Lucky Ducks

Getting our "Soup on" here

2010-10-17T23:56:00.000-06:00

I have been making soups and bread from scratch and I'm so happy with how they are turning out! Our family favorite was the clam chowder and monkey bread! Yum~must be fall!

Kinley's Spotlight

2009-04-08T18:57:00.005-06:00

Old King Cole

So There!

2009-04-08T18:52:00.006-06:00

McCoy and his aunt Kelsey were having a great time.

He is so fun right now. He is learning something new everyday and making us all giggle. His personality is really emerging. He has been spitting for a while now, but we think it is funny when he does it right back at us.

Yeah! McCoy Started Crawling Last Night

2009-03-01T13:34:00.003-07:00

At bedtime I was tucking the girls in and we looked down and he was crawling! The girls and I started to clap, and he thought he was pretty cool. He is a few days shy of 10 months so I'm glad that I won't need to be packing him around the house as much any more. This is about the same age that both of the girls started crawling also. He has been doing backwards stuff and some scooting, or putting his hands down and standing with his legs, so his bum is in the air, but today was the first day that the forward crawling motion came. I will need to re baby proof the house now! This milestone came right on the hills of him learning to wave bye bye. It's pretty cute. I just can't get him to do it on cue yet, when I have the camera, but hopefully soon I will have a picture of that also. O, and the other day (about 9 months old) he looked at me and said Mama. Chad was holding him, so he is my witness. I have been determined to help him say mama as his first word, since Dada was Mailee's and Doggy was Kinley (really I had to come after the dog, really?) Anyway, it worked, me saying Mama to him all day everyday payed off :)No Daddy, that's not a baby doll that I'm crawling to...
... or batteries!
(Chad was out of town this week end so he wasn't here to see this, so I'm glad I got some pictures)

Mom, really... could you shut off the flash!

Where does time go?

2009-02-28T22:21:00.002-07:00

I had gotten so behind and so I have spent some time today entering a lot of post's that should have happened over the past 2 1/2 months. So if any one wants to check out the older posts there are many new ones there now. I just like to keep the events in chronological order. It has been fun to spend some time blogging again. Also, thanks for all of the comments our friends and family leave, that is one of my favorite parts.

Papa Jeff and Grandma Lu came to town

2009-02-24T12:57:00.002-07:00

The girls got to have a sleepover in Grandpa's motor home... Well not so much a motor home, as it is a 5 star hotel on wheels, or a superstar bus. But they had a great time. Their Papa Jeff is a fabulous cook, so they had a yummy breakfast, played with the two dogs, and Lu got them ready for the day. (So let's say it's her fault that Kinley is in her gymnastics outfit and pink cowgirl boots.) No, I'm kidding, that's got Kinley written all over it, and Lu is just such a sweet grandma that she goes along with it. Thanks for the fun time Grandpa and Grandma, we love getting to see you.
I'm... pretty sure the girls found a place to sleep in there...

Updates

2009-01-10T15:40:00.002-07:00

McCoy is sleeping so much better. He now sleeps all night! Every once in a while he will wake once or twice, but I can handle that a lot better than 5 times every night. I am a much happier mama.

Christmas lights. Sorry I didn't get a picture posted of the finished project. We didn't get to complete the whole project this year. Not enough time, and lots of snow. Hopefully next year.

4-Wheeling in the snow

2008-12-26T14:26:00.000-07:00

I'm sure Chad had as much fun as Mailee did. This is the only good thing about not getting the city to plow your neighborhood roads :)
Mailee and her Buddie Kohner Brown

Christmas Day

2008-12-26T09:39:00.003-07:00

HO HO HO K, that's enough
Grandma and Papa Rackman come watch the kids open gifts every Christmas morning

Such a sweet big sister to cheer her brother on

"What? you got one too?"- Mailee "Santa must have messed up hu Mae cuz you were the one who asked for a DS." -McKinley

His first Christmas
Dad had to help him open his gifts, then he could play with the paper.
Wow, what is that?

A scooter!

Our kids had such a wonderful Christmas. They are so lucky to have so many Grandparents that are so kind and generous!

The Nativity

2008-12-23T23:50:00.000-07:00

Mailee was Mary, Kinley an angel, and Coy was the Baby Jesus. The girls loved acting out the nativity with cousins, while listening to the bible story.

