Toddler Time

Ayden's new wall picture. Every year on his birthday party day we get a new picture taken to put on the family wall. This year it was too dark out by the time I started taking pictures, so we had a photo session this morning before we left to Toddler Time.

Ben and Ayden driving the fire truck
Anderson and Ashten

Zachary slept almost the whole time
We ran into some friends from church, Gunnar and his mom Jaime, they were there trying it out for the first time also. Every time I went to AJ to take a picture he would turn around and run away as soon as he saw the camera

Today, we went down to the Fife Community Center with Valerie, Ben and Zachary to check out Toddler Time. There are a bunch of toys set up for the kids to play with and a table with markers and paper. Ayden, Ashten, and Ben had a ton of fun playing with all the "new" toys and with eachother. Anderson was SO cranky this morning, he just wanted to go to sleep.

Orange Julius

Poor Anderson can't wait two seconds for his next sipHe chugged this whole glass in a minute and a half...brain freeze! Last night we decided on a new tradition for Sundays. We are going to make Orange Juliuses and popcorn and watch a movie after church and naps. Today, is our first Sunday but Armand got so excited about it he couldn't wait until evening time, so we had the OJ part for brunch. AJ realized what was going on and was screaming his head off in between drinks. Maybe next week we will get it right since we won't be skipping church.

Here is the recipe for a real Orange Julius if you're interested:

6 oz OJ concentrate

1 C Water

1 C Milk

1/2 C Sugar

1 tsp vanilla

10 ice cubes

We like to change it up and make it our own:

6 oz Pineapple Juice concentrate

1 banana

1 handful of frozen cherries

1 C Water

1 C Milk

as many ice cubes as it takes to get the consistency we like

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!

Mmmm...Mushrooms

Crazy kids...sad thing is this goofy picture turned out better than the "cute" picture"Daddy will be so proud of me"

AshtenAnderson doesn't enjoy looking at me when I have a camera in my hands

Today, I had to get out of the house. I was being such a bum and needed some fresh air, but it has been so rainy and miserable outside, lately. I thought it would be nice to walk over to the library to get some books and movies, so that we could continue to be entertained bums when we got home. On the way back in the church yard, the big boys found some giant mushrooms. Ayden was picking them and making a bouquet...it was very funny, but of course before I left the house I thought, "why would I need a camera between here and the library?" Ashten brought his mushrooms in the house and washed them then broke them into little pieces ... I think he thought that I was going to cook them for dinner.

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 5th BIRTHDAY, AYDEN!!

Ayden Elijah age 1 month age 5 monthsage 8 months

age 1Five years ago on this very day I was laying in a hospital bed welcoming my first baby into the world. I remember that feeling when they laid Ayden on me. He was so amazing and I loved him instantly. I cannot believe that he is turning five today. Here are some of my favorite things about Ayden:

*He is so helpful. He will help anyone whether its Mom and Dad or his little brothers. It makes me so proud when, without being asked, he goes into Ashten's room and helps him clean.

* He is the best big brother. He is always protecting his little brothers, especially AJ.

*He loves to learn and he loves to try new things. Although this can be dangerous, it is awesome to see him discover something new.

*He loves church and he LOVES to pray. I can always count on Ayden negotiating and reasoning with me as to why it is HIS turn to pray.

*He has an awesome sense of humor. Ever since he was little, he has always been very entertaining.

*I love it when he says: Mommy, when I'm a Daddy can I go on a mission or when I'm a Daddy can I go to the store by myself...he thinks everything fun will happen when he's a Daddy.

*I love it when he sings.

*I love it when he asks me if he can write out the grocery list.

*I love when AJ is still sleeping in the morning and the first thing that Ayden and Ashten ask me is "when can we go talk to AJ?"... cause they miss him.

*I love it when out of nowhere he says, "Mommy, I love you."

*I love it when he gives a talk in primary, especially when we get to go on a date afterwards. Any alone time with him his so much fun.

Happy Birthday, Ayden! We love you!