Pictures of the Birthday Girl

Ashley got new headbands with flowers on them. She was really excited about them since she likes the clips with the flowers.

She also got Color Wonder Princess pictures and a new set of markers for these pages. Notice the headband!

Ashley blowing out the candle on her Rice Krispy Cake. It wasn't real cute because I only had enough stuff for one batch of rice krispies and I didn't know what to do with it. The next one will be much better (hopefully).

Ethan coloring one of Ashley's new pages. She is such a nice girl to share.

Ashley and Sam coloring the new pages. Not too bad for a small birthday celebration.

Ashley's Birthday

Today is Ashley's 4th birthday and I can't believe my baby is already that old. It is pretty much like any other day around here though. We decided to celebrate this weekend when Grandma Armitstead is in town, but Ethan keeps trying to talk Ashley into celebrating tonight. So I told Ashley that she could pick out one of her presents to open tonight and then she asked me about her cake. So I told her we would make a small cake tonight and then a bigger one this weekend and she was thrilled about that. Since she doesn't really like cake (mostly just the frosting) I had a great idea pop in my head that I saw once of making a rice krispy castle. So I asked her if she wanted that for her cake and she was so excited about it. She likes those much better than cake so that is what it is going to be.

I will post pictures later of tonight and this weekend's celebrations.

Here is a picture of our cute Ashley girl 4 years ago today!

Pictures

5 Stars everyday this week! Ethan gets 5 stars in school everyday, but if he does something he shouldn't be doing then he starts to lose them. This was his first week that he had 5 stars every day. We were so excited and proud of him for doing so well! He also got an Aviator sticker (see last post) for doing good. The sticker says he volunteers to help his community so I think he got it for recycling his Capri Sun pouches that he takes when he eats hot lunch at school.

Ashley loves helping with the little girl that I babysit every week.

Ashley and Ethan were so excited to see and especially hold baby Avery when we went to see her in the hospital. Sam wasn't so sure about holding her though.

We had a picnic at the park with Grandma and Grandpa Armitstead while they were here visiting after baby Avery was born. It was hot, but still lots of fun.

Our cute Sam boy (taken by Ashley).

The kids have been riding our new horse and beg Jordon to play horsey whenever he gets near the floor.

Short Update

So I just realized that it has been over 2 weeks since I last updated and I thought I probably ought to update. I was going to post pictures, but now I can't find the camera (Sam has gotten a hold of it) so when I find it I will post again with some recent pictures.

The kids have all been excited to have a new cousin in the family especially since she lives so close. Avery (Lindsey and Cory's baby) is such a cute baby and the kids love holding her. We have tried to stay away so we don't stress them out too much though. I remember what it is like to have a new baby and trying to adjust to a new schedule (or lack of schedule) that comes with babies.

Ethan has been doing pretty well in school. We have been trying to bribe him to get 5 stars every day (which he got real close to doing this week). He called me today to tell me that he got an Aviator sticker (his school mascot is Aviators). I guess he gets that for doing something good. I'll have to find out more when he gets home from school.

We are trying to get ready for Ashley's 4th birthday. I can't believe she is that old already. She still loves living in nightgowns, but I have been able to get her to get dressed everyday to take Ethan to school.

Sam is still our cute little Sam. He is now saying Mom quite a bit so that makes me much happier. He loves saying prayers (with Ethan's help) and especially loves giving kisses after prayers. It's just so fun to see. I will try to get video of it to put on here. He kind of yells your name before he gives you kisses. Just so cute.

This week I started watching a little boy that is 18 months old while his mom works. The kids have a great time with him. I will be watching him every other week because his dad will have him on the other weeks. I am also now officially watching the little 9 month old girl that her mom works with Jordon. I only watch her a few days a week though. The kids love her as well.

Ethan also gave a talk in church on Sunday. He did such a great job. It was about how following the prophet strengthens our family. He told a story about President Hinckley and how his family followed the prophet and then added some to the end. The kids are getting ready for their Primary program on the 27th. Ethan and Ashley both have parts and they have memorized them already. They will do so great.

I will post later with some pictures and maybe videos too!

Just an Update

Well, we have survived the first week and a half of school. Ethan tends to like it most of the time. He is a little mixed about school lunch. He likes eating there (except he said they are serving the same thing every day), but he doesn't like the milk. His teacher said he could take his own drink from home, but he doesn't seem interested in doing that. He would just rather take his own lunch.

Jordon and I just got our first callings in our ward. We are team teaching the 12-13 year old Sunday School class which will be really fun since they are learning about the Presidents of the church. And I also got the calling of leading the music in Relief Society. I guess you could say we are excited about it. We just received them on Sunday so we haven't actually done them yet.

Lindsey (Jordon's sister) just had her baby girl last night so we will be housing guests for the next little while. Jordon stopped by this morning before going to work to see the new addition and the rest of us plan on going after Ethan gets out of school.

I have also started a babysitting job, kind of. A girl that Jordon works with was looking for a new babysitter for her daughter so I started today. It will be Wed. and Thurs. and maybe some Fri. This week and next I will just have her on Wed. though while they give their current babysitter a 2 week notice. She also said if I decide I like it and am interested in babysitting more there is another girl at their work that uses the same babysitter and would probably loved to switch to me as well. She has a little 2 year old boy though and he would be all week long. I also received a phone call from a girl in our apartment building who is looking for a babysitter for her 18 month old son. It sounds like it will be a sure thing as long as I say okay to it. The girl is separated from her husband and is trying to get things all adjusted and arranged before she brings her son up here (she moved up here from somewhere).

Jordon and I have also decided to sell our vehicles to eliminate some debt and lower payments and we plan on just getting a few cars instead. That way we will do better on gas mileage and since we really don't use the truck for truck purposes very much if at all and we don't need the van because we only have 3 kids we figured we might as well. Although if I am going to be babysitting all week long I don't know that we can afford to get rid of the van because we will need the extra seats for when I take and get Ethan from school. If you know anyone looking for these types of vehicles let us know.

I think that is about all that is new with us. Ashley and Sam are still stinkers and such. Can't think of anything new with them. So I hope everything is good with everyone else.