My favorite pictures of Audrey over the past year

Audrey and Adam Sept 2010

A sisters kiss Sept 2010

The poop incident October 2010

Love the mismatched shoes October 2010

She loves the ipad, hates car rides November 2010

Always sleeping with her monkeys December 2010

Her beloved red sippy cup, saw us through a lot of hard times December 2010

Pigtails! Also she peed on Brett December 2010

Happy to see the love in my rear view mirror December 2010

The first time she played in the snow. Also her favorite coat that she wore constantly Jan 2011

Kissing Daddy January 2011

Loves wearing only the essentials, also loves standing on tables January 2011

When asked to grab a diaper she always grabbed a handful. Notice her purple blanket. February 2011

Sweet Audrey 18 months March 2011

Loves baths, especially bubble baths made even more exceptional with her favorite baby doll. March 2011

Our little helper April 2011

Rubbing her belly button, fell asleep holding her "coco", with her favorite blanket April 2011

She loves swimming with her Daddy May 2011

She seriously insists on vacuuming everyday. May 2011

Some of her favorite people eating her favorite fruit, watermelon! May 2011

Cute smile May 2011

Loves her Daddy May 2011

Potty training, learning to put on her own underwear, she always must do it herself! June 2011

Swinging at G&G Brinkerhoff's July 2011

Swinging at G&N Howcroft's July 2011

Always eating rocks August 2011

Happy, messy girl. August 2011

Determined to do what she sets her mind to. August 2011

Insists on dressing herself (even if both legs go in the same hole) August 2011

Taking care of 3 babies, bring on the triplets! August 2011

Our sweet Audrey. Curly hair, cheesy smile, her favorite baby, and her purple blanket. What's not to love?

The facts about our Audrey

Audrey Camilla Howcroft
Age 2

• sings "happy to you" for birthdays
• constantly walks backwards
• is potty trained when she wants to be
• loves a sippy cup of milk to fall asleep with
• is a pro at defending herself against aggressors (her sister)
• insists on climbing into the car seat, onto the stool, onto the toilet, up slides (aka doesn't ever need help, with anything (just ask her))).
• if she is asked where something is and it is not immediately in her line of sight she replies "gone"
• loves singing itsy bitsy spider, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, and doesn't a miss a chance to clap at If you're happy and you know it
• insists on trying any food she see's and will eat most everything (but really loves candy and pop)
• loves to dance and takes every chance to play ring around the rosies that she can get
• is super good to help clean up toys. If she is asked to pick up it will be done. If she see's toys being cleaned up she joins in without being asked
• LOVES clorox wipes with a passion, can easily empty a canister is minutes...using each one
• loves to help cook, sweep, mop, vacuum, and any type of cleaning
• LOVES her purple blanket, insists on sleeping with it always and hates giving it a "bath" every week
• clothing of choice is nothing but a diaper and dozens of necklaces and bracelets
• sleeps from 8 pm to 6 am taking a two hour nap during the day
• loves swimming and is pretty good about floating on her own
• loves making sure things are done the right way (her way of course)
• loves to be outdoors
• loves baby dolls, takes good care of them with blankets and bottles, carries them everywhere
• when asked to show her happy face she points to her cheek with a straight face
• loves the play kitchen and serves her family members wooden pizza in a cup with a spoon at least once daily
• the busier she stays the happier she is
• loves to color and draw (mostly on herself)
• loves to help other people 
• loves babies, when she sees a baby in the store she says "cute baby, mommy"
• screams bloody murder every chance she gets
• doesn't mind being threatened with discipline, doesn't enjoy the actual discipline though
• knows all of her colors but grey and yellow 
• knows circles, stars, and hearts; calls all other shapes circles
• is loved insane amounts by her parents and sister

