Happy Birthday, Ayson and Addie!

We had a fun filled BIRTHDAY week as Ayson turned SIX on Tuesday and we basically celebrated Addie's birthday this week too since many of the gifts were similar.  On Saturday, Grandma Collene and Ruby and Grandpa Chuck (Pama was in Florida :) came over to help us celebrate with the kiddos.

Ayson wanted to work on his sight words Monday night.  Great job, Big Guy!


Ayson wanted a chocolate cake with chocolate AND strawberry frosting. So, Daddy made the cake Monday night and the kids got to lick the beaters :)


Addie also called "dibs" on the spatula


Too cute!


On Tuesday morning, Daddy left notes for each of the kids, wishing Ayson a happy birthday and Addie good morning.  We don't see Daddy in the morning as he leaves the house at FIVE am so that he can work out.


The look on Ayson's face Tuesday afternoon when he got a glimpse of his NEW bike!


The bike is a little big but he can ride it fine once he gets on...we just need to work on getting on and off :)


Addie's FIRST bike!


Happy Birthday, Kiddos!


Mommy and Daddy left work early on Tuesday so that we could get the kids, go home and show them their bikes, take the kids to the "big park" to ride their bikes, and then go to McDonald's for dinner (Birthday Boy picked McDs).

Addie did really well for riding a 2-wheeler for the first time.  She did get frustrated with the fact that the breaks engaged when she pushed the pedals backwards but she kept going!


Ayson riding his Big Boy Bike.


Throwing rocks on to the frozen pond.


Din Din!


Happy Birthday, Ayson!  Mommy and Daddy love you SO much!


Ayson eating a bite of cake trying to decide if he liked his cake and frosting choices...of course, he loved the cake and gave it a "thumbs up"




Mommy picked up two music birthday cards that have music set to the sounds of farts.  Yes farts. The cards were a HUGE hit!


As well as the whoopie cushions


Ayson showing off the card from Grandma Pat and Grandpa Roger


Mustaches


Oh Addie...


Mommy asked Addie if she wanted to open up all of her gifts on the same night as Ayson and she said yes.  We did tell her that she would still get a cake and get to pick what/where we ate dinner.

Addie's new mermaid and friends.


Ayson got a cool gift that only included fasteners so that he could make toys (robots) out of our recyclables.
Ayson is setting up the robot to build.


Ayson and his finished robot!


Kathy (Mommy has know Kathy since she was a little girl as Kathy worked for Grandpa Roger at the real estate office) sent the kiddos cards and goodies!  Thanks, Kathy!




Ayson reading to Daddy :)


Thursday was Ms Linda's Birthday, so the kiddos worked on a card for Ms Linda on Wednesday night.


Decorating the card.


Daddy brought home 2 HUGE boxes and instead of using them as parts to make a robot, the kids became robots!


Playing at the "little park" on Saturday.


The kiddos opening their gifts from Grandma Collene and Grandpa Chuck/Pama.  Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!!!


Addie's new kitty: "Brand Brand Mason Kitty" NOT to be confused with "Kitty," "New Kitty," "Brand New Kitty," OR "Kitty Fox"  :)  :)


Ayson was so surprised and happy to receive a new camera!  (The kiddos received a camera 2 years back BUT did not take care of the camera and it broke).  Ayson has been asking Mommy and Daddy for a new camera for weeks now!  Thank You!!!


Addie requested a mermaid cake and Ayson requested an Iron Man cake :)


Happy Birthday, Ayson and Addie!


Ayson smiling with his light up lego set!


Ayson's FIRST cat video.  Yes, Mason the cat is marking his territory :)


Hi Addie!


A mini circus came to Ayson's school on Tuesday.


AND Ayson got to help the magician!  What a treat!  Mommy's friends were nice enough to send along photos of the event.  Thank you Ms Annie and Sunshine!!!!






On Sunday, Emmett and his mom, Kate, came over to the "little park" to play.  The kiddos rode bikes, played with bubbles, and tried to fly kites (but there was not enough wind)


While we were at the "little park," Sunshine and her 2 kiddos, Khanlen and Mikhan showed up with friends.  All of the kids had so much fun!

The boys digging for treasure.


Addie and Mikhan playing with chalk.


Mommy drawing their outlines.


After Addie's bath, she got dressed in her new princess dress.  Thanks, Grandma Collene!

Holding Down the Fort While Mommy Stays with Auntie Holly and Family!

Mommy was away at a meeting that just happened to be in Dearborn MI.  So Mommy was able to stay with Auntie Holly, Uncle Alek, and cousins Dane and Ryleigh.  Mommy had a great time with Auntie and her family!  Once Mommy got home on Friday, Daddy and Grandpa Chuck were busy working on the downstairs bathroom.

