The Marsh girls!

Easter egg hunts!

Apparently one had chocolate in it!

Hmmmm... Can't tell if this was before the potty break!

Sisters!

Pretty!

Goofy sisters!

Beautiful baby!

Posers!!

Pretty profile!

Pretty Smile!

Big Sis's pretty smile!  

Easter egg toenails.

Jumpin!

Jumpin so high!

I LOVE that face!

She always has a headband, and those boots are SUPER cool.

 her favorite, they light up!

And this one!

Just woke up!

Have you ever...

                                                Have you ever kissed a face THIS cute?!

...Worn a hat and looked this good in it?!

...Or looked this adorable doing nothing?!

...Seen such a smile?!

...Arranged the ceramic ducks/statues in the yard?

...Seen such crazy hair?!

                                                     ... Loved a ceramic duck so much?!

...Used garbage bags to parachute off of the playhouse?!

                                                     ...Looked this cute when you whistled?!

                                            
                                    ...Been so attached to a swim instructor that three weeks
                                            later you still cry and beg for him to come back?!
                                                                   ( me neither) :)

                                  ...Preferred to leave a tooth hanging rather than pull it out?!

...Made faces at your sister?!

...Had your best friend in your swim lessons?

...Had two students jumping in at you at the same time?!

What happened to me?

I used to be so un-touched emotionally. Numb, maybe. Nothing made me cry, I was never a person who was easily touched or moved. Now, I can hear two measures of "touching" music, and "the water works" begin. Dustin always asks me "what makes music touching? How can you distinguish a touching song from a non-touching song? What does a touching song even mean? There aren't even any words, Babe!!" What happened? My girls! I had two children. I think that made me feel everything so intensely. Joy is much more joyful, pain is more painful, touching is not even being touched, it's like being knocked over! It is almost like I was, emotionally speaking, a pastel person. Now, it's like my emotions are NEON! It's stupid, really, but I wouldn't change it. I wouldn't want the absence of feeling to be there when my daughter looses her first tooth. I cried off and on, mostly on, for hours. Several days in a row. Or her second tooth. I still cried. Not for as many hours. :) Or when Ashlynne reads. Or when she explains to her sister about how she should make a good choice and be respectful. And it tears me up when McKynzie insists on doing everything "herselth". She wants no help, and doesn't even want you to hear her potty. She will tell me "don't listen to my potty." EWWWW. What is it about the baby of the family that doesn't want to be the baby? The fact that she is capable of doing most things herselth touches me! She's growing up so fast. When McKynzie tells me "I'm you baby gwoll mommy!" my eyes start swimming. Even childrens books touch me to a depth I didn't know existed. Here is a book I bought the girls because of the cute little blinking musical heart on the cover. I didn't even read it before I bought it. And, you guessed it. As I am reading it to them through sobs. They hate seeing me cry, which makes them smother me with kisses and sit on my lap, crawl up towards my face, and beg me to not cry, because "it's such a good story, mommy". Here is what it says:

If you weren't my little girl, There'd be a whole in the world! ( I start feeling touched)
A piece would be gone! We just couldn't go on! (eyes rim with tears)
The world wouldn't work without YOU! (tears spill over on to my cheeks)
THIS WAS THE FIRST PAGE, PEOPLE!
For who would share smiles and outshine the sun? Who would be doctor and help everyone?
Who would give food to those needing some? It's a good thing you're MY little girl! (I break for tissues)
If you weren't my little girl, there'd be a whole in our home! (sobbing)
A piece would be gone! We just couldn't go on! Our family's no fun without YOU! (the girls ask me to re-read that page because they couldn't understand my crying voice. Which makes me re-read the touching pages again. It's like a vicious circle)
For who would be princess, the fairest of all? Who would spin circles and dance down the hall? (My girls dance in our hall every single day, asking me if they are my favorite dancers, and if I just love their outfits, to which I reply that I want to be as good of dancers as they are. They promise to teach me how. Shoulders are shaking by my crying with these flashbacks.)
Who would be mommy to all of your dolls? (They always tell me they want to be a mommy just as good as me, CRAZY CIRCLE WON'T STOP. The girls start hugging me.)
It's a good thing you are MY little girl!
If you weren't MY little girl, there'd be a big hole in my heart! A piece would be gone, I just couldn't go on! My heart would be searching for YOU! ( The girls start to panic. "Why are you crying mommy?"  They kiss me. I simply say I am touched. They argue that they aren't hurting me when they touch me. I say I am so grateful for their hugs and kisses. I will stop crying in a minute.)
For who would pick flowers to put in my vase? Who would give kisses all over my face?
Who'd say "I love you" in sweet little ways? (Ashlynne now states that this book was written about them. Makes me cry even more, as I agree.)
For God gave you to me. You're special you see!
There's no hole in my heart. You filled up that part! ( I nod in agreement and say so true!)
You're the best thing in life, MY little sweetheart! And I love you with my WHOLE heart.
The End. Ashlynne then asks why I am still crying if the story ended so happy. I tell them I am just happy. McKynzie laughs, tilts her head and says so sweetly, "but you're NOT happy!"