To my darling little Audrey

Dear Audrey
My sweet baby girl, I can't believe you will be two in only a couple days! Back in January when I was writing on the calendar that you would be turning two in late August my heart sunk. Two seemed so far away and you already acted like you were two, the next 8 months were sure to be long and full of battles about who was actually in charge of our home. I wasn't exactly wrong, we had plenty of battles, but you have brought so much joy, so many smiles, and so much love that I would repeat those 8 months over and over if I had the chance.
32 months ago I was visiting with my sister Kristy on the phone when your Dad brought a pregnancy test home from the store. I had been feeling weird and well, pregnant so he ran to the store so we could "know for sure." I had to use the bathroom so badly that I just went ahead and took the test while on the phone with my sister. I was shocked to see a positive result. She was in the middle of a interesting story but I was so surprised that I made her stop mid sentence, but then I realized I should tell your Dad before I told my sisters so then I told her to continue on with her story, but of course my focus was completely shot. I was pregnant! Pregnant! With another sweet baby! We didn't have a job, oh no! Are we sure we are ready to have another baby? My thoughts were everywhere and poor Kristy got off the phone with me and thought I was rude, oops! Good thing sisters are understanding. I ran and told your dad it was positive. He was sitting at the computer doing homework and the smile he got on his face when I told him we were pregnant with you is one I will never forget. He was so unbelievably excited. He helped my worries and fears melt away. How could we be anything but excited when you were on your way to our family? We celebrated at our favorite restaurant and Kirk told the waitress our good news and we got free dessert. I had some spotting early in the pregnancy and my hcg levels kept dropping so I was so afraid we were going to lose you. I was so afraid you wouldn't be joining our family. Your father and I prayed and prayed that you would be born healthy and strong. Healthy and strong you definitely were! You were born screaming and haven't really stopped. Your lungs are perhaps a little too developed :).
During my pregnancy I felt the strength of your spirit multiple times. I remember specifically one night while I was praying I felt the strength of your spirit so strong. I know you have a very strong spirit. I know you have faith that will be able to move mountains, it is simply who you are. I feel so honored to be your mother. Another time I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and stopped dead in my tracks because I felt so strongly that you are one of my closest friends. You and I were really close in the premortal life. I am so excited for you to become an adult, seriously I can't wait.
The day you were born I was a basket case of emotions. I was to the point that I wanted my body back and however that needed to happen make it happen. I was afraid of being the mother of two very young babies. I was so anxious to meet you, to hold you in my arms and see what you looked like. The hardest part about having a c-section is that it takes at least 30 minutes between the time that baby is born until the mother gets to hold her sweet baby. I watched while a dozen other people held and loved you longing for my turn. But my turn finally came in the recovery room. When I held you in my arms for the first time it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. It was seriously a piece of heaven in my room holding you. Feeling your huge spirit joining me on earth. I knew right then that there would be more children joining our family. I loved you so much. So very very much. It was one of the very happiest moments of my life. 
I have always loved you so much. I think you are seriously one of the cutest people ever to come to earth. You make me so happy every day. You are so kind and thoughtful of other people. You are always going out of your way to help someone else, it is who you are. You do it without thinking. You are as smart as a whit and I am constantly astounded at the things you are saying, thinking, or remembering. You are such a tease and know just how to make us smile. With your bouncy curly hair and bossy attitude you are easily the cutest little girls to ever to turn two.  And I am so excited that I get to be your mother celebrating your life with you.
Love,
Mom

Holding you for the first time

First Day of Preschool Fall of 2011

Today was Kirsten's first day at her new preschool. It's at a new elementary school but still with the school district. She goes Mondays-Thursdays for 2 1/2 hours a day. She has been anxiously waiting for school since the day it ended in June. During the summer she would ask every few days "Kirsten school today?". The day we registered her for school I told her "Kirsten school today." She immediately ran upstairs, put on pants, and sat at her vanity and did her hair to get ready for school. Since then she has asked multiple times a day "Kirsten school today?" This morning when we woke up Kirk and I laid in bed talking about how we weren't ready for her to be in school yet, when she ran in to greet us. I excitedly told her "Kirsten goes to school TODAY!" To which she replied "Kirsten no school today," go figure. She finally agreed to go to school but only on the condition that she didn't have to wear anything but her underwear. What a girl!
We were busy beavers this morning getting her ready. I trimmed her hair and cut her bangs while Kirk made her favorite poppy seed muffins for breakfast (isn't he the best Dad?!). Then the girls and I loaded up and took her to school. She did great, got right in line with her class and was able to do her first day of preschool without tears from either of us.

