Ashlynn and China.

For the last few weeks, in Ashlynn's curriculum, we have been studying Asia. Last week, we went more in depth with China and it's culture. I told her about the dress I had that messy-guy-Grandpa bought me while on business in the Orient when I was exactly her age. She begged to see it and had to try it on. Once she had the dress on she asked if I would take a picture of her in it. Little did I know what she had in mind!

See, she's been playing with photo shop for the last month or so and is apparently having way too much fun! Here is her "finished" product:




Oh, and check out the bag I made HERE.

Check it out here!

If you are so inclined, check out Ashlynn's Easter Dress over HERE.

Thanks to mom for getting me through it!

We love Spring!

It keeps tempting us, now please, please stay!

*All photos courtesy of Miss Ashlynnie

You have got to check these guys out!

The last couple of weeks, Ashlynn has been memorizing The Lord's Prayer. Ofcourse, memorizing is always way easier when you put words to music.

Enter The City Harmonic.



They just happen to have one of the coolest sounding songs on the radio right now that includes The Lord's Prayer. So, here is your assignment:

1. If you have not heard them yet, go to itunes immediately and listen to their song titled "Manifesto".
2. Listen to all of their other songs.
3. Download their entire album.
4. Listen to it over and over again.
5. Enjoy.
6. Seriously, go do it right now. Now.
   

Africa here we come!

Not sure I've mentioned in the past, but Ashlynnie's curriculum this year has her visiting each continent in the world. We learn some super fun and unique facts about the land, the animals, the people and their culture. So far we have "visited" North America, South America, Europe and currently are in Africa.

What an amazing continent! It boast the world's largest animal, the world's fastest animal, the world's tallest animal and the world's largest burrowing animal.

We have explored the dessert, the jungle and the savanna and decided we must visit Kenya at some time in our lives. The kids put together a picture of what the savanna looks like to them, here are there creations:

If you get a chance.

Randy was logged on to blog yesterday, and, after walking away from the computer, found that Ashlynn had written up his post for him. I love that he didn't edit it one bit and published it just as Ashlynn wrote, check it out here.

I think I know who will guest post for me soon......

Living fully....even in the snow.

My little poser.

When mom and dad were here in early December, the kids couldn't wait to decorate the tree with them. As they waited anxiously for Paula and mom to finesse the tree with ribbon and lights, Ashlynn spent her time choreographing where each child's "place" was to be once the decorating began. Needless to say, it brought mom a great deal of entertainment to listen in on Ashlynn's directing and I, ofcourse, was at the ready with my camera....director's orders.






*Ashlynn's hair and wardrobe courtesy of Ashlynn. The pearls are courtesy Auntie Lisa!*

It wasn't all bad, part II.

Around 7:30am, Addie popped her head up and asked to "go downstairs and get vitamins and eat breakfast". After an inspection of the towel and not seeing anything "out of the ordinary", I took her to the kitchen and made her a piece of toast she ate with gusto. When Randy wasn't home by nine (usually he's home by 8:15am or so), I knew for sure there had been a fire. The other kids seemed to be doing awesome and the weather forecast was for seventy degrees as a high that day (this is January in the midwest, unbelievable!). Randy did finally make it home and after sharing the story of the house fire, went upstairs and crawled into bed to recoup a bit.

Deep breath. Randy was home safe and all the kids were well. Thank you Jesus!

By mid-morning I had recruited the kids to help rake the rest of leaves from our yard and "man" the bottom of the ladder while cleaned out the gutters (something Randy was going to do, but with his great need for sleep, I filled in). We worked steadily as the sun continued to warm us and just after lunch we finished the entire yard. The kids spent the rest of that beautiful day playing and running through the yard. Randy finally woke and finished the back gutters that I couldn't reach, we grilled burgers and had a relaxing evening.

Friday, New Year's Eve, 6am. Ashlynn is at my bedside looking very pale.

Uh-oh.

She spent all morning on the couch trying desperately not to give in to the feeling in her stomach, but mom made a big mistake. I just needed to make a quick bank deposit, you know, the one I should have made the day before, when Randy was home, when all of the kids didn't have to pile into the car and go.

When no one was sick.

