Ashton's Graduation

My little Ashton graduated from pre-school Thursday.  I was far more prepared for how emotional preschool graduations can be after I went to Hunters two years ago.

Officially done with preschool

Ashton's music teacher had told us how loud and animated Ashton sings so I was looking forward to his performance... he didnt disappoint.  He did such a great job.  Took a couple videos of him but they are on the iPad and I cant upload them on here but here are some pictures of Ashton.

Just a side note, my camera is being gay and I am having a hard time getting images to not be blurry... just look past the blurriness and to the sweet little graduate!

so serious and stoic

Singing, "I've got the joy."  The boys had to say "Where?" and he really got into it

This is so sweet. They started by saying the pledge and all the kids had their hands over their heart.  The next thing was reciting John 3:16 and Ashton kept his hand over his heart... haha, so precious!

Singing his heart out

Receiving his "diploma"

The entire class... this was really a sweet group of kids. 

The crew that came to his graduation.  Queenie, GrandmaDean, Aunt Anna, and cousins Owen and Caelum... thanks for coming guys!

Look at all those boys!  The fam

 Ashton, you are going to do great in kindergarten!  Just keep your eyes focused on Jesus and think of others before yourself!

4 months... My Bouncy Seat Baby

Whose four months?

"I am"   Maybe a little more excitement Bennett

"You want excited"

"I am!  I am!"

Ashton's excited

Bennett hit 4 months last week and had the dreaded doctor’s appt today.  I know shots are important, but I would be lying if I said I did dread shot day.  It just seems like so much to put into a baby.  He had four shots today and an oral something too.  Needless to say, he was quite cranky this afternoon… hoping he can sleep most of it off tonight. 

  

Posing for mommy.

His typical expression

He has fallen a bit on the percentiles but otherwise is totally healthy. Doctor said I may want to go ahead and start solids but I think I will wait at least another couple weeks. I don’t think he looks that small.  He is definitely not chubby but he has little rolls on his legs and he eats good.

 He was showing off for the doctor.  The doctor asked if he was babbling and he babbled, doctor asked if he was rolling over and he rolled over to his side from his back, he grabbed the doctor’s finger, and smiled throughout the exam.  He is a strong little guy and puts a ton of pressure on his legs and controls his head perfectly.  I think he will be sitting in the next month.

Weight- 14lb 3oz  22%

Height- 25.75”   76%

Head – 17”  90%

Beautiful baby!  Like this shot

Bennett is such a love.  He loves for me to bear hug him and just squeeze him.  He will hold my finger when I feed him and I just melt.  He loves his brothers.  He also gets mad at them at times and gives this guttural growl and lean in with mouth open when they are bothering him (especially to Ashton and Shep)… it is quite funny… right now.  He loves to play with toys and is grabbing at things and putting things to his mouth.  He is in the "I love my fists" stage.  He gives me kisses all the time, the nice wet drooly ones.  He is smiling and laughing a lot more now and watches people with hawk eyes.  He still has his cute little scowl face though.

A quick shot of Bennett and me.  I have a similar picture of me with each boy at 4 months.

His sleeping patterns are not as good as they were.  Last night he got up twice but ate both times.  As the title suggests, he is still sleeping in his bouncy seat at night.  I attempted to transition to the crib last week after a few nights, I gave up.  He was waking up every 3 hours or so and I just need my sleep so once he starts rolling good then I will move him to the crib… he will not sleep in the bouncy seat forever, right?  He does love his swing now which is great for that long afternoon nap.

He loves to sleep with his blanket over his eyes... dont worry it is a thin blanket

posing while sleeping

and one more sleeping picture.. both he and Shep out cold

I love this little baby so much.  Say a little prayer for him over the next couple days as his body fights off the vaccines.

Patiently waiting on mommy to get me out of my carseat

And here are some of the other pictures I took of him for his 4  month baby parts picture... Olivia, get ready to make the board thingy for them... haha!

 

 

Love you B! 

Memorial Weekend

We had an unexpected busy, but fun Memorial weekend. 

