Kenzie May's birthday

Monday the 16th was Kenzie May's 4th birthday, so we had to celebrate. It is so fun having Taylor and Kenzies birthdays so close together. Our original plan was to have a combined party, but Kenzie really wanted Chuck E Cheese, and Taylor is scared to death of Chuck E Cheese, so we decided to just do their own things. Taylor really wanted to go bowling, so we did that for her birthday.

I made Kenzie a really fancy breakfast:

She's really into Doc McStuffins right now, and Kayla wanted to get her some figurines to put on top of her cake, so that was what I got her, and I gave them to her in the morning, so that we could put them on the cake that night. She was happy to open a present that morning.

Love my little Kenzie girl!

McDonalds for lunch. Can't go wrong with that. The kids went off to play, and I just happened to look over, and Jackson was just chilling, laying on the ground. Silly boy.

Oh my gosh, this guy was cracking us up! Anytime Kayla even put her hand up to get a spoonful of food, his mouth opened like this just waiting for the food:

His faces while he ate were just the cutest!

Mom, Kayla and I had a nice little Spanish lesson while the kids waited. Mom is dying to learn some Spanish so that she can communicate better with the Hispanic people who meet with their Ward. They have a Spanish group, kind of like what our branch used to be to the Pines ward. She loves it, and loves them, and wants so bad to include them and talk to them when they are in Relief Society with her. She's a funny lady.

Next up for the party day was Kenzies actual party at Chuck E Cheese. It was, of course, a party!

Her cutest Doc McStuffins Cake. Then she got to open up gifts, and the Croskrey's even got Taylor this great Frozen seek and find book.  (It is her third time getting that book, by the way) She got two for Christmas, one from Grandma Kelly and one from Grandma Glo-we had already given one away, and now she got a third, I thought it was funny. I guess these people know her well!) :)

Her cool ombre cake:

Little stinker man enjoying his cake...

Trying to steal the balloons:

And, this right here is why Taylor had no desire to have her party at Chuck E. Cheese. She has such anxiety whenever we're there that she can't enjoy herself. She's always looking for Chuck E to make sure he's not out or around. He came out while we were eating cake, and she just immediately went down under the table. She can handle anything at halloween, gory ugly creepy skeletons, but for some reason, Chuck E Cheese scares her to death!

Happy Birthday Kenzie May! SO glad you were born into our family 4 years ago sweet lady!

Valentines day...

Valentines day this year was a little different. We had some visitors, so it was pretty low key. Since Kayla's Valentines wasn't here, she told us that she would watch our kids on Saturday night if Ben would watch the kids on Friday night so we could do a girls night with Kathryn. So, Ben watched the kids on Friday night and Kathryn and Kayla and I went out on a date, and Kathryn even had these beautiful vases full of flowers for us! What a wonderful date she is! :) We went to The Onion and indulged in whatever our hearts desired, and then we also had some deep fried oreos for dessert. Kayla was raving about them, but I was skeptical. I mean, I love oreos, but I wasn't sure about deep frying them. Not sure what I was thinking because they were the best things I've ever had. We ordered a second plate of them even!!! It was a wonderful evening with wonderful women!

Saturday was Valentines day, and the kids woke up to chocolates and balloons, and just some little things. This guy was in heaven with the balloons.

We heart attacked daddy's side of the bed that day so he would come home and find it.

Tucker had a basketball game in the morning and Papa and Kathryn came to it. Afterwards, I knew that they were going to be running errands, so me and the kids headed up to Papa's house and heart attacked his door:

Enjoying the balloons, even the next day:

Saturday night Ben and I went to Rio Grill, a Brazilian Churrascaria on the South hill. I love me some good Brazilian meat. We had a wonderful evening. It was pretty funny, I was at a total loss this year as to what to get Ben. So, I decided on an Amazon gift card. He loves him some gift cards. So, I gave him his gift card and he said he didn't think we were doing gifts this year (which we had never talked about) so he didn't get me anything. I was trying so hard not to be upset or sad. A little bit later in the meal, I said to him, 'not even a card??' And he said no, and was acting like he kind of felt bad, so I believed it. When we got back in his truck after dinner, he pulls out a big box and the sweetest card I've ever gotten from him. The Stinker. I should know better by now! Anyway, we had a wonderful time and I'm lucky to have this guy as my Valentine forever!

It was really funny, because Jenny Gonzalez was coming into town and I was doing her Senior pictures on Saturday morning. I found out after I had done her pictures that morning that she needed a place to stay for the weekend, and of course, she could stay at our house. But I didn't think about the fact that we were going out, and that she would be at our house with Kayla. Which, I knew Kayla wouldn't care, and that it would be fine, but I just didn't want Jenny to feel awkward. But it ended up being just fine. Kayla came over to watch our kids, and Jenny was there to help, and they became friends! :)

Grandma comes!!!

Of course, Grandma came to visit for about a week and a half while Kayla and the kids were here. And ALL the kids always love it when Grandma is in town. We like to pretend that she comes to see us, be we all really know that it's all for the grandbabies.

First up on Kayla's list of places to go was, of course, Cafe Rio:

Kayla and her beautiful babies. Love those two so much. It's kind of crazy how your sister's kids almost seem like your own. I kind of claim Kenzie and Burton as my own sometimes! :)

Lots of morning snuggles with grandma while watching cartoons...

Some escalator rides. Grandma was so nice to humor him and go up and down and up and down.

That face kills me! :) He loved it, but then kind of didn't know what to think about it sometimes....

Since we had the best winter this year, and it was so nice. We even got to go outside and play while Kenzie and grandma were here. This boy and his balls...

This lady helped me rake some leaves...

For some reason, my kids are obsessed with our neighbors front yard. Especially Jackson. Sometimes when I can't find him if I look away for just a few minutes while they're playing in the front yard. I find him on their front door step. Or just wandering around their front yard. It's connected with ours, so it's not too far away, but still, he always wants to be over there by their house. So, the kids found their little depressed area in their yard full of leaves, and had a hay day! :)

We also got lots of inside play and snuggles in. Jackson bouncing on his new trampoline that he got for Christmas from Grandpa Rick in Alabama. For sure, his new favorite toy!

Hu Hot is usually always on the docket as well, when Grandma comes into town. She loves her some Hu Hot. They left me alone with all four kids at one point. I told my mom to get a picture of it, because I felt like they were swarming me! :)

When grandma's here we pretty much just hang out in our jammies as long as we can every day and play. No complaints from me! :)

Watched some college and NBA basketball...

Taylor did some amazing performances of 'Let it go' And I'm just wondering if that song is ever going to get old to her?????

This face/expression of Taylor is what my life consists of every day:

I've got one happy boy!

Saying goodbye to Burton sure wasn't easy...

I just wanted to eat him up!

Grandma got some smiles out of him. Or, actually it may have been me, acting like a monkey behind Kayla with the camera!

Either way, we'll take it from this love bug!