25 months!

As usual, I haven't been updating the blog as often as I should. I'm am the worlds 2nd biggest procrastinator (my Dad is the 1st)! Here are some pictures of Makenna's 25th month of life. Enjoy!

Grandpa & Grandma Howard came to watch Makenna while Howie and I went to the George Strait concert. Just a few pictures of fun with Grandpa.

She's still making that silly "cheese" face! Hanging out with Daddy. :)

Makenna loves getting into my eyeshadow. She asked me to put some on her....

And then she had to put some on Daddy. :)

Yardwork.

Little Miss Sunshine.

-US

Yosemite National Park!

Oh Yosemite... Why haven't we visited you sooner? The day after Gage's birthday we all (Howie, Makenna, Oldpa, Oldma, Dale, Jeanie, Gage, Ashton, Beth and Breanna) headed to Yosemite! Howie, Makenna and I have never been before so we were really excited! It was about an hour and half drive from the house and Dale decided to take us on the SCARIEST road ever created on the way there. There was 1000-2000' drop offs and it was one lane! Not kidding...

So, we get there and it's GORGEOUS!! Right when we arrived we had a quick picnic. Makenna has found love in Cheetos. :)

After lunch we started out on our first hike. It was long, steep and definitely not "flip-flop friendly" but who hikes in flip-flops? Oh wait... I DO! Quick stop at the bridge to take a picture of the kids. So cute!WARNING: You could be eaten by bears. Have fun on your hike!This is how Makenna "hiked" her way up... 90% of the way. I don't know how he did it! And the other 10%.... The squirrels were extremely friendly.. I think it said, "Feed me!" more than once. :)After what felt like 9 hours.. We finally reached the top! Okay, so it only took around 45 minutes but it really, really felt like 9 hours. After a brief hangout at the bridge, we headed back down the steep, long trail. I'll tell you, it's much harder to hike down in flip-flops than it is to hike up. Another sweet picture of all the kids halfway back down the trail. Look at Makenna and Ashton! HAHA! They look thrilled. :)2nd Hike! This hike was flat... just like I like! Wow, I'm lazy! It was a beautiful hike though.. Makenna showing her Daddy a rock (it was a pebble). She's obsessed. Ahhh... So pretty!One of my favorite pictures taken while we were there. I love how much they love each other. It gives me warm fuzzies. A few more pictures for your viewing enjoyment!The 2nd hike destination. Isn't it gorgeous???

After a long day we stopped at a nearby deli for sandwiches before we headed home. Here's Makenna and her Oldpa after they were done eating. Makes me smile. :)
We had so much fun! I can't wait to go back to check out more of the park. I think that you need to stay for a week to see everything and then a week to recover from all the hiking. :)

Until next time!

-The Howards

California for Gage's 7th Birthday!

Another Gageman birthday was in order! We packed up the car and headed to California! This trip was a busy one! We left our house on Thursday morning (April 22nd) and after a long drive we got there around 8pm. The next day Howie, Makenna, Dale, Jeanie, Gage, Ashton and I drove to Modesto to attend a Modesto Nuts game for Gage's birthday. It was fun but a super long game. We ended up leaving early and calling it a night...

Settling in our seats

I'm not even sure if they won or not but the field looked pretty at night!

The next day was Gage's birthday party but first we had to attend Gage's baseball game! He was so cute in his uniform that I made his pose for a picture. :)

And with one of him and Makenna...

Makenna started to get a little restless so we decided to take her to the playground. She had so much fun going up and down the slide... over and over and over!

After a million times of going up and down the slide, we went back to watch Gage play ball. Makenna decided to sit with her Oldpa.

THEN.. after about 5 minutes she convinced her Oldpa to take her to the park again. He didn't have a problem with that. :)

After the game we headed back to Dale & Jeanie's to prepare for the party! Makenna was given a cupcake before we left and Daddy let her eat it in the car. I was surprised because she never eats sweets (excluding fruit snacks)! She dug in and made a mess!

LET THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN! I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked since it's so easy to socialize. :) Gage's theme this year was "Rock Star". Oldma seemed to have the spirit!There was tons of good food and lots of awesome people to talk to. Makenna found a friend in Hunter. He is a couple of months younger than her but he towers over her! He's a big boy! Gage showin' off his skills with a baseball!

CAKE TIME! Gage's rock star cake made by his Mommy!

After everyone went home Gage and Breanna rode dirtbikes around the track. They were so cute and Breanna did so awesome! It was her first time!

I'll leave you with a picture of the birthday boy.

HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY GAGE! WE LOVE YOU!!!

More pictures to come... we went to Yosemite National Park the next day. :)

Love,

Us