Thursday, August 6, 2009

Thirty-one and Six!

August First is a big day at the Ditto house! Addison and I BOTH celebrate our birthdays! and celebrate we did this year!! Addison told me that his party was "the best party of his whole life!" and my day also ranks right up there as one of the BEST birthdays of my life! (that says a little more than Addison, since I have a few years on him!!)
We painted this sheet to hang up at Addison's party-the kids loved this project and I think it turned out pretty cute.

Addison really was a great birthday present for me those 6 SHORT years ago! I can't believe he's getting so big!
BTW- Thanks to my dad for taking most all of these pictures! My parents and sister Emily drove from Seattle to Spokane to be with Addison and me on our birthdays! THANKS guys!!

Even though it wasn't Hailey's birthday, she had a great time too- She went swimming with the kids in the kiddie pool (we HAD to do something to cool off, it was 100 degrees that day!) and she loved all the balloons, attention, and especially the cupcakes!


Doesn't Kelly look GREAT in an apron!! I really think he should try it on more often! Kelly mastered the BBQ at the party and did a terrific job!

The old 'sprinkler under the trampoline' trick...another attempt at staying cool on such a HOT day!

Addison asked for Batman cupcakes, so even though they are not really the caliber of cake that I love to try out (okay, they're just plain boring!) They made him happy, so that's all that matters!


Addison got quite a few presents (which he informed me is his favorite part about birthdays)- his favorite present was a robot from mom and dad...sometimes I think dad thought the present was for him though! He has had just as much fun with it as Addison has!
A few days before Addison's birthday he said "Mom, do you know what I really want for my birthday?"
"No, What?" (fully expecting the an answer like 'Backugan' or Spiderman' etc.
The answer: "A card full of dollars!"
Wow, that's what I would want too buddy!
Incidentally, the next day his Primary teacher sent him a birthday card with $1 bill inside. Addison danced around the house for a long time chanting "It's just what I've always wanted!!!"


UP, UP, and AWAY!

Kelly TOTALLY surprised me on the morning of my birthday and took me flying!! He met a SUPER nice couple through work who have their own plane, so he arranged with them for a beautiful flight over Spokane and Coeur d'Alane!!

I sat in the driver's seat and I FLEW the plane!! and I LOVED IT! so, when we're rich and I get my pilot's license, I'll take everyone for a ride on their birthday!


This was my view as we flew over Lake Coeur d'Alane! and I thought we were just "going out to breakfast" (what Kelly told me...) He scores MAJOR points for this surprise, not only was I TOTALLY surprised, but it was a wonderful experience and will be such a fun memory!

I also got my hair cut that day, AND Kelly got me an ice-cream cake!! So, what could've been better? I can't think of anything!! (Okay, maybe if like ALL the people I love were there to celebrate with us...but we did have quite a few!)

Now that Addison is six, he can do scary things like jump off the high dock at the cabin and swim under water! He is loving chapter books lately- in fact Aunt Emily gave him the Chronicles of Narnia for his birthday, and he's super excited to start that one...(we'll see how that goes, it might have to wait a couple more years). We love you Addison and are so proud of you! Thank you for being a sweet brother and wonderful son!


Laynie had a rough day on Addison's birthday because it wasn't HER birthday! With every present, balloon, and cupcake her pout was a little more dramatic- but hey, December is just right around the corner! Laynie is signed up for a ballet class in the fall, but we have yet to find a preschool! Ahh! I need a miracle for that one to work out!

Hailey is a full-fledged walker lately! She cruises, and it still catches me off guard how fast she can get into trouble! She loves to talk and sing. I was trying to teach Primary on Sunday and Hailey was there with me "singing" her part of the lesson- LA, LA, LA!!! The kids loved it; me not so much. I know I have always written or talked about how silly my babies are, but Hailey takes the cake! She is sillier than anyone...so silly that she laughs at herself! But we sure LOVE her cute personality and the way she makes us all laugh!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Lake "Cabin-Ahhhh" (Cavanaugh!)