I LOVE my girls!

Slow Dance

I have been forcing myself to slow down and "slow dance" through life. It seems as though there is always a reason to be fast paced, and have a jammed schedule. When I do "slow dance" I find I see things that made the "slow dance" oh so worth it. And I smile and write it on my memorable moments heart page. Memorable moments such as watching my brother snuggle with my girls on Christmas day. One niece on each side of him and their heads together. It made me proud. Proud that he took the time to come. I know we are not very cool, especially at his age! Proud that they love him and adore him so much. They idolize their Uncle RaRa. Proud that he is my brother. I wanted so badly to freeze that moment in time, to never let it end, and that although there will hopefully be many more to come, this one would never ever happen again.

Watching my girls "navigate" through the Christmas clutter (I prefer to call it crumbs) on their new scooters (coolers according to McKynzie), arranging the boxes, and new toys to develop a challenging "cooler" track. Realizing, all the while that even though the clutter drove me crazy, I know that when the time comes that they get their first car, I will desperately wish for the scooter and Christmas crumb days. That being said, there is NOTHING like Christmas crumbs and scooters!!!! 

~Ashlynne is at that transition stage where she desperately wants to be "just like me"- Oh God help her!! and be who she wants to be. Does she buy the one like Mommy's or buy the color she truly likes? Should she do her hair like mommy's or how she thinks looks best? I realized the extreme admiration our children have for us when I tried a new look with my makeup. She was staring at me with a cute little smile that made me feel like at that moment, I was the most important person in the world. I asked her "what?!" And she gushes "Mom! you are soooo pretty. I love your makeup like that. I want to be that pretty when I grow up. And I'm going to do my makeup just like that." She stared at me the rest of the day with complete awe and admiration! Since then, she has wanted to wear that same red lipstick I wore that day. I understand now that it is the most sincerest complement I could ever be paid. And yes, I do let her wear it. 

~McKynzie is my one who can melt my heart with her sincerity, because she isn't serious often. She is also only two! BUT... when I told her, as I do every bedtime/naptime that she is the best baby EVER, she responded with her little serious voice "you are the best Mommy ever. I love you-so much" Oh can I tell you the waterworks started. She is usually goofy, and her rare serious moments always catches me off guard. 

~Once in a while life gives you a Fairy Tale... That is seriously how I feel. Sometimes I feel like my life is a fairy tale movie, and I am watching it. How on earth did I end up with such an incredible man? I am always amazed. Amazed at how when I am down, how much better he can make me feel. Amazed at how he loves me unconditionally. Amazed at how he "handles" us girls and our meltdowns! Amazed at how wise he is! Amazed at how he always sees the best in people-usually.  He holds me together when I fall apart, he is my rock. He is such a good man.  Babe, if you live to be a hundred, then I want to live to be a hundred minus a day so I never have to live one day without you. I love our life together and I love you.

Life...

I sat here scrolling through my old, beloved blog, and I cried a little. I remembered all of the reasons why I blogged. To keep record. To never let me forget where I have been and where I am headed. Can I tell you though, that we do forget? No matter how much you tell yourself "I will  never forget this moment" you just might. I never wanted to be the mom that didn't keep record of my kids cutest moments. Which, by the way, would keep me record keeping 24-7. But, sometimes, while you are living life and too busy enjoying all of these moments, you forget to journal them for the forever and ever and the great-greats to come. Sigh.

