Lately

Summer started early in the Asp house. Spencer finished pre-school last week and so he has been expecting to be amused this week in the usual summer ways - swimming, picnics, bike riding, and all that kind of thing. I'm tired!


Today at the pool. Nathan is wearing his coastguard approved *nudge nudge wink wink * swimming suit and Spencer is wearing his expensive prescription goggles which the ophthalmologist convinced Gary that Spencer couldn't swim without. Why didn't I take him to his appointment that day?

Me with my impossibly good natured boy

Feeding the cow some grass which she has plenty of on her side of the fence but must just taste better if it's offered to you by the eager little hands of 5 and 3 year old boys

Me again. At least there's that gorgeous tow head to look at instead. He's sporting brand new glasses which are exactly the same as his last pair but without the scratches and snapped screw. Pity they cost the same as well!

Today

Today was a pretty perfect day. This morning we prepared for a picnic in the park, and then attended it. It went off without a hitch. Everyone seemed to have a good time, especially the kids. They were exhausted by bedtime which just means silence all evening. Gary and I can crash and watch TV, read, and enjoy each other's company. My favorite kind of evening! Below are a few highlights I managed to capture during all the busyness.

Talking on the phone to Grandma is WAY more fun if you climb into a tree to do it!

I am in love with the Clematis climbing all over my back gate. I only wish it would last all summer. I thought I better capture how beautiful it is before it's gone for another year.

I am so lucky to have not one or two, but three superheroes to protect me. Nathan told me as I dressed him for bed that "Superheroes save the day".

My little graduate!

Make a Smilebox photobook

Campout pictures

All ready to go

Cookin' those dogs

?

Kickin' back

They got so filthy

Sweet dreams

Nathan and his friend TJ

Spencer was exhausted

Sleepover fallout

1. My living room stinks. One of the girls spilled some milk on my couch and not only didn't clean it up, but didn't tell me about it. My stomach heaves whenever I enter the room. I hope Febreze does the trick.

2. My 3 and 5 year old BOYS can't get enough of this Hannah Montana DVD I rented for the sleepover. And funnily enough, the girls weren't at all bothered by it and preferred Barbie. Thank goodness I have to take it back to Blockbuster!

Birthday Party!

Leia modeling her new shoes

And her new watch


ANTICIPATION!


Five gorgeous girls

Silly faces everyone

Yummy

Make a wish

Second helping anyone?

Opening presents

Marshmallows?

Popcorn?


Chocolate chip pancakes?

Cake and icecream - $20
Popcorn - $5
Marshmallows - $0.88
Mike and Ikes - $1.00
Chocolate chip pancakes - $4.00
Pepto Bismol - $5.00
A successful sleepover - PRICELESS

Happy Birthday Leia

On Sunday my little girl turns seven. I just don't know where the time has gone. She has become my little best friend and I feel privileged to be entrusted with her care. Here is the slideshow I put together to celebrate her birthday. Even though her birthday is on Sunday, we decided to celebrate today. There will be photos later of her sleepover which at this moment is making her very excitable. At least she'll be at school all day and that will be a distraction for her!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

6pm conversation with Leia

Leia: (Very loud and whiny) MOM

Me: Yes Leia

Leia: Spencer's saying Blah Blah Blah to me.

Me: Oh

Leia: (Even louder and more whiny) But MOM. He's saying Blah Blah to me

Me: So what do you want me to do?

Leia: Tell him to stop it.

Me: Stop it Spencer

Spencer: (In the background) Blah Blah Blah

Leia: He's doing it again

SILENCE

Leia: Mom, why are you ignoring me?

SILENCE

Leia: (Having reached an all time high pitched whining) Mom, why aren't you talking to me?

Me: (Wearily) Yes Leia?

SILENCE

Me: (My patience is getting thin) I'm talking to you now. What can I do for you?

SILENCE

Me: (Urgently) Leia?

Leia: So how did that make you feel when I ignored you?

