Bringing out the big guns yet again!

I really dislike writing the difficult parts of parenting our children, but Ashton continues to show how willful he can be.  The last few weeks have just been exhausting.  He has been challenging and downright defiant.  Daddy and I have had enough.  On Saturday when I put him in time out, he got angry and in defiance peed all over his room.  Needless to say he had to clean it up!  Sunday while in his room for nap/quiet time, he threw his toys and books all over the place.  Needless to say we removed everything from his room.  He is having to earn back his toys and his lovey pokey by showing good listening behaviors.  So far he has done okay, but I am not 100% sure he realizes we mean business!  Here's to praying this is just a phase!

In other news, Daddy came down to the beach with us for a day and I snapped this pic!  Definitely one of my all time favorites!

Population One and Traviesos X 2= Trouble!

So the theme of this summer is Population One.  Ashton only thinks about himself and what his needs are!  It's driving us crazy!  We certainly hope this developmental stage will pass quickly!  It's a good thing he is really cute!

This summer Ashton has spent a little time with half sister Ariana.  First, Stacey and George watched Ashton and Lily overnight while Olav and I went to a Billy Joel Concert together.  Then we just came back from a week long beach trip with the Best and Helmick families.  Normally Ashton avoids Ariana, refuses to play with her, or states that he doesn't like her, but sometimes when the two of them get alone together...talk about TROUBLE X 2!!!!  So apparently when Stacey was watching them, Ashton and Ariana got into several things.  The thing I remember Stacey telling me most vividly was that the two of them found the lighter fluid for the fire, and had fun squirting it all over the wood deck.  There was something else they got into as well, but I can't remember what it was!  Then today Olav reported that while they where at the beach Asthon and Ariana got into the tube of white sunscreen and proceeded to empty the bottle on to the rug and smear it on the bedroom windows.  Oh little traviesos!  Only that Spanish word truly captures the essence of them alone and together!