Memorial Weekend

The McLaughlan's had a super fun weekend this past Memorial Holiday. We didn't let the gas prices keep us home - even though it cost us over $160 for gas just to go to Utah! It was worth it! We left Saturday morning to meet the rest of the McLaughlan clan at Grandma Dodie's house than we headed to Timpanogos Caves. It was a 1.5 Hike up and than 1.5 mile back....no one told me it was a basically up a mountain. Boy am I out of shape, I got 3/4 of the way and I was pooped! It was fun though, it's always nice to be with the whole family enjoying the outdoors. After the hike we all went to the new Indiana Jones movie (a little to e.t. for me). And despite being so tired from the hike we stayed up until 2 in the morning playing cards...it was a blast. By the end we were all so tired we were laughing at nothing....well Aaron laughed so hard he cried. The next day the guys went golfing and the girls went shopping and with the kids to the planitarium, I learned a lot there it was cool. And the next day we headed back home. I love weekends away with family! I am just thankful I have such fun in-laws who love spending time together.

Here are some pictures from the hike...

Austin wake and as soon as the car moves, he's out.

Austin loves his Grandpa Dan very much!

KarLee & Keagan at the begining of the hike

Aaron Austin and I starting the hike (poor Austin)

Aaron, Keagan, and Dan

Austin's first hike and he sleeped pretty much the whole time!

The view from the top was gorgeous

Inside the Timpanogos Caves

The whole group outside of the caves.

Keagan, Dan, and KarLee hiking back down the mountain.

Gizmo & Austin

I promise I am not a crazy cat lady and I don't let my cat lay on my baby! Austin was laying on his blanket while I was editing photos yesterday and gizmo came up and laid next to him - I usually kick Gizmo off, I don't like cat hair around Austin. But Austin liked it, it was cute. So I let Gizmo stay for a minute. I hurried and grabbed my camera to take some snapshots...that is until Gizmo tried to roll over on Austin. I just feel bad because Gizmo was my baby until Austin was born and now he feels a little left out. I still love you Gizmo! :) I know maybe I am just a little crazy!

I had to throw in this photo, Aaron came home from work last night and we was watching T.V. with Austin and they both sacked out, it was cute. I love my little family!

Bouncing Baby Boy

So today I had had it, Austin - I love him to death - was driving me nuts! All he wants to do is stand. I can't sit him in his bouncer chair anymore, he sits up or cries until I pick him up and play with him. I get NOTHING done! So Jenny was wonderful enough to let me borrow one of those hanging bouncers. Oh my gosh he loves it!! Thank you so much Jenny!!!!



I had to take some pictures and post it right away it was so cute!

He would walk and twirl around and then jump and he would twirl the other way - way cute!!!

I had to throw in this photo for Jenny - She was holding him last night at dinner and he totally sacked out on her, it was way cute! He loves his Aunt Jenny! We are glad you ARE family! :)

To be a kid again! - Cade & Steve's B-day

Do you ever wish you could go back to your childhood days and relive them for a day? I sure do! I remember playing with the Slinky's, and yo yo's. Running through the sprinklers, and eating cake and candy until I was sick - not worrying what it will do to my hips! All the fun birthday parties....Oh to be a kid again!

This past weekend brought back those summer childhood days. We went to Utah (Hill Air Force Base) to celebrate Cade (Nephew) & Steve's (Brother-in-Law) birthdays. We had tons of fun.

Cade the Birthday Boy

We first watched Blake's t-ball game. I love watching little kids play sports it is funny, they are so cute! Blake did a good job. He is funny, he has to sit at the edge of the bench, and if anyone sits there he scoots them over until he can sit there.

Blake playing t-ball - he is such a cutie

After the t-ball game we had Cade and Steve's birthday party. The kids played in the water while the adults chatted the afternoon away. I love warm afternoons outside with little kids. After everyone ate, we had cake and than Cade opened his gifts...

My family got Cade Guitar Hero for his Wii, I love his look in this picture - He was so excited.

For Steve's birthday Cyndee asked us to get him a gag gift - something a 14 year old would want (because he had a bad experience on his 14th birthday -long story). So I got him a Slinky, Yo Yo, putty, and Wayne's World (a popular movie when he was 14-years-old). He loved it.

Cade holding Austin - he loves Austin, it's cute.

Austin is so easy to travel with, he is such a car baby. He slept most of the way, but when he wasn't sleeping he was very content and happy. I love him so much, he makes me smile.

BBQ Time

IT FINALLY FEELS LIKE SUMMER!!! And you know what that means, fun BBQ's outside with friends and family!

Yesterday Aaron decided to have a BBQ (I love his short notices:) He's had his grill for over a week now and it's been killing him not being able to use it. So he told his friends and family to come over for a BBQ and some football. He is so proud of his little backyard he has been working on the past week. It's the first time I didn't have to ask him to mow the lawn, I usually just do it myself. He's so cute when he gets a project done because he is so proud of himself he has to call everyone and invite them over to see it. But I have to say so my self, I LOVE IT! We fenced off a little part of the yard and laid some grass and pulled out our table and chair set. It was perfect! And the dogs still have the rest of the backyard to dominate. So we are all happy! I just can't wait until Austin can enjoy it this summer. I want to get him a little pool we can chill out in. I love summer!

Anyways we had tons of fun and here are a few pictures me and Danee took.

Brandon throwing the football to Parker.

Danee entertaining Taylor and Parker

Miranda and Parker playing in the new grass - so cute!

Jenny, Brandon, Aaron, Zack, & Jessica enjoying the nice weather (finally)

Mason Playing football.

Aaron's new favorite toy!

My First Mother's Day!

I think I found my new favorite holiday! I had such a wonderful day yesterday! It was the best Mother's Day I've had - even though it was my first! :)

Austin gave me a cute picture card and

Aaron gave me a movie I already had and a sweet card!

