Thursday, August 27, 2009

Happy 4th birthday to my baby boys!:)



























Monday, August 17, 2009

It was the first day of school today.:( I took the all the kids to drop the girls off at their class rooms..
Cassie's teacher this year...Mrs. Bean.
Yeah, BARB Bean.. When I told Cassie who she had, she turned and smirked a little..I told her, it's okay to laugh, BUT, only once.:) Poor lady. On an up note, she's married to Mr. Bean. HEE HEE! Actually, Cassie adores her already and she is REALLY sweet! Sammie has Mrs. Andrew. She also has our little neighbor girl(they play often together) in her class. She LOVED the first day.... except for the little boy named Dylan who kept pulling her braid and crowding her in line.:) I told her he probably just thinks she's cute and to just tell him to please stop. I guess he got his payback when her class' rowdy boy squirted him with water.:):)
I hope it was worth the time out though. Oh, the DRAMA of Kindergarten. Tomorrow, she will ride the bus for the first time.:{ I am slightly nervous about that!! But she will love it I am sure.
Just a little more of a taste of letting them go. (sigh)

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Is this not the cutest picture EVER???? I LOVE Picnik.com
(although it helps to have a cute baby too!:)

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Happy birthday sweet Aeva! My baby turns 2 today! I can hardly believe it! Aeva~ it's been a journey, but i would do it again in a heart beat! I love you sweet thing! yummy birthday pancake!
the day we met her!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I finally found it! My loving husband had picked it up and stashed it in our laptop bag last time we were at my mom and dad's! :) So, needless to say we have some catching up to do!
We have been enjoying the pool so much this year, and have gone in most every day!
Of course, we have to have a break for a icee pop!:)

The pool started out pretty green, but we have learned how to actually keep up with it and it looks great now! Even better with the cute boys in it!:)

The big girls...



Mr. Mitch LOVES him some icee pop!


And this is what miss Aeva does while we swim. It is hard enough trying to watch the 4 older ones in the pool by myself, so she naps while we swim, then when she wakes up, Tyson is home and we all get in again. She is a FISH! She loves the water and constantly asks me to "let go!"




A few weeks ago it was SUPER hot so we rode bikes over to Steph's parents to enjoy their BIG pool. Tom and Steph rode from their house with Justin in his new trailer..which he seemed to like!






Cute family! They are officially moving to Florida in the next month or two. We are so going to miss them!





We also took a trip to Science Central with my parents while they were watching Justin. The place is so fun and the kids just LOVE it! They were all checking out the sea star..







J.T. loved to play in the water and was pretty wet when he finished!:)









The chillin's.( I made cassie stand there so she "pretended" to play!)









Our whole clan!









Here is sweet Aeva in a dress my grandma made me and ALL the girls have worn! I CANNOT believe she will be 2 in 2 weeks! CRAZY!











MY girls! Are they not the CUTEST?????












The Ashenfelter 5! I love them SO much!













Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Can't find my camera.....BOO.

Thursday, June 11, 2009


I hate imagination movers.
That's what is playing in my ear right now..most annoying music, but
the kids LOVE it.
We FINALLY got our pool up and the most level it has EVER been. Now to get the green water clear.....
Today is a rainy day. The kids are still in their jammies at 10 am.
There are many things I could get done, but rain always makes me want to read.
That must be why I read SO much in Oregon!:)

Anyway, I have to share a story.
One of the worst days of my life.

A few weeks ago my sis and bro-in-law came out to visit for the weekend.
It was a great time!
We stayed up and talked until 2am every night.
They left on a monday morning.
The Monday that my NEW washer and dryer were SUPPOSE to come.
I was tired and cranky when I woke up that day...so were the kids
TOO many late nights.
When it reached noon and the washer and dryer were STILL not here, Tyson called
and they said it would be an afternoon delivery(DUH) because they over booked themselves
SO I decided while Aeva was napping, I would go mow the lawn.

I was frustrated because my laundry was EVERYWHERE and no way to wash it!
Then, i start mowing the lawn and Tyson starts working on the garden spot he's making me.

As I mow, I am getting crankier and crankier. I mow past the pool, which is up and COMPLETELY lopsided(so much so that it can't even fill half way up)
Then I notice Tyson is taking the grass and sod he is shoveling out for the garden back to the back of our property, where he is dumping it in the drain spot...
our neighbors are going to hate us.
Then I walk past the pool again...GRRRRRR
Now the mower gets stuck ..
Tyson had taken more of the sod and filled in some holes in the yard, but had failed to pack it down, so the mower keeps getting stuck on top of them...
walk past the pool again...OH BOY

I make a snide comment to Tyson about where he is puting the dirt..he goes inside.
By the time I am done mowing I am just plain being WITCHY with a captial B.
I unplug the pool and let it drain..
Go back in the house...to the mess of clothes EVERYWHERE. Seriously, I had about 15 loads of laundry sitting in piles around the house.

