A year already!

I can't believe it's been one whole year since I decided to stay at home with the kids. It's crazy to think that in that amount of time, Asher started walking and talking...and Ayris...well, she turned into a hormonal teenager...attitude and all. Even though I was nervous to be quitting my job, it was by far, the best decision for me and hopefully for the kids as well. I couldn't be happier with where my life has taken me thus far.

I decided to ask Ayris if she preferred daycare or staying at home with me...here's what she had to say:
(None of it was coerced on my part...I was a little taken aback when she said daycare at first!)

And as for Asher and his naps...since climbing out of the crib, it's been a chore to try and get him to take a nap unless all three of us lay down for one (and Ayris hasn't taken naps for almost a year now) BUT, the last two days, I've found that if I just let him hang downstairs with Ayris and I...he manages to fit a nap in on his own time:

It's been a great year and I can't wait to see what the next year brings! I'm just thankful that I have the luxury of being a stay at home mom.

Random thoughts of the day...

I was just sent this in an email...some are slightly funny...some of them, I couldn't stop laughing...I will highlight my favorites because I know you all care =) And sorry, I'm too lazy to take out the ">"'s

Random Thoughts of the Day:


I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid
> Ghetto" routing option.

> ·
> More often than not, when someone is telling
> me a story all I can think about is that I can’t wait for
> them to finish so that I can tell my own story that’s not
> only better, but also more directly involves me.
>
> ·
> Nothing sucks more than that moment during an
> argument when you realize you're wrong.
>
> ·
> I don't understand the purpose of the
> line, "I don't need to drink to have fun."
> Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and
> sticks when they've invented the lighter?
>
> ·
> Have you ever been walking down the street and
> realized that you're going in the complete opposite
> direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead
> of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from
> which you came, you have to first do something like check
> your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter
> to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area
> thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on
> the sidewalk.
>
>
> ·
> I totally take back all those times I
> didn't want to nap when I was younger.
>
>
> ·
> The letters T and G are very close to each
> other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent
> to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email
> with the phrase "Regards" again.
>
>
> ·
> Do you remember when you were a kid, playing
> Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge
> out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem.
> Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how
> to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards
> or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are
> soft.
>
>
> ·
> There is a great need for sarcasm font.
>
>
>
> ·
> Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I
> watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no
> idea what the f*** was going on when I first saw it.
>
>
>
> ·
> I think everyone has a movie that they love so
> much; it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other
> people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing
> around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right
> parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder
> (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the
> only one who really, really gets it.
>
>
> ·
> How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted
> sheet?
>
>
> ·
> I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery
> bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries
> in.
>
>
> ·
> I think part of a best friend's job should
> be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
>
>
>
> ·
> The only time I look forward to a red light is
> when I’m trying to finish a text.
>
>
> ·
> A recent study has shown that playing beer
> pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if
> you suck at it.
> ·
> Was learning cursive really necessary?
>
>
>
> ·
> Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out
> loud" to "I have nothing else to say".
>
>
>
> ·
> I have a hard time deciphering the fine line
> between boredom and hunger.
>
>
> ·
> Answering the same letter three times or more
> in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.
>
>
>
> ·
> My brother's Municipal League baseball
> team is named the Stepdads. Seeing as none of the guys on
> the team are actual stepdads, I inquired about the name. He
> explained, "Cuz we beat you, and you hate us."
> Classy, bro.
>
>
> ·
> Whenever someone says "I'm not book
> smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is
> "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary
> smart".
>
>
> ·
> How many times is it appropriate to say
> "What?" before you just nod and smile because you
> still didn't hear what they said?
>
>
> ·
> I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire
> line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at
> the front. Stay strong, brothers!
>
>
> ·
> While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in
> the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks
> Mario Kart.
>
>
> ·
> MapQuest really needs to start their
> directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my
> neighborhood.
>
>
> ·
> Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if
> they told you how the person died.
>
>
> ·
> I find it hard to believe there are actually
> people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the
> water.
>
>
> ·
> Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants?
> Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
>
>
>
> ·
> I can't remember the last time I
> wasn't at least kind of tired.
>
>
> ·
> Bad decisions make good stories
>
>
>
> ·
> Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and
> I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on
> Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I
> always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!
>
>
>
> ·
> Is it just me or do high school girls get
> sluttier & sluttier every year?
>
>
> ·
> If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got
> together, their offspring would probably just be completely
> invisible.
>
>
> ·
> Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the
> whole room has to go around and say their name and where
> they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my
> name, I know where I'm from; this shouldn't be a
> problem....
>
>
> ·
> You never know when it will strike, but there
> comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind
> that you just aren’t doing anything productive for the
> rest of the day.
>
>
> ·
> Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes
> after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my
> collection.
>
>
> ·
> There's no worse feeling than that
> millisecond you're sure you are going to die after
> leaning your chair back a little too far.
>
>
> ·
> I'm always slightly terrified when I exit
> out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to
> my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any
> changes to.
>
>
> ·
> "Do not machine wash or tumble dry"
> means I will never wash this ever.
>
>
> ·
> I hate being the one with the remote in a room
> full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure.
> 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it
> on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren’t watching this.
> It's only a matter of time before they all get up and
> leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'
>
>
>
> ·
> While watching the Olympics, I find myself
> cheering equally for China and USA . No, I am not of Chinese
> descent, but I am fairly certain that when Chinese athletes
> don’t win, they are executed.
>
>
> ·
> I hate when I just miss a call by the last
> ring (Hello? Hello? Darnit!), but when I immediately call
> back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd
> you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run
> away?
>
>
> ·
> I hate leaving my house confident and looking
> good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire
> day. What a waste.
>
>
> ·
> When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of
> mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that
> I have learned from some light internet stalking.
>
>
>
> ·
> I like all of the music in my iTunes, except
> when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every
> fifteen songs in my iTunes.
>
>
> ·
> Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like
> the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...
>
>
> ·
> As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a
> pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of
> transportation, I always hate cyclists.
>
>
> ·
> Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3
> consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
>
>
>
> ·
> It should probably be called Unplanned
> Parenthood.
>
>
> ·
> I keep some people's phone numbers in my
> phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
>
>
>
> ·
> I think that if, years down the road when
> I’m trying to have a kid, I find out that I’m sterile,
> most of my disappointment will stem from the fact that I was
> not aware of my condition in college.
>
>
> ·
> Even if I knew your social security number, I
> wouldn't know what do to with it.
>
>
> ·
> Even under ideal conditions people have
> trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their
> cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I’d
> bet my a$$ everyone can find and push the Snooze button from
> 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time
> every time...
>
>
> ·
> My 4-year old son asked me in the car the
> other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a
> ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?
>
>
>
> ·
> It really pisses me off when I want to read a
> story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of
> text.
>
>
> ·
> I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the
> fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.
>
>
>
> ·
> I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
>
>
>
> ·
> I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on
> any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with
> Miller Lites than Kay.
>
>
> ·
> The other night I ordered takeout, and when I
> looked in the bag, saw they had included four sets of
> plastic silverware. In other words, someone at the
> restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it,
> and then estimate d that there must be at least four people
> eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was
> eating by myself. There’s nothing like being made to feel
> like a fat b@st@rd before dinner.

