Birthday Bash

Mesa and Ashton's birthday has come and gone. We tried to keep it low key just because Christmas is around the corner. Ashton chose the cake this year and Mesa actually reached up on the table to grab a present. I think she was trying to open it but knocked it on the floor. Ashton had strep throat the day before his birthday and still wasn't feeling as chipper as normal. He was able to have his own little party with friends playing at the arcade, laser tag and games. It has been so fun to have them together in kindergarten, Ashton does such a good job with including and protecting his sister. Mesa is getting stronger every year and seems to be more interested in trying to communicate, I truly think she will get there but it will just take time. I look at these two kiddos and my heart just swells with happiness and gratitude!

camera...shmamera

We took a trip to SLC last Friday and of course, forgot the camera. We only stayed for one night but it was still eventful. We ate chocolates, swam in the hotel pool, drank hot chocolate, froze walking to eat Friday night and watched the depressing Boise State football game. Then I topped off the night with a solo excursion to Forever21 for 2 hours. I could have stayed longer but that would have just been pathetic. I ended up having to sleep on the couch because the kids REALLY wanted to sleep on the big bed! The sweetest part of the trip was on the way home in the truck. I looked in the back seat to see if Mesa was sleeping because she was being so quiet. She had a hold of Ashton's hand while he was fast asleep. I don't think he knew but for the time he was asleep she would reach out and hold onto his hand off and on. It was so sweet and I love watching her do things that seem so purposeful. During the trip, Ashton would turn on Mesa's favorite songs on Aaron's iPad when ever she would get agitated and a huge smile would appear on her face. Driving for 8 hours in two days with 4 kids crammed into a truck was definitely worth it after seeing Mesa do that!!

What are you doing?

For my adoring husband who sometimes thinks all I do when I am home in the day is nap. Why does it always seem to happen that I am napping when he decides to come home for 2 minutes to get something? Here is the proof that I do a little bit more than nap. Ten bags of leaves and more to go.....

Hallows Eve and Greyson birthday

Poor Greyson always has his thunder stolen a little since his birthday is the day before Halloween. He was very excited to go to the store with me and get his balloons and birthday cake. He felt pretty special that day. It was his 3rd birthday and physically he is a little bit behind but his mental quickness and communication skills put him about the same as a first grader. He keeps asking me when he can go to school and after going to nursery a few times he has complained that no one in there talks! I can picture all the nursery kids looking at Greyson like he is an alien when he says stuff like....Dad, that is just wonderful! He is so fun and already is dying to go to wrestling practice and wants to play catch with Aaron.
We had one trick or treater this year, HUH???? Well, our house is on a road that all the potato trucks use going mock speed and it doesn't have any street lights. It is kind of creepy at night. But Mesa and I didn't mind at all, we turned off all the lights and switched on our glowing pumpkin and sat in the dark listening to music and singing.

Mom, can I....

So during Marin's confirmation last Saturday as the prayer is being said Greyson says to me,
"Mom, can I choke you out?"
Me: Um....no Greyson fold your arms.
Mom, I really want to choke you out!
Great, maybe some other time...be quiet.
As I was about to say you aren't supposed to do that to your mom (only your dad) he reaches up grabs my neck and squeezed with his little fingers. I am trying to decide if it's the UFC fights he got that from or if Aaron planted the idea in his head. Maybe if I was a cool mom I would have let him do it!

The month of Marin

It has been an exciting month of big events for Marin. She finished her horseback riding class, had a birthday and was baptized today. She asked Grandma Withers for a "cowgirl outfit" for her birthday so she could wear it to her last horseback riding class. She has informed us that she would like to be a cowgirl and wants to know when her new horse will be coming! She also batted her big brown eyes and asked to have her ears pierced. I told her if she kept her room clean for a month, we would do it for her birthday. She had a fun party with lots of girls, games and got a pet dog that you can actually walk with a leash (since we can't get the real thing just yet). Today her dad baptized her and it is amazing how much she has grown. She is so kind and a great example to me of patience, meekness and kindness. We are so blessed to have such a beautiful girl!

Finally

My accomplishments in life are small but very significant. I feel a great sense of pride in this recent goal. I have now taught, bribed, begged, and pleaded with my almost 3 year old that going on the potty is cool. I took a leap and just put him in underwear. He is now fully potty trained and I feel a big burden has been lifted. The amount of diapers I change a day was becoming rather ridiculous (not to blame Mesa at all) and I was getting desperate. I actually had the thought one day that maybe my very intelligent and stubborn child would be motivated by a sticker chart. So I made one and it worked like a charm. If I do nothing else this year ( like run a marathon or learn how to sew) I am happy with this little milestone. And Greyson refuses to wear a pull up at night now and there have not been any accidents at night. HALLELUJAH!!! Now on to bigger problems....

Into the 11th year.....

We did look a little different back then. I have lost the curly fries (as Aaron says) and he has just given up on the whole idea of having hair. Although he does grow a great beard! I made a anniversary present for my parents that says "love get better with time" and I agree. I sit through endless hours of the Dallas Cowboys and UFC fights. And Aaron goes with me to the chic movies and gives me a day off when I need it. Compromise is great! Happy Anniversary sweet cheeks!

twins first day

I can hardly believe my twins are getting ready for Kindergarten. They will always be so little and fragile to me no matter how old they are. Ashton is a good brother and protector for Mesa, sometimes I think that's why they were sent together. There are a few perks here and there for having a special needs daughter. We get front door service from the school bus in the morning. This year the buses don't bring home kindergarten kids because of budget cuts. They did offer to bring Mesa home after school but they would not let Ashton ride with her. HUH? Since I can't be in two places at once I just opted to get Mesa after school. In the winter it might be a little rough but at least it's only for a year. Mesa has a wonderful aide at school and she does get Thursdays off so she can go to physical and occupational therapy.

last time swimming because it's going to be winter soon

This week we went to Rainbow Lake on Tuesday and headed to Downata Hot Springs in Downey on Thursday to get in the last of the swimming before our little summer is over. Downata is really a great place. The water is so warm and the kids can wear their life jackets in the pool and down the slides. They have a nice new handicap ramp too. The changing room could use a little help but Mesa loved the warm water and was exhausted after kicking around the pool for an hour. We went to Red Lobster to eat afterwards and I have never witnessed a 2 year old eat as much shrimp and fish as Greyson did. He even tried to eat the tails!