First day of preschool August 29, 2011

Kirsten and her teacher Ms Hamilton

In line with her new class mates with Audrey looking on (and wanting to be in the picture)

Audrey happy to be the center of attention again now that Kirsten is in school :)

Looking pretty

A few months ago we found this pink vanity at a yard sale for super cheap. We brought it home, cleaned it up, and put it in the playroom to be loved. At first the girls played with it some but mostly just enjoyed fighting over the stool. But lately Kirsten has started keeping a brush in her vanity set and will immediately head to the vanity to do her hair right after her bath. Oh she is so stinking cute, I love having daughters! One day Kirk and I caught her trying to do Audrey's hair for her too. Imagine the fun they will have when they discover there is such a thing as play makeup. There is so much to love about having two little girls in our home.

Missing Kirk tonight

honeymoon back in 05

"Although I might not see him as often as I like, 

he's still my first and last thought everyday and night." 

pinterest

I am not such a fan of Kirk traveling so much. Before each trip I think something like "oh it won't be so bad, the girls and I have a great routine down. It's only a couple days". But man alive I miss my man, ALOT! Being without a husband is two thumbs waaaay down. Plus being the only parent from 5:45 am to 8:30 pm is not so desirable.

On his mission Kirk met a couple who had not spent a night apart in the 15+ years they had been married. He really admired them and made a decision to be like that couple. I readily agreed because why would I want to be away from him? Easy decision. Our first night apart was 21 months after we were married. I went to girls camp, it was a huge decision for us to let me go. We were both miserable at the thoughts of not spending each night of our marriage together like we had hoped. Kirk stayed up playing Zelda all night because he refused to go to bed without me (we were so dramatic!)

These days one night apart doesn't seem so bad. Now we are happy when it's only a 3 night trip. Too bad the girls are to young to play Zelda, ha ha. 

Anyway, I miss him terribly tonight. He comes home soon though, yay! We are so grateful he has a job he enjoys so much. He enjoys the different experiences (including the rental cars and being a "food critic"). I love that he makes the most of every trip, he works long into the night when he is away so he can spend more time with us when he is in town, and if circumstances permit he always goes to the temple. 

I suppose when we were young we thought that never being apart would prove how much we loved each other. I thought making plans to stay in love would guarantee a perfect marriage for us. I couldn't have planned to love Kirk this much six years after our wedding day. How could I have when I didn't know love this strong existed? I love Kirk Tomson Howcroft with everything that I am. He is everything to me. I am so grateful I am the lucky girl who gets to be his wife.

Eternity might just not be long enough with my Howcroft man, 

but I suppose it will have to do :)

Pj's and Dora (living life like a Cooper)

We are becoming Coopers (the Coopers are my sisters family that we stayed with for two weeks in Vernal). We aren't changing our last names or anything drastic like that, my daughters are just acting like the Cooper girls. What makes their actions specifically like a Cooper girl you ask? They wear their pj's every chance they get, just like Abby and Allie do. If you know Cooper kids you know they only wear pjs at home, got to love kids who are smart enough to know how great pjs are! Kirst and Audrey got out of the bath this afternoon  and immediately grabbed clean pjs and put them on, at 4:00 in the afternoon! From the pictures you can tell Audrey put on her own pjs because both legs are in one pant leg. Kirsten was ecstatic that her Dora nightgown was clean. She ran to me and said "Dora clean? Momma wash Dora, ya? Good job Mommy!" Too cute!
Also Dora? I'm not such a fan. It's the toddler show I was going to be proud to say my kids never watched. But staying at the Coopers Camille didn't miss the chance to introduce my girls to Dora. You should hear Audrey say Dora, it's soooo adorable! My girls were quickly addicted and Dora now haunts my dreams. It has to be the most repetitive show on earth. Everything is repeated at least three times. The plus side is I am involuntarily learning spanish. yay. Do your kids watch Dora? Do they respond to the questions Dora or Boots ask? That awkward silence after each question where I wonder if my kids are the only ones not responding to the tv. But mostly what I am trying to say is don't buy Audrey anything Dora for her birthday, as a personal favor to me. We already have too much Dora in this house as it is (the above nightgown is from Camille), thankyouverymuch!

Audrey's Photography skills