Priest Lake

McGary Family 2009

The Monday before Christmas we got the chance to go the Eppich Cabin for a few days with my family. This was the first vacation in a long time that all of my family were able to go.

We had a great time, the kids enjoyed the sledding. I was surprise how fearless they were on the sleds. Madalyn even let me pull her behind the four wheeler on the sled. We didn't have as much snow as past years.

Our little puff ball all dressed up ready for the cold.

We took up the four wheelers it's a good thing we did cause there was not enough for the snowmobiles. All the boys heading off for a tail ride.

Frosty and the 2 girls

Trying to take some family pictures before we left to come home. Garrett got the flu the day we got up there, he was not very much fun. I felt bad he didn't get to enjoy the trip very much.

Christmas Dresses

This morning before going to church I took a few shots of the girls in their Christmas dresses. Our family is counting down the days until Santa comes, it gets a little more enjoyable each year as the girls know more about Christmas.

Natalie 2

Madalyn 6

Morgan 4

So far we have made it to all the Christmas party on the right days, on time, and with the right food. So far so good. We still have a few more parties to go. We sure love the holidays!!! Merry Christmas.

Santa at the mall

Yesterday was a very busy day for us. In the morning we had Emily and Karyn's baby showers, they went great. I think they received a lot of great gifts. Then Madalyn had to be at a birthday party at Chuck E Cheeses at 1:00 then we had told the girls we would go see Santa at the mall so they could tell him what they wanted. We were so lucky the mall was packed but the line for Santa was not bad at all. Natalie could not get enough of Santa. She keep calling him her best friend and that see wanted to go home with him. Most kids are crying when you put them on his lap, not Natalie she was crying when we had to go. We took the kids to eat at Eatza Pizza and then came home.

We have been very good this year Santa.

Gingerbread house

Every year for the past few years at Christmas time we buy a gingerbread kit. The girls love putting it together and making it look great. By the time we are done we have a big mess but the kids love doing it.
I have been doing a lot of Christmas baking around our house for friends, home teaching and visiting teaching families. I'm so glad that is done.

Surgery Day

Today was Natalie's Surgery Day for the trigger finger on her left thumb. She has had problems with the movement of that thumb since the end of July, we took her in and they said that it might fix itself, gave us a few things that might help. But over time it just didn't get any better and it seemed to start hurting her. We had no choice but to schedule surgery. In which I was so worried, I hate putting them out that young.

Natalie getting ready to go back, I think it was harder on Mom saying good bye than it was for her. She did great. I'm just a basket case, I always think of the worst things that could happen and worry myself. After the surgery was over she was crying alot trying to come to, she just didn't know what was going on.

I was glad to get her home she was much happier. She has to have the soft cast on for 2 weeks and then we go to get the stitches out. I'm so grateful it went well, lets just hope it heals good.

Our brave little girl!!

Award

On Monday we were able to go to the school and see Madalyn receive an A.C.E Award. The teacher and principal choose a child once a month to receive them. Madalyn was an A.C.E award for academics. Great Job!!! I'm so glad she loves school so much. Keep up the good Work Madie.

Thanksgiving weekend

We had a great Thanksgiving Weekend. We started off by having Mary over on Wednesday for dinner and a movie. We rented a family movie from The Red Box, we love that place. Movie for a dollar how can you beat that.

Thanksgiving Day was spent at my parents house. We had so much food, after everyone was done eating it didn't even look like we had put a dent in the food. It was lots of fun, it was just the girls and I that were able to go, Garrett had to work Thanksgiving Day. We love his job but that is one of the down falls he has to work some holidays. It's really hard not to have him around when all the family gets together. Mom did the famous chocolate fountain which was a great hit. The kids could not keep their hands out of it.

Natalie and her BFF Sarah playing games.

The 3 girls helping get things ready for Lunch.

Me going through the aids preparing my list for black friday. I spent the night at my parents house cause my dad was going to watch the girls while I battled the lines with Sarah and my mom on black friday. Sarah and I got 1 1/2 hours of sleep that night, before we woke up at 3 am to stand in line.

On Friday we finally talked Garrett into putting up the Christmas decorations. Here is Madalyn putting up the star, we always put that on first. Saturday we got a babysitter and went out to see the New Moon movie. I was a little disappointed. Over all we had a great weekend.

Pilgrims

The Thanksgiving Dinner in Mrs. Hawks Kindergarten Class 2009

Today I got to go help out in Madalyn's class. They had a great meal where all the parents came in and cooked a feast. I was in charge of the cornbread for the class.

The kids made place mats for their food to go on, each child was a pilgrim or Native American. Madalyn was a Pilgrim, it was so fun for them to dress up and eat a big meal as if they were at the first Thanksgiving.

I'm so grateful for a great teacher, It makes a big difference when the teacher truly loves the kids. I hope she keeps getting good teachers.

