professional pictures

It's been awhile since we've visited Marsha Jones Photography (Grandma Marsha), and so thankful we did. Look at these three gorgeous kids together! Our main objective was to get Harlow's two year pictures done, but Marsha was kind enough to take a few of all three together and snap a good one of just the boys alone too. 

This was her attempt at posing with her hand on her hip. She needs some more coaching (ahem...calling all Ahlness girls!!).

So when did these boys grow up?? Man, they're practically teenagers!

L.O.V.E.

gymnastics

Harlow ended her gymnastics lessons a couple weeks ago. She loved it, although I think she would've and could've done a lot more than the coaches allowed. Thankfully on her last day she was able to jump on the tumble track and trampoline, she had been dying to do that every week! For safety, the coach asked that she hold hands while jumping on the tramp which Harlow did not like! She wanted free reign to do her straddle jumps and seat drops. Every week she impressed her coaches (and other parents) with her strength and abilities. I think she might be a natural gymnast, and a freaking cute one!

Her "TA-DA"!!!! I love how she flips and poses her hands. 

Mario Kart Bday

Hudson had his Super Mario Kart birthday party this past weekend. It feels like he turned 6 years old forever ago, and so far I am LOVING this age of six!!! It seems like he is a different kid! He has sweetened and matured right up! No more attitude, no more temper, no more eye rolling....well, at least for the most part! (Unfortunately, it seems he has passed all of that on to his little brother, but more on that another day.) 

Sheri and Carson made Hudson a candy train. At first he wanted to keep the train in tact forever, but he just couldn't resist and started eating the candy that night. And here's a picture overload of just Hudson and Harlow, but seriously, they are all so freaking cute I had to include each and every one! 

Like seriously....heart melted right there! Even more so because no one asked them to do it, sister just wrapped those arms around him and squeezed! 

It's become tradition to do fireworks at Hudson's party. He is obsessed with them, and so is Grandpa so they make a great pair. 

Maddi and Zev got Hudson this giant inflatable ball for Christmas but we kind of kept forgetting about it until now. Not sure who had more fun, the little kids or big boys?!?! I think Hudson and Paxton might have both been inside at this point, until Mommy put an end to that. I know I'm no fun, but what are the odds that they crack their heads open on each other....probably pretty high with Jamie and Zev rolling them around! I also have a picture of Maddi climbing inside, but I'll spare her and keep that off the blog. Plus, at that time the ball was on the trampoline and shortly after she climbed in, the tramp broke...literally! I think 3 adults, 2 kids, and a giant ball were just too much to handle.

Happy 6th Birthday Hudsy......love you like crazy!!

jamie turns 35

The daddy of the house had a birthday today and turned a year older, 35!! He spent most of the day golfing with Zevlen, but we celebrated him this evening with fourwheeling at the farm, out to eat with family at Turner Hall, and home for presents and cake, a.k.a. tower of cookies. Daddy doesn't like cake so we went with a tower of cookies instead, a tower that a sweet two year old bit into before the celebration started. 

 One present was Burt's Beeswax, Jamie and Hudson's favorite. Hudson was telling him that since there's two in the package, certainly that means they can each have one. 

 This was supposed to be the nice picture they promised me in order to get to do a silly one next.....

 Then they got extra silly!

Happy 35th Birthday Daddy! 

the fourth

We spent the weekend of the 4th at Maddi and Zevlen's house and lake. The weather turned out to be perfect, and by some miracle, the mosquitos and gnats stayed away and we came out of the weekend without a single bite! We really couldn't have asked for a better time, lots of fun on and off the lake making memories with family and friends. So a HUGE thank you to Maddi and Zev for hosting us and for providing so much fun for our three kids. And to Grandma and the aunts for helping with those three crazy kids, and for making lots of yummy food to eat all weekend long. 

Harlow started out a little nervous on the boats. She sat on my lap and squeezed my hands, wrapping her legs around mine, a little tighter when Jamie would drive faster. But she kept saying she wanted to stay on and that it was "pun" (fun). She got more comfortable as the day went on, going from boat to boat, and eventually even getting in the water with her brothers. The boys loved everything about being on the lake! They loved riding fast in the boats, they loved swimming, tubing, and just floating around. 

Off the lake we spent a lot of time on the four wheelers. Maddi and Zev have one and Grandpa also brought his. I think that was probably Paxton's favorite thing to do. As soon as anyone sat on one, he was asking to ride with. 

Fireworks was Hudson's favorite thing. Well, I should be more specific, attempting to start fires or things on fire with sparklers. We realized we might have a little pyro on our hands. He was warned over and over again not to start the grass on fire, the box on fire, the tree on fire, himself on fire!

Aunt Vicky made Harlow her own personal pool with a cooler filled with (ice cold) water. She spent all afternoon in that thing and loved it!

Thanks again Maddi and Zev!!!!! We love you and appreciate it so much! See you next year.....

And she rides...

The boys have always loved mowing the lawn with Jamie, but Harlow's been a little fearful, up until now! She hops right on and takes over. And she doesn't just want to ride along, she wants to take over, steer and drive! And those head phones, pretty sure they're bigger than her head!

Same goes for her Jeep. We got it for her birthday and she was more content just riding around with her brothers. But one day she decided to hop in on her own, and now she drives around like a mad woman! Still needs a little practice on watching where she's going and steering, but she looks pretty darn cute in that thing!