CJ's FIRST EASTER

CJ's Easter outfit

Did you catch the matching argyle socks? :)

CJ's Easter basket from the Spokane Easter Bunny

CJ's looking at the ball because it lights up

CJ's so happy about his swimming alligator tub toy...

...that he's going to eat it!

After a nap, CJ woke up to find that the Seattle Easter Bunny had left him a basket as well (it was actually a bucket). One of the toys inside was this puppet.

CJ LOVES it when stuffed animals talk to him!

Another toy in his Easter bucket was a plushy turtle that had little sea animals in its shell. Each animal is a different shape and makes a different sound. CJ's playing with the square, crinkly fish!

Besides clothes, bath toys, stuffed animals, and play dough, CJ also got bubbles!

Oooo! CJ loved the big bubbles Daddy made for him!

EASTER BREAK

The great thing about Bryce attending a Catholic law school is that not only did he get a day off for Easter, but he also got a day off for Good Friday, which made it a 4 day weekend for us...so of course, we headed west. The weather was beautiful, the activities were fun, and most of all, the company was the best! Here's what we did in Seattle:

-Thurs. Mar 20: Bryce skipped his softball game (which the other team ended up forfeiting anyway, so it didn't matter) and we took off to Redmond/Bellevue/Seattle

-Fri. Mar 21: Paige got her birthday gift from Sheila and Greg, Bryce's parents. They gave her the Nike+ Sport Kit and some headphones to go with the iPod nano Bryce gave her! She's so excited to use it! Bryce and Paige took advantage of the weather, and the babysitter, and went on a great run. Everyone went downtown to the Seattle Aquarium, but it was closed, so they went to Niketown and got the last part of Paige's birthday gift from the Mackay's: a pair of new running shoes to go with the Nike+! Then we all went out to eat at a great seafood restaurant overlooking Lake Union, McCormick & Schmidt's, where we met Jason and Rachel Nichols (Rachel is an old family friend).

Paige's new Nike+ running shoes. She decided to go with something fun and funky!

The Nike+ Sport Kit

The Nike Vapor adjustable sport headphones

Apparently CJ would prefer his shoe to any other food :)

Eating at McCormick & Schmidt's

-Sat. Mar 22: Bryce's sister, Kelsey, got her drivers' license - yea! And CJ tried prunes and Cheerios for the first time; he liked the prunes, but just kind of gagged on the Cheerios :). Then we all went back down to Seattle and went to the Aquarium. After the Aquarium, we headed back to Redmond where we dyed Easter eggs and did some last minute Easter shopping. That night we watched Dan in Real Life (LOVED it!!).

It looks like chocolate pudding, but I promise, it's prunes

CJ at the Seattle Aquarium touching starfish in the water

and now trying to grab the starfish that's in a tank

How does CJ measure up to a shark?

As always, CJ has Bryce in his snare :)

We were actually inside an aquarium so fish were swimming above our heads

Bryce and Paige with the eggs they made for each other

This is the special egg Paige made for Bryce...

-Sun. Mar 23: CJ's first Easter! Everyone went to Church at 9 AM. Then CJ got his first Easter basket filled with books and toys. Then he took a nap while everyone worked on dinner. After CJ's nap, we all got Easter baskets (including CJ again). Then we all took naps, ate a yummy dinner of steak and salmon, had strawberry shortcake for dessert, then watched Enchanted and went to bed.

Our first Easter as a little family

-Mon. Mar 24: Paige and Bryce had cleanings and exams at the dentist, got Bryce's mom her birthday gift, and came home for lunch. Then Paige, Sheila, and Kelsey all got pedicures, while Bryce took CJ to his dad, Greg's office. Then we went home and had take-out Mexican for dinner, packed up our stuff, and took off for Spokane. Before leaving Redmond, we stopped by a Modbe rep's house and got Paige a swim top for this summer, and somehow didn't actually get back on the freeway until 8 PM, but Bryce cruised home and we were at our place by midnight. As we went to bed, Paige told Bryce how great the trip was and that, more than ever, she really feels like Seattle is the place that she wants to be (which made Bryce very happy :).

