Broken Binky

Here is one of the last times you will see this girl looking like this. With a new baby on the way, it is time to move on.  I worry that if Lauren doesn't stop using the binky now, its a habit that may go on for many more years, since a new baby will mean binkies around the house again.  How do you stop a 2 year old from putting her baby sister's binky in her mouth, if she is used to using one too?  So, I clipped a few of the binkies in half, and put the rest away.  I showed Lauren how the binkies were broken.  She took it pretty easy.  For the first day she would put it in her mouth and try to use it, but didn't seem to care it was broken.  After a day or two of that, she just stopped using them.  She was pretty easy going about it.  Perfect.

Dance Festival

For me this year, Dance Festival was one of those things I just couldn't get things right.  It rained off and on, Devon had to leave to a meeting after seeing just Ethan's dance, and no matter where I stood, I was always in the wrong spot to really get a good view of the kids.  Oh, and I lost Austin for about 5 minutes.   I found him just before they announced over they microphone that they had a lost child.  Whew!  They had fun, and I was there, whether they could see me or not.  That counts, right? 

Dylan's Bear Award

Dylan worked hard to earn his Bear so it could be awarded with Jayden's Bobcat, but then he was sick, and then it was Blue and Gold and they didn't do any awards, then we were gone, then they couldn't find his award... so 5 months later, here he is being awarded his bear and pinning the mother's pin on me.  

Random Moments (Springtime)

Here are a few moments from the spring:

We always love to have Grandma come to our house!  Here she is playing Lego Champion with Jayden.  I think this tower is a record at our house.

Lauren is a character.  I'm not quite sure what she was pretending to be here.  Ahhh, the life of a kid!

Dylan doing what he loves: building Lego creations.

Jayden finished up his first year of competitive soccer and we hosted a team party at Grandma Gibson's.
(left to right): James, Cooper, Gavin, Micah, Ethan, Jayden, Landon, and Carson

Lauren apparently wanted some cheese and I wasn't helping her fast enough.

Some days Lauren and I try doing new things with her hair.  Hair styles have never been a strength of mine, but I'm willing to try and learn some.  Here is one try of ours:

Austin and Lauren are such good buddies.  I love these two!

Happy Father's Day

My sister-in-law Kim found this idea and sent it to me, and I knew it would be fun to do for Devon for Father's day.  I was happy to see how good it all turned out!

Highland Children's Choir

Ethan was in the Highland Children's Choir this spring, and loved it!  He loves to sing, and was singing the songs around the house.  It was awesome that he had a bunch of other cousins in the choir with him, Joel and Kyla were in the Young Singers with him each week, with McKenna helping as well. 

Grandma Kirk came with us to the concert.  Ethan is on the front row, just to the right of the second microphone from the left, or the 6th kid in white from the left.

Happy Birthday Lauren!

Wow, Lauren is 2!  Happy birthday to our little princess!  Lauren loves Minnie Mouse, so we had Minnie Mouse themed table decorations.  We picked out the cereals for her, guessing what would be her pick.  She is definitely a fan of Lucky Charms.  She was excited that it was her birthday and knew it was something special for her, but at the same time a little unsure of what it meant.  

Lauren was so fun to watch as she opened her presents.  She was very thoughtful as she slowly pulled each present open, piece by piece.  It would have really taken a long time if her brothers weren't so impatient and helped her.  They were so excited for her to open the presents they had helped wrap.  They love their sister!

Our house doesn't really have very many girly things in it.  But this birthday seemed to change that a lot.  She got some dress ups, a new doll, and a stroller.  Can I tell you how cute it is to watch her dress up and push her stroller around?  Seriously, cute!  I can't get over it.

Lauren wasn't sure what to think of the candles, and wouldn't even try to blow them out.  Luckily her brothers had no problem stepping in to help.

 Notice her shoes, that she insisted to keep on.  We did at least convince her to take the dress off.

Lauren at 2 loves:

• playing with her brothers (Dyl-Dyl, Tay-Tay, Etee, and Autin), Austin and Lauren have an extra special bond
• copying anything her brothers do
• to jump in her crib, on the tramp, or on the floor
• to be outside
• to play in the dirt
• to help
• yogurt, strawberries, meat, and anything sweet
• to color
• to be with Mom
• to pick out her own clothes - everything head to toe
• to have her hair done - "piggy tails" are her favorite
• to talk - she is getting really good and can say short sentences 
• to do things her self ("I do it!")