Monday: Ayson and Addie working on birthday cards for Ayson's Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Long.


Addie also made a card for Mrs Long while Mommy just likes an excuse to color :)


Hi Big Guy!


On Tuesday, Mommy flew to Michigan for a Great Lakes meeting. Thanks to the Willson's for making Mommy feel at home!
The newest member of the Willson family LOVES the fish :)


Playing Monopoly on Tuesday night!  Mommy and Auntie Holly told the kiddos how Grandpa Roger played the game and ALWAYS won...Mommy and Auntie did not like playing against Grandpa :)


While back in New York, Ayson and Addie finished their cards for Mrs Long :)  It was "Jammie Day" at school so both Ayson and Addie wore jammies to school and day care :)


On Wednesday night, Mommy went to Dane's swim practice at the high school (that is literally around the corner from Auntie Holly's  house!) Dane is standing next to the furthest ladder and is getting ready to jump in the pool (lucky shot, Mommy/Auntie!).


Uncle Alek entertaining Ryleigh with an intense game of "Rock, Paper, Scissors" :)


Go, Ryleigh!


After swim practice, Mommy headed over to Auntie Holly's school which was holding an open house. So Mommy got a tour of the school and got to see Auntie's 5th grade class room!  VERY cool!!!

Auntie Holly and one (of two) king snakes that are pets in her class :)


A turtle:)


Where Holly spends a good portion of her day:)


Brook, Christopher, and Weston gave Mommy a tour and posed for a picture with Auntie (of course, they all liked Auntie as a teacher :)


The back view of Auntie's class room...love the reading nook!


Meanwhile, back in New York....Ayson's elementary school also had an open house and Daddy and the kiddos attended!
Addie and Ayson posing next to Ayson's journal from January 8, 2016, where Ayson wrote and drew that he wanted to be an engineer!  GREAT writing and drawing, Big Guy!


Another great journal entry from March 1, 2016: "At bedtime I snuggle with my Daddy"  LOVE It!
Daddy (and Ayson) read stories together while Mommy and Addie read stories (before we each tuck a kiddo into bed :)  (The silver square is the mirror in Ayson's room and he also drew his dresser and door)


Back in Michigan on Thursday night...Dane and Ryleigh put on a show for the adults while we listened to music.


Rwar!  Ryleigh in the "creepy/scary" lion mask!


Mommy made it home safe and sound on Friday and Grandpa Chuck joined us for the weekend. Grandpa helped Daddy put up dry wall (ceiling and portion of a wall) in the downstairs bathroom. THANKS Grandpa!!! (Mommy loved not having to stand with her arms above her head while holding dry wall to the ceiling :)  :)

Grandpa and Ayson looking at the Gross Science Experiments on Friday night.  We ended up doing an experiment on diffusion that used a balloon filled with water and crushed garlic.  After awhile, the garlic smell diffused through the balloon and into the room the balloon was hidden in (we tried to play a joke on Daddy BUT Daddy still has a lingering sinus infection and could not smell...poor Daddy :)


Building a beetle robot on Saturday


In order for Daddy and Grandpa to work without the kiddos being underfoot (hey, they were curious!), Mommy took the kiddos to Billy Bees at the "Big Mall" (Destiny USA) in Syracuse. The kids had a BLAST and adults/parents were encouraged to play too).

The first couple times that Addie went down the rainbow slides, she had a frightened look on her face...


But, by the 5th time down the SAME green slide, Addie was all smiles and had her hands in the air. Way to go Baby Doll!


Ayson was ALL over the place and Mommy had a harder time keeping track of him (which made Mommy nervous).  He really liked the air guns and spent time their with other kids his age.


There was a room filled with big (yoga type) balls and the kids had fun crawling all over them.


Dancing with Mommy to the new band that Uncle Alek introduced Mommy to (Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and the song: "S.O.B."  The song has a great bluegrass-ish and "big band" feel to it :) (Mommy introduced Auntie Holly and Uncle Alek to Kasey Musgraves and her song "Biscuits" and the remix to the song "Waves" by Miguel)

The pics are a bit blurry but you can still see the big smiles:)


Grandpa swinging Addie


Addie showing us her break dancing moves!


Sunday was a PERFECT sunny day in the 40s with little wind (next week is supposed to be OUTRAGEOUSLY warm) so Daddy (with Mommy's assistance) put the netting back up on the trampoline.
Let the 2016 jumping season begin!!!


After a weekend of climbing, running, and jumping for the kiddos and strenuous drywall work for Daddy, everyone needed a break (while Mommy went for a walk in the orchard :)