This year has been crazy. Crazy good. Crazy exciting. Crazy busy. Crazy reality checks. Crazy girls-all three of us!
I'll start with our summer... Ice skating lessons. swim lessons, cheer, ballet, a trip to Disneyland, potty training McKynzie and...The fear that gripped my heart with the reality that school was starting within three months. We are homeschooling our kids. Sounds easy, right? Some even say admirable, comendable. I was terrified that I wouldn't be a good teacher, that she is going to grow up with "holes" gaping, scholasticly speaking. I don't know why, but for some reason when public schooled kids education isn't up to par, it is accepted and no one says anything of it. Yet if a child is home schooled, and spell a word incorrectly, the teacher is inadequate. Plus it didn't help that MY child was old enough to start school. I seemed to have thought that they were both going to stay little for life and never reach school age. I was wrong! As parents, we teach our children to be honest, don't cheat, don't steal, don't eat your boogers, and love and trust the Lord. That seemed easy, which it isn't always, and the thought of teaching my child phonics rules with a teachers guide scared the socks off of me! I had it so backwards. Anyway, I started off our school day with prayer, and silently pleading with God to give me wisdom, and the grace to go through this day, all the while crying inside that my baby was this age. I feel like once they start school, the next day they are a teenager and then we are old gray headed parents waiting on the front patio for them to come home for the holidays... A bit dramatic I realize, but still is how I felt. Anyway, I remember hating school (not sure if I really hated school or just days. Maybe even just certain subjects. ) and had a vision in my mind of her hating it as well. After every subject had been done, and we had made our way through the first day, I was elated! She learned everything she was supposed to, loved it, and loved me for teaching her! So did McKynzie! That first day boosted my faith in God, myself, and her. She is such a trooper. Here I am practicing how to teach on the girls, and they look at me with awe that I  know so much stuff. If only they knew! It is January, and school has been so rewarding for all of us. Crazy how we are all learning while teaching the girls. McKynzie loves her school, her crafts, and her "jobs". She is the official Blend Ladder holder/pointer, official white-board-wiper-offer, she says the pledge of allegiance with us, LOVES song time and circle time, and takes her schoolwork seriously. If you point to random letters and ask their names, it will always be "B", and the sound will always be "G, as in goat". Numbers names are always 2 or 3! She will complete a paper, look at it and say with excitement and awe, "It's beeeeeautiful! I dis love it!" She loves her story time too. Oh, and sitting in Ashlynnes desk. She has her own desk, which is almost identical to Ashlynnes. But, it's not Ashlynne's. And it bugs Ashlynne very much that McKynzie sits in her desk because Ashlynne loves her desk as much as McKynzie does. Character lesson for both there! Ashlynne is a perfectionist. She gets frustrated when her handwriting isn't perfect, etc. She tries very hard and all of her assignments have very impressive penmanship! She is learning so much and so fast. I am scratching my head at how drastically different our two girls, with the same genetics learn. They process learning so different. Sometimes if I think about it, it drives me crazy.

That was school... Fast forward to Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for. That sounds so cliche, but it is so true for our family. My grandma fell in October and hasn't been well since. We have visited her a couple times since and I am so grateful that she is still here. She and I are very close, and as I was thinking about it, I realized how much she and grandpa have touched my life. I have been so blessed to have their love. I am so grateful for all of the wonderful memories of her that I have.
Secondly, My in-laws spent thanksgiving in California with some of Dave's relatives. We got a phone call day after Thanksgiving that My father in law was in the intesnsive care with a blood infection and kidney failure. It was a scary couple days. He hasn't ever been hospitalized so it was scary. Especially because it was so serious. I love my father in law and the thought of something happening was sickening. Marsh's don't like to get all sappy so I won't, but I am so glad he's ok.

We have been in Massachusetts for the last twelve days. While we were there, My brother in law had a heart attack. It kind of freaked us out. First Dave, then Mark. David and Dustin are under close watch! JK. I love my brother in law too. I guess I just love everybody! He is recovering and doing well. I am so thankful that we didn't have to attend funerals. Sometimes you don't take time to be thankful for your blessings. This year we were reminded that the things you take for granted aren't always going to be around. And yes, I did give my father in law a big hug when he got back. Marsh's don't hug but I didn't care if he was a hugger or not. Besides, I have the Marsh name, not the blood! And yes, Mark will get one when I see him too. I don't think I have ever hugged Mark. They aren't a hugging family! Anyway.
Massachusetts was fun. Most of the time. It was a long time to be gone, but so nice to get back. Here are some highlights.
~McKynzie loved the turbulent moments on the plane. When the plane would tip a bit to turn, She would squeal "It's tippin! It's gonna be fun!"
~Each time we boarded the plane, she would stop right before we stepped into the plane and say "can I touch it, the airplane?"
~Ashlynne and McKynzie putting their arms up during each take off and squealing, not so softly at first, as if they were on a roller coaster, McKynzie telling the people next to us to put their arms up and get excited too!
~My children playing with the toys in the toy store like they were their own. It was  a 45 min stop in each store!
~"steak" each morning for breakfast. It was sausage, but McKynzie insisted it was Sake...!
~My girls thanking the ladies who put the breakfast out at the  hotel for breakfast. McKynzie thanking them for the "sake".
~Having my husband "home at the hotel" He got to go in between 8 and 9 each morning and got off between 2 and 3. I loved that.
~Eating lunch with an instructor and some fellow students at Dustins school. Being mortified when the instructor asked Ashlynne if she had a good time. She replied with a very honest, mortifying "No". Why do children have to be honest? At said lunch, McKynzie announced to entire table that "I just farted"! Whaaaat?!
~The ladybugs we found in the hotel room window. They were trying to escape the bone chilling cold as we were. They provide hours, and I mean hours, of entertainment for children a long way from their home, with only coloring books and a stuffed animal.
~The oranges that played a part in everything from pretending they were very large ears on my children who were pretending to be varioius species of animals. Playing kickball with them. And even trying to balance on them. Yes it happened and no they didn't explode! I guarantee there was NO pulp left in those oranges, only juice!
~The handful of change that my girls made up all sorts of games with.
~Turtles at Bass Pro. And wishing Uncle RaRa was there so we could see him.
~Watching the girls target practice at Bass Pro. Ashlynne did very well. She hit her target quite a bit and aquired like 175 points... Not bad for only 5!
~The talk with Ashlynne about boyfriends. Long story.
~Ashlynne saying on the way home how bad she had to go potty... McKynzie, who is potty-trained, advising her to just go in her pants... Priceless!
~The Canadian Geese who were late flying south for the winter. Driving around them in circles so each girl could see them well. McKynzie squealing "They're Walkin! AND Talkin'! when she heard them honk.
~Waking up to McKynzie standing beside our bed saying "Mommy, your hair is...FLUFFY!!!!" I bolted out of bed and took care of that asap. When your 2 yr old tells you your hair is fluffy, you can take that to the bank. Besides, bed hair on anyone but my girls grosses me out immensly.

