Happy 3rd Birthday Carter!

On Sunday, September 18th we celebrated Carter's birthday with the extended family at Brad's parents' house. It was a gorgeous day and we enjoyed opening presents, eating, and visiting in the backyard. Carter was pretty mellow throughout the entire evening. 

The attendees included Grandma and Grandpa May, the Elsassers, The Baileys, The Cheneys, The Warrs, and Michael and Chelsea. 

Showing off his football shirt from Bryon and Kari:

Opening his Mater Legos from The Baileys:

Getting out the card from Grandma and Grandpa May:

Carter really loved all his presents. After opening them we asked him to go around and give each person a hug and he actually did!

These were sparkler candles and they weren't very easy for him to blow out. I think the sparkling would have looked better if it was dark outside too.

I had to include this picture, because it is the only shot we have of the cupcakes. You can see the edges of them on the far left of the picture. We made cookie dough chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and stuck cupcake toppers in them of Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and little green aliens. Carter asked for a Buzz Lightyear cake and this was our version. 

Carter officially turned 3 at 12:01 Thursday, September 22nd. When he woke up in the morning we had him search for his birthday present, which was a blue balance bike. I just realized that we only took a few pictures on that day, so we'll have to post some of him on his bike later. We planned to go to Pirate's Island that night to eat pizza and play some games, but found out when we arrived that it was closed due to a fire. We planned to drive to McDonalds for Happy Meals, but our car refused to start (turns out our battery was done for), so we ended up walking across the street to Costco for dinner and after getting our car jumped, we drove to Target where Carter picked out a toy. He chose a little Lightning McQueen. We don't have a picture of that either. So, we owe Carter some birthday photo shoots and a trip to Pirate's Island!

Carter opening up the crawl space where his present was hidden!

Usually on birthdays I find myself wondering where the time has gone. However, I've felt like Carter has been 3 for many months now. I think I caught myself telling people that he was almost 3 more than once at the beginning of the summer. He talks very well, plays wonderfully with Ashlyn, loves puzzles sooo much, likes to ride his tricycle, color with crayons and chalk, build things with legos, read books, and watch shows. 

Carter comes across as a really quiet kid, but when he gets comfortable he can really talk an ear off. He is pretty determined and independent.When he is well-fed and well-rested he can be an angel and it just melts my heart. 

We're so glad to have Carter as part of our family!!! Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Family Party for Ashlyn and Audrie

My parents came to Utah for a two week visit, so we decided to throw the girls' family birthday party a little later so they could attend. On Saturday August 13th we got together for some pizza, presents, pinata, and dessert!

The cousins enjoyed eating at their own little table in the living room. We'll need a second table when Josie, Tyler, King, and Audrie get a little bigger!


After dinner Audrie and Ashlyn opened their presents. All of the cousins took a turn opening a present for Audrie.


They loved their gifts!


We then went outside to break the strawberry pinata. It was a tough one!




We ended the evening with a Costco cake and ice cream for all.



It was a fun party and we loved having all the family here! Happy Birthday to our girls!!!

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!