Potty Trained....95.5%

I am happy to say that after a summer of haphazard potty training, that I think Ashton has finally gotten it!  Yeah!!!!  Go Ashton!

Farwell Summer Vacation

Today marks the last official day of the summer vacation!  Tomorrow, mom returns to work and Ashton begins his time at Ms. Helen's.  This summer was full of lots of activities!  We were on the go-go-go constantly.  I think everyone is ready for a bit a routine!

Am I cute or what?

First we spent a lot of time at the beach.  First, we went to the beach with Kodi and Aly, then, went to the beach with our friends from church, including his best buddy Micheal, and lastly we went to the beach with Abuelita.  I think at the end, the kids were beached out!  Originally Ashton said he wasn't going to go in the water, but after the 2nd or 3rd day at the beach, he changed his tune.

Life long buddies-Micheal and Ashton

Chillin under the tent with Ariana and Michael

Can't believe Ms. Patsy got you to take a baby snooze on the beach!

Our friend Yolanda came to visit!  Ashton really took to her, very unusual for him to attach to a grown up so quickly.  Yolanda has a very special way about her!  We took her and the kids to Great Falls in Virginia.  Both Ashton and Lily loved hiking on the rocky trails!

Great falls with Abuelita and Yolanda

Loving the trail!

We have been pseudo potty training...it's hard to do when you are always on the go....but I think it's coming.  He still is having lots of accidents, but sometimes now he will tell us when he has to pee.  This morning upon waking up was so cute...daddy told him to go and pee, so he did.  After he peed for a long time he said, "coffee pee".  This was so funny because every morning watches daddy go potty after he has had a few cups of  coffee, of course we always remark how stinky it is...daddy proudly says, "coffee pee".

In addition to all this we have gone to carnivals with good friends, Greenbrier State Park, had sleepovers with our best buddy Michael, went to Idlewild Amusement park....it's been a really great summer!

Norway and the bike

We recently returned from our family trip to Norway.  From the moment we bought the tickets Ashton couldn't wait to go and from the moment we landed in Norway he couldn't wait to go home!  Go figure!  I think he had a nice time in Norway, but all he could think about was getting back home so he could ride a bike like his buddy Micheal.  So yesterday he finally got Micheal's old bike!  He's been riding it non-stop.  Even this morning, the first thing he wanted to do was ride his bike!  This kid loves anything with WHEELS!

He's really outdone himself this time

Ashton's future allowance will be forever docked after yesterdays stunt!  While watching a movie on my laptop, Ashton must of thought the computer needed a bath, because somehow he dumped what seemed like an entire water bottle on the computer.  When I found the computer, I drained a river of water out of it!  Needless to say, I expect it to be dead, but I am still hoping that it might dry out and be somewhat salvageable.  To make matters even worse, not only did he douse my computer, he thought his daddy's computer could use a good bath as well.  I hoping daddy's might survive as I caught it early and only his mouse pad and keyboard seemed to have gotten a good soaking.  Needless to say this memory will live in infamy!

He's 3...how did that happen!

So hard to believe the little bubba turns 3 tommorow!  I have so loved these past 3 years!  I love the funny things he says and does.  I love his vocabulary.  His mannerisms.  There is just something really precious about a 2 year old mimicking the world around him his words and actions (except of course when he is mimicking his sister's temper tantrams...then of course...he is so not cute)

Some of my favorites...."Lily stop irritating me"  "Daddy are you going to see some clients?"  "I want to supervise you."

We had a joint birthday party for him at the pool with Lily.  The birthday party was a hit.  Ashton's best bud Michael was there to celebrate.

He continues to love being outdoors.  It doesn't matter what the weather is....he ALWAYS wants to be outside!!!!

He also continues to eat us out of house and home! This is a kid who loves to eat!!!  He especially loves strawberries, blueberries, and go-go applesauces.  He also loves liver pate.  Go figure.  At least for the most part he likes healthy foods.  He doesn't seem to care for cakes or candy bars too much...many times he can take it or leave it...I wish I was like that!

Lastly how could I forget his latest obsession with Diego (from Dora and Diego).  He loves everything Diego.  He wanted a Diego cake.  He wears his Diego shirt, underwear and hat with great pride.  He even refers to himself often as Diego!

One day he is going to kill me for this!

Okay so I really, really,  really wanted to post a picture of Ashton's "new" outfit today!  However keeping in mind his future well being, I decided it was best to leave it to the imagination.  That being said, I most describe his selected outfit for the moment!


A light blue spider man shirt, his skinny grey saggy pajama pants with vehicles on it.  On top of the pajama bottoms are his new Diego underwear, worn backwards so Diego is in the front. On top of it all he wanted to put on Lily's ivory mary- jane "tap' shoes.  Too cute!!!!  Although he quickly decided the mary- jane "tap" shoes where inefficient for playing outside!


In other news we lost our  "lovie" pokey last weekend! We took the kids to a friends farmette to be watched by a " responsible party".  Needless to say pokey was never found.  Sadness. 

Ashton's first "class"

Ashton has a couple things going for him!  First he is "big" for his age.  At 2.5 he rivals some 4 and 5 year olds.  When people ask how old he is and find out he is only 2.5, they can't believe it!  Secondly, he has a big sister who is 5 years older than him, so of course he always wants to do what she is doing.


So of course for months now Lily has been swimming at a new swim school in Frederick.  Ashton's best buddy Michael, who although is the nearly the same size as Ashton, he is nearly 2.5-3 years older than Michael, has also been taking classes at the same place.  So of course...what does Ashton want to do.....go to the pool like his big sister and Michael!


So we took the plunge...plunked down $100 for Ashton to take his first official "swim class" independently!  Surprisingly he did very well!  I felt bad for the teacher, she was new and had 4 young boys.  One who cried the entire time, another one who didn't listen at all, and Ashton and Michael who just wanted to play a lot!  Hopefully the teacher will have learned a little this week during and her training and hopefully this week she will run the show!  Needless to say it was really fun to see Ashton be so independent!