Some Randoms

So sorry I haven't been posting anything lately, I've been lazy and haven't taken too many photos OR I forget to take my camera when we go do something. I will try harder to keep my camera handy more often! The girls are both doing well. Ashlyn is studying her letters and sight words and getting ready for kindergarten while Breckyn has just started eating vegetables. We started her on squash and she didn't seem to like it too much at first as she would close her mouth tight and not let the spoon get in her mouth. Now, however, she's use to the squash and eats like a champ! We'll see how she reacts to peas next! We went swimming last weekend before our family reunion in the park and Ashlyn really enjoyed that. We seemed to have the whole entire pool to ourselves as there weren't many people there. Breckyn hated the cold water and cried whenever her feet touched the water. Of course I forgot my camera, so I didn't get any pictures, but here are some pictures I took over the last couple of weeks.

Breckyn playing with Ashlyn's rubber snake. When we weren't looking she almost gagged herself by sticking the tail down her throat! Won't be playing with "Queenie" anymore...



Ronnie tickling Ashlyn after some swimming in our little pool.



Ashlyn made her daddy wear her clip-on earrings one day.


Breckyn eating her squash. Can't believe she's already so BIG!



A real smile from Ashlyn.


Ashlyn playing with Breckyn by throwing her legs up in the air.



Took a couple of pictures of the girls in the mirror. We were playing "Who's that baby in the mirror?"



By the way, we got our guest bed set up in the extra bedroom ready for family and friends to take advantage of it! We would love to have some company!

Breckyn's 6 month update

On Monday Breckyn started developing a high fever that has lasted a few days. Yesterday we noticed a nasty rash break out all over her body and has progressively gotten worse. Luckily we had a Dr. appt. for Breckyn's 6 mo. check-up on Tuesday. The Dr. said "Roseola" was going around, which is a viral illness that affects 6 mo. to 2 yr. olds. The Dr. said it wasn't something to worry about but to watch her fever. Once her fever breaks the rash will appear (which it most certainly did...WOW!) Here are a couple of pictures which don't do the rash justice. It looks a lot worse in person. Hope it goes away soon!



Other than that Breckyn is doing well. The Dr. weighed her at 18 lb 1 oz and she is 27 in. long. She's in 95th in weight and OFF THE CHART in height. Dr. said we can start her at solids anytime, so we probably will in the near future. Right now it seems she's been content with her bottles and cereal. Breckyn's in that separation anxiety stage and has started crying when others (besides mom, dad, and sister) try to hold her, but once she gets use to the person she's fine. She's rolling over more and of course wants to stick everything in her mouth. Her new favorite thing is to suck on a wet rag. Teething hasn't been too bad, there are days when she's fussier than others. Besides "dada" she now says "lala", wondering when "mama" is going to come out of her cute little mouth. Just waiting...Breckyn hates to be on her belly so "tummy time" doesn't happen to often. Lately we've been taking lots of strolls around a lake nearby and Breckyn loves being outside in her stroller. She usually takes a nap. The trail is 1.8 miles around the lake and Ashlyn keeps up with mom and dad on her bike! I can't believe her little legs can peddle that far but she's been doing well with it, she even rides ahead of us!

Pictures from Memorial Day Weekend

Hello all! Well, we had a nice relaxing Memorial Day weekend spending time with family by the pool. Breckyn went swimming for the first time and it appeared she didn't enjoy it much. I think once she can sit up on her own and play with toys in the water she'll like it better. We went to Grandma Rhonda and Pepa's for the weekend and swam, bbq'd, and the guys played golf. The girls got to play with their cousins Zacharey, Phoebe, and Taylor all weekend and Ashlyn enjoyed that VERY much. I didn't really take too many pictures as I always forget, but I got some of us swimming and some video of the slip n slide.

I got Breckyn a sun hat that everyone thought was hilarious! I think it looks cute on her! Yes I know, it looks like a cross between a sun hat and a winter hat with ear flaps.



Breckyn and I played in the baby pool since the big pool was toooo cold! You better believe I slathered lots of sunblock on those chubby thighs of hers!








Cousin Taylor got to come swim with us and he really enjoyed the water!



