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!

Summer adventures

Ashton's summer has kicked off with a bang!  To begin with we headed down south to the smoky mountains for Grandma Ginger's 75th birthday celebration/family reunion.  For the most part Ashton traveled well all things considered.  One of our favorite quotes from the trip  was "Lily are you sick yet?" 

Both our kids have a long history of being car sick, so of course it was only natural for Ashton to ask if Lily was sick YET? Thankfully no one threw up on this trip.  Ashton waited until we got home and then threw up in my car yet again!

While on our trip we visited the Natural Bridge and Johnson City Children's Museum.  Ashton played with his cousin Collin, shot an airsoft pistol, played mini lawn golf, and enjoyed the slip and slide.

Natural Bridge

Last week Ashton went to his first official "camp".  He did a Monday, Wednesday, Friday gymnastics camp.  He seemed to really enjoy it!  He also went to Vacation Bible School at the Frederick Church of the Brethren.  I can't believe on the last day he stood on stage in front of everyone and sang the VBS songs with their hand movements! 

Gymnastics Camp 2015

He has also made some swimming progress this summer!  Developing more and more confidence.  He also is very confident on his bike!  I think he is totally ready to lose the training wheels!

Today, we took him to a Monster Truck Jam.  He really enjoyed it once he got over his initial fear.  A fun new experience for the whole family!

Monster Truck Show

Our crazy klepto crossdressing little guy

Never thought I'd put those words together in a sentence!  Well our little guy is full of surprises now days!  First, he has sticky fingers!   A few weeks ago he was complaining that this private area was itching.  It appears as if he was itching and clutching himself.  Later come to find out he had smuggled in his shirt one of daddy's drill bits from the counter.

 Also he loves to play dress up with Lily, hence the beautiful unicorn costume.  Last week we found that he had smuggled Lily's dress up clothes into bed for hiding.  Today while playing in his room, he came out with a like Cinderella dress up dress.  Apparently after making some phone calls, he sticky fingered it from Ms. Helen's house.  Oh dear!  Trying not to make a big deal out of all of this...but you gotta wonder?  I guess time will tell.

He also continues to be a little pistol!  Recently he decide to put back the letters family that he had taken down a while a go, back up.  I totally love our fimlay!

 

We went camping a few weeks ago with our fellow Guatemalan adoptive families.  As usual we took our family photographs and as usual Ashton smiled for the camera!  NOT!  He was soooo done!

 

Lastly, Ashton has been complaining that his bottom has been itching.  So in his daycare backpack we packed some Preparation-H cream.  Last night he decided that Preparation-H cream is great for cleaning his toy cars with.  LOL! 

 

They say boys are easier, but sometimes I am not sure!!!!

Strong Willed

God must have a funny sense of humor.  Ashton lately has been a little pistol.  He's been a pistol at home and a pistol at daycare.  Trying to figure out how to tame his will without breaking his spirit!

Originally I wasn't going to sign him up for preschool in the fall, but with his behavior lately we were thinking he could benefit from a little more structure.  So effective September 1st, Ashton will be going to the Goddard School for preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Mama felt a little emotional when I signed him up.

Better late than never!

April was a whirlwind.  We celebrated Easter with my sister and her family and celebrated Ashton and Lily's birthday parties.  Here are a few pics from the events!

Living with Ashton their is never a dull moment!  He says the funniest things!

Last week, I spent some time with Lily doing her nails in the bathroom.  After I was done with her, he asked if we could have some boy time
.  Of course I replied...what would you like to to do?  Of course I was expecting him to say let's go play outside or something of that sort....but no...he asked me to paint his nails like Lily!  LOL!  I think daddy was going to have a heart attack!  But he wanted them power red...so all is good in the world!

Having a big sister he is heavily influenced by the things he sees and hears.  Last Sunday we were getting ready for church and Lily wanted to wear her brand new sparkly red high heels.  Of course Ashton asked where were his high heels?  I knew I would have to draw the line, as daddy would kill me if I let him wear heels to church....so I told him that he had some other cool new shoes to wear!

It's so funny to see how he is trying to make sense of his world.  The other day his daycare provider , Ms. Helen asked him how he knows a boy from a girl.  Of course she did not get the expected answer!  Instead he replied, girls have black hair (like Lily and Corrine--his best friend at Ms. Helen's) and boys have blond hair like me)  LOL!

Lastly, I love how Ashton pics up vocabulary!  Like I've mentioned before ridiculous is one of his favorite words.  Mommy isn't that ridiculous!  Yesterday he was trying to say the word weapon....but he kept saying Whoopin!  He's running around with his "whoopin".  Love this kid!

And to think we were concerned...

So I have to laugh to myself sometimes when I think back to how the pediatrician was concerned with Ashton's speech-language development.  Ashton talks non-stop and his vocabulary is amazing.  He might not always understand everything he is repeating, but he definitely has  picked up some complex words.

"Daddy are you going to see a client?"

"Isn't that ridiculous mommy?"

"Can I supervise you?"

I'm sure there is much more I can't think of right now!

A funny from the week:

Occasionally I have to take the kids with me to this orthopedic shoe repair store.  Lately the kids have been there a lot.  Every time we go, I take in my left tennis shoe, because that is the shoe that requires the heel lift.  Last time we went, Ashton said, "mommy this is the store where you can only get one shoe."  LOL!!!!