, but it was still so weird to go in and not see her!

After all the looking, I was about to head downstairs to start my search there, when something caught my eye in the bathroom...

Can't help but just laugh at this...so random, but yet so hilarious!

Just happy to know she was safe and sound in her bathroom :)

1st Trip to the Beach

A couple weekends ago, we took Mackenna to the Prior Lake Beach for the very 1st time. We've been going to Grandma's pool so much, we thought we'd have a change of scenery for a day! It was so much fun and we were there for several hours. We packed a picnic, plenty of sunscreen and tools and some sand toys and had one of the best days yet this summer!

Daddy and his girl - can't get enough of these pics!

Loving the sand and water!

Love that lil behind :)

In her own world!

Princess Pics All Day Long!

Because of Mackenna's true obsession with princesses, I could post so many pics up on the blog every day, but here are just a few of my favorites!

4th of July!!!

Just a few cute pics to share from the 4th of July this year! We had a great time sharing our day with Grandma Karen and Grandpa Jim at the pool and then with Uncle Nick and Hannah at their new house which also has a pool!!! LOTS OF SUN!

Birthday Princess

Every year on her birthday, Pati makes Mackenna a princess for the day with a special birthday crown and lil present. This year her present was perfect!!!! Yet another 'clips' princess to add to her collection (I think she might have ALL of them and doubles of some)

We made her princess for a day on her actual birthday which feel on Father's Day - I just love how girly and full of life this little girl is :)

Happy 3rd Birthday to my Sweet Mackenna

Dear Mackenna,

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Girl! Mommy can't believe you are really 3!!!! WOW! I think I say it almost daily, but where does the time go??? So much has happened over the year and mommy is so very proud of the little girl you have grown into. And can you believe it? You're POTTY TRAINED!!!!!! Mommy and Daddy promised that if by your 3rd birthday you were potty trained, that we would take you to get your ears pierced and sure enough, YOU WERE!!!!! What a great day your birthday was....you were a little scared at first, but like always, you were the biggest, bravest girl and now have the cutest ears around!

You still love riding rides at the Mall of America, so of course that's where we took you to get your ears pierced and to have some fun. You absolutely LOVE the Disney Store and love to go in there each time we're at the mall too, so of course in your adorable Rapunzel dress, we went inside. You told the woman working that it was your birthday and we are so glad you did as they had quite the surprise in store for you...

Your name magically appeared on the big screen and Mickey had a special song for you that he played throughout the entire store. You were so happy and danced for all to see!!!

Outside of your big day, I just can't tell you how much I love to watch you each and every day grow, play, laugh and love. You are the biggest cuddler I know and I think it's safe to say, mommy is your best friend (you tell me multiple times each day!). You are such a lover and when you love, you love hard and I am in such awe of that and hope you don't lose sight of that. You of course always find the good in everything and while you don't know much else, I too hope you don't lose that quality either. You might still be stubborn or even more than you were your first 2 years, but you're a fighter and know what you want...so while at times Mommy goes a little crazy when you're whining, I hope you don't lose sight of your beliefs either...maybe just find a new way to communicate them in this next year of your life, ok?? :)

Mommy is so blessed to call you her daughter and I will never be able to tell you how much I love you. Daddy and I were so lucky to have you and our lives are forever changed. You will always be Mommy's little girl whether you like it or not and while I know it won't always be this way, for now...make sure you continue to tell me out of the blue that you love me and that I'm your best friend because hearing those words each and every day is what makes it so easy for me to get up and get going with my day. You are my sweet girl and I love you to the moon and back times infinity :)

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Girl! Here's to many more!

Forever loving you,

Mommy

Mackenna Meets Her Idol

Mackenna got the BEST possible surprise on her 3rd birthday! CINDERELLA came to visit all the way from her castle at Disney on her special day.

Mackenna invited all her friends from Pati's house to her party and a new special friend, Abby too! (Mommy's friend's little girl!). Cinderella had so many special activities for all the girls:

* Face/Arm painting

* Interactive story time (the cutest was when Cinderella talked about her mean stepsisters Anastasia and Drizella, the girls are would yell, "Yuck, Yuck, Yuck!")

* Dress-Up like a Princess

* Walk the red carpet and be deemed a true princess

* Crown making

* Special Cinderella cupcakes

* And of course...gifts and party bags!

The girls all had a wonderful time and I think Cinderella did too. It was truly a magically afternoon and Nate and I were so happy to see maybe one of the first, of many, memories be created on that day for our lil girl!!