Happy Birthday to.....

             

             ELLA

               

Yes, our 5 year old daughter has birthday parties for her stuffed animal, Ella. Ella has been a part of our family for almost 5 years and is considered Avas best friend. Let's just say, we have had more than one bday party for her. Last year, Ava talked her dad into a Peter Piper birthday party for Ella (we obviously had nothing better going on that particular fri night) so he obliged. This year she made invitations, cupcakes and left over dinner with a picnic on our tramp in the back yard with the yummy lawn that has cow manur all over it and we couldn't say NO! She has been talking about this party for a couple days and it was just our little family but it was perfect! Can I just say how depressing it is that our kids are growing up so fast? Jason and I were discussing today on the tramp of how we wish time would freeze. Our kids are at the most perfect ages and life is great. I don't want them growing anymore. It's so nice to have my 2 oldest so close together. I know that whatever Ava is planning, Emmie is wanting to do the same because they are so close in age. It is so comforting to have Ava include Emmie in almost everything. She is an amazing sister to both of them and I am so blessed to have her be my little helper.

    Happy Birthday Ella! We hope to have another great year with you. You have been through it all with us and Ava truly does consider you one of her sisters! (I know that sounds crazy,but it's so true). I am so sorry that I use you as a pillow at times. Just know that Ava has her best interest for you and lets me "HAVE IT" when I use you as my pillow. I hope you don't take it personal. CHEERS!


Ella as she being sung to! Notice the crazy ear. It has been rubbed on one too many nights and had to be sewn back on. Grandma didn't do such a great job! It got sewn on backwards. Sorry Ella!

Our little family. Elsie was sleeping during the party and Ava was begging to wake her but I just couldn't do it. Sorry Elsie. Hopefully you won't be napping next year!

Beautiful Emmie. She loved us singing to Ella. 

Ava "helping" Ella blow out her candle. Em in the background watching every move Ava makes!

She is into doing her hair on her own. Love the barretts at the bottom of the ponies!

Ava was in heaven. She is so sweet!

Ava and Emmie!

Yes on Prop 8 in Cali and Prop 102 AZ

I just can't contain myself with this one. Please watch this short clip. I don't think people realize the impact this Proposition will do to our children. Legally our schools WILL HAVE TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR SAME SEX COUPLES TO RAISE CHILDREN. I have been an advocate for this prop for some time now but as we were walking to our car the other day and my 5 year old (that is just starting to read and sound out words) asked what that sticker is on the back of my car that says, "YES" is for? I couldn't even begin to tell her what it is for but when I decide she is ready and old enough to understand it I want to be the one to explain it, NOT HER TEACHER! Currently this is going on in elementary schools in other states that are taking kids on field trips to educate them in this area. I hope and pray I don't have to home school my kids due to this. PLEASE VOTE for our children!

Facebook!

So... my friend Nichole posted about facebook and I got an invite from a friend the same day so I thought, "what the heck!" I have been obsessed ever since and haven't looked at blogs for over a week until tonight. Let me just say how excited I have been about facebook. I have found (or people have found me) old high school friends that I haven't talked to in years. I stayed up last night VERY late talking to my BFF in elementary and junior high. We laughed and talked forever about the silly things we used to do. We lived across the street from each other and we would set our alarms for 4am and she would walk to my house so we could get ready together. Talk about crazy! I wish I cared about myself half as much as I did in elementary. What were we thinking? We are meeting next week and getting our kids together and  I am so excited! Anyways, I know I am rambling but check it out, you might connect with a friend you haven't seen in years! It's very ENTERTAINING!!! 

Elsie's Jumperoo!

I was cleaning up the other day and put Elle in her new little bouncer and walked in and saw this......

Poor thing. I was debating whether or not to try and transfer her into bed and decided to leave her like this because she was so tired and it was so quiet.


Ahhh... I just LOVE this little girl. Life to me doesn't get any better than this. I could have more babies if they were all like her!


I know. Jumparoos slow you babies progress down and isn't good developmentally but hey, she loves it and so do I. Don't be mad at me Marcia!!! (Emmie's therapist)

Then these girlies walked in from dance and what do you know... they woke her up and scared her with their LOUD voices and she was not a happy camper!

Done with that "game"!

 Anyone that knows Ava, is aware that she takes her time to warm up to people if she hasn't seen them in a while or isn't in the mood to talk. She can even be this way to my sister which is a surprise. Jason and I have struggled with Ava in this area and have tried to teach her to not be shy and to talk to people when they talk to her. It has been very frustrating because we have NO control over it. It seems impossible at times to have a child like this when Jason and I are the complete opposite. We on the other hand are very aggressive and outspoken.  We have some friends that live in our neighborhood that we see on a daily basis and often come over for dinner. Well... by the time they leave at night Ava is barely warming up. They left out of town and we haven't seen them all week and Ava has missed them. Ava and I had stopped at In and Out Burger yesterday and we sat in the car and ate our lunch together and she says to me....

