Funny things Ashley says......

Ashley sometimes says the funniest things.....recently some of them have been:

When making valentines cookies with mommy and grammy....

Mommy - what do you want to be when you grow up?
Ashley - I want to be a mommy and eat when I grow up.

Ashley - I really love Mikey mommy very much (she says this over and over all day long)

Ashley - mommy how do babies get in your tummy?
Mommy - mommy and daddy kiss and their love makes a baby

Several hours later on the way home from church.....mommy if daddy kisses me will I get a baby in my tummy?
Mommy - no Ashley you will not get a baby when daddy kisses you.....only when you grow up and get married in 30 years....

Ashley - Mikey I want to marry you when I grow up.....
Mikey - Ashley you can't marry me I'm your brother
Ashley - Why not I love you very much.....

And today the most recent one.....we have 2 little male chiwawas we got 2 wks ago.....
Ashley - mommy the white dog ate the black dogs red poop
Mommy - Ashley I don't see any poop honey, where is the poop
Ashley - it was on his bottom, on his tummy and the white dog ate it....
Mommy - Ok Ashley....it's OK (I don't think she was talking about poop)

February Already

I can't believe it is February already. The holidays have come and gone, a new year is well on its way. We had a great Christmas! We spent Christmas Eve at home with friends and family (Grandma, Jimmy, Chas, Dave and Daves kids...Nathan and DJ) with a visit from Santa. The kids enjoyed sitting on his lap and putting in their last requests. Ashley did really well with Santa this year, however Hailey only wanted to visit Santa from afar..... The kids each opened a present from us....PJ's of course and we let Brit and Mikey give out their presents to each other and the little girls. Once the girls were in bed we finished putting out presents, filling stockins and putting together presents. Christmas morning the kids got us up around 7:00, they were all in the girls room waiting for us to get up....but gently pounding on the wall to help us up. They all enjoyed running out to the tree to see what Santa had left them. Ashley got a portable Vsmile, some musical instruments and a princess talbe and chair from Santa, Hailey got some musical instruments and a big pink Step 2 car, Mikey got an Xbox 360 and Brit got WII Guitar Hero. Once they looked at their Santa presents (which Santa leaves under the tree unwrapped) they started sorting out the piles of wrapped presents for each person. Hailey started opening her piling first, but quickly lost interest, so we moved onto Ashley, then Mikey and Brit. Grandma and Dan came sometime during present opening. After all the kids finished Daddy and I opened our gifts. Which were mainly from the kids. I had already got my Cricut and Poey already got some tools. We then had a huge breakfast of blueberry stuffed french toast and egg casserole with some bacon. After breakfast we opened presents with Grandma and Jimmy. Once presents were done we straightened up the house and started to load up the rental van for our trip. After the van was loaded, we tried to take a nap but couldn't so we decided to head out we left our house around 2:30 but only made it to Columbus when we decided to stop for dinner at Waffle House, which was the only restaurant open on Christmas. We drove til about 11:00 and got a hotel in Tennessee right outside of GA. The next day we got up, had breakfast and headed back out we arrived in Florida Friday evening around 7:30 p.m. We unloaded what we needed, visited a little with Nana and Papa and went to bed.



Saturday December 27th we got up early and headed to the Auburndale Flea Market. Where we got some great deals on sun glasses and fruit.....Hailey loved the strawberries and all the kids we eating them as fast as they could. We then headed to Clearwater, with a stop at another fruite stand on the way. The day was beautiful (high 80's and sunny) and so was the beach.....even though it was quite crowded. We had a great time playing in the sand and water, playing at the huge park and walking on the boardwalk getting some souvenirs. We spent the the afternoon and evening there, and watched the sunset and the pirate ship. We then headed to get dinner, which ended up being the Panda Express. We all loved our day at the beach!



Sunday December 28th we went to breakfast at Golden Corral with Nana and Papa. Then we went to Lake Parker Park and had a great time walking around looking for alligators and watching squirrels. Nana and Papa came a little later and Papa, dad and kids played ball tag. We made a trip to Dairy Queen. That afternoon we played in the backyard and had a cookout. It was a relaxing fun day.

