SmAsh's 9th

Ashton has grown up a lot this year.  He is really starting to shine- getting a cool confidence about him.

He is still a people person and is most happy when in the center of a crowd.  Where most kids are scared talking in front of people, he looks forward to it.  Ashton decided to run for student council this year and won for his class.  He had to give a speech and he loved every minute of it.  He is definitely not shy.

Sports continue to be his real passion.  Though he has favorite sports, he will never turn down an invitation to play any game.  Most of the time, his sportsmanship is good, occasionally he will fall a part over a game (board games seem to cause more angst then sports games.)

Ashton still wins the award for the biggest pest in the house.  He can drive Hunter crazy.  He can make Shepherd whine. And he can cause Bennett to go into a complete meltdown.  Even Moses has to sometimes just walk away from him because he is quite intense.

I love that Ashton is the only one of the boys who will let me kiss him goodnight without cringing or wiping it off (besides Bennett, Bennett gives kisses pretty freely.)  He will curl up beside me or Chad when watching TV.  He is very touchy, a lot of times this causes fights with his brothers because he just taps them and they haul off and hit him... then, it is on.  Ashton will be the last one standing and will take the cheap shot to win the battle.

Singing Happy Birthday

Big 9 year old blowing out his candles!

Ashton had his first surgery this year- had to have an extra tooth surgically removed.  We were not sure if his permanent, top tooth was going to come down by itself, but thankfully, after 10 months, the tooth popped through.  So happy he is no longer a snaggle tooth.

We celebrated the birthday boy right after school.  He quicky unwrapped his gifts.  We gave him his main present this summer (a cell phone.)  He gave it to him early because the company we use was changing plans and I wanted to be grandfathered in on the old style plan.  I gave Ashton the choice to wait or get the phone early (knowing that he would not be getting anything else on his day if he picked early.)  No big surprise in that he picked to start using the phone in July.  :)  I went ahead and rewrapped the phone though.  He expression was funny.

Opening his phone for the second time.

He loves his phone and uses his phone way more than Hunter uses his own phone.  

Though I said he would not get anything else, i caved a bit and got him a couple Florida shirts (here he is doing the Florida chomp.  We also gave him a big checker board (like what they sale at Cracker Barrel), but this was actually something GrandmaDean just recently found in her attic, so I guess I re-gifted.) haha

Ashton, I love you so much.  You make me so proud from the good things the teachers at school say about you to your passion and drive in sports.  You are truly something special.

Ash and Mosie

Some things about you.
-You love to eat chicken pot pie- you are the only member of this family (your dad included) that has never cringed over dinner.  You will always eat what I put in front of you... Thank you!
-You still love watching football- your fave teams are the same (U of Florida, Clemson, Bama) except you thankfully hate Ohio State now and love West Virginia U.

The cake before Bennett snuck in and ate the corner. :/

-You love to play games and take pictures with your phone.
-You have really started loving dogs and animals this year.  Before this year, you liked them, but you have really developed a love for them... Moses has that effect on our family ;)
- You have been gifted with much, remember to Whom you belong.
- You weigh about 55 lbs (skinny as a rail) and are 53" tall (you so wanted to hit 54" so you could ride the big coasters at Carowinds, but now you have to wait until next year.)  You can wear an 8 or 10 top, and 8 slim pants.  Shoe size is 4.5.

When you were little you loved to help me.  Unfortunately, now, you act like I ask you to do impossible things when I ask you to help your brothers pick up their mess.  I want you to always remember that serving others is a way that we serve our Father.  We need to not only serve but serve with a joy-filled heart.  Life is sooo much better when we have a good attitude (I say this to myself as well.)

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."  Ephesiens 4:2

Ashton loves a good selfie!

I hope you have an amazing 9th birthday!  You are pretty awesome!!!

Love you SmAsh mouth!
~Mom