A Visit from Illinois

We were so happy that Meme, Uncle Jake, and Uncle Kaleb were able to come and visit for 5 days to celebrate Aidan's birthday. We really had a great time together. Matt was able to take off work Friday and Monday which was nice too.

The kids went with me in their jammies to pick everyone up at the airport. Aidan has gone before and is always so good, but this time we decided to let Asher go too. The kids were amazing even though it was a really LATE night. Their flight got in at 11:20! The kids did sleep a couple of hours before I got them up to leave, and thankfully were happy as can be the next day.

We had the best time. We took pictures in the bluebonnets, had sushi (a must when mom is here!), made family dinners and ordered in Chinese, played lots of cards, went to Be My Cupcake, went swimming at the YMCA, played LOTS of freeze tag, played with Legos, watched some new movies, and had 2 birthday parties! Sounds busy, but really we just had so much fun hanging out together.

I tried to limit my pictures, but I have been on a picture frenzy lately.

Kaleb, Jake, and Mom happy to be in Texas!
Big Tex (Aren't they all called that?) the longhorn we saw on our way to take pictures in the bluebonnets.
Aidan (2 days away from the big 5) and Asher 2 1/2

Meme and her grandbabies

Kaleb giving Mom flowers

Aidan picking flowers. He is such a sweet boy and ALWAYS picks me flowers. I love it.

Ash and Meme with matching hairdoos.

Ashy looking stylin hanging out with Daddy. She wears her glasses rain or shine indoors and out.

Happy 5th Birthday Aidan!
2 sleepy kids smiling at each other.

Meme and Aidan

Uncle Jake and Aidan with our long standing family tradition of playing with Legos. Started when Jake was a kid and all of us enjoy playing with them still.

More Legos

Our family ready to head to church.

Aidan and Uncle Kaleb.

Buzz Lightyear to the rescue!

Our family birthday party with the cake Aidan requested: A blueberry toy story cake. I added blue food coloring to a white cake mix then topped it with berries and his toy story figurines.

Matt ready to attack my brothers with the dart gun from Uncle Zach.

Take a look at Aidan in this picture.

Now take a look at him here.

Aidan and Asher looking like they are on a serious sugar high.

Mom and Uncle Zach talking about facebook.

Mom's crew

Dad's crew

A get together in our family is not complete without playing cards. I learned how to play as soon as I could hold the cards. This was Texas Rummy and I think Jake won. Then Zach schooled us the next night.

The Monument Cafe in Georgetown. Best.Breakfast.Ever.

Cupcakes from Be My Cupcake in Round Rock. They are amazing!

Ash, Meme, and Aidan

My brothers Jake, Zach, and Kaleb. This is my second attempt at this picture and apparently Jake is over it.

Ashy and Meme stylin with their glasses.

I don't even know what to say about this picture. Yes, they are licking their toes. No, nobody told them to and Aidan started on his own and Sissy joined in. No, I don't know why. No, I didn't tell them to stop. Yes, we laughed like crazy!

The sad sad walk to the airport.

Aidan and Meme xoxox
Ashy and Jakey - she does love her Jakey.

My little brother who's not so little anymore.
Thanks for coming to visit us. We miss you guys and can't wait to see you soon!!

Party Pics

Aidan has had some pretty fun parties to celebrate his birthday.

First - Cowboy themed with brisket and all the sides for lunch at our house.

Second - Elmo party at our house

Third - Backyardigans party at the big sand pit at the park

Fourth - Mickey Mouse party at Jungle Java

And for his 5th birthday party we had a carnival in our backyard. My little brother Kaleb (who's really not so little and is almost 16) had a carnival party when he was about 5 or 6. Mom is so creative!

We made rainbow colored cupcakes. Each cupcake has 6 colors in it.

Uncle Jake painting A's for Aidan on Meme's face while the kids watch.

The backyard ready for the party!

The proud birthday boy with the hats, birthday crown, goody bags, and popcorn bags.

We passed out tickets and an empty goody bag when the kids got there. Then it was off to the backyard for the games and prizes, face painting, and cotton candy machine! We had a ducky game, ring toss, Plinko board made by Daddy and Grandpa Buss, Bozo buckets, and a bean bag toss. Aidan was super excited to be able to have most of his family there. Meme, Uncle Jake, and Uncle Kaleb flew in from Illinois, Uncle Rob, Aunt Katy, and cousins Robby and Lily drove down from Grand Prairie, and then Grandma and Grandpa Buss, Grandad and Nana, and Uncle Zach came over too along with Mommy, Daddy, and Sissy of course and neighbors and friends. It was beautiful weather (God must have heard my prayers!) and just a beautiful day to celebrate Aidan's 5 wonderful years of life!

