Ms. Mature and lots of randomness

        I didn't post last week because I didn't have a whole lot to post about.  The kids went to their grandparent's house in Buena Vista.  They had a great time spending time with them.  Joey and I had a great weekend sleeping in and relaxing.  I think it was just what we all needed!

      The kids have a had a lot of play dates recently.  On Tuesdays, my friend Brooke comes over with her sweet little girl Emma.  The kids have a great time together and I love getting some grown-up conversation.  Our next door neighbor, Aidan also came over this Tuesday.  He is one week older than Dawson.  He and Dawson seemed to have fun with one another.  On Saturday, Ashlyn had her first friend come over all by herself.  Catelin came over for a few hours to play.  It was kind of a big deal because she had never had a friend over without their parents here.  She was too cute showing Catelin all around the house.  They had a great time playing in the basement.  In typical girl fashion, there was lots of princess dresses and play makeup involved. 

         On Saturday I ran a 10k.  I was once again undecided if I was going to do it or not.  I wasn't emotionally in a very good place to be running a 10k.  However, I woke up Saturday morning and saw the sun was shining and I figured I would rather run a 10k outdoors than on a treadmill at the gym.  I called my brother and told him I was doing it.  He has ran this race before and warned me it was kind of challenging.  Since I really didn't care how I did, I just decided to take it slow and do it for fun.  The course was 90% covered in snow and ice.  I have never ran in snow or ice before and it was a little scary.  People were falling, etc.  I went pretty slow at first for fear of falling.  I soon realized that the 6 mile course consisted of hill after hill.  I'm talking rolling hills.  It was by far the toughest race I have ever done.  I just focused on my music and just enjoyed myself.  I knew that my pace was getting faster according to my Garmin.  Around mile 4, I saw one of the girls who beat me at my last 5k.  I decided right then and there that I wasn't going to let her beat me again.  I sped up and caught up with her.  I passed her and she kept trying to pass me again.  At the very end, she caught up with me and gave me a look like she was ready to race to the finish.  I pushed it harder than I ever have before. It was neck and neck, but I managed to beat her!  Felt great.  I came in 20th overall for females.  I was pleasantly surprised because I didn't even try all that hard. 

          I have to speak of our new litte mature girl, Ashlyn.  A couple of weeks ago I noticed that she seemed to have really grown.  All of her pants were getting too short and her shirts were a lot shorter.  I had to go out and by her some new clothes.  Well, in the last week or so she seems to be growing in our other ways too.  She has become so independent.  She now helps me fold clothes, brushes her own teeth, buttons her clothes, buckles her car seat, etc .  I can not believe how much she has grown.  I always joke with her that she doesn't even need me anymore.  Intellectually she is also growing like crazy.  She was reading a couple of months ago.  She was doing okay with it.  She was getting the hang of it, but it seemed like we really had to work at it.  I decided since she wasn't even 4 years old yet, to wait a little bit longer.  Well, this last week she has shown a ton of interest in reading.  She is doing an amazing job sounding words out.  She can read books like a pro now.  I am so incredibly proud of her.  She is also really into writing all of a sudden . She is now writing all of the time.  I find her writing on my shopping list, scrap paper, etc.  I love it!  She just seems to be going through a developmental explosion.     When Joey picked her up from school last week, her teacher told him that she was so impressed with the way Ashlyn talked.  She said she seemed a lot older than four.  We have always gotten that a lot about Ashlyn.  

        Here are some pictures:      

Here is little man drinking from his big boy cup.

We went to Ikea last week and got him this little tool belt with felt tools.  He looked adorable in it.  For some reason, he felt the need to put the hammer in his mouth.

Such a little boy

Bath time!  Always their favorite time.

Here is Ashyln buttoning her pajamas. 

On Saturday, the kids both got haircuts.  I decided to have about 4 to 5 inches cut from Ashlyn's hair.  She loves and I do too.  It looks adorable. 

Good shot of her new haircut. Dawson's haircut isn't as noticeable.

We got this for Dawson for his birthday, but just now got around to taking it out of the box.  He loves it. 

Ashlyn had to take it for a ride too.

