Best Teacher Awards!

The kids were so blessed to have such amazing teachers this year! Kaylin had Mrs. Bernard for K and 1st grade and now Ethan was lucky enough to have her for 1st grade too. She is so wonderful, I hope all my kiddos are able to have her. Ethan was actually sad on the last day of school. He was excited for summer. We got home and he was pouting alone, so I went over and hugged him and let him know that I understood why he was sad. He misses Mrs. Bernard- that is proof of a great teacher! 

 Kaylin had an amazing, fun, helpful and informative teacher this year. Sometimes kids can be mean around age 8, but she taught the class that they are like family and to treat each other as so. It was such a wonderful experience for Kaylin. She excelled in her school work and had amazing report cards. All A's with one B-. Georgia standards are extremely high and I was so proud of her. With the CRCT testing, she got sick but still received exceed standards on 3/5 with other 2 as meets standards. Couldn't ask for more!! Kaylin still talks about Mrs. McPeak. I really hope all my kids have her. She's extraordinary!

Ashlynn Grace is ONE!

My baby is ONE! It's hard for me to believe that that day last year I was meeting Ashlynn Grace for the very first time. My sweet angel baby. This time I cherished her tiny-ness, her small cries, when she'd sleep more than she was awake. I awed at her sitting up, crawling, taking her first steps. I can't believe she is already one. It has flown by. She is a busy little baby, doesn't want to miss out on anything, but she has a smile that will melt your heart. 

 We did an nontraditional first bday this year. Since she was 5 days after Mika and it was the last week of school, we made one of her favorite desserts, Brownies!

 We are trying to get her to blow...

But really she just wanted to grab it. Kaylin blew the candle out for her so I re lit it only to have her stare at it and we all blew it out again anyway!

This is what the adults had!

 She had only a few gifts, her big one was an airplane she could pull and it made lots of fun noises with lights. Of course the 4 yr old plays with it more than she does....but she loves unwrapping it. That's her extremely happy/excited face...

Happy Birthday Ashlynn!!

Mika the 4 year old!

Mika has grown up so fast! She is definitely a character and I love it. She has the sweetest, tenderest side and also an independent flair that can be as stubborn as anything.

 She had been planning a party since Christmas. I didn't want anything stressful, so she listed a few of her favorite friend sand that's all who came. It was by far the least stressful party I've ever done, thanks to the tire swing!

Pirates and Princess Theme- it was so much fun.

 My friend Megan made the cupcakes. They were So yummy and the cutest cupcakes I'd ever seen!

As the kids started coming, they were always drawn to the tire swing. Mika and Casch would sit there for hours if they could. So cute.

 We had all the kids get dressed up. The girls came wearing dresses and we added crowns, jewelry and wands. The boys go eye patches, swords, gold necklaces and handkerchiefs.

Then we took the kids on a Treasure Hunt. They had 4 spots on the map and at every place they got to pick some treasures.

During the party our cat Fox runs happily into the crowd with a live chipmunk in his mouth. Most kids were frightened and they place cat and mouse on the lawn as adults chuckled and were surprised.

 Time for the loot! Mika got tons of princess things like teacups, coloring books, paper dolls, and even a unicorn pillow pet. Such a happy girl!

It was such a nice day, my friends (the mommas) could sit in the camp chairs and watch the kids play and eat. It was so nice and the company was wonderful.

 Seriously the kids could have done this all day. Travis and Ethan kept them swinging. I think we got about 6-8 on there!

Easter!

Happy Easter!! We had a beautiful sunny Easter this year. Our church is late in the afternoon so I distracted the kids while the Easter bunny hid the eggs and baskets. He was a little too good for the kids this year, but all is all, everything was found!

Ethan is our finder in the house. 

 Kaylin was pretty stumped. I love her little face...

Mika was so excited!

Our little fam before we left for church. I was so excited I got all the girls in exact matching dresses! I've never been able to do that before! 

My sweet crazies. Oh how I love them. 

 Ashlynn is growing up too fast, it's killing me!! She loves putting everything in her mouth, even these round spikey balls that fall from the pines here. She's so funny!

 My gorgeous Kaylin and I. She makes special days even more special by helping out mom and keeping peace in the home. How I cherish her.

Big 10 month old

My little rascal is already 10 months old! Crazy how time is flying by. 

She's crawling, cruising, standing, waving, blowing kisses...it's all too cute.

 She's working on the blowing kisses. She puts her hand up, but doesn't blow... It's still cute.

This is her laughing face...

 Ethan let Ashlynn play with his Monster Trucks...

 ...she was SO happy!

He loves carrying her around on his shoulders too. We were nervous but it turns out she totally loves it. The girls dressed her up with a crown and wand so it just needed a picture...(Mika was spraying herself with a spray bottle...)

 She's not as camera savvy as Mika was as a baby. She'd much rather be held and hugged instead of be in front of the camera :)

Travis and Mika!

Here is the quote translated: "Fathers, you are the primary model of manhood for your sons. You are their most meaningful mentor, and believe it or not, you are their hero in countless ways. Your words and your example are a great influence on them." -Elder M. Russell Ballard October 2009 Conference

My sister-in-law Stacey found this on the Italian LDS facebook page! Remember when the church came to take pictures of us for 4 hrs?!
I was excited to see this! They are famous in Italy! :)

Ethan's 7th Birthday

 Ethan's birthday was on Thusday this year so we kept everything nice and simple. Travis and I met him at school for lunch and brought his class doughnuts.

His best bud Logan rode home on the bus with him...

They watched a 3D movie...

I tackled making the cake...he was happy with it. :) I just did 2 layers and frosted the heck out of it, making a chocolate teddy grahams smashed jump for a grave digger Lego truck. Don't have a strait-on pic, but you get the idea. Big number 7!!!

 Ashlynn enjoyed the cake too!

 Presents!! Some aunties and uncles came to join the fun. (Thanks G, Yo, Brando and Stace and Dev n' Heidi!) We got him his own remote so he doesn't have to wait for dad. He LOVES it....

And I got him a big husky that matches his little one.

The next day Angie, Lily and Henry came to visit. Lily got to meet Ethan and Kaylin for lunch at their Elementary School. Lily even got to stay and watch a Dr Seuss movie in bubby's class. Later we went on a golf cart ride and to the park.

The Hayes' got Ethan an exhaust for his bike. He LOVES it. He rode his bike while we went on the golf cart. 

Thanks everyone for helping making Ethan's day special!!! Happy Birthday bubs! I was very sentimental for some reason this year. We yelled and cheered at 3:25 when he came into the world 7 years ago, premature and sick. What an emotional trial for us, and now when I look at him, overwhelmed with gratitude for my healthy, strong boy, I can't ignore that spot in my heart where he nuzzled his cute little self into.