Happy 5th Birthday Ashlyn!

On Thursday Ashlyn celebrated her 5th birthday! She was the first one up in the morning and had to patiently wait for the rest of the family to wake up so she could see her present.

We didn't wrap the bike up, so as soon as she walked down the stairs she saw it and she was excited! We took it outside right away and she rode off!

Don't you love the pajamas and bed head?

Later that day we picked up her friends, Sammy and Azelynn, and went to Nelson's Grove. Everyone enjoyed riding bikes, feeding the ducks, playing in the fountain, and eating pizza! After that we went home and watched Gnomeo and Juliet while eating popcorn, made and frosted mini cupcakes and drew a mural on the driveway with sidewalk chalk.

After a dinner of leftover pizza Ashlyn and Brad went to Trafalga while I put the younger ones to bed. When she came back we threw some icing on a cupcake and sang to her.

I didn't have any cupcake wrappers and half of it stuck to the pan. So gorgeous.

It's hard to believe that we have a 5 year old! We sure love our sweet Ashlyn, but kind of wish she'd stop growing up so fast!

Happy 1st Birthday Audrie!

Yesterday Audrie turned 1 year old!!!

As soon as she woke up we went downstairs and she (with the aid of her two siblings) opened her card and present.

We changed her into her birthday outfit and had her pose with her new wheely bug.

The middle of the day went on as normal. She took two great naps and was happy as can be.

After dinner we pulled her cake out of the fridge. It was a confetti angel food cake with whip cream.

We lit the candle and began singing Happy Birthday and she loved it!

Then we told her to blow out her candle and she wasn't so sure about that.

So, Ashlyn did it for her.

We told her she could do what she wanted with the cake, but she got a little whipped cream on her finger and wanted off the table.

We decided not to push the issue and stuck her in her high chair

and cut her a cute piece of cake

which she would not touch until we brought her a fork,

Once we'd broken off some tiny pieces she enthusiastically ate until every last piece was gone!

She did a relatively clean job of it too!

We ended the day with one of her favorite things . . . a bath!

Happy Birthday Audrie! We love you!

Audrie: 11 Months

Wow. I feel like Audrie's first year of life is just flying by! Yesterday she turned 11 months old.

Last month we were trying to get some cute pictures of the kids together for Father's Day. We were not successful, but we really liked a few of them of Audrie. She is still great at doling out the smiles.

She laughs really easily too.

11 Fun Facts about Audrie:

1. She only has one tooth.

2. She just barely started saying mamamama, but I don't think it means anything to her. The other day I pleaded, "Audrie, say mama" and she promptly responded with "dada."

3. When Carter and Ashlyn are getting their teeth brushed, she will tackle them to get the toothbrush out of their mouths and into her own.

4. She's been taking several steps! Hopefully walking is right around the corner . . .

5. She loves making Carter and Ashlyn laugh (and she actually does it all the time).

6. If she wants something she goes for it, no matter what or who she has to crawl over (or up).

7. She loves her binkie (I am not looking forward to that weaning process).

8. She still nurses all the time, but loves other foods too.

9. She loves rough housing with Daddy. If he lays down on the floor then she makes her way to him ASAP and wants to play!

10. She is obsessed with her cousin King. She is always watching him when he is around and wants to be as close as possible.

11. We've taken to calling her Odge or Odge Podge.

We love our baby girl and can't believe she'll soon be 1!

Memorial Day 2011

I love the Memorial Day traditions in Brad's family. We meet in the morning at Golden Corral with his extended family (whoever can come). We enjoy the breakfast buffet, which usually ends in ice cream cones for all.

We then visit some meaningful cemeteries and put flowers on the graves. Here is Carter at Jonathan's graveside. Jonathan is Brad's younger brother who died when he was 4 months old.

This is Grandpa Walker's grave.

Usually we end the day at a cemetery in Farmington. There is a playground and tennis courts there and we'll let the kids play and visit for awhile. However, this year we spent the rest of the morning bowling!

I couldn't get over how cute the kids looked in those little bowling shoes!

Carter would pick up the ball himself, walk it over and place it on the ball roller thingie.

Then he would just stand there and watch until we told him he was done. I'm not sure what he was waiting for.

I couldn't really get a good shot of Brad bowling. He's good (actually, compared to me everyone is good).

Waiting.

Our niece is awesome. She didn't even need a ball roller thingie!

Precious

I'm not even sure what they were looking at. The scoreboard?

Audrie was a champ and let anyone hold her. Not typical and very nice.

I love this.

Daddy's girl.

I was there too!

Ashlyn was happy whether she knocked down 10 pins or 1 pin. She just likes being with her cousins!

It doesn't get much cuter than this!

We spent the rest of the day with family at Grandma and Grandpa's house and it was perfect. I'm really excited for my children to grow up with special and fun Memorial Days!

Ashlyn's Preschool Graduation

Wednesday May 25, 2011 was Ashlyn's Preschool Graduation!

All the graduates were supposed to wear Sunday dress.

We took some pictures in our front yard before we went. We know, our grass is sooo lovely.

We even had some time for a little tree climbing

and grass sitting. I know, I know, the grass is beautiful!

The graduation was at her teacher, Laurel Steele's, house in the backyard. They sang lots of songs.

They did a cute dance.

Carter played during the entire thing. I think he now thinks that graduations are awesome.

He spent lots of time on the trampoline.

He had some fun with the trucks in the sandbox.

He also slid down the slide, played in the playhouse, swung on the swing, and rode around on a tricycle!

Audrie spent the whole time in my arms just looking around.

Ashlyn is receiving her diploma.

She loved her teacher and all the kids in her class!

It was a great year!