Who's ready for tennis lessons?

This girl!  She wants to be just like her big brother so she dressed as if she was getting the tennis lesson instead of brother!  So cute!

Maddox's Baptism Brunch

On Saturday after the Mother's Day Tea, we were invited to our neighbor's house for our Godson's Baptism brunch.  Maddox was baptized (in Trevor's Baptism outfit) on Easter Sunday back in South Dakota surrounded by his family.  

 We were so glad that it worked out for him to be baptized when they were back home because the pictures were just too cute of him with all of his cousins!  

If they would have done it here it would have just been us and the five of them!  So of course we encouraged them to do it back in South Dakota and if the date worked we would go but it turned out to be on Easter Sunday which wasn't ideal for us given Jeff, Dawn and family were coming to Arizona.  So our brunch celebration was just perfect!

We're so proud of being Maddox's Godparents.  What an honor!  We're extra excited because we'll be in each other's lives forever!  So blessed to have the Mauck's move across the street and become life long friends!

On Saturday late afternoon we headed to a new friend's house for a BBQ.  Mommy and Katie met Marianne at a Mommy event where she was selling kids clothing and they all hit it off.  Marianne's daughter was born the day after Ashley so it's fun seeing the girls together.  At the BBQ they had a bouncy house and Jack, Claire and Trevor had a blast bouncing the night away!

When we got home Ashley found a new favorite toy!  What a day...Mother's Day Tea, Baptism Brunch and a BBQ.  We don't blame her for finding a spot just her size to rest in!

Mother's Day Tea at La Casa

Saturday morning was a cold and rainy day here in Arizona but Trevor and Mommy braved the elements so that we didn't miss the Mother's Day Tea at his school!

The first part of the time is spent having the kids perform special songs that the kids have been working on.  Our little funny guy before the program started.

 It is just too cute to see them sing and do actions.  'A Mommy's work is never ever done' was a big hit!

After the songs are done, they play a video with sappy music and show pictures from each class.  Tear jerker!  After that we joined the kids in the classroom where the kids presented their Mom's with little gifts.  This year Trevor made a 'You are My Sunshine' jar with a handwritten note in it that said "I love you" ... awwwwww!!  Mommy didn't know he could write that!!  Heart.melted.

We grabbed Trevor's picture with his teachers.  As you can see shining through this picture he just loves them and they adore him back.

We then went around to see all of the art projects on display.  Mommy learned that Trevor thinks she is 61 years old!  It is his favorite number currently.

 They do such cute projects at La Casa!

 We went around outside to find Trevor's art projects...like this leprechaun.  Trevor lasted about 2 minutes outside because he claimed it was freezing out!  He was even too cold to smile for a picture! 

 That's okay though...we had a special time...just Mommy and Trevor!!

Mine....

Ashley communicates like you would not believe for a 17 month old.  Yes, a lot of it is communicating through screeching but she also is very good at signing (mainly please, more and thank you) as well as speaking more, mine and brother.  Here's mine in sign and words...

...and you guessed it. Brother was next in the verbal chain so he got her whatever food she was asking for.

Definitely food because boy does this kid eat.  Can't wait to see what percentile she is at on her 18 month well check.  There is no way it can still be 9th! 

Family Carnival at Petsmart

On Thursday evening, Petsmart hosted their Spring family event.  This year it was a carnival and boy did we all have a lot of fun!!  Trevor loved getting a 'hi-ya' sword made from a balloon maker and seeing super tall people!

Ashley was happy that they had a box of animal crackers!  What carnival is complete without them?

Trevor was funny in how he carried his sword.

Daddy had a fun time with the kiddos.  Daddy and Ashley looked so cute together this night!

We went on a little train ride around the parking lot!

And Trevor was SO excited to see a swing ride like at Disneyland!

 He's ready to go!

Weeeeee!

Ashley is getting ready for her debut at the MN State Fair....eating things on a stick!  They had all the fair food you could imagine!  Even funnel cakes!

Ashley was fascinated with all of the balloons everywhere!

Loved the backdrop they had for family photos!  We can hardly believe that both kids are smiling!  Cute!

Trevor requested that we go up to Daddy's office so that he could draw on the large whiteboard.  He loves leaving Daddy drawings and messages.  So does Ashley now too!

Daddy had to leave to go to happy hour for a work event but the kids and Mommy stayed probably 30-45 more minutes and played carnival games.  Check out our strong man!

Friday Fun Day!

Friday was chapel day at Trevor's school so all of the kids wear their red shirts.  Trevor was curious as to where Ashley's red shirt was and told Mrs. L upon our arrival that Ashley is missing a shirt and of course Mrs. L found one A's size.  You should have seen how happy Trevor was when he and Ashley matched!  Ashley was pretty happy about the situation to!!

