Right on Cue!

This was a white elephant gift last Christmas. Asher loves watching it dance to the music, and here he "flaps his wings" along with it as if prompted! (Really, he does that whenever he's happy, which is a lot of the time). Sorry for my poor camera skills, I couldn't figure out how to edit it so it's turned the right way!

October!

We love the fall! I think the best part is the week off of school I get, which unfortunately just ended. But we stayed busy during that week, traveling to my Mom's in PA and visiting Amish country while there. Asher got to take his first train ride on an old-fashioned steam locomotive. It took us to Paradise (literally, a tiny little town, one of many in Pennsylvania with quaint names).

Eli finished his first Y-soccer season and loved it. What a riot to see 3- and 4-year-olds swarming a ball and each other!

When Jon got back into town on Saturday he was anxious to get outside to do something, so we ventured to the corn maze. The pumpkin patch there was closed due to early snows/frosts, so we brought along our own and received plenty of comments on our adorable "pumpkin".

Of course it wouldn't be October without a good romp in the leaves with the neighbors. And last night we enjoyed a cul-de-sac pumpkin party. Eli was the cutest little cop, and Asher was a precious dragon.

More pics to come...it's not even Halloween!

Bathtime Brothers

Who can resist a great bathtime snapshot?

Here are a few we've taken recently, as Asher has just started liking the water (or actually not hating it). Eli took advantage of the opportunity to read a story to his brother. How sweet! I will show this to them when they're older to prove that they once did get along (or just to embarass them in front of their friends).

Backyard Adventures

This weekend, while Jon and Eli are in Nebraska, Asher and I have been hanging out in the backyard. Our friends/neighbors gave us a swing, which Asher absolutely loved. Check out the adorable video of him laughing!

Since we moved in mid-summer last year, this is our first season to have a garden at this house. We have really enjoyed working outside in it, as well as the fruits of our labor! Two tomato bushes (that look more like trees), a cherry tomato plant, green peppers, strawberries, two types of cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, and even carrots round out our little "farm".

The pic of Asher and some of the produce features "Jon's" cucumber, or so I claim, since it's shaped like a "J". Even though a hailstorm a few weeks ago threatened to destroy our plants, they were resilient and will hopefully survive to the first frost. Now, what to do with all the goodies...anybody want some zucchini bread or salsa? (not together) :)

Milestones

This month has been one of multiple milestones.

Last weekend we celebrated Whitney's graduation from the University of Phoenix. After two and a half years and a 600 hour internship, I finally have my Master's in School Counseling! The family endured a less than exciting ceremony (evidenced by the bored look on their faces) to come support me so I was grateful. I told Jon and Eli that the degree belongs as much to them as me because they were there through the many late nights of weekly classes, meetings, and papers. It was fun sharing the event with my friend from work, Sherry, who graduated with an MA in Curriculum and Instruction.

Sunday, June 21st marked the 40th wedding anniversary of Burton and Mary Jane Mires! We recognized them when we stood in church, as we also had Asher dedicated that morning. Talk about an emotional day! This year MJ also retired from 40 years of teaching 1st grade, quite an amazing accomplishment in itself.

Jon just finished another successful HC event last weekend (Thurs-Sat afternoon) and surprised me with a birthday party with neigborhood friends on Saturday evening. That's right, today marked the big 3-0 (or, as I put it since my student loans will be coming due soon...three-OWE!). I had a perfect day from start to finish. Eli was anxious to usher me downstairs for breakfast where a "Happy Birthday" banner was hung in the kitchen. After walking to the pool with the neighbors for a few hours I was treated to lunch by my friend Brianne. Next, I went on a mini shopping spree at Kohl's and spent some of my bday cash.

The day concluded with a family picnic at Castlewood Canyon State Park, a beautiful location about 30 minutes from our house. The only unpleasant part of the experience was the unusually strong (for Colorado) mosquito presence. However, the same rain which has fostered those pests provided for some amazing cloud and rainbow pictures.

It was the perfect end to a perfect day. Here's to another amazing 30 years.

Muscle Man!

This is how I found Asher in his crib after his morning nap today. Maybe he'll go for a career as a body builder, or if that doesn't work, settle for governor of California or Minnesota.

He's just getting too big too fast, and this pic proves it!

Family Fun

While one would think I'd have more time to blog since being on maternity leave, I don't know where the time goes (although laundry is a viable guess). Here are some random pics of our adventures as a family of four. We took Asher on his first trip to a zoo when we went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs on April 23. Eli loved feeding the giraffes there.

The boys are both growing so fast (Eli moreso emotionally/intellectually) and are a joy most of the time. Here are some cute pics of them together. The one looks like Asher is telling Eli a secret! And you've gotta love the dinner still on Eli's face in the other.

Finally, our dear friends the Brookfields gave us their old backyard play set when they got a new one, so Jon put it up last week and it's been a popular neighborhood hangout ever since. Asher's not quite ready to enjoy the swing, but we thought we'd try it anyway.

We are excited for the pool to open this weekend as it's been HOT here and we are ready for it to "officially" be summer. Stay tuned for some fun pool pics.