Birthday Letter #2

Dear Kael,

I have had the best time watching you form your little personality. You definitely take your time with everything. You have blossomed in the last year though, more than the first year of your life! You have become such a little man (but you still are a little boy!) You want to do everything your dad does, especially when it comes to tools, fixing things, sports, and anything else boy related. You are a true man, not afraid to wear or like the color pink! I'll never forget when you were born. It was time for you to make your way here. The doctor told me it was "go time" and about 1 minute later, you were out of my belly! It was so easy, especially compared to your sister. That is how you are. Very even tempered and easy-going. The only time you are really demanding is when you are just getting out of bed and you want food/juice right away! You share so readily with your sister, and most other kids. You are not much of a snuggler but you love for us to hold you.

I will say "Kael, I love you" all the time, and almost everytime your response is "Not love you!" But I know what you really mean is "I love you so much momma!" Right?

You love anything sports related. Balls, mitts, helmets, anything really. You are obssesed with bugs (real ones). You are not such a fan of the water. We will go to the pool and the only thing you care about is finding bugs. You love to wear Ava's hair bows. You love backyardigans, pizza, hot dogs, your jazz bear, trains, and cars.

You do not like doing your hair, buttoning shirts, kisses, scary things, or getting in trouble (then again what kid does?).

You are so funny, and you make me smile every day. You thank me every time I change your diaper. I love that about you! You love your sister so much. You squish her with hugs. I have to coax a hug out of you; but not her! I can't believe how grown up you're getting. Just like your sister, your dad and I will always be here for you. We love you so much. We were so lucky to have a daughter, and we were so happy to have a son! I don't want you to grow up too fast, but I do look forward to so many events in your life. I can imagine your baptism, sending you off on your mission, and many other events in your life. But right now you can just stay my little boy.

Things that I hope embarass you someday: you call yourself a ballerina and get mad when we don't agree, you shriek like a girl more than your sister does, you are infatuated with mommy's makeup, and whenever you go without a diaper I have to constantly tell you to take your hand off your you-know-what. Love you baby boy!















At birth







1 year










2nd birthday, all dressed up to go

out with mom and dad
















And I had to post this one because it's just so funny. This was yesterday. I was doing homework on the computer and I turn around and Kael is watching tv like this:













I know I've said this before, but for the record, neither one of my kids take a pacifier! I just want everyone to know that. They both trade this one off between them though like it's some kind of toy.

Kids' Birthday Party

Well the kids' birthdays are always one of the busiest times of year for us. We had their birthday party Wednesday night, Ava's actual bday was yesterday (Thursday), today is Andre's work party at jungle rapids, and tomorrow is Kael's actual birthday. It just always feels like we have so much going on the week of their birthdays. I like it though, because bdays are a BIG deal to me. Really. We had their party, and then on their actual birthdays they get to go on a date with just them, and mom & dad for some special time with just us. They both get coins occasionally when they help clean up, and they save the money in their piggy banks. Every year on their birthday they get to get all dressed up and go cash out their money and buy themselves a toy or present. We take them to toys "r" us because they get a hat, a balloon, and they announce it over the loudspeaker. I was so proud of Ava. She was in toys "r" us forever because she loves that place. She could pick out anthing (in her price range) and all she wanted was 2 books. She's my kind of girl! I was really shocked. Since we rarley buy them toys, I thought for sure she'd want a toy, but nope! She just wanted books. Then we take them to get some ice cream, and then on their birthday night I make them their favorite dinner, they get to open gifts from mom and dad, and then we sing them happy birthday.


Ava in her special outfit:

She kept saying, "Look! I'm a ballerina." She was so cute. I put the skirt on her an immdiately she started dancing around (very elegantly, might I add).
This post is really just supposed to be about their birthday party though. I love throwing parties, and I love how happy it makes them...but I am so glad it's over! It's really just me, that everything has to be so utterly perfect that I get so anxious over everything. Anyway, I let them pick their own theme this year, and they wanted to do a "teddy bear" party. All of our little guests came in their pajamas, and brought their favorite teddy bear/stuffed animal. We had little paw prints leading up to our front door so the guests knew where to come! We had such an awesome turnout. I think we had about 15 kids there, not including parents! And our apartment is so tiny it was very crowded! Ava and Kael thought it was so great though. The kids played for a bit and then everyone ate. We laid blankets down on our little porch and made the kids go out there to eat.


























Then we played "pin the heart on the teddy bear." The kids did a great job!

Then the kids got to open gifts. They made out really well! More than they get at Christmastime! I was so amazed.

That's Ava thanking baby Penny and Ms. Jayne. I love how Ava's hair looks in this pic. And baby Penny is so cute!

There's cute little Brian in the back. He is as big as Kael and he's just turning 1!

Kael was trying so hard just to keep up with Ava.

