Ten on Tuesday

1.  I tackled homemade cinnamon rolls for the first time this weekend.  They were SO delish!  Grant even asked for seconds- you know they were good then!

2.  We had a pretty laid back holiday weekend.  Jason was actually home on Saturday which was a nice change.  We went to the Parade of Homes for some house ideas and then chilled out and enjoyed some much needed family time.

3.  On Monday morning, Jason and Grant rode grandpas tractor in the parade.  Both of them just loved it!

4.  Ashton sat on the sidelines and enjoyed the parade.  I am pretty sure he was the most enthusiastic person there.  This boy loves himself a good parade.

5.  Afterwards, Ashton got his time in on the tractor.  He was a little hesitant at first, but once on, he loved it as well.  We may need more tractors for the parade next year....

6.  After lunch on Monday Ashton said,"potty" and walked into the bathroom.  Grant has been trying to get him to go potty before baths so I would put him on and he would say he was done and I would take him off.  He never went, but I loved the idea that Grant was encouraging him and putting the idea in his head.  I actually was trying to figure out how to get Grant to potty train him because that was not my favorite experience of parenting!  Anyways, I put Ashton on the potty and he actually pooped.  I was in shock and fully expect this to never happen again for 6 months, but I was pretty impressed to say the least.  When he gets something into his mind, there is no stopping him. 

7.  I finally watched Les Mis this week.  It brought back so many memories of my high school choir field trip to Chicago to see the musical.  I felt very blessed to be able to experience that in person and pray that we are able to give our boys those same experiences as well. 

8.  I can never resist a picture of a sleeping baby.  This one just loves his blankies.

9. Grant was playing in the living room for about an hour while I watched Les Mis.  I had to laugh the next day because he was singing everything.  I guess he picks up on more than I realize even though he isn't actually watching it!

10.  Blessing of the week: safe holiday weekend to relax and spend time with family.  I love when we can slow down a bit and just spend some quality time together.

Ten on whenever...

1.  On Saturday, I finally redeemed my birthday massage gift certificate.  As I left the building feeling so relaxed I decided that it should be mandatory for all mothers to get monthly massages.

2.  I put Ashton in his crib the other night, covered him with his blankie, gave him a kiss and said I love you and he casually said "Luv you."  My heart just melted at the sound of those words.

3. Grant is OBSESSED with dinosaurs right now.  They have overtaken our house and even Ashton has climbed on board insisting that he carry around Grant's "long neck" all the time.  Grant has of course declared that he wants a dinosaur birthday party and actually made me go on pinterest the other day so he could look for a birthday cake.  I love that he is a pre-planner like his momma, but listening to him ask me about his cake for the next 5 months does not sound like fun at all.

4.  Broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, onions, squash, pumpkins, peas, beans and cucumbers were all planted in my garden this weekend.  Now I just need to pray that my fence keeps those darn bunnies out.

5. After this weekend, I wonder if I can just bathe Ashton in Neosporin.  His little legs look like he was dragged along the cement.  I swear he is just really clumsy and even mentioned it at his dr appt but he wasn't concerned. I just hope CPS doesn't get a look at his legs cause they might show up at my door!  Must find him some protective knee pads.

6. Grant was devastated this week when he learned that dinosaurs actually don't exist anymore and would not be at our annual cottage trip in August.  LOL.

7. Rambling of the week:  Sometimes the words  "God blesses those that ask for prayer" can be really painful.  I believe that God hears our prayers and I believe that prayer can be very positive in many situations. However, I am not totally sold on the thought that God changes the plans he has for you depending on prayers being lifted up on your behalf.  A situation this week where this idea has been brought up made me feel very frustrated and upset at the thought that five years ago, God heard our prayers and didn't care and decided to let our girls die anyways. We are thrilled when the outcome is positive, but please, please, please think before you speak these words to someone who didn't have such a positive outcome.

8.  Ashton seems to be a little possessive right now.  He was sitting on my lap for morning cuddles and ,J a girl I babysit, crawled up into my lap and Ashton pushed her away and said,"my cuddle."  It was hard to get mad at him because it was just so darn cute.  I just love this stage that he is in right now.

9. Looking forward to a date day this weekend going through the Parade of Homes to get some ideas for our house.  It has been a long time since we have alone time together- can't wait!

10. Blessing of the week:   Jason competed in a game/race this weekend and won a week stay at a local campground in a luxury RV.  We feel so blessed and can't wait for our first ever camping adventure this summer!

Ten on Tuesday

1.  I made my first loaf of homemade bread last week.  I have made beer bread but never attempted dealing with yeast before.  I am so excited that I finally took the challenge.  It was delicious and the boys just loved watching it bake!  Next attempt is homemade cinnamon rolls.

