Our Family Circus Part II: August 2012

My name is Ashli I'm 34 years old

How embarrassing! I put some random picture of myself up here, but this is me at 34 years old. I had a birthday last Thursday making that little fact official. And while I don't particularly like pictures of myself I realize how rarely a picture is taken of me and that I need to document that I am in fact a part of my family and our journey. Anyway...

A few weeks ago Randall called from work and said he had to go to Vegas for work and I should come with him. He thought it would make a great birthday gift a few days early. I think it was Wednesday and we would leave Monday. I'm not really all that spontaneous, don't really love Vegas, and was hesitant to ask anyone to watch our kiddos. Thankfully my parents were more than happy to watch the kids so I decided why not?

We flew into Vegas late Monday night and were starving so we ordered some room service. Hey we are on vacation right?

The next day Rand had meetings form 8am to 8pm and then a work dinner that I tagged along for, until late into the night. So, while I was sad that I wouldn't really be seeing Randall anytime during this trip, it was heaven to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted.

In fact it was rather comical the debate I would have with myself. "Should I nap? Should I site see? I should get in as much as possible while I can, when I can do anything I want... But, I'm alone and I can have a quiet nap, and sleep as long as I want too?!"

So I got up and went to the gym for 90 minutes so I could eat what I wanted too, and I truthfully enjoy working out. I went to the pool for a few hours, read a book, took a short nap, watched cupcakes wars on TV in my room, walked around a lot to the different hotels, and ate blueberry and lemon crepes in "Paris". All. by. myself. It was lovely.

The only thing that would have made it better was if I we were really in Europe, and Randall wasn't working.

My favorite thing about Vegas is the fountains at the Bellagio hotel. Sadly I think they were broken because one afternoon I sat and sat and waited and waited... and they never happened. I googled when I should expect them and still waited and again...nothing. I was super disappointed, but what do you do? Wednesday Rand had meetings again until our flight left so I was alone to do as I wanted. We were home by Wednesday night, the kids had a great time, my parents did great, it was a nice quick get away, and the perfect birthday gift.

On my real birthday Randall made me breakfast before work, then, I had invited my Mom and Kate to go to lunch. We went to Los Hermanos because I still have not had my fill of Mexican having gone without in Jersey for so long.

It was a really nice lunch and it was weird to think how grown up Kate has become. She just sat happily coloring her paper and talking once in awhile. Because of Kate's and my birthdays we got free fried ice cream and it was delicious. Are you sensing a theme here? Me and food are BFF's.

I LOVE this picture of the 3 of us.

I had a great birthday and felt very loved and spoiled with calls, texts and several friends dropping by unexpectedly with little gifts or goodies. It was a really nice day.

On Friday Rand was worried I would feel sad that we didn't go to dinner or do any cake or anything so we made plans to go out with some friends of ours from grad school. We were going to suggest In and Out for dinner, but they suggested Sundance so how could we say no to that?

It was a gorgeous and cool night. We ate outside on the porch and enjoyed catching up with our friends until late. I couldn't be happier.

Kate turns 5!

August 21st Kate turned 5! It was also the first day of school for Ethan and Anna, and Ethan's first football game. It was a crazy day. We started off the day with a few presents and Kate's birthday breakfast of choice-German pancakes.

A princess bike for our princess.

I tied a big pink ribbon on her helmet just to make it a bit more exciting for the big reveal :)

Opening presents

Jane needed to try it all out too

I took the older kids to see "Brave" this summer and they loved it. Kate has been asking for a "Brave" birthday ever since.

Our delicious German pancakes

Of course Kate was anxious to try out her new bike, but it was a bit crazy trying to get the older two out the door and to the bus.

Rand worked from home so he could see the kids off on their first day, but since the bus was 20 minutes late he just had to say goodbye and run back home to jump on a client call. At least he was able to help Kate get a few laps in with her new bike before work.

