We can't forget Ashley!

Once a week Ashley goes to joy school/play group with 5 other kids for a couple of hours. I had them at my house last week and they are all so cute! Ashley loves talking about joy school and thinks she is really important that she has a "school" to go to each week.

(Do you love that couch in the background? It is up in our playroom and someday it will have a nice slipcover. Someday!)

While all the kids were playing upstairs Ashley put on her apron and "cooked dinner" in her play kitchen. Then she decided she would read a book to the "class". It didn't matter that no one was listening. She just loves being a "little momma".

Katelyn's turn

Preschool has started and she is sooooo excited!
I might be a little excited too! She goes to preschool in the afternoon and Ashley still takes a nap. I am looking forward to some quiet afternoons until Ashley decides to give up on her naps. I will enjoy it while I can. :)

About 3 weeks...

is all that separated Luke's kindergarten school year and the beginning of 1st grade. I guess that's what happens when you are in year round school and you get the track that takes a couple weeks break in June and then you are in school until August. (That was a really long sentence, but I don't feel like fixing it. :) ) So here is Luke graduating from Kindergarten...
We loved Luke's kindergarten teacher! She was an amazing teacher and so fun. The graduation was so cute, complete with walking in one at a time, singing some fun songs, and then receiving their kindergarten completion certificates. My mom happened to be here visiting during this time so she was able to attend and that made it extra special for Luke.


And now here he is on the first day of school as a first grader!


This week has felt like the longest week ever. Katelyn really misses Luke. The afternoon is especially long for her because that was when she and Luke would play while Ashley naps. I'm sure it will be easier next week when she starts afternoon preschool twice a week. But despite the long week, Luke has had a smile on his face everyday after school and says things are going well. He likes his teacher and says that lunch, recess, and PE are his favorite parts so far.

Crayon/Color Party

I mentioned in my previous post that Katelyn loves to color, paint, and draw, so I thought it would be fun to do a crayon/color themed birthday party. It turned out to be such a fun theme!

the invitations

the front door sign
(it bugs me that the crayons and the "happy birthday" are crooked, but I didn't have the time or energy to go back and fix it)

the cake
(got the idea off the internet)

the take home "bags": little bucket, pack of crayons, coloring book, a little candy, and a crayon eraser
(this is a great time of year to do this theme because all the school supplies are such a great deal)

Katelyn added her own little touch and drew a picture for all her friends that came and then I wrote a little thank you note at the top and helped Katelyn write her name.

The Activities:

While everyone was arriving the kids did some coloring.

After everyone arrived I read the book "The Crayon Box That Talked".
Then we played a few games. I didn't get pictures of the first two games which were running relays while holding a large inflatable crayon and throwing the inflatable crayons through a hula hoop. These next two pictures are from our made up version of freeze dance. On the invitation I had asked the kids to wear their favorite color shirt. So we put on some music and let them dance, when the music stopped they ran to the color of card stock that matched their shirt. Then we mixed it up a little and had them run to a color that didn't match their shirt. They had so much fun with this game. Ashley felt like she should run to pink because she was wearing a pink skirt.



Then Katelyn opened her presents and loved everything she got.
We finished off the party with some cake and ice cream. Then they just played with toys until it was time to go. All of the kids were so good and Katelyn was a happy birthday girl!

I just had to add this last picture of Katelyn in her princess dress. She has been asking for a Sleeping Beauty dress for a long time. She finally got her wish and has worn it almost everyday since. She had a great weekend full of celebrating with her party on Saturday and then her actual birthday on Sunday. My mom was able to be here for Katelyn's birthday and that made it extra special.

Our 4 year old princess!

On August 8th

(photo taken by my brother, Eric)

Katelyn turned 4 years old!!!

4 things about Katelyn:

1. She loves to color, paint, draw, and create.

2. She loves to dance and just started taking ballet and tap.

3. She is very coordinated and can kick, throw, hit, and catch a ball really well.

4. She has a great imagination.

1 day old

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old (I am loving how she posed for this one.)

4 years old (She was not in the mood for a picture. So no smile, but I did get a little smirk.)

Some other things I want to remember about Katelyn now that she is four:
loves to be a helper, very good at folding towels and wash cloths, likes to do the dishes (just mainly playing in the water), loves having painted toenails, can identify her letters and knows the sounds, likes princesses, likes girly things but can get her hands dirty and play rough and tumble with Luke and daddy, enjoys doing puzzles, favorite shows: Hi-5, Ni-Hao Kai-lan, Yo Gabba Gabba, and Sesame Street, likes to play games on the computer, can be quite moody ;), likes to go shopping with me, loves preschool, LOVES popsicles and likes to eat, says the "c" and "k" sound like a "t" sound (so "cake" sounds like "tate"), likes playing with play-doh, loves music and will often make up songs using instruments she creates from toys, plays really well with Luke and sometimes plays well with Ashley ;)

I Love My Katelyn!

Just Because...

