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

Mommy Survived and Happy Birthday, Ayson!!

Just a quick post...Daddy has been away all week at a meeting in Vietnam...yes, you did read that correctly. So Mommy has been holding down the fort. Ayson celebrated his THIRD birthday on Friday! On Saturday, crazy Mommy is flying with both kids to Orange Beach Alabama to visit with Grandma Pat, Grandpa Roger, Aunt Shirley, Uncle Al, Cousin Betsy, and family. If Mommy survives the trip down, it should be tons of fun! Daddy flies home on Saturday and then will hop on another plane to join us in Orange Beach.
Stay tuned for more pictures when we get back...

Monday night bath night. Mommy did not think to do mohawk hair styles until all of the suds were out of Addie's hair.







Neighbor Gianna stopped by for a quick visit on Tuesday!


Poor Baby Doll had a diaper rash this week and Mommy was trying to let her "air out" but it is kind of hard to do with all those baby rolls :)



Ayson Friday morning wearing his birthday hat.



A very happy Ayson after he received his remote control truck...JUST like the one Ayson helped Mommy pick out for Sam a couple of weeks ago.



Birthday cake and ice cream.


Even Addie got in on the chocolate AND was asleep by her normal time!

Bye Bye February and Hello March!

Mommy can't believe March is already here!  Ayson will be three this coming Friday and Addie will be one on the 15th.  Yikes!!!
Mommy ended up taking Addie to the Drs for a suspected (and confirmed) ear infection on Thursday.  Addie had not been complaining much during the day (she is teething and Mommy was not certain why she woke up two nights in a row fussy), did not have a fever, however, she pointed twice to her right ear and Mommy had not seen her do that before.  At least now Baby Doll is on the mend!

Tuesday night shenanigans:

On Wednesday, Daddy and Ayson played "ball"...Ayson needed a bigger bat!

Addie and Ayson giggling.

Thursday night cuddles with Mommy.

Addie and her Daddy.  Daddy was making Addie laugh by giving her raspberries.

Addie and her very cool zebra pants!

Putting the United States puzzle together on Saturday.

Addie is finally getting her legs up under her into the "typical" crawling position.  She still prefers to stand and will cruise along but this weekend Mommy gave her more floor time.

Ayson is a finicky eater (luckily he is not allergic to dairy products because he eats a ton of cheese!) and Mommy broke down and bought chicken nuggets in the shape of dinosaurs.  Big Guy could not get enough of the T-Rex and stegosaurus nuggets...sigh.

On Sunday, after the kids woke up from their nap, we all cuddled on Ayson's bed.  Addie and Ayson were rolling all over the bed (Ayson's bed has rails on both sides) and squealing and screeching the entire time!