DOCTOR

Ever since Caleb was in the hospital Doctors have been feared. I knew about Aubrey and Caleb's doctors appointment 3 weeks in advance. I talked to the receptionist yesterday morning to make sure that no shots were needed and that all the kids screening would be done so they could start school. She double checked and said NO SHOTS WERE NEEDED! :)We arrived at 8:30 sharp. By 9:30 it was discovered that Caleb needed 5 shots! 5 SHOTS! "Why Caleb? Cant it be Aubrey?" is all I kept saying to myself. We'll 30 minutes, 2 nurses, and a receptionist (all to hold him down)later life was sad. But NO we were not done! I had to take the kids up a floor to get their blood drawn. BLOOD DRAWN! Can you imagine?? I walk into the Lab (carrying a crying Caleb and tired Ainsley because my stroller was stuck in the broken car trunk) and the waiting room was full of adults. Our names were called right away and we headed to the back room. 3 nurses were waiting for us and I handed a scared, tired, and teething Ainsley over to a nurse while I used all of my body power to hold Caleb still long enough to draw blood. When Caleb was done it was Aubrey's turn. So sad. When we were done I grabbed Ainsley from the nurse and holding Caleb/Aubrey hand we headed down the hall back to the waiting room. EVERYONE STARED!! Aubrey,Caleb, and Ainsley were all red faced and had tears rolling down her cheeks. As I reached for the door to leave Aubrey/Caleb said they hurt to bad to walk so I scooped them both up in my already fall arms and carried 3 very sad kids to the elevator, down a bunch of stairs, and out to the car. By the time everyone was buckled up in the car it was 11:30. What a start to a crazy day and an even crazier weekend! Will the kids take a nap after such a long, awful morning? DOUBT IT!

Will the kids be cranky at the closing this afternoon? Probably!

Will Caleb get sick and have a fever this weekend? Probably!:(

Will we finally be in our own house? YES:)

I guess we have to take the bad with the good. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?

New Couch Rules:

No Shoes on couch
No Food on couch
No jumping on couch
No dirty hands/ or mouth on couch
ABSOLUTELY No rough house on couchAubrey, Caleb, and Ainsley were very excited to wake up and find 3 new couches in the front room. They were not every excited to hear MOM'S NEW rules. I let them know I was VERY serious about these rules and that there are NO exceptions to the rules. "I am serious" were the words I kept saying over and over again!
At first there was silence and I felt happy and optimistic that is would work. After 2 minutes of silence Aubrey walks in the room with a bowl of Gold Fish and tried to sit on the couch..."Mom, I promise to be very careful" and "I am 4, I do not make a mess." After a very stern look her way she added "Mom, I am serious."

Although the kids are not fond of my new rules they have not tried to test them (except for Aubrey's Gold Fish bowl time). So exciting! We have had them for 3 days and they are still clean. I have high hopes for my new couches!!! I just hope they make it through the move clean and tear free.

AINSLEY DAWN (10 months old)The FRIDGE, THE BATH TUB (empty), AND THE HALL CLOSET are Ainsley's 3 favorite places to be. Why? I do not know. Odd little girl! The second Caleb leaves the fridge open Ainsley heads strait for it, the minute Aubrey goes into the bathroom Ainsley sneaks in right behind her and climbs into the bathtub(empty) , and the bottom shelf of the hall closet is where I constantly find Ainsley laughing/laying! Ainsley has enough hair to do little piggy tails! So exciting!!! I love it!! They only last 2 minutes and then she takes them out but I love to do her hair anyway!!!

Ainsley is completely bald in front but don't laugh!!

AUBREY IS 4!
What a wonderful, crazy, and busy 4 years. Aubrey has grown and changed so quickly. From a quiet little 5 pound 15 ounce baby I never would have thought I would cry, worry, care, or love so much. I am so thankful for the joy she has brought into my life and for the opportunity she gave me to become a mother for the very first time!

I have been through teething, first steps, kisses, chicken pox, penicillin allergic reactions, spring viruses, nightmares, growing pains, giggles, and tickles.

4 years ago I had no idea who Dora was, how much formula cost, how important it was to always have snacks and desitin on hand, and how cute toddler Old Navy clothes were.

4 years ago my life didn't revolve around dress up clothes, The Doodle Pad, and pink glitter lipstick. I could wake up when I wanted, go to bed when I wanted, watch my favorite shows when I wanted, and listen to my own music in the car.Aubrey Jean has been the perfect part of my life. She has made me realize every action, reaction, and decision counts and makes a difference. I love how much she has taught me and have realized that I still know very little. The simple things make the most of her life but if you were to ask her what she loves the very most in the entire world she would probably answer Grandpa and Sleeping Beauty. So although I have not gone to school and I have not climbed the corporate ladder if asked what I have accomplished the last 4 years I can happily and proudly say AUBREY!!!

AUBREY'S EARLY BIRTHDAY PARTY CELEBRATION

Aubrey was so excited to see all of her birthday presents!! She patiently waited at home for Grandpa Griner to arrive and for Caleb/Dad to get home from doing their "special" errands so that she could go to the park and start her party!!!She loved her new 4 year old bike that her Grandparents Clark and Grayson gave her!!! She started riding immediately!!