Christmas Dresses

2008-12-21T14:18:00.001-07:00

Off to church in their beautiful Christmas dresses
They felt like princesses, I couldn't get Kinley to stop spinning around and watching the ruffles float

Rackman Family Christmas Party

2008-12-21T00:04:00.002-07:00

McKinley was so excited about her new sweater-of-many-colors, and McCoy was enjoying the tissue paper...with his mouth...of course.
The men
Dennis, Chad, Andrew, Jeremy,
Scott, Gary, and Ryan
The Ladies
Natalie, Me, Sharon, Rose, Cathy
Sami, Brittney, McKinley, Loni, and Mailee
Braxton, Mailee, Kinley, and Brennen
(have you noticed Mae's crazy smile in most of these pictures?)

Dad...Papa...Gary
(yep that's an elk in the background, it wouldn't be my parents basement with out a dead animal on the wall:) Father and son, all partied out

Sweater and Eggnog Party

2008-12-20T23:33:00.001-07:00

Wait...is that cousin Eddie? Check our Chad's outfit.
He was sporting the blue leisure pants as well as the black Dickie under a off white sweater. Thanks for making one of my favorite movies come to life.

Our friend Misty won the prize with that best grandma outfit and check out the hair(Christmas lights and all.)

Poor McCoy is probably thinking "what the crap is going on here?"

The Many Faces of our Boy

2008-12-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

So Intense!
So Interested!

So Sweet!

Look at those eye lashes, the girls have them too, thanks to the Jensen jeans.

So Smoochy!

So Excited!

Decorating the Tree

2008-12-20T00:25:00.001-07:00

The girls really loved putting the ornaments on

Those Baby Blues

2008-12-19T18:10:00.002-07:00

His eyes seriously light up when he smiles! It's my favorite!

I know, I'm bias because I'm his mom, but that has to be the cutest face.

These are some of my favorite pictures of him so far.

Let's Wrap

2008-12-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

I like all this wrapping stuff
This box of ribbons kept his interest for hours

McKinley: The Pledge of Allegiance

2008-12-18T16:41:00.003-07:00

We think it is so cute how she moves her mouth and enunciates her words. We hope you enjoy listening to her as much as we do. She is learning nursery rhymes is preschool too. She is very good at memorizing. It usually only takes her 1 or 2 times of hearing something to get it. Which is scary sometimes. As parents we have to watch what we say in front of her.

Our thumb sucker

2008-12-18T15:22:00.001-07:00

McKinley has sucked her thumb since before she was born, (we watched her doing it on some of the ultra sounds we had) and we are not sure when it will end. But, the other day she asked me if someone we know has lots of cavities? I said no those are braces and explained what they were for and the process. I told her she would probably need them one day because she sucks her thumb. She said "I'm never going to do that again"
We have definitely seen it happening less and less. Usually it is at bedtime or when she is board, but if she hears the word "braces" she stops instantly. I do have to say that she has been my only easy baby. The doctor said to just let her suck her thumb cuz they make the best babies. He was right, at 6 weeks she would sleep 12 hours at night, and when she would wake up in the middle of that, she would just suck her thumb back to sleep. If you ask her who was mommy's best baby, she will proudly tell you she was. She also has to pinch the skin on the opposite arm or hand with the fingers of the hand that she has in her mouth. It is quite a comfort thing for her. Kinda wondering what to do, or if I should just let her grow out of it.

Dinner at Red Robin and Twilight

2008-12-18T12:00:00.007-07:00

On Dec. 11th a bunch of ladies from our ward had a girls night to see Twilight. It was a great time with such a huge group. I think there were 25 of us, or so. We had some appetizers (on the house, lets say it was because of how beautiful we all are:), and a yummy dinner. Seriously, that's quite the group Elena and Cherish
Tara, Kristy, and BonnieI ended up liking the movie so much more than I thought I would.

For some of us it was our first time to see it, others had seen it up to 5 times!White elephant gift exchange. Fun times.
Roxanne reading the left/right story as the gifts went around.

Anual Park City Trip

2008-12-17T22:07:00.007-07:00

Lissa, Leslie, and Jenny.

Every fall about 12 of our girl friends from high school spend a night in Park City, shopping, dinner and all night chatting. It is a great time to catch up and spend some time with these awesome girls. I only wish I had taken pictures at the beginning of the evening, instead of at 1am:) It was fun to be with all of you. Thanks

Gina is ready for the hot tub.

Cindy, Hillary, and Camille.
On the make shift couch.

Michelle, Mindy, and Brooke.
(Michelle I am afraid that is your hand)

The REAL SANTA

2008-12-16T21:02:00.003-07:00

The kids got to meet Santa at a work party we went to. The girls were thrilled, but McCoy not so much. Kinley said "I can't believe we got to talk to the real Santa." She has seen some that are just dressed up like him, (his helpers) so this was so exciting for her and Mailee.