Could Paige's toenails be any brighter?! :)

This is the swim top Paige got from Modbe. Do you like it?

FAMILY PICTURES

While we were in Utah a couple of weeks ago we had our first family photo session. Haley Warner is an incredible photographer and these are just a few of the great pics she took:

I MAY HAVE STUMBLED ACROSS SOMETHING HERE...

CJ used to have the habit of scratching his eyes when he was tired. He still does that, but not as much as he scratches his head (it might be related to his eczema, or it might just be a habit), hence all the little scratch marks you might notice in recent pics. I cut his nails down to nothing twice a week, but he still manages to get skin when he scratches. Anyway, the cortisone cream isn't enough to stop him, and he's rapidly growing too strong for us to continue to effectively wrap his arms to help him sleep and keep him from scratching. I would love to be able to just lie my baby down and have him go to sleep, poor guy, so I thought I'd try something today. Just like when he was a newborn, I covered his hands...except I used socks instead of those tiny mittens which never stayed on CJ's massive hands, even when he was only a day old. And this was the result:

We'll have to wait and see if it's really affective, but as for now, it works. And it looks pretty cute too :)

ABC TAG

This is a new one that's fun.

A- Attached or single: Attached...and better for it
B- Best Friend: Brycey
C- Cake or Pie: Usually cake, but it depends on what kind of pie. Lemon meringue over cake any day
D- Day of Choice: Sunday. Everyone is home with no errands to run or chores to be done
E- Essential Item: toothbrush
F- Favorite Color: yellow
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Western Family fruit snacks (not too soft, not too hard)
H- Hometown: Orem, Utah
I- Indulgence(s): getting my hair done, good food (which includes candy and junk food), stuff for CJ, and gifts for people, especially Bryce
J- January or July: definitely July! not a big fan of the cold and the 4th is one of my fav holidays
K- Kids? 1 boy - Curtis Jason Mackay. CJ will be 8 months old on the 26th.
L- Life is incomplete without: my family and the Gospel
M- Marriage Date: December 15, 2005
N- Number of Siblings: 2 sisters, 3 brothers, 3 sisters-in-law, 4 brothers-in-laws
O- Oranges or Apples: apples
P- Phobias or Fears: that I'm gonna screw up my kids
Q- Quote(s): "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten."
R- Reason To Smile: my loving, amazing husband who is super silly, and my adorable son
S- Season: Fall. I love the colors. I love the crisp air (but it's not too cold yet). And even though it's the season where plant life begins to fade, I always seem to associate Fall with new beginnings (probably from endless years of school), so there always seems to be a touch of excitement and anticipation for new adventures
T- Tag Three: Lindsey M., Jessica B., Becca
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I absolutely cannot go to bed without washing my face and brushing my teeth. I can't sleep if I don't, no matter how tired I am
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: okay, I don't know who wrote that, but they are obviously a vegetarian. As for me, yes, I eat meat
W- Worst Habit: saying "like" way too much and popping my knuckles
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: ummm, ultrasounds (it's so exciting when you're pregnant)
Y- Year that means the most to you: this year. I have a wonderful husband who started law school, we moved to another state, I have a fun baby boy, and I'm constantly learning how to be a better mom and wife and person all around. I'll probably say the same thing next year because each year since I've been married has taught me something new.
Z- Zodiac: Pisces, but I think all of that is just a bunch of hooey

DOES HE STILL DO THIS?

I don't even remember the last time CJ fell asleep in his swing, it's been so long. And here he is, almost 8 months old, snoozin' like a log.

He looks like such a chubber in this pic. The next one is to give some perspective.

I guess he still looks like our little chunk :)

HANGING OUT WITH DADDY...BY HIS HAIR!

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH YOUR TAX RETURN?

We finally got our tax return, and the first thing we did was invest in a vacuum! We were fooled by all the gadgets and gizmos when we got married and ended up spending a lot of money on a vacuum that is awful. Sooo, after months of backaches from vacuuming with the tiny nozzle attachment or just skipping vacuuming all together, we finally have a low-key vacuum that actually works and a spot-free apartment (unless you count all the spots and stains on the carpet that are the joys of renting :). Who knew I'd ever be so excited to vacuum?!