I think they are cute and I needed to finally put something up for my 100th post. Sorry no giveaway or amazing news, I'm just amazed I made it to 100.
Let's not talk about the fact that I started this blog over 3 years ago and I am just on my 100th post. :)

Loved this and needed this...

Make time stop!

This picture was taken last October (10/2009)

and this one was taken in May.

That is just seven months apart and I can't believe how much they have grown. I need to figure out how to put the pictures side by side for a good comparison. Luke and Katelyn's pants don't need to be cuffed, Luke could barely button up his pants, Ashley's pants are now waiting for a flood. That blue stripe ended up being a good measurement. Luke's ears are now at the top of the line, Katelyn's head almost reaches the top and Ashley's whole head is in the blue. And it only took 7 months for all those changes. My babies are growing up and I want them to stop!

Two!

My baby went from this...

to this...

to this...in just two years!

How can it be? Those 2 years flew!

Ashley's birthday was on April 3rd. She woke up to balloons and streamers decorating the kitchen. Her day continued with a fun Easter egg hunt at a friend's house,

a Hi-5 cake (this is my lifesaver show when I have had enough of the whining and crying, Katelyn also loves this show and had a hi-5 cake on her 2nd b-day too),

a couple of presents with the crawling, talking baby being her favorite,
and then for dinner we headed out for McDonald's to get her favorite fries! :)
Here are some things about Ashley at 2 years old:

• talks really well
  
• loves to sing songs
• loves her baby dolls and loves real babies
• cries HARD when she doesn't get what she wants
• the whiniest(is that a word?) 2 year old
• loves to eat snacks all day
• tries really hard to be like the big kids
• loves gum
• still a big time mama's girl
  
• says "I hold you" when she wants me to hold her (I hear this all day long :) )
• likes to do things herself...put on her shoes, take off her clothes, pour her cereal, brush her teeth, get a drink of water, etc. She usually likes to do these things by herself when I need her to hurry, but when I have the time to let her try it she doesn't want to do it.
• we think she is pretty cute and that is what helps us get through the whining and crying:)
• she would swing outside all day if someone was willing to stand outside and listen to her say "higher" over and over again while pushing her higher and higher
• she has an opinion about what she wears, but mommy's choice in clothes still wins at this point
• she loves to read stories

We love our Ashley!!!

"The princess knows who's boss, and it's not the king and queen."
(There could not be a truer statement when it comes to Ashley).
We love this girl and all her spunk!

8 years ago today...

Kevin and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple.

It is hard to believe it has been 8 years. It has flown by and I am so grateful to have had Kevin by my side.

What has happened in the past 8 years? (here's just a few things)
-Kevin has worked for the same company.
-We have lived in the same state.
-Lived in an apartment, a house, a condo, and another house.
-Had 3 cute kids.
-Owned 6 cars/trucks
-Painted lots of walls and completed many projects.
-Went on fun family vacations
-Had our car stolen once and our house broken into once.
-Enjoyed many moments of happiness, some sadness, and have learned so much together.

I am one lucky girl to have a husband who works so hard for his family, is fun to be around, can fix anything, so talented, smart, takes good care of me, loves me, an amazing father, has so much patience, loves the gospel, and is my best friend.

Valentine Overload

I'm not sure why I got so into Valentine's this year, but I did and I was done with the holiday by the time it actually came.

We had a FHE at the beginning of the month and wrote on hearts what we loved about each other. Got the idea from here.

One of Luke's hearts.

One of Katelyn's hearts.

Ashley's contribution which I'm sure says I love my mom so much that I need her to hold me all the time. ;)

We peeled the paper off a bunch of crayons to make a Valentine for all of Luke's kindergarten class and Katelyn's preschool class.

This was the result. Idea found here.

We did some heart braids.

Made some easy teacher gifts.
Made some yummy heart treats that got me off of my trying to eat better plan.

These were for a Valentine party at a friends house where all my kids were invited.

Ashley enjoyed licking the spoon and eating all the chocolate that was around the house. She was also heard saying, "I need chockit (chocolate)." Just like her mother. :)

These were for my Laurels because they needed a heart treat on Valentine's day. :)

Valentine's day finally came and I was burned out. So Kevin and I just gave each other a card and he was sweet and gave me some pretty flowers. Kevin also made the kids heart waffles in the morning, but Luke wanted Honey Nut Cheerios instead. At least Kevin tried.

Katelyn loved her waffles. Can't you tell by the cheesy smile?

And I attempted to get a picture of the kids for a Valentine to send to the grandparents. I didn't end up using this picture but did make some Valentines that I still need to send. If it makes it there before the end of Feb. I will be happy.

I was practically standing on my head trying to get them to all look, all smile, and to all have their eyes open. It didn't work. Oh well!

p.s. I just had to add(so that I have record of it :) ) that Kevin and I did go out to a nice dinner on Friday night and saw the water show at the Bellagio. We had a great time! So I guess we did celebrate Valentine's day, just not on the actual day.