Happy Easter to Our Family and Friends!

We had a great week and weekend with family!  We hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter weekend!!

Ayson is not 100% potty trained on the #2 side of things...this past week, we told Ayson that he can't go to school until he goes #2 on the potty all the time.  Now he is more aware and he constantly tells us he wants to go to school!


On Tuesday, both kids had their well baby check ups.  Ayson kept asking Nurse Amber what she was going to do next (Ayson watches the show "Doc McStuffins" and knows about certain things, like checking eyes and listening to the heart). Ayson now weighs 30 pounds and the Dr. said he is doing great!


Addie now weighs 21.6 pounds and is also doing great.  No shots for Ayson, but Addie had four...she was a good girl and did not cry for long afterwards.

















An adorable picture of Baby Doll Tuesday night.. Mommy is not too sure on what to do with the hair that keep getting in her eyes...guess that phase will pass too!



Addie cruising around the house on Wednesday.   Mommy will try to post a video of Addie on the move later in the week.


Fun with Ayson's remote control truck.



The kids playing with bristle blocks on Thursday.  The biggest kid is spelling "Love" with the bristle blocks...


Ayson built this plane ALL by himself!



Mommy loves this picture of Addie!



Addie making raspberry noises for the helicopter on Friday



Daddy made a bristle block video recorder:)


Ayson flying a helicopter...sound effects included.


A picture of Mommy and her Baby Doll after bath time on Friday.



On Saturday, A^4 went to Grandma Collene and Grandpa Ric's for the weekend.
Ayson opening a birthday gift from Grandma and Grandpa.


Addie's rocking chair - her first birhtday gift from Grandma and Grandpa!


Addie was a pro and figured out how to rock in the chair as soon as she sat in it (must be all the experience she gets on her rocking horse)


Grandma and Grandpa with the kids.


Addie hanging out with Grandpa.


Addie checking out the baby in the reflection.


LuLu stopped by for a visit and she is also in love with Addie' ample legs!


On Sunday morning, Ayson had a blast finding all of the Easter eggs that the Easter bunny left for him.


He had so much fun with the eggs that he did not even notice his Easter bucket sitting on the table!


Addie and her Easter Bunny


Ayson was one happy (and sugar high) boy!

Happy Spring and Addie is on the Move!

Happy Spring to all our Family and Friends!  Watch out world, Addie is on the move!  Addie has been cruising non stop this past week and playing with her big brother.  Ayson has been working on understanding the world around him...Examples: he wanted to know why men were cutting trees near power lines (so that we don't lose power to our houses if a branch falls on the line and breaks it) and we are teaching him the difference between red/green and stop/go.  No Yellows, Grandma Pat!  Friday night, we were racing the little push cars (while we were waiting for Daddy to come home with the pizza) and Ayson told Mommy that we could not go until the picture turned green...good job, Big Guy!

Monday night:  Addie got a kick out of the kick ball.  She kept pushing her face into it...must have tasted good :)





Tuesday:
Addie can now sit, with no help from Mommy or Daddy, on her little pony.  When we play the music, Addie starts to rock back and forth...too cute!
Mommy had to include this picture, since Ayson was in it too.



Wrestling with Daddy.



Wednesday:
Mommy caught Addie in a cute pose!



Ayson giving Mommy a hug AND showing everyone his great smile.



In addition to cruising, Addie is now more confident with the toy push car.


And Addie will switch directions using only one hand...she is getting so brave!  She still likes to know one of us is there, just in case!


Smiles from the family.



Thursday:
Addie going between Mommy and the push car.  The little purple outfit was a gift from Grandma Collene and Grandpa Ric, a size 12 months, and already it is getting too small!



Ayson and Daddy horsing around.  Grandma Pat, notice that Ayson has your stuffed "kitty" in his hand.



On Saturday, A^4 attended our fist Easter Egg hunt, sponsored by the community.  Ayson had a blast finding and picking up the eggs.



It was estimated that 1,000 eggs were scattered around the church property.


Ayson had the biggest smile and he just kept running around and around as he spotted more eggs.



Ayson even helped Mommy pick up 2 eggs to put into Addie's cute Easter Egg purse.


Inside, there were all sorts of activities such as fishing for prizes, coloring eggs, petting bunnies, getting your picture taken with THE Easter Bunny!



Addie getting into the drawers Saturday afternoon.


