A Birthday night out!

This does not happen very often, but I had a groupon (that expired on that night) and we decided to go out as a family and celebrate Avalyn and Cambria's birthdays!  They each opened a couple presents- thanks to sales, and craigslist (the American Girl stuff)!  It was not a calm meal and keeping the little one's in their seats was not easy(booths work best with these girls and so do restraunts that you don't have to wait for food), Kyle and I were definitely ready to get out of there.  Oh well, Happy Birthday Girls I hope you enjoyed our night out and you are always worth the trouble for special times like this!

 Finally got to eat and get out of there as quickly as possible.  Ainsley would stay seated- there were dwars filled with peppermints that she thought she wanted (but kept spitting them out).  Cambria wasn't into staying put either.

 Then I let Gavin have my camera (still my old little one) and Avalyn had fun taking pictures with her new gifts!

Cambria is 4!!!!

Can't believe it's been 4 years!!!  What a sweet blessing this one has been to us over the past 4 years!  There have been lot's of new things Cambria is doing now and we are so proud.  She is LOVING school and improving all the time.  She is feeding herself, drinking water out of a sippy cup (at school), following more direction, communicating more all the time, and working on potty training! Over the past few months she has become more affectionate and loves to give (and get) "squeezes" from the people she knows best and she loves to "snuggle" with me! She is crazy about plastic animals, Sea World and birthdays, she is constantly singing something, jumping up and down and still LOVES to have people blow in her face and ear.  She is as strong as can be- built like her daddy, but loves to talk about being pretty and being a princess (still talking about being Cinderella for Halloween).  Cambria is definitely one of a kind, a sweet joyful spirit who is loved so much by all of us!  Happy Birthday Cambria!!! PS I can't wait to get my camera back, but this will have to do for Cambria's birthday this year.

 Cambria's birthday was on a Thursday, she had a fun time at school and didn't want to take her hat off.  She loves birthdays and this was her day. Kyle had to be at school, so we just did a few little things at home.

 Mau Mau brought Cambria a balloon, which made her really excited!

 Mau Mau also brought a present, she was so excited to open it!

 Mau Mau had to help a bit, but once she saw what was inside she was sooooo happy!

 a "baby" ballooga whale, "baby" shamu and her favorite "baby" dolphin!

 Mau Mau also brought a beautiful cupcake!  She was so excited about everyone singing to her and all the candles!

 We gave her several chances to blow out the candles, but couldn't quite figure it out.

 This was as close as she came to eating it.

Ainsley and the other kids LOVED it!

Just like you!

Gavin was watching some TV and Ainsley decided to join him, she LOVES her big brother!

Basketball!

Gavin has been asking to play basketball again.  He was so excited that the season finally started.  He is doing Upwards this time and it has been great!  His coach is amazing and one of the boys in his school class is on his team.  He is doing great and improving alot since his first season last year in NE.

 I did my best to take a few pictures, but my old camera does not do motion.

 

Ainsley decided to join brother during half time!

 Ainsley enjoyed being at the game, especially when she found my stask of lolly-pops!

 Gavin's friend, on his team,  from his school class has a sister that's in Avalyn's school class!  She is having so much fun hanging out with Maddie at the games.

 Gavin is so excited Grandpa gets to come to his games!

POTTY Time!

Why NOT?  We decided, while Kyle had one more week of Christmas break and the big kids were back at school we would go for potty training Ainsley.  Kyle's never potty trained a kid, he was definitely due for this experience.  We can't wait to not buy diapers (or at least as many) anymore!  She's been holding it alot and taking her diaper off when she gets wet, so we thought it wouldn't hurt to try- not to mention she's as independent as they come and if she wants something she usually finds a way.  It was a bit messy at first, very frustrating but the little victories over the first couple days made us decide we were NOT going back.  After just a few days she was on her own, going on the little potty and usually without being told.  I was surprised at how similar she was to Avalyn, when it came to potty training- hated being asked to go, hated the pull-up and after a week sleeping dry (most nights).  Way to go Ainsley!!!!  Now onto Cambria...

  I had NO intentions on starting Cambria, till later- or at least till her teachers thought she was read (I thought I was at least 6 months away from that).  I had no desire to potty train both at the same time, well I was wrong. The week we started Ainsley I got a call from her teacher.  They decided to give it a try at school and then let me know how it went. She did pretty well and after just a few days was able to go to school without a diaper! After a week they told me to give it a go at home, party of me was not ready, but we are doing it! She will now pee on the potty, sometimes she even asks to do it, but for the most part if we ask her and she doesn't fight us it's time- we definitly have to stay on top of her or we'll be cleaning up another mess! Now #2 is a whole other story (she has never gone #2, even while in a diaper, at school), she has no desire to do it in the potty.  Hoping she holds it till bed time is our way of dealing with it for now, she just will not do it when she is on that potty.  We are sticking to it and it might take a while, but we are very proud of her!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

 This New Years Eve was spent at our house with my parents (who didn't make it till midnight), my best friend Bekah and her daughter Alyssa!  It was a good time.  We let the kids stay up late and do sparklers.  The big kids made it till almost midnight, before falling asleep and the little ones till 10!

 Ainsley enjoyed the sparklers!

 Cambria liked the idea of the sparklers, she liked watching them, but she wanted nothing to do with holding one.  She did want to run away;)

Avalyn and Alyssa have become really good friends!  Bekah and I look at them and can't believe we had daughters just a few months apart, we are so excited they get to grow up together!

....and then the next morning my camera no longer worked.  Not the best way to start the New Year- hoping it is fixed soon and doesn't cost too much!