I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream

Every little girl needs a wonderful dad to share her ice cream with!

Not so little anymore

Megan is just growing up too fast. She is already a year old and I don't know where the time went. Anyways we just love having her in our family and we hope she feels the same about us! We love you Megan! Happy 1st Birthday!




Isn't her face hilarious? She really didn't want anything to do with her cupcake so Stephen finally tried to put some in her mouth. Um...are we really related because sugar could be my middle name?!!!!!!

Halloween!

Okay so I know this is a week or so late, but at least I'm getting to it! We had so much fun, especially with Avery because she was so excited to go door to door and pick out a treat! I bet next year will be even more fun with both girls just loving it!
Anyway it was cute to see the reaction of some people when a duck and a skunk showed up at their door! Now if only I could have convinced Stephen to dress up as the farmer!

Happy Birthday

We celebrated Avery's birthday! I can't believe she is already 3! She is just so full of fun and life and had a wonderful time being spoiled by her family and friends. We ate at Red Robin (her request which we supported with much enthusiasm) and had cake and ice cream at home and opened lots of presents. She got a guitar (which she had been asking about for quite some time....maybe we have a future musician in the family?!) and some princess hair accessories (blow dryer, curling iron, etc - yes she does my hair everyday now) and a cash register with fake money from Grandma Hawkins and many more presents. She loves to go around the house and "buy" lots of things with her money. She also kept asking if everyday after her birthday was still her birthday because she wanted to open more presents and eat at Red Robin again. I told her it would be fun if everyday was a birthday, but that the next presents will have to wait for Christmas and that we could make great burgers at home! Anyways we just love her and had so much fun watching her enjoy her special day!




We love you Sissy! Happy Birthday!

Our park days are almost over.....

Here are few pictures of the girls at the park. I'm sad to say that I think it will be one of the last this year....at least without the yucky snow (why do I live in Idaho again?) Anyways, the girls just absolutely love the park so I snapped a few pictures of them playing. Megan will literally jump out of my arms and crawl as fast as she can to the stairs and slide! She thinks she is bigger than she really is! Avery loves the sand and I thought of putting one in our backyard, but then remembered how gross they really are! (why do I let my kids play in them again?) Anyways, enjoy!

The Moment We Have All Been Waiting For....(Okay maybe just me!)

Here are some pictures of the cute little house that we just bought! We get to move in this weekend which is coming up sooner than I thought! (Yes, you can all come over to help pack and clean!) I think today I am most excited about the big back yard (1/3 acre to be exact!) Tomorrow I'm sure I will be most excited about a dishwasher, and then the next day it could be the third bedroom, and then ....... Did I mention that I am so excited and can't wait to decorate it!

Part of the front

The other part of the front and the two car garage!

Back of house


Dining area looking out to back yard

Kitchen

More kitchen - looking into family room! The fridge will be on the left - should be in today or tomorrow! Can't wait for top-notch matching appliances and the huge corner pantry!


Family/Living Room

Bathroom - the shower/tub is to the left and the laundry is through the sliding door

Extra big storage room in garage! Now I have no excuse for food storage.... a good thing right?!

Oh and I forgot to take pictures of the bedrooms, but I'm going to blame it on the fact that I was chasing after my almost three year old and my 10 month old! They can't wait to move in too!

And for your convenience we are registered at Home Depot and Lowes and we will be home anytime for you to drop of the house warming gifts or you can always just mail them! Ha Ha

Another Tag

I have been meaning to do this tag for awhile so here it goes....

*What is your current obsession? Getting stuff ready to move into my new house and wondering how I will decorate each room.

*What do you hate (or dislike) the most that everyone else seems to love? High-heel shoes (okay most guys probably don't like these either....) For some reason I am so clumsy with them on! I like the way they look just not the way they feel when I wear them! Although I've always wanted some sexy red high heels for fun! Someday if I get enough practice walking with some on then maybe I'll wear them out in public!

*What's for dinner? Stuffed Green Peppers, salad and fruit! One of my fav's

*What would you eat for your last meal? Something italian

*What was the last thing you bought? milk - we go through a lot!

*What are you listening to right now? Avery coloring on one of the boxes that we just packed.

*What do you think of the person who tagged you? Well, where do I even start?! Lindsay is amazing and so fun to be around! I love how she loves my girls and how they love her back! She is so thoughtful and always makes me feel loved and would do anything for me and my family! We love you Linds (and Ronnie!)

*If you could have a house fully paid for and totally furnished anywhere in the world, where would it be? Somewhere tropical so that I could vacation there anytime!

*If you could go anywhere for the next hour, where would it be? Somewhere outside - maybe on a hike or a walk on the beach.

