Ashton's Half and Surgery

It is time for those half birthdays to start cycling around.

Ashton is officially 8 1/2 today.  Second grade has been good to him. He has grown up (not so much physically - still skinny as a rail, but mentally) this year  He is still dramatic and mouthy but he doesnt act out as much when he is tired.  He used to be the one that if he didnt get a FULL nights sleep, then he was a MESS the following day.  However, now he copes much better.  Though he and Hunter go to be between 8 and 8:30, you can normally hear them talking until after 9.  Chad will sometimes tell them to be quiet, but I let them talk.  Hunter and Shepherd cringe when I kiss them, but Ashton will still kiss me every night.  I love it.  :)

Ashton still dominates on the soccer field.  He is still the youngest on his U10 team and he shines out there.  It is good thing he is athletic because he doenst have a lick of rhythm.  Coming from a family/ extended family that has some semi-musical people (on both sides), Ashton inherited my dads lack of musical ability.  Maybe it will click one day or... maybe not.  He cant clap on beat and almost always sings a word behind.  haha- Hunter is quite troubled by this.

For our annual half birthday date, Ashton and I hit an early dinner at his favorite place, Panera, after his soccer game on Saturday (where he scored and played an incredible game). (Let me brag on all kids - they all scored a goal in their games this weeken).  We, then foolishly, hit Carowinds (on a Saturday).  It was so crowded, but he didnt seem to mind.  He really loves one on one time so he talked my ears off.  It was a lot of fun.  He really is cool kid.

Carowinds date.

As for his surgery... I mentioned in my March Recap post that he had an extra tooth that was blocking his front tooth from descending.  He had the surgery about a month ago.  The tooth was freaky huge, looked like an animal tooth.

The tooth on the left is his "extra tooth), the tooth on the right was his baby front tooth that fell out in December.  

The surgeon wasnt sure if his permanent tooth was going to come down on its own if Ashton will have to go back and have it surgically pulled down. :(  So far, there is no sign of the tooth coming down so he may be going back.

Three hours after surgery, out riding his bike.  Kids are so resilient.  Look at his poor weak eyes though.

 They had to put him to sleep. I tried to prepare him for the feeling of getting gassed.  He was very funny after the surgery insisting that he never even went to sleep and that the surgery did not happen. It wasnt until I asked him about the stitch in his mouth that he looked perplexed.

Ashton, you are a really neat kid.  Kids at school love you, teachers always comment on how kind you are to others and how you are a leader.  Leaders have much responsibility, so lead well/  make good choices.  And continue to be Awesome Ashton.

Love ya sweet boy
~Mom

Johnny and Rebecca

What a fun weekend!

Chad's cousin, Johnny, got married yesterday.  We picked the boys up early from school on Friday and made our way down to the rehearsal dinner (Chad was in the wedding and the boys sang.)

I realized when we were about ten minutes from Chad's parents house that I forgot my camera.  If you know me, then you know that my camera is like one of my children.  To forget my camera for any event is a sin, but for a wedding... I dont even want to talk about it.  Thankfully, my mom-in-law had a point and shoot that I used.  It was an older camera and had some issues so the pics are not the best.  But better than nothing, right?

Anyway, to the wedding... Johnny and Rebecca got married in their backyard.  This may sound strange until you see their backyard and then you understand.  It was a beautiful wedding, with perfect weather.

The old barn.  This barn/ house that is now Johnny's used to belong to PapaHub's dad.  So PapaHub remembers when there were cows and chickens in this barn.  While we all see the beauitful/ rustic backdrop, Papa sees work. haha

Loved these painted pieces of wood.  Has "Love is" Bible verse on them.  This was also the song the kids sang.

The wedding party

The crew patiently waiting for the wedding to start.  We had to be there early for pictures.

This would have been cute without the squinting.  :)

The boys and the girls.
Bennett (3), Joey (16 mon.), Charlee (7), Hunter (10), Ashton (8), Sami (3), Shepherd (6).