Baby Chick!

Deep thoughts from my four year old. It never ends!! We were eating boiled eggs with dinner. My girls love to eat them plain. Ick! ATM  pipes up and says "so, this is a baby chick, right? and you just cooked it inside the egg? right?" I gagged, sputtered, and turned and glared at Dustin with a "YOU HAD BETTER NIP THIS IN THE BUD" look. That was disgusting. I hate chickens. I hate roosters. I don't particularly care for eggs. They are gross if you think about them. They smell gross. Even the glass you drink out of while you eat eggs will smell gross, too. Even how they got here is gross. I hate cleaning the egg off my kids faces, I hate cleaning dishes with egg on them. I hate eggs. Except on a few select entrees. Anyway. Dustin fought back laughter and told her that no, this was not a baby chick in there. It was fine to eat. ATM still thought it was. "you know, chicks hatch from eggs, and they are yellow. This yolk is yellow too. It is probably just a cooked baby chick." My stomach was churning and turning and I thought I was going to be sick. He explained that, NO, that most certainly was NOT a baby chick. There are eggs with baby chicks in them for hatching, and there are eggs for eating. We buy eggs for eating, and leave the eggs with baby chicks in them on the farm to hatch. At which point McKynzie cradles her boiled, chickless egg in her little hand and begins to coo. "Awwww! Lil Baby Chick! Baby Chick! Look Daddy, Baby Chick!!" I had to leave the table. The mental picture was more then I could stomach. I didn't finish dinner. We are laughin now though!

How deep should a 4yr old think???

I have found myself wondering this ALOT lately. I am realizing I don't think deep enough to keep up with ATM. Sigh. Let me explain.
She had been making bad choices multiple times daily, for multiple days in a row. This is not normal for her. She is usually an awesome listener and obeys very well. However, it was a rough 5 days. Maybe even a week. Eeeeeks! It wasn't pleasant. I was worried this was the "new her". Anyway. The 5day saga started here... We were at the store when she decided to throw a fit- on a four yr old level. Ashlynne doesn't throw fits. I was shocked. It lasted much longer then I wish. There was arguing, tears, not so nice facial expressions given to us by her, and looks of shock we gave back. Dustin witnessed this thankfully, because I think he would have had a hard time believing it had I have had to tell him. We told her to take a minute, stop talking, and think about what she was saying before she said it. Didn't work. Just got worse. So on the way home, we talked to her about making right choices, and what was not ok with what she did, and encouraged her to make better choices. etc. We never want our children to feel like we hold what they do against them, or that they never meet our approval, so we usually deal with the situation and move on. So we dealt with it and moved on, encouraging as normal. About an hour later she informs us that "by the way, your little Ashlynne was on a little vacation back there at the store, but she's back now!"  We laughed. We told her we were glad she's back. Anyway. The next few days were not good. I was praying, scratching my head and ready for some divine wisdom. So Dustin was putting her to bed and He asked her about her day, and she opened her precious little heart, invited him into the moment by saying that she "didn't make good choices today, daddy." He asked her like what, she told him, and she told him she had been doing alot of thinking... "Daddy, I have been thinking. I know why I haven't been making good choices." "Oh? Why is that?" "Well, because my head and my heart have a disagreement. My heart says to do what's right and my head says to do what you want to do. So that's why I don't make good choices. They just can't agree." We thought that was brilliant! THEN, the next night... "Daddy, I think I know why I didn't make good choices again today. I figured it out!! You see, there is a pipe that goes from my heart to my head. Choices go through that pipe from my heart to my head, and that's how my heart tells my head to make good choices. But sometimes that pipe gets plugged up with bad choices. Bad choices look like little grapes with legs and they get stuck in that pipe. When they get stuck, it plugs up the pipe, then when my heart sends the good choices to my head so I can do them, the good choices get plugged up behind the bad choices, and can't get to my head. That's when I have to make the bad choices! Otherwise I would make the good choices. They just get stuck behind the bad ones."  Dustin was flabbergasted, and he explained that there is no pipe, but that it is Jesus telling you to make the right choices. She insisted that there was indeed a pipe. She said saw it on the poster at the chiropractors office. "You know, on that poster with the picture of what it looks like inside your body..." I kid you not. That is all exactly what she said. No embellishment. We quickly explained that that "pipe" is the pipe which allows air to travel to your lungs... and the other pipe is how food gets to your stomach! SERIOUSLY?! WHO thinks that deep? Whatever happened to chasing butterflies and playing dress up?!!  It makes me stop and think-why don't I think that deep? Hmmmm?!! We have been laughing at the little grapes with legs ever since!

