All About Ash (At Age 4!)

* Favorite things to play: Games! (His favorite is Go Fish.) Ashton doesn't like TV or movies. He prefers to ride his bike, have mom read him books, play games, or play anything that requires a ball.

* Favorite Friends: Audrey Godfrey, Caleb Warner, Landon Baker, & Londyn Ferney

* Favorite Song: "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons. (He knows every word!)

* Super Good at: Sports (especially skiing), singing on tune and matching the words to any song on the radio, and relating with older kids--He's very mature for his age. He is also independent! He dresses himself every day before he even comes out of his room in the morning.

* Favorite Treasures: His Tee Ball medal! Ashton has been watching his siblings play sports for four years, and this last summer, he FINALLY got a turn--Tee Ball! He took it very seriously and now wears his precious medal every single day and often asks to sleep with it. He also loves wearing jerseys and snuggling at night with his silky, ratty blanket.

* Favorite Treat: Gum! Mom can bribe him to do almost anything for his own pack of gum.

* Favorite color: Blue

* Favorite phrase: "Oh Yeah!" and "Sweet!" and sadly, "What da Cwap?!"

* Mom's Favorite Things about Ashton: His long, thick eyelashes, his lisp, how he runs like a little bull,  and how he can run around with Mom all day and never utter a single whine or complaint. Mom also loves his new phase which consists of asking questions ALL DAY LONG... such as: Why is the inside of our eye lids red? Why can't we eat our boogers? Why do we have to wash our car? Why do we have skin? and so on and so on...

Ashton is such a fun boy and we love him to death! (Non stop questions and all!)

The Birthday That Almost Wasn't... Ashton Turns 4!!

Bone-Weary: The best words I can come up with to describe our third week of May. A talent show, two field trips, wax museum, baseball games, dance recital, award assembly, school play... all while MOVING!! This might explain why I forgot my own son's birthday. Thank goodness I got an automated text from the dental office wishing Ashton a "Happy Birthday" the night before. I felt especially bad because this wasn't just any birthday I was forgetting... it was what I consider the most magical age of life!! Age "four" is, without a doubt, the most delightful age there is!! If I could freeze Ashton, I would!! He makes me giggle all day--saying the funniest things, smiling that sweet smile of his, and continually pointing out the wonders of life that I have long taken for granted. The self indulgent years are still a long ways off...  He's just pure "Sweet!" Here's a look at his birthday amongst boxes:

Hardly any food in the house... but hey,

 I pulled off breakfast in bed--our tradition!

Miracles DO happen in the latter days...

Out of 200 boxes, I found the birthday banner. Oh yeah!

This picture doesn't even look like we just moved in.
Hooray for a clean corner and the cutest birthday boy ever!

His face... Don't you love it?!

Did you know that Ashton only wears jerseys or shirts with numbers because he 'thinks' they are jerseys. Yep. MAJOR sports lover!

Just what a house with little walking room needs:

Hungry Hippo marbles to slip on.

This was probably the first year that I didn't make Grandma Luke's famous scotch chocolate cake due to the fact that we still hadn't found the silverware. But Albertsons came through!

Happy Birthday Ashton Cole!

(Annual Birthday Interview to come....)

Blast From the Past

It's amazing what you find when you have to pack and unpack all of your belongings TWICE in one year. I found this gem this morning... my third grade commercial that made me feel like a hot shot for a long time. My nine year old self just loved telling people that, "Yeah. I was on TV..." Ok, my brother-in-law cast his nephew and sister-in-law, but hey, it was big time to me! 

Along with a commercial, these images ran in the newspaper telling a "Magical" fairy tale to advertise the opening of The Magic Valley Mall in Twin Falls. For posterity sake, here was the write-up written by my clever brother-in-law, Donny:

Once upon a time, in the enchanted land of Magic Valley, lived a handsome young magician. He was very excited, as were all the people throughout the land, for something great was about to happen - the Grand Opening of the beautiful new Magic Valley Mall! The newest most modern shopping center in all the land, enticed everyone to "Experience the EXCITEMENT of it all, Experience the Magic at Magic Valley Mall!"

(Fun Fact: Had a crush on this kid for about a decade. I remember that he was NOT excited to be doing this. Think Kyler in a similar role--oh the agony of doing something so "uncool!" That's a 4th of July sparkler taped to his magic wand. Yeah, we're talking serious tech effects people!)

 Living in the enchanted land of Magic Valley, was the most glamorous maiden of all. She was anxious to meet her handsome prince and experience the glamour of over 40 dazzling shops surrounded by luscious shopping comfort. The newest, most modern shopping center in all the land beckoned her to "Experience the GLAMOUR of it all, Experience the Magic at Magic Valley Mall!"
(Fun Fact: Had the hardest time keeping those huge shoes on. My poor big toe is hanging on for dear life. And there is no actual "acting" going on here... I felt exactly how I look in this photo... LIKE A STAR!!"

