This Blog is Written by a 28 Year Old...

Yep...I am now 28!
Here is the cake from my parents...
The name is essentially right...Ashley Laura...
however the cake-maker added an 'and' in there.
Makes me want to pretend I have a twin named Laura.
We totally get along...
and we share cute clothes...
and she has a little girl Allikaye's age...
and we love to shop together...
okay, sorry, back to my birthday! hehe
Here is the sweet cake made by my hubby...
I have now learned that he frosts cakes better than me.
Guess who will be frosting cakes from now on?
Ha! Happy birthday to me!

Oh...and now for the birthday dinner...
The Melting Pot...
mmmmm...

All of this was deliciously covered in chocolate...
I want more!
So there is a quick wrap-up of the birthday!
Yay...fun times!

I have also started attempting hair clippies for Miss Allikaye!
Here are some pics...

Yay for the bling!

L-O-V-E making these!

What else have we been doing?

Other than a birthday...
twin-wishing...
yummy birthday cakes...
happiness dipped in chocolate...
and hair clippies...

We have been just hanging out
and building forts...

**It is Feb. 1st - so time to pick a new memory verse...mine is on my sidebar!**

Because I'm Potty Trained...

I thought I would get myself a reward!
Ha! Just joking...
well...not about me being potty trained...that I am...
but I didn't necessarily reward myself...
my hubby did...and my lovely parents...
It is an early birthday present (Jan. 31st)...
Here it is...
my new happy table...

Oh joy!
We got it here for a heck of a deal!
I have been lookin all over these parts for a cherry-type table...
with 4 chairs and a bench!
Woohoo! Got it!
Happy early birthday to the mama!

Here is another little something that is new...and happy...
my new 'C' from Anthropologie...
thank you my mama!
And the black 'C' used to be gold...
thank you spray paint!

And now...
on to the news you all have been dying to hear about...
potty training news!!
Oh I can sense your excitement through the computer!

I love all the advice I received from you all!
Dani suggested a sticker book, that I can take with us shopping.
That way when Allikaye uses a "big" potty on the go -
she can put a sticker in her book - on the go!
Brilliant! Thanks, Dani!
And Allikaye is really excited about her bubble-gum potty book!

And McMommy - who I just l.o.v.e to read - she is hilarious...
suggested a potty insert thingy... Oh...and I am not rushing this sweet 2 year old of mine...
she wants to do this potty thing most of the time...
on her own - and she is actually getting pretty good at it!

I am just trying to get this thing consistent...
and try for her to stay encouraged and excited about it.

Thanks again for the advice!
Where else can I get words of wisdom in minutes
from friends all over the place!?

We are also having some sweet friends from our small group over for dinner...
and I am making this...easy and yummy!

I am off to sit and stare at my new table!
You all rock...have a grrreat week!

Potty Training Cowgirl

Allikaye is now 2...
and is now ready to potty train!
Okay...
fun...
the next step in my precious angel's life!
So...
why didn't anyone tell me it was going to be like this...
Hard! Frustrating! Exciting!
And that is just MY emotions!

She likes to sit on her throne...
and talk talk talk...
with some action here and there.

We started this little daily ritual when she was 18 months old...
and she would usually go first thing in the morning
and then right before bed.

But now I realize we need to get more on the
throughout-the-day train.

Here is the potty sticker poster...

As you can see...it is going pretty good...
she is actually telling me when it is time to go...
and most of the times she'll go!

Except for this...the public restroom!

When we are out shopping...
which just happens to be most everyday...
(I might have a little love of shopping)
Miss Allikaye tells me she has to go...
so we head to the "big" potty...
and this is what I hear,
"No, mommy, it's too big!"

What do I do?
Stay at home until this is worked out?
Yeah, that won't work for me!
So...that is my first question...

My second question is...
How do I make this going in the potty thing more consistent?
Maybe I just have to be more patient?
Just let her go when she wants to?
Some days...no accidents...others...not so much.
I know there are peeps with answers for me out there!

I can sense the day of no more diapers...
it is right around the corner...

You ready for me to switch subjects?
Thought so.
Here ya go...

We headed to the Western Stock Show today...
Never been...but after all of the success at the County Fair...
I mean we seriously LOVED our County Fair!
So we thought this would be fun!
Allikaye loves the animals! LOVES!
Hmmm....
maybe I really should have asked for some advice
on this big-city-Denver-stock show.
Miss Cowgirl was still able to see a few cute animals...
well...
2 goats, 4 piglets, some geese, chicken, rabbits, guinea pigs,
and cows.
Nothing like our fair here in Castle Rock!

Really, nothing beats the small town stuff...nothing!
Cost of parking at the Stock Show?
$20! Ah! Seriously!
And they only took cash, obviously, but we didn't think of that
until we had gone through the long line of cars,
got up to the front,
then had to turn around and drive to the nearest ATM.
By that time we thought...just go change plans...right?
No way!
Allikaye heard that and had her little tantrum telling us that was not an option!