Spencer: (In the background) Blah Blah Blah

VERDICT: It's bedtime!

Happy Mother's Day

Today I received some handmade gifts from my children. It's such a cliche but I love to get that stuff more than anything. To top it all off, my husband took care of the kids all day and prepared and cooked all the meals. I was feeling crummy with an impending sinus infection and I have been able to rest all day. I am such a lucky girl. Who could ask for more?

Birthday pictures

After Spencer got his birthday present we went to the park to have a bike ride. Unfortunately we were thwarted by bad weather and a pedal that kept coming off. In the end we had to abandon the expedition. But here are the boys full of enthusiasm at the beginning of the day. On another note, Spencer wore his new helmet nearly all day - even when we went to Walmart! If there's no bike riding then at least you can rock the helmet right?


Spencer on his new bike.


Nathan learning to ride Spencer's old bike


Blowing out candles


Eating cake while Daddy assembles Spencer's new legos


The finished product. If that stays assembled for more than 24 hours I'll eat my hat!

Spencer turns five

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Detox

I have recently been reading a book about how modern living is creating a toxic childhood for our children. This toxic culture consists of several things including unhealthy food, television, fear of letting them play outside, lack of sleep, and celebrity culture. As a result I have been watching myself almost obsessively, trying to make sure that I am creating a healthy and enriching environment for my children to grow up in.

I set off to drive Spencer to school with the intention of continuing from there to the gym. But as I was contemplating putting Nathan into the daycare where he would most likely be watching TV or listening to older children whom I don't know, I decided to change my plans. One of the points made in the book is that children need to spend time in grassy places meaning outside enjoying nature. So Nathan and I went to Carriage Hill and spent the afternoon walking around. We visited the animals and their new babies, and went for a long walk through the park.

The weather was fantastic. It was overcast so we could walk around with our short sleeves without sweating or feeling uncomfortable. Nathan was babbling away to me the whole time about the airplanes (which seemed to be very plentiful today), and something about finding treasure. He is such a wonderful and joyful boy. It was so peaceful sharing the afternoon with just my little boy and nature. He was just as content as could be. All my children thrive on individual attention from Mom or Dad and I love to give it to them. It's not always easy to achieve so the three afternoons I have with Nathan while Spencer is at school is a real gift.

My only regret is that I was wearing my gym shoes which normally only see tarmac and the inside of the gym and my house. But there are worse things in life to have to worry about!

Insanity

Today I woke up with an insane urge to go to IKEA. I knew it would happen sooner or later since I have been wanting to do something about the shelves in Leia's bedroom. They were floating shelves which were getting bowed down by the weight of all her books as well as books sliding off the shelves all the time. Getting a bookcase in Huber Heights was a viable option of course but everything is so expensive. It was a risk going to IKEA as I love all their stuff and it's easy to get seduced which is what ended up happening. As well as a bookcase for Leia we got her a reading chair and stuffed animal storage. And then as we were walking around without kids (they have this amazing play area where you can check your kids in for 45 minutes of kid free shoppping), we decided to have another go at putting the boys in the same bedroom. My wonderful sis and her hubby are coming to visit in June and we really like having a spare room. That was my second case of insanity today.

We bought the boys a storage unit for the bedroom and matching bad sheets and made the room look really nice before bed and then settled them down. It's now 9pm and they are still wide awake. We have come up with this strategy for the situation and we are going to see what happens. I just bought a load of ice cream cones and a big gallon tub of ice cream. The kids have been enjoying a cone every day. For every evening that goes badly, they won't get ice cream the next day. Suffice it to say, Leia is going to be enjoying ice cream on her own tomorrow.

I just hope I can have staying power with this. I know in the long run it is going to be worth it. It gives us more space in the house for toys, and guests, and it will be nice for them as well. I loved sharing with Rachel. We had our moments but I wouldn't trade the memories for anything.

But if it weren't for the swedish meat balls, the 99 cent kids meals, the supervised play area, and insanely cheap bed linens, the boys would be asleep by now.