McKay David Grondel

Today is Mckay’s 2nd birthday!


Here are a few of the things McKay enjoys doing.

He loves to play outside, whether it be mowing the lawn, gardening, rearranging rocks, or riding his tractor, it is always a HUGE fight to get him to come inside.

He is a BIG helper and always has to be in the action.

He has one speed and one speed only and that is run. He literally runs everywhere he goes.

He is a water baby. If he could spend his day outside in the water he would be completely satisfied.

He loves animals.

When everyone else is laughing he always joins in with a good hardy fake laugh.

He loves “saurs”(dinosaurs), trucks and DRAGONS.

His vocabulary has really developed and I am often times impressed by the things he picks up on.

His most favorite thing to do is give raspberries kisses to anyone who will let him get close.

July 2008

July 2009

July 2010

The Simple Life

McKay got to take a trip to see Grandma and Grandpa Merrill with Mama and Papa Grondel. Penny took lots of pictures but unfortunately left her camera cord in AZ. So we will all have to wait to see those.

McKay was only home a short while when we left to go camping with my family. The time we spent on the mountain just reminded me how important the small things are. The mountain air, the animals, the camp fire and good company just make the time so sweet.

McKay is THE cutest kid! We were going for a ride and my dad pointed out a deer. This is how our conversation went.

Me: “I see it”

McKay “I see it”

Me “O’ no you don’t” (It was too far away)

McKay “ I doooo”

Short Pause then McKay says “A buck!”

It was hilarious. He is learning to speak so well. He picks up on a lot and everyday he learns new words.

Fiahing with Grandpa

CAUGHT ONE!

He loved the fish.

McKay thought the fish were so cool.  He kept wanting to touch them and hold them.  When my dad started to cut into the fish to clean it McKay started to get upet.  He kpet saying "Ouchy Fishy"

Attempting to clean a little dirt off before bed time, I got the tub out just to have warm water to clean his body off with a wash rag.  I never intended for him to climb in.  But he insisted he take a bath so in he climbed.

We even played a mean game of mountain kick ball.

McKay loved being outdoors, he ran around literally all day long. He played in the dirt, played with the dog, played with the older kids. And then of course he slept like a rock at night. He loved the fire and having open range! We will definitely have to keep up this summer tradition.

Swimming in Park City

I love this picture.  McKay just woke up from a nap and his hair was CRAZY.  Then it only took two seconds to get his face and hands covered in dirt. 

Happenings

As many of you have probably guessed that is not really a picture of our house. Our house is much smaller and not as nice, but maybe someday we will have an old Victorian Style house similar to that one.

We have moved all of our belongings to our house and are slowly putting things in places. We repainted the whole upstairs and got new carpet and new kitchen flooring. We have made a million small repairs and there still seems to be many more that need to be made. The yard needed some serious TLC. We have tended to the yard here and there as the weather has permitted, but yet again it still needs some work. Although I have to say the house and yard do look a million times better. It is coming along slowly but surely.

Since we have been SUPER busy with the house, plus we just got the internet hooked up, I haven’t posted a blog in a while; I decided instead of trying to catch up with all the stories and such I will just pick a few of my favorite pictures of the happenings over the last month or so.

Riding the Trax to see Grandma Price

We made it!

I love this picture.  He was just relaxing waiting for his food.

Dave's softball season started again. He plays Monday and Wednesday nights.

McKay helping the lady sweep at Maddox.

McKay's cheesy smile.

This kid loves WATER!

I guess he couldn't find the movie he was looking for.

 Oops

Ridin the tractor down the hill.

McKay helping Daddy mow the lawn.

Trying really hard not to let the hat fall off.

Finally

 

                              WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!!

What do you think?

Ladies in my life

I wish I was a better writer. I want so bad to portray my feelings and emotions in the words that I write. Maybe the more I practice the better it will get. I can hope right?

That being said I would like to honor the mothers in my life with this Mother’s Day post. First I would like to tell you about my mother. Her name is Eva and she is the most wonderful person and I could only aspire to be half the women that she is. She was always a wonderful mother and friend. As I watched her interact with my brothers it was always with amazement. She is so patient. She is forgiving and non judgmental. People naturally feel comfortable around her because she is so accepting. She is intelligent, and well educated both spiritually and secularly. Most of all I admire her relationship with her Heavenly Father, she has had trials in her life but she always seem to tackle her challenges with her head up and a desire to endure. She relies on her Heavenly Father and she has a strong testimony of her Savior. She taught me all growing up and continues to show me through example how important that relationship is. She has taught me to be a mother and wife. I love you mom and am glad you got stuck with me!

