It's a crazy, messy, beautiful life.
Sometimes I think that my loving, happy middle child gets left out of things. Maybe because he truly reflects the meaning of his name. He is "happy and blessed." He doesn't require much to be happy....He just IS ...and I LOVE you for that Ash-Ash!
Some of his favorite things (directly quoted by him) are:
He is KINDA a homebody (hmm.. wonder where that came from?) although he really likes going to the ZOO, CHILDREN's MUSEUM at the GATEWAY, the SWIMMING POOL, and to his friend BRANDON's... He DOES NOT enjoy going to WALMART (who does? uggh!) or any form of shopping.
Here he is on the spider ropes at the ZOO... what a CUTIE. What do we love about you ASH?
New paint. called ryegrass. in the kitchen.
We went to a church activity called "trunk or treat", where everyone pulls their cars into the parking lot, and hands eager children candy from their trunks:) Avey discovered lollipops.
This is what our "trunk" looked like. My favorite treat was the bottled "zombie virus" and "liquid phantom" I think the kid's favorite treat, was the bubalicious gum:)
Our Iron-man and our skeleton. Ash kept singing "I am iron-man. da-da- DADA-DADA-dum-dum-dum." (you know the song:) Eli kept asking us to draw a line through the humarus bone, so everyone would know that his is fractured. We were just glad that we got the costume to fit over the splint.
"I am Iron-man!"
Eli's other brother "Jack E. Bones"
Our "Pie" turned 8 recently. He is such a terrific kid. There are so many things that I love about this boy. He is our firstborn, and he came into the world weighing in at a whopping 8lbs 15 1/2 oz. (that's big to me:)) He had a dark complection, and TONS of black curly hair. He walked at 8 1/2 months! (shocking, but true!) and has always been very agile and athletic. He loves anything that Judd loves. Motorsports, hunting, watching the Jazz, and watching nature documentaries. He also LOVES cooking. His favorite chef is Emeril Lagasse. He is a HARD worker, and is always the first to finish his chores. He never says "no." when I ask him to do something. He just does it. He is a great friend and student. As many of you know, Eli has Autism, and faces his challenges head-on, and works hard everyday to rise above these challenges. We love this boy, and are so proud of him!!
Eli, you are a AWESOME brother to Ash and Avey.
Eli got Baptized on October 11th, in Tooele. It was so good to have so many people that we know and love to be there on his special day. He tells me EVERYDAY "Today I'm going to choose the right, Mom!"
Mr Eli finished up the soccer season with a Crazy hairdo, and a ton of slide- tackling fun. He even yelled at the ref a couple of times for good measure! (apparently, he thought some flags should have been thrown!)
Here he is the day it happened, all smiles. Poor boy:(
I like to look for rainbows, whenever there is rain, and ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again. I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain. I want to be the best I can and live with God again.
I know when I am Baptized, my wrongs are washed away, and I can be forgiven and improve myself each day. I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain. I want to be the best I can and live with God again.
Here are some favorites of my Eli pie, that just turned 8. Climbing the rock wall at Dick's...
At hogle zoo, having fun!
I love you Pie. More coming soon:)
I've been thinking a lot about all my blessings lately...things I am so greatful for. I am not sure how many people know this story that I am about to tell. It is something we haven't talked a lot about...but something I am greatful for, so here goes:
So, my beautiful baby girl, at 8 months old now, seems to have been blessed with a miracle. At least that is how I see it. The birthmark is already almost completely gone! We feel so blessed that she is able to sit, crawl, and do all sorts of things, that she wouldn't have seen able to do, if the diagnoses had been spina bifida.
So, the Boyz kicked off the first day of school on August 21st, with matching Skater/Skull shirts, and thought it was terrific! (Eli was excited that his brother wanted to look just like him...NOT!)
Ash was so excited to start the 1st grade! When I told him who his teacher would be, he said, "Oh my, she has such a LOVELY voice!" (even though I don't think he had ever met her:))
There he is with his buds Brynlee, and Savannah. Isn't he lucky that he gets to sit by friends that he already knows? He thought so!
Eli is ready to LEARN! His teacher is so EXCITING, and FUN! He just adores her! (and he really likes this one girl in his class....yuck!)
Sunday... My little monkeys were SO good at church, until the very end. I was trying to nurse the baby in the foyer (with my hooter hider, of course:) and keep an eye on the boys the last 1/2 of sacrament meeting...(I was single on Sunday, as usual...so I couldn't moniter my boys and go to the mother's room...which is PRIVACY compromised anyway(he. he. another story), so why not nurse in the foyer?) Things went as well as they possible could in that situation, until the meeting ended, and everyone left the chapel. Avey was still eating and nearly asleep, so in my COMPROMISED position, it was obvious to the boys that if they wanted to do something, I wouldn't be able to stop them. They went up to the stand and turned the microphone on. They started slow, and made low noises in the microphone that weren't noticable...then the noises proceeded to get rude. Ughh! I was so frustrated, but still nursing. I asked a nice guy in our ward to go ask them to stop the naughtiness. HOW EMBARRASSING! They finally stopped the microphone business after the BISHOP went in and told them to please stop. (CAN I GO AND CRAWL under a rock??) I quickly wrapped up nursing, and went in to fetch my little HELLIONS. (can I say that?) I was met by the sight of them using the stand IN THE CHAPEL as a balancing beam ("like the OLYMPICS, Mom!") and being as quiet as can be.
Here's the crazy part. I NEVER just feel the urge to go to the cemetary, but it felt like it would be a reverent place to go, so we went. I did not even notice the date on the headstone when we were there. I felt like Vay was happy that we were there, and that I brought the kids to visit. 
When Judd got home from work he said " My Dad called today, and asked that I go visit grandma Vay's grave today" I looked at him and said "how come today?" and he said "today's the 12th anniversary of her passing away..." I was so surprised! I told him "are you kidding?" and told him that I had gone there today with the kids looking for some peaceful feelings, and that I had taken pictures. We hurried and pulled the pictures up on the computer.... Holy cow! The date says it all! Now I know why she was happy to see us:)
I have been busy making things for my little Sassafras' room!! Check out her little vanity and mirror:) (courtesy of deseret industries, and Behr exterior paint)
I think that she likes it!!
Another sweet yard sale find!! Can you believe that it ALMOST perfectly matches the "vanity" table?? This little dresser makes an awesome changing table.
I am having a blast decorating with an Asian theme, with shabby chic touches here and there. My next project involves a huge antique picture frame, Avey's blessing dress, and a couple of antique doorknobs. Wish me luck!!
