Pre-screening of TS3 at Pixar Studios in Emeryville

Today our friend and Eric's fellow officer, Jean L. invited us to the Pixar Studios for the second time {have not gotten to posting the first visit yet} but this time it was for the screening of Toy Story 3!!!! 

It is an AWESOME movie. I can't wait to watch it again. I have to admit I even cried a little....I love the Toy Story movies....I think they are the BEST! Eric and I have already decided that TS3 is going to be the theme to Ashlyn's 3rd Birthday! So fun! {haha...but a year away!}

This was Ashlyn's FIRST movie in a Theatre....and I am so sad I have no pictures to prove it. Pixar collects electronics: phones, camera's etc. because the movie is not out yet.... So I guess we will need to wait for her 2nd time seeing the movie once it comes out in June to get a picture in the movie theatre chair. {with a bag of popcorn and candy} Even without the pictures we made a fun first memory with Ashlyn today. It was a great date with just Mommy, Daddy & Ashlyn. 

Ashlyn's face when she saw where we were

Trying to get a cute pic  before we went in...

She is all Toy Storied out...

t-shirt, sweatshirt, Woody doll

{and now she has a Buzz...we got it for her today}

The Front of Ken's Dream House...in the movie

the back side...check out all the rooms...

Ashlyn & Daddy in the Pixar Studios with Ken's Dream House in the background

Mommy & Ashlyn Action Figure...

Dad cut off the box

Ashlyn TS3 Action Figure

Who is going to start the Bid?

one of my favorites...

Ashlyn climbing on Mike a character from Monsters Inc.

my boyz

our schedules...

Eric works 3 12 hour days... thursday, friday and saturday night....

I work m-f in the morning... i am usually home by 1:30-2:00...

ashlyn goes to preschool with me m-f...

colton stays home with daddy monday, tuesday & wednesday...

my mom watches colt thursday & friday...

my dad & cathy fill in when my mom has business meetings...

LUCKY....yep that is us. we know it but we appreciate all the help we get. 

on this particular day i walked in from work and saw my handsome boys dressed alike. 

BASKETBALL SHORTS & NO SHIRTS!

So Adorable! I had to get the camera out! 

Eric may be a busy dad that has an opposite schedule but he is the best dad ever! He always takes time out of his day to spend a little one on one with teach kid. Some days are tougher than others. Especially when I am busy and I have to bring the kids with me to do errands.  We do try and get home before he leaves. I never want a day to go by when Eric doesn't see the kids. It happens but not as often! 

Honey, Thanks for being the best dad & husband ever. You teach us so much by just being you! We have learned balance from you....you do it so perfectly! Thank you & I appreciate everything you do! Love, your wifey

Grandma's Girls

Ok so the date is totally off since I am sooooo late posting... on May 4th, Grandma Wittmer had all us girls (and 2 great grandsons) over for a pizza dinner & making cookie night! Really it was just an excuse to get together....I love that. Grandma Wittmer's family is so important to her. She does so much to keep everyone close. She provides many opportunities throughout the year for all of us to get together and create memories! These silly get togethers really are memories I will cherish forever! 


Check out how cute the kiddos were....

colton, lizzie & ashlyn loving on each other

2 of grandma's 3 great grandsons!

colton & max

the girls went out in the garden...baby doll came too...

our little chefs

ash moving so quick that the picture is blurry 
but love the messy hands!

after all that playing with dough....payoff...eating cookies!

the girls got into the CREAM! Yuck! Both had adorable milk mustaches....Ash would not get in the picture....

but isn't this one super cute of elizabeth! I love it! 

Grandma Wittmer with Max

Grandma, Thank you for always providing special times for the family to get together! I really appreciate every memory we make! 
We love you! 

xoxo, Your extra granddaughter! Tiffany

my 1st Mother's Day Tea

On the Friday before Mother's Day {may 7th} Little Mud Puddles holds an annual Mother's Day Tea. Where all the mommies come for a tea/lemonade party and the kids decorate cookies for us! I have been to several, as a teacher...but this was my first as a MOMMY! I loved it...although for a few minutes during the circle time Ashlyn wanted to sit with another mommy....sad but at least she wanted me after. My mom joined us after a little bit. I know she had a blast too. Mom & I have been hosting these tea parties for years... it was a change for both of us to actually have a real reason to be there. It was perfect!

Miss Gloria, Miss Yuner & Mr. Fred help the children make us a special gift... this year the children decorated flower pots. I love mine! I will cherish it forever! It was very special because Ashlyn actually made two, one for me and one for grandma. That is definitely something special b/c the other kids did not get to do that....ok so here was Ashlyn's first special treatment for being the owners granddaughter...haha! 
who are we kidding i'm sure there have been many...

Check out some of the pics...I had been messing with my settings so they did not come out the way I wanted...but I still LOVE them!!!

ashlyn & mommy at our first mother's day tea

the hand crafted mother;s day gift from ashlyn

 my mom {grandma} with the kiddos! 

ash decorating our cookies

sprinkles, sprinkles, more sprinkles....

our spot was seriously a mess....

after the tea ashlyn decided to read to brody...

check colton out in the back...the kids loved him!

ashlyn with her best friend madyson

so bummed that this pic is blurry!

these girls are best friends at school! 

{I BELIEVE IN YOU}

I/we have been going through a lot right now. We are all safe & heathy just making decisions that will effect our future. It is all so scary yet exciting, stressful yet wonderful. The support we have been receiving from family and friends is so humbling. {i}  We are typically such independent thinkers and processors that talking outwardly is different for us. I pray and have faith that God will lead our family in the right direction. Awe... without that faith....I would be lost! 


