One semester down, so many more to go

Well today marked the end of my first semester back in college. I am super excited to be done, but sad to not be learning anything new over the summer. I guess I can look forward to the endocrine system and much more in the fall. For now I am ready to enjoy the warmth that we have had lately. Here is Ethan before his very last basketball game. He has now moved on to baseball and is loving it. Ethan is so full of energy, he loves to be outside and just GOES! He isn't hyper or crazy just HAPPY. He seems to have a special ability to just enjoy himself in whatever he is doing. School, sports, singing, it doesn't matter, to him everything deserves his best effort. I love this little boy. His disposition and intelligence are going to take him so far in life. I am lucky to be a mom.
Oh Preston! He is BUSY! He is so independent, he likes to do everything on his own. If it is his idea then he will do it, if not then you better have some good persuasion skills and be ready for a squeal or two or more. About a month ago he really started talking, I mean TALKING! He hasn't quit since. For instance this morning when I picked him up at my cousin's house after my last final Abby, my cousin's daughter, and Preston were watching Team UmiZoomi and Preston was trying to get her to "go to the party" with him. He just kept telling her what they needed to do and was using the area behind the couch as their vehicle. And anything that was happening in the show he was acting out like it was happening to him. Blossoming, that is what he is doing. He is blossoming into a full fledged big boy. I am not ready for him to grow up but I am sure enjoying his antics. Everyday he makes me laugh! Oh yeah, and he is ALWAYS dirty. I think he has as much laundry as Kendra and Ethan combined! And his face LOVES messes!
My little baby, I can't believe how you've grown. Aubrey has a strong personality, as all of my children do. She loves her siblings, but seems to be taking a beating from them lately. I am always finding new scratches or bruises on her. I know that Preston contributes to those mysterious marks, but she gets plenty on her own as well. She understands incredibly well. Sometimes she puts me in awe with what she can understand. She is always carrying around a doll and usually has them wrapped up in whatever she can find, yesterday it happened to be a pair of Preston's underwear.I had to take a picture of Kendra's new haircut. This has to be one of the best decisions that I have ever made. No more tears, no more fights, and so much easier and cuter too! She is bossy one my little Kendra. Always has to have her nose in everyone else's business. But we know that she does it out of love, she is definitely full of love for her family. She is a born leader and so fun, I love having her as my oldest. The other day we painted our toes and fingernails together SO FUN! I love my kiddos

And I love this man, the man who gave me such beautiful children and such a wonderful life. THANK YOU JOSHUA!

Aubrey's First Birthday Pictures

I am so excited to share these pictures with you. I am just giddy with how they turned out. It was pretty cold out so Aubrey was a trooper. Towards the end she was done but we ended with a big ol lollipop so she was happy....and sticky!

She loved this chair so much that when we wanted her to just stand she would start running for the chair laughing and giggling the entire way of course. It made it pretty difficult.
She squinted her eyes a lot and wouldn't give the camera her big smile but that's ok.

She actually left her bows and flowers alone the entire time, what a miracle. She was probably too cold to even care.
Aubrey loves sweets, just like her momma. I can't even convey how much she likes them. A while back I got an awesome deal on fruit snacks and got them for .10 a box (I love coupons!) So I got like 40 boxes or something crazy like that and Aubrey is now obsessed! She knows that they are in the storage room and she will scream at the door. If she sees them she tries her hardest to jump up and down and she screams and squeals in excitement. It is just about the funniest thing you will ever see. Easter was even worse. She loved her basket and spent all day scrounging up what candy she could find on the floor or within arms reach. And if that didn't work she would take it out of other children's hands or scream until someone satisfied her want for candy. OH MY GOODNESS! It was a long day all around.

I love this look on her face. She gets SO excited over things. Lately she has added the feet and arms into her excitement. Stomping her feet and waving her arms or attempting to get both of her feet off of the ground at once.
SO SWEET! You can find the photographer here I had a hard time finding what I was looking for here in Billings, but Christy was awesome! I can't wait to get the family pictures taken when things calm down and I am finished with my semester and basketball is finally over.

Neglected

In all of my haste to get my spring bags listed and my shop blog updated I have yet again neglected my family blog. Sorry! I found my camera yesterday and did the happy dance. It had fallen behind some boxes in the office/craft room. I know, it serves me right for not keeping this room cleaner. But now I have it safely tucked into my bag so that I can fill it up with fun pictures of my children :) I had Aubrey's pictures taken for her first birthday about a month ago (yup that is how behind I am) and can't wait to get them back. I also wanted to share with everyone a new creative blog that I think is going to be amazing, it is www.kikicreates.blogspot.com go and check it out. She is going to be doing a giveaway soon and she just opened up an etsy shop full of cute things. I just love cute :)

We are starting the baseball adventure again. Ethan has his first practice today and I am not sure if I am ready. At least his practices are going to be at the kids' elementary school which is super close. Kendra is still loving her hair and no longer throws a fit when I have to comb it. I think that her favorite part is probably that she gets lots of comments, that girl loves attention. She seems to be growing up at lightning speed. Can't she just stay a little girl forever? Aubrey has been very communicative lately. She yells, and grunts, and screams while she points in order to let you know what it is that she wants. She is quite effective but very VERY LOUD! And when you get her and Preston in a room together you might as well put in some earplugs. My sweet and wonderful cousin has been watching the children for me while I am in class and she has definitely learned what loud means. :) Well I hear Aubrey in the next room so I better go and get her. When I started this post I thought I had some recent pictures to go along with it, apparently not. Next time.