One thing we had to capture before she moved onto something else was her love for getting out all of her 'computers' and lining them up on the floor or the couch, wherever and then proceed to work.  She's so cute!

That evening while Daddy was traveling for work we met our friends Bobby, Julie and Remy at our clubhouse for Music in the Park.  They went early and set up chairs and blankets so we were set!  Trevor and Remy held hands on the way in....so precious!  The kids really got into the country music (yay!!) and it was fun to drink wine and soak it all in.  The food truck was a bit of a bust and poor Daddy went home to heat up food for us but when he came back Trevor was begging to go home because it was late for him and it was too loud for his ears.  So it wasn't so much fun for Daddy after his long day of traveling but it was a nice outing for the rest of us. 

Pizza Party

Earlier this week we hosted a pizza party at our house for some of our friends whose Daddy's were working late like our Daddy.  We got mini-murphs from Papa Murphy's and the kids all enjoyed creating their own pizza masterpieces!  Even Ashley and little Grace split a pizza.  So make that 7 kiddos and 3 Mommies having fun on a Tuesday night after soccer!!

Spashpad fun!

We met our friends Sharon, Connor and Kennedy at the splashpad and guess who had the most fun?  Miss Ashley had a blast!!  She really loved carrying around the little watering can and dumping out the water.  Mostly on her...

 She is going to have so much fun this summer at in the pool and at the splashpad at the clubhouse.

 She would get really frustrated when the water would come down and then go back up higher. 

 But then she learned the system and went with it!

 Trevor and the rest of the crew had fun too but there was a DJ playing music so of course Trevor found a spot in the sun and enjoyed listening to the music!

Afterward we stopped and got frozen yogurt so we call that one successful playdate!  Yay!

So Mad!

Ashley is not afraid to let her feelings out.  Lately she is not a fan of not being allowed in the room that her brother is in.  Perfect example below...he shuts the door to keep her out and she let's out a big scream and cry in protest.  So sad....

Happy Easter!

Jeff, Dawn and girls came to Arizona for a long Easter weekend so we pretty much lived over at Grandma and Papa Hillins house for four days.  It was great to see everyone and boy did we have fun!
Lauren and Ashley were inseparable!  It started within minutes of us being there!

Papa always had a lot of followers anytime he was in the pool!

The girls gave Trevor an Easter gift that they found while vacationing in Mexico a few weeks ago - a Spiderman cape!!  How cool does he look!

Auntie Sara got to help Lauren with her homework!  We worked on contractions and she passed her practice test with flying colors!

Trevor and Leah had work to do too!  They made birthday cards for Grandma Pauline's upcoming birthday!

Ashley did a great job napping in the casita!  Yay!!!!!  Maybe we've turned a corner with her sleeping places besides her own crib!  Whew!!  Anyway, Ashley was always excited to see Lauren when she would come rescue her after nap!

Auntie Dawn served as bartender for the kids afternoon smoothies!  Today's favorite was 'chunky monkey!'

Besties :-)

And another set of besties :-)  It's nice that they are exactly 6 months apart and that Trevor doesn't mind (um, actually enjoys) playing with princesses!

On Thursday night Trevor spent the night at Grandma Pauline and Papa John's.  He had been hoping to do that and it worked out great!  The kids went for an evening dip in the hot tub.

 Ashley showed off her excellent eating skills while wearing a princess crown.  Such a cutie!

Brooke also enjoyed time with Ashley.  Two cuties!

On Saturday morning the big boys went golfing, followed by a yummy lunch on the grill and swimming!  Then after some naps it was time to decorate Easter eggs!  This was Trevor's first time doing so and boy did he think it was fun!

The crew hard at work!

Daddy and Trevor did their eggs two-toned.  Fancy!

Ashley was content with the plastic eggs fortunately!

 While we will miss Lauren's First Communion, we shared part of her gift with her while we could see her open it.  We had a bracelet made for her that she can wear on her special day.  We also wrote a short poem telling her that it could be used on her wedding day...maybe wrapped around her wedding bouquet. 

She loved it!

Lauren and her Godfather!  Precious!

Ashley was so excited to have some one push her around on her airplane!  And before we forget, Lauren got to see Ashley go pee-pee on the potty!  Lauren wanted to help give Ashley a bath one night which was so sweet.  Well often times Ashley will go on the potty when the bath water is running so Mommy told Lauren to watch this and put Ashley on the potty.  Well, she didn't go and wanted down which Mommy did.  Not five seconds later Ashley walked over to the potty and asked to sit down and she went pee-pee on the potty!  Lauren was amazed!  No this isn't the start of potty training.  We have no interest in that because we've heard if you start this early they will just regress.  We'd rather do the two day training that worked so well with Trevor when she's a bit older!

