Aww, Grandma...

I just thought this was cute.

I know it's a little blurry, but this was on "moving day" when we moved Grandma into her new place. Kate was trying to keep her entertained, so she pulled out her iPod and Grandma looked at it and asked what it was, so Kate was trying to explain it to her and then she decides to let Grandma experience it for herself, and puts one of her ear buds in Grandma's ear. I think they were listening to Sherwood - or was it Metro Station? I forget. Either way, Grandma liked it because she was bopping her head to the music. Cute Grandma and Kate! :)

Scooter Gang

Some days, for no real reason at all (snow and winter aside), I really miss Hawaii. Last time we were there, Mike, Jesse, and I decided we needed to start a bike gang of some sort. I ran across this picture today, and it made me a) want to go back to Hawaii, and b) want a scooter. Oh, and this picture is absolutely perfect because of the words on the building just above my head.

*sigh*

The PUNISHER

On Saturday, a bunch of McKinlays and Sloans and Palmers went over to Grandma's place to help move her into a new place where she can have more care given to her than she received at the old place. (They failed to get Grandma out to "play" before we started moving stuff, I think she felt like she was being evicted against her will or something. Shawn said she said something like "I have about zero friends right now..." poor Grandma!

Moving in and of itself was fun just because all the McKinlay family was there-- David, Doug, Art, Dan, Iris, Heather, and Rose. The banter between the McKinlay boys was great-- never a dull moment, hehe.

So, we got all her stuff moved over to the new place (which is literally new. So new that she couldn't technically live there yet because it needed to pass an inspection or something before they could legally house people there), and it turns out they had a little bit of a birthday party planned for Aunt Lee who's b-day is in a couple weeks, since they don't get down here all the time from Idaho.

There was this ridiculous chocolate cake from Market Street (whatever that means). It was serious cake-- I mean, not messing around at all!

We're in the commons area of Grandma's new place eating cake, and Dan suddenly stops in amazement and notes how Shawn is eating his cake. I mean, this cake wasn't messing around, but neither does Shawn. I don't know if it's a habit from his mission or just what he does in general, but he eats pretty quickly, and he was DOWNING that cake like it was his job, taking these huge bites.

Dan: Man, Shawn is PUNISHING that cake.
Mike: That’s what Shawn does, man. He punishes. We should call him “The Punisher”.
Shawn: Yeeeah! Except, don’t tell people where I got the name. (sorry Shawn.)

(five minutes later)

Mike: Unnnhhh... Man, this cake is punishing ME.
Dan: (laughs hysterically)


Yeah. As you can see, Shawn just wiped out his piece of cake in no time. I ate more than what you see there on my plate, but I didn't finish it, and that's how much I had left when Shawn was DONE.


He's a champ. A punishing kind of champ. See him listening to music there? He's not even phased by the cake that just kicked my trash.

Ah, good times were had by all at Grandma's new place.

The St. George Top 10

10. The recent RMs glorying in sunshine by the pool for the first time in a couple of years
9. Mike only letting me drink half of a Mountain Dew - not out of selfishness, but out of protectiveness of his unborn niece
8. Ruffles potato chips
7. Melissa's required play-by-play of everyone's movements
6. The sacred Chocolate Marshmallow Mateys
5. The look on Shawn's face when he came out of his room and I was holding two nerf guns, aimed at Dan
4. Pants-Off Dance-Off (still don't get that one, but don't want to)
3. The boys returning from Fiesta Fun looking like they had just gone swimming in their clothes
2. Counting the many different times, ways, and places that Mike fell asleep during the day
1. ALL the crazies together in one condo!

Poncho & Lefty's

I bought Jesse a book he actually wanted to read!

Why was it so entertaining just to sit around and...do nothing?

We really do have a habit of looking surprised when there's a camera around...

I think we learn the surprised look from Kate.