Way too long!

Ok so it's been waaaay too long. It's almost embarassing but I feel motivated to update on the happenings. We moved, and are loving the not so new house! Yes we have been here for 7months. It's crazy. Dustin has been working alot, both at work and home. He has done alot of the honey-do's and his do's! I have been addicted to painting... Ashlynne's ceiling fan (hot pink), various light fixtures that are gold. I should say were gold, for they aren't anymore. I have even started putting my makeup on with a what Dustin calls a paintbrush. He walks in the bathroom while I'm "painting" my face and shakes his head. She's lost it, he thinks. But, no I have not. I love painting! I am almost done with the inside of our house, which was a HUGE project. Dustin has been a trooper. He hates painting and yet he has pitched in and helped me tackle it with Dustin gusto. Our room was my least favorite. I thought it would be the easiest and it was not. It is a big room. I didn't realize how big until we kept painting and painting. It took hours! So worth it though. Now my bathroom looks sad, pale, and has no personality, and we can't have that! So that will be the next painting project. Ashlynne is so proud of her "new" room... It is pink, pink, pink. Princess stuff too. She wanted pink walls and pink headboard, etc. I let her have her opinion but i can't do that much pink. But, she said she could handle white. So white it is. All her furniture is white, which she thinks turned out cute. So do we.

Our hot tub is now finished, which we are very proud of, for it was our first project of that sort.

Now for the girls... Where do I start? McKynzie is HILARIOUS. Ashlynne is funny, but McKynzie is hilarious. Kind of like me and Trina. I can be funny, at times, but Trina is usually hilarious. She has no fear of anything, has become a daddy's girl, and loves tools, cars, trucks, etc. She doesn't like her hands "diyy" dirty and she loves her Asha- Ashlynne. But she does yell at her from time to time. She is extremely posessive of food. She thinks if there is food out she should eat it. She says "help me" instead of hold me which can be embarsssing when you are in the store and have been for a while. Let me take you on a trip to the mall with us and innocent Grandma Linda... !

I head off to shop for some clothes for me. Grandma takes the girls to shop in their department. Ashlynne loves clothes and loves to try on clothes. McKynzie loves accessories, shoes, jewlery, etc. So McKynzie was done loooong before Ashlynne. So grandma senses that there is a meltdown on the very near timeline. She was right. McKynzie wants out of the stroller and wants "Gub-ga" to hold her. Gub-ga gets her out and holds her. That worked, for a short time. Now McKynzie wants to walk. I had forgotten to put her shoes on her when I got her out of the car. She loves shoes at home. In the car, she feels the need for her feet to be free. Strange, I know. Perhaps it's because her car seat still faces the rear... anyway. McKynzie has no shoes and Gub-ga knows Mommy is a germaphobe. So she tells McKynzie she can't walk. At which McKynzie starts yelling "help me! help me!" She has been blessed with a very broad range of vocal range. She talks very high pitched and laughs very deep. So she hit alot of range with each Help me! Gug-ga says people started to look. Dillard associates started to look concern and watch the young girl yelling help me with everything in her. She looks like she needs help! At this point Gub-ga starts heading my way because now she feels like she's kidnapping her own granddaughter! McKynzie gets even louder. Gub-ga actually PUT HER DOWN AND LET HER WALK. BAREFOOT. Ashlynne starts freaking out. "SHE DOESN'T HAVE SHOES ON AND MY MOM SAYS THE FLOOR IS GERMY. WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO WALK ON DIRTY FLOORS BAREFOOT." needless to say, Gub-ga found me in record time. Ashlynne made sure to tell me that McKynzie had walked on unclean floors. She developed this theory and diagnosis of "swine foot". Makes us laugh. She is dead serious about it though. To her it anything that has to do with Kynzie is NOT a joke. Being a big sister is serious stuff. She takes her role very serious, too. And she is amazing at it. I have never seen a more kind, caring, responsible, selfless oldest sibling. (aside from myself.) :) Anyway.

