Think Hansel and Gretel...

Jonah and Ava were leaving a trail for Brynne to follow...the funny thing is, it worked!! This kid loves Honey-Nut Cheerios!

My New Motto

Jenni bought this coaster for me. It's so good, it just has to be a Proverb or something.

Easter

At the Durias'. So nice!

Introducing...

The newest member of our family, Rosebud the Dog. Oh yes, Folkertsma-clan, it takes you right back, doesn't it?! Let's just say this apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Ava's Fancy

Ava's taken a fancy to Princess Barbies (B-day presents courtesy of Auntie Heather and Gammie). Almost every night she wants to take a bath with them and then we sit and brush their hair, get them dressed, and play. It brings me right back to playing Barbies with my sisters and friends. Girls are so fun!

Belle's got what my friend Ligaya refers to as "Big Hair Pride"

All the clean cuties together

Look whose got some new Toofers!

Four at once...yikes

A Walk

One particularly sunny day, we walked to the park with Elisha and Lilla

Boo In A Box--The Sequel

I don't know why my family delights in putting Boo in all these odd compartments, but they do!

She actually really liked it in there

Cute Kids

Eating a treat

They play together all day every day. I don't know what one would do without the other.
They rush through their schoolwork so they can play some more.
Such a treasure.

Ava's Birthday!

Ava turned five last Tuesday! She was begging for a "Super Mario" Party and as you can see we turned the house into Super Mario World complete with a Coin Land and had games, cake, and a Yoshi Egg Hunt outside in the freezing cold. Ava is so excited to be five (anyone know where she gets that?) and can't wait for her first sleep-over with best bud Paige.
It was really fun--all I can say is three birthdays in eight days--Phew!

Brynne Turns ONE!

I can't believe that it's been a whole year since we had this little nugget! She was so tiny and now she's huge (well, she's got some good chubs on her anyways)! She's so sweet and really just a joy to have in our home. She's mellow, loves her brother and sister, loves music and to dance, crawls really fast, and loves the stairs!
For her first b-day we had a big party at The Children's Gym in Portland. There were about 40 people there and Brynne just took it all in stride. She loved her chocolate cake and absolutely loved jumping on the trampoline with her daddy. The mats on the floor were so fun for her to crawl on, too. All-in-all, I think she would say she had a fabulous day and would turn 1 over and over again if it meant eating chocolate cake with her hands and having a nose full of frosting! :)
Happy Birthday Brynney-Boo!!!

A Birthday

Ava wrote me a card (with Jon's help). Here's what it said:
"Mom, I Love (heart) U. But I always wanted a cat. AVA."
Nice to know I'm right up there with her heart's desire! :)
Jon took us all to DeNicola's for some super yummy Italian food. I had the veal parmesan.
(Name that movie: "Try the veil, it's the best in the city.")
Ava loved it because she could get noodles with butter and cheese and Jonah loves ravioli, so he was in heaven!
Jon had pizza, of course. :)

Ava really loved the spimoni ice cream! I guess she comes by this honestly...

Happy Birthday Elisabeth!!!

Last year, my sister snuck onto my blog and left me a surprise happy birthday message. Turn around is fair play. :) But who wouldn't want to surprise such an amazing sister? Elisabeth is funny, smart, supportive, beautiful, a good mom, a great sister, a terrific friend and I'm honored to have her in my life.

E: I miss you soo much! and love you even more. Hope you eats lots of pizza, drink a bubble tea, and get lots of love today.