Things have been relatively quiet on the Ashton front lately. Not a whole lot to report! Ashton overall seems to be doing well in school. Math seems to be giving him some trouble lately, but he is finally receiving some much-needed extra support, so hopefully that will give him the boost he needs. He loves being with his friends, and takes every opportunity to hang with them! Ms. Nanna took him snowboarding about two weekends ago (his 2nd time). I was nervous because even though he had taken the snowboard camp lessons a few years ago they never took him up on the lift. However, he went with some buddies, and sounds like he did fantastic! Hope to purchase him a season pass next year so he can get more time out on the slopes! Very proud of him!
God's Amazing Power
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Friday, January 26, 2024
Another half sibling!
On January 9, 2024, Mr. Rick and his wife Tiana welcomed another baby boy! Cillilan Lane on Jan 9th, 2024. I believe this little addition means Ashton has 5 siblings through Ms. Taylor, 4 siblings through Mr. Rick, and 3 siblings through our family, equally a grand total of 12 siblings! So he is one of 13!!!!! He doesn't seem to care at the moment, but maybe one day he will!
Friday, December 29, 2023
2023 Coming to a close
Hard to believe two more days and then it will be 2024. Ashton has grown up so much this year, both physically and emotionally. In the last 3 months, he has really stepped up his game. He has become more mature, more responsible, and more enjoyable to be around.
He continues to amaze me with his engineering brain even though sometimes it drives me nuts. He has a fascination with how things work and is always taking things apart and exploring how things work. Even if it includes breaking things such as playstations and bikes, and drilling a gazillion holes into our walls so he can hang his hammock from the ceiling! He loves creating and building things such as basketball hoops, and wooden Christmas trees out of pallets, and turning his closet into a gaming space. He continues to build amazing creations with legos, watching videos. He loves using Daddy's drill and got his own drill from Mr. Rick for Christmas. He is excellent at figuring out how to solve problems such as putting on bike racks or putting together a bicycle.
Christmas Drill from Mr. Rick |
Christmas Tree made from pallets |
Homemade basketball hoop with rim from an old bicycle |
Christmas morning! |
Christmas Eve with the Conte family |
Someday maybe he will smile for a family picture! |
He also has developed some more friendships. Being invited over to other people's houses and having friends over to our home. He continues to love to ride his bike and for Christmas, he got a Jetson electric scooter bike. He has expressed an interest in mountain biking and has even built some mountain bike trails in the woods in our backyard, but still hasn't taken me up on my offer to go actual mountain biking yet.
We had a Chanukah party with our family in December and Ashton pretty much kept to himself until Cousin Eric pulled out the Nerf guns. Then Ashton was all in!!!!
Praying that the awesomeness that Ashton has exhibited towards the end of 2023 continues into the New Year!
Saturday, November 25, 2023
November flew by!
Hard to believe Halloween and Thanksgiving have passed and we have fast-forwarded into the Christmas season. For the last 6-7 weeks Ashton has been pretty awesome! I hope this is our new normal for sure! I even got a happy Thanksgiving Day family hike!
A rare treat for Mama...family hike on Thanksgiving Day! |
Ashton has been tinkering a lot!!! He has built a basketball hoop, and bike ramps, taken apart bikes, put together bikes, made things from pallets etc. Very creative even if sometimes he needs to daddy's help to complete a few of the final tasks.
He still went trick or treating this year, but did not dress up! He still came home with a boatload of candy!
Ashton, Liam and Micheal Trick-or-Treating |
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Changes
I've been meaning to write this for a while, but I kept forgetting! Ashton is growing and changing so rapidly now. It's like he's gone from little boy to little man-child! His voice is changing and getting deeper and for a boy who has never ever liked to wear underwear, has been wearing underwear for one or two months now! He's 100% middle school boy!
A fun afternoon at Gaver |
Searching for the perfect pumpkin |
Snarky boy on a the hay ride with Yolanda |
Typical pre-teen boy...all we need are earbuds! |
He's got a new BFF Liam who he enjoys hanging out with on the weekends!
I also received a new picture of his birthmom Ms. Taylor with the three girls and her little boy.
Eli, Taylor, Annabelle, Paisley and Noel |
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Catching up
Since school started it's been a whirlwind here at the Gjerde residence. We have had some good days among the whirlwind days.
First picture day hair! Ashton really wanted his hair to have a certain style for picture day, so he asked me if I could do his hair for picture day! I would say it was a success!