It gets to be 7pm...still no laundry.
Tyson calls. The guys says, we have you scheduled for next weekend. WHAT??? I don't think so!
The guy feels awful and says he has a washer and will find us a dryer and bring them the next day. GREAT. One more day of the mess.
My kitchen is totally messy,our old machine sitting in the middle of the room.
Tyson was taking it out to get ready for the new ones
It the process of taking it out, he broke the water nozzle.
Apperantly the nozzle is welded to the copper pipe in the wall.
so trying to twist it off also twisted the pipe in the wall.
Tyson goes to the hardwear store to buy a new nozzle and copper pipe.
Then has to knock a hole in the wall to get to the piping.
UGH.
The next morning, my house is STILL totally dis-sheveled.
I start bathing all the kids..
the water softner starts to run.

I walk into the kitchen and there is water, ALL over the floor.
In the process of fixing the nozzle and pipe, tyson had taken the drain pipe for the water sofner out of it's drain and put it in a bucket....and forgot to put it back....SERIOUSLY??

Later that night, my new laundry comes...It is awesome.EVERY item of dirty clothes were clean in less than 24 hours. AMAZING.
I now have a really clean kitchen floor.
We also have a new access panel to the copper piping in the wall. It looks like a professional
did it.
We finally got the pool back up last night.
The garden is still a work in progress..and that's ok.
We're still trying to figure out where to put the extra dirt because we both agree that the drain area isn't the best plan.
We laugh together over the silliness of it all..after I apologize for my nasty attitude.

I love my life...really I do.:)
And I love that God gave me an incredible man, who, at times, puts up with my TUDE.:)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Cassie is HILARIOUS these days.
Here is a conversation that she had recently with her Aunt Stephanie.

" When you love someone, it's like a circle. When you are seperated, the circle is broken.
But when you come back together, the circle is whole again."

Isn't that great??!!

here is another that took place between her and I...

CASSIE-" Mom. where do babies go when they die?"
"I mean, I know they put them in a box and bury them, but do they go to heaven or hell?"
MOM- " well, there is a scripture that makes me believe that they go to heaven."
CASSIE- "That makes sense, beacuse they are to little to understand about Jesus dying on the cross and all that."
end of conversation.

She is awesome.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

This man is not only HOT, but incredibly romantic. I love him beyond words and am so thankful I followed my heart and married him almost 10 years ago. God has blessed me so much! That being said, here is the amazingly romantic story of my SECOND proposal.



We have had it planned to take the kids to Cedar Point for awhile and last weekend was the date.The wednesday before we left, Tyson came out of the bedroom after doing some "school work"(wink,wink) and handed me a piece of paper that he had printed out with a coupon on it for a FREE character drawing for up to two people at Cedar Point. Funny thing is, after it all went down he told me he made the coupon cause he KNEW his wife is too cheap to pay what they charge for those silly things!:) So, we traveled to Ohio and got to my sisters house Thursday night. I guess I almost walked in on several conversations about what was to happen!:) We got up early the next morning for the 1 1/2 hour drive to C.P. Charrie and Matt weren't able to go because they had work that day(so I thought!)Anyway, we got to C.P. and met up with Dana and Bekah and went on some kiddie rides. Then everyone needed to take a potty break..so we went to the bathroom which just HAPPENED to be RIGHT next to the character drawing place. I took the kids to the ladies restroom and I thought Tyson went to the guys. I think we stood outside the bathroom waiting for him for about 10 minutes..i just thought he must have HAD to go...:) Then I spot him talking to the artist and he waves for us to come over. When I got there he said he and I were going to get our drawing done....I thought, ok.whatever.how long does this take,.the kids are getting hungry and crabby. So I sat. She asked me what setting we wanted the bodies in...that she was good at beach bodies.I said, That's fine...didn't think it would matter!:) SO, she drew me and then Tyson sat down. All this took probably a 1/2 hour. I went over and whispered in her ear that she should draw Tyson in a speedo cause I thought it would be funny....so she did. When I came to look at the final product, I noticed she drew Tyson down on his knee...what? I thought. Does she not know we are married? Why would she do that..I still hadn't caught on!. Then Tyson came over and said, "did you notice she drew me on my knee? That's because(as he pulled out the ring) I wanted to know if you would marry me...again?" I ,of course, say yes and we hug and kiss then he turns me around to see Charrie(who had been video taping the WHOLE thing),Matt..... AND Thomas, Steph, Justin and my mom!!!!!!!! Talk about shocked!:) It was awesome and the BEST surprise EVER! I am totally excited! We got married at the court house the first time around and I have always wanted to have "the dress" and all that so now I get to! I am married to the most ROMANTIC man....EVER. Here is our hilarious drawing that will be forever hung up at our house!:) Yes, if ever I were to wear a bikini, I look JUST.LIKE.THAT.:)
SOOOOO HAPPY!!!!!

