We've become extremely chatty in the last week or so here. I have a feeling Anistyn already understands that with two older sisters, she's going to have a hard time getting a word in edge wise ... so she better start practicing. Here she is ... talking about issues that are important to her. Try to listen to what she's saying and not be so distracted by her tongue, which seems to have a mind of it's own, and acts independantly from the rest of her body ... =)
Thanks for those pj's Mom and Dad! I hope you've gotten a good feel for how they look on the girl's? By the way, your Pryor Family Christmas cards are in the mail everyone ... I bet you can't wait to see what kind of picture you'll be getting from these clowns!!! =)
She looks good though ... the girl's named her Rudy (short for Rudolph) ... and last night the kids actively participated in the trimming process ... despite how many times we encouraged them not to ...
And this was Anistyn's face when she saw what a mess they had made ... she said, "Mom's gonna be so mad! Make it right Dad! Make it right!" ....
So he did ...
Then Avery begged to put the star up ...
And of course Jared let her ... even though this took roughly 30 minutes to accomplish ... giving a 5 year-old the responsibility of positioning our star juuuuuust right ...
Rudy's coming along though ... she's quite a looker ... and she smells great! We didn't quite get around to getting her ornaments up before it was way past our bed time ... but she has her skirt on, her lights, and her star ... give us one more night and you won't even recognize her as the skinny little tree that she once was!!!
The first one was cute ... the second one was concerning ... and after about four or five it just had to be said. "Hello there little lady bugs ... attention everyone. Welcome to the Pryor house ... seriously though, GET OUT!!!" 
Well, we upgraded this year ... and while it's obvious there's still some confusion over which animals were present at the birth of Christ ... the support system our girls' create for little baby Jesus on any given day is unheard of ... all walks of life ... it's pretty remarkable ... especially when you really take a step back (as I did this morning), and realize there's a mosquito perched on top of the manger.
The happy grandparents on Anistyn's blessing day ...
Grandma and Grandpa also discovered a new position that Anistyn really enjoys that Jared and I were totally unaware of ...
Every morning after I drop Avery off at school, I throw Ashlyn and Anistyn in the double stroller and we go for a walk. And every morning our walk seems to come as a complete surprise to Anistyn. Allow me to take you through this process ...
"Wait ... how long will I be strapped in like this?"
"Noooooooooooo!!!!"
Honestly though, she enjoys our walks ... once she passes out. =)
And it's not just me who enjoys a little bit of coordinating. I had Jared get the girls' dressed on Saturday while I was out running errands ... and this is what I came home to ... somebody dipped my family in Provo, Utah! BYU shirts all around!
Ashlyn's still deciding ...
The play was absolutely sensational ... very much like something you'd see on Broadway ... and like any Broadway show, afterward, there were snacks and crafts backstage.
Thanks for the visit Mom and Dad ... we love you SO much!!!
It's fine ... whatever ... I mean, I wouldn't dream of cutting into Ashlyn's "Me Time" to trouble her with matters regarding her younger sister ... she's FAR too busy with 'other things' ...
Anistyn's really big on leaning her head back and getting a good long look at who's holding her ... it's her way of evaluating your handling skills ... it also gives her a chance to pass judgement on you in intzy-weentzy teeny-tiny amounts. Jared and I have already felt the strong sense that she wishes we would try harder ... or try "smarter" ... one or the other ...
Also, Anistyn CAN and WILL lick anything that comes within range of that little tongue of hers ... so beware!
Here's a preview of what her smile might look like, when that day comes that we can actually call a smile a smile ... and not gas, or a bowel movement in the making ...
Anistyn went on her first hike this Wednesday ... and while she didn't really get to see anything to her left, or her right, or behind her ... she is now more than familiar with the maroon shirt I was wearing that day ... and doesn't like it.
Avery kept it simple this year ... requesting to be a pink princess ... which we could accommodate, no problem. Ashlyn didn't ask, but was rather told she would be a purple dragon ... an Old Navy costume dating back to 2005, that has now seen it's third Halloween ... and I'm sure has yet to see it's last, as little Anistyn will one day be coaxed into this dreaded outfit when the time is right ...
Our first house ... breaking the ice ... getting our feet wet ... trying out our new wings ... blah blah blah ... in other words, one small step for man, one giant leap for a princess and her dragon ...
