Pretty little package

This is the sweet reward of having a big sister.
She'll do your hair for you.
Chloe found this cute idea to make your hair into a bow online and Grace was her tester.

I remember doing this with Em.
But the tools of my trade were pink sponge rollers and headbands and it turned out something like this:

Ain't sisters grand?

12 Years of Asher

This morning started with ham, bacon and cheese omelets and hot cocoa with vanilla marshmallows. For his 12th birthday Asher got some new pants, a stylin' hat, a lego set, and book of "Useless Information", and a running jacket.  At school I brought in a cake to share with his class and the wonderful Mrs.Cook had him climb atop his desk while we sang and clapped, 

Hooray for Asher he's a darn fine guy,

Hooray for Asher he's a darn fine guy,

He certainly is a daisy,

He drives our class crazy,

Hooray for Asher he's a darn fine guy!

With 35 kids in his class it's a good thing I bought a huge Costco cake because it was g-o-n-e, gone!

Then as a special surprise Scott picked Asher up from school and took him to lunch. And, as a special surprise to me he bought Asher an airsoft gun. uh huh. yep. 

Something I would never purchase.  Asher's over the moon. I think I'm just keeping myself out of this testosterone lovin' deal.  

Tonight is mutual and Asher will be joining Chloe and I. We are either going sledding (not likely) or playing dodgeball.  It's like they planned this activity just for Asher! He loves dodgeball.  

This is Asher at 12:

Loves basketball and is a great shot.

Wants a dog more than air. 

Loves mashed potatoes and gravy.

Likes to wear fedoras. 

Grinds his teeth to the nubbins.

Very competitive.

Loves babies.

Just became a Wierd Al fan.

Very open about his feelings with his parents. 

Great endurance (ran 5 miles with me a couple weeks ago). 

Reading Old Yeller for the first time and loves it. 

Self proclaimed: Dad's right hand man. 

Happy Birthday Ash. We love you much.


Asher's 12 Year old Stats from Dr. Kendall herself,

Height: 59.5 inches tall (60%)
Weight: 78.7 pounds (25.03%)
BMI: 15.63 (12.3%)

He's just so LOUD

This balmy winter has given my children every opportunity to fill up on Vitamin D.
They are outside all the time. Riding bikes, playing basketball, riding ripsticks, jumping on the trampoline. And today, having a picnic. Yup. A picnic with snack and friends on the trampoline like it was 80 degrees out.  No jackets either, so it really was a picnic.

So let's start to tie this all together.
Cole is loud.

Lots of you know that. You've been around him enough to have experienced his Grandma Bonnie-esque loud voice.  He's loud when he first wakes up, when he's headed to bed, and all in between.

So today he headed outside for a 48 degree play time with several friends he'd rounded up.  I laid Grace down for a nap in my room and I "read the paper on the couch". That's code for "read the paper until my eyelids are heavy with news and take a little nap."

Shortly into the nap I heard Cole, outside, "talking" to his friends. "HEY GUYS, COME IN HERE AND LET'S GET SOME BIKES!"  garage door goes up. bikes retrieved.

He continues to shout instructions and ideas.  They pedal far enough away his voice fades.
Ahhhh. Back to that nap.

Not so fast. He's back. He's in the driveway now.  "LET'S ALL GET SOME SNACKS TO HAVE A PICNIC. K GUYS? I'LL GET SOME SNACKS IN MY HOUSE!" 


front door opens. slams.
he climbs onto the counter. grabs a snack.
front door slams.

"I GOT SNACKS! COME ON! LET'S GET ON MY TRAMPOLINE NOW WITH THIS BLANKET K GUYS!"


This nap is so over. I'm just lying there with my eyes closed wondering why he's so loud. Do other Mother's have to go tell their children to quiet down when they're outside? You know that cute little "inside voice vs. outside voice" parents remind their kids of? Well, he has neither. He has "blow out your eardrums voice," and "I love my Mom" voice (this ones low and smooth and only used on yours truly).

As Grandma would say, "It's a good thing he's cute!"

A Sunbeam

We celebrated Grace turning 3 years old. 

The day started with an early trip to the dentist. Not a great plan. 

There were tears, and she was so tired from being up late the night before.

She fit in a nap however and the day ended well. Chloe decorated up the basement as her gift to Grace.

She bought the cutest balloons and decorated with streamers and such. 

We had a nice dinner, cupcakes and ice cream and gifted Grace:

a cute sailor-ish dress, a pup that talks, a fairy costume, some slippers, and some monkey jammies. 

The next morning she got to meet her new Sunbeam teacher at the Primary Meet your Teacher. 

She headed out the door with all the big kids and called, "I'm going to be a Sunbeam!"

She sure is. 

The 3 year old's stats:

Height: 3 ft. 3 3/4 inches  (94th percentile)

Weight: 31.75 lbs (62 percentile)

BMI: 14.3 (9th percentile, up from 3rd percentile last year!)