We got back from Lake Cavanaugh last week, and all I can think about is GET ME BACK THERE! It was such Beautiful weather and Perfect company! (Some Dittos and some Picketts) Not to mention that it is my favorite place on earth! So, Beam me up Scotty...send me back to Lake Cavanaugh!

Here is my amazing husband attempting something brand-new! He and the wind-surfer had some initial struggles together, but soon they were a happy couple, battling the waves together!

Miss Laynie stayed outside all day, everyday (a mother's dream come true!) She was happy in the sand, or the lake, or the hot tub, or wherever!

And that's a "ditto" for Addison, I only saw him when he was hungry and at bed time!

Hailey delighted everyone with her cuteness made even cuter in her swim suit! She has started taking steps and is getting a little more brave every day!

Kelly and an intense game of Koob...

Addison and his "best cousin" Nate.

I think this picture was taken only minutes before bed time- the kids were in the water from 7:30am-8pm!

Watch out boys- here I come!

Nice form Kelly!!
Thanks to Grandma Lucy and Papa Bob for letting us come stay every year- we just couldn't love it any more!! It is a perfect place to relax and strengthen family relationships; not to mention finish a whole book in just a couple days, laugh harder than you've laughed all year whole watching cheesy family videos, and eat de-lish food prepared by the amazing women I know! It was a WONDERFUL weekend!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Happy 4th of July!!

This little face is sure proud to be an American!

And this Abercrombie and Fitch model also LOVES living in the USA!!

We had a fabulous Independence Day with our friends the D'Hulsts and about 20 other families! We played Koob (this is the awesome set that Kelly made!)

And we did lots of sliding down the blow-up-rent-a-slide!

Laynie was brave and went with me...

Addy went down about a thousand times, this time with Daddy!

Even the mommies went down all together!

We ate lots of cotton candy...

Lots and lots of cotton candy...

And we pondered on how great it is to live in America!! We Love our great country!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Surviving the Seven Year Itch!!

Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband! It has been a wonderful 7 seven years!!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Playing catch-up...

SHEESH! this will be a marathon blog, since it's been too long! So much has happened in just a few short weeks of summer! We have been busy and happy!

Addison was done with Kindergarten on the 17th. Looking at these pictures today he told me he felt sad. I thought that was a good sign that he really loved school. He loved his teacher, Mr. Trimble- and in this picture with him is Gwen -yes, she really is a whole head taller than him. We walked home with Gwen and her grandma almost every day and they became good friends!

The day school ended Addison was signed up for a free basketball camp. It was really a Vacation Bible School with some basketball added in. They rocked out to some kids Christian-rock and learned about team-work and good sportsmanship. He went with two of his friends from church and they all had a great time!

Miss Hailey has made some big advances lately! She can stand up all by herself and will take some steps if coaxed! She knows she is adorable and can pretty much get whatever she wants. She likes to say "UH-OH!" very dramatically and she has started to say "WOW!" WE LOVE HER!

The other wonderful thing that happened on Addison's last day of school is AUNT MIMI visiting!! The kids were in HEAVEN having her here and so was I! I feel so lucky to have such a good friendship with my seester!

Mary helped be try to be Martha Stewart and make 'bootie' cakes for a baby shower...

She did a lot of snuggling with the kiddos...

We went strawberry picking and made some YUMMY strawberry jam!

We visited River Front Park and the HUGE wagon...

and we went to the falls-

Thanks for coming Mimi!! We love you so much!!

This past weekend we had MORE visitors! Addison's "best" cousin Nate and the rest of the Yakima Dittos came up for the weekend! So, we filled it up with swimming, mini golf, good food, and a trip to Moses Lake's water park.

The kids LOVED the water park and have asked me several times today when we are going back.

Hailey could not get enough of the water! she loved the baby octopus slide and would have stayed there all day long if her mom had the energy!!


Thanks for a FUN day Yakimaniacs! Let's do it again!