5

5 reasons why I love my Elizabeth

1. She is so easy. She can be occupied for hours and is always willing to help

2. She is so happy for things " oh mom! You made my bed! Thank you thank you."

3. She is a woman with a plan. The first thing she says everyday is "mom what are we doing today?"

4. The way she loves girly things like shopping and nail polish and barbies.

5. The way she loves everyone. Without hesitation

Can you believe she turned 5 today? I submit it is impossible.

The cake was delicious. And I finally made a strawberry buttercream that didn't look like it was suffering a painful death.

Oh what do you do

When your kids are gone for a week?

You go for wings without worrying about finding a sitter. And stay out as late as you want.

You go with your husband to rent a movie and get to watch a romantic comedy.

You paint bedrooms. And dressers.

You spend 7 hours quilting in a day without consequence.

You plant trees and garden/flower beds.

You don't put anything away for 3 days (partially because of the painting).


And it is only wed...

I still have 10 things on my to do list for the week. But I have checked off 6.

Love

Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. Awesome.

Start at 1:12 if you are in a rush




I guess they did this song on Glee too.  But I couldn't find a video I liked.  You tube it if you want.

I might be crazy

I started this post a few days ago and then got distract and now the story is to long. 

Short form.  I was DETERMINED to pick up Sam's passport from the passport office downtown on Thursday.  It was the last day I really could do it before we go to the wedding.  I didn't have a credit card to pay for parking downtown (stupid stupid)  and I can't parallel park so I finally just "womaned" up and wee went down to the train station and took the train downtown and walked the 3 blocks to the Harry Hays building and then the same in return.  Why is this crazy?  Well I had all three kids and if you haven't heard we have basically been having a monsoon here this past week.  It rained and RAINED and RAINED.  I had my single stroller and a big umbrella so we were only slightly drenched when we got back.  It was actually kind of fun.  and to all the people who gave me dirty looks you can stick it.  Especially the guy who turned around and asked me if I had enough children yet?  BITE ME. 


Anyways other craziness in my life.  Sam got into the peanut butter AGAIN.  he painted my couch.  boo.  And I think I have gained like 10 pounds and I am choked. 

What is a good diet plan for someone who loves food as much as I do???  I wish my treadmill hadn't broke.  I am one of those crazy people who doesn't like to run outside. 

I am planning on decorating my kids rooms while they are gone for  a week.  WOOO HOOOOO. 

There was so much more going on but I can't remember any of it now.  hmmmm

Sam is trying to farmer blow his nose.  gross I know. 

I finished the 3 "city of" books.  I am taking  a break before the 4th, I just need and emotion break from them.  I was to involved.  (such a loser). I think I am going to read "crescendo" next it is the sequel to a book called "hush hush" .  AND..... I just discovered that the third one is coming out in the fall woooooooooo.

Mawage ...

...is what beings us togever today.

June third my brother-in-law Stephen is getting married.

Isn't Kim gorgeous!!

Anyways my kids are in the wedding. So I spent my afternoon yesterday making my girls tu-tus.

Ignore my mess :)

I just need to find them some little sandals and shirts that go with them now. And get Abbi some leggings.

I find it hard to believe there is only 3 years between Elizabeth and Abigail. Abbi is so little and Lizzy is so big. What am I going to do when Abbi is so grown up? And can you believe Lizzy turns 5 in a month?!?!?

In other news. Lizzy remembered that she is NOT allowed to cut her own hair. However apparently I didn't make that umbrella of "no hair cutting" big enough. So she cut Abigails. Awesome. I am hoping no one will notice.

Need warmth

Trevor turned off the heat, it is that time of year.  However I am freezing, and dreaming of beaches.

Last November, right before our 6th anniversary ( I was counting the trip as a 5 year celebration), we went on a cruise, just the two of us.  First alone vacation ever. 

We went to the Western Caribbean

 We flew into Tampa the night before, went and got dinner and saw a movie.  The airport shuttle guy was ridiculous.  I have never heard someone so chatty before in my life.  And I worked at a hotel.  And met a lot of chatty people.  We stayed at the Hampton Inn Rocky Point.  They drove us to and from the airport, to and from the port, to and from the mall and dinner.  They were great. 

Here we were waiting in the mega long lines to get on the boat.

The were well organized and moved fast but man oh man they put a lot of people on that boat. 

This was in the port at Tampa waiting for the boat to leave. 

Our first stop was the Cayman islands.  We never booked any excursions from the boat because you can save so much money just doing it on your own once you get there.  There are always tons of people there and they know exactly where you are looking to go.  Of course I watch to many dateline things and panic about talking to strangers, so I was always nervous. 

We signed up with a bunch of old people to go to Stingray City.

It was a little sketch.  They pile you into vans and then drive you to a boat.  Then you get on the boat and drive for 45 minutes into the middle of the ocean (ahhhh they are going to kidnap us and throw us into the ocean).  The old people were hammered. 

Then you get there and it is this massive sandbar in the middle of the wide open ocean where the locals have fed the sting rays so much that they just hang out there. 

Those dark spots, stingrays.  Here jump in.  They are nice.  just don't let them give you a whole body hickey. 

So we did.  They freaked me out.  But Trevor was feeding them and holding them and snorkeling with them.  I stood there and just tried to not let them eat me. 

The water was amazing.  Warm.  Glorious.  I am going back.  ... one day.

Then our boat took us out to a reef to snorkel and swim.  Trevor found fish and eels.  They dove for 
Conch shells and let everyone eat the raw Conch.  Hah I totally didn't but everyone else did.  The also found a starfish.