We bought the girls a powerwheels jeep. Ashlynne drives, and it scares us spitless. I have never seen her be bad, and I mean BAD at something. It shocked us. She can't drive. At all. It was so funny. McKynzie even got out of the jeep that she LOVES and opted to ride on her own on the quad because it was so bad. She wanted OUT. Yet, Ashlynne continued to drive all over our yard for a good hour. Whiplash, tire spinning, and all. Dustin cracked me up. I sat there laughing and observing. I SEE this: Ashlynne drives the jeep smack into the playhouse, tires spinning and she is still pushing the gas. and spinning. And giving it more gas. I'm not sure if she thought she would eventually climb over the 5ft tall playhouse like a monster truck, or if she thought she could push it out of the way. Anyway, Dustin watches for a good 2min and says "Ashlynne!" No response. Not even a look up. "ASHLYNNE!" Of course, she can't hear over the noise of the spinning tire. He tells her to put it in reverse and stop running into stuff. Be more careful, you know, the yoush. She responds that " Look dad! You can dig holes this way! Cool!" He got her "unstuck" and she was on her way again. Still runnin over stuff. You would have to see it. We laughed and laughed. McKynzie on the other hand drives the quad very well to only be one and some. She doesn't seem to need as much practice.

McKynzie doesn't forgive quickly either. My dad, "bug-aw" was teasing her and hit her on the back with a bag of hot dug buns. She held a grudge for 3 hrs and wanted nothing to do with him. She wouldn't look at him, pushed him away when he tried to kiss her. It was funny. She clinged to "nammy" and was very clear that she was ignoring him. She wasn't back to normal until the next morning.

Ashlynne just finished another year of dance and a recital. Dustin danced the dads dance again. They both did awesome. She is doing awesome in swimming and she starts ice skating lessons this summer. We'll see how that goes.

McKynzie is very loved everywhere she goes. Her class at church thinks she's as awesome as we do, and Ashlynne graduated to "Studio 3" now. Everyone loves her as well. It's all grown up stuff for her. They are growing up so fast.

Random Thoughts. Some sentimental, some not.

It has been far too long since my last post. I hope that it hasn't completely discouraged you all from checking in on our little family.

I am sitting here thinking about all that has happened this year. It has been a crazy year, a fun, happy, busy, wonderful, enlightening year and a year of growth in many ways.

My ATM turned 4 this year... Where did time go? It seemed like just last night it was just Dustin and I staying up until 2am taking walks together and dirt bike rides in the field behind our old house-and this morning I woke up to 2 children who we cannot imagine our world without and who are the most amazing blessings in our lives. My favorite part is watching the girls play together. I remember the anxiousness I felt about having another baby. What if Ashlynne felt replaced? What if I'm not able to communicate to each child that they are loved and special more then they'll ever know? What if I spoil one and not the other? What if I'm not fair? What if I favor one? They were all questions that flooded my brain each day. All without answers. I had the most special one on one quality time with ATM. I was able to turn the page of the only child chapter in our lives and open the one labeled "My girls". It has been an amazing chapter. ATM has grown from awe and wonder at a new baby to a ridiculously possessive big sister who's life revolves around her baby sister. Every time we're in the store, Ashlynne shops for McKynzie. "Can we buy this for McKynzie?" I asked her what she wanted for Christmas and she keeps saying nothing- she just wants to shop for McKynzie. I keep explaining that we will- but what would SHE like? She still hasn't been able to say one thing. She is the most giving little girl I have ever seen. Ashlynne's favorite part of every day is when McKynzie wakes up. She gets so excited and goes with me every morning and greets McKynzie with so much excitement that you'd think it was the first time she had seen her sister and had waited for her for years! And it was only nap time! I LOVE it! Ashlynne has started taking piano lessons. WOW! I can't believe she is old enough to sit on that piano bench and comprehend music. (well-not music really- just colors and ABC's and keys of three and groups of two!) She loves performing in any form. Her dance is going well. I put her in hip hop-probably because I was living out my dream through my daughter. Have you heard of that syndrome??! LOL! I quickly learned she is NOT a hip hop dancer. Too much jazz in her blood. Sigh! So I put her back in jazz/tap. She found her joy. I always tell her that dancing is her shortcut to happiness. I guess some girls were born with glitter in their veins! She keeps us going with the most hilarious conversations ever. Things like- we're driving down the road and Ashlynne, out of nowhere pipes up and says -"ya. I don't think Grammy will EVER EVER say fart. Just don't think she will." as she is shaking her head, very concerned. See, my mom will not say fart. She has other ummmm, descriptions of bodily function that is relieving the body of said gas. Cracks me up! We had never talked about it, but Ashlynne knew Grammy will not bend on that one, like it's a bad word or something. Ashlynne has alot of Daddy in her. She loves anything that will go fast. Disneyland rides- Oh! we went to Disneyland too. I'll tell about that in a bit. Cars, etc. She just talked her dad into buying her a quad. It was at an estate sale. They had it priced for 100$. Dustin talked them down to 25$! What a man! THAT is why you want him with ya when you buy your car! He always gets the best deals. They have spent the weekend cleaning it, working on it etc. It is a real one- not a barbie plastic thing. It's an actual 70cc quad. (I think that's what I heard him say.) Dustin was grateful it has a governor on it- and a pull cord thingie. So that when she starts going to fast, you can pull a cord and it kills it. Like either one of us can run fast enough to pull it in the first place. If she goes fast enough where we think it should be stopped, and we're behind her, it's cuz she'll be draggin us!