Caleb was very cranky so Dad volunteered to compete against Aubrey in the Princess race! It was so hot (94 degrees)and really humid so the race was cut short and modified...Aubrey didn't care though, she still ended up with lots of necklaces, rings, and bracelets!!!

Caleb stopped being cranky long enough to put on a "BOY" bracelet and "BOY"necklace. Caleb was VERY VERY VERY cranky!!! The minute we set the balloons out for decoration he cried with horror. He was convinced that the balloon were going to fly away (even though I double tied them 3 times). He cried so much he was tired and said he wanted to leave the park/party!!!

Ainsley had a blast! She loved all of the grass, balloons, excitement, and most of all she loved Grandpa Griner!

Aubrey was excited about everything!! When we revealed the cheap $5 Little Cesar's pizza she was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!

Aubrey loved her Belle dress!!! "I love it, it is very big" she said while she held it up to her, twirled, and giggled as if she had never seen anything so beautiful in her entire life! She loved her new princess book along with a couple of accessories perfect for a princess! Grandpa and Grandma Griner gave Aubrey a pre-school activity board and blocks that make a princess castle! The minute we got home from the party she had to put her Belle dress on and make a little princess castle!!Cake was a top priority!!! She made a wish and then blew out the candles one at a time!Caleb was red faced and tired...but not to tired for cake!!!

We had a lot of fun celebrating Aubrey's birthday today!!! We cant believe she is going to be 4 in 4 days!!! We love our Aubrey Jean!

Caleb and the Coin or Coins! Two days ago I had left 5 or 6 coins on the kitchen table. I had intended to go and get my purse and add the coins to my wallet but the timer on the dryer went off so I collected the clothes and started to fold them. Minutes later Caleb came into the room holding his tummy. He looked worried so I asked him what was wrong. He replied...."I swallowed money, I cant get it out, I need an operation." I ran to the table to see what coins he had swallowed and they were all gone! I asked him where all the coins went and he said "In my tummy I need a cookie to feel all better!"

I have looked high and low for those coins....he either hid them really well or actually swallowed all of them! We are keeping a close eye on him and if they don't turn up in 2 days then I guess we will be calling the doctor:(

After another long/weird week has drawn to a close, my comments are simple....

THANK GOODNESS FOR MOMENTS LIKE THESE!

This week has been crazy.

We have continued with Caleb's potty training but this week we switched from having him sit down to standing up and it has been a major success!!!! No accidents for 5 days!!!!! Yahoo!!!

Aubrey has mastered the art of "Tattle Telling", it seems that her speech drastically improves when Caleb or Ainsley are doing something they shouldn't. She is a great big sister and loves to sing. During sacrament I was so happy that she was singing but when I listened to her more closely she had the right tune but instead of singing the words "Called to Serve him..." she was singing "I know you I walked with you once upon a dream....". What a silly girl!

Ainsley is perfect. Now that her 6 tooth has come in she is wonderful!!! The doctor said she is almost in the 25 percentile so we have been feeding her a lot more and she has been loving it!!! She loves eating regular food instead of baby food!!

4th of July!!

Ainsley was very excited about the 4th of July but refused to leave in her cute hair bow!

Caleb was eagerly preparing for the egg race!

Caleb started off strong but about 5 steps after he lost his egg, he REALIZED he lost his egg. He was so confused that he bolted ahead and grabbed an egg from the ground(which was another little boys egg) and ran to the finish line!!Caleb was SOOOOOO excited for the sack race! He started out strong (about 2 minutes before everyone) and then fell. Everyone around started laughing because he started so early and he thought they were making fun of him:( Devastated and embarrassed he cried in my arms until the race was over:(

Aubrey, with the help of cousin Olivia, started the sack race slow, took 2 small hops, and then watched and waited until the race was over. What a silly girl!!

Pinata time was a blast!!! It was main attraction (until I realized I forgot the pinata)!! Luckily Grandma Griner found one of Aunt Ella's pinata! Grandma saves the day!!!

It took Aubrey and Caleb forever to understand the correct way to go down the slip n' slide!! Thank goodness for Olivia and Uncle Dave!

Aubrey started off going down the slip n' slide the cleanest way possible!

After many tries down the slip n' slide I decided that Caleb needed to take it like a MAN!!! His look of terror is really excitement!!!

Overall the 4th of July was a lot of fun. The weather was perfect and celebrating Uncle Dave's and Grandma Griners birthday was a cake topper to a perfect family day!!!

4TH OF JULY WEEKEND PICTURES!

Caleb is loving life during summer time. He loves being outside and running free! His poor little face doesn't last long in the sun though!

Ainsley eats everything! It doesn't matter where we sit her down she sticks everything in her mouth so....

She spends all of her time in the swings! She loves the swings! The higher she gets the more she laughs! She is so much fun! Aubrey loves the park and considers "park time" to be "parents stay away time". She runs and plays until she is wiped out and then finds a tree to relax under.