Memorial Day is one of those times that I realize how blessed I am to live in this country... to have had so many men and women sacrifice it all for my freedom.

Saturday we ran up to Chad's parents house and hung out while Chad did some work with his dad.  We just hung out at the house and the boys rode the Trecker.

Zach and Anna made a last minute visit on Sunday and stayed until Monday.  The boys had a blast... they played so good together.. very little crying and whining.

A little bit of badmitten...

 An attempt at the boys sleeping in the tent without an adult... Shep lasted until 9ish and Caelum lasted until 2:45. 

Uncle Zach reading a Bible story

 Today we got out early and conquered the lake before it got too crowded.  Needless to say, the boys loved it (well, I wouldnt say Ashton loved it, he doesnt love water and he hates being cold, but there were swings so he was happy.)

Bennett's first large water experience

He loved the water

The boys floating around

Owen and Hunter

Shepherd "swimming"

Caelum doing his thing

Mantis taking baby duty

Bennett resting in the shade

Aunt Anna on sand duty while Shep and Caelum sand Owen

Ashton found his place... on the playground on the swing

and Queenie found her place

It was a great weekend full of family.  Everyone made it back home safely. And the boys and I have less than 3 weeks before we finally make the big move. 

The Month of May

Lets just pretend that it has not been over a month since I did a real post.  Geez, I really need to buy a new computer or have the energy to post after the boys go to bed!

I probably dont have to warn but this will pic heavy... unfortunately not as picture heavy as it should be as it feels like I dont take nearly enough pictures!

So sweet!

One of the bloopers

Is anybody even still reading this?  Probably not but thats ok as this blog is really just for me to remember this fleeting time.

Anyway, a lot has happened since the last time I blogged.  We closed on our Easley house on May 6 and the boys and I are living with my parents.  We are under contract to buy a house in our new city in a few weeks.  Living with my parents has been a lot of fun.  I have been doing everything on my own, by myself for 3+ months and just having adults around has been wonderful.  The boys really like with "keenie" (Ashton and Shep still cant say Queenie well) and Mantis.

Got mom laughing... she didnt want her picture taken

haha...

Ashton helping Mantis plant in the garden

We have also been having a lot of playdates.  We are so going to miss some of our wonderful friends.  However, I fully intend to meet up with a few of these wonderful people when we come back through.
Some of our outings...
Last soccer game

Soccer

Zoo with Jodi and her kids... we have also done a couple park trips as well.

boys and girl taken a break on the bear

Shep running down the hill

Bennett at the zoo in his giraffe onesie

Some of our precious friends

Mother's Day program at Ashton's school

Ice Dream with Queenie at CFA

Childrens Musuem with my family

Ashton and Owen race car driving

My sweet nephew... he was just swaying back and forth

They loved the cas this time

 

 

Bennett and me

 

The huge water table... look at Anna's sweet belly- less than 3 months

To date... the best picture of Bennett.  Mom had the idea to let him play at the water table and he LOVED it!

Schooling is going so much better.  We had a hard time getting in a good groove once Bennett was born and then with having to pack a house up to move but since moving in with the parents we are on a good pace again and have 14 days left... we should finish the week before we move!  So great timing! Once we finish I will do a final post of our homeschooling adventure. 

 

Shep holds his pencil so well

Ash and Shep doing "school work"

 

 

The boys are doing great.  Besides homeschooling, Hunter loves to "pace the pit"... which includes walking around the firepit in pretend world.  Ashton has been busy with preschool 3 days a week and he graduates this Thursday.  He is quite "the man" at school and loves to tell me all about his day.  Mom has been such a huge help with taking or picking him so I dont have to make the 30 minute trip, twice a day. Shepherd is in the hard 3 year old age.  Threes are tough especially in the evening when he is just wiped out.  Despite that he still loves to be loved on and cuddled.  He is loud and funny.  Bennett is such a good baby.  He is smiling and interacting a lot more.  He loves to watch his brothers and is getting really good at using his hands.  All of them are growing so fast.

Sweet B patiently waiting on me

Unfortunately, the boys favorite thing to do is watch movies or play games on the iPad.

Heres to bloggins more frequently!