It's April: We have a newly minted teenager in the house!

Easter was quiet this year.  Lily was away traveling in Costa Rica, and Ashton's buddy Nathan was there too.  So it was just Julia and Ashton, but they still had a great time searching for eggs and eating candy!  Then we went to have a late brunch with Pop Pop and his lady friend at their retirement community.  Ashton and Julia were super well-behaved!  I was so impressed!

The day before Easter I took Ashton up to Mr. Rick's house again to play Airsoft!  As always he enjoyed himself.  However, I do think he has a special affinity for Mr. Rick's Airsoft Gunroom and his husky puppy!

Also, I have been so impressed with Ashton, two Christmas' ago he received a pug "Lego" set.  It was really challenging and at first, I thought he wouldn't finish it.  However, lately, he had been gung ho to finish it.  Staying up late each night, completing each layer no matter how tedious.  He finally finished this week!  Needless to say, we are very proud of him for sticking with it!

Hours of perseverance!  Go, Ashton!

Ashton also received his 3rd Quarter report card!  It appears as if he made the honor roll!  Way to go Ashton!

Lastly, we celebrated Asthon becoming a teenager last week!  We had a quiet home birthday on his actual birthday with just some ice cream and a few gifts.  He received his first $100 bill from mommy and daddy, and two gift cards.  On Friday after school, he had two friends from school (Stephen and Micheal)  over, to hang out, and enjoy food and cake!  It was so fun seeing him with his buddies.  They are all cut from the same exact mold.  They are little copycats of each other making jokes about skibbity toilets and being rizz.

$100 bucks!

That smile says it all!

Happy 13th birthday Ashton!

Kinda quiet for Ashton lately

 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!

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!

Just an aside, last night I was overseeing Ashton doing some make-up work for Art class and he had to fill out a self-reflection form.  One of the questions was on a scale from 1-10  how creative are you and why?  I don't think he wanted me to see it, but he rated himself an 8, and said because my mom always says how creative I am!  Loved it!!!!!