Ayris feeding the ducks...

A couple videos

This first one is of Asher playing with the cat...I wish I had gotten him on tape sooner...he was giggling hysterically initially...



And this next video shows how I'm probably never going to have downtime anymore when Asher is SUPPOSED to be taking a nap. He keeps climbing out of bed and coming downstairs.

Our Trip to Cragun's and a few other things...

This was after arriving at the resort:

Both kids wanted to talk on the phones so we unplugged both of the room phones and let them pretend.

After we had gotten back from playing outside, Asher wanted to take a bath but I wasn't quick enough to get his clothes off...once I came back, I found that he had already gotten in...

The view from our balcony...

Ayris working on her arts and crafts one morning...

I decided it would be worth the 15 bucks (20 after tax and tip) to get Ayris the sparkle package at the spa...at first, it was looking kind of cute...

But in the end...it kind of looked like Ayris was headed off to the circus...

that...or some corner downtown...(I kid, I kid...but seriously...SCARY!)

Playing on the beach...

Feeding the ducks...it was 25 cents for a bag of corn...we probably spent 10 bucks the entire trip feeding these ducks =)

Posing before going to dinner...

One of the many animals/arachnids at the animal show one night...

A lemur...

Asher passed out after playing hard...

Asher getting his toenails painted...

Ayris painting my toenails...

Asher relaxing...

We also went on a boat during our trip but my camera battery was dead...so no pictures of that. Otherwise, it was a great trip...both kids cried when we had to leave.

Once we got home, I changed Asher's diaper and forgot to put another one on when I got distracted making some tea for Chris and I...Asher promptly reminded me AFTER he had pooped all over the stairs.

These pictures don't do it justice...the kid managed to get it on d*mn near every step.

Luckily Chris offered to clean it up...below is a picture Ayris took of me vaccuuming the stairs...I LOVE this machine...the stairs look like new after I use it. It gets ALL the cat hair off.

Last night Ayris pleaded with Chris and I to let Shadow stay overnight...shadow had lots of dress up time...here he is wearing a pink build a bear shirt (looks like a dress on him) with a bracelet as a necklace.

And here she decided that he could use a little flower headwrap she had...

She loves this dog...this is her watching tv this morning in a bucket with him in her lap.

I'll be uploading a few videos later...

I am so uninspired lately...

I have no funny stories to tell or anything. I guess you could say it's been pretty low key lately. Just thought I'd sign on here and post a few pictures and another vintage video of Asher.

I'm posting this picture below without regard for what some of you will be thinking...why do they have bottles? Asher is now down to a naptime bottle and a nighttime bottle and Ayris...well, Ayris...if she begs ever so nicely, will get one once or twice a month. I personally don't care how long my children have their bottles or pacifiers unless it's impacting their health (and the dentist assures me it's not) but the wonderful thing about bottles, is that there's actually silence in the house for a good 5 minutes or so...