Ashlyn and her beloved "blankie"

Dawson has mastered going down the stairs now.  He loves doing it.

Here is Ashlyn helping me fold the laundry.  Ella wanted to help too. 

She is actually really good at folding things.

Love is in the Air

      As I have stated many times on this blog, I am not a fan of Valentine's Day.  I think it is a really silly holiday.  Since having kids, I have decided the focus shouldn't be on romantic love.  I want it to be more about love for each other as a family.  So, we have turned it into a family holiday. I always try to make it very special for the kids.  Last year, wasn't too special since I had a newborn.  I wanted to make it much better this year. 

      I came up with some plans of fun meals to make.  I told Ashlyn it was going to be a surprise, but we would eat some special things.  Last night, when she was downstairs I decorated the dining room.  I thought I had more decorations and will definitely have to get some more for next year. When she saw it, she literally started jumping up and down with excitement.  We then made a few more homemade decorations. 

      This morning, I started the day with heart shaped french toast. Ashlyn absolutely loved it!  She thought it was adorable.  The babies also gobbled it up.  For lunch, I decided to go with a total heart shaped theme.  When Ashyln saw her plate, she got so excited.  She said it was the best lunch she has ever had. 

       After lunch, my mom came over to watch the babies.  I didn't have to work on Valentine's Day, however my class really wanted me to stop by for their party.  I decided to take Aslyn with me.  Ever since she started school this year, she has been fascinated with the fact that I am a teacher and I have students.  She is constantly asking me questions about my classroom, students, etc.  When I asked her if she wanted to come, she enthusiastically answered, "Yes!!!"  We had a great time at my school.  The kids loved meeting her and thought she was too cute.  Ashlyn became very shy and I think she was a little intimidated by the big 4th graders. 

         We left my school and headed to Ashlyn's school.  Ashlyn picked out My Little Pony valentines to give out to her classmates.  Ashlyn's teacher is phenomenal . The stuff she teaches those kids is amazing.  She doesn't treat them like preschoolers.  The stuff they learn is at a much higher level of learning.  They are always studying a different world region.  (Which is so important since geography education is becoming obsolete.) Right now they are learning about the rain forest in South America.  They sang the cutest song about the rain forest and the different layers. While I was waiting, a bunch of the kids came up to me and started talkiing my ear off.  I always seem to attract children.  Maybe it's because I am a teacher?  Anyway, the facts and information these kids were telling me blew me away.  They are definitely more worldly than my 4th graders.  Again, I am so happy with the education Ashlyn is getting at this school.  After the song, the kids got to have ice cream sundaes.  I helped the kids put on their toppings.  It was fun being around younger kids, but it definitely affirms that I could never teach children that young.  I like my older students.  Ashlyn left with a whole bag stuffed with valentines from her friends.

      For dinner, I wanted to make a special dinner.  Joey and I had some amazing crepes while in Vegas.  I decided that I wanted to make them for dinner.  I had never attempted them before.  I found a really good recipe using whole wheat flour, egg whites, and low fat milk.  I threw a lot away before getting the hang of it, but I eventually did.  We had ham and cheese stuffed crepes with roasted asparagus for the main course.  For dessert, we had nutella, banana, and toasted almond crepes.  They were wonderful!  We made it special by lighting candles and drinking sparkling apple juice.  Ashlyn got a kick out of it. 

      What a day we had full of love and fun!  I didn't do anything big but I think I really did make it special for them and I hope I created memories for Ashlyn to one day cherish. 

The hearts we cut out to make it more festive.



There were hearts every where



Here are the gifts for the kids

This was breakfast: heart shaped french toast with strawberry milk. Yum!

Ashlyn eating

Katy and I bought the girls matching shirts.  They looked so cute!

I tried to get a picture of all three, but accidentally cut out Ashlyn's head. 

Dawson's shirt says, "I Stole Mommy's Heart".  Isn't that the truth!!!

Amother attempt at a group shot.

Ashlyn opening her gift.

Checking out Ashlyn's new movie.

Dawson was too cute with his gift.  He knew just what to do. 

