A splash in the world

I had some pictures from a couple of weeks ago I wanted to post. Bryan, Aubrey and I headed over to Amy Pruitt's apartment complex for a swim party in her honor...well, Aubrey Pruitt and Laurel (A.K.A. LoLo) Pruitt were honored as well because all of their birthday's being so close together. It was great to hang out with the entire Pruitt clan as we know it and the Nortons.

We were glad to be a part of it. I took a few pictures from that evening of people in the pool so I thought I would share them. Needless to say, I think everyone had a blast.

(In the picture above, Chris and Adam are throwing Jackson up in the air. I know Jackson thought he was really getting up high because he was. Here is proof)

Here are some other fun pictures.








Our Aubrey had fun swimming with us and all of the kiddos. She really did not want to part with the ducky.

I'm Potty Trained!!

Yes, at the ripe old age of 28 I decided it was time I got to run to the potty when I needed to go...(insert awkward pause)...Okay, really I am talking about our little Aubrey. Yep, I can safely say she is potty trained. She has been for a while but I just wanted to make sure she wasn't still having accidents when I posted this. Yep, only factual information here at the Silverthorne Sentinel - guaranteed. I am so glad to not have to buy diapers for a while. I am still set with the supply given to me for Mr. Pete by wonderful friends and family. We are sitting dry and pretty here at the Silverthorne household.
(Note: this picture was taken in Pitkin, CO - We gave her books to read while on the potty for incentive to stay on there long enough to take care of all of her business)


HOW SHE TRAINED - (Do not read this part if you are not interested in toddler potty training - it might bore you)
I am really proud of Aubrey though. She actually potty trained a lot faster than I thought she would. This is how it all went down:
1)We bought her a small kids potty about 6 months ago and she seemed interested in it at first and then lost it for a little while then I decided to get more serious when I recently heard of her friend Grayson potty training so
2) We got her a lid for the big potty to give her options.
3) Her Nana bought her plenty of cute panties.
4) We gave her lots of praise when she went
5) I then printed out an incentive chart which was just a picture of a choo choo train in which she could put stickers on when she did her business in the potty. Potty "train" - get it? LAME - she got 1 sticker for going #1 and 2 for going #2. Makes sense right? m&m's were given at one point as well. She got a little bored with all of that after a while but by that time, she got use to the idea of going to the potty.
6) We just put her in panties and if she had an accident we would just clean it up and tell her that it was okay but she needed to go the the potty next time. After a couple of days she was going to the potty every time.

I am sure every kid is different but that is our potty story. It was awesome! SHE was awesome. I am so proud of her and it is so cute so see her in her little panties.

"It was a hullabaloo"

We had a fun time in Tyler last week. On Thursday I took Pete and Aubrey to the zoo after hearing a group from our church was going. It was enjoyable getting to see friends from church and Aubrey really had a grand ole time cruising through the zoo, checking out all of the animals with one of her best buddies, Grayson. One way Jill and I kept the kids motivated is by telling them we were looking for the monkeys. Sad to say that we actually missed the monkey exhibit because of lack of time. (NOTE - To Aubrey & Grayson - we will see those monkeys someday but you will have to wait until the fall when it is cooler, it is pretty darn hot out there) Another thing, I thought it was cute that Aubrey would go up to other kids in the group and say "I got a great idea!" then she would start hopping like a kangaroo. I don't know if she was trying to start an animal parade or what but it seemed like a great idea to her.

Here is a series of photos of a giraffe trying to sit down. I have never really thought about it but once I realized what an ordeal this was, I sort of felt sorry for the big guy.





Bryan was out of town for a couple of days so I decided to stay in Tyler and hang out with the fam. We went to my brother's house and just chilled out with my sister-in-law and 3 beautiful nieces. Aubrey really enjoyed that!

Here is Aubrey and her other best buddy, Alyse (A.K.A. Lysie)
I think this is so adorable - these two girls absolutely love to watch "Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!" and it is great watching them enjoy it together while embracing each other.

