Frog Lake

We decided to go to Frog lake for the day to take some needed time off.  The lake was beautiful and the boys loved the frogs.  So many small frog easily caught.  It is quiet and shaded for a nice day trip.

 The view is beautiful with the Mt Hood so clear. 

 Here was a stick hut the boys found to play in.

 Hand full of frogs.

 The water was warm and not too deep.

Even had a small fire to roast our hot dogs and hamburgers.

Trampoline

We got a new trampoline and the boys love jumping.   Here is Asher who also loves to bounce, ever so carefully.

 Ok, he really loves his mommy and when he saw me really wanted me not a photo.

 He has fantastic blond hair and fine too. The tramp makes it all statically.

Asher 11 months and counting.

Asher is 11 months and I can hardly believe it.  Not only has he changed so much it has gone to fast. 

Cars are his newest toys.  He loves to drive them around the house making some noises.  It is not quite the vroom yet but he gets the sounds and moves them with it. 

He also now waves Bye Bye with a BA Ba sound. 
He does know Ma Ma and Da Da.  He even says Dog as DA which does sound different than Da Da. 

He loves to eat and eats most everything.  I decided not to do any baby food.  He loves strawberries and banana's which he calls Na Na.  Today he fell asleep with squash in his hands.

Asher's all giggles.

I can't believe I haven't posted in so long.  Asher is changing and moving so much, but the best thing about him is his giggles.  He loves to giggle.  As soon as I walk in the room he giggles. When i am holding him he giggles.  Not just one giggle but over and over again.  He loves to smile and giggle. 
Asher is about 18 pounds and tall and slender.  He has started to stand up from the ground, from his knees.  He only does it for a second usually to grab onto me or the furniture.  I am trying not to promote this as I know walking is too close ahead.  I want to have him keep crawling. 
Summer has brought great fruit and he loves it.  Peaches and plums and even oranges.  I try to keep them to one a day for him, but he loves them.  He is eating well, chicken, broccoli, and carrots.  He loves food, eggs are his favorite. 

Espen is excited about school.  First grade with his new teacher Mrs. Reid.  We have been practicing reading and he's getting the hang of it.  I am glad he still likes school and is excited to ride the bus for the first time. 

Payton is going to be home.  This is going to be a challenge to say the least.  I am really learning to put my foot down and force some action from him.  We will see how well this works.  He has gotten away with not doing anything in school for years, why I am bringing him home, he know has me over his head to force work form his hands.  It will be a power struggle, but necessary for his improvement.

Tabiatha is heading to Senior at THS.  She is going to be 18 in November.  This is going to be strange.  She will be an adult.  I am starting to account for any thing I may need to teach her for becoming an adult.  There seems to be so much.  Planning for college she will need to know how to eat, cook, plan her finances, know how much she needs to make and how much living costs.  So many things that I am planning to help teach her soon.  I hope she can get her permit to drive soon so we can get that out of the way. 

I will post soon some great pictures.  I need to start taking more.  I can't believe the summer is going.  

Big Changes

It has been a while since I posted about Asher.  More like so many changes since I posted.  Asher is moving and grooving all over the house.  After starting to Crawl on April 25 he soon was pulling up on the couch. April 27.  He also got two teeth in on the 27th.  He seemed a bit cranky and had a slight temp.  Then he stuck my fingers in his mouth and that's when I realized two teeth were in. 

He is so proud of himself being able to pull himself up. 

I also had started him on food. It started simple with broth then I added in very cooked vegetables blended with broth.  Then I let him chew on carrot sticks and strips of chicken.  I also let him chew on the bone with some meat.  He loves food and now mostly wants to feed himself.  He does still like soup as he wants my broth out of my soup and sucks it down. 

He also loves being outside and crawling in the grass.  I am excited about this summer!

It's official

  Asher is officially crawling.  It was so amazing, he crawled into the other room.  I stood all amazed with awe and yet about to cry inside.  I am not ready for this little guy to grow up, being my last.  All day I watched as he so masterfully moved to grab and pull things.  He is just tickled pink to be able to now get what he wants.  I also have to clean.  Thank goodness its Spring?  just in time to clean. 
I did not take any picture yet so I will post again tomorrow.

On other notes...  Espen is now 6 and I haven't planned his party.  I suck!!  I can not manage to make invites and plan a party.  For what ever reason party planning is not my thing.  I want it to be, I want to have a great party, I have had plenty. I just can not get my self together to plan a party.  Besides this weekend is full of so many things.  So he will have a belated party again this year. 

He also got a fantastic gift from his friend. 

At soccer practice his friend hands him a wrapped present,  both boys just giddy.  His mother leans over to me and apologizes for the gift.  My mind starts to imagine all the things that would warrant an apology.  Slime or goo, fart bag or noisy thing like it, fake snot or vomit,  I kept considering more. 
I was not prepared when my son opens the plastic clear container, one for storing food, and shows me a
muddy mess inside.  I am still clueless at this time.  "A pet worm"  Espen explains.  His friend jumping out of his pants at this point.  His mother continues to explain how her son planned to give him this worm he searched for just for Espen.  He begged her for days to be able to give it to him.  Next we were naming it and planing a place at home for Grabby. 

I actually liked the idea.  I really did not want more toys to clean up or pick up any more.  A worm I can handle. 

Asher Crawling

Tonight was fun, Asher started to move all around.  He is not actually crawling, just getting up on his knees and lunging forward.  It does the job to get him across the room.  All he wants to do know is move.  He won't stay in one place any more.  Now I need to start checking the floor for everything.  Just when I get used to one thing another starts.

 He was so excited to get up and stand.  He started pulling up, {I helped a bit} he stood there and bounced and danced, so excited about himself.

 Last week we were supporting him when he sat up.  Now he sits by himself.

 Drooling is also a big part of our lives. 

Asher's Check up

I finally went in to check Asher's stats.  He is doing well and on track

His weight is 16lbs.7 oz.  He is  42%.

His height is 27 3/4 inches and he is 94%.

And his head is 41 3/4cm.  That is at 11%.

Yes he has a very small head.  Most people think he is very young because they only see his head poking out of his blanket or coat.  It kind of funny.  He still uses my favorite hat, the owl.

He's moving quite a bit now.  We got used to leaving him on the couch for naps and now he is in his bed.  He rolls, starting to climb, and scooting a bit.

 He is constantly making great faces.  Those dimples have me in!

 Here he is at Easter for our family gathering and he also had his blessing where he was given his name. 

Now that he sits up he loves to be up.  He has learned how to stabilize himself.  He loves to grab things and sucks on everything.  His hair is still crazy but it at least lays flat er. 

Spring Break

Spring Break is here too soon.  I never have gotten planned for it in time.  I wanted to go to the mountain and enjoy some snow.  We did and my kids did.  I sat in the car and hotel with little man.  It was too cold for him to be outside to much.  He slept well in the hotel.  In fact when I told Espen we were staying the night he was more excited about the hotel than the snow.  He loves hotels. 

 Asher really did well and played.  The kids played out side the hotel in the snow.  We also went up to White river to sled for free.  That is always fun.