First time Playdough!

Last week I found out the company I work for was laying off a few people and elimating many jobs. My job was one that got cut. I was only working from home 1 to 2 hrs a day though, so that wasn't a big deal to me. They did offer me another position, but I would basically be working full time, and that just wasn't an option for our family right now. So now I have a little extra time in the day, especially while Macy is napping. The other day I decided to try making some playdough. It was so easy and turned out great. Macy loves it and it keeps her busy for a while. All it took was equal parts of salt, flour, and water. I added food coloring for fun. So here are a few pictures of Macy's playdough time. The one picture looks like she's eating it, but she figured out quickly that it does not taste very good!

Simple Pleasures

I enjoy watching Macy getting so much pleasure out of the most simple things in life! Right now she especially loves playing in the snow. Payte had the day off on Monday so we decided to go sledding in our back yard. Our porch is over our daylight basement, so the stairs are quite tall. They were already mostly covered with snow, so Payte just leveled them out and made a great big sledding hill for Macy. Macy would lay clear down in the sled and we would send her off all by herself! We got such a kick out of watching her! Once she stopped clear across the yard, she would yell, "Again!!!" So I would take her up the hill and pass her off to Payte over and over again. When Payte and I got too tired to play that game, we just plopped down in the snow for a few minutes and watched Macy play. We built her a chair and a very small and sad snow man. We had so much fun that day! We also had a great Christmas, but me being the bad mom I am forgot to bring my camera to my parent's house. So they have all the pics. I'll post them one of these days I guess! But for now, enjoy the Macy snow pics!

Cagle Christmas

The Christmas season has been so much fun this year thanks to little Macy! She is so excited about everything! She quickly learned who Santa is, and really enjoys watching him from a distance. The sitting on the lap thing doesn't go so well though. We have tried it twice and decided that was enough torture for the poor thing. We did get a picture of the second time though. It isn't a happy one!!! I'll have to scan it in later. She LOVES the snow that we have recently received and wants to go play in it all day everyday, but as soon as I tell her how cold it is, she decides to stay inside. Our Christmas tree is on a table this year in order to stay safe from the toddler and the puppy. I can't put any presents out because they would immediately be unwrapped! My nativity scene gets rearranged about 10 times a day and I often find myself looking for baby Jesus, just hoping he isn't in Abby or Macy's mouth! Macy also enjoys snowmen or "nomenenen." She is finally tall enough to see out the car window and enjoys looking at all the Christmas lights! or dights as she says. As for the Cagles there aren't any lights due to Payte's scrooge attitude towards all Christmas decor. I don't blame him on the lights though! (not a fun job!) And I know he isn't the only man who despises all the Christmas "clutter."

We are also happy with our freshly painted red Kitchen! It has brought a lot more warmth to that area, so we spend a little more time in there. (which isn't a good thing! we don't need ANY more food!)

We are all missing uncle "Ty" and uncle "Jew Jew" (Jared). We get to talk to Jared on the phone on Christmas eve, but since Tyson is in the CTM (brazil MTC) we won't be hearing from him this year. Jared comes home on February 24th! My parents have received the flight plans and everything, so that is very exciting! Jared is not wanting to come home though. He is so in love with Taiiwan, the people, and the work! He has been such a great missionary and touched many lives. Tyson is doing great as well. In the Brazil MTC they are able to go out and practice the language and hand out Books of Mormon. That has helped him a lot I think. He says he had stopped a young man on the street the other day, and as soon as Tyson started to bear his testimony the man started listening very intently. The spirit is so strong with those missionaries! I am so proud of my two brothers and the service they are doing right now. We sure do miss them, but wouldn't want them anywhere else at this time in their lives.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season! We surely feel blessed in these troubled times to have a home, health, faith, and family. Our knowledge of Christ is what gets us though the hard days, and I pray we can all celebrate His life not just this time of the year, but every day. Merry Christmas!

How could I forget my Angel?

I can't believe I almost forgot to post my cute Halloween pictures! Macy dressed up as an Angel for Halloween this year. The costume was made by my mother-in-law and has been passed down from 3 different cousins. It fits her perfectly! The first party we went to was for the ward on Tuesday night. She acted the opposite of an angel though! She wasn't too happy that night because she only wanted to play with the ducks in the pond! The primary had a tub of water with tons of ducks in it. All the kids Macy's age wanted to play in the water! So I would take Macy clear to the other side of the building and she would find her way right back to the ducks! Oh well! On Halloween evening Payte and I took Macy to my parent's neighborhood to just a few of the homes that I knew. She actually acted like an angel that night, which was very nice! After people gave her candy she would say, "Thank you! Bye-bye!" and then blow a great big kiss! What a doll! She had to wear a different halo that night though, because Abby got a hold of the original and chewed it up! Luckily my mom happened to have an extra on hand! So here are the pics of my angel plus some other fun ones.

New member of the Family

We have added another member to our family. We got a little Dachsund puppy names Abby. She is adorable, and snuggle, and sweet, but a PUPPY! I can't believe how much work puppies are, especially when you have a toddler too. Macy and Abby are two little trouble makers. We have had Abby for about a month now, and it is definately getting better. We are crate training her which is nice. She sleeps in her crate at night and we put her in it when we leave, so we don't worry about her going potty in it because they won't pee in their own bed. She of course likes to chew on everything, but hasn't ruine anything important yet. Macy lets her know when she shouldn't be doing something. If Abby takes Macy's blanket, Macy says, "No! Abby! Go!" Macy does like the water dish though. She puts her feet in it and tries to bring it to Abby, but ends up spilling the water everywhere. My patience has been tested, but I think I've become a better person for it. So good news of the week: Macy has finally started falling asleep by herself in her crib, which is so nice! Before, we would have to hold her until she fell asleep, but now we just turn a CD on in her room and she puts herself to sleep! I think Daylight Savings time helped out too. She goes to bed earlier now that it's darker sooner.

Other news: My baby brother Tyson left for Brazil on Tuesday morning. He will serve a mission for the LDS church for two years in the Brazil, Florianopolis mission. My other brother Jared is in Taiiwan right now and gets back February 24th. So my parents are officially empty nesters now. They're handling it pretty well though. Macy is able to keep them pretty happy. They go crazy over that girl! I'm glad she is loves so much. She will miss her uncle "Ty." She never got to meet Jared since she was born just 10 days after he left. They will have plenty of time to get to know eachother though. Well, I think I've gone on enough for today, so here are some pictures for your enjoyment!