We really had a great time with my brothers when they got off of work and our friends, the Roberts, as well. I truly am grateful Aubrey and Pete have such wonderful aunts, uncles, cousins and friends! (this is Pete & his Unky Aaron)
Here are pics of Lysie & Aubs at a park which is just walking distance from the Allen's house:

Here's to sweet Aunt Nee'

I have been thinking a lot about Renee', my sister-in-law, who now lives in Florida. She's due with her first child, a little girl, in less than a month (August 12th to be exact). HOW EXCITING! I will surely post pictures of her when she arrives.
Here is an "I'm thinking of you, Renee'" post. Added are a few pictures, past and present of little Renee' (Aunt Nee' as Aubrey calls her)

We love you Renee' and are thinking of you!! Aubrey and I pray for you and baby girl Robertson every night before I put Aubrey to bed. You are a wonderful sister, sister-in-law and aunt to our family and we know you are going to be an awesome Mom!

Two-t Sweet

Aubrey Renee' Silverthorne

Pete Allen Silverthorne
I have been meaning to post these for a while but I just wanted to thank Clay Kitchens for taking some pretty sweet pictures of Aubrey and Pete. I asked him to so I could give them to Bryan for father's day. Bryan was moved to say the least. I will always be in awe of these two precious gifts and pray every night that God would give Bryan and I wisdom on how to raise them in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Where you been? Pitkin!

Last week we had a great time up in Pitkin, CO (30 min. northeast of Gunnison). Bryan and his family have been going up there since 1995. I have been up there with Bryan every 4th of July since we were dating in 2003 (excluding July of 2005) and a few times in between so it holds to be a special place for us. We have many fond memories up there with family and friends.
Darrell & Debbie were there this year; Paul & Sandra Boorman were there for the first part of the week which was fun to get to know them more. Angie & Aaron came the latter part of our stay so needless to say, we were always in good company.

What do you do in Pitkin? Great question. There is not a whole lot to do but that is the real beauty of it. We enjoyed the awesome scenic view which that part of the country lends at every turn, rested, hiked, hung out (drank coffee), took jeep rides, made strawberry homemade ice cream, watched the fireworks in Gunnison, ect. It is always good to get away from the day-to-day routine of things - it really help me to put things into perspective.

CUMBERLAND PASS
One of me and Bryan's favorite places to go around Pitkin is Cumberland Pass (elevation 12,000 ft - an awe-inspiring pass)
Here is a picture of Bryan and I when we first went up there together in July of 2003:
It is pretty surreal to be up there 5 years later with our two kids. Here is our little family unit in 2008:


Here are other pictures from that evening:




















It's a wonderful feeling to see a great idea come to fruition. Bryan thought to buy a kite and bring it to Cumberland Pass.






ALPINE TUNNEL
Bryan told me about the Alpine Tunnel but I had never been until this year. It was a rough and narrow ride getting up there (a slow, rocky 35 min ride from Pitkin) but well worth it. It was a site to behold. At approx. 12,000 ft. in elevation with snow-topped mountains, it was hard to know where the mountains ended and the clouds began (just one of God's masterpieces). Here are a few pictures from the adventure me, Bryan, Aubs, Angie & Aaron took.










INDEPENDENCE DAY
On the 4th we had a relaxing morning, had a late lunch, some homemade strawberry ice cream and then headed to Gunnison that evening to hang out at Jorgensen park, throw some frisbees, drink some lattes, relax and watch the firework show at nightfall. This was a wonderful day. (NOTE: the bear shirt you see Aubrey wearing in most of these pictures had to be washed and worn again a few times on this trip because it instantly became her favorite shirt when her Aunt G' gave it to her)









Last year and this year while gazing at the fireworks, I held my sweet daughter while sitting in her car seat - it was actually quite comfy and very special to me!
Gazing at fireworks in 2007:

Gazing at fireworks in 2008:

All of this commentary and these pictures are here simply to say a good time was had by all. SILVERTHORNE OUT!