And making her way around the kitchen.  When Mommy or Daddy would be next to her (usually doing something in the kitchen), Addie would grab on to our legs and try and stick her head between our legs.  When we needed to move away, she would start to protest with a squeal.


The kids playing together in the kitchen after dinner.  Addie likes to make noises into cups and that is what she is doing in the picture.



Daddy made a double batch of the spaghetti, spinach, and sausage dish and Ayson helped Mommy vacuum seal a bunch of portions for future meals for both him and Addie.  Ayson got a kick out of opening and closing the lever and pressing the vacuum button.



On Sunday morning, we went for a walk in the orchard.  While there may have been snow up in town, down in "Little Florida," we only had frozen puddles and little patches of snow.

Orange Beach and Happy Birthday, Addie!!!

Well, A^3 made it safely to Orange Beach (the kids did awesome on the flights!) and Daddy made it safely back from Vietnam and then joined us in Alabama.

A few pics from Daddy's trip to Vietnam:
Traffic:


On the last day, Daddy took a side trip to Ha Long Bay:







House boats and a small boat offering supplies to the house boats:



View from Adam's hotel room:



Sunday:
Grandpa and Addie hung out while Mommy, Ayson, and Grandma went down to the beach:













What a great smile...Ayson was so happy to finally be on the beach!



Pool time on Sunday afternoon.





We stopped over to visit Mommy's Aunt Shirley and Cousin Betsy and kids.  Ayson could not stop talking about 2nd cousins Madeleine and Stella.



Daddy arrived Sunday evening and Mommy and the kids were SO excited to finally see him :)
Daddy bought outfits, from Vietnam, for all of us...thanks, Daddy!



Addie looks so cute!



On Monday, Mommy left Addie with Grandma and went down to join the boys on the beach.  Just as Mommy reached the boys, Ayson fell down and got all wet...and cold.

Ayson running from the waves


Ayson is (only) wearing Mommy's coat in the below picture.



Daddy and Ayson napping.  Mommy woke them up at 3 pm, so they would be able to sleep later that night.


Mommy and her Baby Doll:


Ayson getting comfy.  Mommy could not resist taking another photo!



Dancing with Madeleine at LuLu's



Grandma Pat, her sister Shirley, and Addie:



Mommy and Addie:



Tuesday pool time!





We also went to Story Time at the local library on Tuesday.  This was Ayson first story time and he did pretty well!  Everyone sang Happy Birthday to all of the March Birthdays.







After the kids woke up from their naps, we went down to the beach.  Ayson played with Daddy while Addie hung out with Mommy in the shade.





Wednesday: Sitting in the sun with Grandma.





Daddy and Grandpa Roger went off shore fishing on Wednesday:


Grandpa's "big" catch ;)



Wednesday night, Mommy and Daddy went out with Mommy's cousin Betsy and her husband, Mark.  In this picture Mommy is sweeping a bunch of ketchup packets into her purse.  The joke is that  "snow birds" (folks, mainly retirees, visiting the area from colder locals up north) will take anything and everything that is not nailed down...including salt and pepper shakers, sugar/sugar substitute packets, napkins, ketchup...





Thursday:
Ayson was stuck to Daddy like velcro :)


Grandpa and Addie



Playing with the cousins on Thursday afternoon:





A^4 made it safely home on Friday and the kids finally opened their (early) Easter gifts from Grandma Pat and Grandpa Roger (we never got around to it while at Orange Beach).

Addie received a cute bunny purse:


And Ayson received bunny ears!


Check out our rabid bunny!!!


Then on Friday afternoon/dinner, we celebrated Addie's first birthday!
During the week we were on vacation, Addie started to really crawl and cruise which means she is no longer content to stay in one area for very long!






Mmmm, chocolate!


Ayson sitting still...but not for long!



On Saturday, Addie's new trick was to pull herself up in her crib.



Mommy made sure to lower the mattress right away after she saw this!


Addie cruising the walls



12 Month Photo, take 1 (Mommy can't decide which one she likes best)



More wall cruising on Sunday:




A^4 went for a walk Sunday afternoon and dressed the kids in their snow suits for warmth.  Ayson had a hard time staying up right because of all of the junk he insisted on carrying in his back pack.




Neighbor Gianna was outside and Ayson was so excited to see her.



Our free spirit.



12 Month Photo, take 2