Happy Valentine's Day

Wishing you lots of LOVE!

The Waples Family

Happy Halloween!

Ashley's first day of Kindergarten

...and this is how they watched their cartoons on Saturday morning.

Rocks in the dryer

I just went to empty the dryer and found 3 rocks laying on the lent catcher in the dryer. I almost just picked them up and tossed them in the trash but instead I took a picture because something about that made me happy.

I am sure there are many more things that I will find in my dryer in the years to come. I can remember my mom scrubbing gum off the sides of the washer many-a-times. But, for now I will love this moment when I found rocks in my dryer.


Maybe it made me happy because I remembered how they got there...

We went to the White Tanks for a little hike with the kids. And along the way A.J. filled his pockets with rocks. I mean he filled them to the top. We had done a hike earlier in the week and so, he knew that there would be a waterfall and a pool of water to throw rocks in at the end of the hike. But WE didn't know his plan along the way...


But once we made it to the waterfall his plan made perfect sense. He took the rocks out of his pockets and threw them into the water.


Well, okay so maybe he missed a few...

Once again...sleepy A.J.

When this kid is tired there is no stopping him! I think Allen & Ashley have a little too much fun with poor, sleepy little A.J.

Choo-Choo, look who's two!

It is hard to believe that A.J. is turning two. But we decided it was time to celebrate with a little "Choo-Choo" Party!

The invite

Our little conductor


A Choo-Choo party wouldn't be complete without a choo-choo train. The rain stopped just long enough for the train rides...."All aboard!!"



The party



Lots of fun presents, thanks everyone.



The party favors


And then, the party continued with family and friends after a little nap. We were so blessed to have so many friends and family here to celebrate with A.J.

A Broken Rule

Ashley: Mom, you know what Miss Addie told the class today at school?
Me: No, what?
Ashley: She said, "that if you break a rule at school then you go to the reminder chair."
Me: Oh really, have you seen kids break the rules at school?
Ashley: I have seen kids go to the reminder chair but I have never seen a broken rule.

I couldn't bring myself to correct her, I just LOVED this moment. Soon enough she will understand but until then I will just love the innocence.

"Womanizer"

We watch American Idol every once in a while as family.

As Ashley was sitting at her table coloring she is singing a song, I didn't think much of it until I listened closer and realized she was saying "womanizer, womanizer, oh, womanizer..."

Me: Ashley what song is that you are singing?
Ashley: You know, "womanizer"
Me: Oh, where did you hear that?
Ashley: You know, that show we were watching where the boy was dancing funny and signing this song.
Me: Oh, yes I remember that show, American Idol


Here is her version:

Chickee Pie

Our family has come to LOVE this recipe for Chicken Pot Pie. I love it because everyone eats it and it is warm and just so darn good!

This time when I made it what I loved the most was the way A.J. said "Chickee Pie." Here he is eating left overs the next day and I just love how he says Chickee Pie!

Motherhood

ASHLEY: "I think I really like my baby-dolls that CAN'T talk...Well, I kinda love her but I just don't want to change her diapers, or put her to bed or feed her...."

I think motherhood has stressed Ashley out!

Our Ballerina

Ashley specifically asked to take a dance class this time where she would only wear ballet shoes not tap shoes. So here she is, fluffy tutu and all. **she is the 3rd one from the left.**

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

Thank you so much for my easel and Barbie Castle last year. I have so much fun with my Barbies and castle you gave me. I love you Santa. (I really hope that I am not on the naughty list. Do you think **Terinna and Ryen** and are on the naughty list?). We will go to bed on time so that you will be able to bring presents. (I sure hope I'm not on the naughty list)

This year, can you bring me a kid's computer, a cash register and a new scooter with only one wheel in the front and one in the back. My brother is 1 1/2 and he is good...sometimes. (Well, he does say "no" to us. I hope he is not on the naughty list.) A.J. would like a little doggy (we better tell him a stuffed doggy not a real one) and maybe a little train. We have a little gift for you Santa with your cookies and milk. Thank you, Santa.

Love,
Ashley

**For the record, Terinna and Ryen are good little kids and I am sure they are not on the naughty list**

Asleep at the Wheel

A.J. will fall asleep anywhere, we have countless videos of him falling asleep in his highchair, at the dinner table, on the couch. Maybe we are fascinated by this concept because his sister will stay awake until 2:00 a.m. if there is something exciting going on.

The other day, Allen was out front with him and he looked out in the cul-de-sac and there AJ was falling asleep, in his jeep that he had driven out in there just minutes before.

Immediately following this video Allen carried him in the house and put him down for his nap, I had to ask just to make sure he didn't leave him in there for his nap.

We walked in Race for the Cure in October. It was a great morning, both kids were sick but they stayed in the wagon and enjoyed the ride.

Where have we been?

We have been chasing AJ....Then cleaning up after him.

We were on a backyard camp out.

We have been on movie dates.

We have been playing lots of dress up.

We were on a field trip to the farm.

...and we have been enjoying every minute of it all!

But, I will start updating our blog again after neglecting to do so for too long.

Ashley's very first day of school

Ashley went to her very fist day of school today and...she LOVED it! I wanted to keep her home this year but she kept talking about how all of her friends were going to school so, I knew it was the right thing to do. We found the perfect match for her! She will be going 3 days a week for 3 hours. What an exciting day...

This is all of us dropping her off to her very first day of school:


This is one of her teachers, Miss Lou Lou: (Allen went to school with her since Kindergarten and we both went to high school with her. We are excited that she, along with her sister will be Ashley's first teachers)


This is what she made on her very first day:

This is her preschool t-shirt:


This is her and Allen before school today:

The Skinny Dipper

Tonight, while sitting on the balcony in Flagstaff....

"Ashley, look the stars are starting to come out"

Ashley responds, "Ohhh, look there is the skinny dipper"

There he goes....

He loves to ride his bike....and yes, he is oustside in his diaper.

That is one of those things I thought I would never do there are a lot of things I thought I would never do.....