On the brink of a new decade

Hard to believe in just a few short hours we will be ringing in 2020. December has a challenging month for Ashton, full of impulse control situations and oppositional behavior.   As a mama, it's hard to know if it's the over stimulus of the season, unspoken adoption loss/trauma, or just temperament.  We recently visited the behaviorist hoping to try to pinpoint what is the stimulus behind the behavior.

In December Ashton played his very first Violin concert.  As much as a I have tried to "sway" him away from the violin for my ear's sake, he seems to really enjoy it!  I do think having funny and male Mr. Carter as a teacher and his best friend Valentina playing also help.  It makes me laugh to think back to just a few years ago when he was in Montessori and he refused to perform in front of anyone!  I must say he does look pretty cute with his violin!!!!

Cuties before their concert

Even Ashton, Lily and daddy did a jingle bells rendition together on their respective instruments.  So sweet!

Jingle Bells Rendition

Christmas and Chanukah were fun!  Ashton enjoyed playing with some distant cousins during Chanukah and got some fun gifts for Christmas.  He had really wanted a pair of rollerblades in his own size, size he had been skating around in my old ones for months.  He also got a replacement pogo stick from Santa, as he broke his other one during the summer.  His brother Stian, purchased him these robotics kits designed for 14-18-year-olds.  Ashton amazed us with his ability to put them together.  Very impressive!  I tell you, I wonder if Ashton will be some sort of engineer when he grows up. Mr. Rick his birthfather also sent him a gift.  Some Minecraft and a Fornite nerf bazooka. I think he really liked that.

Happy boy!

We went to Enchant at National Park and he ice skated for the first time.  He was a natural.  All that rollerblading around the house paid off!  I took him yesterday again and it was like magic!  A total natural.

First time on ice skates at Enchant

Picking up the speed a few days later

As we move into the new year, I pray that Ashton will continue to grow in his faith.  He recently was grounded and in his creative ways, he took his bible and wrote Bible verses all over our subflooring.  It warmed my heart.  Sometimes I feel like we are doing everything wrong, but it is nice to see that maybe we are doing something right. My personal favorite is the scripture verse he wrote entering the bathroom giggling knowing God will be watching you in the bathroom!  "I am with you, I am will watch you wherever you go."

I also pray that he will become gain better control over his impulsive behaviors and his oppositional behaviors. I sometimes worry too much, but I know I need to submit him to God. I pray that 2020 is a fabulous year for him!

So thankuful

I am so thankful for Ashton and his sweet little heart!  Although he can be oppositional and argumentative at times, at his core he is a true softy.  Very loyal and loving to his family.  He recently made this thankfulness tree and it warmed my mama's heart!

USA, Trees, Unspeakable, Lily

Dad, Friends, Mom, Family, Friends, my Dog, Austin

Food, God, YouTube, Beagles

I'm so behind

I can't believe it's mid-November already and I haven't even blogged for October!

First, let's start with Ashton's brilliant mind! He is always creating things with whatever material he can get his hands on.  One of his recent creations was pencil holders!

Inventions by Ashton

Ashton and I got to have a mommy/Ashton day and we tried rollerblading (Ashton) and rollerskating (mommy) at a local rollerskating rink.  Up until now, Ashton had been rollerblading around our house in my old rollerblades!  He was a pro.  I was sore!  Forgot that you use different muscle groups!

Rollerblading with Mama

We also had the opportunity to visit several pumpkin patches/fall festivals with family and friends!  Ashton was so cute in the field, collecting a handful of pumpkins!

Pumpkin Patch with O'mastas

Decisions, Decisions

Originally for Halloween, Ashton wanted to be Unspeakable from Youtube, but when he found the loot llama pajamas at walmart he was sold!  Little did he know, one of his good friends was the same exact thing!

Ashton and Michael Loot Llamas from Fortnite

Carving Pumpkins

His candy stash

My flying squirrel and loot llama

Fun trick or treating with friends

September funnies

I still love some of the things Ashton says.  One morning we were driving to Kennedy Kreiger through a not so great part of Baltimore City when we pass a very large and expansive graveyard.  He said, "Mom I know why there are not a lot of people around here, they are all in that graveyard.  LOL

Ealier this week we were talking about  alcohol, smoking and drug addiction and the topic turned to daddy smoking habit.  Ashton said, "Daddy still does tabasco."  LOL!!!

Finally, Mr. Carter the band and strings teacher at Lisbon must of been super persuasive, because Ashton has decided he wants to play the violin.  We borrowed one from a friend and he has taken it to school every day for fear of forgetting it on his practice day.  And he's super bummed he won't be in school tommorow for his lesson day!  I want whatever Mr. Carter is selling:)

Ready to play the violin!

3rd grade!

I can't believe our "little" guy is in 3rd grade!   Time please slow down!!!!  Despite having a new teacher, going to a new daycare, and having to the catch the bus at a different house, Ashton took in all stride.  It's only been a week, but so far, so good!