My second mother is Penny. Penny is the most selfless person. She is always first to help in any way possible. She is willing to do anything for anyone but especially her family. In the short three years I have known her she has shown me how important families are. She has taught me to give and give and never expect anything in return. She also has a testimony of Heavenly Father and has sacrificed a lot to live the gospel and have it be a part of her life. Thank you Penny for accepting me into your life and family with open arms!

My grandma’s (Yes including you Grandma Merrill), are examples to me.

Grandma Price never has a mean thing to say about anyone. She is so positive and uplifting. She is an example of enduring with a positive outlook.

Grandma Daniels is so much fun. I enjoyed spending time with her when I was at school and miss those talks we used to share about genealogy and family history.

Grandma Merrill has always accepted me as her own. I never feel like a stranger in her house. She is an amazing lady and I have enjoyed spending time with her.

Thanks you so much grandma’s for raising wonderful children!!!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful women in my life!

The Little GUY

McKay is SO stinkin ' cute!!! Here are a few of my favorite recent things.


McKay loves to take a bath. The other day I was sitting on the living room floor and he was in his room playing. He brings me his rubber ducks and says "BAF" "BAF" Then he grabs my hand and grunts while trying to pull me up still continuing to say "BAF" "BAF".

McKay went to a birthday party the other day and there was a Tonka truck there. I am not talking the little plastic trucks this was a HUGE metal truck. Really heavy. McKay carried it around everywhere with him. He even tried to hold it while he was riding a bike! It was hilarious. He eventually chose the truck over the bike.

McKay wanted to read a book so he brought it to me. Then he went and got his lawn mower he tried and tried, grunted and talked gibberish while he tried to put the lawn mower on my lap. For some reason he wanted it on my lap with him. He then decided it might be easier to pull it up if he got on first. He was successful so we read a few pages with McKay and the mower on my lap.

After it rained the other day we went outside to get some fresh air. McKay could not resist the puddles it was like he was magnetized to them. It took a lot of restraint on my part to just let him play. I decided what the heck, a bath can clean him off in a hurry. Then I started thinking back to when I was younger, my brothers and I would find all the worms we could after it rained. I looked in the gutter and sure enough there were plenty of worms. I picked one up and showed it to McKay. He got a huge smile on his face and said “SNAKE” I tried to explain to him that it was a worm but he is 1 ½ and just didn’t care. They were the coolest things in the world to him.

Sometimes I forget how much McKay understands and hears.  Pretty much everything I say McKay repeats.  I love it when he says new words.  This is an exciting time in life!!!!

Up Up and Away!

It is a rare experience for Dave and I to have the same day off. This Thursday we got to spend the entire day together! We started the day off by just enjoying each others company at home. Then we drove to Morgan and took a plane ride. Dave’s sister and her husband own a plane and they offered to take us for a ride. It was really fun. Dave and Aaron went on a flight first.

McKay really liked watching them take off and land. He knew DADDY was in the plane. Then it was our turn. McKay was a little nervous at first and just sat still not really moving. He loosened up a little towards the end. Even though Aaron put a couple booster seats underneath him I don’t think he could see out and so he really didn’t grasp that he was in the airplane it probably just felt like a car ride to him.

At the hanger they have a bunch of cool stuff like an old car, a boat, a couple airplanes. One of the airplanes was built just for little kids, it doesn’t have an engine but it has a control panel and control stick.

We put McKay in and were just going to push him around but he was not too thrilled and just wanted out. (In his defense he had just woken up).

This was a forest service fire plane that was at the airport.

They let us climb in and take a look.

It holds about 14 people.

Look at all the buttons.

After we left Morgan we had a picnic at the park. Probably not the best idea McKay ate about three bites and then was off to play. We had so much fun playing on the playground and swinging. Dave even tried to teach McKay how to roll down the hill. Dave rolled first and I wanted to record but he made me promise I wouldn't.

McKay was exhausted after that so it was nap time. We finished the day off playing games at grandma and grandpa Grondels house. I love days like this, it is easy to forget all the other things that are going on in life and just enjoy my boys!

Read on there is another posy down below.