I made choclate cupcakes that have chocolate chip cookies in the middle (seriously, best cupcake I have ever had!) I decorated with chocolate frosting and made "paw prints" using 1 big oreo, and 3 little oreos. The second we put the cupcake and candles in front of Kael he tried blowing them out. We had to re light them a few times, and Andre was trying to cover Kael's mouth.

A very special thank you to my brother John who helped out a ton, and was our official party photographer. Also thank you to everyone who came (especially those who came from far away). It was really great to see friends we haven't seen in a while, and great to spend time with friends who are leaving us! :(



Ava got one gift from mom & dad. She was so happy to have her own! She carries them everywhere.

Also thank you to everyone who called Ava on her birthday to wish her a happy birthday. She loved hearing it so much and she felt so special with each phone call! One more birthday to go, and then the madness will be over...till next year!

Birthday Letter #1

Dear Ava,

It seems not too long ago you were chillin in my tummy waiting to come out and face the world. Little did I know then what a firecracker you'd be! You changed my life in so many ways, and for the better. Some times I think you have so much of your dad in you, and then sometimes so much of me, but you really are your own little person.

You love [understatemet] dogs, silly bands, any kind of art (painting, drawing, etc. can hold your attention for hours), school work (ABC's, counting, flash cards), grapefruit juice, hugs, "being like mommy", your sunglasses, the POOL or BEACH or anything water related, kids smaller than you, your friends, ice cream, kipper, and snuggling with mommy and daddy.

You do NOT like bugs of any kind, being dirty, vegetables, pancakes, barbies, and being away from me.

You are so fun to take to the pool or the beach. You will go underwater for long periods of time. Too long! Mommy will get scared and lift your face up and you'll command, "No, I want to go back in!" You are fearless when it comes to a lot of things, except for bugs. You do not really care for girly things. You much prefer blue to pink. You do not like to dress up or wear skirts, or play with dolls. You'd rather run around with a bunch of boys & girls, and do boyish things. You absolutely adore your uncles, and you love Kael so much. Neither one of you can go someplace without the other and think it's ok. I wish I could slow time down. I told you the other day, "Pretty soon you will be old enough to go to school! And mommy will be sad to be away from you all day." You put your little hand on my cheek and said, "It's ok mommy, you can hold my hand when I go to school." Will you let me hold your hand when you start middle school? High school? College? Because you know what baby girl? I will always be here for you. I will never leave you, abandon you, or hurt you. Me and your dad try our hardest to help you through things, and to show you the beauty of life. Remember to be grateful for all you have, because we are so grateful for you. You are the biggest blessing in our life (besides your brother, you're pretty much equal there). You are our firstborn, and we will always have a special relationship, you and I.

Try not to turn my hair gray, and try not to burn through daddy's wallet, and try not to punch Kael in the face. We love you baby girl!













When you were born








1st birthday

























2nd birthday





















3rd Brithday!

There is nothing like a conversation with a best friend to brighten my day. I love catching up with people I haven't talked to in forever especially people that I love! Life has been pretty good, I can't really complain. We finally are getting a car this next week from Utah. Andre's dad found us a great deal online so Andre is flying out to Missouri to meet him and drive back. We have a lil surprise for Papa Shannon but he'll just have to see when he gets there! Since the pool has opened here we have been going just about every day. I am so jealous of the gorgeous tans the kids get! All I get is more freckles, and red.



























Ava and Kael have a new love in life. Grapefruit juice. They just can't get enough of it. They call it the "pink juice" and if i let them, they could drink a whole container in one day. I found these little camping chairs at toys "r" us for like $7 and they love to sit out on the deck in their little chairs sipping their grapefruit juice. This is the view from our deck:




















We went to the arboretum the other day and other than the fact that we felt like we were melting, we had a great time! If we had a little better of a camera these pictures would be beautiful. Scenes like this are the reason why I love NC so much. I love seeing so much green. It reminds me of life and exploring.










This is the view from the Japanese mediation house they have there at the arboretum. What I wouldn't give for one of these at my house. And I can't promise it would always be used for meditation...seems like a pretty good time out spot for toddlers.















Remember what I said about time out? I wasn't kidding.


























Kael's lovely trophy. A yellow flower for mama? Nope, a flower for himself.

























Ava goes to yoga with me sometimes and this is her doing "the tree." She's pretty good I think.






Kael now calls everyone "mama" and I mean everyone. Even other little kids. Not sure where it came from, but it's kind of cute. He also doesn't understand Ava has a separate name. I don't know how this even started. He always called Ava "sissy" or "Ava" but over the past couple of weeks he calls her Kael. He just thinks that is his name, so it must be her name too. I am having the hardest time trying to get him to understand that Ava's name is still Ava. And every time he calls her Kael, she cries and says, "I'm not a boy! I is a girl!"

Can you believe my crazy husband is still at work?