2.  Ashton's new favorite phrase is "Oh my goodness".  It is so darn cute to hear him say it!

3.  It was Tulip Time in our town so once again I dressed my two little dutch boys up and made them parade around town while I took pictures of their adorable little selves!  This year they were asked to be in a number of Indian tourist pictures.  It was kinda weird, but I embraced it and just prayed their pictures don't show up on some billboard in India!

4.  Ashton pretty much always has this guilty look on his face.  There is a fee for picking the tulips little boy!

5.  I thought this picture captured Grant perfectly- hiding his naughtiness behind his handsome smile and those gorgeous blue eyes!

6. It is hard to believe that 5 years ago on Mother's Day, I sat at a Cubs game freezing my buns off.  I was so excited to finally be able to celebrate on Mother's Day.  I had found the cutest shirt at Old Navy for $2 that said Double Trouble and thought it would be perfect to wear to the game since I was expecting twins.  Of course, it ended up being about 36 degrees so no one saw the shirt.  I still have the shirt and I will never forget that feeling of being a proud twin momma to be. 

7. This Mothers Day I had a different kind of double trouble in my arms. They say a few years makes a difference and it is hard to believe in the thick of it, but it really is true.  I used to hate this day and now I cherish it.  I still miss my girls like crazy and I still lift up all those who are yearning to become a mommy and I never will forget that horrible feeling of everyone in the world celebrating mothers when all I wanted to do was become one.  But with all that being said, I really had a great day celebrating the mother's in our lives and I got to cook a nice big yummy meal which I love to do!
 
8.   I love the new Target baby commercial.  So cute and every time they start singing If you're happy and you know it, Ashton starts clapping!

9.  Ahh... first Downtown Abbey, then Revenge and now Castle.  I don't know how I am going to wait until next fall/winter to see the next episode of these shows!

10.  Blessing of the week: being called mommy, mama, mom, etc....  There were so many days I longed to hear those words.  Now when I hear them, I just soak them up.  I love these little boys so much - I am so grateful for them to call me mom!

1.  We drive by the hospital often since it is only a mile from our house.  Grant usually comments on the scary vaccuum that was there when Ashton was born.  Recently they have been doing construction work so he has loved the big crane and excavators.  Today, we drove by and Grant commented that the work was done and that when he grew up, he would go to the hospital too.  Our conversation:

Me: Grant, when you grow up, you could have your babies at that hospital too.  Or, you could be a doctor in that hospital.  Do you think you would like to be a doctor when you grow up?

Grant: NO, I want to be part of our family forever.

Me:  You will always be part of our family honey no matter where you are and what you are when you grow up.

Grant:  We'll just let Ashton be the doctor.

This boy makes me smile so much!

2. It is Tulip Time once again in our town.  Sunday we headed downtown to the kids carnival.  Grant loved it!  Ashton only rode one little ride and he screamed the whole time.  I was shocked since he usually has a no fear attitude. I guess I can put that on the short list of things Ashton is scared of..... animals and fast rides!

3.  Ashton woke up last Thursday and started talking non stop.  Some of it is still hard to understand, but he definitely repeats everything you say now. 

4.  I love the nice weather, but I could really do without the allergies. 

5. Heard this in church the other day.  "One of the greatest feats of life is to live without answers."  H Norman Wright.  So true.

6.

What?  Doesn't everyone have a toothbrush stuck to their (ancient) tv???????   Don't worry, this is not their actual toothbrush!

7. Grants favorite word lately is humungous.  Examples, "Ashton has a humungous runny nose."  "That is a humungous tulip."  And my personal favorite,"Look at that humungous poop!"  :)

8.  Ashtons favorite words these days are anything that sounds like a curse word.  At any given moment in our house, he breaks out with fork, walk, sit or thank you.  All inocent words until they are said by a toddler that likes to starts words with an F and add a h to sit.  We were just cracking up the other day after he repeated thank you over and over again.... 

9.  My little soccer star.  Nothing is funnier than watching a bunch of 3 year olds play soccer!

10.  Blessing of the week:  watching Grant and Ashton get along.  Grant hasn't always been the nicest older brother.  Now that Ashton is to the age where he wants to do everything and be everything that his older brother is, I worried how it would all go.  Grant has done much better than I expected and it is so fun to see them interacting and playing and acting like brothers.

3 1/2

Grant Weston,

*this post was originally written for Grant's 3rd Birthday.  Our computer was in the shop at the time so I waited to post it until I had our pictures back.  The holidays came and life got busy and I totally forgot all about it.  So, this is has info from 6 months ago mixed in with current info.  I have designated 3 year info with a *for my memory book purposes.