Ashlynn reluctantly got in and I gave her a bowl, towel and strict instructions to use them if necessary. Once I turned on the car I was reminded I also needed gas. Really bad. Let's just say the bumps and smells and turns made good on why I gave the instructions and the above items became absolutely necessary. We returned home as quickly as possible and I apologized profusely all the way.

Time out.

Usually, if I apologize to Ashlynn like crazy, she is all over me, "don't worry mom, it's totally ok. Stop saying sorry everything is fine, it's no problem!" The girl didn't utter one such word to me in the car.

I am the worst mom ever. And the girl must really feel lousy.

The rest of her day was spent on the couch looking very green and willing herself to never use the bowl again. She also wished daddy wasn't at work so she had someone to cuddle her full-time since I was up and down taking care of the other kids too. By 10:30pm, I tucked her into the make-shift palette on my side of the bed and climbed into bed myself, who needed to see the ball drop anyway?

3am, New Year's Day. I woke to terrible pain in my stomach. No, no, no, not me. Reasoning it must have been the brownies I ate way too much of the night before, I tried to go back to sleep. After two hours and finally moving to the bathroom floor, I prayed and asked (*begged*) Jesus to just let it out and relieve my pain.

He answered.


To be continued......

The girls' room, before & after.

With Grams and Gramps making the big move to San Diego, some items of furniture had to be shifted from mom and dad's. Ofcourse, I was more than happy to partake in any of that shifting as anything of theirs or my parents would be a step up from my hodgepodge collection. Ashlynn and Addie received my mom's bedroom set from when she was a girl. It's a beautiful French Provincial set and Ashlynn had a blast picking out colors.

Here is what it looked like before:





And After:







Obviously, these wild colors are not classic French Provincial creams, but we are talking about an 8 year old, though I will be the first to admit my personal love of color. But maybe one day, when we are older, we'll sand it down and get the creaminess back.

Maybe.

And so it begins.

We started school yesterday with Ashlynn and Ryde. It's hard to believe I have a first grader and a third grader in the house! They have been good sports as we plow back into our routine and I know our schedule will iron itself out just right.

All of the kids needed a haircut, so they pulled up a stool in mom's salon (our family room) and I cut away. Gage, Ryder and Addie didn't shed enough to warrant a photo, but Ashlynnie sure did.

Here is our sweet girl before:




And here is the new do (we sent her hair to Locks of Love):








I pulled it back into a pony tail and cut away....and cut and cut and cut. That girl's hair is so thick I started having second thoughts about how short it was becoming the longer it was taking. Apparently, I need to get bigger scissors next time so I can cut the pony tail off in one clip and get on with the styling.

After looking at the finished product in the mirror she hugged me over and over again, thanking me and saying "it is exactly how I imagined it would be mommy!".

Ofcourse, I was most anxious about what daddy would think about the cut. The last time I took my scissors to it, he casually mentioned "it shouldn't be as short next time".

Oops.

Thankfully he loved it and was more worried about what it cost than the length and was very happy to learn I cut it at home (the Dave Ramsey in me must be rubbing off on him!). It is just hair, and it will grow back.....if that's was Miss Ashlynn would like.

She turned 8.

Our sweet, baby girl keeps growing up.....8. Less than two years to double digits.

Where has the time gone?

She was a princess for the entire day, crown and all! She requested french toast, sausage, potatoes and eggs for breakfast. Then it was shopping at Justice with Grandma where she picked up a sundress, a new doggie, and a few tops. Next on the list, Cheesecake Factory with Daddy for lunch. After her splendid piece of chocolate raspberry truffle cake, she headed home to play dress-up. Randy was king, I was queen and the boys were our loyal subjects. Ashlynn was, ofcourse, the princess.

The princess made a special request for her birthday dinner: tacos. And lots of them. We invited over the other loyal subjects of our kingdom (uncles, grandma & grandpa) and had a feast. Dessert was no exception to her longings. Homemade brownies with frosting and nuts, but the real challenge was the request for homemade lemon ice cream. The internet was scoured and recipe was found, let's just say it was DELICIOUS! Before the food had a chance to settle it was off to the pool with our princess. Daddy, uncles and brothers accompanied her highness to the royal pool where they splashed the evening away.