Monday December 29th we headed to Daytona Beach early in the morning. On the way there we saw the Mikey ears in Orlando and several hot air balloons. Once we got to Daytona and parked on the beach, Poey and Brit went to look for a boogy board rental and drinks. Mikey, Hailey, Ash and I saw something jumpy not far from shore, it ended up being a huge whale. Once Poey and Brit got back we saw both whales and dolphins, it was fun watching them jump. We also got ice cream from the ice cream shop, went to a New York Pizza Place that had huge, awesome calazones and then spent all day on the beach playing in the sand and water. We watched the sunset and had a great day at Daytona Beach. Poey also got interviewed by a local TV station while we were there. It was a really great day, everyone loved Daytona Beach.

Tuesday December 30th we got up early and headed to Disney..... we made it there around 8:30 in the morning and spent the whole day until 11:30 at night......we wanted to stay for the 11:45 fireworks but we were all freezing cold.....it was only 50 degrees and Ashley was asleep and we were all tired so we left. When we got to Disney we brought our tickets, and took the boat over to Magic Kingdom. We walked down main street to tomorrow land and started with rides. We watched the Monsters Inc show, then everyone rode the Lilo and Stitch ride, except Hailey and me - Hailey was too small but Ashley did not like that ride. We then went on Buzz Light year ride which Ashley and Hailey both loved. As we walked to the teacup ride Ashley saw the talking trash can which she really got a kick out of. We rode the tea cups and then headed to Toon town. At toon town we rode Goofys rollercoaster (except dad and Hailey - they played in the play area) we then played on Donalds boat with the water, next we walked through Mikeys house and Minnies house. After that we headed back to get a fast pass for Pooh and rode Its a Small World. After its a small world we ate lunch at the Hamburger/Fry place that Brit loves.....and headed back to ride the Pooh ride, on the way back we watched the Country Bear Jamboree. After the Pooh ride Brit and Mike went to get a Splash Mountain fast pass, while we played in Ariels Grotto in the water and daddy stood in line to see Ariel.....after about an hour the girls met Ariel and got pics taken with her. We then had ice cream, met up with Brit and Mikey, who then left to ride splash mountain several times even though it wasn't warm enough...while we rode Dumbo, the carasel and went to the princess shop where Ashley rung the bell to make tinker bell fly around the store and come up on the halogram screen. Next we headed to find a spot for the electric light parade and watched it with the girls. After the parade we met up with Brit and Mike again and rode the Pirates of the Caribean ride, looked at its shop, went to the Tiki Tiki Bird House Show (saw fireworks), rode the Jungle Cruise and then Brit and I went up in the Swiss Family Robinsons tree house. We also rode Aladins Carpet Ride. We then found a spot for the second electric light parade, by then Ashley was sleeping so we took turns looking in the shops. We watched the electric light parade while trying to stay warm....everyone watched except Ashley who slept through the whole thing then we decided to leave because we were all cold and tired. We rode the boat back to the parking lot and headed home.

Wednesday December 31st we spent the day resting with Nana and Papa around the house and playing in the back yard. We had pizza that night and watched movies.

On Thursday January 1st we headed to Sarasota to pick up Hosanna, our cousin, and then went to Liddo Beach and Bradenton Beach.... Liddo beach had tons of wonderful shells but was hard on the feet. We drove around some, had pizza and then went to Bradenton Beach and played in the soft sand and water. We stayed to watch the sunset and then took Hosie home and we headed home.

Friday January 2nd we decided to pack up and head home. We packed up, went to the flea market for some last minute finds and some strawberries, called Julie to meet her at the park that afternoon before we left. We met Julie around 2:30 at Lake Parker and played with the kids awhile and talked.....once we left our friends we met Nana and Papa for supper at Sonnys and then we headed out.......we drove until about 11:00 that night and stopped in GA. The next day we drove all day taking our time and stopped at Sonnys again......then we got home around 1:00 Sunday morning.

We had a wonderful, fun packed, memory making vacation. I think we all we very glad we went to Florida for Christmas Break!