(Here's a picture of sweet Dax ... the object of our daughter's affection)
After much thought, Jared and I decided we're not going to worry about it. After all, we HAVE been in Vegas for nearly 5 years now ... this sort of "weakening" was bound to happen sooner or later ... but more importantly, we absolutely adore young Dax AND his wonderful family ... and couldn't be happier that he was her first kiss, and that this monumental event took place with BOTH sets of parents and ALL siblings as witnesses. However, we did sit down with Ashlyn last night ... and as difficult as it always is to try and have an intervention with your 2 1/2 year old ... we do feel that we're at least on the same page now ... no more kissing until further instruction =)
And last but not least ... Anistyn (who does have two hands, by the way) continues to grow like a weed ... a weed that you really wish wouldn't grow ... but understand HAS to grow ... so you just sit back and try to feel thankful that at the very least, she's a cute weed!
Again ... I'm really worried that Anistyn's not getting enough attention ... I mean I'm really, truly, genuinely concerned ... to the point that it's keeping me up at night ... =)
Things are going well though. We're keeping busy over here trying to figure out a new system ... trying to figure out how to juggle three little ladies and make sure they all know how much we love them, and how special they are to us. It's funny though, just when I think that maybe I'm not paying enough attention to Anistyn in all of the chaos ... I look over and see this ...
and realize that she's generally getting MORE attention than she can handle! =) 
Here's a picture of Anistyn after I told her she needed a second PKU test today ...
Honestly though, the only reason this household is running so smoothly is because my amazing mom is here to make sure that it does. She has been more helpful than you could possibly imagine ... and we're SO thankful for all that she has done for us!
Until next week ... over and out ... =)
Here we are though ... Anistyn's first few seconds of life on the outside ... look at that face, she looks skeptical ... "oooooooh, I'm not so sure about this" ...
The girls' getting their first look at this new person they understand they'll be sharing their toys with ...
Here she is though, sitting with her fellow classmates ... she had already made a few friends at orientation last Friday ... over fruit punch and cookies ... it went a little something like this, "I'm Avery, what's your name? You wanna be friends?" ... if only it could stay that simple in life. But she settled in next to Madison and Nicole and they began speculating as to how their first day would play out ...
... "I am a sour pill"
I bit off all my nails watching Avery and her friends take turns swinging away with a shower curtain rod ... big props to my husband who made sure no one was injured in battle ...
and this is what became of it ...
... your typical Las Vegas party gone wrong ... but to set things right, we brought out more sugar ... this time in the form of a cake ... and invited all the little people to gather around the kitchen table, their hands still shaking from "piñata madness", and join Avery as she made her final birthday wish ...
Happy 5th Birthday Avery!!! We love you to pieces!!!
On a side note, and that's literally what this is becoming ... a mere side note ... but Happy Birthday to my sweet husband who incidentally shares Avery's birthday ... and continues to graciously take a back seat to whichever princess or fairy it is that infiltrates our house on that given day ... Happy 32nd hon!!! We love you to pieces too!!!
Avery made her second debut as a fidgety flower girl ...
... and Ashlyn cried her way through the entire ceremony (and for all the wrong reasons) ... she was finally given a lollipop and basically caged the remainder of the night ... gaining sympathy only from cousin Sam, her one true friend in this world ...
We also attended our first ever Pryor Family Reunion ... where the WHOLE gang met up at a cabin in the mountains and enjoyed some much needed time together. Here's a picture of Jared and his family ... seven seriously amazing individuals!
Lake Wenatchee ...
Other notable highlights from our trip ...
Jared trying to show off in front of his daughters and pop a wheelie on a kid's bike ...
Ashlyn's unhealthy obsession with fire ...
Karaoke w/ cousins ...
Milkshakes at Alpen Drive-In ...
Taking Gumpa's boat for a spin around the lake ... and by "spin" i mean Ashlyn drove us in several circles before someone with more experience (not to mention a license) finally took the wheel ...
Avery's periodic panic attacks at the thought of encountering a fish while swimming ...
And last but not least ... squirrel watching/stalking with Nanny and Gumpa ...
We had such a wonderful time with our families ... and as always ... it was so sad to leave. Hopefully we'll be able to make it back again soon ... what can I say, Washington is the whole package ... plain and simple ... it just doesn't get any better!
We're pretty wiped out from it all ... =)
We chilled with good company ...
We also signed our very first wedding surfboard ...
A great big thanks to my parents and the Bendotti family for such a FUN trip ... we love you all so much!!!
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