Ava: Mom, I'm not going to be shy anymore to David and Britany.

Mom: Well thats good. What made you decide that?

Ava: I don't know, I'm just done playing that game.

Mom: What game is that?

Ava: The not talking game.

Mom: I didn't know you were playing a game. Mom and Dad would be so proud of you if you weren't shy to people.

Ava: I'm going to play a different game.

Mom: Really? What game is that?

Ava: (really loud) Hi! I'm Ava (with a BIG smile on her face)!

Then 2 seconds later as I am shoving a cheeseburger into my mouth, this truck pulls up to us ( we were sitting in the parking lot) and honks his horn. I rolled my window down and he proceeds to ask me if I was in need of some theatre equipment. I replied, "thats ok, we already have some". Ava pipes up really loud and says, "ya, we have a game room and me and my daddy watch tv in there all the time". I didn't even know she knew our game room was theatre equipment. I guess she was right, she is done with the SHY game. Ever since she has been a different child. I am glad that she is growing out of playing that "game". Although I never knew it was a GAME! 

 (Those of you who know Ava recognize that this is a HUGE step!)

Nail Salon - Anjelah Johnson - Comedy Time

I got this off another blog. I thought it was HILARIOUS! Watch the entire thing if you have 4 minutes. I'm not a You tube watcher but this was funny and SO true!

5 months

Our little Elsie is 5 months and growing like a weed. I would love to freeze time. She has started baby food and is beginning to L-O-V-E it. 2 of her bottom teeth came through a couple weeks ago and she is testing them out on mom when she eats. Not so fun for mom! We are still able to take her to restaurants and somewhat enjoy ourselves but I am guessing she will be left with her sisters and Grandma pretty soon. She WON'T take a bottle and loves to be with mom 24/7. She is sitting up ALL BY HERSELF and loves her toys. We are loving her belly laughs and enjoying every minute with her. I, on the other hand am still working on getting her in to her crib soon. Still have some work to do there. We love our Elle Belle and are having so much fun with her! Here are a few pictures of her first foods....


Loving sweet potatoes

I had to get a picture of her admiring her hands. She loves them and plays with them all day long! I love this Bumbo. She sits on the counter and gets to watch me cook, do dishes etc. They never had this when I had my first 2 girls.

"YUM, those taffy look way better than my baby food"

Happy Birthday Grandma Debbie!

I know I am a little late on this post as I DID have every intention in doing this Thurs afternoon. When I walked through my door after a fun lunch with her life got a little crazy with the kids! Emmie was sick, so as soon as I got her off the bus I took her to the Dr. and they immediately sent us to the hospital for some lab work thinking she had something scary (meningococcal)! After being there ALL night long and trying to recover the next morning, I was beat! All her tests came back negative, but she was positive for Strep so I am now home with a very sick little girl. Sorry for being late and here is to Grandma Debbie.......

Happy 56th Birthday to Grandma Debbie! Would you ever guess that she has 20 grandchildren? I wouldn't! She looks amazing for her age and always does such a good job at taking care of herself. She is so much FUN to be around. Every time we go to visit she always makes us feel so welcome that we NEVER want to leave. She is such a good example to all of us and is such a great mother. At times, we stay up all night chatting about life and there seems to NEVER be a dull moment! We laugh until we are crying most of the time when we are all together. My parents manage to take us on some fun vacations and we always have the time of our lives. She always does such sweet things for all of us. This summer while we were there I went over to watch "The Bachelor" (because I had missed it) and she came down the stairs with a tray full of goodies for Ava and I. Everything always looks so much better when she pops it, peels it, or pours it! (you all know what I'm talking about) She has too many talents to list and is probably the most creative person ever. She can whip up an amazing dinner with hardly anything to choose from in the fridge. She can make an outfit look like it just came off the runway with pennies. She can also whip up a video to show and will have you crying it's so good. We've had some great times together and also had fun at Cheesecake Factory the other day for her Birthday. I want her to know how much we love and appreciate her. 

Us girls in Rome, Italy at the Colosseum

Ashy and Grandma in Italy

So young at heart!

Emmie with Grandma and Grandpa at Disneyland 2006

Ava and Grandma Disneyland 2006

Grandma and Elsie at the Beach 2008