Oh boy...this place was crazy...and expensive!
You had to pay to get in- just to look at the cows...
and then the few animals...
and then get more cash to eat!

Allikaye didn't notice though...
and she had a good time...
and there will be the good ol' county fair next year!
Free to park, free to get in, hands on animals, and lots of them,
and right down the road!

Yeehaw.

Oh...and please give me any advice you may have...
come on...do it!

**I also posted my second memory verse for this month on my sidebar!**

"After the song, I blow out candle!"

What a F-U-N birthday party Miss Allikaye...

the 2 year old...
had this weekend!
Here is a quick recap of the big, happy day!

LOTS of candy!
I'm sure the parents of the kids that came
were so thankful that there was candy galore!

Here is "Little Miss Party" herself!
I was just in awe of her cuteness the whole day!
She wore her pink tutu...
her '2' shirt...
cupcake hair things...
cupcake tights...
and sparkly shoes!
Oh to be her...

This is evidence of Miss Allikaye's favorite thing about her party...
the CANDY NECKLACE!
So...
Who gave one to her and put it around her neck?...
Papa...

Okay...
So who showed her how to do this?
This was her "pose" for most of the rest of the party!

Uh-oh...more evidence!
It was Aunt Katie that showed Allikaye how to eat her necklace!
Besides the beloved necklace...
there was a cute little cupcake pinata!
This was the first time I had heard of "pull-string" pinatas...
they aren't the kind you see on America's Funniest Home Videos...
where someone gets nailed by the swinging stick.

All the kids hold a ribbon...

And PULL!
Umm...except the only thing that happened was the ribbons fell off...
So next step?
Kick it!!

That's better!
Thanks to dad...notice his leg up and ready to kick?

Here are some of the kids getting the dud-pinata's fillings...

She loved the little crafts!

The kids could decorate door hangers...
foam crowns...
and heart-shaped cookies...It was so much fun to get our friends; their kids; and all our family together
and celebrate turning 2 for our burst of sunshine...
Allikaye!

Here are the ever so proud parents!

SMILE for the camera...birthday girl!

And now presenting...

Allikaye...

shining in all her party happiness!

SO FUN!

Happy Birthday Allikaye!

January 10, 2007
9:15 PM
Our beautiful baby girl was born!
We have had the BEST 2 years!
We love you, Allikaye...
our pretty and smart 2 year old!!

Here is our very first family picture...2 years ago!

Always such a sweet and angelic baby...

One of my favorite pictures...
Oh my goodness... I cry almost every time I look at this beautiful face!
And here is the 2 year old!!Woohoo!

And now it's party time!!!

So Lovey Dovey...

Can you feel the love in the air yet?

Yep...I am already thinking about Valentine's Day!

Here are the newest additions to my Etsy Shop...

I Heart You!

SWEET!
Just like you!

XOXO!!

I am also getting ready for Allikaye's 2nd Birthday party!
I am so excited!
The theme is cupcakes, candy, reds and pinks....
or Valentine's!!

Here is a picture of the invites I made...
(minus all the details - so none of you creepers can come).
I am pretty proud of them...
is it okay if I just stare at them a little?
I also bought a small pinata from here, on Etsy...
C-U-T-E!

Here is another cutie...
I bought it from my sweet bloggy friend Shelly...
at Lemon Tree Studio.
I buy way too much from her...
but isn't it...
what's the word...
CUTE!
I am so excited to have a birthday party for Allikaye!
Here is the proposed agenda:
Cupcakes...
lots of candy...
small pinata smacking...
decorate foam crowns and door-hanger things...
decorate sugar cookies...
presents!

Any advice for a mama's first real birthday party would be greatly appreciated!
I will leave you with another picture
of some of the decorations I am working on
for the PARTY!!
Holla!

-2-0-0-9-

Happy New Year!

We rang in the new year with my favorite things...
playing games...
oh and my family, of course!
We played Mad Gab (so funny)...
and Taboo (also a laugher)!
When we are with the fam...
these games are l-o-u-d!
We don't hold anything back...
it is the BEST way to play...
loud...crazy...and with a new family inside joke every time!

Here are some shots of the peeps that I love so...

Gramps and Matt... or as Allikaye says..."Great-Pop"Here is my Miss Mama...
aren't her glasses cute?! She gets Lasik tomorrow! Ah!
My most favorite man...besides my hubby...
my daddy-o!
Wonderful Grandma Gerster...
with a sticker on her face from Miss Allikaye...
The cute engaged couple...
my cousin Mark and sweet Jen...
And here is a shot of the game time...
this is at my Aunt Lori and Uncle Dinger's house...
We have always called him Uncle Dinger...
but Allikaye,
being her own independent toddler self,
calls him Uncle Ding-ray...
who knows where she got that from - but it makes us laugh! Happy Family Time...
and HAPPY 2-0-0-9!

** I also added my "2009 Memory Verses" on my sidebar...
I am following the Living Proof Ministries (LPM) lead...
and committing to memorize 2 verses a month this '09!
I choose the verses - so they are exactly what God has placed on my heart! **