Mini Explorers Graduate

Ashlyn had a great year of preschool this year.  She loved her teachers, the friends she made, the things she learned, and that she was able to eat lunch at school.  I loved that it was two blocks away from our house!!!

On the last day of school they had a graduation program for the parents.  The kids had little speaking parts and then they sang several of their favorite songs.  In the end they each received a diploma and an awesome book of pictures and their best work.

 Here is Ashlyn with her teachers, Miss Alisha and Miss Sadie

 Since the lighting was bad inside, Ashlyn was sweet to let me do a mini photo shoot with her.
                                     

It's hard to believe that this cutie is on to Kindergarten!

Warm Weather

I think Baylen was just playing around with the camera here.  But, I figured I might as well include them.  Mickell and her friends Taylon and Aubrielle were just enjoying the warm weather by making snow cones.  What this picture doesn't show is the hoards of neighbor kids that showed up once the word got out :)

Happy Birthday Ashes!

Love, Love, Love how excited kids get for their birthdays!!!  It's a good thing, too, because it helps take my mind off the fact that my kids are growing up- especially when it's my baby!

Ashlyn had a great birthday.  Her request for breakfast in bed was a donut and chocolate milk (easy enough!)  Look at that smile….

After breakfast she decided to use the new gardening apron and tools that she got from Grandpa and Grandma Sillito to help dad plant the garden.  She did a great job planting the squash!

 Later in the afternoon Baylen and I took Ashlyn to the store to let her choose a new bike (last year's bike got run over by a car- common occurrence in our cul-de-sac).  Then we came home and she rode her bike while I got everything ready for her party.

Originally we were going to have a friend party for her this year.  However, she decided that her cousins are her best friends and wanted to party with them.  We went to Trafalga (yay for Pass of all Passes!).  

Ashlyn had lots of fun going on rides, playing miniature golf, playing laser tag, and riding the cars

But, I think her favorite was the rock wall.  She is one brave girl!!!

 Here's most of our group waiting for the next game of laser tag

 Ashlyn requested mini chocolate peanut butter cupcakes

                                      

This is what we found when we got out to our van after the party.  Seth and Leslie were responsible for this work of art and Ashlyn LOVED it!!!

We sure love our little sunshine.  She has the cutest personality.  I'm so grateful she's mine :)

Mom's Day

Baylen had to work on Mother's Day this year.  So, I was just expecting a normal, crazy Sunday morning.  Boy, was I surprised!  Tanner and Mickell woke up extra early.  When I got up, they sent me to get a shower and get ready while they prepared all of this...

 How cute is this breakfast.  They totally made the muffins and came up with this plate on their own.

 Then I stepped into the family room.  They had a pillow, blanket, and my book sitting on the couch for me

 with this note and the remote...

 and my favorite show paused and ready to go

Yes, of course it would have been fun to have Baylen home.  But, I loved the fact that the kids did this ALL on their own.  I had a permanent smile on my face all morning.  I'm one lucky mama!

Tanner and Mickell both made me sanitizer bottles at school.  Inside of the bottles were poems that they typed onto transparency paper.  I want to remember the poems, so I'm going to put them on here.

Tanner's:

Mom

When I wake up to start the day

You let me go out and play

Once I am on the bus

You start to clean with a brush

And once I get back from school

You give me a snack that is cool

What I am saying is I love you mom

So please don't leave me so I'll be calm

Love,

Tanner

Mickell's:

Mom

I really, really love the way

You make me dinner every day

You make me happy when I'm sad

You make me smile when I feel bad

You are my idol, my superhero

I hope you know that wherever you go.

Love,

Mickell

                                     

Tanner's Last Derby

As we were starting the prep work for Tanner's Pinewood Derby car this year, I asked him how he wanted his car.  He responded by saying that all he wanted was a car that didn't win this year.  He's won the last two years and really wanted to give someone else a turn.   Tanner got his wish… he didn't win.   Although, his car did do well.  

Funny story… Baylen's got the engineering down on how to place the weight on these cars.  One of our kind neighbors invited all the boys over to his shop so that they could cut their cars out using his tools.  While there, Baylen told one dad exactly what to do to make a car that wins.  Guess who won?  Since we don't have any more boys, I guess it's okay to share Baylen's talents with the new group :)

 Tanner's car is the Blue and Gold "BYU" one

Easter 2012

We had a super special Easter this year.  I feel like we were really able to focus on the real reason why we celebrate this holiday.

Of course, the Easter bunny payed us a visit during the night.  Here are the kids with their loot.  Besides candy, they also got a couple of movies and a new Wii game.

After dinner we had Easter dinner with our own little family.  I think this is the first time I've ever made Easter dinner.  I was pretty proud of myself that I didn't mess anything up!

Later that evening we were able to attend our Stake's Easter Cantata.  Mickell was asked to sing with a small Children's Choir.   Singing is something that Mickell loves to do and this was such a special opportunity for her.  They practiced hard for it and all their work paid off.  It was beautiful.  They sang a song called "He Had Come."  This song was written by a lady in our stake and talks about when Christ visited in the Americas.  It is sung as if the kids singing were the children that Christ blessed when he came.  It is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.  They recorded it so you can listen to it (or download it) from here…

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songinfo.cfm?bandid=1174077&songID=11527857&from=downloadsong.cfm&referer=www.amywebbmusic.com/He_Had_Come_.html

Mickell had lots of support.  Grandma and Grandpa Sillito, Grandma and Grandpa Whipple, and Grandma Bird all came.  After we had everyone over to our house for dessert.

Easter Party

This year we had our Whipple family Easter party the day before Easter since Mickell was singing on Easter.  It's always lots of fun.  I love all of our traditions.

Of course we all had to dye our eggs for the big egg cracking contest...

Bailey wins the award for the most original way to get those eggs dyed!

This is what happens when you use your hands to color Koolaid eggs.  I was a little worried that they would remain this way for church the next day :)

Of course, Grandma always spoils the kids with an Easter egg hunt.  I LOVE this picture.  Poor Hailey was looking at several eggs that she wanted to grab.  However, her cruel mom made her stop for a picture.

Baylen, Seth and Leslie hid the eggs this year.  They definitely made a few of them a little more tricky.

The highlight of this party is always the egg cracking contest.  Ashlyn really really wanted to win this year.  She talked about it for days before.

Jackson is turning into a smurf…. from the inside out

Yay!!!  This little girl actually won!  She was one happy kid and is so excited that she gets to keep this trophy for one whole year.  Mom, on the other hand, thought the ugly trophy was a hilarious, awesome idea until we finally ended up with it ;)