AND, it makes them happy...really happy....so that right there is reason enough for me =)

And this last picture...I walked in to find Asher laying like this during naptime...just as cool as a cucumber...arms folded like that and everything. He is SUCH a character.

This was just another video I found where Asher is looking all cute and young...he was dancing even at a year old...

Asher has a few moves of his own...

It's all about finding the right word

Have you ever noticed how much of a challenge it is to get your kids to move? At least faster than at a snails pace? Just trying to get my children out of their car seats and into Burger King tonight was a feat. Actually, Ayris was out at lightening speed but Asher was lagging behind. I had asked him to put the Snore Stop spray in his car seat (Chris cleaned this out and Asher has been using it to spray everything) but he was having difficulty letting go. Just as he started to walk towards the door and away from his car seat, he changed his mind, turned back and grabbed the spray.

Mommy: Asher, buddy...can you put the spray in your car seat?
Asher: (Silently shakes his head no.)
Mommy: Come on buddy, you want to have some french fries???

(Normally this works...the kids can be persuaded to do most anything when it comes to french fries...apparently Asher had found something more appealing)

Asher: Thinks about it for a second and then shakes his head no again.
Mommy: (Getting more irritated but using that high pitched, don't I sound happy voice that is supposed to allude children to the fact that you're all sunshine but if they defer your suggestion one more time, you're going to yank them out of the car by their ears and be done with it) Buddy! Guess what...do you want to go play? They have a play place here!

French fries hasn't worked...surely the option of playing will be enough to win him over.

Asher: (You can tell he's contemplating this but ultimately decides its a no go still)
Mommy: Slides Asher...they have slides!
Asher: OK! (Jumps out of car)

Anyone else feel like parenting...or should I say coercing is just one big guessing game half the time? It's like I have to go through various escapades before I finally find that one magic word (in this case, slides) that encourages my kid to do what I'm asking!

Also...while we were there, I noticed my little boy was the only one who kept running back to his mommy to give her hugs and kisses...it was really sweet. Ayris has never done that but Asher has always felt the need to "check in" with me anytime he's out playing. I guess he still needs me...for now =)

P.S. I'm gonna post all the freebies I scored tonight when I was out shopping at CVS and Target...goes to show how much you can save (i.e. 100%) when you stack manufacturer coupons with store coupons!

I just thought I'd put this up here too...it's a little wind up caterpillar...you can't really tell in this picture but it's completely submerged under water...I found this on the kitchen table when I came home from shopping. These are just the crazy things that happen in a home that has kids...just think of all the things I'd be missing out on if it were just me and Chris! (Although, I'd still probably have the word game to deal with...trying to come up with the best route to get him to do what I want him to do =)

Caution...this video is heartbreaking...

Okay, so maybe it's just heart breaking to me but when I came across this video yesterday, I felt like I was sending my kids off to college or something...what happened to my babies!!!?!!! When Ayris got older, I still had my baby Asher...turns out, Asher is NOTHING like this little baby in the video anymore...he barely had any hair in this video (actually he has more hair in this video than he does now BUT that's just because it's all been shaved off), he wasn't talking nonstop or running around...or falling off bunk beds or hitting his sister...sob =(

You know what that means...it's time for another baby...I'm gonna get working on that. It won't be a replacement though, and I know that...the third baby will grow up just like the fourth baby...seriously though...it's depressing to look back on videos like this and realize that baby is gone forever...almost past the point of needing a mommy. Sob again...

New pictures of the kids...

These are a few pictures I've tried to edit as I'm looking to get some 8x10 black and white's printed for the kids new bedroom...let me know your favorites!


Awww...
Needing a little more privacy...
I wasn't sure if I liked the b/w or the color better so I posted both...

Doesn't he just look like he's leaning back and relaxing in the sun?
Neither of them were taking direction very well, even with my bribes of candy...BUT I liked how this photo showed how much they actually look alike.
THE MANY SIDES OF AYRIS...the first one being DEMURE...or at least pretending to be...:

I prefer when my next two personalities emerge...FUN/HAPPY:
and my SWEET little girl...
But most often I'm stuck with the conniving, coercing little mastermind who likes to bring the sweet little boy pictured below along for the ride.
Pondering all of life's little problems...
Deciding it's WAY more fun to just forget about it all and live in the now...with a big toothy grin on your face...
Trying not to smile...
Looking full on sad...there's something about this picture I like though. Even though the kid hasn't a care in the world and has a really great life as far as I can tell...this picture evokes great sadness...actually, she'd be the perfect poster child for those save the children commercials that you see...I'd have to photoshop out the chubby cheeks so she looked a little less healthy BUT...she's got good face for that campaign!
Bringing back the sassypants. Funny thing about taking these pictures...I asked her to sit down on the ground cross legged and she goes, "How about I do this mom?" and proceeded to lay down on the concrete and strike this pose...
Looking more tomboy even with a big white flower hat!