Ashley Turns 2!

We can hardly believe that our little princess was born two years ago.  It seems just like yesterday that we were walking into the hospital for her scheduled c-section.  Time seriously has to slow down!!  Ashley is just so funny these days.  Her personality is shining through...she's funny, devious, stubborn, smart and a bright light to everyone around her!  We were teaching her how to say she's two and she just thought was the funniest thing ever.  She kept putting up how many fingers Trevor is turning instead and laughing and laughing.  Here she is on her last day of being 1!

Birthday girl woke up all happy.  She knew it was her special day.  Look funny girl says she is now 5.  She requested chocolate donuts for breakfast so she got what she wanted of course!

She goes to school on Wednesdays so we kept her routine so that Mommy could get some stuff prepped for the week.  She had a wonderful day at school (as she has been having) and the teachers spoiled the birthday girl!  When she got home she noticed her presents right away but we held her off by first going to Wolfley's for dinner with Grandma Pauline and Papa John. 

When we got back birthday girl knew it was cake time.  Luckily we had some leftover cupcakes from when Bobby and Julie were over so we enjoyed those again! 

Probably Sara's most favorite picture from the night...the look of just pure joy on her face is priceless. 

With the help of her big brother she had no problem blowing out her candle and hopefully making a wish!

Then on to presents!!!  Unlike last year she had no problem taking charge and unwrapping her gifts alone.

But big brother wanted in on the action too.  He showed her the shirt he picked out for her!

Then she opened the baby doll that Grandma Pauline and Papa John got her.  The dolls name is Ashley too and when we told her that she said 'it's me!!'  Too cute!!

We also got her a robe to be like big brother! 

A little big but she thought it was the best thing since sliced bread!

The little bear ears just make us smile!

Who knew a pink soft comfy robe could provide such happiness to our new two year old.

And in true two year old fashion she had a complete meltdown when we wanted to take a picture with Grandma and Grandpa Hillins.  Welcome to the 2s 'baby Ashley'!  Can't wait to see what this year holds for you!!

A Little of This and A Little of That

We are busy getting ready for the kids' birthday parties (seriously next year there will be a joint party!) but we didn't want to forget to document what else is happening in our lives!  Like Ashley swinging like a big girl and loving every second of it!  If only Mommy could get a non-blurry picture of that big smile!

 And it looks like Mommy worked herself out of a job!

 Ashley continues to do better at school!  She no longer cries when going into her classroom and her reports at the end of the day talk about how great she is with the other kids and how much she enjoys playing dolls with the other girls.  She is eating and napping well there so we are happy!  We have a feeling that when it comes to nap time they lay on their tummies and their teachers rub their backs.  She has started doing that at home with her dollies!

 The kids still love having smoothies!  Monkey see, monkey do!

 Trevor is still very into his magna-tiles building every chance he can.  He's great at building containers to house his Imaginext figures.

 Poor Ashley got bit by a 'friend' at school (that always cracks us up).  Apparently it happened on the playground and Ashley cried out in pain and then started shaking her finger at said 'friend' and just kept repeating 'no no.'  She then gathered a lot of her classmates to circle around the 'friend' and they all kept saying no no.  We think the girl got the hint!

 Ashley is still into shoes and tromps all around the house in Mommy's heels.  She is quite the pro at it and has been ever since she started walking.  She's also very into choosing her own bow.  She could work a bit at matching colors to her outfit ;)

 On Friday Trevor's friend Claire came over so her Mommy could take her two siblings to the doctor after bouts with a stomach virus.  These two were so cute together and played so nicely together.  Most of the time was spent playing Jake.  Trevor was Jake and Claire was tinkerbell!

 Friday night we tried out a new babysitter and went to a nearby sushi restaurant that Sara had been to twice before for lunch but Brian hadn't been there yet.  It was one of those revolving sushi places and we both agreed we would definitely be back!

 On Saturday morning Trevor had a birthday party at Pump It Up for one of his classmates Kenadie.  

 A good time was had by all!

On Saturday night the Yangs came over to celebrate the kids birthdays since they will be out of town when we have their parties.  Ashley was all about Bobby!!  It was a bonus that he would read to her!

 They brought yummy cupcakes to celebrate.  We think Ashley is going to really enjoy turning 2!  She definitely understands a lot more about birthdays now then last year!

 Yum!

 Trevor was so excited to peel back the wrapping paper on his gift and see the Lego Advent Calendar.  He had been pining over this during our trip to Target together so Auntie Julie knew just what to get!

 The kids were so good after dinner, cake and presents that they went and played while the adults played Five Crowns.  Of course we'll have to note that Sara won by a landslide but it was Bobby and Julie's first time ever playing so there will be a rematch.  After that we played a little blackjack with the cutest dealers around :)

 On Sunday we hit the outlets for a little shopping.  Brian needed some new shoes and jeans and he found everything he needed, even with his little helpers in tow!

 America's largest Christmas tree is in Anthem so we checked it out.  Trevor couldn't believe how tall it was and can't wait to see it lit up.

 We also can't forget that Toby got his first Frosty Paw treat this weekend.  He wasn't so sure what to do at first but then got the hang of it and never came up for air.

Sunday evening Mommy took the kids for a little jaunt to the park with our neighbor Lisa and her daughter Gabriella.  It was nice to get out and go to the little park behind their house for a change of venue.  Ashley here cracked us up because she was adamant about pulling the empty wagon.  Myself is her new favorite word :)

Patriotism Day

Trevor had Patriotism Day at preschool this week and we're not sure his program could have been any cuter!  Only the full 4s and 5s are eligible to participate so this was his first year.

