Andy and Ashlyn's 5 year pictures!

We took Andy and Ashlyn's 5 year pictures back in February, I'm only a little behind on my blog, but I AM determined to get caught up and keep this going.

Their pictures turned out amazing.  They were in great moods, one of their favorite people was behind the camera (Rachelle), and I had giant lollipops and balloons as rewards.

 They sure love each other. 

 I have a song for each one of my kids.  Ashlyn's song is You Are My Sunshine! She truly is.  She has the best smile, the most spunk, says the cutest things, and makes me laugh everyday.

 She is beautiful too.

 I love their relationship.

 My Andy Man. I love this kid. He is getting so big, all ready to start Kindergarten and Football this fall.

 My song for him is My Wish by Rascal Flatts.

 The end of the song says 

"This is my wish. That you know somebody loves you and that your dreams stay big."

 A son always loves his mom even when another love comes into his life.  I will always be the one, no matter what, that is supporting and loving and encouraging him to dream big.

 Ashlyn choose this outfit.  Fits her personality spot on. 

The more bling and the more accessories she can have the better.

 She makes me happy when skies are gray.

 How blessed they are to have each other and how blessed I am to be able to love them.

Party time!

 American Girl and Star Wars came together at Andy and Ashlyn's 5th birthday party!

 Where else could we contain over 30 kids under 8 years old??? Our favorite bounce house place...Party Kingdom was the perfect place.  Look at all those presents!!! We ended up taking them home to open and it was crazier than Christmas morning.  They were truly spoiled by everyone.

 The Grandmas survived the big slide....

 It looks like they enjoyed it.

 Andy with his best bud Tyler.

 All the kids give or take a couple that might have run off by the 4th attempt of this picture.

 Limbo time.

 Chase happy playing with the balls.

 Girl table

 (picture not flipped in my pic folder. anyone know how to fix this???)

 Boy Table.

 Happy birthday my sweet twins!  

I'm so grateful you have each other and that I have been blessed to be on this journey with you!

Turning 5!

 Turning 5 is such a big deal. It means you are a BIG kid.  You are ready for school and to be treated a little older.  It means no more playing with 4 year olds (or at least Ashlyn thinks so).  We decided to throw a big party in celebration of this momentous occasion.  

First off: Preschool Party.  We went with ice cream cones this year.  It was a big hit!

 On the morning of their actual birthday, the doughnut tradition continued on.

I can't believe "the babies" are 5 and will start kindergarten in August.  When they were born I never thought about the future, I just survived one day at a time. Now we are on the brink of sending them off into the "real world" of kindergarten and it feels so strange. I have so many mixed emotions as my heart breaks a little that this time has come.  I'm trying to soak up all the moments while I still have them at home all day while they are counting the days until the first day of school. (heavy sigh!)

American Girl

For Ashlyn's 5th Birthday Grandma P told her she would take her to the American Girl Doll store.

 None of us had ever been so Taylor, Grandma J and I decided that we HAD to go too.  So it turned into a fun girls day..

 We lucked out and at the last moment were able to get lunch reservations.  We are SO glad we did.  Not sure I have seen anything much cuter than their little cafe. 

 Happy Birthday to our crazy, funny, spirited Ashlyn Diane!

 I was dying over all the cute little details.

 Priority #1 was spa treatments and hair do's for the plastic people of our group.

 I LOVE all of Ashlyn's expressions in these pictures, not sure she could have been any happier.

 Kanani all prettied up.

 Ashlyn scored big time on this outing.  Kanani and Jess now have a cool bed of their own.

 Grandma P collects all the Dolls of the Year (thankfully for my girls) and so McKenna was added to the collection.

We had such a fun day, spent HOURS in the stores drooling and trying to decide what we HAD to have.  We can't wait to go back.

Quotes of the Day

5 years old is a fun (diffcult) age. In our home all the fun (difficulties) are times 2.  As a result I am being stretched to my limits lately..but what are twins for?  Along with twice the crazy there is also twice the fun, love, and joy. 

There have been some great quotes from them recently that I REALLY don't want to forget so here they are....

The kids have been fighting more lately especially with Taylor off track. Instead of intervening every 2 seconds I have instructed them ever so gently to "solve.their.own.problems!"  Ashlyn's reply in a cry that only Ash can produce and if you have heard it, you know what I am talking about. Finger cut off or milk spill and its the same blood curling cry.  "I don't want to solve my own problems, its too hard!"

Andy has become a crier lately and has been called a cry baby more times then he likes. ( I thought boys were supposed to be tough?) So now he says while crying, "You guys are making me a cry baby."  At least he is owning up to his new nickname which I do not condone by the way.

Seriously love these 2!