One Year Old

August 24, 2012

It's so crazy how fast this year has gone by. I can't believe that it has already been a year since we brought Ashton home. He surprised us all by coming a whole month early. I am remembering our life at this time last year. It was insane. We were adjusting to having 3 and not doing a fantastic job at it. Ashton was colicky and especially at night. I was so desperate for sleep for the first 2-3 months. But I also remember how he could make me smile. It didn't matter how delusional I was- or maybe because I was so delusional- I could smile at him and just feel so much love. There's nothing like having a newborn in the house...in so many ways!!





2 1/2 wks old

And Now Here He Is

 

We went to Salt Lake again on his B-day. We got back early and later did cake for him. I didn't get a picture of him mushing his piece in his fingers-I only took video of it.

He didn't know what all the fuss was about but we had to celebrate him just-the-same. He is such a sweet addition to our home and we are so grateful to have our little man. We hope you had a good 1st Birthday, Ash!

 

Three for Ella

August 19, 2012

For the last 3 years we've been more amazed by your sassiness and your cuteness. You are non-stop. Even from the very beginning. May you always keep us on our toes.


3 weeks old



1 month old

Daddy got Ella's balloon bouquet on Saturday and she picked out her mini cake, too. So, after church we got home and got on with her celebration. She was so happy that is was her day.

yummy frosting

Rajah!

 

She had a good day. It was more mellow then the 2 days prior but I'm sure she felt special and that's what is important in it all.

Olivia's 5!!

Our Livvy came to us 5 years ago.  It felt like we had waited even longer for her since we had lost her older brother, Gavin, and then had a hard time getting pregnant right away after him. But she did come and for the last 5 years we've seen her grow in front of our eyes and bless us with her sweetness all the way.

1 week old

1 month old

We started celebrating her day in the morning. It was Friday, the 17th and daddy had the day off to spend with Liv on her big day. We went to the store and picked out her mini cake (and a bigger one for Saturday). Daddy picked up her balloon bouquet early to surprise her and she loved them.
We went to the pool on one of the last days it was even open for the Summer. She had a great time and we couldn't get her out of the pool to go home when it was time. It's weird though, because this time, for the first time, I wasn't as stressed about knowing where she was at every minute. It's nice to have her getting a little bigger. But it's weird too.
Later on, when it was time to "celebrate" she told us to decorate for her birthday and she left the room on her own. She blew out her candles and she and Ella dug into the frosting. What else is there, right?

You can't see in any of the pictures I took but she was wearing a shirt that said "It's my Day!"

She just got one present from Mom and Dad this year. We got her the horse, Angus, from the movie Brave. We haven't even seen the movie yet and she loves the horse. We got her the Brave backpack for school, too- the one with the horse on it. I know we have to go soon.

Birthday Party with Family

Today is Ella's 3rd Birthday! We mostly celebrated yesterday, with a lot more family, but today we still celebrated a little just here at home- the 5 of us.

Saturday, Aug. 18th
My sister, Amy and all her kids came up to bring their oldest son, Alec, to BYU. We hadn't seen the kids in 3 years. They had been staying at my mom's in Ogden and decided to come down to be with us on Saturday. It was perfect timing since we were in the mood for a party. We met them in Salt Lake and kept Malorie and Camarie. They came with us to the Heritage Park. It was so fun to have them with us. They are so cute and it's been WAY too long since we've seen them.

 

Liv and Camie on the train. We jumped on to start out our day there. We then went to an area with a boat and a little stream where we panned for gold.

We went inside an old church building. The pews were definately not comfortable back then.

In our last stop of the trip, we went to Brigham's Doughnuts and 3 dozen! We didn't finish them but thought we could. Oh, they are so yummy.

After we got back we went to the creamery. We just left Ashton and daddy behind since the two of them were to tired to go walk around the canyon at Bridal Veil falls. We did all that then came back to our place and had some grilled dogs.

Pinata Time! Ella got to pick out the pinata this year and she picked SpongeBob.

this is priceless

 I love this picture. How quickly kids become good friends!

 the cake is for all 3 kids!  5-3-1

My cute sis. I didn't get any other pics of her. It seems like that always happens. uhg!

It was so good to be with them. It just feels so right to be surrounded by family. The kids had a great time with their cousins and it was just a perfect day.

 

4th of July

We started the day off with going to the hot air balloon lift-off. We got there in perfect timing, around 6:30 in the morning and they were just finishing up filling balloons and getting ready to take off. The kids were in "ah". Once the balloons were off, we were too. We headed off to our Stake Scout breakfast. A little note about that is that they made a yummy dutch oven potatoes, cheese and sausage.  It reminds me I want a cast iron dutch oven. We didn't go to the city's parade but instead went home and put Ashton down for his nap and hung out at home and played a bit. We made water balloons when it got a little warmer and had family over for a BBQ. We did fireworks early. The kids couldn't wait and honestly, I didn't want to either. I didn't get a picture of Ashton, I'm realizing now. oops. He was pretty good during fireworks. He was on the edge of my knee to see them all. He would get scared of the noisy ones and cuddle but was turned back around to see more. It was a good holiday.

it was hard to get a picture of them holding still with these
but here's one just before one of the bombs hit

The just grabbed each other's hands on their own. I love their cute sister moments.