1st day of 3rd grade

My loves

The weekend before we enjoyed camping with our fellow Guatemalan adoptive families.  As usual Charlotte and Ashton enjoyed exploring and fishing at Killen's Pond.

Camping with the family

Ashton and Charlotte Mae

A boy and his dog

Saying goodbye to our special friends and family

August marked a month of having to say goodbye to a very special friend and a very special family member.  The first weeks of August, one of Ashton's best buddies in the whole word, Aaron Micheal, whom he and Ashton have called themselves twins since Ashton was 3, moved to Texas.  We hope that we will see Aaron again as his biological sisters live with several adoptive families in the area.

Twins:)

Also Ashton's 1/2 sister Arianna moved to Nolansville Tennessee with her family.  For as much as Ashton says Arianna drives him crazy, we all know they are like two peas in a pod!

Party, Party, Party!

Since school let out it's been party, party, party in the Gjerde household.  We went to Utah for a vacation.  Many people asked...why Utah?    Ashton loves to watch you tube videos and many of the videos he enjoys take place in either Colorado or Utah.  So after seeing many videos of Utah, we decided to look into it.  There are so many National Parks in Utah.  We were able to visit 5 of them!  Called the mighty five!  We visited Zion, Bryce, Capital Reef, Canyon Lands, and Arches.  We also drove through Grand Escalante and visited Goblin Valley State Park and downtown Moab.  Ashton adored climbing rocks and hiking!

In Zion, he enjoyed bike riding through the canyon and hiking upstream in the Virgin River.  And of course, swimming in the pool!

biking in Zion NP

Entrance to  Zion NP

In Bryce, he earned his first Junior Park Ranger badge.  He was so proud!


In Grand Escalante, he was a trooper and hiked 6 roundtrip miles in the hot desert sun to a cool waterfall!

Hiking in

A waterfall in the middle of the desert!

In Capitol Reef, we saw some petroglyphs. I loved how he described the images.  "It's a coat hanger with arms!"

Petroglyphs at Capitol Reef National Park

We made a special side trip to Goblin Valley for Ashton.  He loved climbing on the hoodoos!  He even climbed to the highest hoodoo.  No fear!

Making mama's heart race!

Ashton enjoyed climbing the hoodoos

By the time we got to Moab, the kids were done seeing red rocks, but we still dragged them to Canyon Lands and Arches.  But we kept the hikes short!  Of course, Ashton enjoyed climbing on the rocks!

Lily and Ashton at Arches

Family photo under Double Arch at Arches

Family photo at Mesa Arch at Canyon Lands, NP

We ended our time in Moab by going four wheeling on the famous "Hell's Revenge".  I was worried that Ashton would be afraid and crying, but he enjoyed it!

Four wheeling on "Hell's Revenge"

We returned home for one day before I dragged the kids off to Ocean City for an impromptu beach gathering with our friends who are moving-Aaron Michael is moving to Texas and Ariana to Tennesse.  After one day of hanging out at the beach with our friends, we headed to Tia Lisa's house where we hung out for a few days!

Posing at Sunset

Ashton and Ariana walking down Ocean City Boardwalk

Eating Icecream with cousins and friends in Rehobeth Beach

Ashton tried surfing!  I didn't think he would try it but he did.  The water was really rough that day, so I don't think he liked it.  I think he got out there, got scared, and wanted to go in.  But I have got to say I am super proud of him for trying!

Wetsuit Ready

Surfing Lesson

Surfing Lesson

Headed out to the waves

Now we are home for a few days before we head out to the beach again with Abuelita and her grandson Carter.  I hope the boys enjoy each other's company.

Another great year in the books!

Ashton rocked another great year at Lisbon Elementary.  I am so proud of him!  He ended the year with an award for being a Creative Whiz.  Always creating and designing cool things! 

Last day of 2nd grade

May Fun!

This May we have had the opportunity to take two camping trips.  One with our bible study and one with our Guate tribe.  Both were fabulous!  Ashton and Eirik even made 11-
year old girlfriends!  The girls were too cute...they came looking for Ashton and Eirik to say goodbye, give hugs and take a selfie.

Bible Study Crew

Ashton and his buddy Charlotte

Camping Kids

April Celebrations!

April has been fast and furious in the Gjerde household!  Ashton celebrated his 8th birthday with friends from school and church at Libertytown Park!  I think everyone had a great time.  We had a nice visit from Yolanda, and Ashton was totally enamored with her!  She was such a good sport.  Sleeping in his room with him, talking walks with him to see his favorite beagle puppies, and jumping on the trampoline.  We also had visits from Eirik and cousins Hannah and Collin from North Carolina.  Plus Grandpa Bob and Grandma Ginger.  We had a fun Easter and Passover celebrations with all ofriends and family!

Ashton and the beagle puppies

Celebrating April Birthdays

Ashton's birthday party crew

Easter Fun with Friends and Family

Hiking with Yolanda at Cascade Falls, Patapsco State Park