Hadley and Hayden!

2 of the biggest reasons my kids want to go to TEXAS all the time: HADLEY and HAYDEN. The week before we left I decided to let the kids know that we were going somewhere, I asked Gavin if there was anywhere in the world he would like to go and anyone he would like to see who and where would it be and without hesitation it was "HAYDEN in TEXAS!" Gavin and Avalyn LOVE their big cousins so much and had a wonderful time seeing them over spring break.

We LOVE you both so much and I am so thankful for all the time you spend with the kids when we come to visit, it means so much to them (and me)!

I can never seem to get the girls all together at once, but Hadley had no problem- and they were all looking at the camera! Such pretty girls!

Not too many pictures of these 2, they spent most of their time together playing video games. I am pretty sure they were ready to get back to those game when I took this picture.

Dress up time! Avalyn was so excited to play fashion designer with Hadley! This is exactly what Avalyn would do all day if she had the choice, okay she does do it most days but this time she got to tear up and old shirt of Hadley's and get all dressed up!

It also was a big week for Avalyn, she got her EARS pierced. She's been asking for months, so we decided (after warning her of the pain) that she could do it. She really wanted to do it with Hadley, so I decided to wait till we got to TX. Hadley and her boyfriend Nick graciously went to Claire's with Avalyn and I the day after we got there and helped her pick out earrings and encourage her. Her earrings are adorable, little diamond flowers in white gold and she couldn't be more proud! There were some tears and she wanted to bail when she saw the needle, but I held her head and Hadley talked her through it. There were about 5 min. of tears, but after the purchase of bunny ears (with a tiara of course) and ice cream she was just fine- she doesn't want to do it again, but is happy to have them (and I am happy to have it over with).

More at Grandpa and Grandma's

Spring Break 2010

There are more! I took way too many pictures while in Texas for spring break. It was a quick 11 trip that felt much longer. My sister flew up to help me drive down and Kyle flew down to help me drove back. Traveling with 4 under 5 isn't easy. Avalyn and Gavin did great as usual and had a wonderful time. Cambria and Ainsley had their moments, but were happy most of the time- I was just busy and very tired after the trip. Cambria's lack of communication and non response to direction, makes it hard to be in new place- don't touch that, don't go there, stay in bed (the list could go on and none of which she follows, definitely keeps you on your toes). Cambria did enjoy all the attention, being outside and being in the car. Much frustration was from her glasses that broke before we left and had to be fixed (a new pair) and sent overnight to me, but she went 3 days without them and she decided she didn't need them and that was her way of getting my attention most of the trip. Ainsley did wonderful, accept for the fact that she got 2 trips during the week and was pretty cranky. It was well worth all the trouble to see my family. We spent the first couple days in Denton at my sister Christine's house and then left Mon. (while they were all in school) to spend the week at my Grandparents house! Here's some pictures of the week at my Grandparent's home and there will be more to come.

picking flowers- her goal was to pick them all

the only place Cambria napped all week was on Great Grandma

Cambria watching Avalyn swing

Ainsley and cousin Hunter

All the kids Loved riding in the golf cart with Great Grandpa- he really is Great!

Fishing with Great Grandpa!

March 2010

Thought I'd catch up on the blog before I leave for TX (for a week). I am looking forward to seeing some family and enjoying the warmer weather, I am not looking forward to the drive or trying to get Cambria to sleep while we are traveling.

Kyle's been busy studying for the MCAT, he takes it on APRIL 23rd, and work of course. He is enjoying our new treadmill and is looking great!

Gavin is ready for 1st grade- according to his teacher! He is reading and doing very well in math. We are so proud! He just started his 1st season of flag football. He is excited to be playing with his best friend Elijah- and it is wonderful to have Daddy here to be at all the practices and games.

Avalyn still dressing up alot and is looking forward to warmer weather- this winter has been brutal and she does not like the cold or snow. Her dance recital (or "precital" as she calls it) is at the end of April and she talks about it all the time. She has really enjoyed both dance and gymnastics this year- she can't decide which she likes better, just keeps asking to do both.

Cambria is still working on her speech and feeding in therapy- very slow progress, I am ready for her to do some communication (any kind). She has begun to climbing out of her bed all the time and usually ends up sleeping on the floor. It looks like we are going to have to move her out of the crib and into a bed or mattress on the floor. I am truly thankful Cambria is still not opening doors, so at least we don't have to deal with her coming out of the room. She is still as happy as can be and is quite the little ball of energy and curiosity- should make for a fun spring break and a very long summer.

Ainsley is 7 and a half months and is doing great. She is scooting everywhere and just about crawling, her favorite place to be is on the floor with toys. She finally got her first tooth this past weekend!

I am keeping busy keeping up with everyone and doing my best to workout.

My little babies and a bunny!

Check out a few pictures my friend Janna took of the kids and a bunny for a little Easter photo shoot she had at her studio. I can't wait to see more! Gavin is in box 1, Cambria in box 6, Ainsley in box 8 and Avalyn in box 11. Getting good pictures in the kids Easter outfits isn't always easy here, because it is usually pretty cold so going outside would involve covering their pretty little dresses (not to mention Cambria's glasses transition). I was so excited when she was doing this inside! Cambria was quite difficult- she is still not following simple direction- she just wants to do her own thing and play with what she wants to play with. Of course Cambria only wanted to get in the box, when we were done with the box and she treated the bunny as if it was a toy and kept trying to push it out of the box. It was a good time and I look forward to seeing the rest of the pictures! We love you Janna!http://jselanderphotography.com/jblog/

So Beary Cute!

It's been a very cold winter, absolutely horrible. I bought Ainsley this little bear suit to wear over her clothes when we go out. It is so cute and soft and always puts a smile on my face, even when heading out into to frigid weather!

A few milestones!

Over the past month Ainsley has been developing just wonderfully. We recognize and are amazed at her milestone even more since Cambria, she was so delayed many of these things Ainsley is doing Cambria didn't do till after she was one. Ainsley is right on track and doing well!

She loves to play on the floor with her toys. She smiles all the time and just loves it when anyone gives her attention.

She is so close to crawling, she loves to get up on all floor and she does do some army crawling to get toys.

She is holding her bottle- one of my favorite milestones! She is also eating a few jars of baby food a day. It is a bit sad to say (and I do feel a little guilty) and yet it feels okay all at the same time- I am done nursing forever! I have always done my best to make it till they can have cows milk and for the most part I've succeeded. The first 3 all weened themselves around 10- 11 months. I have never been one who LOVED nursing, but I didn't mind it either I know it is what is best for my babies. I've been blessed with babies who latched on fine and nursed pretty quickly. I knew with #4 it was going to be difficult to last as long, just because of all the stuff going on around us, not to mention the fact that just 3 months into her life she began refusing one side and by 4 month would have nothing to do with it (screaming fits if I tried). I've been nursing and giving her formula for several months now and it was time to just be done nursing. I did my best and am thankful for the time I had nursing Ainsley. Now onto finding formula coupons- I hate buying the stuff (I tried the cheap kind and it didn't go well) and do my best to get the best deal. Just 5 more months and we will all be drinking cows milk!