This is my first attempt at a picture collage, so I still have a lot to learn about that obviously! Click on each picture to see it bigger.


Happy 5th Birthday Aidan! xoxox

Happy Birthday Son!

April 11, 2010 - 5 years old

5 years ago today was one of the happiest and scariest moments of my life. After a near perfect pregnancy and a labor that was progressing just like normal, our little Aidan gave us all a big reason to pray when his heartrate dropped off the chart. After a rushed emergency c-section in which Mommy was put to sleep and Daddy was left to pray outside the delivery room, he was delivered a perfect and healthy baby boy 8 minutes later. I can't imagine my life without you Aidan. You have added so much joy and life to our home. You are the most amazing big brother and have such a tender and sweet heart. And boy are you smart too! I adore you and am so thankful God chose me to be your mommy. I am so proud of the sweet little boy you have become.

A few of your favorite things:

• playing outside
• going for a walk or bike ride to the willow tree
• Bernstein Bears books
• temporary tattoos
• blueberries
• whoopie cushions
• Starfall
• bread with butter and cinnamon and sugar
• The cartoons Oswald and Franklin every morning
• breakfast (you sometimes tell me 2 or 3 things you want for breakfast, eat it all, and usually ask for more. This is the only meal you truly clear your plate and like eating.)
• Toy Story (Buzz Lightyear)
• Cars (from the movie)
• candy (any and all especially Pez)
• Oreos
• licking the beaters after Mommy makes something
• playing freeze tag
• Legos
• playing in the snow
• building things and being a builder man
• the color red like his Daddy
• playing ice cream truck outside in the driveway
• Sesame chicken (just like momma)
• Sissy
• istening to his music in the car (his bible songs)
• singing - he makes up songs almost every time we are in the car and they sound great!
• playing with your grandparents
• celebrating when you get a new freckle
• Mommy and Daddy
  
  You are such a sweet and special little boy. Even though you may be growing up, you will always be my baby Aidan. My first born redhead. My son. I love you and Happy Birthday sweetie! xoxox Mommy

Hoppy Easter

We had a wonderful Easter celebrating the Resurrection of Christ. Earlier in the week we had fun dying our Easter eggs. We used a tie dye Easter egg kit that my mom gave us before we had kids. I found it in our decoration box and was happy I was able to use it this year! It made neat eggs. On Saturday we went to the Round Rock Easter egg hunt at the park by our house. The kids are still in the 0-4 group and both Matt and I were able to help them hunt their eggs. Aidan even found a golden egg (with a little help from Mommy!) He won a big stuffed ducky and a wooden puzzle. He absolutely LOVES the duck and that first day he carried it the entire day. Ash also liked the puzzle her brother gave her. Aidan finding the golden egg brought back memories of my Grandpa Moore. He helped out with the big Easter egg hunt in my hometown when I was little. I remember him telling me where a golden egg was and my prize was a pool pass for the summer! On Sunday we started off the morning with Easter baskets and cherry turnovers. Then we headed off to a fantastic church service of celebration. I love our church!! When we got home it was starting to mist but we were still able to have our Easter egg hunt in the backyard with Uncle Zach, Grandad, and Nana. Then we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Buss's house to have Easter lunch and celebrate Linda's birthday. We had ham, peach sweet potatoes, broccoli salad, green bean casserole, crescent rolls, and an egg shaped cake for dessert. The kids did great without a nap and were definitely on a sugar high that wore off at the end of the night and made them pretty tired. Hope you all had a great Easter and were able to celebrate what Christ did for us!

Ready to color the eggs

Aidan is using the tie die kit.


His finished egg

Using the "grabnabber" to dip some more eggs.

Daddy with the eggs.

Ashy sweetly looking at her tie dye egg.

Then we added stickers...Aidan wanted stars and Asher picked Micky Mouse.

Me and the kids before the hunt.

A smiling boy looking for eggs.

The kids after the hunt with their goodies.

Aidan with his golden egg prizes.

Asher was playing on the playground at the park.

Can you spot two Asher's in this picture?

Easter morning

This is one truly happy little girl who loves the gum she found in her basket and one sweet smile.
Grandad and the kids ready for the Easter egg hunt in the backyard.

Do you spot any eggs?

The three stooges. :)

Ashy happy to find more eggs.

Grandad and Aidan searching for more eggs in the fort.

Ashy and the love of her life - Daddy.

Uncle Zach helping Aidan find an egg.

Aidan wearing his Easter Bunny tie and Daddy.

The kids with their baskets from Grandma and Grandpa and Great Grandma Buss.

A cute little bunny that Linda made for the kids.

Singing Happy Birthday to Grandma.

Asher and Grandpa eating Grandma's birthday cake.

A double kid hold by Daddy.

And a double tickle session.