Cuties

My girls are very independent these days which is nice but also means that things like hair and outfits are not so much my decision anymore.  This morning everyone slept in about 30 minutes longer than we should have.  As a result they requested for me to pick their outfits and let me do their hair.  I had to keep hair simple because of the time but it was fun to get them all ready this morning.  I love my two girls and think they both looked very cute today (even though Ariana refuses to smile normally for a camera).

Ok Mommy!

James speach has started to pick up.  I love listening to him talk and sing.  His latest habit that started a couple weeks ago is when he really wants something he says what he wants and follows it up with, 'ok Mommy?'  If he is mad about something he starts to yell with a very angry face, 'OK MOMMY, OK!!!'  I know he is upset but when he is yelling those words I have a hard time not laughing. 

Brandon Mull book signing

We drive A LOT these days and one thing that has truly helped with the ten hour drive from Idaho Falls to Vegas and back is listening to books on CD.  Our latest book series has been the Beyounders by Brandon Mull.  Alexis has read almost all the books he has published and loves them!   So much so that a couple months ago in school when the librarian did a pantomime activity where each student was to act out a character from a book and everyone else guess, before Alexis had even started her whole class yelled, 'Fabelhaven!'  (Brandon Mull's first series) because she was constantly reading them and carrying them around.  (she told me they got it wrong though because she thought that's what everyone would guess and picked a different book, I can't remember what she said she picked)

Tonight at dinner when I asked Alexis how her day had been she started off by telling me how disappointed she has been because she had missed the assembly with Brandon Mull today because of PACE.  I was sad for her because I know she would have loved it.  Alexis mentioned that he was doing a book signing tonight at Barnes and Nobel.  I offered to take her after dinner.  She grabbed her copy of candy shop wars and off we went.  I'm so glad it was just me had Alexis that went.  The line was huge and our group wasn't called until just before 10pm!  There is no way I would have stayed with Ariana or James that long.  Alexis and I had a wonderful night together though.  Barnes in Nobel is connected to the mall so we looked at books, window shopped, bought a cute head band and a couple more Brandon Mull books.  It was lovely spending the time alone with her!  I feet hurt so bad by the end but it was worth it for the night and her smile.  Alexis has been spending most of her freetime writing lately and was anxious to ask two questions to Brandon Mull:
When did you start writing?
How did you come up with ideas?

He told Alexis he started writing around the age of 10 after he read the Narnia series and his mind and daydreams just exploded.  He'd write them down and as he got older they got bigger and more extreme.

Sick buddy

Today right as we pulled in to Taylor's work I looked in the review mirror to see my poor little buddy throwing up several times.  Of course it was on the car seat we just bought four days ago.  After cleaning him up he fell asleep on the ride home and now fell asleep on me.  James rarely takes naps now so two in one day means he must really not feel well.  This is our first throw up illness this school year.  I love him cuddling with me but am also really hoping no one else gets it.

Birthday lunches

Its become a tradition to have a special lunch at school for your birthday.  Ariana picked panda express and doughnuts as her  lunch.  Her doughnut was a huge heart that a lunch worker said looked as big as her head.

Alexis picked KFC and it had to be today since her birthday was on a Sunday.  I forgot the drink and James pushed me to leave and go get it.  Once I had it he didn't want to share with Alexis, only me.

More Blessing Day Pictures

Here are a few more pictures from James blessing day:

James Hunter Richard Ashby

Our sweet baby James was blessed yesterday by his Grandpa James Frederick who is also one of the people whom he is named after. His full name is James Hunter Richard Ashby. He is named James after my father his Grandpa Frederick, Richard after his Great Grandpa Anderson and his Dad, and Hunter is the name Alexis wanted so badly for a little brother that we let her help pick part of his name. James looked incredibly cute and sweet in his little blessing outfit. He is such a blessing in my life. I love this little boy beyond words or reason.

Silly thing about James: when is he happy and smiling he won't stop moving his head! So to try and get a really good picture of him smiling is almost impossible. This is the series that we had to take to get a picture with me and him in the morning before the blessing:

Yup and the last one that finally isn't blury he is not smiling : )

Here are some more pictures from our special day:

James and His Daddy

All Ready to go to church

After church we had a little lunch with some of our friendsHanging out while everyone eats