He pulled out the tissue paper

Checking out his gift, which was Batman Little People figures

Ashyln's lunch: a heart shaped sandwhich, heart strawberries, and yogurt for dipping

I couldn't leave the babies out.  They also enjoyed their heart shaped food.

Ashlyn singing

Too cute!

Waiting in the line for ice cream.

Eating with her friends.

She loved her sundae!

Our delicious dinner!

Our special dinner table.

She had a great day.

Dessert was so good!



House of Ick

     The title pretty much sums up our house this last week.  There is a lot of sickness going around this house.  It started last week with Dawson.  Tuesday he started coughing and acting like he just didn't feel good.  I only work 2 1/2 days a week and it ALWAYS seems like the kids get sick right before I have to go back to work.  On Wednesday, he started having a fever.  My sister had him on Thursday and when I talked to her during the day she said he still had a high fever despite being given Tylenol.  I called the doctor right after school got out and got him an appointment for that afternoon.  After a long wait at the doctor's, the doctor discovered thatt he had an ear infection.  She prescribed antibiotics and he started them that night.  He seemed to feel better right away.  He still has that lingering cough and runny nose.  Ashlyn started coughing on Saturday and she has been coughing and dealing with the same sickness ever since.  Ella has since also gotten this.  So, all three kids are now sick.  It is not a fun cold because it seems to stick around for at least a week.  I just want my healthy, happy children back!!!  I just hope and pray Joey and I don't get this.  I am really hoping that since I take good care of myself and eat really well it will help protect me.  I will keep my fingers crossed!!!

       I was going to run a 5 mile race on Saturday.  However, when I awoke on Saturday morning there was snow every where and it was only like 20 degrees.  I told my brother there was no way I was running in that.  It was still snowing heavily.  He decided to go anyways and he said it was the hardest, coldest race he has ever run.  I am sure glad that  I passed on that one!  I don't feel I missed anything.  My next race, a 10k is February 25th.  The little two week break will be nice and much needed from racing!

         Dawson finally got his new "big boy" car seat.  I have literally been researching car seats for months.  I take car seat safety VERY seriously and I know through my research, that all car seats are NOT created equally.  I wanted the safest one I could find.  After much searching, we went with a Britax Roundabout 70 CS.  The car seat is absolutely enormous, but it will protect him like no other.  He can also ride in it until he is 70 pounds, suffice to say it will last him awhile. 

       Ashlyn went to her friend Catelin's house for a play date this weekend.  We dropped her off and she stayed several hours.  I can't get over the fact that she is old enough to be dropped off.  She is growing up so much!  I can't get over it.  Dawson perfected giving kisses this week.  When you ask him to give you a kiss, he opens his mouth and gives you a kiss.  It's too cute!

Dawson in his new seat

So much more room than his infant seat.

Playing with his elephant.

Loves to smile for the camera.

I had to take a picture of this.  Dawson and Ella's favorite thing to do is to look at books while sitting in the dog bed.  They do it several times a day.  It cracks me up!



Smash Cake Session

     For Dawson's birthday, I really wanted to do a smash cake photography session.  I had seen them done before and just thought they were the cutestes thing in the world.  I asked my photographer if she did them.  She said she did, however she said they were really hit or miss.  She said most kids didn't get into the cake at all and therefore they didn't turn out real well.  I assured her that I thought Dawson would do great.  We scheduled the shoot for the day before his birthday.  Since Ella and Dawson's birthdays are so close, we decided to also have Ella in the shoot.  This was Dawson's first taste of sugar before.  We put that cake in front of him and he took the first bite.  He immediately fell in love and went to town.  He just kept eating it.  The photographer got a huge kick out of it.  We finally had to take the cake away because I thought he may get sick.  Ella also started getting into once she saw Dawson.  The photographer said it was by far her best smash cake session.  I told her he wouldn't disapoint! Shannon is an incredible photographer, and like usual she did a wonderful job capturing the moment.  Here are some of my favorite shots.  

Here he is before he started eating.  He was very excited to get started.

First bite

Going for more

Love that expression

I think this is my favorite

That frosting face is too funny!

He had a blast!!!



He even started helping Ella



Ashlyn decided to sample some of Ella's cake.