Eight and Great

SmAsh Mouth is 8!  I was reading to him and saying his prayers with him last night, and it hit me.  Sure, I knew his birthday was coming, I have all his presents ready, cake made, etc; but it just really hit me that he is waking up as an 8 year old come morning.

My 8 year old!

FLASHBACK- Ashton and me when he was 9 months. 

There is so much to say about Ashton.
He is so athletic.  Sports, both playing and understanding, come second nature to him.
He is so smart.  I always thought sports was going to be his thing within our family until he got to 1st grade and I realized that he is really smart.
He is so competitive.  I know I have said this before, but unless you know Ashton; you can fully appreciate his competitive streak.
He is a total pest.  He is has the innate ability to find that one thing that will drive you bonkers and then dig in over and over and over again.  I have personally seem irritate someone as young as 9 months old to someone as old 70 something.  It truly is a gift.
He is so cute.  I mean, come on... that blonde hair, blue-gray eyes, and infectious laugh.
He is a magnet.  Hunter's friends love Ashton, Shepherd's friends love Ashton, and then of course, his age group loves him.  He manages to attract people even when standing apart and daring to do the right thing.
He loves Jesus.  Even in moments where he messes up, you can see the Holy Spirit working it out in Him.  As a parent, that is one of the biggest blessings... seeing God work in his life.

Ashton,
You are so emotional and dramatic in all facets of your life, sometimes I feel ill-equipped in knowing how to harness all that passion and drive you have.  Know this, you are great!  You are going to be great!  I truly see the "finger prints of God" all over you.
I beg of you to stay humble.  We all have areas that can easily be our downfall and though I dont know for sure what yours is and do know that pride is at the center of most (if not all) of those downfalls so be alert.  God has gifted you tremendously but He will expect much of you as well.

Opening his presents

Opening his card/ money from Aunt Joan.

Probably his favorite present.  Madden for the wii

His presents- Madden Wii game, croquet set, soccer bungee, Alabama shirt (wearing),  reading lamp for top bunk, soccer ball (from Queenie and Mantis, along with cash  and a Wii game), money from GrandmaDean and Aunt Joan, and a gift on the way from the PapaHub and Grandma.  

Some of his faves
Team- Alabama, Clemson, U of Florida
Food- Chicken n dumplings, chips n cheese (nachos), spaghetti
Sport- football watching, soccer playing
Color- blue
TV show- doesnt really watch tv (probably a football game holds his attention the longest)
Game- Madden on the xbox or wii

Weight- 48 lbs
Height-50"
Shoe size- 2.5 or 3
Clothes size- Shirt 7/8 (M).  Pants 7 slim

Singing Happy Birthday

Blowing out the candles on his brownies (we had birthday cupcakes after his soccer game on Saturday)

Below is the chorus to a song that I want to be an anthem for you (and your brothers).  Fix your eyes on Him and everything else will fall into place.   Link to song 
Chorus to Fix My Eyes on You (by for King and Country)
Love like I'm not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on You

Happy Birthday Ashton!  I love you so much!  Fix your eyes upward!

PS- Ashton also lost his first top tooth late on the 24th.  So, the tooth fairy didnt come until his birthday.  Here was his letter and his sweet toothless smile.

School, Potty, and Awesome Kids

I am floored that it has been almost a month since my last past!  Where has it gone?  Geez.

As predicted on my last post, Bennett is basically pee potty trained... like hasn't had a pee accident all week.  Don't get me started on the pooping part of potty training though.  He can now stand up or sit down to pee and will adamantly let me know which way he is going to do it.  So, though he gave me a small run for my money, he has almost conquered this pottying thing thanks to a lot of icee pops.   

Pee Potty Master

*** Warning- this may come across as a slightly braggy post... if you know me well at all, you know that I SLAM my kids all the time, but thought some bragging was in order.  haha

*** Also, notice each child's personality in the pictures.  I literally, yanked my camera out and took a picture of the first thing they did... classic of each one of them.

School conferences were today for the older 3.  Do you ever look at your kids and think "wow"?  As we left the school today, I was thinking "wow."   When you are with your kids all the time and constantly hear their whining and bickering and selfishness (the list could go on), it is easy to not see how really great they are. 

Academically, let me just say that they are all doing incredibly well. 
Hunter has all A's and one B (which was a 92).  Though we try not to put a lot of stock in assessments, it is nice when they do well.  His MAP scores were great, 79% in Reading and 86% in Math. 
Ashton continues to impress.  He had all A's.  His MAP scores 87% in Reading and 95% in Math.  His IEP for speech is in a couple weeks, but his speech teacher said he is doing great.
Shepherd has met all his goals for the END of kindergarten.  He is writing at a level 6 where most K5s are writing at a 3.  He is reading at Level D/E (she said he can read higher than that but comprehension wise, he is about at a D/E level.)

This is Shepherd's free write example.  "I am so excited because I am a ninja.  I like my dogs."

Though I am so pleased with their grades, I am even happier about their behavior.
Hunter's teacher said he is so obedient, quick to listen, picks up behind people.

He can makes some of the most disturbing faces.  He will be sitting beside me in church and then all of sudden, turn and flash a face like this at me. 

Ashton's teacher said he is ultra competitive, kind, helper, hard working.

Thinks he is hot $hit.

Shepherd's teacher said that even though is so far ahead the other kids, he never acts like he is above doing the easier assignments, he helps other kids when they don't understand.  She said the only time that she has to get onto him is, not for talking, but the volume to which he talks.... hahaha, he has always been the loud mouth. 

I mean, I dont know....

Since, I am bragging... lets just get it all out there.  SOCCER.

Shep's team- U6 Quakes

Shep's last game is Saturday and he is the leading scorer of his team.  This the 3rd season that I have coached/ co coached the Quakes and it has really been fun/ funny.  Proud of Shep.  As of now, he says he wants to give baseball a try in the spring- we will see.

H and A's team.  U10 Spartans

Ashton and Hunter are on the same team this year.... again, I am coaching (thus the reason for pictures).  They have both played really well.  Hunter has scored a few goals and has good vision on the field.  Ashton, the kid can play.  Though he is the youngest in the league., he is the leading scorer or the co leading scorer on our team and can play any position.  We have had to work through a little brother rivalry (Hunter dealing with feeling like Ashton is better than him...  my great motherly/ coaching advice was "he is a bit better than you but that doesn't mean that you cant have fun playing, play your hardest, and continue to work together as a team."  Nothing like honesty, right?  Ashton has also had to run a bit for me for fussing at his team because he is "ultra competitive."

I wonder how we are going to fit everything in as the boys get older.  Already, Hunter has chorus practice on Wednesdays after school and guitar on Tuesdays after school.  Throw in all 3 playing sports and me coaching both teams, AWANA on Wednesday nights and Friday night football and it feels like we are constantly moving from 2:00 on.  I totally treasure my slower mornings with just Bennett as I know they will be gone in a flash.  I have read some great books recently.... maybe a book post soon. 

Anyway, October has flown by.  Ashton's bday is coming up, soccer in winding down.  We will have just a small break before basketball kicks up (at least I am not coaching that :)  )

Check back in a few days for Ashton's birthday post. 

And just because Moses thinks he needs to be apart of everything....