Happy Birthday Brad

I think the kids were more into Brad's birthday this year than he was!  Isn't that how it kind of goes as you get older?  For Brad it was just another day at work, but the kids thought about it all day waiting for him to get home.  Brad was a good sport and really just did what the kids wanted to do!
 

They decorated his chair with balloons they blew up themselves. 

They couldn't wait to help him open his presents.

I took them to the store to get him something and they both just wanted to get him treats.... go figure!  I think they were hoping he would want to share his presents with them (at least they chose treats they knew he loved)!

We had a fun time with just our little family.  We had pizza for dinner and yummy chocolate cake- the kids had to help make the cake every step of the way!

And those two cute faces were more than happy to help eat the cake too!

Happy Birthday to the best Dad and Hubby in the world- We Love You!

Random February Pictures

Two happy kiddos!

When its cold outside and we have no where to go my kids love taking bubble baths.  I took this picture after my kids got out of the bath at about 3:00 in the afternoon.  They will play in the bath for 2 hours (as long as I keep adding more warm water and making more bubbles!)  And hey, why not PJ's by 3pm!

Ashlyn wants us to take pictures of EVERYTHING lately (she loves to look at them later)!  So here is a picture of a castle she built with the blocks... don't ask me why Tanner is hiding behind her!

Two castles!

I can't believe how big Ashlyn is getting.  Her Grandma Gunnell just made her this new jumper and she asks to wear it to school every day!  She thinks it makes her jump high! 

Look at what a cutie she is.... attitude and all I love this girl so much!

Dinosaur Museum Fieldtrip

Ashlyn's preschool class took a fieldtrip to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point.  When I sent in the permission slip for her to go I asked her if she cared if I went or not and she said she didn't care if I went- so I didn't sign up to go.  A few days later I heard her talking to her friends and they were talking about whos mom would be going on the fieldtrip and I heard her say, "well my mom has to take care of Tanner so she can't come."  She sounded kind of sad about it.  I thought how silly that I am not going- Tanner can come along and she is only in preschool once.  So I signed up to go.  When I sent the money and note to her teacher to say I would be coming her teacher said she announced to the whole class that her mom would be there and was so excited.  She talked about it for the days leading up to the fieldtrip and told everyone that her mom and little brother would be there.  I am so glad we went.  How much longer will she be proud to have her mom and little brother with her at her school! She LOVES school and loved introducing me to all her friends.

Ashlyn with a bunch of her preschool buddies! 

Her partners in crime Afton and Bronte

(she plays with these girls 3x a week before and after preschool)

Tanner came along, but was NOT a fan of the dinosaurs.  I didn't even think to explain to him beforehand what would be there.  He didn't understand that the dinosuars weren't alive.  They have these HUGE scary looking disosaurs with sounds in the background.  He was so scared.  I had to hold him and cover his ears almost the entire time.  He finally relaxed and played in the dirt when he couldn't hear the sounds anymore.

Ashlyn loves her teacher Miss Karen.  She is amazing and so patient with these kids.

This is all the kids hugging her goodbye before they go home!

Valentine Party

Alex and Carly are two of my very best friends from growing up.  We can go months without talking and then pick right up where we left off- truely treasured friendships.  We all got to talking this weekend and realized all of our husbands were out of town so we decided a girls night (plus Tanner...poor guy!) was needed!  Carly has 3 girls and Alex has 2 and then my 2 kiddos- made for some crazy chaos and fun- 7 kids under the age of 6!

We got heart shaped pizza for dinner.

And Carly organized a fun little Valentine craft for the kids to make.  They LOVED this!

We had sugar cookies to decorate of coarse.

Olivia was the first to jump at this opportunity!

Grace and her masterpiece

Isabella was a little reserved at first, but after I assured her she could put all the candy and sprinkles she wanted on her cookie she didn't hold back! 

Tanner just fit right in!

Maybe a little too well

( I think next time Brad will take Tanner on the snomobiling trip!)

And my cute little Ashlyn!

I didn't get pics of the cute little babes Kate and Madeline, but they made their presence known too!

The kids had a riot performing fashion shows for us and doing flips off the giant beanbag, and Alex, Carly and I had a great time visiting and wondering how it is possible that we could have created all this chaos is such a short time!  It just seems like yesterday we were bridesmaids at eachothers weddings!