*What is one of your hobbies? I love to read.

*What are three things that annoy you most? When people don't take care of their children (like leaving them in the car to run into the store when it is hot outside...), a messy unorganized house - but only my own (I could care less if it was someone else's house), and rap music.

*What is your favorite color? it depends on the day...today it is purple

*What is your favorite item of clothing in your wardrobe? my cotton capris = so comfy

*What is your favorite fruit? Pineapple

*What inspires you? Music.... I've always wanted to be a great piano player and I am slowly fulfilling that dream and realizing how healing and inspiring it is to not only me, but my family as well!

*Who was the last person you kissed? Stevie - he had to go back to work from his lunch break.

*What are you currently reading? The Storm Testament Series

*What delighted you the most today? Watching Avery dance and sing at the top of her lungs in the dollar store while Megan giggled!

I tag...
Brie, Jennie, Mom, Ashley, Becky, Marie, and anyone else who has the time to do it!

My two too-cuties!

Don't you just want to give both of them a big squeeze?!!!

Boy Have We Been Busy

So I have a billion things to post because we have been busy having fun, visiting family and accomplishing new skills. Here it goes:

I'll start with Father's Day. Here are some cute pictures of Stephen with the girls.

We got daddy a punching bag and some golf stuff for Fathers Day. He loved it!


Next we have Avery learning how to ride her bike. Okay so it was more like mom and dad pushing her on her bike because her legs weren't quite long enough to pedal the whole way around. Maybe next summer sis!

If you didn't notice, dad made sure that Avery was complete with safety gear: long sleeves, long pants, high-top shoes, elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards, and a helmet. Whew....no wonder she couldn't get going........!!!!!!!!


Then we have the wonderful day of the 40 mile relay race "To Bone and Back" that Stephen accomplished with some of his family and friends. Each member ran 5 miles, which wasn't an easy task because it included both uphill and down. They completed the race in just under 5 and 1/2 hours and the average team mile was about 8 minutes! Talk about speed! They placed fifth out of over 35 teams! Congratulations!!!!!!

Here is a picture of most of the team that ran. From left to right Jessica, Russel (both friends of Stephen's), Sarah, Josh(neice and nephew), Rhonda(sister), and Stephen. Not pictured is Rhonda Hobbs (also a friend of Stephen's)! All I can say is that we are proud of everyone! Thank you for coming and participating and making us all proud!

Here is a picture of the sign that the girls made for daddy. We saw him at the end of his leg and held up this sign to cheer him on! He was the 7th leg and we were so glad to see him finish and pass the baton on to Russel who ran the 8th and final leg!

(The sign was really cute! It included each girls hand print and the message "Go Daddy" and the artistic abilities of Avery on top of it all!) Again we are so proud of you Stephen and we love you! Can't wait to see you do it again next year! All of your months of training paid off! Keep it up!


Next we have the lake that was practically in our front yard because of all the rain. This is the church parking lot across from our house and the huge puddle that was in the middle of it! Stephen and Avery decided to play in it and had lots of fun! It was really cute! The deepest point was almost to Avery's waist! She loved it and I had fun watching her and daddy play!
Her pink shoe floating away!


We also decided to visit the Zoo and ride the train at Tauphus Park on one of Stephen's day off! We had a good time!

What does the alligator say? Chomp, Chomp!



Avery was the conductor and sole passengar on this train! Watch out! Chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo!





And in the midst of all this craziness and fun, little Megan decided that she would start standing up! She is becoming quite a pro! Just one more thing for me to be proud of (and worry about...)! Good job Megan! Hold on tight!

And last, but not least we were able to visit Grandma and Grandpa Hawkins and other family for the 4th. We had so much fun riding the carousel, going down the slides, swinging on the swings, splashing in the water at the splash park, launching Grandpa's rocket, playing Bocce ball, visiting the pet shop, playing on the train slide at the mall, eating good food and enjoying each others company. Now let's just hope that we don't get the chicken pox!

I just had to share the creative choices of clothing that my two year old has lately been coming up with! Sometimes it takes all my will power to not laugh...and on most days I can convince her to change when we have to go out in public!
A long sleeve onesie and swimming shorts all underneath a swimming suit and a pillowcase for a hat...


Pajamas and rubber gloves...


A shirt, diaper, backpack and daddy's bike helmet.....(she told me she was ready to go to school!)


Her duck costume for Halloween this year....(Thanks Grandma!)


And of course she can't exclude her sister so here she is with Megan and toy buckets on their heads, pajamas, and blankets underneath so that they can "wrap up like burritos"

I love what she comes up with. I'm thinking a box of dress-up clothes for Christmas would be a great gift!