Nicole's Birthday

Jeff's Sister Nicole, has now joined the 20-10 club! We wanted to help make this birthday a BIG deal. So I made a cake, decorated for the party, and Jeff's mom hosted the party at their house and took care of dinner. It was fun to get everyone together.

I made a "quilt" cake. And each quilt square was something important in Nicole's life. Our Family, Nicole's job as a teacher, swimming, sewing, Kona (her dog), and music. I had so much fun making this cake!

Grandma and Grandpa Miller, and Darlene were in town. Nicole was spoiled, of course! It was a fun party. And the boys always love to be with their Aunt Nicole!

Ashton's 8th Birthday

Ashton turned 8 this past week. It proved to be a GREAT birthday, despite bad weather. On his birthday we had to cancel our day plans (McD's for lunch and the skate park) due to a sleeping baby brother and rain. That night we invited Grandma and Grandpa Likes and Aunt Nicole over for presents and cake. Ashton received A LOT of LEGO Star Wars from Grandma and Grandpa. Which he loves, of course. They also gave him a builable Light Saber. Jeff helped the boys build the LEGOS over the weekend. Aunt Nicole gave Ashton a Baseball DVD/ Board Game and a Star Wars card game. VERY COOL!! Aryk and AJ gave him Star Wars toys, and Dad and Mom gave him...

A Ripstick! He has been asking for one, for a while. We thought they were a little spendy, but Jeff found one on a steal of a deal, and we couldn't pass it up! He was so excited, he wanted to go ride it BEFORE he ate cake!


Here is his first try on the Ripstick. It was tricky, and it took him... one whole day to get it! He picked it up fast, thanks to a friend and the DVD.


This Birthday Cake isn't super exciting, but I was working on the party for the next day and Jeff helped keep this one simple. Ashton thought it was fun, and chocolate cake always tastes good!



Just ask Aryk...

He was really enjoying the cake, until we laughed at how messy he was and I started snapping photos and threatening a bath. SORRY little man!

The next day was Ashton's "friend party". We had planned for an outside Harry Potter "Tri-Wizard Tournament" pool party. But it was RAINY. Really rainy. Crazy, I never thought that weather would be an issue in August! So, we changed the party to a Harry Potter/ Wii party indoors. Yeah, I never thought I would have 10 boys in my house at the same time either! It was fun. Ashton has GREAT friends.

So... here's the set up...
We set up the counter to be "Honeydukes" the candy shop. We had edible wands, chocolate covered "cockroaches" (they were really cinnamon bears), "Bertties Bots Every Flavor Beans", sour worms, and gummy lizards. For the birthday cake I actually made Wizard Hat cupcakes. And we also had "Butter Beer". YUM!!! What a sugar loaded spread!

Ashton has been asking to learn guitar since he was 4 years old! We told him he had to learn piano first. So, when Ashton was 5, I started teaching him piano. He has done well. He knows the basics of reading music, and the notes on the staff. So lately we have been doing some guitar shopping. Looking at sizes, prices, what we are willing to spend. Ashton even offered to use his allowance money to buy a guitar. This helped, because we knew he was serious! Ashton received money from Grandma Holbrook, for his birthday, to help pay for his new guitar. He also received some cash from Grandma June, Grandma Ashton, and one of his friends. So... Jeff took him shopping, and they bought his guitar.

Jeff bought him a beginner guitar book and DVD, and he has all ready learned a few things. He is excited to take lessons. We are hoping his guitar teacher will be available this week!
Thanks to Grandma(s)too!

AJ's Birthday Party

We let AJ have a "friend birthday party" this year. He had a Transformer theme, and we held it at the park. It was so fun. The kids played on the playground and ran through the water. AJ opened presents. They all ate cake. They searched for the Allspark Cube, where they found their goody bags. And then back to the water until parents picked them up.

AJ's cake was an autobots sign. I did decorate it myself. So now you don't have to wonder if we wasted our money on the funny looking cake. I actually thought it turned out pretty cool. And AJ liked it. That is what matters! He kept blowing, and blowing, and blowing, but couldn't get the candles out. Aryk and I helped. No they were not trick candles.

AJ loves Star Wars, Transformers, Superheroes, balls/ sports, Cars, guns... boy stuff. The presents were really cool.

The water was very fun and refreshing. The boys had so much fun playing together and splashing.

It was a simple and fun party. Thank You Rob, Nathan, Nick, and Zach. We missed you Cade, Max, Brigham, and Jacob. AJ was bummed not ALL his friends could come. But he really enjoyed the afternoon.

AJ's 6th Birthday!

AJ turned 6 years old (a couple weeks ago). He was so excited to open presents. That was his first question when he woke up. So we let him open the presents from Grandma and Grandpa Holbrook first. A play golf set. He LOVES this! All three boys love to play with the plastic/ foam clubs.

They also gave him a set of soccer goals. The boys are having so much fun playing soccer against each other.

Ashton helping AJ read his birthday card. They are such good brothers. (NO Ashton does not wear glasses. The lenses are popped out, he is pretending to be Harry Potter)

AJ taking his new toys outside to play.


Then he had to wait ALL DAY for his dad to come home from work to open more presents.

