5 Years Old

Yesterday we celebrated Ashlyn's 5th birthday. Mark and I were quite excited for her birthday and we decided to plan a big party for her. Ash woke up at about 7:00 and we all went down stairs and opened her presents. She got so excited over each one of them. She spent time playing with each new thing for about 10 minutes and then would move on to the next. It was really cute.






After that she went on to ask me about every 20 minutes when her "party guests" would be arriving. It was cracking me up because she was so proper about it. She was so excited for her party. I told her that we first needed to go and pick up your cake and candy for the Cinada (pinata). So we went and got her cake and some candy. While at the store Ashlyn in her manipulative mind frame says to me " Fireworks would be really cool at my party". So I bought her some snaps. That entertained Josh and Ash for about a half hour and then it was on to when were the party guest going to arrive again. Well they arrived and the party was started.






Ashlyn's Cousins Alyssa, Ryan, Ethan, Ben, Tommy, Riley, Mack, and McKayla were there. She had so much fun with them. They did the slip n slide, played a ton in the bounce house, played pin the tale on the donkey, and had a pinata filled with lots of yummy candy. They all seemed to have such a good time. Ash enjoyed every second of them being there. Her Great Grandma Hughes came as well as Grandma and Grandpa and her Aunts and Uncles. She had all of her favorite things to eat but I am not sure she ate any of it. She had chicken legs, hot dogs, watermelon, pineaple, potato salad, and potato chips. It all turned out well. She is having a party at her other Grandparents house today so I will post that later. Overall it was a great day. Thanks everyone for making it such a special day for her and for the fun presents your brought for her. She really had a fun day.

New addition to the family

I just wanted to post this announcement of our new family member. His name is Manny. He is a Mini Pincher/Boston Terrier mix. He is so freaking cute I can't stand it. Ashlyn and Josh went with me to pick him up today and were both so excited. When we got home Josh wanted to just pick him up and hold him and if we tried to take him away he shoved us away. I was afraid he was going to choke him to death. Ash is more gentle and loving with him. Ashy decided on the name because she thought Mark would like it. Of course he likes it. He is named after Manny Ramierez of the Red Sox. Anyhow here he is!

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

Well lets start with the good. Last night as Mark was putting Ashlyn to bed she said one of the funniest things we have heard come out of her mouth in a while. Ashlyn has a stuffed unicorn that she named Polly. She sleeps next to Ash every night. Last night she told Mark that Polly was really sad because some hunters shot and killed her mom. We were laughing hysterically. She was a bit embarrassed after saying it but I did manage to get some pictures. Poor Polly!




The Bad and the Ugly are combined into one story. On my counter the other day I had my onion chopper out. You know the ones with two blades that go in circles and chop onions in a container for you? Well Ashlyn decided it would be fun to play with, so she got it down to play with. I had no idea this was happening or I would have taken it away immediately. I thought they were playing with the many toys scattered all over the floor back there. Next thing I know, Josh is screaming like I had never heard before. I get up and see a lot of blood coming from Joshy's knee. Then I look down and notice the blade sitting inches from his foot. I then grab Josh and run upstairs to get the firs aid kit. I Wrapped him up and headed for the car. I knew that he would for sure need stitches. The little trooper stopped crying by this point so I wondered if he cut through the nerves or something. The cut was pretty deep.

We got to the Doctor and they agreed that he would indeed need stitches. several of them in fact. They gave him seven shots of litocain and started stitching. they had to do stitches in side the wound and then on the outside totaling about 17 to 20 stitches. He was good for the inside stitches not making much of a fuss and then as they did the outside ones, I don't think it hurt but he just kept saying "done, done, done" The Doctors and Nurse thought he was quite the character. They also had to have 3 nurses and the doctor to hold him down. They just said he is really strong. Josh was pretty tough through it all though. He was giving the nurses fives and knuckles.

After he was all done we went to Grandmas to get Ashlyn. He stayed there while I ran to the store to get him some band aids and neosporin. When I got back he was swinging and smiling. I knew he was probably just happy cause the litocain had not worn off yet. He was running and having a great old time.

The next morning was a different story. He stopped walking and just cried all day saying owie, owie. He has pretty much sat in my lap since then. He really doesn't want to walk or move. He keeps saying stuck to me. I think he means his knee is stuck because he does not want to move it. All I have to say is I did not have need stitches until I was 28 years old and Josh was the cause of those. Mark on the other hand had several throughout his years as a kid. Lets hope Josh starts taking after me a little more Mark a little less.

Back Yard Fun

Just some pictures of the kids in the back yard and some not in the back yard but were to cute to not put on. We are enjoying having grass and not changing Joshy's clothes 4 times a day from the dirt and mud.

Ashlyn enjoys the trees and the birds that all visit to eat out of her bird feeder. She keeps asking when Kindergarten is going to start. She is so confused from going to preschool and then now not having any school. I hope she enjoys school more than I did.

Josh loves the patio and driving his Yucks (Trucks) on it. He likes to put rocks in each yuck and drive them around. His life is complete with yereal (cereal), bottles, and playing outside. As long as he has those three things he is happy. He really enjoys walks in the stroller and splashing in water as well. He is a very happy boy.

We are most excited about this summer and having a yard to play in. We are going to have a fun summer birthday party for Ash and just have lots of barbeque's.