Jane was so cute and rode around and around on her "bike"

I was worried that with school starting and Ethan's game that Kate wouldn't feel like it wasn't her special day. Once I got Jane down for her nap and had Randall listen for her I took Kate on a 'date' to Artic circle. She got a shake and fries. I introduced her to fry sauce and she was one happy girl. It was nice to have some one on one time even for just a little while during that crazy day.

This is the only picture I got of Ethan's football game... whoops. They looked so cute snuggled up in the grass.

After Ethan's game both sets of grandparents came back to our house for grandparents gifts and cake and ice cream. For the first time I made a slide show to music with pictures of Kate growing up. We showed that before presents and it was really fun to see her change and grow through the years. I'm not going to lie when I say that I cried the first 5 times that I watched it. It's fun but hard to see your kids grow up, and with Kate especially so much of her 'growing up' was done in Jersey so that's where most the pictures were from. It made me miss our home and friends and life there so much....

Kate was so excited to get a real "Brave crown". Ethan gets really bugged that the girls call her Brave when her name is Merida.... cracks me up.

She also got a cute plate and cup with Merida on it, and uses it for breakfast and lunch everyday.

Ethan wanted to try on the crown :) he also wanted me to erase this picture :)

G& G Barrett gave her a Merida dress so she was all set with her Brave birthday.

Kate is such a special, spunky girl and certainly brightens up our home and life. She is sweet and kind and very affectionate. She often just comes up to me during the day and will give me a kiss and tell me she loves me. She has been such a blessing to our family. We love you Katherine Elise!

1st Day of School (x2)

August 21st was the first day of school for Ethan and Anna. They were feeling anxious to get started but gypped by their measly 8 weeks of summer.

As most kids do, Anna chose long pants and long sleeves from her new clothes stash. I warned her she would be quite hot but, but she insisted, and she did look really cute and grown up.

Ethan on the other hand wore old shorts and a clean shirt. Typical for a boy of almost 10 years.

Walking to the bus stop

As is often the case with the first day, the bus was at least 20 minutes late, so we waited and waited...

Poor Ethan was feeling quite nervous by this time, especially with the longer wait and kept saying his stomache hurt. At least it didn't stop him from eating his breakfast :)

The moment has finally come and after kisses and hugs form both kids (thankfully they aren't too old for that...yet) they were off. Admittedly it wasn't as hard for me to see them go as I thought it would be. No tears were shed from any of us. I think them being in school still feels very surreal and I think that in a few days they will be home like usual.

So far school is going... hmmm well I guess. Anna really likes her teacher and and Ethan likes his although he says she is strict about talking, to which I replied "good!" They are both doing well, in fact Ethan comes home everyday saying how bored he is. I'm worried about him a bit in that regard and we may have to look into some other options for him so he isn't so bored. At back to school night his teacher said he is definitely in the top of the class and that he will be put in the gifted and talented program. I'm sure that those East coast schools had nothing to do with it. I'm hoping that it's just early yet and once they get into the real stuff he will be fine... I hope.

Anna is also doing well and every paper she brought home had a 100% on it. She even got an excellent for her behavior, but was upset that it wasn't superior!
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Today was the big day for Kate to start Kindergarten. Again this just doesn't seem possible so again I was surprisingly quite un-emotional about it. She has only been gone 50 minutes, so while right now I'm excited about all I can do in the afternoons while she is gone and Jane is napping, I'm sure that it won't be long and I will be missing her and feeling like it's pretty darn quiet around here.

No surprise that Kate was nothing but ready. I'm so glad we didn't hold her back even though she will be the very youngest in her class. She was not nervous one bit! Last night when I went to put her to bed I found that she had laid her clothes out for today. She even had her back pack laid out with the arms of the shirt through the straps. Her teacher is teaching for the very first time this year and I've felt a bit hesitant about her and her personality, not knowing whether she's a great fit for a kindergarten teacher. I decided though that I can only offer any help and try to have a great attitude and hope that the teacher and Kate have a great first year together.

Kate is really lucky that our very next door neighbor (the boy above) is also in the same class and obviously rides the same bus. They are really good little friends and I'm so grateful they will have each other. There is also another cute little girl from church that is in their class, so I'm sure Kate will be fine.