He got Star Wars toys from Dad and Mom and brothers.

After dinner we went to Grandma Likes' for more presents and some cake.

He got a candy bar, a Ben 10 Omnitrix watch, and the Asoka, Lego Star Wars ship, from Grandma and Grandpa Likes and Uncle Cam.

Aunt Nicole gave him some cool Hornet goggles/ glasses and a Star Wars card that plays the Star Wars theme music. AJ loves it! He had an awesome birthday!

Aryk's 1st Birthday!

WOW!!! One Year Old! He is such a sweet baby. Aryk has 7 teeth, he can walk, but chooses to crawl. He hates to have his diaper changed. He screams bloody murder in the bathtub, but loves to sit in the shower. Aryk loves balls, dogs, trucks, being outside, riding in grocery carts, and watching his brothers. He is all boy. Wonder where he gets that from? He weighs 21 lbs. 8oz. And is 30.8 inches long.

Ashton and AJ love their brother. They are so good to help him, play with him, chase him, tell him what to do, feed him, carry him, buckle him up, and show off for him. Mom and Dad wouldn't know what to do without them. They are great big brothers and helpers. Aryk is a lucky little man. Sometimes when he is jabbering it sounds like he is actually saying thier names. He will sit in one room and holler "AHH JAAA" to the room where AJ is playing. And sometimes he will yell "AAAHAAAN", and we look at each other and ask, did he just say "Ashton"? But it is really hard to tell. He is very close to forming a word. He has sounds for "ball" and "dog". Bets on Aryk's first word? Ball? Dog? AJ? or Ashton? Jeff keeps trying for "dad" and Alyson keeps teaching him "mama". We will see! Aryk LOVED ALL of his birthday presents. It didn't take him long to realize there was fun stuff hiding under the wrapping paper. He LOVES cake and ice cream too! Too bad he didn't sleep very well that night. We blame the sugar. He hated the clean up (remember the bath tub phobia?).

Our 1 Year Old! We LOVE You!

Aryk 11 months

Aryk was 11 months on May 6. Sorry, I took a while to get this posted! Aryk is 2ft.6in. and weighs 21lbs. He has two bottom teeth all the way in, and two top teeth still working their way in. He loves to crawl and get into things, especially the dog's crates, and the bottom drawers. Peek-a-boo is his favorite game. He is walking along furniture, or walking while he is pushing something. I think those first steps are just around the corner. He LOVES to play ball with his brothers and watch the dogs run around the yard. He LOVES to be outside. He is always pointing to his swing, the trampoline, or my bench/rocker, and wanting someone to take him out. I can't wait for him to walk and go to it himself! He has decided he doesn't like baby food. He will only eat what is on our plates. He is so precious to us! And I am going to treasure this month, because now he wants to grow up!

10 Months

WOW!!! This year is going by so fast! I can't keep up! Aryk is 30" long and weighs 21lbs. still. I guess he is burning a lot of calories with all his crawling.

I went crazy with the camera, of course. Between how adorable my baby is, and how much he moves around, there were a lot of different shots. Aryk doesn't hold still for anything! When we are changing his diaper or getting him dressed, he thinks it's a game. He loves to crawl away and make you chase him. Well... that's what he did while trying to take his photo. So, I made some more collages. I love this little guy and his playful personality. I can't get enough!

Aryk LOVES the piano. While visiting The Aldred's in Utah, Aryk found that he was tall enough to reach their piano keys. So as soon as we returned home, he had to try it on our piano! And sure enough two and a half feet is a perfect hight for playing the piano! So while taking photos and chasing him around, he had to make a couple stops at the piano. And at his train, and at his rocket. Anywhere but where mom set him! And he thought it was hilarious!

Here is Aryk on a random night at our house, last week. Getting into the usual drawer of plastic cups and bowls. He thinks he is drinking out of this empty water bottle. It was so cute!

While playing in Ashton and AJ's room, he found that this empty traveling toy box was perfect for him to travel in! Man, Ashton is getting strong! Aryk is such a delight. He is currently going through a fever and cold. So he isn't as happy as usual right now. But he is still fun and cute and loving... I could go on. No wonder I can't stop taking pictures! I miss my other two being this small. But it is nice to have the big brothers. They are good to Aryk and help out so much.

Aryk, Aryk, and more Aryk

I have been saving up pictures for a couple weeks. Aryk is a camera hog. He turned 9 months last Friday (March 6). He is 21lbs. I can't believe how big he is. He is crawling, pulling himself to standing, has two bottom teeth, trying to express himself through noises, and loves to eat and play!

Now that Aryk is pulling himself to standing, he is also trying to see out the window. Here is our little guy trying watch the dogs out the back kitchen window.

For Aryk's 9 month pictures, I thought it would be fun to try some Black and White. These are the different faces of our baby! These are some collages of the different pictures I took. Yes some of them are repeats, but hang in there. I was having fun with the photo editor.

This one is my favorite. I love his cheeks and lower lip! I could just squeeze them all day!

Ashton and I wanted brownies for Family Home Evening. So Aryk sat in his high chair and helped. Maybe I shouldn't have put him so close to the mixer! What a mess. But we are having so much fun! And luckily, no allergies.