He also was so very helpful in the morning. I actually got to get ready for church and Aaron got Austin ready and we were almost on time! That never happens. I got to stay for all of my classes and it was wonderful! We haven't attempted that since Austin was born and he was perfect the whole time...besides the cooing all through Sunday school.

After church we went to my parents house to wish my mom a Happy Mother's Day. It was fun my brothers and their families showed up and it was nice to see everyone. I missed seeing my sister and her family though. I love my mom so much, she was such a wonderful mom when we were growing up, she was always there and without her none of use could of survived my dad :) she is the complete opposite of him! (I love my dad though). Growing up she was a stay at home mom and I loved it! (I never thought I could be so happy to be a stay-at-home mom until Austin was born, I am so thankful Aaron lets me raise Austin and stay at home) And now that I am older my mother has become one of my good friends and shopping buddy!

After we left my parents house we went over to Aaron's parents to spend the rest of the day with his family. I love spending time with his family, they are tons of fun - honestly there is never a dull moment! I never really felt like a McLaughlan until Austin was born - they are so wonderful with him. Now I feel like a McLaughlan and I love it! I was even a little taken back when Austin's birth certificate said Misty Brendle....I told Aaron I am a McLaughlan now! He just laughed.

I have an incredible Mother-in-law! She is amazing, and always on the go. I don't know how she does it! She's raised 5 kids and ran a business at the same time. She's a wonder woman alright! When we go on vacation she is so fun! And when Austin was born she was such a help to me, I had no clue what I was doing and she was the one Aaron and I would call at 1 in the morning when we had questions. She is always there and we are so grateful for her!

We had a wonderful day with our Mother's - Mother's are so special, can you even picture your life without our mother's - I can't and I am so blessed to have two amazing examples of what a mother's should be!

Me and my baby boy - I love you Austin, you are the reason I am a mommy!

Wonderful Husband

I just wanted to take a moment and say what a wonderful husband I have. I love his so much and he has always treated me well! I remember when we dated in high school he spoiled the crap out of me - he tried to buy my love, to bad that's not what made me fall in love with him. I fell in love with his laugh and eyes right away but it was his gentlemen ways that won me over. His mom raised him very well on how to treat women. And he was so sweet and cared so much....Anyways I just wanted to brag about my man for a moment! This past week he has been extremely sweet! I asked him to run to wal-mart and grab dog food (I hate buying it because we have 2 labs and their food weights over 50lbs.) and he came out with dog food and a vase full of roses. Than he surprised me with the neckless from Austin for Mother's Day (4 days early). And last night he took the garbage out and I didn't even have to ask! :) What a man! And the most important thing to me, he is an outstanding father! Austin love him to pieces. Everytime Aaron comes home from work and he says hi to Austin, Austin gets a smile on his face that goes from ear to ear! It's so precious! So I just wanted to let everyone know I have the best husband in the world! Oh and how could I forget, he's a wonderful golfer too! He went on a golfing trip with his buddies and Aaron brought home the trophy for winning.

Here are some photos:

The trophy Aaron won.

The roses he gave me.

Aaron and Austin - I love watching them when they are together. I am very lucky! I can already tell Aaron will have a wonderful relationship with Austin just like he does with his dad.

Sweet Moments with Austin

I have a lot of sweet moments with Austin. My husband is so wonderful that he lets me stay home with Austin. I treasure our days together, he is tons of fun. He has become my little buddy. I am so blessed to have him in my life! The stretch marks were so worth it! :) I have a bunch of snapshots from the past few days (I know I am to camera happy) and I wanted to share them with everyone! I can't help it, he's just so darn cute! :)

A few days ago when I was in Austin's room packing up his newborn clothes I laid him in his crib so he could take a nap...well a few minutes later I heard him cooing and I peeked over the side and I saw the cutest thing. Austin had grabbed his frog blanket and was cuddling with it. So stinkin sweet!


And this morning I decided to brush Austin's hair (what little he has) and he started to giggle. I kept doing it and he just started squilling with delight. It was funny.



Then he decided he wanted to try :) he couldn't quite reach his hair but he was happy to hold the brush - that is until he hit himself in the face, mom felt bad!



So I just realized that I have a very happy baby! He smiles in most of his pictures....which is a good thing, mom always has a camera in his face. He's become such a poser!




He even smiles when he has the, "one eye willie" I can't believe even when his eye is seeled shut with goobers he is smiling. I am so lucky! But not lucky with his eye problem. I feel so bad we have tried everything and it hasn't cleared up! The doctor said he should grow out of it...I sure hope so. I feel bad for him. But it doesn't seem to bug him much.

He is just a very content little boy. He even smiles when he is alseep. I love this so much. It make me smile. He also giggles a lot in his sleep. He's just to cute for words.

So now you can see why I am so camera happy - I don't want to miss all of these sweet moments. (which makes scrapbooking a big task) He is just so wonderful! I am so grateful for my little man and the time we have together. Life is good! :) I love you bubbas - thanks for all the smiles!

We "love-love" watching Aunt Danee

Yesterday we spent the afternoon watching Danee Dee play Tennis at Districts. The sun was out but it was really windy so I dressed Austin up real warm, I thought he looked so cute so I took a picture -

Danee plays mixed doubles with Dan Gunderson- the "Double D's" played well. I tried taking pictures for Danee but I didn't have my nice camera and it's a little hard shooting through a chainlink fence. I also turned some black n white because the background was ugly and it took away from the photos. The sunlight was also harsh so they aren't the best. I caught the fence in a few pictures but one I decided to use the fence as a frame in the one of her serving.

This is Danee's celebration move, it makes me laugh - she usually gets into it and lifts her back leg! We love you Aunt Danee!