For some reason I didn't get any pictures of Ashlyn swimming, however I got lots of video of her on the slip n slide for the first time. She was nervous to try it out, but she finally got it figured out after Zacharey showed her how it's done and a few tries. I couldn't help but laugh at the kids faces as they were coming down the slide! It was quite entertaining.




Here are some more pictures from the weekend (Daddy giving Breckyn some loves, Ashlyn washing my car--her new favorite hobby, and Breckyn in her new bouncer from aunt Kim--she loves it!). Also I added a picture of Lola in her new t-shirt we bought so she wouldn't shed as much...nope, doesn't help..she still gets hair everywhere!

Ashlyn's preschool graduation videos

Here is a video of Ashlyn's preschool graduation in which she's saying the days of the week and months of the year.


And here she is singing "Hickory Dickory Dock" and "Mary had a Little Lamb".

3rd Annual "Wings of Hope" Butterfly Festival

Today we went to my employer, Ozark Guidance, annual "Butterfly Festival". May is mental health month and I wanted Ronnie and the kids to join me during this event. I thought Ashlyn would enjoy the festivities and that Breckyn would enjoy being outside. It was a very nice afternoon, sunny and hot! I actually got a sunburn on my arms and couldn't believe it. Ashlyn enjoyed getting her face painted and bouncing in the inflatable castle. She even got a picture with the Naturals baseball team mascot "the sasquatch". Breckyn enjoyed looking at all the wonderful things around her. At 1:00 we gathered around a large group of people and at the count of 3 released our two little monarch butterflies along with everyone else's. It was beautiful to watch the butterflies fly up into the air together. It was fun to watch where the butterflies would go. One landed on Ashlyn's head and then flew away. Since the butterflies were hungry, many of them landed on the ground or on the flowers people were holding. It was definitely a good experience and I'm glad we could be there to support mental health.













The butterfly symbolizes the transformation of mental health from illness, to wellness, and hope for the future. The metamorphosis of a butterfly isn’t pretty. It’s hard, it’s long, and it’s a real struggle. But when it’s complete it’s a thing of beauty. We can learn an important lesson from the butterfly. If we don’t have struggles and challenges in our life, we will never grow strong and capable. If life has no difficulties, we will become weak and helpless. The metamorphosis symbolizes the mind, and the ability to change: It’s the art of transformation.

During the Week

Here are some moments I've captured throughout are past week. Ashlyn LOVES to put on my makeup. She always says she can't wait to be grown up so she can stay up late and put on makeup. So once in awhile I let her have at it and here's the end result. Check out the purple eyeshadow. Her favorite.



The other night Ashlyn came in the living room and announced, "Look, I'm a dog catcher!" She had Lola stuffed in one of her net bags. Poor Lola didn't know what to do!



We decided to have Breckyn try baby cereal for the first time the other evening. She didn't know what to think as she tried her first few bites, however she got use to it and did a really good job keeping in her mouth and swallowing it.

Ashlyn's Preschool Graduation

Ashlyn got invited by her previous preschool in Pittsburg (YMCA preschool) to participate in their graduation ceremony today. She was very excited about going and couldn't wait to see her teachers and friends. I don't think she got the whole concept of "graduation", however we talked about how she is now ready to start kindergarten because of all the things she learned in preschool. During the ceremony, the children said the pledge of allegiance, sang songs, said the ABC's, days of the week, and months of the year. Ashlyn was in a group with three other girls and sang the nursery rhymes, "Hickory Dickory Dock" and "Mary Had a Little Lamb". I couldn't believe how much she remembered as she didn't practice anything before the ceremony, but she was able to recite almost everything! She did a wonderful job and we are very proud of her. Here are some picture from her big day.

Before the ceremony

Walking into the ceremony

Got to sit by her old bf



Singing songs


She got her diploma!


I took some video of the graduation ceremony I will upload as soon as I can. Finally, here are a couple of pictures of the girls taking their first bath together. Ashlyn thought it was funny Breckyn was in the bathtub with her, but she washed her and was making her smile. I have a feeling the girls won't like that I showed these pictures when they're older. ;)

Look at those baby rolls!