Trista's birthday

The first weekend in april we went to Prescott for my niece Trista's 5th birthday party. Trista and Alexis are exactly 1 week apart, (Alexis older, Trista MUCH taller) and they have always been the best of friends! They had no choice! We had a lot of fun up there for the weekend. Trista's party was as Peter Piper Pizza, and all the kids had a blast!

Cousins Maddilynn, Alexis and Trista (where's Teeghan?)
Trista and her cupcake

Alexis and Avery posing by the games

Alexis learned air hockey and was very good at it. She beat her sister, papa, and her dad, fair and square!

Check out the concentration!

Avery liked it too! Hope you had a great birthday Trista!

My gorgeous babies

So a few weeks ago, we were playing in the play room and the girls wanted to do a photo shoot. I love this pic of my girls, it makes it look like they absolutely love each other and never fight! Well they really do absolutely love each other, but the fighting has begun. I think Avery has realized that she doesn't have to do everything her big sister says, so she doesn't. Then Alexis gets mad. Then they fight over toys and sitting in a certain spot, etc. I can only imagine how it will be in 10 years! Most of the time though, they love each other, and those are the times like these!

Love this smile!

Posing at the barre, my ballerina!

March 22, Alexis' actual birthday

Alexis' actual birthday was the day after her party. We had a ton of people stay the night after her party so she spent the morning with her cousins, and in the afternoon we had some family fun time. She got presents from us, a ball and glove and some new earrings. She loved them all. She loves any presents really!

Then we went to Build a Bear because she had been bugging us for years to go there! She had a blast and loves her new bear.

Alexis and her bear Crudella (no idea where that name came from, but she chose it!)

Avery and her panda Heeyah (Kung Fu panda)

My pretty girls and their new babies.

Mac and Cheese dinner

Dad

The Three Musketeers

Alexis had to stand on a chair whild they yelled to everyone that it was her 5th birthday.

She got extremely embarrased, but was a good sport. She loves being 5 and is so excited that she finally got taller. She thinks that overnight she grew taller because she went from 4 to 5 on her birthday. She has grown a ton this year, but not overnight! I won't tell though! Happy Birthday Alexis! Thanks for a great day, and for making me a mommy!

Alexis turns 5

So on the 21st we had Alexis' 5th birthday party. A few months ago we asked her what kind of party she wanted to have. She immediately said a Broncos party. I have never seen her dad so proud! We had a lot of fun with the theme this year because it was different than princess and characters like we usually do. This was the first year she had friends from school come. There were like a million kids, because our families are so big and the school kids, but it turned out really good. I think al the kids were happy and had fun, and Alexis was in heaven. These pictures are really random, because I forgot to post them in order, but you get the point! I love this girl. She is truly my best friend ( and Avery). We do everything together. She is the person who made me a mother. She has taught me many things. She is so smart and willing to learn. She makes me so proud every single day. And her personality is so fabulous. She is a mini me, and I love it!

Me and my baby dog!
The babies and a big kid!

Pizza!!

Avery and Dane, I love her face!

Grnadma Jack and Avery

Cheerleader girls, Alexis, Maddie and Teeghan

Some of the kids

Birthday girl!

The water girl!

Cake time

Making a wish...

The Broncos party.

Alexis and her friends on the jumper

Family photo!

Field Trip

Last week we went on a field trip with Alexis' class to the AZ Museum of Natural History in Mesa. It was actually really cool. The kids loved it, and we definately plan on going back, and maybe taking daddy and cousins!

Alexis in a real jail cell, where she belongs most of the time! I wish I had one of these for time outs! The doors are really heavy and it is very noisy in there!

Alexis panning for gold

Avery thinking about it!

Big dinosaur bones!

Dinosaur display


Oh! And they have an entire room dedicated solely to facts about poop. What kid doesn't love that?!

Ariel is Valedictorian!

Alexis, Ariel and Avery at Ariel's dog school graduation.

Alexis and Ariel

Avery and Ariel

All of us

So, Ariel finally graduated. Eight weeks of dog school and she has become a really good dog. I know it is hard to believe, but dog school is the best $109 I have ever spent. She was so wild and out of control. Now, she still has her moments, but fot the most part she does what we tell her to do and behaves. I almost really like her now! She is going to be a great dog. She is in love with the girls and follows me everyshere. She is my running buddy, whether she likes it or not! We are so proud of her. I may be biased, but she was the best one in her entire class. (There were 4!) Now she may even get to go to the dog park and make some dog friends!

My new toy

This is my new toy. A jogging stroller. I found it on Craig's list for a steal. It is like brand new! I am in love. I used to think that jogging strollers were lame. Then I had 2 kids and a dog. Walking at even a brisk rate with the regular stroller and dog following an almost 5 year old speed racer on her bike is no easy task. So I took to running after her. I think that Avery was getting shaken baby syndrome because the regular stroller was anything but smooth! I just got it today and have already used it twice! This morning Avery, Ariel and I went to pick up Alexis from school. It is about a mile away. Then we went another 1/2 mile or so to a park which was crowded and too big for Avery. I was having a heart attack trying to make sure she didn't fall off and break her neck! So we carried on another 1/4 mile to a small park. It was fabulous. Then everyone was tired and cranky. That is when I took this picture. Ariel's tongue is practically touching the ground! She didn't know she was going to have to take up running! Tonight after dinner we took our nightly walk. I love this stroller! Seriously I need to get a life because something like a stroller makes me so excited! Avery likes her "new one stroller" too!