 Suddenly the handsome magician appeared! He stretched forth his wand to charm the young maiden with something as beautiful as the Magic Vally Mall. Although the young maiden tries not to be easily persuaded, the handsome magician entices her to "Experience the CHARM of it all, Experience the Magic at Magic Valley Mall!"
(Fun Fact: Took FOREVER to get that sparkler to make a perfect "Circle" in the photo. And you know what they say about show business... Never work with children or animals. That poor photographer got stuck with both. The bunny was SUCH a diva!)

With the touch of his wand, the magician's trick was complete! The enchantment of roses, like the Magic Vally Mall, thrilled the fair young maiden. With her heart now devoted to her handsome magician, the fair young maiden began to, "Experience the THRILL of it all, Experience the Magic at Magic Valley Mall!" 
(Fun Fact: Um... Jodi... can we have some crackers with all the CHEESE?!)

 Behold, the fun began to spread through the land of Magic Valley. As if on a mist of magic, the fair young maiden, with roses in hand, was swept away majestically by the handsome magician to the Grand Opening of the Magic Valley Mall. Happier than ever, they began to "Experience the FUN of it all, Experience the Magic at Magic Valley Mall!" THE END
(Fun Fact: For a couple of 9 year olds, this shot was beyond embarrassing!!  We were both dying. And see the cute dimple I had--the result of being hit by a golf club. Lasted a few years.)

There you have it. My moment of fame officially recorded on the blog. 

Who wants to go shopping?!

Young Love

Everyone, meet Liza...

Ashton's "Gil" Friend!

Ashton came home from pre-school a few weeks ago, telling me that he "likes Liza better" and that she likes him "better" too! His brothers try so hard to tease him about it, but to no avail. Ashton just doesn't know that girls are embarrassing yet! When asked if he loves Liza and is going to marry her, Ashton very matter of factly replies, "Yep." I give Ash the thumbs up because #1) She's a doll. He has great taste! And #2) She has the same name as my favorite character from my favorite book.... It must be fate!

Best Seat In The House

Best Seat In The House.

Always has been...

Always will be.

The Camouflaged Pig

This is a pig. But not just any pig. It's Carson's pig...  a school assignment that represents Carson's personality in a nutshell and lead to an entire parent-teacher meeting... all over this here, cool, and unfinished pig.

All year long, I've been working with Carson's teacher, trying to find ways to help Carson focus better in class. Bless his sweet teacher. I know what a monumental challenge it is to get Carson fed and clothed under 60 minutes each morning--let alone through an entire six and a half hours of school. Carson is a very intelligent boy. He scores high in everything... reads so well... WHEN HE WANTS TOO. His way. His timing.
I went to visit Carson's teacher today to ask her opinion on the best teacher for Carson next year. She sighed. "He needs someone patient," she said. (Uh oh. Here we go.) "See this pig?' she said. I nodded--scared. She continued, "We started this a week ago. He still is not finished. He is too creative. (Yeah-she actually said that.) And he daydreams--constantly! He had this idea to draw a camouflaged pig--not a pink pig like everybody else--A CAMOUFLAGED PIG. I told him that we did not have time for a camouflaged pig.... He insisted on the camouflaged pig!" Ouch. Nothing she said surprised me, but it stung, nonetheless.
I wanted to laugh and scream and cry all in the same moment because I both love and hate this aspect of Carson. It can be so so so frustrating, trying to get him to do anything within a certain time frame. However, on the other hand, it makes me incredibly proud to see him so unwaveringly sure of himself at a mere seven years of age. I don't want to change the very thing I love most about him--his uniqueness that sets him a part. He could never be a cookie-cutter student because... well... that would just not be... Carson. But I do want to channel his stubborn, creative, out-of-the-box thinking towards being a respectful, obedient, successful person. But how?
Oh, you smiling, unfinished, camouflaged pig! Tell me what to do!

Move Over Carson... The Stuff Ashton Says!

We have a new funny man in the house--made even funnier by his thick, spit-spraying lisp! (I love it! I hope he doesn't out grow it until he's at least eight!) Yes, Ashton is our new house comic. He has me giggling around the clock. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

*  Ashton: "Hey Mom! Want to play 'Push or Chair?'" Me: "Huh? Push or Chair? Ashton:
"Yea, Mom. Say 'Push or Chair.'" Me: "Ok... Chair?" Ashton: "Go outside and yell, 'I'm da King of da wold.'" Me: "Oh! You mean 'Truth or Dare!'"

*  Me: "Ashton! Why do you always run from me when I am trying to get your jammies on?! Ashton: "'Cuz I faster den you."

*  Justin: (Tucking Ashton in...) "Goodnight, buddy. Dream of us snowmobiling together." Right before Justin exits the room Ashton says, "I'm gonna beat you, Dad."

* Ashton sweetly holds up his favorite plush Cookie Monster toy, and says, "Can Cookie Monster go outside and jump on the tramp?" I say, "You bet!" He says, "Oh yay!... wait... can I go too?"