Track Meet

Yesterday a track meet was held at a local high school for elementary school kids (grades 4th-6th) in our area. Whitney wanted to compete. The first race they ran was the 100 meters.

Whitney came in second for all the sixth grade girls and her BFF Victoria came in third. Next was the 200 meter race. That time Victoria came in second and Whitney was third. Then they moved on to field events. The long jump, shot put and discus. Chris was not impressed with the organization and running of this meet. He made some good suggestions on how to run things more efficiently but his advice was not followed. Apparently, they are not familiar with Chris Weaver?!? He really wanted her to run the 400 meter, 800 meter and relay races but we could not hang around for hours on a school night. The kids still had homework to do and I had a church meeting to attend.

Mickey & Minnie Mouse

These first two shots were pure luck. Me snapping away in the hope of getting something. Surprisingly I could tell Gavin was a little put out that he did not have his own photo shoot. I took a few but really who wants multiple shots of the grim reaper? I told him maybe this would teach him to pick a cuter costume next year.

This pose pretty much sums up my experience trying to photograph Mickey Mouse.

Some part of him was always blurred cause he is a whirlwind of action. This shot is him crawling along a low wall.

I Believe in Faeries!

"And as the seasons come and go, here is something you might like to know ... there are fairies everywhere under bushes, in the air, playing games just like you play, singing through their busy day. So listen, touch, and look around -- in the air and on the ground. And if you watch all nature's things, you might just see a fairy's wing." - Author Unknown

Spread your wings and let the fairy in you fly!

I had so much fun doing Whitney's faerie hair and make-up. Even more fun was taking photos of her. I could have taken photos of her for hours. She is just so fun and natural!

Take a sprinkling of fairy dust,

An angel's single feather,

Also a dash of love and care,

Then mix them both together.

Add a sentiment or two,

A thoughtful wish or line,

A touch of stardust,

a sunshine ray...

It's a recipe,

for a Girl truly fine.

The Grim Reaper, a Faerie, Minnie & Mickey Mouse

A group shot before we headed out for our quad-ward Trunk or Treat. Whitney's BFF Victoria came along too.


Every year Whitney begs Chris and I to dress up for Halloween so this year in honor of her final year of trick or treating we surprised her by dressing up. My cowgirl costume is not that impressive but points for doing something, right?



I was so excited when I saw these yellow sneakers at Ross for Landon. They made great Mickey Mouse shoes! The best part of the Mickey costume was how this little tail wiggled while he toddled around. Notice that he has two suckers in his mouth and a sucker in each hand. Sugar literally turns Landon into the Tasmanian Devil. He starts shaking his head back in forth in a way I have never seen before. Shortly after this picture was taken I chased him around the parking lot as he ran around like Taz. Could not believe the area he covered.



Ashlyn doing the cupcake walk. She loves cupcakes!

Left to right: Abby, Victoria, Whitney and Addie. These girls are all on the same soccer team. Go Purple Pain!!!

Chris dressed as Mr. Clean, something of an oxymoron for all who know him well. Though he did once snap my mop in two mopping the floor! Landon would not wear the gloves. He would just shake his hands until they came off.

This frightening apparition is my Handsome Mansome. (Make-up by Chris.) I wasn't too pleased with his costume choice this year. He really wanted a scary costume and Dad backed him up so I was outnumbered. If I had my way, he would be in a teddy bear costume. ;)

Ashlyn in her chariot. ;) Ashlyn does not believe in exercise. I had fun running from her with the stroller. That was the fastest I had ever seen her run! The irony of it seemed to escape her though.

The Grim Reaper running from a Faerie???

Ashlyn's Pink Princess Party

Our house was full of pretty princesses today! Here is our little princess all ready for her party. I think this little girl truly believes she is a princess! She is known to say things like, "Watch out! Princess coming through." And, "the Ashlyn Princess gets out of the van first."