 His car pool buddy Claire was right near Sara so of course she snapped a lot of pictures of her as well.  Her Mommy and Trevor's Mommy like this one because you can see both of them!

 After they sang a few songs then we were introduced to military heroes in the audience who were related to kids in the school.  Had Mommy received the newsletter Papa John could have been up there :-(  Will be sure to remember this in three years when Ashley is in the 4 day 5s!

 It was so fun to hear Trevor belting out the songs we've been hearing around the house for weeks.  He really is a good singer.  Ask him what he wants to be when he grows up right now and he will say a singer and dancer.  No joke!  Probe further and he says rock star!  We will see buddy, we like how you dream big!

Awwwwwww

A few weeks ago we attended our friends co-ed baby shower and had the most wonderful time.  Brian agreed it was a bit weird being in Mike and Nicci's house without them being there but it is nice to make new memories with our new friends Nick and Kaelyn there.  They had a photographer there that is starting to build his business so was taking pictures of people and all of the wonderful details that Kaelyn spent hours on...amazing display of food and a dessert bar!  Anyway, he sent over this picture of us and we just think it is precious.  It isn't often we get a picture of the two of us!

Whew!

Mommy's social calendar is quite busy these days which is fun and exhausting all at the same time.  On the Saturday of Gabriella's Halloween party she was up chatting with neighbor friends until 1am and then on Monday night she hosted wine night in our courtyard for a few neighbor friends and guess what time that went until?  1am!!  On a school night!  Wowsers!!!  On Tuesday night she had a birthday happy hour for another neighbor friend, but amazingly was home by 10pm.  On Wednesday a few gals came over in the afternoon to learn how to curl their hair (so easy, takes 6 minutes!!) Then on Halloween Friday Mommy was up yet again chatting with the neighbor gals until 1am again.  She blames Lisa who lives across the street for these late nights though because she is the constant in all three 1 am nights ;-)  Lots of fun though!  Love where we live and feel blessed to have such good friends here.  Just no more 1am nights for a while!!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!  We sure had a fun filled day!  Who doesn't love Halloween on a Friday?  Will be even better next year when it is on a Saturday!

Ashley is very into reading these days.  She sits there and babbles in perfect rhythm :)  And yes she totally could read her jammy shirt when she picked it out.  Everyone knows that Daddy is under her spell!

We can't forget how Ashley would walk around pointing to her bottom saying 'meow meow' and laughing (there was a cat on her doopa!)  Toby got in on the action as well sporting Randle's old pumpkin outfit.  It was a bit big for him!

Before Ashley's moving and grooving class her friend Gracie came over to play for a bit so that Katie could attend Jack's kindergarten party.  The three of these kids together are very fun!  The time flew by like it was nothing! 

Thanks to Flaherty for the hand me down shirt for Trevor :)

And Mommy was so glad that she bought this little cat jumper for Ashley because as it turned out she loved the cat jammies so much.  Instead of running around pointing at her doopa and meowing she just had to point to her front!  Every cat needs a light saber!

Or the Darth Vader mask!

Her first moving and grooving class went okay.  Trevor subbed in for her and he had a ball.  We think Ashley was afraid Mommy was going to leave her like she does when she goes to school.  Maybe next week will be better!  

On the way to work (Toby goes to work with Daddy most every day since everyone at Petsmart loves him), Toby got a new costume that fit.  $3 on clearance and he didn't want to take it off all day and night!  Giddy up!

That evening we had a quick pizza dinner before the trick or treating started.  Mommy recycled the Wonder Woman costume from last year and was ready for the mob.  This year our neighborhood petitioned the city to close the streets and it was granted so it created a nice vibe for the holiday. 

Our friends Bobby and Julie stopped by so of course Mommy and Remy had to have their pic taken together since we were matching!

Our friends the Feathers made our house their home base since our street is so much fun and all the kids are friends.  The guys handed out candy while Katie and Sara took the kids around.  Sara and Ashley were the cabooze because diva had to walk the wagon with Mommy!

Ashley was so excited when she came across a cat!  She kept pointing to the cat and to her outfit and saying 'both' :)  She's at such a fun age!

We think the kids were a little over Halloween by the time the actual event came along because of the week of parties and preparation beforehand.  Ashley refused to put on outfit #4 (Remy's Aurora princess outfit) so she recycled the day's cat outfit.  Trevor didn't want to do Darth Vader again so he pulled out the plane and trick or treated around in that for a while before declaring he was too hot and just wanted to wear his 'Will trade sister for candy' shirt.  At least they were still festive :-)

Petsmart Halloween Party

Petsmart held their annual Halloween event on Thursday and since Tinkerbell was a bit small we tried out Cinderella that Mommy picked up for $5.  Well it was a good thing Mommy grabbed white leggings at the last minute to bring with because this 2T costume was too small as well!  Chunk ;-)

She was not a big fan of the special crown Mommy found for her but she looked adorable nonetheless, especially in her borrowed glass slippers!

Toby assumed Randle's old position in the bottom of the stroller for the event.  Spoiled puppy!

They had lots of games for the kids to win prizes and also some simple trick or treating as well.  Ashley wasn't shy to let people know where the candy goes, pointing to her pink bucket!

Pretty soon she was saying please before selectively choosing her piece!

Both kids were a hit! 

Trevor seems to enjoy picking out anything that isn't candy for his prize.  Probably because he knows we have enough of that at our home!  Silly guy!

He's very skilled at these games!  And determined.  Wasn't going to give up until he got one!

And one of Mommy's favorite things about PetSmart events...a fabulous backdrop for a family picture!!