...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.....

And this how they rode......

...and that makes me happy!

Ashley's "Ah-Ha" Moments of the Day

Tonight after dinner, I am looking at the living room and there are toys everywhere. I tell Ashley that we have a big mess to clean up.

Ashley's response: "Mommy, if you clean it all up really good you can have some ice cream."


Earlier today Ashley asks me to help her spell 'NO' with her foam letters. We talk about the sounds in 'NO' and then she helps put it together. I am thinking awesome, she is learning how to spell and she is thinking....awesome I needed a new way to get across to my mommy that the answer is NO.


The rest of the day, whenever she was asked something that she didn't want to do her response was: "N...O...NO" I laughed the first time that she said it....you know the rest of the story.

Hypothesis

Hypothesis: "If I give the same pudding pops to three different kids, then they will all get equally as messy."

Materials:
3 kids
3 pudding pops
1 hot summer day

Results: The results of this experiment showed that the hypothesis was not correct

BOYS ARE MUCH MESSIER THAN GIRLS!

Thankful

The other evening, when we got home from running errands I told Ashley she could ride her bike for a couple of minutes before we went in to eat dinner. But, BEFORE she could ride her bike I needed to go start boiling the water for the ravioli that we were going to have for dinner. So, I go inside and get the water started and then return to watch the kids ride their bikes. I decide to take a few things in from the truck, you know how all the kids stuff can pile up in the car so, I am doing that and just putting it on the counter right inside the garage door. Lastly, I put my keys and purse inside too. (Can you tell that I have made a MAJOR mistake). I tell Ashley its time to go in, she starts putting her bike away, I open the door for AJ to go in. I realized I needed to put Aidens bike away so, I go do that and then turn back around to open the door to go inside and IT'S LOCKED and Aiden is in the house. He locked the lock on the handle. I panic, I run through the back gate to check the Arcadia door in the backyard, its locked....I run back around to the garage door and I can hear him crying and knocking on the door. I tell Ashley to run next door and tell Miss. Anna and Mr. Larry to come here. At this point she is crying and I felt terrible because she was so scared. As soon as they come outside I ask them to call 9-1-1. Oh, my cell phone was also in the house. They call and within minutes but what felt like hours we could hear the sirens coming in the neighborhood. They walk up and I am on my knees by the door, knocking on it and calling for AJ. I can still hear him crying and knocking on the door. As long as I could still hear him I knew he was not in the kitchen near the boiling water. When they walked up, I looked up and saw a friend of ours, I was surprised to see him but so relieved to see a face I knew at this moment. They immediately went up in my attic entrance in the garage and down in the house and at the same time other firefighters came in through the Arcadia door. They jimmied their way somehow to unlock the Arcadia door. When they brought Aiden out to me he wasn't even crying. AMAZING! I was so thankful that they were able to get to him as quickly as they did. Ashley had gone into my neighbors house to be with their kids. The poor girl was crying and hid in Allen's truck that was in the garage during most of the ordeal. The firefighters were so good with the kids. They gave them hats and stickers. The rest of the night Ashley asked several questions, over and over. She was trying to process what had happened. I retold her the story 3 times and reassured her that she did such a great job. Aiden was so thirsty from crying but other than that he was a happy little boy. Lesson learned, keep a spare keep somewhere besides inside the house!

Sneak Peek

Ashley will have her dance recital this weekend.
Above is a peek at her little costume...sequins, satin, poka dots and lots of ruffles!!

Summertime+lots of time in the pool=BEE STING!

I think I may have been stung by a bee once in my life...it is a vague memory so, I am thinking I was pretty young. Well, AJ was stung twice within 2 days of each other. Luckily, we have learned that he is not allergic to them but we didn't need to learn it twice.

Happy 30th Birthday Allen

Allen turned 30 this month. And so, it was time to celebrate!! We enjoyed the weekend with good friends, good times and good food! When I was looking through old pictures I realized two things: 1.We have only had digital pictures since 2003 that is a lot of living before digital cameras that I don't have access to at the touch of a fingertip....uggh 2: I was reminded that Allen is an amazing part of my life and that he works hard and plays even harder!! I love the husband that he is to me and the father that he is to our children.

Happy Birthday, Allen!

Easter at our house

My parents are away on a 28-day cruise (and they are loving every moment!) and so, before they left we celebrated Easter with them at our house.

My brother and his wife rode their bikes over to our house for dinner, love them! Love that they live so close to us.


It doesn't get much better when I host an Easter Dinner and the guests bring the dinner! My parents brought over an amazing crab dinner.


We enjoyed dinner and then had an Easter Egg hunt in the back yard. Ashley was very disappointed to open each egg and not find any candy! Just dollars that would not even fit in her piggy boink (bank)!

I think I have decided that the all the running around and stressing-out we do at Christmas is over-rated...Easter is a lot less stressful and so much FUN!!

Our Easter

We spent this Easter at Allen's parents' house. We stayed Saturday night at their house so that the festivities could begin first thing on Easter morning.

A.J. was the first one up on Easter ( imagine that!) then Ashley woke up and when we said "Happy Easter" and she quickly began looking all around for anything from the Easter Bunny. She didn't find anything in the house because the night before she told us she was certain that the Easter Bunny would be leaving her basket on the front porch.

When she opened the front door she found her basket full of goodies and it didn't take long for her to see that there were Easter eggs over the front yard.

She collected all of her eggs as A.J. followed her. She opened each one as she found it to see if their was more candy inside.


Immediately following the egg hunt we ate breakfast and then on to the "Big Kids" Easter festivities!!

First, we had an Egg Decorating Contest...we couldn't wait to get started! Alison and I had the winning egg, the turtle. It was her idea but I helped with the implementation. We split the winnings, $25!!
Contest entries included: Super Egg, a ladybug, conception(Yes, that was Allen's idea-he came up with it on his own), a girl egg, the General Lee and a turtle. Tough competition this year!

Next, we had our 3rd Annual Golf Ball Hunt. We all hit golf balls out into the desert that is right across the road from Dave & Cheryl's house then we running through the desert to find as many as we could. Each one was worth $1 then 10 of them were worth $5 and then 2 golden "eggs" were worth $50 each! So, you better believe that we were running around out there like crazy!!


We ran around the desert for over an hour collecting golf balls. Both golden balls were found and we had a BLAST!!

We enjoyed a delicious dinner with everyone and we just didn't want the weekend to end. We enjoyed one more sunset on the porch before heading home Sunday evening.