3 years ago today they placed you in my arms for the first time.  I looked down at you and my heart melted and I knew that life would never be the same. I can't imagine life without your smile, your laughter and your handsome blue eyes.  Yes, there are days that you frustrate me so much, but then you smile and say something funny and my heart melts all over again.  This is what you have been up to lately...


*you are too smart for your age.  You looked at daddy the other day and said," daddy, do you know what makes you special?"  He looked at you and asked, "what?".  You said, "me."  Someday you will know just how true that statement is!

*You talk all the time and occasionally I think your vocabulary is bigger than mine.

*you are full of adventure.  You love to ride your quad at full speed.  You love to ride tractors with grandpa and great grandpa.  You love to ride on the boat and ask to go faster.  Your love for speed does scare me a bit!

*right now you are afraid of monsters.  Daddy had to go to the store for "monster spray" to keep them away because our prayers just didn't seem to be working.

-you are still scared of monsters at 3 1/2!  We pray for God to protect you from them every night and you like to sleep with your dolphin sword so you can get those monsters when they come.

*you love to be a part of everything.  You love to help me cook and you love to help daddy in the yard.

*you had a rough time adjusting to not being the only spoiled baby in our house.  You love your brother, but you still struggle to show him love all the time.  You like to push him over as he walks by you or shove him away when he tries to play with you.  I assume this is totally normal sibling activity.  I hope so at least!

*you are very expressive.  When you are happy, your face is beaming and you are squealing at the top of your lungs.  You jump up and down in delight.  Your enthusiasm for life is contagious!

*on the opposite side, your temper can get the best of you.  You are getting better, but sometimes that stubbornness scares me. 

*size wise you are starting to become more average- 25% at your 3 year check up.

*you love to watch Cailou, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Curious George.  You really would sit in front of the tv for hours if we let you.

-you currently love dinosaurs and ask to watch Land Before Time every 5 seconds.

*you also love to dance, play "constructions", play outside,  and read books.

-you like to play dinosaurs, do your preschool "workbook", ride your bike, sing songs, dance, watch Wipeout and laugh until your tummy hurts and just plain be silly.

 *you wear 3T shirts.  2T pants.  You have been fully potty trained since July.  You LOVE to wear your rain boots.

*you are our sensitive little guy.  Your heart breaks easily so we have to tread carefully.  You tend to be extremely dramatic when something happens like you get a scratch.  And, you have an extreme sensitivity to textures.  You hate to wear socks with writing on the bottom, you make us cut tags out of your clothes if they touch you and you freak out over shoes that don't fit just right.  Supposedly this runs in your dads side of the family!

*you have a wonderful heart and are full of compassion and love for other people and animals.  You worry about the moms that I help serve at the mission and the ants that I spray in our yard.  Your compassion sees no boundaries. 

*you have the most beautiful blue eyes that just melt my heart every time I look your way!

We love you so much Grant Weston!  ~mommy and daddy

Ten on....

1.  I sat outside with the boys last Friday while they played and I actually got a sunburn!  I have never been happier to feel sunshine on my skin.  It has been a LONG winter.

2.  The garage sale went well.  I got rid of 3 bins of clothes and my car seat which made me happy.  I still have a couple bins of infant clothes, maternity clothes and some larger baby items however.  Hoping to catch a mom2mom sale later in the season to get rid of the rest.  Garage sales are exhausting, but it sure is fun to count all your cash at the end of the day:)

3.  Ashton has a crush on our neighbor Brianna.  He stands by the window and says,"Anna c'over?"  aka can "Brianna come over?"  So cute!

4.  I picked up some skates for Grant at the garage sale.  He loves them and would hardly take them off to go to bed that night.

5.   I bent over the other day and Grant said, "nice butt mommy,"  I just about peed in my pants I laughed so hard.  Not sure where he picked that one up from!

6.  Apparently my tulips didn't get the memo that they were actually supposed to grow stems before they bloomed...

7.   We attended my mom's retirement party this weekend.  I still can hardly believe she is going to be done this week.  I think I got more emotional about it than she did at the party!  I grew up in her office so it was sad to think we won't be going there anymore.  Cheers to her starting this new exciting no work phase of her life!

8.  Ashton had his 18 month appointment last week.  I praise God that he is a healthy growing boy.  Although, he is still on the small side.... only 20 pounds 13 ounces at 18 months!  The doctor has no concern though- Grant was exactly the same weight at his 18 month appt too.

9.  Happy Mother's Day to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My new "baby"!

10.  Blessing of the week:  my dad was in a car accident this past week.  His car was totaled but he walked away without a scratch.  I praise God for protecting him and keeping him safe so we can many more years with Grandpa Pat!