BRUSH BRUSH BRUSH!

It was a day of a lot of firsts! We also started brushing Asher's teeth today! Prior to this we were just washing his gums and teeth with a washcloth but I thought it was time to move to the big leagues! He seems pretty pleased!

First Sneakers

Asher got his first pair of sneakers today. A cute pair of Converse Chuck Taylor All Star in Navy. He wears a size 5 in them and they run big! He was between a 5.5-6 in a pair of Nikes we looked at!

A Moment In History

Tonight, our country, the wonder United States of America, elected the first African American president, Barack Obama.

This country called for change. Hours upon hours people waited in line to cast their vote. No matter their voting selection, in all, it was for change.

On this evening, my children, though not apparent to all, have a president with a background of their father. This is an amazing and I hope they grasp the importance of that someday but I have a feeling the older two already do. Everyone deserves to be represented in a number of ways in their government. They have seen amazing things this year. They have their first African American governor of New York who is also legally blind.

2008 has been a momentous year for our family, our state and our country.

May God bless us all.

Final Rec Soccer Game!

Today was Jared's last recreational soccer game of the season. He had a great day, scoring two goals. You can see the thrill in his face from his scoring too! Tyler, bored of soccer, read and ignored the person with the camera, as usual. Nonetheless, she's still gorgeous! Asher ate snacks, which is shocking, right? I know, it's not. His expression above is the "Mmm!" face. He found out he likes Scooby snacks.

Happy Halloween!

May the force be with you!

Happy Halloween from Ashoka, Darth Vader and Yoda!
(Tyler, Jared and Asher)

Can I sleep until November 5th?

Now, I love all my family, friends and committees I'm on, I really do. BUT do they all have to have events on the same day?

Friday morning Jared has a brunch at his school, Friday afternoon we're going to the mall with our friends to trick or treat, then going to our neighborhood to do the same. Then at 7 p.m. our friend is having a Halloween party and we're trick or treating around her neighborhood.

Saturday morning, bright and early, Jared has his last recreational soccer game. It'll end around 11:15 a.m. and then at noon we have our dear friend's son's birthday party. At 1 p.m. Jared has his first soccer practice for his travel league. At 5 p.m., we have a reception to go to (the wedding was private) but we have to drop off the kids at my friend's house and pick up my mom.

Sunday, I'm crawling under a rock after I fold all the laundry, go grocery shopping and I think Jeremy and I are going to our friend's comedy show.

Monday evening I'll be at the school accepting the donations for Tuesday's Election Day Bake Sale for the 6th Grade Graduation Committee that I'm co-chairing . We'll also be organizing all the set up and decorating.

Tuesday, bright and early again, I'll be at the bake sale, selling my little heart out. During the bake sale, I'll run up to Jared's classroom and do the parent-teacher conference. I have to run out and pick up the pizzas that were donated by wonderful local establishments late morning.
I'll probably be at the school from 7 a.m.-9 p.m.!

For Friday, I need about 40 cupcakes and for Tuesday I need about 80. All that I make. I think I'm supposed to make something else. Plus I'm the room parent for a classroom other than Tyler's and I need to organize the volunteers and donations for them.

I can not wait for next Wednesday to come!

New pics!

I may not be a photographer but I have great subjects! I had fun doing this with them tonight. Hopefully they'll help me build my skills!

Tongue-tied no more!

This morning Jared had a tongue-tie release. His tongue has always been mildly tied but his pediatric dentist thought it wouldn't greatly effect his speech. His speech has not gotten better unfortunately and at the last visit he suggested that it finally get done. It's done via laser. Tyler and Asher both had severe cases and theirs have already been clipped. They showed no signs of real pain but Jared seemed to get quite a bit. Poor little guy but nothing some Tylenol, a Dunkin Donuts Coolatta and some vanilla ice cream couldn't fix! He's supposed to go back to school tomorrow but we're really playing that by ear. We may send him in with a note saying that if he shows any sign of pain to please call us and we'll come get him. It seems when he's bored and not doing anything is when the pain gets to him.

Simply Beautiful

Tyler is so beautiful. I know, a bragful mother but really she is, inside and out. She normally hides from the camera (can't imagine who she gets that from!) but yesterday she cooperated plus I had my super zoom lens with me. HEHE She did ask me to retouch the annoying scabbed bug bite off the center of her forehead, so I complied hoping it brings future, non-confrontational photo ops.

Learning with a 1st Grader

One of Jared's spelling word learning choices is to use shaving cream and write the spelling words on the bathtub wall. Well, Jeremy's shaving cream is way to expensive for that! So he used washable markers instead! At first Jared didn't know if we were really supposed to write on the wall or not but once he was assured that he wouldn't get in trouble, he was down with it! We did a mock spelling test and he got all the words right! Since his teachers can't really verify that he did this like the others, we're going to e-mail them the pictures too.

Asher's 1st Big Boy Bath!

Asher's first big boy bath! He had a lot of fun, he and his duck!

Bye-bye!

No, you are still stuck with me! However, Asher waves bye-bye as he goes up the stairs. Mainly to annoy Jeremy, who does not like that his youngest child has the new found ability to go all the way up the stairs. I find it hilarious. He starts waving as soon as someone notices he's on the stairs.

Tyler bowls!

A few weeks ago we got a flyer in Tyler's bookbag from Albany's Police Athletic League about a new bowling program they are starting for after school. Today was the first day. Unfortunately, Tyler's friend Hayley couldn't make it but she had a blast! She said she didn't do too well but enjoyed the game overall. She's definitely much better at Wii bowling, where the light as air controller is the ball!

Grandma M., Grandpa H. and all her late great grandparents are so proud, I know it. They surely have no hope in my bowling skills!

And she's wearing a WOMEN'S 6.5 bowling shoe! My poor little girl and her boat feet.

Asher's 1st Tooth!

Asher got his first tooth! I would love to include a picture but that would involve cooperation from him. That’s not happening. He likes to keep his tongue over the tooth. Little stinker!

3rd Anniversary

Jeremy and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary. We have this fun but cheesy thing we do by actually picking presents from that traditional list. The third is leather. I got him a wallet and money clip from Coach. He really seemed to like them. I’ve wanted to get these for him prior but I knew the third was leather and they’d be quite special and just the right gift. He got me a wristlet from Coach and I love it. It’s the perfect gift that I really wasn’t expecting. He gave me this great card that made us both cry. He is a wonderful husband and father. There are definite fights and downs but they are far fewer than all of our ups.

Our anniversary also brings back tons of memories of my grandparents, whom I adored. October 3rd was also their wedding anniversary and it would have been their 60th. They were amazing people, simply amazing. They weren’t the types that showed outward affection. I think I saw my grandfather kiss my grandmother’s cheek once. However, their love and marriage effected me very much. My parents divorced so I looked to my grandparents for the foundations of a good marriage. So far, they have done me well. I miss them dearly but I’m thankful to share a day with them that is hopefully forever.