Mailee wrote the sweetest letter to Santa this year. All on her own. She asked for one toy, clothes and shoes. Then told him what her sister and brother would like. She is a very sweet girl. Sensitive, and motherly. Anyway, she also wrote one that I saw at school, where she asked how the reindeer were and if Mrs. Claus was making cookies. So cute. What a fun time of year. HO HO HO

How hard is it to get a perfect family picture?

2008-12-16T19:47:00.002-07:00

We were thinking if we could get a good family picture we would send out a Christmas card, but that didn't happen. Here is the proof of our attempt. The sun was bright that day and so we were all squinting. So we apologize for not sending cards this year. We would have said that we wish all our our family and friends a beautiful holiday, and good health and peace for the new year.

Sub for Santa

2008-12-11T14:47:00.003-07:00

Mailee and some of her cousins got to be a part of a sub for Santa. What a great learning experience it was for her. This year she really seamed to grasp the spirit of Christmas and what really matters.
These children were so excited about there new coats, hats, gloves and more.

Thanks grandma and grandpa for the heart warming opportunity

This is what a good nights rest can do!

2008-12-05T14:02:00.002-07:00

Last night after i made sure he was changed, full and burped, i tried rocking him and he wasn't having it. It may seem awful (and it more than felt like it), but i let him cry for 1 hour and he feel asleep and stayed asleep for the whole night! 9 hours. I kept checking on him cuz I am so used to getting up with him 5 times a night. The Dr. will be so proud of me. He has been telling me it is okay to do this to help him break his habit. Coy at his 6 month apt. weighed 18.8 lbs so he really didn't need to be eating all night. I am writing all this for myself mostly, to help me not feel so bad for letting him cry. :) To all of you who have heard me complain about this, I thank you for your advice and support. Both of the girls were sleeping through the night at 6 weeks, so this has been a challenge. So keep your fingers crossed for me, that it doesn't take too many more nights of the crying to get him used to falling asleep in his bed. Chad and I both really enjoy rocking him to sleep, so hopefully we can get to do that again once we get him to stay asleep all night. We sure love you Buddie!

Dec. 3rd. Happy 7 month Birthday McCoy!

2008-12-05T13:49:00.003-07:00

He is Growing too fast!
We sure love him and enjoy all of his new tricks.

Christmas Lights

2008-12-03T15:45:00.002-07:00

This is one of our families favorite things to do together during this season. Chad takes great pride in his exterior illumination. Even though our back yard neighbor is in the running for the next Griswald. Our street name is Peppermint Place, so we found it fitting to use red and white as our theme (even though Chad gets guff from all the Ute fans in the neighborhood, do to his bleeding blue), but I will post a picture of the finished product when we are done.

He was a bit nervous himself being on the roof, but having the girls up there added a bit more nerves. It's been two years since his fall, so we feel like we can tease him about it now. Pictures were taken on 11-28-08. Thanks babe, for making our home so festive!

Lucky Ducks

2008-12-03T14:38:00.006-07:00

When I decided to start blogging I thought the title Lucky Ducks was very fitting for me. I truly feel like I am so lucky to have all that I do. Blessed may be a better word for it, but either way I am a grateful mom, wife, daughter, friend, and neighbor. Also, if you are familiar with my parents, they have set a nice trend of True Luck in our family. So it is something to have fun with.

Here we are! Finally!!

2008-11-17T23:38:00.001-07:00

2008-11-17T12:02:00.001-07:00

Halloween

2008-10-31T23:01:00.006-06:00

Here are a few snapshots of my cute little kids on Halloween.

McKinley (Sully), Mailee (Cowgirl), McCoy (Skunk)

"Little Stinker" - This was the perfect costume for him. Beware of the toots!

"Mom, can we please go Trick or Treating now?"

Baby Mac's First Solids Feeding

2008-10-28T17:33:00.001-06:00

What on earth is she doing?
I still don't know, but I think I like it...
Yep, it's official

Kinley's Field trip to the Saratoga Springs Fire Department

2008-10-16T17:15:00.000-06:00

Her preschool takes a field trip once a month and I went with her on this one and we had so much fun
She thought this was pretty cool

In the turnout gear...fits just right

How cute is she in that hat!

The firefighters taught us so much and were so cute with the kids.

McKinley thinks it is cool that her dad will be wearing these uniforms one day and driving the huge trucks

Mailee's Grandparents Day at School

2008-10-04T17:06:00.000-06:00

She felt so special to have two of her Grandma's come to see her program
All of the first grade classes practiced so hard and it showed! The songs they sang were so darling and the kids were on their best behavior for their Grandparents.