The McKenzie Family

Friday, November 28, 2014

Thoughts of thanks

Happy Thanksgiving 2014! We spent Thursday in Shelbyville, first at Angie's for a huge meal, then to Rosemary's for three desserts! Zoe and Niki are always welcome in Shelbyville, and they go nuts with excitement as we drive down Angie's neighborhood toward their home.

Mom was busy preparing for her upcoming European trip so she said she wouldn't be able to see us this holiday weekend, so Steven drove to Morehead with Angie on Friday and spent time with his dad and Linda.

I made a turkey.

And photobombed Elizabeth.

We all thought of Laura on her birthday. We are making sugar cookies in her honor - we don't know if she likes them at all, but her birthday seemed like a great excuse to make them!

The most patient one in the family

Zoe and Niki get one chicken rawhide each day, after they finish eating dinner. They both love them, especially Zoe, who looks forward to hers as much as the rest of us look forward to dessert. Whenever she is in the kitchen, Zoe sits patiently by the pantry door. Not moving.

Sometimes she waits so long she gets super tired and has to lay down.

Sometimes she moves closer and even puts her nose against the door.

Sometimes she moves away and curls up so we can get into the pantry.

Eventually the pantry is opened! There it is, the big red bag on top!

Zoe is the first one ready!

Eventually Niki figures it out as well!

Replay the scene tomorrow.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Long time, no write

During the month of October...

Mary visited! Best part of the month. She's so stylish!

Elizabeth hung out with friends, including Anderson. She went to the Bea Miller/Christina Perri/Demi Lovato concert and afterward tweeted a comment about it, which was then retweeted by Bea Miller herself!

Steven built shelves and a bench (with a place for the dogs to stay underneath) in our laundry room!

Karyn spoke at the GC inauguration! And attended a by-invitation-only Alison Lundergan Grimes rally (her younger sister Ashley was a student of mine in multiple classes a decade ago)!

Michael made the middle school basketball team! His coach challenged him to a free throw contest, best of 7 shots. His coach made 6 of 7....and Michael made 7 of 7! He scored at the 98th percentile on a national standardized math test and has been invited to take the ACT/SAT during his 7th grade year!

So many exclamation points! Life must be good!!!

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Cave Run 2014

I love this family tradition we have developed over the past years. This year Elizabeth invited Andrea, who plays softball at Elizabeth's school, and Conner, a friend from our neighborhood. Beautiful weather, fun times. I know the pictures may seem so similar year after year (the slide, the boat, the life jackets, the jumping off the top), but I promise, it never, ever gets old.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Robotics camp

This week Michael had Robotics Camp in the mornings. Campers were assigned to two-person teams and they spent the first four days building their robots. The last morning they had a tournament and a grand battle. Although Michael told me that his partner spent more time texting than working during the first few days, they did something correctly: They won the Grand Battle, with their robot named Brad Jesus. Yeah, I know - it's an unusual name.

I will try to upload some video. Michael is one calm competitor!

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Sprague-Rose memories II

Knowing we would see Aunt Mary, Aaron, and Kate again made leaving California last month a bit easier.

This past week we were so thrilled they visited Kentucky! We loved all our time with them, and Zoe and Niki loved all the attention they received! I am not sure if our dogs have ever been carried, hugged, and kissed as much in a three-day span as they were the past few days.

Highlights included watching Kate at the duck playground, hearing Elizabeth reading and reading with Kate, and listening to Aaron play the truck/Monopoly money game with Michael, Stephen, and Riley. I also loved seeing Kate hug the huge tree in Georgetown College's library and watching Aaron determine his Deal or Not Deal strategy.

Kate and Aaron spent time each morning, afternoon, and evening on the trampoline. The night they left, a strong, scary storm passed through Georgetown and dragged the trampoline across the road into a neighbor's driveway. That was the end of our trampoline, so I'm glad Aaron and Kate got to enjoy it before it was dismantled.

As we always say to our visits, please come back soon!