The Terrible Two's Have Begun

The fish cake

Ayden, Grammy, Toni, AJ, and Ashten Kristin, Wes, Ashten, and Papa

AJ walked around with his hot dog like this even after it fell on the ground

Opening his presents

AJ blowing out the two candles. He was trying to put them out with his fingers at one point.

Since we were on the road for AJ's birthday yesterday, we have no pictures. Besides he was too cranky after being in his car seat for more than 24 hours (with a little break here and there of course). Today, is AJ's birthday party. I already had the fish theme in mind because I thought it would be so cute to make a fish out of a round soccer ball pan. I usually decide on my theme depending on what cake I feel like making. I spent the morning making the cake, I think it turned out pretty cute and kind of funny looking. After the cake was done I worked on the salads and other food prep. I was semi-stressed because the party was set to be at Alderwood Park, but the weather looked bad and weather.com said it should rain from 4-6pm right during the party. I cleaned up the house and set up some chairs, but then after talking to Mom, I decided people could deal with the weather. Luckily, it stayed decent. My kids loved that they could play on the big toy while the grown ups ate and visited. Our plan was to move our grill to the park but it wouldn't fit in the Tahoe so we ended up having Armand cook the meats at home and then running them across the street to the party. After dinner, AJ opened his presents. I think Ashten was more excited about the gifts than AJ was. He kept making these funny faces like he was amazed at how cool AJ's gifts were. I wish I could have snapped a picture. Anyway, then we sang 'Happy Birthday' and cut into the fish cake. We had a good time and it was nice to return to a clean house.

Happy Birthday Ashten!

Ashten's pirate cake.
Thanks to Valerie for pretty much doing the whole cake for me! We loved it:)
She is currently taking orders hahaKathy, Terry, Papa, Kristin, and WesAJ and Grammy

About to blow out the candles

Ben, Ashten, and Ayden on the treasure huntHaley, Riley, Bella, Toni, Ashten, BenBella, Riley, Josh, Ben, Ashten, and Ayden

ArrrghhGgmom and AJ coloringAshten and his finally finished room

Ashten turned 4 today. In the morning, Grammy came and picked up the boys to go to Primary Activity. Afterwards, they went out to lunch together. While they were doing that I was getting ready for the party. Finally, it was time. We had pizza and salad for dinner. Then, Ashten opened his presents, which he loved. After that we had cake. When the kids were done with that I had treasure maps and flashlights for the kids. They got bundled up and found their treasures. I think they had a lot of fun.

We love Ashten, he is our favorite white baby:) Here are some other reasons that I love him so much: He still takes a nap. He is a sweet boy. He will walk on my back or rub my head almost anytime I ask him. He loves to protect AJ. He loves to get shots. He is SO brave. He can clean his room. He is so funny. I love how he says policeman. He is the best sharer in the house.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Ayden and Ashten helping Papa open the presents they made him.Anderson, Kristin, Wes, and Grandma Peter (Kristin's brother), Papa, Ashten, Grammy, and Ayden
Yesterday, Dad turned 49 years old. Today, Mom had a party for him at their house. She cooked some awesome food and we had cake. Afterwards, the boys had a computer game that they spent all night trying to play, while the girls worked on crafts. The kids played and watched movies. Ayden stayed up until we left at about 1:30am. We all had lots of fun. It reminded my of the old days before we had kids when we used to stay and party all night.

(you can see the craft we worked on on my Craft Blog.)

It's Party Time...Finally

Ayden Ayden, Great Grandpa Anderson, Great Grandma Anderson, Grammy, Ashten, and BenKristin, Wes, Papa, Toni, and AydenAshten, Ben, Josh, Ayden, AJ, and MommyAyden opening his new CD player from Grammy and PapaAshten was shot in the face by Daddy and a Nerf gunSo was little AJ...maybe Daddy needs to have the "we don't shoot people" talkAyden and his dinosaur cake. He couldn't wait until the song was over he started blowing out his candles right away.Ayden, Cameron, Toni, Cori, and Ashten working on digging up dinosaur bones The kids obviously couldn't handle it so Diane, Daddy, and Grandma join in
Today, we finally had Ayden's birthday party. I was gone all day at a scrapbooking convention in Bellevue. Since I knew I'd be gone I decorated the cake and cleaned up most of the house the day before, but I left Armand to finish up. He had his mom, Mayette, come over and help him out. They did a great job getting things ready. Ayden chose to have BBQ hot dogs and hamburgers and macaroni and cheese so that's what we had, plus all of the other side dishes that Armand and Mayette made. We had a great turn out even though many other friends and family weren't able to make it out tonight. We ate dinner and opened presents, Ayden was so patient this week waiting to open his presents...I was very proud of him. After he opened everything we sang Happy Birthday and had cake, it didn't taste all that great, but it looked cute! I think everyone had a great time. Ayden said he loved the party but he was wondering why we had no games...oops I just couldn't think of game ideas and the ones I did think of I did not get together in time. There's always next year!