It was so nice outside that we decided to head to the golf course for a bit.  Ashley found a bike just her size to ride on the way there. 

Trevor wished the bike he used to ride at Grandma Pauline's and Papa John's still fit him :)

Ah, this so reminded us of the time when we lived with Brian's parents and would take Trevor and Randle up this hill to the green to practice putting.  Poor Randle!  Hopefully he was smiling down on us knowing we were thinking of him and missing him!

Trevor was his normal stubborn self and wouldn't take a lesson to learn how to hold the club but Lauren got it and was doing a great job putting!

Ashley enjoyed throwing the balls and chasing after them.  She does 'superman arms' just like her brother used to!

Fighting his Daddy trying to help him!  Ah, to be 4!!!

That night we enjoyed a wonderful steak dinner and the adults played 'Five Crowns' before going to bed in anticipation of the Easter Bunny coming!  So glad we sent a note to the Easter Bunny letting him know we were spending the night over there so when the kids woke up they found their Easter baskets hiding in the courtyard!

 We got ready for church in the morning since mass was at 9:00am. Ashley was wearing a dress purchased from a friend before we knew that we would be getting all of our niece's clothes!  We might have paid $1 for this dress and when it came it still had the Janie and Jack price tag in it, which was way more than $1!  Score!  She looked so cute in her Easter dress complete with a little bigger bow than she normally wears...and pink because she picked it out!  Mommy probably would have chosen white but pink looks cute too!

Ashley was a bit of a stinker at church....running down the aisle, screeching like a pterodactyl. Ugh.  This is why at our church we sit in the kids room lately!  So Mommy took her out of church and she proceeded to run around everywhere.  Climbing up on benches, climbing down, running into the parking lot....stinker!

After church we had brunch at Troon North.  Trevor wanted to make sure we all held hands on the way in.  Mommy snapped a quick pic before joining next to Trevor!

Before actually eating we headed down to the Easter egg hunt.  Be forewarned, as usual we took a lot of pictures!  But how can you not when you have these five cuties around!  Trevor and the girls!

It makes it even more fun when your own kids want nothing to do with having their pictures taken! Ha! Ha!

 Lauren, Brooke and Leah were all excited to see the Easter Bunny and have the hunt begin!

Ashley on the other hand was scared of the bunny 100 yards away!  Yikes!

But she was excited that her age category was the first to go on the hunt!

She walked, crawled and ran her way to the eggs!

She really got into it compared to the egg hunt at our clubhouse the week prior!

Although not sure if she liked finding the eggs or just opening and closing them!

We forgot our Easter baskets so plastic bags from the golf shop had to suffice. 

Guys!  The eggs are over here!

See!  Got one!

So proud!!

These two are at an age that if you ask them to pose for a picture, it's not going to happen.  One of them will smile, but not the other.  Or as in most cases, neither will!

Or you get the 'come on... no more pics' look!

After the egg hunt was done, the grand kids got a pic with the Easter Bunny. Nope, still not a fan!

Help me big brother!  Help!

Still great memories!!!  Jeff, Dawn and the girls got a cute pic!

And after some confusion and chaos, our family got a cute pic too!

Mommy and daughter annual pic!  Uncle Jeff calls Ashley 'Mommy's mini-me' :-)

We enjoyed a wonderful brunch.  Complete with champagne which was a treat for Brian and Sara who gave up all alcohol for Lent!  Trevor finished off his meal with a yummy chocolate chip cookie!

 

After brunch we headed back to the Hillins' where we learned that the Easter Bunny had hidden eggs in the back yard.  Ashley was eager to dig into the candy!

But we had to wait for the other kids to get back home!

Waiting patiently!

Please can I have some candy?

Come on!! Please?

And before we knew it, the hunt was on!

All the kids did a great job finding eggs but of course the camera followed Ashley around because she was just too cute!

Ashley liked to follow Lauren around!

Trevor was on a mission!

It pays to be tall!  Someday Trevor you can reach those too!

Enough with the paparazzi Mommy!  Sheez!

Outta my way little sister, there are eggs to find still!

Okay seriously, last picture but she's so stinkin' cute in her Easter gear!

After the hunt was done Ashley took her basket to Grandma Pauline so she would open up some eggs. 

But to Mommy's surprise instead of eating the M&Ms herself, she fed them to Grandma Pauline.

Before getting out of our Easter outfits we got a quick picture of the grandkids with Grandma and Papa Hillins.  Pretty cute group!!

And we grabbed a quick one of the four of us.  Pretty cute too!

We enjoyed a little time by the pool before the MN crew headed to the airport and we headed back home.  Thanks for the Easter memories Hillins clan! XO