We had our driver drop us at the edge of the road and caught the local "bus" (guy in van with a blue license plate = bus?) and went out to Hell.  I mailed some post cards.  I thought it was cool.

This would be Hell.

Our Next stop was Mahogany Bay Roatan. B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L

I think it was the prettiest place I have ever seen.  White beach.  Turquoise water.

We hung out on the beach and went swimming for a bit. Then went exploring.  You head out to the taxi place. And they were SO EXPENSIVE.

 So we followed some locals carrying a massive TV over a hill.  We figured they weren't going to walk to far with that thing.  Sure enough on the other side of the hill there were a couple of security guards keeping back a good 20 cheap taxi drivers.  They are trying to control the tourist area so that you aren't over whelmed by 1000000 people.  So we caught a cheap taxi (me once again fearing we are getting kidnapped)  We really didn't find any good deals. But they had these amazing carvings. 

 We had shopped around in the tourist area first so we knew we could get a better deal there (surprisingly).  So we bought a few things back there.  We had to barter with this little girl for a jewelry box she was awesome.  She was a tough nut.  But we took her deal. 



Our next stop was at Belize.  I was hoping to do some swimming and shopping. 

They had a tourist area again and then you could leave it if you wanted to.  So we headed out on foot and bought some statuettes.  It was really dirty though, so we didn't swim.  sadness. 

Our last stop was in Mexico.  I really didn't know where we were.  I thought I did.  But I didn't.  It was beautiful.  We rented a scooter.  I felt like I was a part of the hot fuzz.  Our scooter broke down though. 

And no one would let us use their phone.  Thank Heaven for prayers.  We got going again. 

We went and saw some ruins...I don't know what ones.  They said Tulum, but I think it was fake Tulum.  We were on an island. 

Trevor told me that the trees were special and that they would echo if you knocked on them.  So I knocked on the tree.  I am so gullible. 

We found the most hilarious store.  The Pee Pee Station. 

There wasn't anywhere to swim there.  It was all rocks and docks.

We spent the rest of the day shopping.  I bought a beautiful pitcher and bowl.  The bowl got smashed by the airline. :( 

Our time on the boat we spent reading, sleeping, watching shows, hot tubing, mini golf and different presentations that they had.  and I ate Eggs Benedict every day except two (because I slept in to late).

It was wonderful.

Now i am going to go turn my heat on because I am SO COLD.

and watch Ryan Reynolds on Sesame Street with my kids. 

Ashley

Dear...

... Mosquitos,

Thank you for you idea that my children would make a great buffet. Trevor and I have thought about it and have decided that no, our children are not going to become your food storage. Maybe there is something extra yummy about them because of their red hair however we don't like the MASSIVE red welts that grow every time you bite them. Abigail looks like a one eyed dinosaur, Elizabeth looks like she has leprosy and Sam ... some how I think 5 bites in a row across his forehead is over kill. We will now never leave to play outside without a layer of deet across our skin. As well the bug zapper will be hung back up ASAP to deter further feeding frenzies.

Ashley


.. Walmart

Although I really don't care anymore all I have to say is "good luck":).

When my Dad and Trevor came in to talk about our last encounter. And then 4 days later, right before the long weekend, you leave a message that "you have taken care of it" with no further info or a contact number you annoyed my Dad. I think he will eat you for lunch now. Stupidheads. Say you are sorry, even my kids know that.

Ashley



... Standard General

Please come remove your stuff from my front yard. Although I really appreciate that you lowered the curb on my driveway all the rain has turned my alley into a bog. My kids really enjoy puddle jumping. I would like to leave my house dry as well without the mad dash x 3 to get everyone in.

Ashley



... Rain.

You couldn't wait for me to plant my garden could you. :(

Private

I am thinking of making my blog not private...

Is that weird?

We went private because Trevor was working in Ontario all the time and I didn't want the internet world to be able at access that information

But now it's not the same.  I don't know.  I might just leave it as is because of that whole children on the internet thing but is that really an issue. 

Opinions?

  We will see.

Obsessed

I am in love with these sandwiches.

We ate them last week and when we fed the missionaries. Sooooooo good.

killerclub

Yum yum I promise.

Adventures in slumberland.

Last night Trevor fell asleep around nine. I had watched glee and taken Jessie home. Then cleaned the kitchen and put the garbage out for the next morning. I was all ready for bed around 11:30 when I went and woke him up on the couch and told him to go get in bed.

He wandered back to our room. I had decided I wanted to read for awhile before I went to sleep. When he realized that I wasn't coming to bed he argued with me about staying up but fell asleep again.

I read for only 10 minutes. I went and crawled I to bed. I love my bed. I was dozing off when all of a sudden Trevor jumped awake with a deep gasping breath. And then was asleep again like nothing had happened

I settled back down and was just dozing off again when *GASP* he did it again. And agin 5 minutes later.

Weird

Then he sat straight up in bed and said

"Ashley we need to put the garbage out"
"no I already did it "

*1 minute later

"Do you want me to put it out?"
"No. I already did it" getting aggravated Bout how he keeps waking me up.

*1 minute later

"We are going to miss the garbage truck"
"Trevor I told you I did it. If you don't believe me go check"

*quiet*
5 minutes pass by. I am in the space between awake and dreaming. All of a sudden Trevor jumps out of bed and briskly walks across the room....right into the wall.

He cries out in pain and surprise and say "what am I doing?"

Me "I don't know... What ARE you doing?"

Turns out he doesn't even remember me waking him up to make him move, any of our conversations or getting out of bed.

Weirdo



On another note. Abbie hair can fit into braids. Hooray!!!!