McKynzie. Where would we be without our MNM? She is the sweetest, teasiest(is that a word) craziest little baby ever. I can only say baby for another 2wks. Not even that. for my baby turns one. sniff sniff. She walks, talks,( a little bit.) Says poop, more, mommy, daddy, banana, bye bye, night night, dog, cow, guck- which is my fave, grammy (gogo.) My mom would make her say go go go and now MNM thinks that's my moms name. so you tell her to say grammy and she says gogogo! I love it. For a while, everything was a guck. She called Isaac a guck-sorry dude! She said it with love! Birds were gucks, babies were gucks, etc. She eats like she's never going to have another meal. At one meal she ate 7 chicken nuggets, 1 huge banana, and a bottle. She eats that amount pretty much every 3hrs to the minute. Sometimes she doesn't eat as much, but then that means she has to poop. She poops as much as she eats-LOL! ALOT! And when she cuts teeth, she poops even more. I have washed the crib, bumper pads, sheets, blankets, pacifiers all in my spare time that I don't have. Some of which have been several days in a row. Some even naps in a row! She is the happiest baby. LOVES people. She is also the loudest baby! She has a scream that will pierce your ear drums. I kid you not. That little girl has the craziest voice range ever. I pray to God that she doesn't sing opera. That is the one genre I can't stand. And it's also the one that her vocal cords are most compatible with. She has the deepest laugh for a baby, yet alone for a girl. She laughs at everything and then she'll scream at it. It's hilarious. She is very easy going, yet so stubborn at the same time. Ashlynne is the best big sister ever. Most of the time. Aunt Rachel relayed this to me. Some history. So. McKynzie walks around carrying a blanket all the time. We joke about her being Linus on Charlie Brown. Everywhere she goes, blankets in tow. Well, according to Aunt Rachel, Ashlynne told her to watch- this would be funny. It sure was. Ashlynne stepped on McKynzie's blanket so that when she took off walking- she walks fast- it yanked her around and she fell. She is determined, so she got up again. took off again. Fell again. All the while, Ashlynne was rolling with laughter, still standing on the blanket. McKynzie got up yet again and tried. AGAIN. and again it yanked her shoulder around and she fell. You'd have to see it to see why it is so hysterically funny. I had no idea Ashlynne thought of doing that. McKynzie eventually gets mad and yells. Too funny!

We went to Disneyland. Grandma went with us. We had a blast. Ashlynne rode every ride except the 3 she wasn't tall enough for. She even rode the tower of terror. Yes she did! Wasn't her fav but she wanted to ride it even after we explained that it would be soooo scary. Didn't scare her off! She rode it. I was so glad for the seat belt. Every time it dropped, because she is so lightweight, her butt came off that chair and didn't land until we did. She loved Thunder Railroad or whatever it's called. McKynzie on the other hand, it was a bit of sensory overload I guess you could say. She had her "oh" face the entire time, unless she was eating! She wasn't crazy about it, but didn't dislike it. She loved Minnie Mouse and pictures with Minnie Mouse. That was the only thing she reacted to. It was fun! I'll post pics when I have time.

We are moving! We bought a house closer in! Dustin will be closer to work and I will have more room! We fell in love with it and God has worked it all out so amazingly that we get it. It's so cool!
We close the 19th of November. So we have been packing like crazy. This is the longest time that I have lived in one house. It's a bit sentimental for me. Both of my kids were born in this house. Sniff sniff. I am so ready for more room though. I will LOVE having my husband home an hour and 15min extra a day! Ashlynne has been a huge help. She helps pack, and she labels boxes, AND she has been obsessed with packing McKynzie's stuff. For some reason she is very concerned that we're going to leave her baby sisters stuff behind. I tell her we're not. She just wants to make sure.

