quote of the day

Mommy: (standing in the kitchen) "Ashton? What are you doing?"

Ashton: (in the playroom with his sister) "Nuffin. Just hanging out with my bud, Erm-ry."

Lazy Summer

We have been spending the vast majority of our wakeful hours outside. The kids smell like sunscreen until bathtime every night, and we have all been ingesting an obscene amount of popsicles (both homemade and "sugar-filled"). Our outdoor days are almost always spent with our neighbors, and usually involve a sprinkler, baby pool, or garden hose. Sidewalk chalk and bubbles have also been making frequent appearances. Ahhh, lazy summer days. I have been consumed by the "lax-a-daze" spirit and have culminated pictures from the last week, grouping them into one post. Now, off to lather up the babies and head outside!

First day of school

Today was the first day of summer school for the kids. It also marked Emory's first day of school, ever. Ashton spent our morning commute naming all of the friends and teachers he looked forward to seeing. Needless to say, upon arrival, he ran into his classroom and didn't look back. Emory, on the other hand, was extremely happy-go-lucky, as she always is when we take Ashton to school, until she realized that the tides were turning on her. As soon as she gathered that we were heading for another classroom, opposed to the exit, she put her sweet little head on my shoulder and wrapped her legs around me super tight. She did not want to stay. At all. Tears were shed. And not just by her. Fortunately I held mine in until I made it back to my car. As expected, her teacher confirmed that it was quite a rough day for the sassy pants. Crying and uneasiness prevailed. She did, however, see her big brother during "mini gym" and I am told that he was quite consoling, hugging her and telling her, "Don't cry, Erm-ry". I know school will get easier for her...and me. I just wish I could fast forward to that moment.

Please pardon this photo. Not my best work. We were all running late and none of my three subjects felt that we had time to stop and smell the roses (much less take some pics) ;)

a bouncing baby...

boy is on the way! Daddy and I are so overjoyed and excited to welcome this little bundle into our family. He showed off his kicking and thumbsucking skills today for us. It was beautiful and surreal to see him moving about, sucking and kicking. I truly cannot wait to meet this little guy in person. We told Ashton that he was getting a little brother and he said, "Oh! Ok! I want a snack, mommy." Upon finishing his snack, he announced, "My belly is full. I have a baby brother in my belly."

rub a dub dub

Emory sure did need the tub!

Like her sporty new earplugs? The sassafras had ear tubes inserted and her adenoids removed last week. These bad boys will be a sweet, sassy accessory for the next few months ;)

boat day

Daddy took Ashton out for a day on our boat this past weekend. I truly think it might have been the best day of Ashton's life. He went joyriding, swimming, dug in the sand with his bucket and shovel, got to float on the big tube, and got to hang with his best bud; his daddy. Our neighbor Marc and his son (also one of Ashton's fave peeps) Aidan went too. I foresee many more of these days to come...

sun, strawberries and lots of love

My first peek outside this morning indicated a gorgeous, sunshiney, Texas day. Caryn and I decided to load up and head down to the farmer's market for some fresh produce. And because we are massive dorks we love taking pictures, we themed our children's outfits in hopes of some sweet photos with the sweet fresh fruit at the farmer's market. The kids had something else in mind. :) I did manage to get a couple pics after we vacated the "danger zone" of breakables and edibles (I only had to buy two apples because Ashton decided they looked so delicious that he needed to sample them). Caryn ended up with some dried, candied pineapple that Zoe Kate later confessed to stashing in the cart. And Emory was sadly banished to the cart after about five too close mishaps with the jars in this post. A long lunch and and couple of hours at the pool followed, but I was too pooped to pull out the camera at that point ;) As far as the "love" portion of this post goes... Ashton and Zoe have now announced that they love each other. Actually they both love everyone. Caryn and I must have heard 20+ times today, "I love you Zoe." "I love you too, Ashton." We expect save the dates to go out around Fall of 2035.

two years

Two years ago today we lost John's dad to colon cancer. The wound of it still lies open. I don't expect that the wound will ever truly heal and close completely, but this year does seem to be a tad easier to stomach than the last. Today we loaded up and headed down to the manufacturing center to plant some citrus trees in honor of Tim. I know he was smiling down on us as the kids ran around giddily, and we sowed into the ground the possibility of fresh fruit next season, all in honor of him.

Man, do I miss him.

Farmer's Market

Emory and I were on our own today, as daddy and Ashton took the boat out for a "boy's day". Separate blog post to come on that. After making a Target and grocery store run, we decided to reward ourselves with a trip to the farmer's market. The sun was shining and I was able to devote all of my attention, kisses and cuddles to the sweet sassafras. Rare and wonderful.

love a good afternoon rain.

Always makes everyone nap well. :)

today.

I don't ever want to forget today.

Today Ashton's hair grew during his nap. Seriously. When he woke up, he looked like a real big boy. He requested onions, heart milk, roast beef and pineapple for lunch. After playing outside in the intense Texas heat for 30 minutes, he had a meltdown when Emory got to shut the front door instead of him. While we were cuddling on the couch this morning, he cupped my chin and said, "look at your big, ole chin". He gave me two random hugs during lunch accompanied with the phrase, "I'm happy.".

The hair and the meltdown.

Emory sang twinkle twinkle little star today. She waved bye bye and said bye bye to everyone at daddy's office. She ran to Ashton and gave him a big kiss at bedtime, then waddled off furiously to her room, yelling bye bye and waving the whole way. She devoured most of a container of blackberries at lunch. She bellied laughed so hard that her eyes were squeezed shut when she fell out of her "car" this morning.

Everyday around five, Jackson or "woo woo" as Ashton has renamed him, starts to stalk the front window, waiting for daddy to arrive home. That is, on the days that woo woo is not with daddy at the office. Today was one such day. And when daddy's truck pulls up, woo woo goes nuts. Which then signals the doodle bugs that daddy has arrived. What a welcoming committee.