Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

The only convenient end-of-the-year project we had to accomplish while trying to move was the "Recycled Art" project... We had lots of cardboard on hand! Kyler was asked to create an arcade game out of previously used materials. Being overloaded with life in our moving state, Justin and Kyler threw "Recycle Ball" together in about ten minutes (cuz Justin can make anything)--complete with a realistic net made out of a Walmart plastic bag. Kyler painted it his favorite basketball team's colors (the Celtics)--and we sent it on its way. It became pretty popular at school. The kids loved making a basket to recycle their old papers. And wouldn't you know it? The project we spent the least amount of time on won city wide--winning Kyler $25!! Score!!

"I Only Like Animals That Kill People"

At age five, Carson informed me that he "only likes animals that kill people." Though wolves don't typically feast on humans, he thinks that they do--which is solely the reason he selected the 'WOLF' as his first grade animal report. All on his own, he designed the "W" on his poster into a fanged beast. 

Carson is very curious about the world. He loves gathering facts. (In fact, he informed me just today that "the only way to kill the Hulk is to drain him of his powers" as well as "you have to be careful shooting a bullet at a force field cuz' it could bounce off and kill you!" Good to know!) I think it is no small coincidence that his teacher, Mrs. Denning, retired at the end of the year! I'm praying that Mrs. Melander (his upcoming 2nd grade teacher) will recognize just how smart and unique this kid really is! Carson is the funnest!

Ky As The Man In the Mirror

Every month of May, Rimrock Elementary is filled with heroes and celebrities brought back from the past in the annual Fourth Grade Wax Museum. I talked Ky into being "The King of Pop"--knowing that all of Michael Jackson's weirdness would make for a fun report for him to research. However, his hilarious first draft required A LOT of "mom editing." Check out the last few sentences. Oh my!

The night before the museum, Kyler freaked out--worrying that Michael Jackson would not be "cool!"  Lots of tears and anxiety. However, the next day, he discovered that, like always, his mother knows best. Kids instantly recognized who he was portraying and pushed his "on" button non-stop! Kyler was "BAD" in a very good way! Say it with me in your falsetto everybody: "Ow!"

 Here are a few of Ky's best buddies:

 Zach Warner as Thomas Edison

 Haydn Ferney as Walt Disney

  Paxton Webster as Dr. Seuss

Dude Looks Like A Lady!

My pretty dad and manly mom!

The best parents ever!

(I just really wanted this picture immortalized in my blog book that I'm going to print out.. someday!)

You'll Shoot U'r Eye Out!

We've always wanted to do one of these old fashion photo shoots at Lagoon! Justin's family did one when he was about Carson's age, and we love looking at it! All of my boys really looked forward to wearing bullets and holding guns... but none more than Carson. This was pretty much his dream come true. He took the process very seriously. They really move you through the shoot fast--so the photographer was getting a little annoyed to have a seven year old questioning her and messing up her groove. When she asked Carson if he'd like to dress as a 'Cowboy' or 'Out law'--he said Cowboy! (Of course!) When she placed us, she handed Carson a bag of money to hold. In disgust, he exclaimed, "I can't hold that! I'm a good guy!" You could almost hear him thinking aloud, "Duh!" The photographer brushed his comment aside assured him that it would be fine, but again, he refused. The photographer sighed and said, "Okay... you just rescued the money from your out-law brother and you're on your way to return it to the bank. How about that?" He paused for a minute, and then reluctantly agreed. Whenever we show anyone this picture, he pipes right up with the story that he is RETURNING THE MONEY!! 

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....)