Merry Christmas from the Mackeys!

2011 Christmas Card, this is a trifold design (you can click on each picture to enlarge):

Outside:

Inside:

Carter's Christmas Program

Carter had his preschool Christmas program today.  He was so excited and did a great job!  Afterwards, the kids sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and had birthday cake for Jesus!

In the doorway waiting to come into the church, the kids holding their sticks:

Carter is easily the tallest in his class - he is on the top left:

He and his teacher, Mrs. Guenther:

Ryan's 7th Birthday

This is officially my 1,000th post - thanks for sticking with me - I can't believe it's been that long!

Today was Ryan's 7th birthday.  He woke up and first thing he did was open a gift.  One thing about Ryan - you always know exactly what he thinks of your gift - he looked at us with 'the' look when he opened his new rollerblades - "Hmmmm...I would rather have had a toy!"  Sigh...I thought it would be the perfect gift since he rollerblades every day in the summer and has literally worn out his old rollerblades.  Apparently not that exciting as a birthday gift!  Thankfully I redeemed myself with the dirt bike he opened after school!

I took the day off of work and brought him to school this morning, which is a big treat for kids to be 'parent drop-off'' or 'parent pick-up'.  He loved it!  Evan, Mom, Dad, and I also joined him at lunch and brought his favorite lunch - McDonald's!  I also brought cupcakes for his afternoon snack with the class.  After school, he opened his next gift and we went to dinner at his favorite restaurant, Perkins, where the wait staff sang Happy Birthday to him and brought him a piece of pie for his birthday.  All in all, a great 7th birthday for Ryan!!!!

Opening gifts first thing this morning:

Cupcakes for his class:

Lunch with all of us:

"I've wanted one of these all my life!"  :)

Kyle's Painting

Kyle painted a flag picture with painstaking detail tonight.  Good thing he is so patient and particular when he paints.  I can't imagine what that would look like with one of other boys wielding the paint brush!  :)

Ryan's 7th Birthday Party

Ryan started out the day not listening to me and saying "I'm the birthday boy, I can do what I want."  Ummmm...yeah, that didn't go over big.  We had a little disussion and things improved after that!

We took 6 kids to Sky Zone in Plymouth for 60 minutes of jump time.  2 of his cousins met us there, so we had a total of 8 jumpers.  We checked in, put on our rental shoes, and the kids waited {im}patiently for their 10:00 start.  They couldn't wait to get on the course.  It was pretty full, but due to the size, it didn't feel crowded at all.  There are several areas to jump in - a foam block pit, a 'main' course that is just huge - filled with individual trampolines all connected with padding, a toddler jump area, and a dodgeball arena.  The kids spent most of their time between the main course and the dodgeball arena.  They were hot, sweaty, and tired after 60 minutes, but all would have stayed had we let them.  It really was a great place and I'd love to go back - fun to try something new.  None of the kids had ever been there before!

We came back to our house to do a pizza party here.  Then the kids played, opened gifts, and had cake and ice cream.  It was a great day and Ryan had a blast.  That's what it's all about when you are 7!  Happy Birthday, Buckshot - we love you!!!!  XOXO

My fridge was FULL the night before the party!

The food was prepared, the decorations were out, it was midnight and I called it a night, knowing it would be an early morning!!! :)

The birthday boy with his Angry Birds cake:

6 of the 8 kids, ready to go in and jump (Olivia and Noah arrived shortly after this photo):

The 'main course':

Noah flipping:

Lexi:

Ryan was a blur the entire time we were there:

Carter was the easiest to photograph - he stayed the closest! :)

Reagan: 

Lexi heading into the block pit:

The dodgeball arena:

Kids after 60 minutes of jumping:

Time for pizza!

Reagan watching Ryan open gifts:

Reagan knew exactly what Ryan would like:  Lego Target gift card, Skittles, and orange Tic Tacs (his favorite!):

3 more cousins joined us at our house for the party:

 Singing Happy Birthday to Ryan:

Angry Birds

I have a first grader that is very excited about his new Angry Birds hat! :)

Shoes

How is this even possible?  These are Ryan's new shoes, and mine, for comparison.  Ryan is 6 years old (nearly 7).  What size do you think his feet will be when he is full grown???