I love my hubby! He is amazing...and that folks, is the story!:)


Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The weather has been so beautiful the last few days and we have spent the majority of it outside..the kids LOVE it! HEre we drew a "road" in the driveway and they spent about an hour driving around and around...(the little girl is from across the street.) Enjoying icy-pops on a hot afternoon is a summertime favorite around here!:)
Boys and their bubbles..it was so funny watching them try to blow..they either blow WAY too soft, or WAY to hard..

opposites in every way..


" I can't do it, mom!" This was what I heard OVER AND OVER:) I love his pouty face..it's the best.




Mitchell figured out how to blow just right after a while and he was very pleased with himself.



I showed Sam what a pill-bug was and after being assured it would NOT bite her, she picked it up and named it Cinderella, then proceeded to "build" it a home( a.k.a. a circle of rocks so it couldn't get away) and yelled at it frequently when it tried to climb out...." NO! Cinderella, stay in your home!!!"





Quite proud of her new "pet".






" I will call her Cinderella, and she will be my very own."



MY washer has decided it would not like to spin my clothes anymore and since it won't spin ,the clothes are much to heavy with water to put them into the dryer. So here is my makeshift, ghetto clothes line. I ring out as much water as I can by hand and let them hang until they are almost dry in the sun then bring them in and run them through the dryer to finish it off.
The process is long and annoying, but, i am SURE i am saving energy.(we ARE buying a new set though, because I don't live in the Philippines and I LIKE my daily comforts here in the US of A.):)
I mention the Philippines because my sister is there and she is washing all their clothes by hand ALL the time. I am sure her hands are red and raw after doing a few loads and the time I have spent ringing out my clothes has made me think and pray for her often. I miss you Crys.
















AND NOW, for your viewing pleasure.........
MAX, in all his TOOTHLESS glory....



He got his tooth pulled today and did really good. He cried and was upset for about 1/2 hour and then he was fine. He was crying.." I want my tooth back in my mouth!" :) Poor little guy. It was pretty funny.:) sO he will have pictures like the above for the next 3-4 years until his new tooth comes down...I think he looks adorable.:)










Friday, May 15, 2009

Oh my. It's been a while hasn't it? Well, here are a few photo's from the last month.... The band that I get the privilage of hearing "live" EVERYDAY!:)
Max.is.a.stud.

FINALLY warm enough to play outside..(yes, those are the boys snow boots..they make great boots for wet ,soggy grass..:)


Then it got EVEN warmer and we brought out the sprinkler!:) Look at those ribs!:) Skinny little boys who eat as much as their momma= daddy's motabolism! YEAH!:)



adorable. i love them so much.




This is what we frequently see from the front seat of the van.First he says..."MOM?! Turn it up!!(sometimes with a please on the end..were working on it!:) Then he TOTALLY rocks out!!!! And plays anything he can like a guitar. This day is was a paddle ball paddle.:)





Cassie gets into the fun..playin' her AIR piano!:)






While I was in Ohio visiting my sis(no camera...obviously:) Tyson took all the kids to a carnival at the OCC( Grace college) they had a blast! Sam loves cotton candy!





And so does Aeva.:) Look at the sheer delight on her face?!:)








Cute boys with their snow cones.









Had to snap a shot the other day of Aeva in her cute nighty..she looks more like a toddler everyday and keeps surprising me with words I didn''t know she knew!
So, to catch up on us..
We have been so busy it feels like. EVERY day there is something. I had a blast in Ohio for 2 days just hanging out with my sis and bro-in-law. I love them.:)
I think we have finally come to the place where we are going to quit cleaning the church.
We have tried really hard to pay down a TON of debt and after some circumstances that happened this week with Cassie, I KNOW I need to just be mommy. Between working out and cleaning, I am being gone most nights and my time with Cassie is already so limited with school that I rarely get to spend time with her...I just really feel God saying it's time to quit and trust that he will take care of us. It will be somewhat tight budget wise for the reast of this year, but when I look at the big picture..what is more important?? Being able to focus on raising my kids right or having a buffer to work with for our finances? I will take the first, please. I am also struggling with how I can fit in my excersize without cutting into our family time..it's so hard, but I will admit, it hasn't been balanced very well and I feel my family has paid for it. I think I need to scale back some..which means my eating will have to scale back too!:) But hey..that will help with the grocery bill, right?:) Tyson is plugging right along with school and has completed 2 classes so far. He's in his second block of classes and has been enjoying it.
Well, there is a little update on my life.....hope you enjoyed it.:)