I love fall

I love fall.....everything about it.....you can tell fall is coming when you fill a little chill in the air...it is cool, crisp and refreshing. After the chill comes the bountiful colors of leaves.....just a couple at first, and then whole trees are bursting with oranges, reds and yellows....you can hear the wind blow through the leaves and the corn as they begin to dry out.....you start to see pumpkins pop up here and there.....then you see whole patches of them for sale.....waiting on the excited little hands to come pick out just the right one. Looking out my kitchen window I love to see and hear the wind blow the leaves and cornfield....the sun kiss each leaf with their vibrant colors.....looking out my front door there are soon leaves covering my sidewalk and front porch....along with bales of straw by the porch and in the front yard.....gourds and pumpkins are snuggled here and there....peaking out through the fallen leaves and around the bales of straw..... Fall is a time to let your senses bask in all Gods glory and wonder......not only do you see and hear, but you can start to smell......the smell of leaves fills the air....then the smell of leaves burning, bonfires blazing and the first fires burning in the hearths......what a wonderous time!

We have several traditions we do each fall.....it usually starts with apple picking both at Apple Hill Orchard or Lynds Fruit Farm and now at our house with our 3 apple trees. This year we made apple butter and applesauce which both turned out way better than I could have imagined. There is something very gratifying about picking produce and turning it into something absolutely delicious! We also have bonfires each fall or weinee roast as our kids would say, which always includes smores. A trip to at least one pumpkin patch.....this year it was a new patch in northern Ohio called fall fixins....after a trip to Prairie Peddler we headed up north for an afternoon of playing in a hay maze, corn maze, and picking out pumpkins. Since these pumpkins were already picked we had to go to a "real" patch (yes Brit we know it is tradition to actually pick our pumpkins from a vine) so the next weekend we headed to Garden Gate in Lexington out to the pumpkin patch with a wagon, we ended up with several small pumpkins and 3 over 50 pounds! We had some snacks there and then off to Mohican for a hike through the leaves....we try to go at least once to see all the leaves there.....and a favorite family game is to see who can catch the most leaves as they fall from the trees before the hit the ground....this year no one caught a leaf! We also went to the Circleville Pumpkin show....just with the little girls this year, unfornately the older two wanted to spend the evening at football games and with friends, so we bundled up the little girls and headed south.....we had an enjoyable evening walking around sampling everything pumpkin from donuts to chili and letting Ashley ride the little ferris wheel. We also saw the huge pumpkins on display. This year we had the girls birthday parties at home....one party to celebrate Ashley turning 4 and Hailey turning 1....we did a princess fall party....complete with princess decorations. The little ones decorated mini pumpkins, frosted pumpkin cookies, made candy pumpkin necklaces and had a fun time with the pinata. Afterwards we had a hayride and then a bonfire. Out by the bonfire Hailey had her first birthday cake, a mini pumpkin shaped one, which she loved and had all over her! Ashley enjoyed her princess cake, a mini bundt cake with a polly pocket it in to look like a princess with a little dress....with sparkly sugar.

We went to Hallelujah Night at our church and also did Trick or Treat in town this year. Fall is quickly coming to an end.....cross country is over, football games are over and soon winter will be wrapping its icy fingers around everything in its path......leaving behind crystals of ice clinging to the trees, bushes, houses and cars......a magical wonderland waiting for little feet to run through dragging their sleds and wrapping their chubby little fingers around handfuls of snow to make snowmen and snowballs......we will miss you fall and look forward to your glorious return next year until then we will enjoy all the delights of each season.......

Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year. It just so happens that two of my little pumpkins, the youngest two, were born in the fall. Today we had a last "hooray" of the warmer fall weather, as it is suppose to turn cold tomorrow. After my husband got off work we headed to the park for a walk through the woods, which was beautiful with the sun peaking through the trees and touching the last bits of color that are clinging to the branches. We then had a cookout. After the cookout we played at the park, had a quick game of hide and seek and then roasted some marshmellows. During the marshmellow roast, a warm marshmellow fight did break out.....and some of us left a little stickier than others :)

Overall it was a great time and a wonderful way to enjoy an unexpected burst of warmth on the 6th day of November! Next time we grill out may be at a sledding party......