I had better get back to packing- hopefully I post again before next summer! LOL!

Week at Uncle Jerry's

So. We went to Uncle Jerry's for a week for Uncle Jerry's and Grandpa's birthday. It was a suprise for Uncle Jerry. Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Rachel and Uncle David and Auntie Ginger were all there too so it was like a family trip I guess you could say. I'm so far behind in blogging its not funny but heres quite a few photos to catch up! We had soooooooooo much fun. It was the most pleasant, relaxing, restful, stress free vacation we have ever had. Thanks Martha and Jerry for an awesome time! While we were there we went to Cabela's multiple times (thanks to Dustin and Ashlynne), went to Idlewild park which is an amusement park geared towards kids. We of course had fun too! We did some tree trimming, and by that I mean Dustin, Dave and Uncle Jerry, played with Coco, (uncle jerry's dog) and went to Oglebay which is my all time favorite place back east. It is absolutely gorgeous there. We also went to the Good Zoo which was alot of fun (minus the birds)Lol! I loved every minute except for going in the bird pen at the zoo which I only did at the last minute to be a good sport and take a few pics of my girls. I HATE birds! Oh, and the humidity. It makes your armpits mold and your hair do crazy things! LOL! You should have seen Ashlynne's hair...


riding the teacups at Idlewild. Im NOT a spin-around-kind-of -girl... I love fast rides and rides that go up and down like roller coasters but I get insanely queasy with round and rounds. Ashlynne kept singing "you spin me right round baby right round like a naked baby.." I quickly enlightened her to the correct lyrics! Hillarious!

ridin in the boat all by herself. She loved the rides she could do alone. Felt so grown up.

Merry Go Round with Grandpa

McKynzie's first time on the merry go round.

Our photo for our Christmas card. JK! Cute one, though huh?!

Ridin' Uncle Jerry's quad. I couldn't go fast enough for her! We went all over- even got to go see Uncle Jerry's cute little hunting blinds. Ashlynne thought they were too dirty and needed cleaning!

Trimmin trees

OK. so this part is hilarious. These were taken at Cabelas... Ashlynne was the photographer and grandma and this nice cabelas puppy were the models! Ashlynne even used her own hair bow as a prop! All other props courtesy of Cabelas!

Sorry Grandma but this is too good!

Posing with the puppy.

Before the hair bow.

More shots with props.

Naked mole rats. Ugghhh.

Ashlynne liked the goats. You got to feed them and pet them. They stunk tho. I don't miss the country life!

McKynzie's first time seeing and petting a goat. I got nominated to go in with the kids for the goats since I opted out on the birds and since we had goats when we were kids.

Trying to get her pacifier. Yuck!

We were popular!

Blue eyes!

Lookin' at ducks and turtles

Such a beautiful walk! If you haven't been to Oglebay, you HAVE to go! It's crazy beautiful.

More quads

Ashynne loved to run and play in Uncle Jerry's yard. She played all day long every day as long as we were there!

Could she be any cuter?!

Watchin Ashlynne play

Walking with daddy. Can't see McKynzie but she's there!

Sparklers



Ashlynne was dancing with Uncle Jerry

Gettin down!

McKynzie and Uncle Jerry

Aunt Rachel and McKynzie

Playin in Uncle Jerry's yard

I LOVE that smile!

One of her many adorably cute faces!

Oops! More Good zoo pics! Here are the birds!

She wanted to touch the birds so bad!

Watching Big Sister feed the bird.

Ok. At first she wasnt crazy about them... I kept my mouth shut about how I feel about birds so I wouldn't influence her. She warmed up to them quick though. So brave!

McKynzie. Soooo cute!

Sistas!

Ridin with daddy. She had to check it out first. Figure out how it worked and then...

Good to go!

Ashlynnes turn

Ridin on the tractor with Uncle Jerry

Have you ever seen such a pretty girl? It was cold enough for hot chocolate and a sweatshirt!

She loves Uncle Jerry

From the back. It was too cute!

Grandma's girls

Best Friends

This was at Oglebay. Gorgeous!

LOVE the profile! She's so stinkin cute!

All smiles!

I love this one. McKynzie is such a momma's girl and I love it! Ashlynne is my best friend though. There is nothing more special than your firstborn I don't think and yet nothing so special as your baby.

Lookin' at deer poop. Ashlynne is fascinated with a variety of animal pooop. weird.

This hill was huge. It doesn't look like it but it is. We decided to roll down it.

Walking back up.

rolling down

and down. I picked up alot of speed. I had no idea I would roll that fast.

Have you ever seen a picture of your kids that astounds you with their beauty? This was that picture for me. So beautiful!

Her "OH" face! My favorite!

Her big smile

Cheesy grin!

Ashlynne loved the water fountain.