My bath boy!

It is no secret that Ashton loves the bath!! He would take multiple baths a day if we let him! Just recently when mom and dad's guard was down he took 3 baths in one day! LOL! Now keep in mind he does not usally wash his hair, he just loves to soak and watch t.v on whatever electronic device he has pilfered for the moment! I told Olav we are going to have to buy him is own hot tub someday! Too bad they cost an arm and a leg to keep and maintain!

Halloween Fun

Help!  I've been abducted by an alien!

 

Halloween and trick or treating is always a fun time and this year Ashton had his heart set on having the "abducted by an alien" inflatable costume.  We ordered it from Walmart, but it got lost in the mail and didn't arrive earlier this week.  Thankfully for the internet, I was able to post my predicament on a local page and someone came through and gave us one that needed a little bit of repair, but once repaired was usable.  So grateful!  We had a great time trick or treating with our friends Nanna and Micheal in my old neighborhood in Lake Linganore.  As usual, Ashton brought home a huge haul of candy!

Alien vs. Gozilla!

The haul!

And new baby brother equals 8

Ms. Taylor welcomed baby number 6 to the world  on 10/18/21.  She named him  Eli Callum, weighing in at  6.8 lbs and 19.5 inches long.  Both mom and baby are happy and healthy.  Bio dad Rick currently has 3 boys,  making Ashton a half sibling to 8 other kiddos.  Plus if you add his adopted siblings (Lily, Stian, and Frederik) he has 11 siblings!  Talk about a big family tree!

 

Emotional Support Animal and 5th grader in the house!

 One of Lily's good friend's family recently went away to Jamaica, innocently one day when we were dropping their daughter off when Ashton was in the car, and the mom asked Ashton is as he would want to watch their dog waffles while they were away.  He desperately wanted to, I told him we could ask daddy.  Daddy agreed and so we had waffles for 9 days!  Ashton and Waffles became VERY attached!  She would cry anytime he left the room, sleep in his bed etc...It was very endearing and sweet.  

Ashton and waffles!

 

Anyway, Waffles is about 16 months and was  living with two other pugs, whom she was attacking pretty frequently.  One of the pugs was able to fight back and put her in her place, but the other pug wouldn't fight back and so she was constantly being attacked.  They had sent her to obedience school in hopes of rehabilitating her but things have continued to be stressful.  A few days before returning home, the owner, Ms. Susan asked if we would considering keeping Waffles.  After both families discussed it and I prayed over it, we decided to keep Waffles as an emotional support dog for Ashton.  At first only Ashton and I were attached, but as the days have gone on, I think we are all officially smitten.  She still has her moments where she is can be insecure and act out, but Austin deals with her quite well.  He's been a
trooper!

Waffles cuddling Pokey while Ashton is away

 

In other news,  after going to school with Ashton for the last 3.5 years,  started a new school (our local home school, Liberty Elementary.  His 5th grade teacher is Mrs. Hammond and she has a student intern who just happens to be one of Lily's friend's mom from Montessori school.  So far he has gone two days and has reported having great days!  I have been praying for a successful school year!  Also Ashton filled out this first day form and I snuck a picture of it!  So cute!

A summer of new skills

 So proud of this boy!  He has tried so many new things this summer!  A few weeks ago he attended sewing camp (a camp that Lily went to for many years) and loved it.  He made a pillow case, a back pack, pajama bottoms, and patchwork pillow.

This week he has been going to ice hockey camp and seems to enjoy it!  He already asked me to sign him up for more hockey classes in the fall.

He also has been a lego maniac this summer, creating all kinds of amazing creations.  So impressed with his imagination and ingenuity.

He got to spend some time with one of his best buds from Texas the last month.  Sadly he is going back to Texas on Wednesday.

Lastly, he has been pet sitting for our friend's pug.  He is in love and wants to keep her.  The pug loves him and he is her person!  So cute!

A new first!

 Today we dropped Ashton off for his first official mini sleep away camp with his friends.  I hope he loves it so much he wants to go even longer next year!  Apparently he is one of only 4 kids who signed up this session!!!!  I figure either he love his friends so much or they will be sick of each other LOL.

Turning a corner?

 It's been a difficult season with Ashton, but recently had a medication change last week everyone he seems to be responding positively!  

Poor guy has had a lot of trouble sleeping through the night ever since when he turned 10 in April we told him he needed to sleep in his own room, but slowly he seems to be making the adjustment. We recently had nearly 2 weeks where he slept through the entire night in his own room.  Hooray!

Next week Ashton starts his summer party season off with camps, camps and more camps.  This summer he is going to try a mini sleep away camp, sewing camp, tree treekers camp, ice hockey camp, vacation bible school camp and of course the old standby which he declares he hates, but gives mom peace and quiet is playground camp LOL.

Ashton too got his first debit card.  He doesn't have any money on it yet, but hopefully he can earn some money soon.