Big News

We have some great news that we are finally sharing. We are happy to announce that BABY # 4 will be born in June 2010. That is right we are expecting!!!!! We are very excited and can't wait for June to be here. After having 3 kids really close in age I knew that I needed a bigger break between Natalie and the next one. Natalie will be 3 in May so I think the space will be nice. I was hoping to have one a few months before she turned 3 but it didn't happen. I have not been feeling very well the last 2 months, so I'm hoping that the sickness goes away soon. I have also started really early with bad back pain which is worrying me. Normally I don't get that until 7-8 months. We told the girls the news on Monday and they are so excited, Morgan ran right to her room and said a prayer asking for a girl, after Madalyn found out what she was doing she went and prayed for a Boy. We are hoping and praying for a BOY but planning on a Girl. I guess all we need is a healthy baby and we will all be happy.
Our family has alot to be grateful for. We have been wanting this baby for a little while now. I guess the Lord knows when we are really ready for one.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!

shop til you drop

That is what we did all weekend long. We added up all the time we spent shopping and we came up with 20 hours in 2 days. CRAZY!!!! Even though I love to shop I was ready to be done. We started out with no christmas done and now we are just about all done. That is so nice to say. I guess we got done what we needed to get done. We didn't make it to the temple or to see a movie, but I guess we had no extra time anywhere to do the extras. It was a really fun weekend. Garrett was a big help this year with the shopping, it is normally me that does all the shopping and coming up with ideas for everyone. He usually finds out the week before christmas what we got everyone.
PS. for all you men that are thinking that he got ripped off with all the shopping, we did spend 3 hours at Cabelas shopping for him.

Never know what they will say next......

Kids are so funny. I have always loved how sweet and innocent kids are, they say exactly what is on their minds. The last few months I have wanted to write down a few things my girls have said to me that have made me laugh.
***We are getting ready to go to Madalyn's soccer game. We are walking out the door and Madalyn says " Mom your not going to wear that are you" I look down at my clothes and I thought I looked just fine. It's not like I was in my PJ's or sweats. I thought oh no I'm embarrassing my child already, we are off to a great start.
**** Morgan says a different day "Mom didn't you wear that shirt yesterday". I responded with yes Morgan I did.
****Last week I was getting ready to take the kids to a friends Halloween Party, I had all the kids dressed up in their costumes. I was getting Morgan's shoes on and Morgan Said "Mom what are you going to be for Halloween? Me: " A mom". Morgan: "then you better go get changed back into your PJ's". Me: i just started to laugh. Morgan: Well that is what you wear all the time.

I love the things little kids say, they are so honest. I wish they could stay that way forever.

Surprise

On Saturday Garrett TOTALLY surprised me with a great gift. I came home from teaching a craft at our wards Craft Day and a note was taped to the garage door. I want to share the treasure hunt I went on, he had hidden clues around the house:
Jilayne this is a little hunt to show you how much I love you. But you are going to have to find all the clues.
#1. Jilayne you are so fine you are always running through my mind.
found on the treadmill
#2. All that running must have made you tired. Why don't you relax with the bubbles.
found outside on the hot tub
#3. You will find your next clue in your favorite hanging decoration.
found in garrett's stuff deer head (HIS favorite decoration)
#4. Jilayne of all the fish in the sea you are the sexiest to me.
found in the girls fish tank
#5. You are getting very close to going away don't forget to pack this little thing on your get-a-way.
found in my closet
#6. Jilayne I love you so much and want to give you something special, all you have to do is Remember.
found on the back of a poem garrett wrote for me before he left for his mission

You did it!! I knew it wouldn't take you long. Jilayne I would love it if you would go away with me on a two night date. Anything you want is yours.

We are going to the Doubletree hotel in Spokane this Friday-Sunday.
Isn't that so sweet. I told him he should not have said anything is yours :)I can't wait we are going to go Christmas shopping, eat at a few good restaurants, see a movie, go to the temple, sleep in and what ever else we want to do without kids.
The girls were so funny helping me find the clues they wanted me to find them right away, not have to look very hard. I think they are just as excited about this as I am. They are spending the time at both Grandma's houses when we are gone.
What a great husband, thanks!!! What a big surprise.

Trick or Treat

Halloween 2009 Madalyn--Ariel, Morgan--Ballerina, Natalie--Tinker Bell

We went to our wards truck or treat then around to Grandma Jenks, Great Grandpa Jenks, Emily's, Jason's, Janet's, Grandpa McGary's and last to Great Grandpa McGarys. That was enough for us, we have more candy then we can handle.

Disneys on Ice

On Thursday we took Mary and the girls to see Disney On Ice. It was fantastic!!!!! The girls have been working on their job charts so hard the past month. We told them that if they each got forty stars then we would take them someplace fun. Madalyn had more than 40 stars, Morgan was trying to do things that day to get enough. Natalie had about 20 stars.

We all had a great time, it was fun to see some of our friends there. All the girls got Tinker Bell hats, they looked so cute. They also dresses up for the night in some princess costumes.