Morning Moment to Remember

Our morning are quite rushed...I feel like I run a marathon before the start bell rings at school. I wake up and exercise, pack up the bags and car, get myself ready, get Allie ready, get Ayden ready...and then we all head downstairs to get ourselves in the car. 

It's been quite a while since I've had two HAPPY friends ready and willing to head out the door bright and early. Someone is usually pouting, whimpering, whining or full out crying when we pull away from our house. However, things have been looking up for a bit now. My littles were BOTH smiling this morning.  When I told Allie to put her boots on, Ayden got them both for Allie and gave them to her. I wasn't able to pull out my phone fast enough to snap a photo of this sweet moment, but I did take one right after...to remember these sweet little morning moments, because every other moment of our morning is RUSH, RUSH, RUSH. 

 



Just Like Daddy

 Ayden LOVES to hang out in our bathroom.  He sneaks in the shower when we leave the door open.  He throws whole rolls of toilet paper in the toilet (when he's not slamming the lid up and down).  He takes EVERYTHING out of our draws including the medicine bottles he laughs at when he shakes them really loudly...yes, with child proof lids!  He dumps out every pony tail holder I own onto the floor.  He pretends to blow dry his hair with my hair dryer.  There are SOOOO many things to play with! 

 

His most favorite...Todd's razor.  He is fascinated with turning it on and off and he pretends to shave...just like Daddy.  Every time he "shaves" he just so happens to have the shaver pointed down.  One of these days I'm afraid we are going to find Ayden with half his hair shaved off.

 

Future Fast Forward

On the days I get Allie and Ayden up, dressed, and to school...I usually have to wake my two precious sleeping babes.  I feel really bad that I have to get them up so early. Allie is at preschool eating breakfast before the sun is up.  They are both usually good with waking up pretty well for me.  However, this morning I got a little glimpse of what teenage Allie will be like.  After she told me she wanted to sleep some more...she crawled back under her covers in hopes to catch a little more shut eye.  Sorry, my love...not while you have a work'n momma.

Tip Up Town

Thanks, Aders for the awesome fun time at Houghton Lake and Tip Up Town. We love you guys and it was so good to spend some quality time together. 

Allie and Austin almost made it through two whole days without any arguments. It was probably due to Allie sleeping half the day away on Sunday...till 10:00 (world  record for her!)  

 

 

  

Tip Up Town is the winter featival at Houghton Lake. Rides, food, and an ice slide!!  Allie said her favorite thing about the festival was the fun house!  

We pulled Ayden around in his sled...it was perfect!  We were pleasantly surprised that he actually sat in it for so long. There was no strap (hand-me-down) so I go creative and used an old belt to keep him buckled down. Worked great!  ...and Allie wanted to pull Ayden around too. 

What a fun little get-a-way and a much needed time with good friends. When I asked Allie what her most favorite thing was about the trip.  Her response...the toy vacuum. Haha!!  You guys will have you cleaner the next time we come. We'll be sure to put Allie to work. 

Flavor of the Week

Ayden really likes strawberries.

 

He really, REALLY likes strawberries...

 

...this week. Last week it was blueberries. This past weekend we stocked up on blueberries with three GIANT containers from Costco...and now he refuses to eat a single blueberry!!!  Grrr... 

What is up with these eating habits of his???  

Allie WAS very sweet...she gave her strawberry to Ayden when he basically attacked her for it. She was very happy to take his banana instead...that he tossed aside when he saw her strawberry.  What a big sissy!!

Ayden's Baptism Birthday

One year ago today, Ayden was baptized and welcomed into God's Church.  I can't believe it has been a WHOLE year.  Wow!  I remember putting on his little white outfit and tying up his tiny white shoes.  So pure and innocent.  Today, our little guy celebrated his baptism birthday with lunch at home with Nana and Papa. He was ALL smiles!

 

 

A special dessert...ice cream!  Ayden's favorite!  He gobbled it up and HAD to feed himself.  YUM!  He's getting so BIG!!!

 

The celebratory candle was lit and we sang Happy Baptism to Ayden.  What a SMILE!!!  So sweet!  Big sister, Allie, helped blow out the candle...three times!  Yes, we had multiple "blow-outs."

 

...and of course a little present...a few of Ayden's favorite things.  New books for the Tag Reader and Cheerios and pouches to snack on.  Happy Baptism, buddy!  God is so lucky to have you as part of his church. 



Peace Celebration

Martin Luther King Day is the one and only government holiday that Todd and I BOTH get off.  It just so happens to fall on a Monday, a day Allie does NOT have school...a day we all spent together.

Allie's school had a Peace Celebration today.  Her homework the week before was to create a quilt square representing what PEACE means to her.  Together, Allie and I came up with three symbols that means PEACE to her.  A heart for LOVE.  Her hands for HUGS.  Smiley faces for HAPPINESS.

 

 

Allie was dressed with her Peace shirt we happen to find in her drawer.  I had the pleasure of taking Allie up to the PEACE TREE and tell everyone how Allie brings peace to our lives...

 

"Allie is a special girl that has brought us peace from the moment she was born.  We are so proud of all she is.  She is a great helper, has wonderful manners, and such a good big sister to her brother. We love her so much!"

 

Allie was so sweet and SHY!  After all those words of kindness, she hid her face in my shoulder.  We then hung up her flower on the tree.

 



Finally, we headed outside to let balloons go to celebrate the peace in our lives, the peace in our family...and peace on Earth.