This week my Auntie Debbie sent this card...talk about being written just for me. I love it so much I feel the need to share it. Thank you Auntie, I love our special relationship. You mean the world to me. I love you as my aunt, my godmother, my sister, my friend! 

I believe in you ~

in the things that are important to you

and in the way you choose

to live your life...

I believe that you can accomplish 

anything you set out to do,

that you have many talents

and the wisdom to use them well...

I believe that you have what it takes

to overcome obstacles

and to grow from every experience

life brings your way...

I believe in your courage,

your compassion,

your integrity, 

and your strength.

I believe 

in your goodness...

I believe in you.

{Bobbie Burrow}

my strength...my family...my girls
on mom & aunties b-day @ wente that i have not had time to post about

Motherhood is....the best gift I have ever been given!

Happy Mother's Day!


i have so many feelings about what motherhood is and what it means to me i could probably write for hours...hours of which i do not have : ) due to motherhood.... so i decided i'll list them off...


{MOTHERHOOD is , to me}....    
....pure awesomeness...
...sometimes stressful...
...challenging...
...spiritual...
...loving, caring, nurturing...
...unselfish....
...capturing memories...
....Fun!...
...gentle.... well lets hope most of the time : )
...change...
...creating memories...
....a balancing act...
...hard work...
....cleaning...
....cooking yummy meals...
...my most important career...
...a blessing...
...homemaking...
...is rewarding...


...the BEST gift I have ever been given! {and Eric of course, without him I would not be the mother I am today}


Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommies, Grandmas, Aunties, Godmothers, Sisters & Friends! I hope you have a beautiful day. Sometimes I get caught up in moments, raise my voice, catch myself, then think about this list of wonderful things and wonder how I could not appreciate being a Mother. I do! I aprreciate every day, every hug, every kiss with my children.


Ash & Colt,
     Thank you for being such a joy in my life. I had always dreamt of being a mommy. Those dreams have become a reality. You two and Daddy have made all my dreams come true. I am so blessed and I thank God everyday for all the joy in my life. I LOVE every minute of being your Mommy!
Love, Mom

moments after becoming a mother

now a mother of two

Happy 2nd Birthday KAYLA!!!

Happy Birthday to Ashlyn's best friend Kayla! Kayla turns 2 today and I just can't believe how fast our little girls are growing up! I love watching their relationship grow. I know these two will be so close like
 Nicole & Kristine and Christy & I.... 

Kayla~ We are so thankful you are in our life! You are soooo special to us! Happy Second Birthday! Can't wait to celebrate with you! 

Love, Uncle Eric, Auntie Tiff, Ash & Colt

Ashlyn & Kayla Aug 2009

the girls hanging out at Ashlyn's birthday party

us at Colton's baptism....Sorry moni I did not take the picture...haha! 

Colton is 8 months!

I am finally getting back on track about the monthly updates....


AT EIGHT MONTHS colton IS....


...wearing size 2 diapers, probably going to size three soon...
...wearing size 6-12mo clothes...
...wearing size 2 & 3 shoes...although he still fits in to his size 1 dc's that eric bought him the day after he was born...ps they are the best baby shoes ever! good job honey!

...he is scooting & partial crawling. i stand corrected when i posted that he was crawling...but he is moving all over the house! the funniest thing is right now he gets on all fours and tucks one leg under so he is crawling with three limbs and drags one... crawling? i guess not but pretty much! it is so fun and i can't believe he is moving around already! we had to re-baby proof the house! good thing we have the shark cleaner thanks to grandma & grandpa...we use it everyday!


...he loves to EAT! surprising since he is in the 14%tile in weight??? i know surprised me too. dr. is not worried so i am not going to worry either... his favorites this month have been my grandma's homemade "tocco" spaghetti sauce, bananas, oatmeal with wild blueberries (daddy makes it the best & he does not like baby oatmeal it has to be real), my homemade applesauce...YUMMO...cherrios, gerber puffs...banana flavor is his favorite, and one more addition poppy seed muffins from costco. He serves himself too... it is the cutest thing ever.


he is also eating...in baby food: all squashes (i mostly home-make all my veggies), broccoli (his least favorite right now although he liked it last month), loves all the fruit combos,  doesn't love green veggies right now but will eat them if they are mixed with meat, loves chicken, beef and has one jar of ham. in big people food he has had: refried beans, spanish rice, sushi rice, chow mein noodles, spaghetti noodles, already mentioned oatmeal & blueberries. WOW that is a pretty big list for an 8 month old...


what else fun....


...he is the happiest baby i have ever met. smiles all the time. when he is not smiling it breaks your heart.


...he is teething... and it is not pretty...poor guy can barley sleep....


...he poses for the camera already. my nikon has a light that activates when focusing.... it his colton's prompt to SMILE! it is so so so cute!


...he loves his big sister. even though she is rough with him at times. he loves laughing with her. they love playing tickel. he loves listening to her "read", loves playing with her toys phones in particular, and grabbing her milk cup. {since he has an interest we are now giving him his own sippy cup...oh the things you learn with baby no. 2}


....he loves to DANCE. we have music on in our house all the time. all kinds...eric and i listen to such a variety. the other day eric said he had to wait for colt to stop dancing to give him another bite of food. his new favorite cd is the one auntie nine & uncle ryan got him for his baptism....every time it says "colton" he smiles the biggest grin and is so proud. on that note his favorite song is "happy and you know it" he is so proud that he can now clap his hands (sometimes he misses...haha)


i think that is all the main things for this month....
right now i do not have his official 8 month pics. we took them with jana beck and i am patiently waiting...well not so patient...i loved my sneak peek and i cant wait to see all of them! so i'll post those once i get them! woo hoo!