Graffiti Approved!

Last night we were hanging out in the backyard and I decided to try the chalk out back since we're seldom out front. I got the idea from a neighbor when we were at their house for a bbq. When I asked Steve what he thought about chalk on the fence he seemed like it was no big deal and he thought it would come right off with rain or the hose. Mackenzie enjoyed the pictures and adding her own 'flair'.

Pretty day at the Rose Garden

I had forgotten how beautiful the rose garden is. There is also a view of Portland through the trees. This garden is known as the Test Garden for new breeds of roses. So pretty to walk around and see the different colors of flowers. Mackenzie surprisingly only demolished one flower.

Play Day

I had Friday off from work. My first plan was to stop and get Mackenzie's hair trimmed. The last time we were there it was January and she was a good girl sitting in the car watching a movie. But unfortunately all those pics I had snapped got erased. So I was hoping to take pictures this time. Wasn't happening. She didn't want anything to do with sitting in a cute car and I ended up holding her on my lap while the lady snipped away. Didn't go the way I had hoped but I still had a little girl with a new little trim.
Then after we left there my second plan was to go the The Childrens Playground, near the zoo. First time being there and it was quite the structure! We stayed for about 45 minutes before we ventured on to the famous Portland Rose Gardens. Here are some pictures from the park...

Little Baker

Today Mackenzie helped me bake some easy Halloween cookies. This was her first time helping and I figured I'd start with something simple. She was very excited to see cookies to bake and she did real well at taking them from the package and placing them on the sheet. In fact so well she rewarded herself with one when she had them all placed. I guess she just couldn't resist waiting until they were baked.

Mack's weekend

She was enjoying stacking blocks before bed...

She learned how to open doors on her own...

Sunday morning her and I ran to a couple stores and since she was so good I stopped at a park on the way home. Then when Daddy came home from work we had plans to go to the zoo for a few hours...



Here she is laughing at the big kids on the swing toy...

Checking out an 'extra' exhibit near the zebras...

And ending her day with Daddy buying her her first rock collection...

Sneak Peak...

With Halloween a little over a month away I got out and picked up Mackenzie's costume. I saw this Nemo costume on the Disney site. I thought it was super cute and since she has watched the movie, oh I'd say a billion times, I thought it was perfect for her. She really liked it too. Plus I feel good that she'll be warm. Tonight I just put it over her jammies but for trick or treating she'll be wearing black underneath it.





Here were her previous years...

2008-Farm Girl

2007-Zebra

Big Girl Bed

Sunday night I took Mackenzie's crib down and put together her big girl bed. It's her transitional twin bed and later on she'll get a bedroom set of her very own but this will do for now.

As you can see she doesn't have any bedding yet for it. Just sheets and I covered it with one of her blankets. I'm hoping to find something this weekend. Also it takes up quite a bit of space in her already small room. So now I'm looking into cleaning out the spare bedroom and make that into a toy room which would keep her bedroom just for sleeping. That will be one of my fall projects.

She's already been sleeping on this big girl bed out at Grandpa & Grandma's house but that's mostly been at naps. We need to get an attached side on it. Last night she fell out and I think it's because she is still in crib mode where she can move around all directions. And Monday morning when I was still in bed I heard the TV turn on out in the family room. So I'm not really liking the fact that she can just come and go as she pleases. But on the plus side it's nice to lay down and cuddle with her or read books to her in bed.

Dawson Creek Park

I love this park. It's one of my favorites and sad to say that I hadn't been here since Mackenzie was 6 months old. She's gone a few times with Grandpa & Grandma and I could see that she's already a good bread thrower for the ducks. Funny how when you experience this (duck feeding) for the first time with your child and she already knows what to do. It was nice, all I needed to do was stand back and snap pictures. But she did make me a little nervous when she'd go so close to the edge to throw the bread in.

We timed it just right too. When I was loading her up in the car for home I could see that rain was not far off. On our drive home it POURED! Whew, made it just in time and we had a good day together. My intent is to go again, especially when the fall colors come in.

These Boots Are Made For Walking

You've probably been noticing her pink boots in some recent pictures. Last weekend we were all set to go to a neighborhood bbq and I asked Mackenzie to go get her shoes. She came back in the room with these on! Ummmm, no not today sweetheart.

Family Time In and Around Home

Last night we started out going for a bike ride...



Then we stopped at a park...


And Mackenzie loves helping Daddy out in the shop. I went out there later to see what was going on and I can see why. There are so many cool things out there for her to play with and awesome small pieces to pack around. A toddlers dream palace!



And then this picture cracked me up but I wish it would have turned out-Figures.
This picture shows her goofy side...

Looking More Grown Up

My friend April snapped this picture of Mackenzie at the zoo last Sunday. I think it's funny how kids start doing things that make them look older. Not sure what she's thinking about but I love her chubby little finger up by her face.