Grandma with her grandbabes.  PapaHub was in the wedding so he wasnt able to come down to our pre wedding photo session.

Chad and Brandon cutting up before the wedding.

PapaHub getting fixed by Grandma.

Aunt Sandee and Uncle Tom Tom with these my pretty nieces.

Holla.... my crew. again, squinting.

There was a table with family pictures on it at the wedding... this is a picture of Chad's grandpa, Edgar.  He passed away in 2010... blogged it here.  He was such a great man.  Definitely see some of Chad in PapaEdgar though.  

I mean, come on... they are just too much.

Jo giving me the stink eye.

Twirling.

I almost put, "so sweet" but then I remembered that she was running over to her sister to stink her tongue out... haha

Charlee and Shepherd

A little rock, paper, scissors, while waiting.

Waiting on the bride.

The flower girl, Rebecca's niece.

Johnny saying his vows

The kids did such a good job singing.  It was really sweet.

Two amazing ladies.  Chad's grandma died when he was in elementary school.  Ms Ann married PapaEdgar when Chad was in high school (or maybe college).  And then Aunt Joan is the mother of the groom.  Joan is one of, if not, the most genuinely nice/ authentic people that I have ever met.  They both looked beautiful.

Kiss the bride

Mr and Mrs.

I would have captured this on my camera, but Johnny is giving his mom a hi five!  love it!

Another gem... Julie (Johnny's sister) was the maid of honor.  She also looked so pretty.

Joey wanted her daddy.

The bow tie removal train which happened immediately after the wedding.

My forever baby.

Congratulations and Best Wishes to Johnny and Rebecca!  

Listening to the kids sing, "Love is"

The Easter Haul

Besides Molly passing, Easter was a bit different this year.

As I  mentioned, my whole family was together at mom and dads and they are starting the process to finish their basement... which meant ALL the stuff from the basement had to be moved into the garage.  So, it was a working Easter full of hauling.

This is after everything had been moved... plus this is just half of the basement.  

We also managed to...

 do a couple rounds of Easter baskets

Getting into the baskets from queenie and mantis

Esme not wanting to hunt for her basket.  Drama Drama Drama!  ha

Easter baskets from the boys from Chad and me

dye and hunt eggs

Dye time

Pretty girl hunting eggs

Everyone on the egg hunt

a kids kickball game that Uncle Nolan crashed

Ashton and Hunter were on the same team and spanking the Owen, Caelum, and Shep so Uncle Nolan came to assist the losing team.... it made Ashton soooo mad.

Nolan doing a victory dance when Ashton quit.

Owen on third base

Caelum sitting down on the first base job- I wonder why they were losing. :)

lots of eating, snacking

Watching TV outside on the porch

Queenie give Zach one of her infamous back  rubs (they last about 10 seconds and end with karate chops).  They are legendary.

dogs dogs everywhere

Riggs getting all the attention

Mantis with his favorite children

Eddie bear hiding from all us.  

Nolan getting attacked by dogs

 enjoyed getting some baby snuggles from Eva.

Pretty little blue eyed girl. Ah, she is just too cute

Uncle Nolan gets some baby love

Eva snoozin away

Funny pic of Chad 

Chad playing tickling monster with Es.

And of course, Easter would not be complete with Easter pics.

Moses bombed this one but I still like it.

My family

Love this pic of Zach's crew.

love this one too especially the way Anna is looking Caelum- so sweet.

Nolan and his son, Riggs

Everyone. we did not attempt the dogs this year.  And ignore Shep's goofy face.  There is a better group shot but I look a little chunky so as the photographer, blogger, I get to decide. :)

The Originals.  

The cousins and boys.  Shep (6), Ashton (8), Eva (3 mon), Owen (7), Esme (2), Hunter (10), Caelum (5), Bennett (3)

Queenie and Mantis with their crew.

Sister love.