The Last Night:(

Aunt Sam, Uncle Luke, and cousin Jack left one week ago today, after being here for almost 6 weeks. It was really hard saying goodbye the first time they left but it broke my kids heart to have to do it again! They were here for so long it almost felt like they never left. Haylee was so excited they would be here for her 1st recital at her new dance studio.

After her performance we went to our house for some yummy Navajo Tacos, banana splits, and games.
Ethan holding Jack for the last time (with tacos all over his face). Jack is half the size of Ethan, and yet my kids still insisted on carrying him everywhere!
We rocked out to Guitar Hero! Thanks to Sam and Luke who gave it to us for Christmas:)
All I wanted to do for the last time was to hold my sweet nephew and rock him to sleep (mixed with tons of kisses) but my little Avery Loo was not sharing her mommy long enough for me to get to do that....so guess who got to?....Uncle Andy (secretly I think he preferred him)
Did I mention I have the sweetest baby?
Lots of Kisses to make up for the times when shes not here.
Seriously Luke I have no pictures of you where you were not making this face so Sorry, Avery smiled cute in this one so this one made the blog:) We love our Uncle Luke. Ethan just wanted to play Tiger Woods golf with Uncle Luke the entire time he was here and they finally got their chance. That's all he talked about the next day.
I can't look at this picture without the tears starting to form. I am so blessed to have such a close sister! I really miss having you and your family just minutes away...a phone call doesn't compare.
We hope you had a safe trip home. Good Luck Uncle Luke this Semester...and with any luck we will see you over Spring Break!!!

Tooth Fairies comin' tonight!

We were starting to think this day was never going to come and Ethan was stuck with his baby teeth forever. He is almost 8 yrs old and in 1st grade (technically he should be in 2nd grade we held him back) He was the last one in his class to loose a tooth! Both of his Best Friends have lost their teeth and have grown their new ones. Poor Ethan is just starting that "awkward" stage but we are so excited it finally happened:)

If you know Ethan then you know he has "eye issues" He could not smile for the camera and show his teeth at the same time (without having issues) so he closed his eyes for the picture! That is classic Ethan!
He lost his tooth on the playground yesterday so he gave his tooth to the recess lady (Aunt Ally) so he wouldn't loose it. Aunt Ally conveniently forgot to bring Ethan his tooth home:( He was sad he did not get to put it under his pillow last night but Ally felt bad and brought it to him today! She told him the tooth fairy would feel bad he had to wait and bring him more money then normal...Thanks Ally! So, how much does your tooth fairy bring per tooth? We need an idea of what teeth are going for now.

GOOD JOB ETHAN! WE LOVE YOU (goofy smile and all)

Boot Scootin' Bug!

Haylee was born to perform. She loves everything about it...the hair, the make-up, the costume, everything! It was harder to do performances when she was little because there is a lot involved, but this year she couldn't get enough! This would have been the year for 5 performances in 2 days....she was so excited!

(left) Her class back stage waiting for it to begin! (right) Her and her B.F.F. Camden, cutest cowgirls ever:) They did a GREAT job @ their performance...They were the best dancers on stage (of course...I am a proud Mom!)

Haylee and Camden begged their Kindergarten Teacher, Ms. Howell to come watch. We didn't see her but Haylee had a huge PINK gerber daisy from her teacher, waiting back stage! Thanks Ms. Howell you really know how to make your kids feel special:) Daddy and Ethan bought Haylee ared rose to congratulate her also...she loves getting flowers! (She is going to be a fun teenager...I can already tell)

Group hug! Good Job BUG can't wait until your next one!

We tried to record the dance, but the lighting was funny with our camera and where we were sitting so, my great neighbor Lyndi told me we could make a copy of her recording so maybe if I get to it I will post it later...if not you can watch on my neighbors blog www.barrettalbum.blogspot.com ( thanks Lyndi)

5 Months....

I can't believe how fast time flies! It seems like we had Avery yesterday (but feels like she's been apart of our family forever). She was a sweet 5 lb 11 oz. newborn that has grown into an adorable 13 lb. 1 oz. baby! I love how her preemie clothes were really big on her. She has gotten so big but, yeah I know she's still so little. She loves to talk (well, cooo) and she has learned to grab anything she can get close to. She has lots and lots of personality, she knows what she likes and doesn't take anything less. She loves her brother and sister, they can make her laugh so easy and it takes mom and dad a lot of effort to get a cute giggle. She is an answer to our prayers and we can't believe she is ours...WE LOVE YOU AVERY LOO!!!

Get in the Kitchen and Make me a PIE!

Grandma Kathy was making Apple Pie today, and Haylee loves to help. She loves to play with the dough and make cinnamon sugar crust, but yesterday she wanted to make a "real pie". Grandma Kathy helped her with the filling and Aunt Ally helped with the lattice top! It turned out great for her first REAL pie. She brought the pie home to show daddy, then she helped whip some whip cream for the top and served it to the fam:) It was yummy! Thanks Bug...

Ethan had to shove a huge bite in his mouth and make sure lots of cream got all over his face before he would smile for the camera:)

Girls and their dolls

Haylee had an American Girl PARTY! She invited some friends and cousins over for pizza, a movie, and time with their dolls. Haylee asked everyone to come in their jammies (including the dolls:) )They watched the American Girl movie Felicity, and ate pizza, and popcorn!

(right to left) Mary, Riley, Camden, Haylee, Becca, and Erica
Then, they made bracelets.
They had so much fun!

Aquarium AGAIN

I know this is the 4th post about the Aquarium but Andy and Luke came with us this time and I got some pictures I thought were cute. Andy wasn't being a very good sport about the pictures, but I gave him fair warning that they were going on the blog so here it goes.

Doesn't Avery look like her daddy:)