More Birthday Fun

Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa Acheta, Aunt Kristin and Uncle Wes, Grammy, Ayden, AJ, and Ashten. Ayden wanted to get a "slime kiss" from AJ...YUCKAnderson recovering from the kiss Ayden and his one lone present we let him open
Ayden listening to his birthday messages. One from Geoffery Giraffe and one from Megan and kids...they sang Happy Birthday. Ayden thought it was funny and said they were screaming!

Last week I asked Ayden where he wanted to go for his dinner on his birthday since his party isn't until the Saturday after. He chose Old Country Buffet. We invited all the grandparents and Wes and Kristin. I knew Ayden wanted to go there because the fact that he can have chocolate milk for dinner. He did confirm this as soon as we sat down.

Birthday Fun

The Birthday Boy showing me his ice cream moustache and beard

Ashten thinks its fun to sit inside the ball catcher at the bottom of the basketball hoop and AJ just wants the ball back!

Ben and Sarah VanderHoeven

This morning Valerie and I tried to take the kids down to the Fife Community Center for some toddler/prechooler time but unfortunately (even though I have a child born on THE holiday, we forgot that it was a holiday, therefore they were closed. So the next best thing is McDonald's I guess. Too bad for us everyone in Federal Way/ NE Tacoma also thought this was a great idea. At first the 8 of us shared a table with someone the VanderHoeven's knew. After that lady left some of Valerie's family showed up making 14 people and we got to at least have two tables for a few minutes until we were eventually pushed back to sharing one table. I have never seen so many people at McDonald's before it was crazy. Anyways, the kids had fun playing together and enjoyed some ice cream before we headed over to DI. The kids love going there and when I asked Ayden what he wanted to do on his birthday that's where he wanted to go.

Aunt Kristin and Uncle Wes invited Ayden and Ashten to go see Madagascar II with them. So Uncle Wes came and picked them up. They seemed to like the movie and Kristin said they were good boys.

Happy Birthday Ggma!

The Birthday Girl

Great Uncle Jim (Grandpa's Brother)
Great Aunt Peggy
Lydia (Nick's New Fiance), Nick, Kristy, Andy, and Toni
Mark and Ashley
Grammy and Anderson

Papa

Ayden "I'm sitting and I can't get up" Grandma re-inacting getting stuck in her chair
AJ and Mommy Today, we went to a surprise party for Great Grandma Betenson. We had fun visiting with the family while we waited for Ggma to be brought home to the party. She was only half surprised because she was told it was an engagement party for Nick and Lydia when it was actually for her birthday instead. The boys had fun playing with their cousins. They played cars and hide and go seek. AJ took a nap on Ggma's bedroom floor. We had lots of fun and I think Grandma did too.

Happy Birthday Gavin!

Pop the Dinosaur Egg Game

Ayden, Nicholas, Adam Ann, Ashten, and Hannah

Waiting for the pinata

Isabel, Hannah, Nicholas, Ayden, Grayson, Ashten, Ada

Gavin busted open the pinata, with a little help from his Grandpa. I don't know what happened but this is the only picture of Gavin...oops
Today, was Gavin's third birthday party. Cassi put in tons of work, there was yummy build your own pizzas for dinner and tons of food. The kids played a couple of games, Ayden and Ashten had a blast. Ashten had told me before the party that he was gonna be the one to break that pinata open and he did a pretty good job at it. AJ had the best time eating but after that he got repeatedly beat up by a girl so he was pretty cranky the whole time. We will miss Cassi and Gavin as they are moving to Rexburg next week. I just told the kids about their upcoming move yesterday and they were pretty bummed! I know we'll see them again and we wish them luck with their new adventure.