Princess Ashlyn with Princess Karrianne. Ashlyn is obsessed with this cute girl! She told me she wants to change her name to Karrianne and has been complaining about our naming her Ashlyn. She has also expressed her wish to live at Karrianne's house. Sweet Karrianne came early so she could share some of her pink glitter eyeshadow with the birthday girl. Karrianne is a very special girl! Ashlyn does have excellent taste.


All the princesses. Front row: Jordis, Vesper, Ashlyn, Karrianne, Ella, Sydney and Lulu. Back row: Rosie, Victoria and Whitney. Ashlyn wanted Wit's BFF Victoria and her younger sister Rosie to come her party. She is always trying to steal Victoria away from Whitney whenever she is over. The other day she told her, that Whitney said, "you're stupid and she doesn't like you anymore. Wanna come play Pollies with me?" She also told Whitney that she was not invited to her party just Victoria. Seriously don't know where she comes up with half the stuff that comes out of her mouth!



I broke out my princess dress just for Ashlyn. Now that is love!



We were not too happy with how her cake turned out. Chris has a bakery that he loves here. They have made us some great cakes in the past. I don't know what happened this time. He told them he wanted a pink princess themed cake. Yeah . . .at least she was happy with it . . . even if we weren't. She told me she wanted her cake to say, The Birthday Girl - Ashlyn.

The princesses having their luncheon.

Ballerina Girl

Yesterday Ashlyn experienced her first ballet class. She was so excited!!! I was way overdue on getting her into some kind of dance class. She had the biggest smile on her face the whole time. I don't think I have ever seen her try so hard to do something just right. After it was over she said, "she wants to go to ballet school every day!" I took her to Target and let her pick out a dance outfit and this was the winner.

These dance shoes were Whitney's first pair of dance shoes. The only difference is that Whitney had just turned 3 when she wore these. Ashlyn just turned 5. :) I just love that they have this in common.

The newest ballerina.

The Birthday Girl!

Our little Princess Ashlyn Christiana turned 5 years old yesterday! She had been looking forward to her big day for months. I have been calling her the Birthdaygirzilla. :) Ashlyn is a total girly girl. She wants everything to be pink. I spent forever curling every piece of hair on her head with a curling iron yesterday only to have it look straggly and unbrushed immediately upon finishing. (See the above photos for proof.) I used tons of hairspray too. I think she is like Whitney and has hair that doesn't hold curl. I am horrible with hair and need some advice. Please help me!

Chris was heartsick because he is currently in school for an instructor pilot course and had to be to work at 5 a.m. He left her these flowers, donuts and a card. Really we should have just given her a can of frosting for her birthday breakfast. She had preschool on her big day and she couldn't wait to go and tell everyone it was her birthday.

Ashlyn had already taken several tastes of her ladybug cake by the time I got this picture taken. She chose to eat at Cracker Barrel for her birthday dinner.

She got this double baby stroller and a new sister for Whoopsie Doo! Her name is still under consideration. She has thought about Pony Pie, Sweetie Pie and Coopsie. I guess only time will tell what she decides upon. This little girl loves, loves, loves babies!!! The newer they are the more she loves them. She talks about being a Mommy someday all the time. Whenever she sees a new baby she always says, "Mom, don't you wish that was our baby?" She was so cute talking to her new baby doll. She kept saying things like "Mommy loves you so much, you little cutie!" and " Don't worry - I'm going to take good care of you!"

She requested a motorcycle ride. I wasn't too thrilled that Chris didn't bother to put helmets on either of them but he said he went really slow just around the block. Though Ashlyn kept screaming "Go faster Daddy!"

She has been dying for a PillowPet since June. She said, "When your child holds their pillow pet they will fall in love." Looks like she did too.

Ashlyn's pile o' presents.

Whitney and Gavin helping her with her new Leapster portable gaming system.

Ashlyn in her super cute towel Grandma Tobler made for her. She had to have a bath immediately after opening these.