Another Day at the Duck Park

We absolutely adore the duck park in town.  The boys and I made it a date last week, and we hit the library, the pub next door, and then the duck park 2 blocks from that.  We worked on manners and eating etiquette at lunch, and Aiden even ordered his own lunch for the first time.  He was quite proud of himself.  And the park was abounding with ducks: the boys were actually overwhelmed!  ...  and then there was the squirrel! 

 Reading a book while waiting for his sandwich

It's a Germany Day

It's raining cats and dogs.  Mom and I always call days like this Germany days, because they remind us of our stint in Bavaria.  But I'm not complaining.  It's a wonderful change from sunshine, forces us to relax and take care of inside business, is great sleeping weather, and washes the world clean again.  Reminds me of Jesus and how his blood washes us clean of all our ugliness and sin ... revealing a clean, refreshed new creation.  And that's just not a one-time deal: "the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfullness."  ~Lamentations 3:22-23

Proof That We're Sick

In accordance with things that Aiden wants (or doesn't want!) to do, he is either "sick again" or "feewin' awl better!".  Ashton and I do not have that luxury: we are definitely sick.  I'd post a pic of me, but no one really needs to see me in this state of no-makeup and stuffiness. 

Such a sad, I-don't-feel-well face!

Does the mess and boy-wiping-nose-with-shirt say it all or what?!

Action Shots in the Park

The Vacuum That Sucks ... Even Better Than Ever!

"Sucking" in our society is never a good thing, unless you are a vacuum cleaner!  I was freaking out yesterday, (secretly pricing Dysons!) when the Green Machine lost its sucking ability.  But Andy mustered up the energy after a 12 hour shift at work and went to town trouble shooting.  1 plumbing snake and 1 clog of dog hair, long girl hair w/ a nucleus of a pretzel M&M later, and the 4 year old $79 Green Machine is back and better than ever!  For this clean freak, the day is looking up!

Graphic T's

My fam was a bit obsessed with sending graphic t's to Aiden when he was little.  Now Ashton wears them - they just make me laugh and think of my family!

Fence & Tuck

Aiden loves to watch the animals that visit the bird feeder.  With the only prompting being, "Aiden, what do you want to name it?", he doles out names for the non-feathered critters.
Drum-roll, please!

  "Fence" is the chipmunk and "Tuck" is the rabbit.  I love my peculiar kid!

Boys In June

In my opinion, my little munchkins have grown quite a bit in just the past few months, so here are some pics of them from June.  Ashton has since had a few haircuts and cut 2 more teeth, and Aiden is a big talker as well as a big listener.  I can't believe he's almost 3 & a half!  So here they are doing what they do best: causing messes & general pandemonium around our house, keeping me mopping, punishing, laughing and shaking me head in amazement.  (I also sneak in as many hugs and kisses as I can!)

"Mom.  Mom!  Mom!!!  We ate awl da pwetzels fwom da bag.  Da bag fwom yur purse, Mom!"

If I could add the noise of wooden blocks crashing onto wood floors, I would.  Just so you could get the full effect.  (And that shirt was Andy's as a kid - adorable!)

"Mom!  Check out how high my SR71 can fwy!  Look Mom, Look!!!"

"Aiden, can you give me a sweet face?"

"So what are you up to, Aiden?  You look like you're up to no good."

"Ah, yes, I should have known.  Turning on Daddy's XBox ... just for the fun of it ..."

"And possibly to be able to give this smug look!"

The Black Veil Has Been Lifted

After 3 weeks of walking around in a funk, avoiding tackling any great tasks, even blogging, I am jumping up and down, screaming out of glee and relief, making a sleepy Ashton cry his eyes out in confusion because after misplacing it, I finally found

the camera!  The little red camera.  The little red camera that we have only had for 6 months.  The little red camera from my in-laws!  The little red camera that held all the photos from my parents' visit & mine-n-Andy's 36 hour romantic getaway to NYC.  To make a long story short, I mysteriously misplaced the camera just 2 days after we came back from The City and I had checked everywhere: the grocery store, the 4Runner & all my bags.  Out of desperation today when I discovered I had not downloaded our NYC pics to the computer, I tore open the couches.

Voila!  The little red camera lay next to some cheerios, M&M's and half of a dismembered dog toy.  Praise the Lord!  I was so depressed that I had lost the medium to communicate our lives with family and friends so far away.  So to all, I am back!  And to the friends who are close, yes, I'm now up to getting together for a bbq or playdate!  I can confidently say: "Keep posted.  I'll be be posting!"

Cheesecake Factory Cheesiness

On Saturday morning, Andy and I had a deep discussion in regards to how our lives are true reflections of our Christian convictions.  We analyzed our motives and opened ourselves up to the Lord using us for His will: to serve others.  And while this did not precipitate any instantaneous physical change, the heart change was enough to take us to the Cheesecake Factory.  You see, every time Andy and I have a change coming up in our lives, we eat at the Cheesecake Factory.  Examples: deciding to take a job in New York; choosing an appropriate celebration for Andy's college graduation (we ended up on a Caribbean cruise!); after the sonogram, picking the name "Aiden Taylor" over "Drew Lee"; and last but not least, deciding to have baby #2 close in age to our firstborn (I might have consumed a slightly alcohol-laden fruity drink at that dinner! LOL).

This Cheesecake Factory experience was much different than most: consumed with keeping the boys quiet and calm and not much adult conversation.  But we enjoyed chatting with our table neighbors and making the boys laugh.  Praise the Lord, they were in good moods!  And of course, the food was delectable. 

And as we were waiting for the cheesecake to arrive, Ashton lost it.  Parents: you know what "it" is.  Andy scarfed his slice while I took mine to go.  It was just as tasty being consumed on our couch!