The final event of the evening was watching a movie with the girls, though the king indulged with us and quite enjoyed it too! He carried the sleepy princess to bed and tucked her in with a kiss and promptly told her to stop growing up so fast, to which she quickly agreed.

Just because.

Since it has been so long, I give you two posts in one day.

Remember the big trailer we unloaded back in April. Here is one of the treasures that was inside:

Grams' teacup collection now gracing the top of the piano.

This was my grandparents player piano they gifted to Ashlynn in their recent move. She plays everyday and makes up a new song almost everyday as well. This fall we will start her with lessons.....that is, if I can't convince Grandma Linda to teach her first! (Though Ashlynn remarked the other day she didn't need lessons, because she already knows how to play!)

She gets it from me.

Isn't that what we are supposed to say when our kids do something kind or creative or really, really smart? Then when they act out and embarrass us (like screaming in the library because they want to walk, not hold hands and basically act like they own the place) we wonder where did you come from?

So, Ashlynn loves making her now famous homemade desserts. Last night was no exception and we all couldn't help but smile when we looked at our plates:




She said they were "all natural and so healthy" and the mustache was made from "fresh-picked mint leaves from our garden".


Um, yeah, she gets that from me.

I'm getting to be that old.

While brushing teeth last night, Ashlynn asked:

"Mom, when you were a kid did you have a toothbrush? I mean, did they invent them yet?"

Me, laughing:

"Ofcourse I had a toothbrush, silly."

Ashlynn, more serious, asked:

"Did you have an electric toothbrush, you know like this one?"

Me, more serious, responded:

"Uh, um, no, I guess that would be a no. There were no electric toothbrushes when I was a kid."

When my child can point out something that wasn't "invented yet" when I was little, I must finally admit, I'm not the youngest one in the room anymore.....

She lost them, both of them.

Her teeth. Her two front teeth. Our baby is growing up.

Way. too. fast.

My budding designer.

Every time I venture in to my sewing room, Ashlynn is hot on my heels. The girls loves to dig through my stash of fabric and beg for anything I might not need. Last year for her birthday, Auntie Paula picked up a cool kids design kit from the fabric store. It has this little mannequin and Ashlynn loves using all of my scraps to design dresses for her barbies.

Yesterday, she hit the jackpot.

There were several large pieces of fabric I told her she could have and she went right to work. And, instead of her mini mannequin, I let her use the real life size. I'm thinking we might have found some of her natural talent!

Here is her work (she made the necklaces on the pink and multi-colored dresses too)....and....I did not help her at all.








She wants me to wear the pink one for Valentine's Day, I'm thinking the snow and 26 degrees might disagree :-)!

Gage, the thorn bush, sissie's love.

Remember the snow pictures of the kids the other day? Remember the thorn bush that Uncle Jeff helped them avoid? Well, Gage decided to take a run on the sled down the hill....by himself.

Light weight + slick snow + inability to control direction of sled=

Crashing directly into the thorn bush:

Good thing his big sis is full of compassion. She ran down the hill and held him, helped him back to the house and stayed with him the rest of the day to make sure he was ok!

Ashlynn's New Do.

Ashlynn had her hair cut today and she couldn't wait to show you all! They even flat ironed it for her and she has decided that's what she wants for Christmas...I guess when you've never had your hair straight before it's a real treat :-)!!

Here it is:

Higher level thinking.

Friday, I was reading "The Great Turkey Race" to the kids. It's a cute little story about three turkeys who are competing to be the "special" Thanksgiving turkey for Farmer Joe and Farmer Kate until one of them realizes they will actually be "dinner". With that information, they throw the competition out the window and quickly find a way to escape. The second to last page shows them jumping the fence and running away and the last picture is of Farmer Joe and Farmer Kate having vegetable stew for Thanksgiving instead.

Then, the questions began.....

Ashlynn: "Mom, what are they doing? I don't get it."

Me: "The turkeys are running away so they won't get eaten for dinner. See how the farmers are just eating veggies for Thanksgiving now?"

Ashlynn: "Yes, but mom, if they run away, they are just going to get eaten by wild animals in the woods....so what's the difference?"

How can you argue with the concept of the food chain? Seriously, I was like, "Why didn't I ever think of that?"